Learning About Peru

Our most recent "trip" this summer took us to Peru!

As always, I prepared us for the trip by visiting the library's online catalog and choosing suitable reading material. We ended up with a few picture books, a cookbook, a dvd and a chapter book. Our main reading (the book I read aloud each morning) was Secret of the Andes by Ann Nolan Clark.

I also found a couple books that transitioned us from India  to Peru. One was a book about libraries around the world and how they differ. It was fun to read this bit on the donkey cart library in Peru.

We also enjoyed This is How We Do It which featured a family in India and a family in Peru. It's so fun to see the similarities and differences of every day life around the world.

We ended our travel unit with a visit to the local Peruvian restaurant. They are known for their rotisserie chicken (which was a common meal for me when I was in Peru), but they were not serving it that day. We were disappointed, but it also gave a chance to try other things on the menu. And we shared the chicha morada and Inca Kola.

We also took the opportunity to look through my photos of my trip to Peru in 2010. It was my first Compassion trip and my girls were quite young. They have seen the photos before, but now that they are older, they can appreciate them and the stories much more.

Here is a video that offers some interesting facts about Peru.






To read other posts in this series, simply click below:

• India

David ~ LDP student in Peru

The one and only LDP correspondent I've had the privilege of writing to was David in Peru. David is an incredible young man who loves the Lord with his whole heart. I definitely feel like I got the better end of this deal in this arrangement...read on and you'll see why I say that.

DAVID

We received our first letter from David in October of 2009 (when he was 21 years old) and our final letter in August of 2012. During the 3 years that we corresponded, we received a total of 32 letters. He was a seriously good letter writer! I also had the opportunity to meet David in August of 2010.

David was studying electronic engineering at Callo National University in Lima, Peru. He and his family were very active in their church, Assemblies of God of Peru. His father, Samuel, was a teacher, his mother, Emerita, was a deacon of treasury, his older sister, Noemi, worked with the youth, and David played keyboard and drums.

"It is a great joy for me because all my family is serving God." 

"These past years God has given me the opportunity to serve Him through music. I do not know if I am talented, but when I praise Him and worship Him through music, it is such a beautiful time for me that I forget about everything else and the only thing I do is to express my gratitude to Him through each rhythm, note and melody. I have the privilege to be learning how to play the drums and keyboard since I left high school (about 5 years ago) and I continue learning. And, I serve God with these instruments in my local church."

Miscellaneous info:

• Received a study Bible from Compassion
• May of 2010 - visited by Wess Stafford - "All the staff of Compassion Peru was truly blessed but I believe that this visit had a major impact on the LDP students as we could see what a humble and wonderful leader this man is. I had the opportunity to minister during the worship time by playing keyboards. I had to rehearse with the LDP students for this day. The day of Wess' visit I was nervous but then I felt good and enjoyed this visit."
• had a brother who passed away when he was only one month old - their house was made of mat and the cold weather caused his death
• June 2011 - mom finished high school! She finished a ministry formation program (pastoral theology) and started Bible seminary.
• Sister, Noemi, studied agroindustrial engineering - she was also sponsored through Compassion
• July 2011 - mom formed a group of musicians who went on a mission trip to the province of Cajamarca
• Learning English was his biggest personal challenge
• January 2012 - participated in LDP bus evangelism outreach - they presented themselves as university students, telling others that it is through God they are reading their dreams. This was well-received and caught a lot of attention as evangelism among university students is rare in Peru. (it is usually done by the less educated)
• Summer 2012 (January - March ) - summer music workshop at church. David had 5 students in his drum class. 
• March 2012 - helped do home visits for prospective LDP students in Compassion. This reminded David to never forget where he and his family came from. 
• June 2012 - began working for Partner of IBM and Cisco
• Used the final birthday gift we sent him to buy gifts for his family - shoes, pajamas and shampoo for his mother, pants and deodorant for his father, shoes and pajamas for his aunt and a backpack and USB for himself for work.
• signed many letters with "I send you a strong hug."

Some letter highlights following our meeting....

"My mother is so thankful to God that she could meet you. My mother and I will never forget August 25th. It has been a very special day in our lives filled with blessings and joy." 

"I had the privilege to meet Jill. I will never forget these two days I spent with her. They have changed my life. I met a true servant who reflects much love. I have seen God's great love in her life. Dear Jill, thank you for your words and for taking your time to come to Peru to meet Jazmin and me. You are a very kind and cheerful woman and you are one of those few people who cause a great impact on others. Perhaps I did not tell you this because I was too excited. I know God let us meet so we can learn new things from each other. Now I feel I love you and your family more and I appreciate your support. I thank God for this beautiful experience, for this unforgettable day in my life. God has spoken to me through Jill and not only through her words but also through the things I could see and feel."

We received the following info:

• LDP country profile
• LDP university profile
• LDP annual update
• LDP new student profile
• LDP new student testimony (questions and answers below)

How did you come to accept Christ as your personal Savior?
I learned about God's Word in Sunday school when I was very little. When I was about 8 years old, I went to a children's festival called, Festninos, where we were taught about God's Word. Our teacher, Isabel, encouraged us to ask Christ into our hearts. We were invited to go to the altar to receive Christ and I did. That day was very beautiful because that was when I really started to understand God's love. I remember my teacher with love because she was a very special person to me because she was nice to us all.

What impact did Compassion have on your personal and spiritual development?
Compassion influenced me a lot. They helped me financially by giving me food every day that I attended the child development center. I learned more about God and what He is like. I also took Bible lessons. I learned how to behave properly and many other things that are useful to me now because what I learned still remains in my heart. I remember one day my center took us to the movies to see a film about abortion. When I saw this film, I was shocked about how abortion is done and understood why God prohibited it. Another special moment I had at the child development center was my graduation from Compassion. An LDP student told us about his experience as part of this program and how it had blessed him by preparing him to be a leader. I was overwhelmed with what I heard and since that moment, I have wanted to be part of this program. There was a special person for me at the center, sister Abelia, who is the current director. She encouraged me to study to make a difference among other people in the future. 

Who has had the most influence on your life and why?
My parents influenced me because every day, they have guided me and advised me not to do things that I might regret later. They gave me their love and a good education despite their limited financial resources. They avoided spending money on other things so they could pay for my education. They have always advised me to make good decisions and to progress in life. 


I've written many other posts I've about David...

• David's Family and Compassion
• David's LDP Graduation
• David's Shoebox from Operation Christmas Child
• Christmas Letter highlights
• Sponsor Fun Day in Peru 
• David's Mother

We never received and official last letter, but I certainly don't feel slighted when it comes to receiving communication from David. Since his graduation and departure, we have communicated through email and google chats, although our correspondence has diminished greatly. Corresponding with and meeting David is definitely a highlight of my Compassion experience.

Compassion Translators - a Conversation with Cecilia Torres in Peru

If you've ever gone on a Compassion trip or even written a letter to your sponsored child, you know the importance of Compassion's translators. They are literally our voice when it comes to communicating with our sponsored children.

When I was in Peru, all our translators were excellent, but one in particular was super nice and I've kept up with her over the past four years. 

I asked Cecilia some questions about her job as a translator and she was kind enough to let me share her responses with you.

My name is Cecilia Torres and I have worked as a freelance translator/interpreter for Compassion Peru for about 12 years.  I don’t do much interpretation much now but I really enjoy to host visits, meeting sponsors from different countries is such a blessing.  The job laws in Peru changed a little like 3 years ago and I was given the opportunity and was asked by key people in Compassion Peru to start my own translation business to provide Compassion Peru translation services.  Back then I have been also working on and off helping in the PC area (Sponsors and Donors Ministries) evaluating other translators’ work, etc…  So I knew what the whole work involved and God led me to start my little translation business.  This is my second year providing translation services to Compassion and my business is named Global Voice S.A.C, I chose that name because many times I was told by sponsors “thank you for being my voice here in Peru”.  I enjoy managing Global Voice and so far I have 13 translators working with me.  [You can find us in Facebook and like our page].  God is good and I am grateful for this challenge and opportunity to be a blessing to others translators, Compassion Peru, children, and translators.  

1. How long have you worked for Compassion?

About 12 years as a freelance translator

2. What are the different aspects to your job as a translator?
As a translator I have to pick my packages of letters every Monday from 9:30am to 11am and drop off the packages I translated already.  I have to check every letter while I am translating just in case I find some content that Compassion wants me to observe or highlight.  I have to print each letter carefully (letters written by children) so I don’t mess up a letter, for this I have to be very alert while printing.  I also have to work with a manual/handbook mostly done by Compassion.

with Denise of Point of Grace

3. What is your favorite part of translating?
 It is to see, especially in the sponsors’ letters, how much of an encouragement they can be for their sponsored children… sometimes it is something I need to hear that that day as well.

4. What is the hardest part?
The hardest part would be when there aren’t many letters to translate or when you read that a child or a sponsor passes away L

with Darlene Zschech of Hillsong

5. Is there a particular letter that stands out to you in your memory?
There have been many through the years but I especially like the graduation letters when the children say that thanks to the sponsor’s help she/he was exposed to God’s Word and now follows Him. This is what is Compassion about right?

6. What can sponsors do to make your job easier?
To make my job easier, keep writing and make sure your handwriting is clear.  Keep the level of the message age appropriate. If you don’t know Spanish well, it is better to write the letter in English otherwise we are trying to figure out what the sponsor is trying to say.

with James and John Micah of Kutless

7. Approximately how many letters do you translate each month?
Around 250 to 300 letters a week, but some of my coworkers can translate as many as 700 letters (children letters) per week.

8. How has being around Compassion and seeing their ministry in action affected you?
It has affected me in positive ways like: every time I host a sponsor visit and go to the poor areas, it reminds me to be grateful for the things I have (running water, a toilet, hot water, etc…).  Also how generous the sponsors can be with others, something I have learned.  I’ve also learned that being poor doesn’t mean sadness or misfortune, I have met many poor people through Compassion who have the joy of the Lord and are so grateful for what the “little” they have, etc…

with Compassion Korea

9. Do you sponsor a child? If so...could you tell us a little about him or her?
Yes, four translators got together, after working with Canadian advocates for a week, and decided to sponsor a little 4 year old boy from Dominica Republic named Adonis J This happened in 2010. Adonis is 8 years old and doesn’t write his own letters yet. We all are hope to visit him someday and that’s kind of why we chose a child for the DR, not too far from Peru (we were not allowed to sponsor a child from our own country)

with Jonathan Martin of The Martins

Experiencing Compassion in Peru

In August of 2010, I had the amazing experience of traveling to Peru to see Compassion's ministry in and around Lima. I'm over at Hannah's blog, Because of Shamin, sharing what that experience was like. I'd love to have you hop over and read about it...just click HERE.

Mail Call Monday - LDP Graduation photos from Peru!

A little more than a week ago I was overjoyed to receive an email from David, our LDP student in Peru. Because he has completed the program and graduated, we were able to release our personal contact information to him, and he emailed us.

He wrote to us on Friday, October 26 - the day of his Compassion LDP graduation. I could tell from his letter that he was very excited and looking forward to the event.

I wrote back a couple days later, not sure how long it would take him to respond.

I didn't have to wait long.

He wrote again today, this time including many photos from the graduation ceremony and another of him playing drums at the most recent LDP camp.

This is the same David I referred to in my shoebox post. He's all grown up and ready to face the world!

Would you join me in saying a prayer for this extraordinary young man and for the future that lies ahead of him?

I'm linking up with Michelle at Blogging From the Boonies.

Meeting Emanuel ~ Remembering Peru 2010

Two years ago today, I met Emanuel. 

He needed a sponsor.

I needed a child in Peru to sponsor.

It's pretty cool how God brought us together.

I've written a couple different posts about that day, in case you are interested.

Sunday in Peru ~ Meeting Emanuel

Emanuel's Family

Sponsor Fun Day

For most, the highlight of a country visit is Sponsor Fun Day - the day we get to spend with the children we sponsor (or in my case correspond with). I had met David the night before at the LDP dinner, but hadn't yet met Jazmin. I had no idea what to expect, but was pleasantly surprised at how friendly, bubbly and sweet she was. It was also an honor and pleasure to meet the women who have raised/are raising these kids.

We were able to spend the day at a Peruvian amusement park just outside Lima. The park was not normally open on Wednesdays, but since our group numbered more than 100 people, they opened for us and we had the whole place to ourselves. Each sponsor was assigned a translator for the day. I was thrilled to be paired with Clara, and she did an excellent job making the communication between our small group easier.

I was a little worried about the dynamics between an LDP student and a 10 year old girl, but we had a great time together. It helped that David, and I had met the night before and had a chance to get to know each other a bit. It was very cool to have David encourage Jazmin in school and talk to her a bit about LDP.

We rode many rides, even though I was feeling sick after the first one! I don't handle motion very well - especially when going around and around! I was trying to be brave and do as much as I could, but I had to sit a few rides out.

This is Jazmin's 18 month old brother, Josue (Joshua). He was a cutie, but was very wary of me.

I had taken a soft frisbee and after a couple hours of rides (and most of us feeling woozy), we began throwing it around. We ended up playing for over an hour, and at the end of the day, Jazmin said it was her favorite part of the day. She was thrilled when I let her keep it.

David's mother, Merita, could not stop thanking me for supporting her son. She gave all praise, glory and honor to God. She is such a strong woman of great faith - a wonderful example and inspiration. When it was time to say goodbye, she thanked me again and said she wants a different life for her children than she had for herself. My own tears were flowing hard at this point, and I embraced her. I asked her to pray for me as a mother. It was obvious to me that she has imparted her faith to her children, and I want to do the same for my daughters. It's really all that matters to me on this journey of parenthood. I want my children to love Christ. I saw how Merita and David demonstrated this success and it's what I want in my own life. My greatest desire, when it comes to parenting, is that my children love and serve God with their lives. We hugged, promising to pray for one another and our children. How awesome is it that there is a mother in Peru praying for Kevin, myself and our children?