The work in Ebenezer School

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..

Casa Hogar Luz Alba

**this page was supposed to be between Rich's Independent School and Shalom center page**

• Casa Hogar Luz Alba =Light Of Down
• Arequipa City
• (J-D May 10th-May 30th)
• All information from web site and letters
• http://www.travellernottourist.com/

Luis Antonio Chavez & Jay Chavez (Co-founder and Manager)

Thanks for visiting our website, here you can learn about Perú, how tourism effects the people here, our organisation and the projects we are working with.
You can also get more information on the tours we offer (with a donation included that goes towards our project work) and the volunteer programs we have available.

OUR VISION AND MISSION

Our VISION for the future is to build an organisation which is self-sustaining and also able to sustain the projects we choose to support whilst raising awareness and attracting donations and volunteers.

Our MISSION is to give foreigners visiting Peru the opportunity to be involved in the true peruvian reality and Peruvians the chance to lift themselves out of poverty and believe in the chance of a better world, and then create it.

• Within this mission we also have certain criteria by which we run our organisation, these are:
  Our primary concern are the needs of the children we work with
  
• We work hard to ensure that volunteers who work with us can have a rewarding experience, using the skills and passions they bring with them to enrich the lives of children living in poverty (without having to pay large sums of money).
  
• We are a non-profit organisation. All donations are used directly in projects or for legitimate organisation needs. The minimal administration fee we charge is used to employ the staff we need to run the organisation efficiently (on reasonable wages).
  
• We take volunteer complaints/comments/suggestions seriously and work with our volunteers to ensure that we are continuously improving the organisation.
  
• We provide a safe, supportive environment for our volunteers whilst simultaneously allowing them to experience the reality of poverty in Peru and help to relieve it.

TRAVELLERS vs TOURISTS

We take our name from the premise that there is a distinction between the terms "Traveller" and "Tourist". It has become a widly held belief within travelling communities that aTraveller is someone who considers the environmental and human impact of their journeys and actively strives to reduce the negative and increase the positive influence their presence has on the place they are visiting. In contrast to this a Tourist is someone who does not consider or care about their impact, does not engage with the locals in a meaningful way and may cause a lot of harm through their thoughtlessness. Please note: We don't mean any offence by applying the above labels, we just needed a reasonable way of explaining the differences between the two groups. Obviously, terms such as Eco-tourism and Responsible Tourism kind of confuse the issue. We apologise if anyone does feel offended.

The Orphanage (Casa Hogar Luz Alba)

The orphanage was set up (and is run) by a charity organisation called Instituto de la Caridad Universal del Perú (The Institute of the Universal Charity of Perú). Their Mission statement is:
To help, in co-ordination with the government, the civil population which is socially, economically and morally deprived in the Arequipa region of Peru and the towns surrounding it, and specifically the children, especially those under the age of 8, who are most deprived of all types of attention (love, security, adequate nutrition, education, health etc). At the orphanage they offer integral care for those children under the age of 8 who have lost one or both parents, been morally and/or materially abandoned (eg by being left alone in their homes or whose parents do not care for them adequately) and/or who are at social risk (because they have parents who are drug addicts, alcoholics, delinquents etc).





VOLUNTEER FOR JUST $50!
Many volunteer organisations charge their volunteers extortionate amounts and leave them wondering where it all goes. We charge a one-off payment of just $50 (unless you are taking part in the "Volunteer for a Day" project, see below) which is used to pay the local staff a reasonable wage and for legitimate organisational costs (paper, electricity and internet use at the office etc).

ACCOMMODATION DETAILS

We have 3 volunteer flats, all near the centre of Arequipa.

Charlene, UK
"What an amazing experience! The children are so loving and happy - this experience has made our trip! They are all very hardworking and proud of their work and also very keen to learn English. Jay and Luis do a great job - so hardworking - a real inspiration to everyone. We are all thinking about a change in career! Thank you for this chance and for making us feel welcome - you will all be remembered for your amazing work with these amazing children."

Alexandra, Switzerland
"It was a great experience for me to work with the children. For me was the organisation here perfect. I enjoyed the time and you (Jay and Luis) do a great job.....always happy and friendly!! Thank you for this time"

Rich's Independent School

Rich's Independent School
J-D (May 3rd - May 9th)
Peter (small visit if time allows in Feb with J-D)
Arequipa city
all info from emails


Prayer email.. from Founders.
Hi y'all!
This year is ending too quickly! Time seems to really be going fast these days with so much to do! It is the end of the school year. God has blessed us this year. Of course there have been some complaints, seems there are always some problems when God does bless. But truly these days, there is a good attitude, with thankfulness and God working in lives. Last Sunday night a mother of a kindergartner in the school came to church. She and her family are not churchgoers. But she was truly moved by Bob's message on how much the Lord has done for us, and all it cost Him. She had tears in her eyes as she left, realizing her need of God in her and her family's lives. She thanked us for the school and the influence it is having here. So that was a blessing for us. Pray for Isabel and her family. 5 yr. old Victor is "graduating" into first grade. Thanks so very much for your prayers for the lives touched by the school. Please help us pray this will be the beginning of many more. Please help us pray for the school year closing program, later this month, that God be glorified in each presentation and that parents and families be drawn closer to Him.
Along this line, we are SO thankful for a team of two families and a couple single guys here now working on building 3 classrooms on the roof of the next door building for the school. These dear folks from North Carolina are such a blessing, in their sacrificial service to us, to the church here, and to the school. Lots more will be needed, and we do pray to be able to demolish the third building and at least get a base built there for an auditorium during the vacation. This is the big project. We are so thankful to you who have helped us. Thanks, and keep praying, please, for this need. May it all be for the Lord's glory and kingdom.
Thanks for praying for the radio, too. Alvaro has been having some health problems again. Please do pray for the Lord's keeping him and family. They do broadcast 16 hours daily, a lot of God's Word, including Bob's Bible studies, other good Christian programs and good music.
This year has been a year of weddings! Of course, some funerals too. These have been opportunities to share the Gospel with unbelieving family members, plus encourage and disciple new believers. Please help us pray for our families and homes. Satan does attack these areas.
Thanks for praying for the orphans I have been mentioning in the letters. Abram and Maria still are not adopted, nor do we know of anyone who could do this. But please keep praying. It may work out that they can go back into a Christian children's home. They do need godly guidance in their lives, and desire to be there. We just want God's best for them. So, thanks for praying.
Even though Jesus probably was not born in December, we are so very thankful He came! And we pray each of you will have a very blessed, joyful Christmas season!
Many blessings for each of you, Noél for us

Other Prayer Points

As they get ready for the end of school

In May I will be helping out for one week. may be in a art class. my hope is that i can encorage others to use the gifts in art.

I will be talking to the Rich's and finding out lots more about the work ministry the is to be still done in Arequipa.

The Kids come from many diffrent back rounds, and i know that i will get a better overview of where i can be placed.

Also the Riches know lots of other missionaries that work with children. My prayer is that God may even lead me through these contacts .