Chow, Peru!

Hello everyone! We are currently in Trujillo, Peru celebrating the completion of our leading of a short-term team of 180 from Ohio. Katy and I both had our own team of 20ish students that we led with another intern. It was definately a stretching and character-building experience. We spent time working towards the construction of an orphanage, visiting people who work in a couple different garbage dumps, and experiencing a little bit of Peru. Our time at the garbage dump was an experience not to be forgotten. There are people of all ages who go to a huge garbage dump looking for items that could bring in a little income and for food. Throughout the day trucks bring in load after load of garbage and the people dig through it. The teams that we brought there would give them fruit to eat, talk to the people, and play games with the kids. It was an incredibly difficult place to be for many reasons and it was hard to wrap my mind around the idea that this is life the these people. The people that we met in the dump were incredible. The were so friendly and accepting of us visitors. They were not ashamed of the life that they had to live. Some people that we met were Christians and said that they didn't need anything but God. This was not just lip-service for they truly had nothing but God.
Tonight (Tuesday) we will be returning to Quito, Ecuador via another 27 hour bus ride. We will finish the remainder of our time there serving in different ministries throughout the city.
All is well. We are healthy, enjoying the experience of South America and looking forward to returning home in a couple weeks. Thank you for your encouraging comments. Please continue to leave them and pray for us!

Eric