Sunday 25 November 2012

We're going camping now!!!

After spending three weeks with my parents, they left on 31st October, and I was not to have anytime to 'mourn' their leaving as on the 1st November I went off to camp for four days with the young people (Jovenes) in my church. 

This camp was not just for my church but for all the baptist churches around Peru, so I got to meet people from Lima, Cusco and other places as well. I have not been to a youth camp since I was 17 so was bit nervous about going as am not really that into camps, never have been. 

We did not go far, just to a place call La Joya which is an hour outside Arequipa but higher in altitude than Arequipa is. It was a lovely tranquil location which changed dramatically when about 50 of us descended there!

The sleeping arrangements were fun as well  - there were two rooms, one for the boys and one for the girls and in the girls room there were 30 of us... and what made it fun as well was only two toilets and three showers for 30 girls.... leading to many a queue! 

What did we do at camp? Well there various talks from different Baptist pastors, we had worship sessions, did group devotionals, rode horses, played water polo (which ended up in a couple of people being thrown in afterwards fully clothed!! 

Lidia being thrown in

Marylin being thrown in
As well as water polo there were other games including an army style obstacle course, hockey, volleyball, football etc. On day one the boys could not sleep that there were up playing football at 5am. That is dedication to the sport for you - maybe if Newcastle Utd were that dedicated we would have more points by now!!

We also had competitions, dressing up like twins etc. On the Friday night we had to answer questions and if we got the question wrong we got shaving cream pies in the face (this humour travels all around the globe)... I got my question wrong, but instead of getting the pie in my face, I thought it would be funny to put the pie in the face of the person answering the question  - I got an applause for that!

Lidia after the pie in the face!
It was a good few days, but I had to leave early due to ill health - I was completely exhausted after two weeks travelling with my parents, and just needed to go home and sleep. But I enjoyed the time I had there, and wish could have understood more of the talks, but it was great getting to know new people and spend time with the young people from my church. And for once was not the only 'gringa' there as there was another girl from Isle of Man and one of the Pastors (a missionary in Cusco) was from Scotland. So got to speak some English as well.

To see more photos please click here

Footnote: For those of who you do not know what a Gringa/Gringo is - it is someone from outside South America, it came from Mexico when a long time ago the American soldiers in their green uniforms were in Mexico and all the mexicans shouted Go Greens Go and it turned to Gringo and applies to all white people!!  I get called it all the time by one of my friends, so nice!!

Friday 9 November 2012

Culture Project 5: Senor de los Milagros


Every October in the whole of Peru hundreds and thousands of people celebrate Senor de los Milagros (Lord of Miracles).

What is Senor de los Milagros? Well it is an image painted of Jesus Christ which was painted in an adobe wall located in the main altar of the Shrine of the Nazarene in Peru.  This image was apparently painted by a black slave in the 17th Century.

The image shows Chris enduring the pain of crucifixion. And above the cross id the Holy Spirit and God the Father.  Below and to the right of Jesus is his mother, the Virgin Mary. She has her heart pierced by a metaphorical sword of sorrow and to her right at the foot of the cross is Mary Magdalene.

This image of Christ got its name, Senor de los Milagros, because in the 18th Century there was a massive earthquake which destroyed most of Lima, leaving only the mural standing up, which people said was a miracle.

This Catholic festival is the most celebrated in Peru and it takes a month to celebrate it with street processions, decorating streets in purple and even wearing purple dresses (woman) or shirts (men) every day of October.

Purple is used to celebrate the fact the Lord loves us so much he died on the cross for us. In the procession they join the Virgin Mary and St John with pain but with deep gratitude and joy for the salvation and new life given by Jesus. To them this is the greatest miracle. 

When we were in Puno we saw a procession celebrated Senor de los Milagros. Here are some photos:





Lima Part 2 - Agape

As well as visiting Paz y Esperanza in Lima, we also visited another tearfund project on the Monday and Tuesday - Asociacion Agape who are based in Huaycan in Lima.

Who or what is Asociacion Agape - well they are a Christian non profit organisation that works  with and supports Peruvian families  - helping them spiritually, emotionally and financially. They help run programmes which teach women and children craft skills so they can make things and sell them. The aim to is help reduce poverty, material and spiritual of those families who are disadvantaged,

The area we visited was called Huaycan and this area was an area of political violence of the 80's and 90's by the Shining Path and was very much suppressed by the armed forces and police. Political violence was removed from this area but instead came persistent poverty due to new migrants and apathy towards the future. They are many gangs in this area and domestic and sexual violence are high as it alcohol and drug abuse. This area also has one of the highest rates of TB in Peru as well. 

The families in this area have welcome the work and support of Agape as they all have aspirations but without Agape they would not have the access to the development opportunities which they now have. 

On the Monday we visited a workshop were women were being taught how to make Christmas decorations which they could then sell and we also visited on of the families which the organisation work with hearing their story and seeing where they live. 

Women in the craft workshop

Mum with one of the Agape workers and a mother she supports


To see photos more of the workshop and the family please click here. 

On the Tuesday we started with a visit to a church to meet with the Pastor's wife and here about the work she does in the area. One of the things she does is help women cook meals for kids - every day two women come into the church kitchen and cook meals for children in the area who then come to the church to get it. 

After this we visited another place were women were also cooking  - this time they were cooking for people in and around the pueblo joven in which they lived - they cooked soup and a main course all for 2 soles (50p). 

One of the women cooking 100 meals

Making Papa Rellana 
We were able to try some of the food which was made and it was very nice. 

In the afternoon we visited another workshop were the women were being taught how to make Christmas decorations again to sell. And we visited another family as well -this time a woman and her four children. She brought us in her home and gave us some of her food as well - which was very kind and heartbreaking  - the fact she who had not much money was sharing her food with complete strangers. 

The lady with her daughter.

All in all these two days were very interesting - seeing another organisation working in Peru, seeing what they do and how they help people as well as seeing another part and side of Peru. I think the work these guys and Paz y Esperanza do is fantastic. 

To see more of what we did on the second day with Agape please click here











Final part of the holiday - Lima

After Cusco, we went to Lima, which was the end of our holiday and time together. We spend six days in Lima and we were busy for most of our time there.

We arrived in Lima on the Thursday afternoon and just had a relaxing evening as we were all very tired. The on the Friday morning, Mum and I went with another Latin Link missionary Margaret Saunderson to a nursery which is attached to one of her churches La Tablada. This is the nursery where my friend and ex strider Anna Palmer worked and I got a special big hello from one of her classes because I was her friend, so sweet.

It was interesting to see other work within Latin Link and especially that of Margaret as I grew up hearing about her work as she has been in Peru for 31 years and my first experience of Latin Link was when I was 6 months and went to the Latin Link conference! Parents got me started thinking about mission very early in my life!

Painting Time

More Painting

Chu Chu

Margaret with one of the girls

4 & 5 year olds

Then on the Friday night, Mum and I went to meet my Peruvian sister Lileand who is studying in Lima (Dad was still not feeling great). It was nice meeting up with Lileand and getting her to practice her English so that Mum could understand what she said and to give me a break from translating. 

As well as coming out to see me and the work of Latin Link in Peru, Dad also came to see some work of Tearfund as he is involved in this organisation as well. So on the Saturday we went to see a project called Paz y Esperanza (Peace and Hope) which is funded by Tearfund. Paz y Esperanza is a Christian human rights organisation which is dedicated to defending and promoting justice for people and communities in poverty or affected by various forms of injustice. It is a worldwide organisation and the Peru branch was set up to help victims of the terrorism by the Shining Path in the 1990's. 

It was interesting for me to go and see and learn about other mission work in Peru. We met up with a girl who worked with young people who were involved in gangs and we also visited a pastor's wife who works with woman who have been abused and also runs a kids club 3 days a week for kids around her area - these kids mostly come from broken homes. The pastor's wife has such a huge smile in her face and seemed to really love her work and walking the path God had set her, it was so refreshing to see this. At the time we went to visit her, the kid's club had just started for the afternoon so she took us to visit it and meet the kids. The programme was being run by her husband, the pastor. 

Kids Club 

On Saturday night we spent the evening with strider Hannah Wilkinson (based in Lima) and also two new striders from Northern Ireland (Mark and Karen Robinson - currently based in Lima but moving to Huaruaz soon). My parents had met Mark and Karen before but I hadn't, so it was nice getting to know them and catching up with Hannah again. 

On Sunday we had a very much needed rest in the morning before having lunch with Margaret Saunderson and then going out to her churches with her. Margaret has planted six churches in Lima, and we visited three of them and Dad preached at two of them on the same night  - first service at 5.30 in La Tabalada and the second service at 8.30 in Villa Marie. It was lovely to see Dad up and preaching and it was great to be able to understand the whole sermon for a change as he spoke in English and Margaret translated for him. This is the second time he has preached for Margaret in Peru, the first time being in 1995 - a long time ago.

Dad preaching and Margaret translating


Thursday 8 November 2012

Machu Picchu

After not getting much sleep at Aguas Calientes (so many tourists) we got up at 4.30 as we were to be on our way at 5.30 for Machu Picchu... was so excited, this is something been looking forward to ever since I heard was doing to Peru - visiting a wonder of the world. In 2007, it was voted one of the New Seven Wonders of the World along with the Great Wall of China and the Taj Mahal in India. 

We arrived at Machu Picchu around 6.15am (yes very early - but worth it as not many tourists by this stage) and the first sight we were greeted with us mist and am like oh that is disappointing, but was reassured the mist would lift and it eventually did, after coming and going for an hour, but it did make it romantic looking. 

Misty Machu Picchu

We had a tour guide who took us around Machu Picchu (took 3 hours) and then we spent 1.5 hours up there on our own until the heavens opened and we decided to go back to try and get dry (thankfully we had our raincoats with us).

For those of who you do not know what Machu Picchu is here is a brief history. Machu Picchu is a pre-Columbian   15th-century Incasite located 2,430 metres (7,970 ft) above sea level.  It is situated on a mountain ridge above the Urubamba (Sacred) Valley. Most archaeologists  believe that Machu Picchu was built as an estate for the Inca emperor Pachacuti. It is often referred to as the  "City of the Incas", and is the most familiar icon of the Inca World. 

The Incas started building the "estate" around 1400, but abandoned it as an official site for the Inca rulers a century later at the time of the Spanish Conquest. It was known locally at this time but was unknown to the outside world. However in 1911, it was discovered by American historian Hiram Bingham and since then it has become a very important tourist attraction. 

Since the site was never known to the Spanish during their conquest, it is highly significant as a relatively intact cultural site. It was declared a Peruvian Historical Sanctuary in 1981 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983. 
Machu Picchu was built in the classical Inca style, with polished dry stone walls.  Its three primary structures are the Intihuatana, the Temple of the Sun and the Room of the Three Windows.
I mentioned before that at the beginning everything was misty and I was a bit disappointed, however when I walked up to the guards house and saw Machu Picchu in its full glory with Huayna Picchu towering above it, it took my breath away at the beauty of it all and the thought of how did these guys construct this so far up in the hills and how did the Spanish never find it. It is an amazing place and has entered my top ten of places in the World.
The Guard's House

Machu Picchu - view from Guard's House

Huayna Picchu
After the amazingness of Machu Picchu, we made our way back to Aguas Calientes were we caught the train back to Cusco. 

For more photos (of which they are many) of Machu Picchu please click here.


In search of the Incans

So what is the point of being in Peru if you do not go to see Inca Ruins and especially the mother of all Incan Ruins - Machu Picchu, so that is what we did. On Tuesday we set of on a tour of the Sacred Valley. 

Our first stop on the tour was Pisac where we visited some Incan ruins which are know as Inca Pisac. They lie atop a hill at the entrance to the valley. The ruins are separated along the ridge into four groups: Psaga, Intihuatana, Q'allagasa and Kinchiracay. 

One of the most famous and interesting thing about the Incans is how they constructed agricultural terraces.These enabled the production of surplus food, more than would normally be possible at altitudes as high as 11,000 feet. 

The site in Pisac served a triple purpose as it had military, religious and agriculture structures.  Researchers believe that PĂ­sac defended the southern entrance to the Sacred Valley, while Choquequirao defended the western entrance, and the fortress at Ollantaytambo the northern. Inca Pisac controlled a route which connected the Inca Empire with the border of the rain forest.

The Terraces

Inca Ruins

Next on the stop was lunch in Urubamba. And then after lunch we made our way to Ollantaytambo. During the Inca Empire Ollantaytambo was the royal estate of Emperor Pachacuti who conquered the region, built the town and a ceremonial center. At the time of the Spanish conquest of Peru it served as a stronghold for Manco Inca Yupanqui leader of the Inca resistance. 

Ollantaytambo

More Inca Terraces

Fortress

After seeing these interesting sites, we went to get the Machu Picchu train which took us from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes, the closest town to Machu Picchu and is the place all tourists stay before going up to Machu Picchu, and we did the same thing. 

To see more photos of the Sacred Valley please click here


Cusco

So after the 10 hour train journey from Puno to Cusco, we arrived in Cusco late Saturday evening and made our way to our accommodation in the San Blas area of Cusco - very lovely place and the accommodation was good too as there were only the three of there and the cat Socks. So was nice and quiet. 

Socks

We were in Cusco itself only for two days, Sunday and Monday and we spent these days doing touristy things. I really wanted to visit the Inka Museum so we went out on Sunday to try and find it only to find that all museums in Cusco were closed on Sundays. Well the big ones anyway, because Mum and I visited the Coca Museum on Sunday afternoon when we came by it by accident. It was an interesting museum giving the history of Coca which as you may know is a export of Peru. 

And in case you did not know here is a fact for you re coca - it helps with altitude so if you are ever at altitude, drink some coca tea and eat some coca sweets, it does help a lot. 

As the Inka museum was not open on the Sunday we then walked around the main part of Cusco looking at the plazas, the architecture, taking pictures and wandering around artisan markets. Cusco is more expensive compared to Arequipa, think its because it is the most touristy place in Peru.

Mum even got her photo taken with a baby Llama.



As well as us being in Cusco, my fellow Arequipean Strider Linda was also there too (well an hour outside Cusco) but we met up with her on the Monday and finally managed to get to the Inka museum, which was very interesting. Afterwards we went on a bus tour around Cusco and saw Sacsayhuaman (Inka ruins) and also Cristo Blanco (a statue of Jesus Christ... which is based on the famous one in Rio de Janerio but much smaller). The bad thing about this bus tour is that it rained and we got wet..... ah well.

Sacsayhuaman

Cristo Blanco
After the bus tour we met up with Chloe Stephen was had been visiting other Latin Link missionaries in Arequipa and was in Cusco this week too. We had lunch with her which was very nice. Think she was following us as we saw her in Puno as well!

In the evening Chloe and I visited a museum all about chocolate which was very interesting. There was no free chocolate tasting which was a bit sad but we did get to taste some chocolate flavoured tea which actually tasted quite nice.

For more photos on our time in Cusco please click here and here



Sunday 4 November 2012

Puno

On the Thursday of my parent's first week in Peru we traveled from Arequipa to Puno. I had booked us on a tour and expected to get picked up in a tour bus but instead we were taken to Puno (6 hours away) in an executive car with just two other people, was a lovely ride down.

We stopped three times on the way, once for Coca Tea and twice to see some views. One place we stopped at was the second largest lake in Peru and it in this lake was many flamingos. On our way we also passed scores and scores of Llamas and Alpacas, never seen so many in my life before.

We arrived in Puno late in the evening so did not do much except have some dinner and the go to bed. 

On the Friday we went on a tour to Lake Titacaca to see the floating islands. I imagined Lake Titacaca (the first largest lake in Peru) to just be a lake where we stood on the side and looked at it, but it wasn't like that. We go to the 'port' and got on a boat and were taken out a long way to see the floating islands. These islands are made of reeds and stand 14m from the seabed. 

Lake Titacaca is so huge it borders Peru and Bolivia with Islands all over the lake and people still living in them. In the Peru side the people speak Quechan and on the Bolivian side they speak Aymaran. We visited one Island were we were giving a demonstration of how high above the seabed the islands are, and also giving a demonstration of how people live and eat on the islands. After that we were taken to another island on a reed boat. This was interesting as it was steered by a woman.

The second island was much bigger than the first one but like the first one it was very touristy and there were market stalls there for people to buy things. But even though the islands are very touristy, it was still interesting to see them and the boat ride there and back from Puno was very scenic and beautiful.

A Reed Boat

Reeds used for the islands and boats

A reed house

Woman steering the boar

View of Puno from Island
When we arrived back to Puno in the afternoon, Dad was not feeling very well so went to bed while Mum and I went out and had lunch and explored a bit of Puno. We saw the Cathedral and also a procession to celebrate Senor de los Milagros (this is celebrated all over Peru during the whole month of Peru). This was interesting to see as there is not much else in Puno. 

On the Saturday we rose early to get to the train station as we were booked on the train to take us from Puno to Cusco. This journey took ten hours but it was well worth it for the scenery, absolutely amazing views. During one part we even went through the center of Juliaca in between market stalls, was a bit scary looking but am sure the locals are used to this happening.

While on the train we were treated to a lovely lunch, some typical Peruvian music and a fashion show featuring different typical Peruvian dress.  Dad was in his element with all the scenery outside and his camera was constantly clicking away. 

The Market in Juliaca

Herding of sheep and cattle

Beautiful Scenery

Two boys standing on the tracks

More scenery

The Train

To see more photos of Lake Titacaca please click here and for more photos of the train ride from Puno to Cusco please click here



Arequipa Week One Part Two

In total, my parents were in Arequipa for one week. You already know about the first three days, but what about Mon - Thursday I hear you ask...

Well on Monday we had an early start as we were visiting the International Colegio (started by Latin Link) and had to be there for 8am for the assembly. This was my second time at this assembly and its great to see the kids all come in, in an orderly fashion and stand there with not much fidgeting going on. The band are also great to here as well. 

As Chairman of Latin Link Ireland, Dad was officially welcomed to the Colegio as a representative of the mission and Mum and I were welcomed as well. After the assembly was over we were treated to a private concert by the sax quartet, the music in the Colegio is of a very high standard and always good to listen to. We then had a tour around the place and Mum and Dad enjoyed catching up with Rosemary Gibson (the director of the Colegio and long time friend of parents).

After the Colegio we were taken down to Shalom, the school for disabled children (also a Latin Link project). Mum has wanted to visit Shalom since it was started nine years ago. 

Before my parents left they were given a gift for Shalom, so it was lovely to go with them and hand this gift over to the director Ruth Green. This gift will go towards a replacement bus which is used to take the kids to school and home again every weekday. 

It was lovely seeing the kids at Shalom again and helping them make little sheep hand bands. Think Mum thought she was back teaching again. 

Mum and Karoli

Jossep
After a long day on Monday, Mum and Dad had a relaxing morning on Tuesday before being collected by me to take them to Nuevas Fuerzas where I work. They have heard so much about this place and the people there from me over the past eight months, think they were looking forward to meeting everyone face to face, and I was looking forward to introducing them to everyone as well.

Mum and Dad brought three new jigsaws over with them, so the afternoon was spent putting jigsaws together with Alejandro, Kati and Diana, having cake to celebrate the official day of disabilities etc. The jigsaws went down well with everyone and Alejandro loved them so much he did each one twice. 


Alejandro and Dad

Diana with Mum and Dad

Paul and Javier with the Cake

Mum and Pablo

Mum, Alejandro and me

On Tuesday night we went to the Latin Link prayer meeting which turned into the Kennedy Show with me doing the praise, Dad doing the word and Mum on Prayers. It was nice to have them there and they enjoyed participating in the meeting and catching up with people again.

On Wednesday while I taught, Mum and Dad went on the bus tour which I think they thoroughly enjoyed and Dad took many many pictures as usual. Then in the afternoon we went to the museum to see Juanita, the Ice Maiden who was killed as an offering to the Inca Gods in the 14th Century and discovered on Mount Ampato (a Volcano just outside Arequipa) in 1995. 

Thursday saw us the start of our travels and my holiday proper as we set off to Puno.