Freddie

So most of you know I do not like dogs especially small yappie  ones because a) I am scared of them and b) I am allergic to them. When I moved into my house in Peru and found out there was a small yappie dog I was not very happy - but 8 months on and I actually quite like the wee dog and will miss him when I leave in February.

Here are a few wee stories about my wee Freddie!

1) One night I was sitting beside Fred watching TV when he suddenly starts hiccuping (or as they say in Peru, he gets the hippos) - I have never seen a dog with the hiccups before, it was so cute.

2) In September Rut Maria, my Peruvian Mum went away on holiday for 15 days to Lima leaving me in charge of the house and the dog. On the second night of Rut Maria being away Fred sat outside the front door for 20 minutes waiting for her to come home - it was sweet but also heart breaking as I knew she would not be back for another 13 days. When I told him his mummy would not be back for a wee while he looked up at me with a sad face then ran straight to me. 

3) This week I have been sick with the stomach flu and one day was lying on my bed feeling bit miserable when Fred came and jumped on my bed to see if I was ok. I was cold so put my hood of my jumper up and the next moment Fred started attacking my head. He obviously does not like hoodies! 

4) Every time I go to bed or leave house Fred starts barking like crazy and tries to stop me from going to bed or leaving the house - at first it was very annoying but now its quite endearing

5) If anyone goes near me to hug me or even touch me sometimes Fred starts barking at them to back away, which is really strange as like three months ago he did not like me

I think that the two weeks we spent together when Rut Maria was away helped us bond, aww how sweet. He had to depend on me for food then and ended up quite liking me now we are buds - would not go as far as saying best buds, but we are buds.

Around the World

A couple of weeks ago at the Jovenes we had a special night for all jovenes of all baptist churches, this was called Fiesta Costumbrista Misionera Unida and was basically an Around the World night.

Each of us were paired into twos with a jovene from another church and told to pick a country to represent. I was paired with Illich and surprise surprise we decided on Ireland - just because I knew more about it than any other country.

On the night we had to do a little speech about the country, so I decided that I would write all the information out and Illich would speak, made life easier for me. We also had to bring some traditional food from our chosen country - so with a little help (well maybe a lot of help) from my fellow Irish Strider Linda, I made Potato Bread and took it a long. The reviews of this Irish delicacy were mixed with some not liking it and some loving it..

Potato Bread

We also had to wear traditional dress of our chosen countries, but Ireland does not really have any traditional dress, so instead I wore a Northern Irish football top and Illich wore the Irish Rugby Jersey (kindly leant to me by my work boss). Everyone else was in very traditional dress so I felt a wee bit embarrassed but hey what can you do if your country does not have traditional dress. Feel free to correct me on that, does Ireland have traditional dress which I do not know about?

Illich and I in our 'traditional' dress

Jenny in her Brazilian dress

Rocio in typical African dress

It was an interesting night and overall there were 9 different countries represented: China, Senegal, Peru (two provinces of Peru were represented: Cusco and Piura), Argentina, Jamaica, Brazil, India, Mexico and Uruguay.

In darkness......

On Saturday nights I go to the Jovenes group (young people - yes am still young).... and tonight was no different, was glad to go because had been in my house alone all day with the dog and was going a wee bit mad talking to him and getting no response back.

Jovenes is usually fun but tonight there was an added aspect of fun - there were no lights. We sat down to start and all of a sudden the lights went out. And unlike back home no one went to find out why or to try and flick the trip switch or whatever it is called, we just got the cellphones out to light the place and carried on. 

One of the first things we did tonight was split into teams of two, tie are legs together and hop down the church in a race.,.... now these kind of races can be dangerous with lights on, but with the lights off and chairs all in the way I was scared that my next doctors visit would be because of a broken arm or leg, but no worries I survived without a breakage as did everyone else. 

The aim of this game was to help each other, lean on each other to get from one place to another and I think the fact there was no lights added to this need as not only one where we tied to each other but we needed each other to help see. Just like we need to lean on God and have him show us the way.

The rest of the night was spent listening to Airyn do a bible study whilst walking around holding a cellphone to her head so we could see her and she could see us - it amused me. We spent an hour and a half in darkness - the lights never came on the entire time we were there.

I know its not really exciting but it interested me and amused me and I just thought would share it with you guys. No pictures sorry of the darkness to follow sorry, but close your eyes and you can be there too in the darkness!! 

On the water

Last week Ali, a ex work colleague and friend from England came to visit me. It was fun. While I worked she showed herself the sights of Arequipa and then on Thursday which was a bank holiday here the two of us went rafting on the River Chili.

This is something I have never done before and something which have always wanted to do. Though I know my family members were scared when I told them I was doing it, scared I would break an arm or lose my teeth - but am pleased to inform you that I survived and came back in one piece.

When we arrived to the office of the guys who do the rafting we were given wetsuits, shorts, shirt and a helmet and it all made a pretty sight really  very elegant!!

There were 10 of us altogether and we were put into two boats, a Spanish boat and a English boat. We went 6km on the river and went over about 12 rapids ranging from class 2 to class 4. Not being a outdoor person this meant nothing to me, but some of them were pretty rough and twice I nearly fell out of the boat but thankfully the lovely good looking instructor Rodrigo caught me before I went the whole way in. Someone else from the other boat did fall in.

Half way down the course we came to this big rock and Rodrigo said does anyone want to jump this and the American guy in our boat said yes, so we stopped and everyone climbed up to jump. I was not sure about doing it as I am not a great swimmer anymore, but I did jump and wow. I think  swallowed half of River Chili  but I survived even though went hit the water I thought I was a goner!!

About to Jump

Mid Jump

Ali decided not to jump, and she was very sensible. But even though it scared me a bit, I was glad I did it. 

The whole morning of rafting was fun and it was one of those things to do before I die ticked of my list. I recommend it to anyone. 

To see more photos please click here - they were taken by one of the professionals.

Dia de Arequipa

A couple of week’s back I wrote about Fiestas Patrias which is the Peruvian Day of Independence celebrated on the 28^th July.  However the people of Arequipa do not really celebrate this day as the 15^th August is more important to them – this is Arequipa Day – and today they were celebrating their 472^nd birthday.

Each year they have parades and today I went to see these parades with my mentor Ruth Turner and another missionary from Costa Rica Brenda Darke.  We arrived at about 10.15 and got some good seats and then the parade started at about 11.40 (about 40 minutes after it was supposed to, but no worries as we had a good chat while waiting and ate some lovely ice cream)

It was a very colourful parade as there were many different costumes representing different parts of Peru as well as different parts of South America as well. There was much music provided by different bands (one of them being the band from the International Colegio – who recently won the finals of best school band – they are very very good). Other highlights included seeing dancing nuns, Harley Davidson’s (really wanted a ride on one of these but not allowed!) and the fire brigade who are known as the ‘bomberos’ (an interesting note here – the fire brigade here is voluntary so all who work for it are volunteers).

Dancing Nuns

Bomberos

International Colegio

After watching the parade for about 2.5 hours we decided we go would go in search of some food. We went to a place which serves typical Peruvian food and after six months of living here I finally got to eat cuy – guinea pig. It took a while to come and that is because they were killing it there and then. And when it arrived on the plate, wow it was a bit shocking. You can see for yourself in this picture:

The Cuy/Guinea Pig

I ate it and enjoyed it though had to not focus on the head as when I looked at the head it reminded me of my pet gerbils and hamster when I was a kid. I can hear people asking what it tasted like – well it tastes bit like chicken and pork. It was a fully intact cuy, as the kidney’s, heart and everything was still there – I ate most of it except these things and its paws and head. It is a dish everyone needs to try when in Peru and yes Mum that means you too in October (Dad has already had it many years ago) – am sure my sister is glad she is not coming out now, would have made her eat it too!!

All in all it was a good day, experiencing Peruvian dance and music as well as Peruvian food.

For more photos please click here

Best of British

As the Step Team are over from England they were given the job of organising Jovenes on Saturday night, which they did very well... and the theme of the night - Britain.

We started the night playing games from Britian - Splatz (don't ask me to explain it as still not sure I understand all the rules of it). Then we did a quiz based on the map of Britain - we had to mark on the map the capitals of England (London) Wales (Cardiff), Scotland (Edinburgh), where the team are from (Wewlyn Garden City) and where Paul and Ruth Turner, the Short Term coordinators got married (Rasharkin in Northern Ireland).

I was very proud of myself that I got all these places right but then was informed they were wrong, but actually what happened was that the person who was in charge of deciding who won got the places wrong... so after thinking I was useless at Geography, realised I am not that bad. 

After the quiz we had some food - English Tea which involved sandwiches - egg and cucumber, scones with cream and jam, victoria sponge and English Tea. 

The Spread

The Pastors Family enjoying their food

Alejandra and Eva enjoying their Tea

There was no food left so I think that the Peruvians liked what was on offer for them. I sure enjoyed the scones with cream and jam. 

After refreshments we were treated to Scottish Dancing from Marie, Harold, Jean and Steve  - and then we were all dragged up onto the floor to try it out as well - this took me back to school P.E days when we learnt how to dance to the Gay Gordens!! Everyone seemed to enjoy this although a lot us did not actually know what we were doing! 

We were also treated to a gymnastics display by Alice (a future Olympian maybe!) and then Rachel showed us how to do some Ballet dancing. Some of the Peruvians and members of the Step Team were brought onto the floor to try out the steps that Rachel showed them - think the funniest person doing this was Paul! A budding ballet dancer there!

Ballet Dancing

Saturday was also the wedding anniversary of two of the Step team members Harold and Marie so Jean sang a song for them which was a lovely Scottish song. 

After all this entertainment, keeping in line of the Olympics, the Step Team gave all the Jovenes a gold medal with the inscription 'Tengo la victoria en mi Jesus' - I have the victory in Jesus. And then there was photos and a lot of dancing afterwards to songs by S Club 7, Queen, Steps etc - thought had moved to a disco night! 

The Jovenes

To see more pictures please click here

Holiday Bible Club

As you know there is a Step team in Arequipa at the minute and the main reason they are here was to run a Holiday Bible Club in the church during the school holidays (they get 7 days off during Fiestas Patrias).

The Holiday Club last four days and was a great success. Over the four days we had around 100 children which was great.

The club ran from 9am to 12noon and started off with registration and various games including balloon tennis, or if kids did not want to play games they could colour in.  After registration, which lasted half hour to give the Peruvians time to come, though people still arrived throughout the morning,  we had singing, puppets and a drama. The week was entitled El Rey Pide - The King Said. And every day featured a different king but the one I remember is David and Goalith. 

Singing

Puppets

David and Goalith Drama

After this we all broke in to groups - the Lions, the Bears, the Monkeys, the Bears and the Elephants. I was assigned to the Monkey's group and am telling you some of the boys in that group thought they were monkeys. During the group time we did worksheets on the story of that day and did some craft as well which ranged from making booklets, faces, decorating cookies and making shakers. 

Monkey's making shakers

Every day there was a snack which represented something from the story - the first day was popcorn which represented the stones David used to kill Goalith, second day was grapes as the story that day was about the vineyard.... and am not sure about the next two days sorry. 

During group time the kids were also taken into play games in their groups as it proved to be much easier that way than everyone playing at the same time as there were so many kids for our church. One of these games was the parachute game and again it proved to be a real hit with the holiday club kids. A great choice of the Step team to bring that out. 

Monkey's playing with the Parachute

After group time everyone went back into the hall again for more singing, quizzes and a memory verse. The quiz time for a little bit noisy at times as you can imagine if you have ever done a holiday bible club before - this always seems to be the favourite bit of any bible club I have ever helped in.

All in all the four days went well, the kids enjoyed themselves, the church members who were to help with the Spanish side of things enjoyed themselves as well, the team enjoyed themselves and I had a great time as well.

Click on the days to see photos of each day.... Day One, Day Two, Day Three and Day Four.