Peru-vision.blogspot.com

after Childrens Ministry Leadership Course (CMLC)

2011-01-31T09:58:00.000-08:00

1- Tell a little bit about yourself. Name, age, childhood.

Hey I’m 26 and was a student at CLMC. My name is J-D Lovell. I am from Northern Ireland but born in Peru. I have lived half my life in both countries. My childhood was controlled by God’s hand in every moment, bringing a missionary lady from France and a missionary man from Wales, UK to Peru. They both served with Irish Baptist missions and God’s miraculous guiding lead them to adopt three children. I was one of them. My life was very much surrounded by mission and evangelism. We now live in Northern Ireland as my parents have retired from the mission. They are now serving as voluntary reps with Gospel for Asia (GFA).

2- How did you hear about CEF?

I have always understood about my childhood, and since my teens have had a desire to see and look at the situation I came from. I did Peru mission teams and then after getting a burden for children in children’s homes and at risk, I went in 2009 for 6 months to see the situation, visiting homes and volunteering. I came to understand that my gifts and desire and purpose was to help other kids that are like my bothers and sisters, to get to know God and to be loved and cared for like I was in my Christian family. I decide that I would study all that would be relevant for this. I found myself studying lots of youth and children’s ministry courses. I heard from a girl that was in Peru and also loved kids in Peru who had decided to study in CEF. I did not know much about CEF but I knew that it was for me also. So I applied.

3- Why did you follow the CMLC?

I found that CMLC had a variety of deep courses that looked at how we as leaders should be prepare to serve and reach children - How to be resourced and biblically based. I loved that there were practical aspects and focused ministry to reach kids for God. I loved that there was a lot of growth times where I went forward in my relationships and understanding with God, affirming what I believe in and what I should be doing. (picture from http://cefeurope.com/en/kilchzimmer-e)

4- How and where do you hope to use what you learned?

My life has always been shaped by God and has taken me to places within me and in the world where I have not expected. I understood what love God has for the children. But also in my heart and in my life how in a practical way He showed me his love. I wish to practically go back to Arequipa, the city I was adopted from. I want to reach boys and girls that are from a difficult situation where they need to see love in a practical and transforming way in their hearts and lives. I would like first to work alongside a Christian home then after to set up my own home to reach more children. God went to great lengths to save me from a miserable and abandoned life or death situation. I know this Love is for all and hope that all also accept Him. God looked for the lost sheep, and took it out of its hopeless situation. But He also accepted the sheep back in to his arms to carry it to Himself.

5- Can you share 1 eye opener or great experience from the CMLC?

An eye opener was to see how much God was using CEF and other missions and student hearts to reach children for God all over the world! He does not want any to be lost! I know his heart and see the need and I wish to go equipped and prepared spiritually and educationally as much as I can to serve children at risk and in children’s homes. And maybe if God wants, allow me to set up a home where He can choose more children out of pain to a loving and caring home and able to hear the gospel and one day take also Jesus as their Saviour.

http://cefeurope.com/en/training-3

studying now at CEF

2010-11-19T06:42:00.000-08:00

Studying at the CEF centre

In Switzerland, near the CEF center a month before the snow >

Hello, from the European base of CEF (Child Evangelism Fellowship). It is snowing outside while I am doing my homework. I am training for the Children's Ministry Leadership Course.

All this is to teach and equip me more to reach children with the Gospel. I still have a desire to go back to Peru to reach kids and young teens who would need care and support. I want to provide them with a children’s home.

By studying here I get excellent teaching from the world's biggest mission reaching kids with the gospel.

A few subjects so far.

Biblical basis ____

Evangelism of Children ________Interpreting and Teaching Scripture

Doctrine ________Teaching a Bible lesson ________Child study & pre-school child ___________Devotional Life________________Camps Muslim Child
Roman Catholic Child __________Ministries to reach and Teach Children ________Open air ______________________Building a Ministry _______________Building Good News Clubs __________Building 5-day Clubs___________Building Prayer ________________Share the vision _______________Victorious life ____________Galatians

A verse that spoke to me, written by Paul to Timothy a young man:

I am half way through the three month course here and again have really been uplifted within about the idea of reaching unreached and unloved kids for God.

In many areas of my life I thank God that I am growing as He teaches, encourages, molds and motivates me. I thank God for reminding me of the importance of service to Him with out self-will, self-trust, self-seeking and self-pleasing. I am learning more fully about prayer life, devotional life and a yielded life to God - Spirit filled.

I know that if I ask you for prayers I have to pray likewise as much. Can I thank you all for praying for me so far and encouraging me!

Pray with me that in all my studies I will do well in remembering all I’m taught. So that I can use it in future with whatever ministry follows next.

Pray with me as I continue to grow in my life with God.

Pray with me for the future in reaching boys and girls for Christ.

Pray with me about the boys and girls that need care and love in Peru. That in some way I can help. For the vision of setting up a children’s home with a team of people that have a vision also.

'here i am'.. 4 months on.

2009-11-26T03:45:00.000-08:00

"Here I am, I don't want to forget the things You've planned for me.

The dreams You gave, I'll achieve for You.

You don't have to search for anyone else, I want to go,

Here is my time, here is my hours."

Song by Jesus Adrian Romero.. ' aqui estoy yo'

Thank you for all who have been praying for me..!

Many know that I had a great time in Peru and Colombia, and know what is my suited ministry - working alongside Children's Homes.

Before I say more I want to say a bit about what is happening with me and my project.

When you are on a high, doing a mission trip, you get so close to God. For me I knew that this ministry was where I was called. But now, not able to get involved in the ministry that is suited to you, you can feel down......

God has a plan for you.. and when you are shown it.. you want to get stuck in straight away.....

I prayed about God's plans and purpose for me. He has shown it to me.. now somehow, in some way, I want to move on.

Things I will do:

Pray- For staying in God's will
Seek - Seek God for the stages of His plan.
Find - Find God first in all things.

As I do this blog I nail my colours to the mast.

I don't now what will happen in the coming years. But I know He knows the plans He has for me.

This message was passed on to me.. It really helped me understand things a bit. It is by Paul Washer. (see bottom of page)

He believes the Word (Bible where God's Word is spoken) is true.

Then what impact can it have for kids in a children's home?

The message is for many. And the children's homes where they live day and night most of their lives is a great place to get alongside them, showing them Gods love, to walk with them on this discovery and to disciple them! Not that they get to be just a cultural Christian but to look at the Word of God, and see that that they can be changed. (This thought is expanded at the end of the message.. )

I think I would like many people to see that they can get in to these special places of children's homes as a real opportunity to reach and mentor new Christians in their hard, difficult lives to go onward with Christ. Let us not dash in and out of kids' lives but let us be an example like Christ that we are there for them all the time..

Please pray as I go on this journey, either to set up or work alongside a Children's home..

Yours again in Christ,

J-D

This is the message by Paul Washer. (below) sorry i have now update this to the sermon.

“Good, thanks!”

2009-09-29T06:13:00.000-07:00

I’m back now 2 months from my trip in Peru and Colombia. I have found good support and encouragement about the children’s home project in Arequipa. Thank you for your interest. For some it’s still not clear what they are supporting....and in reality sometimes I don’t even know myself!

I have said that this blog will continue till I reach one of three options:

· Set up a children’s home myself.

· Or, join an existing home and take things from there.

· Or plan ‘C’......What ever that is?

In this post I want to inform you where this project is at, in the context of a few thoughts on “Good, thanks”.

Life is often presented as doing well at studies, getting a job and being happy, so that when people ask, “How’s life?” you just reply, “Good, thanks!”

However, what have I been doing? I have been to many small courses, from suicide prevention to youth ministry weekends where there’s seminar after seminar about youth and our role in their lives; I have had many conversations about the whole vision of a children’s home; I have asked questions to directors; I have been finding out everything about charities and children’s homes; I have drawn up a list of books to read........

Why am I not just thinking about “getting on with what my life has dealt me with so as to be able to say, Good, thanks”? Rather than thinking of where I’m going or what I’m doing.

Post-Modern culture has brought us up to think , “what ever”,, and , “have it our own way”.. we have an “if it feels good, go with it” attitude and in all this we are,, “good thanks” The world goes by and often we don’t stop to understand what it’s all about! We don’t take time to think what’s going on, why we do what we do, or whom we do it for....unless, one day, we find things are “not that that good”!

My thing is, don’t just “get on with living” - take a step back and think what it’s for. Whatever we do in the future will be determined by the stand point we take now.

· Think about what the Trinity is about and how this will impact how we live our lives.

· Think about the cross (Forgiveness of sins, Christos Victor, Reconciliation, Redemption) and how this will impact how we live our lives.

· Think about God Incarnate (God took on flesh) and how this impacts how we live.

· Think about a call to mission and how this impacts what we do with our lives.

· Think about empowerment by the Holy Sprit, the tasks of Word, prayer and spiritual direction. And how our lives could be with this?

· Think about our role in the Church and how this impacts our lives.

The relationship we have with these truths will guide our interaction with what we do. Let’s not just coast and keep saying, “Good, thanks”.

So this is what I’m doing at the moment...trying to:

Don Browning “action-reflection model”.

- Understand (what’s going on?),

- Reflect: (what am I doing?)

- Detect and Evaluate: ( putting down commitments in my life)

- Project: ( Strategies, on how I can live my life for GOD)

HOW CAN YOU BEST SUPPORT ME?

- Please pray: for the vision to set up a children’s home. May it be a God-inspired venture. Pray for God’s leading - I don’t have the answers and need to be lead forward.

- If you know of people who have gone thought setting up a charity, I would love to talk to them about what they think.

- Also if you know of any children’s home around the world, I would like to contact them.

- If you know a good book about youth or children at risk, even parenting, leadership books.. Subjects that can help me think about this project more and get more understanding.

- If you know any courses out there that are relevant to this work let me know.

- I want to start getting a list of people who will dedicate themselves to pray for this with me. So please if you want to be part of this, it would be an encouragement if you would let me know - even write your name on the comment box at the bottom. THANKS!

"who,what and then why"

2009-09-11T09:21:00.000-07:00

This week I have been thinking very intensely about the concept of ‘a calling’ - something which God has set upon one’s heart in which to follow Him specifically.

Naturally as a human I have been asking myself many questions about this. I am constantly thinking about the future and how big and daunting it is. The danger is that it can be without God..

And that’s where you ask yourself again and again the fundamental questions that brought you to this point, to check that you are living for the right thing and not just a dream land or wayward feelings.

I have found some very good comments from the website of a children’s home which I will quote from below. (If you want to read more about what they say, please have a look as it really explains much more!)

After finding out ‘Who’ you are you may ask yourself ‘What’ you do or what you want to do. In my case I want to set up a children’s home. The next questions many be ‘Why we do it? Or, ‘Why would you really want to do it?’

I am speaking of course as a Christian to other Christians who understand ‘who they are’ and maybe know ‘what they want to do’. But we need also to think ‘Why?’ The answer to this question may help us in the approach of ‘How?’

I can’t fully write down all the strands of thoughts that will help you or me… but I will add what has helped me. And for the readers of this blog, please make it a prayer point for this stage in my life.

Many thanks J-D

This extract is from http://www.armsoflove.org/why_compassion.htm

Why We Do It: Compassion

In his recent book, "Where Soldiers Fear to Tread," journalist John Burnett writes about his time working as a relief worker for the United Nations in Somalia. John occasionally ruminates on the broader purpose of his mission, and the various reasons that the people he's working with are risking their lives to engage in the relief effort. He comes up with various reasons ... salary, egos, adventure, all kinds of personal issues, but rarely, in his opinion, compassion. John writes,

"If there are any heroes in this world, we are not among them. Who of us is in it for altruism? ... We each have our reasons. But I don't think compassion is what drives most relief workers. ... In the eyes of the mainstream, I suspect we all could be considered a bit mad, loonies pursuing some mythic quest. We have become too antsy and too deterred for a life of spiritless routine, too selfish for much compassion, and too human for heroism. All this for a lousy paycheck."

Now listen to the final paragraph of John's book:

"Day after day, it just goes on and on, one miserable event after another. As David said, God favors no one, not those who perish, not those who serve. The misery of the world will continue with or without our gallant efforts. Let others replace me; let others try to save the damn world."

John's autobiographical story is a compelling one, and these final words bring into sharp focus the ultimate question: Does any of our work really make a difference?

"Has anyone's life really made a difference?"

We read in Matt. 15:32: Jesus said to his disciples, "I feel compassion for the people, because they have remained with me now three days and have nothing to eat, and I do not want to send them away hungry."

And so with seven loaves and a few fish, Jesus fed the four thousand. Compassion was the motivating factor behind Jesus feeding the hungry.

"Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress …" James 1:27.

What is compassion? Compassion is not merely thinking, "I have an obligation to help that person." Compassion is a deep feeling that is aroused when we see someone crying, hungry, sick, or hurting, and it stirs us to act on that person's behalf. The distinction is critical.

The post on http://www.armsoflove.org/why_compassion.htm goes on to finish with this statement:

Sometimes we see so many needs around us, so much desperation in this world, that we become overwhelmed and desensitized, and our hearts become calloused. Whenever our hearts stop breaking when we see someone in need, we need to take our hearts before God and ask Him to break our hearts afresh and fill our hearts with His compassion. This is the starting point for carrying out Jesus' ministry. And it is the wellspring of hope and perseverance in the face of overwhelming need.

The ministry of Jesus requires a broken heart.

(Please read the other extract from http://www.armsoflove.org/why_justice.htm)

Why We Do It: Justice

This section concludes:.

By ministering to all of the needs of each and every child, our goal is to bring healing into every part of their lives. Our vision for them -- God's heart for them -is that the children will be made whole … and that God's justice will be manifested and accomplished in their lives and in the lives of future generations.

(Please read the 3ed extract from http://www.armsoflove.org/why_mercy.htm)

Why We Do It: Mercy

This section concludes:,

Jesus' last words to us were to "Go, and make disciples of all nations." Go, and bring the good news of the gospel to the poor! Go, and show my compassion to the lost! Go, and execute justice on behalf of the oppressed! Go, and show my mercy to those who have been thrown away! Go, and feed the hungry in my name! Go, and bring my glory to the nations!

So why do we spend so much of our lives just staying right where we're at? "Blooming where we're planted." We are not potted plants. God gave us hands, He gave us feet, and He told us to "Go!"

There's a prevalent notion that we're just called to be good Christians wherever we are at - at home, at work, at the grocery store. But what part of that philosophy involves going anywhere? If that is all we ever did, there are many people in our own community who would never hear the good news of Jesus and who would never have the gospel demonstrated to them - much less those in other parts of the world.

We have to find ways to go beyond our daily routine, to get outside our comfort zone, to connect with people outside our every day sphere of relationships, and minister to their needs in Jesus name. Moved by His compassion. Doing justice in His name. Showing His mercy. That's what it means to GO.

(All extracts were copied from www.armsoflove.org)

Back in Belfast – one month on.

2009-08-28T08:19:00.000-07:00

I arrived back on the first of August. It has been great to see folks again and see where they'er at. I like the summer time here as you can get out and about more as more poeple have free time. Climbing Sleive Donnard was good experience to bring it home to me that i as actually in Northern Ireland again.

The summer time also brings many Christian conferences and guest speakers. I have been attending to the Bangor Worldwide Mission Convention, and before that, listening to K.P Yohannan, the founder of Gospel for Asia (GFA). Before hearing the speakers my concentration was a bit all over the place as during my stay of six months in children’s homes life was full of the busyness that I love to get involved with.

At present my thoughts are gripped with the fact that I now have to start putting my vision in action. I have come back having eaten into my

student loan, with no job, and not wanting to return to my architecture degree which I dropped a year ago. My mind is swirling around the fact of not knowing really the best move to take next. Right now I know that some sort of job is in order, so I have signed on jobseekers till something turns up. I know with so many people on the job hunt it could be a long hunt for me too.

I have enrolled in some small courses about youth ministry and also gone back into volunteering as a mentor. I went yesterday to a College open day. Afterwards, talking to my friend in the rain under a tree, I thought how does someone that is really nobody get to have a vision for setting up a children’s home (and as my vision goes, it’s a big one – a home plus many other things that work alongside it also). Later that day I heard that a 29 year old builder from here has been setting up a children’s home during the last few years in Africa, and is now setting up a school. Then I hear of a 22 year old girl from England who visited Bolivia and has not returned as she is at the start of setting up a children’s home too.

In the Bangor Convention I sat listening to mission

representatives and missionaries reporting on the work in many countries. They spoke of a God that really works in many ways and that we cannot have an excuse to say that God does not do his work.

I also talked to others at stalls about children’s homes and had very encouraging conversations. you see the idea, It’s not just a social work idea but to bring many to know God and get alongside them discipling and reaching others.

So in all I sum up:

In a hundred years from now, what will the things of this life be worth? Really my wish would be is that if I could set up a Home back in Arequipa city where I was adopted, that many of the kids that I took in would stand by my side in heaven. Then it would be worth it! I also desire that the home and all the other ministries would keep on going. Then what a joy it will be to come across people in heaven who say:

“I was in Arequipa as a child and was taken in to the children’s home”, or “I saw the good works you did and understood that it was because God loved me first that Christian do this. And I am here

because someone said that they would follow God and do what he was calling him to do.”

Please pray that the vision may be accomplished:

· That I may take the risk of living for God, and not to play my life safe.

· That I may seek God’s will in every day as

every day counts to reach his will.

· For the things like courses that will equip

me in my thinking for this ministry.

· For employment to keep me afloat financially

· For the idea of setting up a charity and what that all entails.

· For wisdom in all things

Thank you for your on going prayers. An army of prayer can do so much more than you realise.

My Last 2 Weeks at Children’s Vision, Bogota...

2009-08-17T14:02:00.000-07:00

The second week I was in the home, the team from my home church, Strandtown / Holywood Baptist, arrived. It was really great to have them there! Peter Lockhart who had been with me in Peru at the very start of this trip was among them. To see him again was really nice as he

could understand more about what I was getting up to.

I have seen many teams visit children’s homes. Last year I was there myself a s a member of the S/H team. But towelcome this team and to see their work and love towards the children made me realise that, yes, God does dowonderful things using his people - for two weeks of their lives, the kids had very friendly, loving friends from Northern Ireland. Most of the team were already sponsors and God-parents of the children.

As my role was being a mentor for the rest of my time here,

I worked behind the scenes with the kids every day. Which I thoroughly enjoyed! As an ordinary tea

m member you only see some aspects of the work. At the beginning I just made friends with the children before becoming a mentor.

So I got really close as friends to the boys in the home. In some way I was picking up what it means to live in a home from their point of view. I understood their issues and in some way looked out on the team and the workers from where they stood.

I know that this is quite something to say, but they opened up to me as a big bother or friend or even as a daddy. I saw their biggest need - they need love. Some one that is a tutor who deals equally with all the kids of the group and comes in because it’s their job is different. But as I worked there

as a volunteer with my full conviction to devote my attention and efforts for them I saw

that this meant so much. Then the team came and when they shared their love and friendship you could see that the kids really were very happy because they knew it was real.

I became a God-parent of Miguel. Through him, God showed me what He can do when He fills a little heart with the love of God. How powerful it is and how attractive it is! Miguel in many ways did want me as his Father-figure and him to be as my child. But talking to him, I realised that the One who came first in his life was God... He often would say to me, “God comes first, then me!”.. As I know that with all his heart he meant those words, I know that this child will grow up to be a strong follower of the Lord.

As we prayed and even sang songs before he went to sleep, we gave thanks to God for his work in all the children’s homes. We gave thanks that He has not forgotten about us. I reminded Miguel that I was adopted but God did not forget about me, He picked me up and gave me hope for this life. He gave me the opportunity to know Him and to follow Him.

I mentioned to Miguel that God had put it in my heart to reach many more boys and girls for God so they too can fully be in relationship with Him, to be an instrument in bringing God’s love to them, in setting up a children’s home in Peru where I was adopted.

Miguel knew that His God definitely can fulfil His purposes, and we gave thanks together for God’s leading in our lives.

So having finished this 6 month tour

of visiting and helping in many children’s homes, I want to close this post with the words I left the boys on the farewell evening at the end of July.

“I did not choose my name

I did not choose where I live

I did not even choose my parent.

But then I grew up

And got to choose a new name

A new place to live

A new parent

My new name is Christian

My new place to live is Heaven

And my new parent is my Abba Father”

Colombia post (4 weeks over due!)

2009-08-11T05:20:00.001-07:00

Job 10:9
Remember that you moulded me like clay. Will you now turn me to dust again?

SORRY, This post is 4

weeks over due..

Now I am back in Belfast, I am thinking back over my experience and remembering the lessons I learnt. I value the insights so much as I still have on my heart to open a new home for children in Peru, in Arequipa, the city where I was born..

This post is about the time before the Standtown Baptist team came from Northern Ireland.

When I arrived in Children's Vision Internationakl, Bogota, the kids were on a 3 week break from school so not all were at the home - they were with God-parents and mum’s and/or dad’s..

Most days we went on planned activities with the 20 or so that remained. Downtown was nice as I had not really seen the centre of the city.. we went to art galleries and parks and generally out and about.. the boys and girls all enjoyed this very much and I enjoyed it too..

My role was to be a helper with the other mentors that look after the kids. Then when school started I was to get on the rota and be a proper mentor.. I was looking forward to this as I knew I would learn a lot. I have met most of the kids before and so really got alongside them very easily. I remember the boys asking me last time I was there when I would be back and I said next year.. so it was nice to have fulfilled that.

“Mould me” this is what we say to God as we call on him to work in our lives.. I said it many times each day that I was there and now I say to him too: lead and guide.. mould me..! You know.. God did just that .. As the weeks passed in Colombia I called out more and more to God as I knew that this life of mine is not mine but God's and therefore I wanted to go and do what He wanted for me and give me guidance for the next step back in Northern Ireland..

As I looked up I prayed for God to show me the future I realised that it really would be to help kids like these, but in Peru not Colombia. So the future was getting clearer, but I know God has to work lots on me before all this.. Dismantle me to build me up in his way so that I can be more effective for Him and that He can use me in his way..

I believe as I went through the next week He showed more of his love and the need of my life to be fully dependent on Him..

2 Corinthians 4:6-8 (New International Version)

⁶For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness,"^]made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

⁷But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. ⁸We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair;

Back to Colombia and Children's Vision International

2009-07-05T19:20:00.000-07:00

I flew out of Lima, Peru on my way to

COLOMBIA¬!

As i looked down on the Andes mountains I remembered the sun and all the all the smiling faces I got to know last year and will never forget...

I reached Bogotá airport at 1 am in the morning, but all fine.. and am staying with Seth another missionary that has been here for a long time - about 9 years I think, on and off.

I thank God for all the other volunteers that come and for their love for God's work here. I pray that each may be fulfilled in the work here and that God's plan for their lives can be fully reached.

Straight away I went on a camping trip with the kids that are staying in CVII over the holiday break.

Some were away away with parents or God parents. So with the 20 or 30 left we went to the country side. Also in the evening going out to the park to play football..

During my time here I will be doing the same as in all the homes I have visited - fulfilling some role, but also seeking to understand some of the ideas from the persons in charge of things and also from the kid's perspective. If I am to build a children’s home I want to understand what it really is like to live in a home and with so many others. And what effect this has on them so to see what best way to work with them in the future and understand their needs..

Linked with that, I want to

see how a Christian home can really impact a child’s life and the community. I know that CVII really do put emphasis on this so I am happy for this opportunity from which I think I am going to learn a lot of things.

Leaving PERU and Puno

2009-07-04T09:22:00.000-07:00

GOOD BYE Puno City and dear old PERU..

I want to say that I have learnt lots from my trip.. from washing babies clothes to being a tutor of a new house of 8 kids, from visiting some children's homes which caused me much sadness to trips and summer games with the kids that were really happy days..

"Thank you God for letting me see your love in action and that I could be part of sharing some of that in this trip"

Lake Titicaca is the highest navigable lake in the

world. It is big enough for ancient groups of people to live on floating islands and mountainous islands in the middle of the lake. They really are far-off lands with their own way of life and culture..

To the kids that are cold and need so much love and care, I say: I have you in my prayers and hopefully I can get back to you one day to set up a children's home where at least some of you can stay.. and live there safe and cared for as God's Children and maybe with me as a second 'heart' Dad..

As I close with this post of my stay in Puno I want to say that for the last days it was all go in getting things done.. thanks for your prayers I could not do with out that added help..!

This busy time included preaching in the sunday service (my first time ever preaching),

to getting the idea of how I could help the projects here in Puno.

I thought that if they could get some sort of self funding, it might just work, as there will not always be people to donate every month.. So I helped in getting a guest room sorted and we made it in to a bed and breakfast thing, for the many tourists that come to Puno.. Even though it's only a small room I think that this could work..

Please pray that this works and that funds can come in for the projects through this..

Feel free to view this web site and tell others who are going to Puno, Peru to stay here..!

http://puno-guest-house.blogspot.com /

We went out and bought many things to make this happen - to make the room

ready for a most comfortable stay..

So as I say good bye to Ramon and Elvira and family, I leave you with my prayers, and I will be in contact to see how this project for funds gets on..

God bless you and thank you for my Stay!!!

More about the soup kichen and future projects

2009-06-26T09:13:00.000-07:00

Another day at the Puno church projects.. The little nursery is a small day-centre group. I enjoying being with the kids and helping along with everything.. from putting the baby to sleep to running around comforting the little ones in the mornings because they don’t want to leave their mums.. but they are really happy and call me 'tio' soon enough..

These are more photos of the day of the ‘campesino’ (the country man). Most came dressed up and brought their typical food from this region..

Ihave more photos of the little baby as I have to look after him often, and one day looked after him all day.. as his young mother was in university doing exams till late…

Iwant to flag up the soup kitchen again..

I was thinking how this project could be helped.. to cover the cost of food, they charge very little.. I was thinking that we or a number of people could take this on.. So then they can charge nothing and even get more to come that really need the food..

Today a wee girl came and cried for ages. She is an orphan who is now being looked after by an auntie that she is really scared of. She said that her auntie would not allow her to come any more.. but the wee girl would.. I don’t know the real reason, but I suspect it's because of finances. Some of these kids as you can see are very undernourished.. Sometimes the mum or auntie just leaves a bowl of potatoes before they go to work,, the kid gets that for breakfast then when back from school gets the same,,

If we could look into the idea of supporting this project we could reach even more kids that really need it..

They say for a week it costs 120 soles.. That is 26 pounds.. a week or 104 every 4 weeks..If we could get 10 people to give 10.4 pound every 4 weeks this could cover the costs for about 12 kids.. for 4 weeks.. with out charging them at all...

Or if we could get 20 poeple to give about 5.2 evey 4 weeks this could work too..

If you are intrested in this send me an email.. Jd_lovell84@hotmail.com

I don’t know.. There are so many needs everywhere, but I can say I know these kids and they are grateful for anything they get.. and its not just food but creating a caring environment with a Christian attitude to things.

But they would like to have about 20..

They also would like prayer about opening this up to be an ´open children´s home´.. This would mean the kids are here during the day to eat and do homework, and get sent off to school clean and ready and happy,., then at night they go to ther homes... this would run week days only..

Is this possible?.. `pray for this,, God can do anything but he want us to be in on it too..not to be alone on it.. So let us pray..

After a week in Puno..

2009-06-23T14:14:00.001-07:00

When thinking of children's work in a city like Puno you have to take into account many things. The church in this small Andean city has a big challenge as they seek to aid and encourage young kids from very difficult backgrounds, showing them that there are people who love and care for them and that God loves them too. The challenge is how to operate and continue this when you are limited in resources, finances and workers, and sometimes energy.

As I sat washing my clothes up on the roof, looking over to the blue Lake Titicaca, I wondered about the future of the varied project of nursery school, day care centre and soup kitchen, in aid of some of the poorest and most needy kids. I wondered what could be done to restart the small children’s home. I prayed, and can now only ask that you also pray for the work that gives hope to kids and a better chance of living each day.

I took the pastor's two sons out to visit the Uros floating islands. We just needed to get out and have a wee outing and it was really great to visit one of the must-see popular tourist attractions in Peru. The islands date from a time before the Spanish Conquistadores arrived. The community was at war and because they lost their land they decided to live out in the lake, building inhabitable islands among the reeds. Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable lake in the world, is a real wonder in itself, with great views in the clear air.

After visiting the floating islands, the weekend was completed by being invited out by long-time friends of my parents to sample some really great food.

I then returned to helping out in the nursery school. That day it was doing a presentation of traditional food for 'el dia del paisano' (the day of the countryman)..

So we set up our stall, and just like many others from other nursery schools, began to sell our food. I have to say that I enjoyed tasting some of the food on offer which was very good.

Here are some more picture’s including some of the children that came along from the nursery.. we even had a baby on site.

I looked after this baby for the morring. I have to say I'm proud to say I got it off to sleep in just 3 minutes.....

Today I took pictures of the soup kitchen to show you. I want to present this project to you as a real focus for your prayers as we want to strive to build on this number that attend. Some of those present today were some of the kids that used to go to the children’s home which is now closed.

If even one person could help out with the food costs it would help. For the running costs, they charge the kids very small prices.This helps to pay for a cook, which is really just a tip..

A soup kitchen can impact lots of lives and hungry appetites. My prayer is that with this project more kids get help and a presentation of God's love..

This is Paster Ramon and his wife Elvira.

They also ask for prayer for the idea of setting up again an open home in the future.!

Yours J-D...

Up to Puno City (4th post on 17th June)

2009-06-17T08:45:00.000-07:00

Then the night bus to Puno. The altitude is very much higher here but I arrived well.
Am staying with the pastor, Ramon and his wife Elvira and family. They showed me the Baptist church and the nursery school that still goes on. Today it was the school's second anniversary. They used to have a children’s home. They also have a soup kitchen which provides food for very hungry and malnourished kids.

I will add more to this post later. But pray for the work up here. The donation will really go far here I will give this to them tomorrow.

Off to Ilo and Moquegua (3rd post 17th June)

2009-06-17T08:05:00.000-07:00

Good bye Arequipa City

For the second spare week I decided to take a wee break and visit friends in Ilo and Moquegua. So I left Arequipa a bit sad and still with that vision of buying a large bit of land and setting something up for kids.

The long road to Ilo, a Pacific port further down south.

I met up with Trevor and Christine Morrow and family. Please pray for them as they continue the work in Peru with the Irish Baptist Missions Ite project. The camp centre is open two years now. They are also rebuilding the Ite Baptist church that got burnt down two years ago.

Also pray for Alistair Creelman as he does his year with Irish Baptist Missions, seeking to find God's plan for his life in Peru. Pray for all it means to be starting as a missionary and for God's work in Peru.

Off to Moquegua in the valley beside the Andies Mountains

Then the next part of the week I took a cramped car to Moquegua. This is the town where I used to live as a child when my parents were missionaries with Irish Baptists in Moquegua. Being back is like going back to good memories or a good dream.

I went to the central Baptist church in Moquegua, they got me up front to talk about my trip. They send their greetings to Strandtown Baptist. I love this town. And I have to say I thank the Lord for giving me time for this visit.

I also want to say that I got time to visit the Moquegua children’s home. Your donations helped out - here we brought nappies and lots of food. Many thanks. The home has 100 children but works with 300 in total

A week with Hogar de Cristo (2nd post 17th June)

2009-06-17T07:41:00.000-07:00

Moving on, I got word that the Puno home had suspended work with the children. So I was to go up for only two weeks.. that meant I had two weeks spare. I looked around and prayed and I got the opportunity to work for a week with Hogar de Cristo in Arequipa center.

This home is an open home that freely welcomes street kids to come in. The home is called open home because it does not have the kids living there and is open only on week days.

The kids can come in and have breakfast, then get stuck in to homework and about an hour of work shops were they learn carpentry, art, crafts for selling. The kids really are happy here. I worked in the morning and helped the secondary kids do homework. The primary would come in the afternoon. I like this system - it has many more details involving the kids' parents. But the ideas for street kids to come in and the home giving them help is so much better than them doing homework in the street beside their mum that has to sell. Also for the kids that come from the background where their house has no table or light to do homework and no substantial food to keep a kid going. Also it does not help if the parents can’t read or write- they have only got primary education at times or can’t be at home but only at night times for work. So then the kid is all alone at home.

The work that interested me most is the work the home has with the street kids actually on the street. I went twice two nights to go down with some volunteers.One is a lady that was once a volunteer like me and now has connected with Hogar de Cristo and set up a small home for girls. She is looking for more volunteers in the street work as we could only cover the centre plaza but they used to cover many more areas. Also to work in her home or at hogar de cristo.. please contact me. Jd_lovell84@hotmail.com

These kids are very talented as I found out when we took them to an arts competition. We won too!
Also want to say I went to visit the Hogar Rosa de Chaves, an orphanage full of babies where most get adopted but a large number don’t. I couldn’t get to see the kids but brought some bags of nappies and milk. Thanks for your donations.

"Good bye" Casa H (1st post on 17th June)

2009-06-17T07:22:00.000-07:00

Finished my placement 30 May 09 Arequipa

I want to say a big thank you to Casa Hogar in Arequipa.

I have to catch up here on my blog but I think I’ll manage.
For I have been going on only because of your prayers!
.Prayer works to change every heart beat at a time..

I don’t want to say too much on this post but to say thanks for letting me be part of your family. Always remembering you, your 'Tio JD'

Hopefully 4th project!

2009-06-02T13:40:00.000-07:00

I really need to keep up with adding new posting as so much happens and it’s hard to keep up! But with unknowns like when I found myself with no place to stay for the night and no new project for me, I have now two weeks unplanned.

This week I was supposed to be in Puno. But the situation has changed with the home there - there are no kids really up there so I will only visit for 2 weeks at the end of June. But now I’m left with 2 weeks here in Arequipa.. so this week-end past I visited New Hope Children’s home again. I took some out swimming and some on other little trips here and there.

But before I talk about this and other stuff, I want to show you some of the pictures from the end part of my stay in Casa H

This volunteering is organised by TNT (Traveller Not a Tourist) which

works in different projects here in Arequipa. I stayed in a big house with lots of volunteers from all over the world. Good times!

The kids are really cared for and looked after by the “tias” (aunties). I was called a “tio” (uncle) .. The love and dedication was really noticed. Good work, keep it up tias and tios.. !

On Saturday for one of my many wee trips I took one of the boys from New Hope with me to a very nice area of Arequipa. Sachaca is a very little town on a small hill.. all round it is the expanse of fields with Arequipa and it’s tall varied mountains on the horizon.

This leads me to say a bit about the opportunity of my time in Arequipa to look for 'terrenos'. (land in Spanish). I know that this idea is really for a later stage of my vision of setting up a children’s home.. but while I’m here I want to learn and see about the opportunities there are for land, and about costs and how you deal with the whole topic of acquiring land.
I looked out in the fields and newspaper listing of available land for sale. It is expensive.. 60 dollars a m2.. but some 19 m2.. the pictures are below..

My vision is to help lots of kids and young people, and not only them, but to have programs to help their families, to give work and education to a needy young generation that have little help..

Of course more and more I am understanding that I have to start off small - buy a house, get a few workers and look after a small number of kids,.. In fact this is what I’m thinking about when I talk about a big children’s home.. a big area with sport pitches and work- skill based studios and lots of small houses with aunties and uncles and about 9 kids in each house.. Here is a picture of the IDEA:

So, back to my wee trip... we took pictures of Arequipa’s landscape and then went down from Sachaca to a fair beside a lake..

I imagined my course with God. I want to follow Him, and if He wants, to be part of setting up His children’s home with all it's different programs, and also programs for providing funding. All this is for giving more opportunities for the kids and their families and putting God’s Word into the lives of the young generation to grow and follow him - also to reach into Arequipa and Peru with the Word of God. We want them to be independent with Him and able to live out a fulfilled life even though they come from a broken background..

Please pray:

Pray for my two weeks unplanned. I have an interview to see if I can work with an ‘open home’ that works with street kids.. they have a team that goes out at night to find kids that are on the streets and are uncared for..

Pray that my ongoing search for God's plan for my life is always focused.

Pray for those who pray for me that their prayers don’t stop, but keep going as they help me as I do this out here..

Many thanks again for following this Blog.. May God bless you as He works in your life.. the real thing is that we all pursue God's plan for our lives.

Reflection time at L A

2009-05-19T06:26:00.001-07:00

These last days I have been filled with a realisiation of the vision and what it is all about.

I wrote to a friend and I thought I would post the letter to you also.

I remembered about the parable of “Who is my neighbour? - the Good Samaritan” and thought about what Jesus said about looking after the orphans and widows,

I thought about my heart.

I thought of the man in the parable and in this case of him once being an orphan, abandoned and left on the road side. I thought that I didn’t just want to stop and give him something there, not just to take him to hostel, not just to pay to look after him.

As I see it, a child needs care and a home where people would take care of him as he grows up and where he would belong. Where he would grow up and get to know - Why he was taken in. why he was loved. And what was in the heart of the people that supported him in this new home..

And that heart that loved him was transformed by an everlasting love that God placed in the heart of his carers, his new parents . The people that took him in were his ‘heart mum and dad’.

I want to be that parent to some of the kids of Arequipa. the city where I was adopted from and where God put in the heart of my parents to adopt me.

My prayer is that people can join me in helping me with this vision..

Boys from new home trip

Monday I got to know the older kids of Luz Alba.. and working in the afteroon, I got lots of time to do game activites with them..

casa h L. A.

2009-05-13T16:50:00.001-07:00

I’ve been here in Arequipa for more than 4 months now and I have visited 5 orphanages now. And worked in two.. the beautiful city really does have a problem, there are many abandoned or orphaned children and many with other backgrounds.. now as the city gets bigger there are about 20 kids a week having to be placed in orphanages.. this kids that do not deserve this life but unfortunately more don’t even get found.

There are about 36 orphanages /children’s home’s here in this city and some that are not registered.. the homes get full and the state orphanages get packed.. and the state orphanages can not reject the kids.
The need here is big, as I seek the future I have the vision of starting up a home for many kids. I keep learning about how to operate one and look more in depth in to this…
I ask for your prayers in this investigation..

Here in this home I have been washing babies clothes ..by hand! It takes like 3 -4 hours a day...

I think I will use the donation to help pay for a proper washing machine..

Thanks for your interest and prayers..

Yours J-D

The work in Ebenezer School

2009-05-08T09:32:00.000-07:00

I have been here with the Ebenezer School for 5 days now. The small school, situated very near the city centre on Melgar street block 5, is a Christian run school. I am staying in a flat in the home of Bob & Noel Rich who are missionaries who help with the school. I am most grateful for their hospitality and care during my stay.

(They are demolishing the next door building to be able to build an extention for the school.. your donation has helped in this)

I talked to the directors, husband and wife, Marino & Lupe, who had the vision of setting up a school with a Christian ethos. The State schools have many ideas of religion and traditions that really makes it hard for a Christian student to operate. State schools teach a wider range of subjects but this school has an integrated approach, in the sense of working with the spiritual , physical and educational needs. As Marino said, “We work with the kids not just on the level of teaching subjects, but of a caring approach, giving attention to their other needs.”

Having Christian teachers, they can provide not just subject teaching but from a basis of godly principles. They care on an individual basis for their spiritual needs with an ear for the problems that the kids may have. The aim of the school is to be a ministry not just for Christian families that send their kids to the school but for non-Christian families.

The teachers' attitude is very much different, their love for the work here is a happy one and they really put all their energy into it. The teachers in other schools unfortunately focus more on results and their pay. The kids are not part of their full agenda. If the kid’s character is to be formed for a better life it has to be provided with a deeper comprehension of life and in this school they do it with God in their life as the focus.

The school has about 100 kids from pre-primary through primary to secondary. The kids reflect most of Arequipa when we talk about the problems that they have - that 95 percent of the problems is from the home. Some kids come from broken homes, others from troubled backgrounds that affect their attitude. But the work here ministers to the parents also and makes time for the care of the family.

The school Ebenezer has only been going with that name from last year.. and before from 2004. Today the school presented the new school anthem. The teachers practised it at 7:30 in their teachers' devotional time together. The song was catchy and was aiming to encourage the kids to look to Christ as He leads them and leads them on.

As I finish here, sitting in some classes and talking at length to the directors about the vision, mission and operation of the school, I thank God for the work here and the blessing it is to so many families. I will go in on Saturday to the school as it is Mothers Day and the kids have prepared a sketch and typical dance.

The Rich's have an independent church in the front of their house (the white one). The red building next door is the school and the one next to it is the one bought for the extension.

To finish off, I want to talk about the State orphanage I visited. I wanted to visit one of the boys that Noel Rich wanted me to talk with and maybe show him some skills in art. But when we visited the 100 odd boys orphanage we where told he had escaped with a friend. The thing is that he must have been influenced by his friend who is know to have a record of bad behaviour. Talking at length to the workers and psychologists, there was an air of sadness and desperation as they mentioned how as a State orphanage they have to take in every one, but they are just not equipped to handle all their needs. The other homes only really accept little ones or abandoned kids and teens. But when it comes to the street kids that have adapted to other principles and attitudes, it is very hard to work with them.

The State orphanage has all of them mixed up, from 8 years of age to very much older ones. As this city gets bigger (over a million inhabitants) the problem increases. They were saying that now each week the judges are placing in orphanages and children’s homes about 20 every week.

I talked about my vision and they were really positive and said in the future that they are there to help give advice and so on..

As I end this long note, I wonder how it may all materialize. The vision I have is from God, but I don't know yet if it is to start a home or help out in an existing one. But about property, building, workers, finances, organization, wisdom and kids - “I know that is in the Lord's hands."

I have been thinking deeply of my trip/vision, the future and more.. so my head is very sore from thinking, and my heart is heavy.. with the need and work to be done here.. Let me look with God's eyes, let me have a heart like God's..As we want to be more like Him we become sad...I know that God must be sad also.. We are all called to play our part as instruments in God's hands.. so in all we do let us do it to the best we can.. to reach others with His love..

My last weekend at New Hope

2009-05-05T13:50:00.000-07:00

I am moving on from New Hope Home to spend a short time in a Christian School in Arequipa, so its a big "Bye for now, see you later!
I miss you all and will see out about during MAY.. some days I hope."

May The Lord bless you and keep you.
May the Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you.
May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace.

Boys watching film on my laptop

Preparing my last meal.. During my time here I have seen a big change in the boys' attitude to life and behavior. I'm happy that I was part of their lives

and pray that they seek a total change with God's help to move on into the world. The life of a child here is in many ways very different from that outside the walls of the home.. but I pray that what goes on here will stand firm for their lives..

So as I finish up with the programs at the CENA UNIDA , the united dinner´9, I leave knowing that God will just keep blessing theses kids. and the work will keep growing..

I stayed for the Sunday night service. Next Sunday is Mothers Day. I might go over and see the dramas and sketches that the kids will put on in the church for that.. I will miss these kids ..

I leave after all the goodbyes but I will be back to visit and to talk with the Director, David Bolos, about the new programs.

´now to the work in ebenzer school, and my apartment of the riches that support and help the christen school.-

In the second part of my investigation mission trip I will be looking at the influence of a school in a childs life, and in particular how a Christian school can help.

There is much to understand and many new concepts to work out.

Pray for all I learning here and how this might help me decide about things in the future. Bob and Noel Rich (American missionary friends) have been really good to me as I settle in to a new role, and also as i take time to take stock of the work in New Hope.

The school has bought an adjacent house and they are demolishing it to make way for more class rooms.. your donations are helping with this. I will show pictures of the work later.. the Rich's say a big thanks to all who gave..

Many Thanks, and keep in touch.. J-D

EBENEZER CHRISTIAN SCHOOL

Last week of my stay in New Hope.

2009-04-29T06:29:00.000-07:00

As the week ends and Sunday will be my last day here I think back on what my stay here has been like.

..the things i've learnt and the many happy times..

Some of the photos are of the last weekend.

This week I have been busy with a lot of wrapping up with the programs that I have tried to implement.

In paricular I have been working with the tutors about what is involved in being a pastoral tutor.

All of us are people in need of help and also people positioned by God to help those around us. We carry both these identities at the same time throughout life..

Through the person of Christ, the Gospel not only saves people but also transforms people. Christ brings meaning, purpose and identity to all areas of our lives and in every situation we find ourselves in.

The call to be a carer of children is a joy but also a responsiblility to present the truth to the next generation so that they too can follow Christ every day and to help them in all their worries and cares.

We looked into the area of pastoral leadership. We thought how, if pastoral leadership must need to be effective, it must target the heart of the individual. Whatever controls the heart will control behaviour. Therefore , if lasting change is going to take place, it must be through the heart.

We looked at why the kids do the things they do.. (Luke 6:43-46)

The heart(mind, soul, spirit, emotions) causes us to do what we do.

Therefore we looked at this question that they will look at with their kids.. Can people be transformed in character and behaviour without the heart being changed?

If you had an apple tree that produced bad apples, yet you stapled good apples to it for a season, would they last? Could we say that we have fixed the real problem?

If the heart change is required, then we need to examine what controls the heart and what needs to change. The Bible calls this , "turning from our idols" (Ezekiel 14: 1-6)

If we hold our hand over our face, our vision will be obstructed. The only way to clear vision is to totally remove our hand..

The Bible is what reveals our idols to us and shows us what we need to change. (Hebrews 4:12-13)

The Gospel rescues us from ourselves as we turn from being Lord of our lives to making Christ Lord of our lives more and more each day. This is the goal of pastoral leadership.

So as I leave and look to move to help in a Christian school in Arequipa near the city center, I keep that thought of how we impact others and what can we practically do: to love , know, speak and then do (guide and support).

This is our mission to help others to be transformed with the power of God .

Transformation needs to take place in the heart and is carried out not by a system or formula, but by a person , Jesus Christ, through his Word and Sprit and through those He called to be his instruments.

Let us pray:

For the workers here in 'New Hope' as they do what God has called them to do in his ministry in Peru.

For me as I seek to be that also here and now and for the future.
As I still look to set up a childrens home here in Arequipa, Peru.. the need is great.. as God is choosing more kids to be taken out of the bad situation they find themselves in and placing them in a loving home where the truth of Christ can be presented in a deeper way to them.. God wants to practicly help these kids, to love and guide them.

...The phone rings , more kids -the Judge wants to send more kids to this Christian home.. as they know it's a very good home, but the rooms are full and the tutors are few...

Pray as i seek God's guidance and He leads me in this direction of the vision to build His new home...

Baptism time.. my kids took the step

2009-04-20T16:15:00.000-07:00

Saturday...a sunny day and baptism

Show your faith publicly for Jesus who

saved you!

WE HAVE ARRIVED AT YURA!

My kid, Fredy

Jorge

Benildo

Efrain

Lunch

A time to have fun and fish...we brought back lots of little fish for the fish tank..

Even some of the tutors got involved

Matthew 28 :

¹⁹Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in^{a]" style="font-size: 0.75em; line-height: 0.5em; ">[a]} the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age

Last Friday photo shoot

2009-04-20T13:59:00.001-07:00

Last friday night we had the ending to Seth's photography club..

He has captured the essence of the child that lives in the children's homes, that they are just ordinary kids that seek and look forward to a new beginning..

The best images of each week taken by the kids was put up on display in the main hall in the home, as a gallery..Church members came and lots of talk about the talent and new image the kids are portraying..

Also it was an ending and final chapter of this visit for other interns - including Andrew who worked very closly with the small children's house and with Agusto who really misses you Andrew..

Seth plans to implement a vision for photograpy in children from children's homes..

Also that night was a good-bye to Lisa!

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR INPUT IN THE LIVES OF THE KIDS..

YOU WERE IMPORTANT TO MANY KIDS..

WE PRAYED FOR THE INTERNS LEAVING AND ALSO FOR NEW INTERNS AND PEOPLE PARTNERING WITH NEW HOPE HOME...

fuente: Wee tuck shop after..

As we carry on here in the home we remember your support.. thanks Seth, Andrew and Lisa..

A "paseo" (wee outing) to an Alpaca Industry Exhibition

2009-04-14T21:47:00.000-07:00

My father and mother are dead,

Nor friend, nor relation I know;
And now the cold earth is their bed,
And daisies will over them grow.

I cast my eyes into the tomb,
The sight made me bitterly cry;
I said, "And is this the dark room,
Where my father and mother must lie?"

I cast my eyes round me again, Pray that the kids really get to know of Gods love
In hopes some protector to see; Pray that they get to have a real friend
Alas! but the search was in vain, called Jesus.
For none had compassion on me. Pray that I may be faithfull in reflecting
Jesus..
I cast my eyes up to the sky,
I groan'd, though I said not a word;
Yet GOD was not deaf to my cry,
The Friend of the fatherless heard.

For since I have trusted his care,
And learn'd on his word to depend,
He has kept me from every snare,
And been my best Father and Friend

by Jane Taylor

What would it take to share God's love to the little ones such as these?

Easter Holidays..in New Hope, Arequipa, Peru

2009-04-11T20:53:00.000-07:00

FRIDAY...
With Ruben, the new tutor who has taken my place.. (as I'm now in the office), we went to the indoor swimming pool that was really great fun!!

Thanks for your prayers.. and the dontations that people have sent out.. keep sending some.. these kids realy say a big thank you to all of you!

Here are some more photos:-

FRIDAY NIGHT

The Fuente.. games and uniting the kids from each house..

SATURDAY.. A trip to out-door Go-karting

We even got Hermana Gladys to try the go-karting. She is the lady tutor of the group I'm with.

The boys love the fish tank as much as I do.. Benildo and Efrain did not go on the two trips, so that night i took them for an ice-cream... However they told me to buy new shoes because the ones I have really do let the air in, so we went to town.. and then we went for cake. Then I said that they could buy fish of their choice.. so we did.. and brought them back.. I will show pictures of the new fish another day.

Well it's late now.. night night..tomorrow is Sunday..

God bless you all.. each and every one..!

A visit to the "A de D" (Love of God) children's home

2009-04-10T09:05:00.001-07:00

I went to visit this small home last week.. they have 20 kids. It is a Christian run home.. they don't have support from abroad or any big finances.. The director/ dad in charge also works and his wife as well..

Pray for this home as it continues.. Thanks to your donations I was able to bring it money which they needed urgently that weekend.. their water pipes and electricity got damaged..The kids had no water for being prepared for school the next Monday coming..

I talked with the director about how he set up the home and how difficult it is.. and other things about what is necessary for running one..

I got a lot of insight, but I left feeling that if I had time I would like to help out.. They have no tutors or people to bring outside help..

So hey if you think there nothing to do.. and life's a bit boring.. well, think it through.. Over here there's too much to be done..

God bless, once again... and thanks for keeping up with the blog.. I have three more weeks here and still need to get 3 programs done.. The 1st week in May I'll be helping in a school, but before all that, pray for the work that is needing to be done over here..

yours.. J-D

Psalm 150:6
Let everything that has breath PRAISE the LORD. Praise the LORD

The young boys' house won

2009-04-07T07:13:00.000-07:00

"pequenos principes de la fe" (little princes of the faith) is

the name of the house that won the prize for the best poster...

so they got to go out for chicken and chips... I got invited.. it was great fun for us all.. It was Palm Sunday.. As Arequipa is very Catholic they took the images of Jesus and the saints for some fresh air..

I'll let you 'disfrutar' (enjoy) the pic's of all the little saints..

2 cor inthans 9:8

"And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work."

Focus on being united Sat 4th April 2009

2009-04-06T09:18:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday.. 7pm.. the new program.

"united dinner"

Objectives :

Unity in fellowship of each house, - going forward together..
Togetherness - achieving purpose
Under one roof, - under God's love
One meal, - one strength
Sing as one, - focusing.
A reflection, - solidarity
Some games, - family fun
Same fun, - Peace

Each house brought their own dish and desert plus pots and pans and drinks..

The program on the left says..

7pm Meet in dining hall - time of reflection and announcements

7:30 worship - praise

7:40 serve dinner

8:30 fun and games

9pm end of dinner

Colossians 2:2
"My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ. "

Proverbs 14:26
"He who fears the LORD has a secure fortress, and for his children it will be a refuge."

Reflection on God's work. We are just workers

2009-04-01T14:42:00.000-07:00

^{Paslm 127...

1} Unless the LORD builds the house,
its builders labor in vain.
Unless the LORD watches over the city,
the watchmen stand guard in vain.

² In vain you rise early

and stay up late,

toiling for food to eat—

for he grants sleep to those he loves.

³ Sons are a heritage from the LORD,

children a reward from him.

Please pray for all the work that is to be done.. Any ideas, any support of any kind.. the workers are few...

Las bienaventuradas (the blessed ones) - younger girls house..

Los gedeones (the gideons) - older boys house

Los amigos de Jesus (the friends of Jesus) - young boys house

Los pequenos principes de la fe (the little princes of the faith) - junior boys house

Los hijas de sion (the daughters of Zion) - older girls house..

new role.more prayer 31-march

2009-03-31T18:13:00.000-07:00

I was a tutor at New Hope Children's home but now, my last month here, is looking into doing new programs for the home...

This is my office.. I work along side Fabio, a guy that sorts and helps out here also..

Please pray for the new role.. I only have 4 weeks to help put some stuff in place and other stuff give grounded ideas..

David and Debbie Bolos are back in the U.S. Pray for them as they lead the home from afar..

This is the list of programs I will look in to, some I will get in place, some I will put forward..

Program of expectations.. (A chart that shows the progress of each kid's behaviour) We have already started.. this was a program that I used in my house when I was a tutor but now they would like me to use it with the whole home...

'Fente' A friday evening games night and tuck shop that used to be run by an intern Lidia..but she is now leaving. We will see how we can carry it on and if in the same format.

Mentoring.. All the kids here would need a mentor / big brother or sister, that would give them more personalised attention.. but so far we have two volunteers... I will look to set up

this program properly.

'Cena united' A time when each house in the Home comes to dine in the main dining hall There is a time of being together having time to worship together and time to have fun together.. this will hopfully help unite the home more like a big family.. I will organise the first one and before I go see how it runs automatically...

Volunteers /interns... Looking to at ideas as to how the home can adopt the use of each intern more effectivly and coordinate their stay.

After school clubs.. We have a successfull photo class club already but I would like to expand the idea of having more clubs that deals with other talents that the kids have in abundance here.

* so if you have any ideas and would like to set up a few weeks club or month club of let's say ... teach piano.. or art.. or singing.. then talk to me..

House competitions.. David is giving us ideas on what he wants that house to compete in.. so that there is more solidarity within each home like a unit to work for God's glory.. Fabio and I will look in to this more.. we have already started..

There's so much I would like to do here.. like set up a street- reach program.. we have 40 young people that could easily do this.. but I don't think I have time to look in to this.. if you want to come down and help here .. please speak to me of your ideas..

Please Pray for the home and the programs..

I look out of my window at my office and I see Misti the volcano and know that God is beside me because God made that volcano..

Below is David and Debby the

directors.. this is the day before they went.. you can see all the kids that are here.. along with a team that visited for a week..

I will sign off now.. I'm really tired.. it's 9:55pm and the office people have long gone....

From Peru/ Arequipa city / New Hope Children's home / upstairs in the new office..

a new day a new boy in the family.. 20-03-09

2009-03-20T21:03:00.000-07:00

I will not write much as its 11:30 and im really tired.. There are 3 groups in the morning that go to school: the little primary boys, my 4 primary boys and the primary girls. Today we tried a new tactic - we got them to go to school in pairs..

I took lots of pictures to show the surroundings and some off the kids that i work with,.

(these mountains always remind me of God's presence)

Today I helped take the kids to school. It's my day off but i always try to help out as really two tutors work better.. I did try to organise a visit to another children's home for the day but that plan fell through as i could not get connected on the phone..

Today a new boy came.. ! It was all a supprise to me.. We had to reorganize the rooms - now we have a 3rd bedroom in the house... His name is Junior. I also had to spend time getting his new clothes from the storeroom. He came with only the clothes on his back.. with old shoes and a small jacket.. the police man brought him.. his story is quit sad.. but I thank God that he choose to bring him here.. !

He is such a friendly and happy chappy.. he talks lots and always has a smile.. the other boys have taken on to him very well..

This afternoon I went with Fabio to visit judges from different councils that the boys come from to get permision for them to be in school.. This was very complicated and a lot of paper pushing. We only got 2 done out of 10 that we wanted to get done.. The judge was not in, or the opening hours were working against us..

Roberto - Junior - Jorge

Pray for the new boy as he settles in..

In the evening i took him in to town.. I got money out and went to buy him underware because there was none in the storeroom.. We walked a lot.. and his borrowed shoes were to small so we walked slowly.. but i think we will buy that tomorrow.. We then bought a mop and bucket, and a brush & pan thing for the home. and a big tub so Junior can put his ,'to wash' clothes' in..

After that i took him for a dinner! for 3.50 soles.. a soup and main meal.. with a side drink.. thats like one pound.. after that we got into a taxi and went back to the home.. What a day i thought!.. and all in the life of a little boy.. if God helps him then He also will help you too...

I thank God for all i have!

Visiting another home!

2009-03-19T09:46:00.000-07:00

Visiting another children's home!

It is called 'UNIFAM'.

During this trip of seven months i want to see more of the need and circumstances of abandoned and run-away kids - the kids of 'risk'.. This place we visited last week is like a holding place where the police bring them when found.. then the judge decides what home to put them in.

Lots of the kids in New Hope came through this place. We rang up the place and told them we were coming..

On the way I bought some food with the money i had that day.. which just did to get us there also..

I knocked on the big cold metal gate and a policeman in uniform answered..

I thought about if my life had ended up on the streets as a young kid, i might have ended up here..

The home had 12 youngsters. They all sat down and the policeman introduced me.We served pop corn and milk and cereal in little plastic cups.. They all listened and i found myself leading the meal.. I said we will pray, and they all stood up..

I prayed.. ..for their situations.. their past and their future that is so uncertain.. I prayed that they would seek God in their lives, and thanked God that He wanted to be part of their lives....

.. After that we ate and I shared who I was and what I was here for.. I said that the pictures would be shown to many people that would see them and know that there is a need to help kids.. I said that there is a God that also will see them.

I shared that God loved them and would never forget about them.. !!

These kids that day where older.. but the day before there had been 4 little boys aged 4 to 10.. but they had been moved to some home.. Some of these youngsters stay for a week and some stay for months..

Never forget the kids that God loves..

"A hundred years from now, it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house i lived in , or the car i drove, but the world may be different because we were important in the life of a child."

prayer points

2009-03-12T20:48:00.000-07:00

PRAYER POINTS

For new kids that join the home. Edgar and others that have arrived today, and the ones that can't make it in to the home!

My involvment with the dudes! That i may bring a positive attitude, God filled and directed, so i can know how best to help and be a tutor to the new boys' flat.

>> Here i'm taking 4 boys to secondary school. Moises aged 11 in the red top.. Jorge aged12 - in the green, Roberto aged 10 in the very front. Fredy aged 13 in the red and black striped top. >> (For Fredy it is the first day of school.. he has never been to proper school before ever!)

Also for getting really a personal understanding for each kid in my care. Having 8 in my care i cannot always be just with one. The picture is of an individual trip your donation helped. The idea is that the kid gets one day individual attention from his tutor, to talk openly and to do stuff they want to do! To dig deeper in knowing them and that they may have a

chance to open up and talk more about stuff they want to. The trips allow better understanding between the tutor and the child. On this trip we also went to a sunna place that had a pool indoors. i helped him to take the first seps in getting to know how to swim.. he insisted i buy him floating wings..it was so funny but he realy had a great time!! thanks for your donations..

Also pray for the other volunters that live here and
work part time and full time.. all volunteers need prayer as they seek to follow Jesus' plan for their lives in Peru and with the kids of New hope home. They need direction and peace and strength as times can get hard also.

For Seth (volunteer from USA) as he works with introducing photography to the kids as a way of aiding them for the future, and also for promoting the need of support which is lacking for the kids here in all Peru..

Lydia, in the yellow top, as she finnishes her time here, as she wraps it all up, and as she works daily with the kids.

Andrew as he works with the younger kids' flat and his prayer to know how long he's to stay and in which role..

and Julia also that is involved with education and at the moment has lots on her plate.

I will sign off now........

Blogathon

2009-03-03T05:39:00.000-08:00

<<(peter helping a photography class... all listening to Seth talking about pictures) "Experience is simply the name we give our mistakes" Oscar Wilde
"A cup of what?!" Six Figure Bill
Unfortunately this is probably my last blog so i'll try to make it fully comprehensive. As i mentioned as i was sick with food poisoning but have now fully recovered although the medicine cost an absolute bomb. Had to go to hospital and everything - it was difficult trying to exlpain my symptoms in Spanish so i had to resort to trying to act them out with the occasional Spanish word. The doctor would then repeat the actions to confirm he had understood. We went back and forth with this system for a while then i was allowed to lie down as we weren't getting anywhere. Anyway, after some tests they found i had a stomach infection and they treated me for this so when i left i felt a bit better. If there was a suggestion box at the hospital i would have written "Bigger containers for collecting samples please." This would make the whole process more pleasant and less messy.JD's successfully turning the home into a zoo capable of rivalling the zoo in Arequipa (any house with more than two pets can rival Arequipa zoo in impressiveness). He's done this by introducing animals into the home at the current rate of one new species a day. He bought a turtle (the Undertaker) for a boy the other day which is awesome.

<<<(boys fishing for fish in a pond. They brought their pet turtle with them) The boys are very enthusiastic singers. they'll repeat English songs depite not knowing any of the words which is great - they did the best version of the Anfield rap i've ever heard. I started traveling back - the first bit went well.

(peter saying his good byes to the boys)

A Korean family was sitting around me on the plane. I was starving so i ask

ed the woman if i could have another snack because i'd finished mine and she asked all her family to give me thier snack packs. They didn't mind and she spoke no English so i didn't bother protesting - that made the flight better. She also kept laughing throughout the entire flight at whatever she was watching. I was able to talk to the old man of the

Korean family about Roy Keane's World Cup walk out in the Korea Japan World Cup 2002. He always nodded in agreement but he had no idea what i was talking about but i continued regardless. For my travel back home i'd be travelling by myself and i'd been warned a lot about travelling in taxis especially in Lima. Apparently people get kidnapped and it's also bad for people getting mugged. I hope i don't have to use self defense on anyone - for their sake. If anyone was going to mug me i'd feel obliged to warn them of my ability in the martial arts once. After that, if the assailant persisted i'd have to look at my watch and proclaim it was hurting time. I've heard a couple of stories since i've been here of people being kidnapped in taxis. I've often considered what i'd do in this situation. If i

suspected i was going to get kidnapped i'd wait until he slowed down a bit, open the door and start moving my legs in a really fast running motion then i'd lower myself from the vehicle using my arms onto the road. The transition would be seamless. It's been reassuring to know that in this eventuality i have a foolproof plan in place. My flight from Lima to new York was cancelled. I didn't realise for ages either - i assumed everything would be fine as it had been up til then. i was told the next flight was on Thursday - unbelievable. I asked if ther was any other way of doing it and the man was like "No - definitely not." i asked again about 30 seconds later and there was a flight to Atalanta so i said i'd take that and apart from being absoultely knackered because of the wait that worked out fine. I'm still waiting for the last leg of travel to get underway so at this point i'll bid you farewell. One more thing before the time on the internet runs out and this is very important - never forget th

J-D writes >>> (Thanks Peter for being here on this trip!! Arequipa waves you goodbye.. here are some pictures that will let you know that you brought joy and a positive impact to the kids lives.. thanks for being part of this.. )

"hundred years from now, it will not matter what your bank acount was, the sort of house you lived in or the car you drove. but the world may be a different place because you were important in the life of a child."

thanks for being there for them....

One week to go

2009-02-24T16:34:00.000-08:00

Greetings traveller,
We had an epic water fight a while ago which was awesome. People then started throwing mud at eachother and really dirty water which i wasn´t up for - was still good fun though. Carnival has just passed - a festival where everyone goes a bit mental and throws water at eachother or sparys eachother with white foam. It´s officially boys against girls and the boys are particularly merciless - gangs of them were roaming the streets on Sunday looking for targets. The next most obvious targets are white people (such as myself). >>>>(peter throwing a water bomb at people.. haha)>>>>>>>>>>>>

We also had a great time go-karting the other day - i took some of the older boys and then a few days later me and JD went with the even older boys and a new guy (Josh) who´s coming to stay at the home. I was zipping round the track when the manager asked me to pull over and said "Oi mate, NO professionals." I said "I´m not a professional." He said, "Well you should be." True story.I also had the opportunity to play some pro

evolution soccer in a wee shop with some of the boys. It was great as i beat the most overly competitive boy in the world called Antonio with a last minute goal and felt compelled to celebrate wildly in the crowded shop - he took it quite well, on the surface anyway.
Haven´t been feeling too well - in fact i spent much of yesterday and today suffering from the effects of food poisoning but am now on the road to recovery. You´ve probably never seen such impressive vomiting - it was everywhere. JD and all of the boys and other interns took great care of me while i was bed ridden and all went to great effort to nurse me back to health. Abel (the pastor and house parent) even brought a TV into the room so i could watch the Royal Rumble - what a legend. I am gutted to be missing out on the Royal Rumble wrestling event we have been planning for the boys which is probably happening

tonight - i was planning to main event. It was mentioned as a joke in the meeting we had to plan stuff but Abel loved it as he´s really into wrestling - back of the net!
Anyway, i´m heading to Lima relatively soon for the first leg of my trip back.
toga bogey

sunday 22 feb

2009-02-22T16:09:00.000-08:00

What can i say? I will add lots of pictures as i feel i want to represent more of the group of kids to you, and also the place we live in. All the trip and activites have been possible because of your donations..

The first picture is the Arequipa center square PLAZA.

The main square has the big Catholic

cathedral which is made out of white
rock called SILLAR. This rock is from the Misti volcano that sleeps beside "the white city". We call down to the plaza when we want to change dollars and get some food.

Every morning if i look out my window i see Chachani volcano and the other picture on the right is Misti volcano.

I love to be reminded that just as this powerfull volcano is looking over the city so is God Almighty who looks over each of us.. He is more powerfull and wonderfull than anything you can imagine. Psalm 19 comes to mind every time..

Today we went for a trip.. we visted an old mill. It was really sunny and the kids had a great time.. they ran around and you would not think that they had a backround that has brought them to this childrens home.. and this is how God sees us -from whatever bad backround we have come from He sees you as people He loves..

This is Seth, another volunteer. Pray for him as he works with the youth and teaches photography to them.

And the rest of the team. Lidia, Julia and Andrew from the U.S, and Lisia from Germany, and Jorge who is going to be on the team for a year possibly. We met up with him and went go-carting with the older dudes...

Peter is really doing well with the kids - they love him to bits..!

Hold on to a good thing! ....................don't lose it...