Farewell to Peru

Wrapping up our trip with mixed emotions. I think I can speak for everyone that we are anxious to return home to our families and daily routines but will always remember our time here in Peru. There is a lot for us to digest, reflect and share in time. Thank you all for your support throughout this venture. We will be going dark now until our return as we fly out early tomorrow for Lima with a stopover there before leaving for the airport to wait for our flight at 2 am.
Debbie

Even more hard work!

Peru is a beautiful country. I am so grateful for the opportunity to visit it. One of the best parts for me has been the Peruvian people, who are friendly and polite, and very proud of their Incan heritage. The more I learn about the Inca, the more impressed I am. Their culture was based on three rules, don't lie, don't steal and don't be lazy, and the value they set on knowledge, hard work and love. As one of our guides said, nothing was impossible for the Inca and this is clear when you see sights such as the ruins at Ollantaytambo or Machu Pichu! Jeri-Li

Just a Rock?

Some people may look at this as 'just a rock'. With some thought (and a knowledgeable guide) you can see that it is so much more than that!

To the Incas, it was a compass, and was what they looked to to confirm changes of season, direction for their travels to read the stars, specifically pointing to the southern cross. The Incas revolved their whole civilization around rocks, building a firm foundation for their families. At the NPH home in Peru, I pray that our work here helps solidify the foundation for these amazing children. Traci

Our next journey...

Our family now extends a half a world away from Georgian Shores. Children, staff and volunteers from Casa Santa Rosa have adopted us into their family. Monday was a difficult day, saying good-bye to all the beautiful people with whom we had worked and played. We will remain connected by a web of love.

After the NPH experience our team set out to learn more about our family's country - it's history, it's challenges, it's joys... From Lima to Cusco and the Sacred Valley, we travelled to Ollantaytambo, midway down the valley. We climbed (and climbed and climbed) into history as we explored Ollantaytambo's Ican ruins. To taste the country, alpaca stir fry and guinea pig burgers are offered side by side with pizza and pappa
fritos (fries). Its a fascinating country where Internet cafés and ABM exist at many historic sites, colorful markets and traditional lives.

Surrounded by awesome mountains and the ingenuity of the people, past and present, God's love of wondrous diversity is abundantly clear!

Gwen

Farewell gifts

The past two days have been hectic and tiring - our apologies for missed blogs!

Handing out the Izzy dolls the morning of our departure from NPH was heart breaking. The picture shows them after frenzied trading until they each exactly the right one! One girl's Izzy doll was an exact match to the purple pants she was wearing.

We left the orphanage with quite the fanfare and lots of tears from both volunteers and children - no doubt they will be seeing more of us in years to come! Off to Lima by dinner and early flight to Cuzco. The bus drive to Ollantaytambo was tiring as many of us tried to acclimatize to the high altitude - happy to say today we are feeling better and rejuvenated after a free day of exploring this last 'living' Incan town. More later... Debbie

Everyone works!

So we aren't the only ones working hard... Today we had our farewell party and lots more photos and videos to bring home . I'm currently being asked by Antony to look at my photos so need to sign off before I lose this message - adios Debbie

Saturday fun

Another action-packed day at NPH Peru. An early start with Everyone working at 7 am at their various tasks. However, today we took several older students with us for whitewater rafting on the Rio Canete. Great fun as well as another opportunity for bonding with them. We shared the mutual experience of being soaked and screaming down the river. Also a chance to see a more verdant part of the country with lots of fruit trees along the way. Peru reveals new surprises daily! Jackie