Roof Dog Week

This post is about the week of February 16-22 - I'm only a couple of weeks late this time - Hey, I'm getting better!

So, every February a team from Christ Church in Plano, Texas comes to spend a week with the kids of Casa Hogar. They call themselves the Roof Dogs.  I may have mentioned this in a previous post but here in Arequipa there are SO MANY dogs that live on the roofs.  It's so strange to me, but it's totally normal here.  Anyway, the team named themselves the Roof Dogs a long time ago and have had the name ever since.  They have been coming for years and years and have built some incredible relationships with the kids.  The kids look forward to the visit from their Tias and Tios (Aunts and Uncles) every year, and I was fortunate enough to be included and get to join in on all of the activities.  They welcomed me in, brought me a big bag of treats from the States, and at the end of the week they initiated me as a fellow Roof Dog.  I can't begin to explain how wonderful they all are, how wonderful the week was, and how thankful I am for the experience.

Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday we spent at the kids' home playing games, making crafts, singing songs, and doing Bible lessons (where we focused on the Beatitudes).  On Tuesday we took a little side trip and traveled 2 hours in a bus to a camp in La Joya which had horseback riding, a swimming pool, and obstacle course type games.

Thursday we also took an afternoon trip to the mall where the kids got to order whatever food they wanted before spending several hours in Happyland - a giant arcade with games and prizes.  The Roofdogs also brought lots and lots of new clothes, shoes, backpacks. One of the days they turned one of the rooms into a little shopping area where the kids got to try on new school clothes and "go shopping."

The last day all of the kids put on a performance for all of the Tias and Tios.  They did a number of dances, from traditional dances to pop.  One of the older boys even dressed up in a dog costume and did several dances - it was hilarious!

And since pictures say 1,000 words I'll let the slideshow do the rest of the talking.  (Photo credit to Tia Kelly, Tio Nozar and Tio Allen - some of the pictures you will see in the slideshow I stole from them)

Sal y Luz del Mundo

A couple of weeks ago (February 7-9th) I helped out with the youth camp.  Kids from all of our churches and missions in Southern Peru came.  We focused on Matthew 5:13-16, and the theme was Sal y Luz del Mundo (Salt and Light of the World).

At one of the planning meetings for the trip Padre Victor mentioned they were in need of funds.  Feeling led to help out with this area of ministry, I used a portion of my budget and made a donation of $500.  I was able to do so thanks to all of my supporters who provided additional funds that I can use where I see a need.  So, once again thank you.  Padre Victor was very grateful and says "Thank you", too.

Anyway, the camp was held at a site here in Arequipa near the river.  We spent Friday, Saturday, and Sunday playing games, singing praise songs, sharing in small groups, and listening to chats about our theme.  I'll let the photos do the rest of the talking...

The beach and Colca Canyon!

So I'm going to jump back to the beginning of February and update everyone on a couple of little trips I had the opportunity to take…

The first of which was the beach!  They invited me to join the kids at Casa Hogar and spend the day at the beach.  I had to skip a day of language classes, but I had no problem whatsoever choosing a warm day in the sun over a grammar lesson :)  We left super early in the morning, spent several hours in the van, and arrived at the beach mid-morning.  I didn't take too many pictures seeing as sand and cameras aren't exactly compatible, but I did snap a couple.

The second trip was to the BEAUTIFUL Colca Canyon.  One of the recently ordained priests here in Arequipa is taking over the Anglican Mission we have there and so a group of us traveled to the little traditional town of Cabanaconde for his instillation service.  It's such a pretty church with an absolutely incredible view.

Language School

"Today, I am going to update my blog."  I have been telling myself this for the past 6 weeks.  I'm the worst…. and since all sorts of things have been happening lately I have lots of catching up to do…Starting with language school...

Since the months of January and February are summer vacation and there was no work to do at the school, I chose these months to do my language training.  During my 6 weeks of classes I lived with a Peruvian family, and I loved every minute of it.  They cooked all of the authentic Peruvian dishes, and served me portions large enough to keep me full for days at a time.  And best of all, since they spoke zero english, I practiced my spanish until I had brain-aches.  It was full immersion.  And it was awesome.   

The institute where I attended my language classes (ABC Espanol) is owned and operated by a preacher.  It's located in a house, giving it a small and comfortable feel.  The institute teaches Spanish to missionaries who have come from all over the world to serve the Lord and work in Peru.  There were missionaries from the U.S., Germany, Switzerland, Norway, Great Britain, and Canada.  It was so cool to meet people from all over and hear their stories.  I met some incredible guys and gals, made some good friends, and learned lots of Spanish.  I truly was inspired by everyone's overwhelming faith and love for our Lord.  Those 6 weeks weren't just a time of growth in my Spanish skills, but also my faith. It's a little hard to explain but to sum it up - I loved it.  Now I feel ready.  I'm excited to continue on with my mission feeling more confident in my communication skills, and therefore feeling more confident in my ministry.

My last day of class with my teacher - Abby - and three fellow classmates behind.
There was never a dull moment in our class and I never thought I would enjoy learning grammar as much as I did with them.

My new friend Sigrid, she will be here in Arequipa until mid-summer the same as me!  So grateful for this friendship

Tabea and Tabea - one from Germany and the other from Switzerland - Two of my roommates who were also living with the Peruvian family.

After our Bible study  we posed for a picture.
Crystal:U.S. - Sigrid: Norway - Yours truly: U.S. - Tabea: Germany

Tabea and I on the roof  of our house on a sunny afternoon.

Feliz Navidad

Well, the day after Christmas when I tried posting this I started experiencing some very strange technological problems.  My brother, the IT guy, came to my rescue and after hours and hours and days and days of troubleshooting and other things that I don't understand we seem to finally have solved the problem, a problem which I still don't understand.

The culture here is relaxed.  Time is not an issue and things get done when things get done.  So I'm adopting this mindset from now on with my blogposts.  I will post when I can and try not to stress out too much.

Anyway, since a picture is worth a 1,000 words I am going to let the slideshow do most of the talking for this Christmas post.  However, I do want to add how remarkable of a Christmas I had this year. It was incredibly special to be able to share it with these kiddos, and is one I will never forget.

To view the captions with the pictures in the slideshow move your mouse to the bottom left corner of the picture and click on the dialogue box (which turns green when you click on it)

MURRAY Christmas, y'all!

I feel like I never have anything to talk about on this blog that other people would actually want to read, and then all at once everything happens and I feel like I have so many things to talk about.  I want to apologize ahead of time if this post is all over the place…

Ok - well Friday was the last day of school for the year.  Peru’s summer break is during January and February.  I fully intended to come home from school on Friday and type up a blog post on the past two months of working in the school, but due to some emergencies I have been frantically shopping for Christmas presents for 20 kids. (Man, and I thought buying for my parents was difficult) I am going to postpone my post about the school until next time – it’s probably better for you and I both if I refrain from writing a novel-length post….

Ok, where was I?...Oh yeah - Every year a church in Dallas provides the presents for the kids at Casa Hogar.  Each child receives one box filled with t-shirts, socks, toothbrushes, school supplies, little toys, etc.  Well somewhere between Dallas and Arequipa the boxes went MIA.  We learned this news last Monday – the week before Christmas.  Kym was flying home to spend Christmas in the States that day, so I eagerly volunteered to take on the task.  The church from Dallas sent me money, and once I had it I got to SHOPPIN’! 

I shopped every day after school and all weekend, except for a couple of hours on Saturday when I did a small little Bible lesson about Christmas at Casa Hogar.  The lesson was about the Christian significance behind the candy cane.  They were very patient with my poor Spanish and I think it went well.  I gave them all candy canes afterward so they seemed happy :)  

Anyway, shopping was very fun, but also terribly EXHAUSTING.  I missed Target.  I even missed Wal-Mart.  But most of all I missed my 4-Runner.  Shopping is much harder when you do not have a trunk to throw everything in while you move on to the next shopping destination.  I covered ever inch of the mall that is nearest to me, and then I branched out.  Naty took me to some local markets near the center of town, and after church Sunday we explored a new mall further away.

Then today a group of us went to another market to buy all of the food for the Christmas feast. It was a very interesting experience. Check out the pictures.  I had to laugh a little inside when they were talking about the thickness the steaks they were buying.  When I showed them how thick the steaks are in Texas they thought I was crazy.  After the market we went and bought fireworks.  It is a Peruvian tradition to set off fireworks at midnight, so I’m looking forward to seeing that!

The presents are all done and ready to go for tomorrow.  I am so excited to spend this holiday with the kids and everyone at Casa Hogar.  As weird as it feels to have Christmas during the summer – I’m liking spending the holiday season down here.  My favorite part is all of the nativity scenes! They are EVERYWHERE!! There are Christmas trees too, but the most important decoration is definitely “El Nacimiento.” 

One last little tidbit - At church on Sunday we all wrote our name on a little sheep, and after lighting the 4^th Advent candle we put our sheep around the nativity scene.   It was so cool.   While doing so Padre Juan Carlos told us to remember, “We are all God’s sheep.”

Family in Lima!

I woke up to a message saying that my Very Most Favorite Aunt Katy and two of my cousins, Bert and Will, were going to be in Lima on a business trip for Bert and Will's new golf apparel line - Devereux.  They had meetings all weekend and wouldn't be able to leave Lima and come to Arequipa.  They were going to be so close I just HAD to see them... sooo I asked Momma (very kindly) if she would purchase a plane ticket so I could travel to Lima and spend the weekend with them.  She said, "Of course!" I know deep down though she was a little jealous her sister would get to see me before she did.  

It was a great weekend and some much needed family time.  Even better - I got to pretend like I knew what I was talking about regarding all things Peru.  I knew the most Spanish out of the group which was a weird change.  Usually I know the LEAST!  

I got to go to the meetings with them. SO INTERESTING! So much work goes on behind the scenes I never would have imagined.  When we had free time we went to a mall over the Pacific Ocean, ate at several very tasty restaurants, and walked around a park that is swarming with cats! No joke.  Arequipa is pretty different, so it was great to have the opportunity to see another side of Peru!   

To make the weekend even better the hotel where we stayed was only a short distance from the Anglican Cathedral of the Good Shepard.  On Sunday morning we got to go to their (English) service and I was able to meet some of the other SAMS' missionaries that I have heard so much about! I also got to see a couple of familiar faces of people I had met through Kym and through SAMS' bridger training.

I'm sure Guillermo, Beto, and Katherine (they changed their names for the weekend) thought the only thing I talked about was the kids back in Arequipa.  It's true.  I thought about them the entire weekend and found myself checking my watching thinking "I wonder what they are doing right now."  I missed them so much and I was only gone a couple of days!  Although I was sad to say goodbye to my family, it was good to get back home and back to loving on the kids.