Inti Rami

Michelle and a random perro

Cheryl and Helena [Victor is in the background]

Matt

Amelia and Anne

Dan

Tracie

The team is here.

The past couple of days we've set up several families with cages and ginuea pigs. They have been so overwhelmed; it was humbling to witness their gratitude and tears. Today we are painting the children's room and taking more qui to a couple families. The goal of the qui business is not to just give them away, but to teach these people the concept of keeping a business. Many here work for alcohol, and bring nothing home to their families, and so wives and children are forced to provide income; and if given a few ginuea pigs, would either eat them in a couple days or sell them, making hardly any profit. Our goal is to teach them to care for them, feed them adequately, breed them, and sell a few, and then breed more- so that they can earn a living and learn to understand that they don't have to live in extreme poverty.

Yesterday, we went to Inti Rami, which is Quechua for the Festival of the Sun. It was beyond description. It is nearly impossible to drive there, so everyone walks. The festival is located on a hill, around ancient Incan ruins, on the outskirts of the city, and thousands and thousands of people attend. Every single street was thick with people, jolting and pushing; it was surreal. The walk took an hour from the city, and 98% of it was all uphill, upstairs, and on the side of a cliff. When we finally reached the summit and the festival grounds it was astounding. I have never seen so many people in my life. I was suddenly aware of the reality of the multitude that Jesus fed; I was there, I was a part of the throng of people, I was among the multitude! But, I came back to earth when the festival started. Hundreds of people, dressed as Incans in their traditional clothing, so colorful, began to dance, chant and kneel and worship the sun. They sacrificed alpacas on an altar and prayed to the sun to always shine. You see, it was the summer solstice, the shortest day of the year, and they are afraid that the sun will leave and never come back. Ironically, when the head Incan priest prayed and chanted, the sun appeared from behind the clouds that had been covering it all morning. The crowds cheered and clapped. I got goosebumps.

I had been sick for a while, but this past week I have improved very much and I feel so good. It has been an adjustment living with the team here, but I love it. It has been a great experience meeting them and working together. We packed all of us into a small van today, all 16 of us or so, sitting on the floor, crammed on each other and car sick, driving the back roads. Oh! Pretty soon we leave for Machu Piccu, and I can hardly contain my excitment. I get to experience it in person! We will get there early, so that we can see the sun rise. Can this be real!? It must be...I have a cramp in my neck right now and my foot's asleep.

Delay

Well...the team is delayed in Pheonix. They were supposed to arrive this morning, but now they will be split up, with half the team arriving tomorrow and the rest on Sunday. Dissapointing; and especially for them and exhausting also. Please pray that they would arrive safely and quickly!

Please pray

Please be praying for Michelle, my roomate, who is also an intern. Last week we both got some sort of food poisoning, and were very sick. We've been well until last night, when Michelle woke up extremely sick again. Please keep her in your prayers; and please pray that we can find the cause of the illness.

Thank you!

A team from California will arrive this Thursday, so this was my last day at the orphanage for a couple weeks. A new nurse, Emily, was quite the passionate teacher today. She wouldn't let me say anything unless I spoke in Spanish. Hours of intensive spanish lessons plus a couple dozen little kids to feed and watch.....tiring, but rather unexpectedly fulfilling.

The team consists of 11 people. We will be doing presentations and helping some of the church members start their own ginuea pig raising/breeding/selling business. One presentaion will be on dental health and hygiene, which we will do in San Marcos, and we'll give out free toothbrushes at the end. I can't wait until the team arrives- the house is going to be packed- but it will be awesome!

Pisac, Peru

Today after church we drove an hour to Pisac, through La Valle Sagredo [the Sacred Valley]. It was incredible. So amazingly beautiful; it didn't even seem real. The pictures just do not do justice to its beauty. I wish I could take you all there!

Joley

This is Carlyn, she has a double cleft palate.

This is Ronaldo. One of the nurses dressed him in tights; he didn't look me in the eye all day.

Notice the wiggly eyes that we bought for the children...the fish looked alive. It was a big hit with the kids.

____________________________

I have finally realized why people here never address me by my name. For one, they never remember it. And second, it's completely weird to them. And I get strange looks when I tell them how to spell it....that part especially makes no sense to them.

To them I am "Joley" and they always give me interesting looks, as if...poor girl...why would her parents ever name her that?

___________________________

Also, Michelle has been battling some mysterious insects every night. She wakes up with several bites a day and now has dozens. She has changed her whole bedding and we have cleaned our room very well....but still she is still being bit. I have been bit several times, but have not had it as bad as her at all. But, now these past couple nights I have been bit more. Today, this morning, as I was waking up, I found them. Fleas. I thought the bites were fleas before, but I could never find any. But....today I found it. It was right underneath my covers, hopping around- apparently in a jovial state of mind. It was so huge I thought it could never be a flea! But....Oh Lord help me....it was...and is. Apparently, not everything is bigger in Texas.

Please be praying for us.

wings of the wind

I just finished reading through Hosea.

It is powerful in describing modern history; the present times...the right now. In fact, it is chilling and seriously convicting- are we so wealthy and healthy and happy and satisfied in America, and in other affluent countries, that we forget God?

It's nothing new. But, perhaps being over here has helped cement some of those ideas I already had.

Actually... I know it has.

"For the Lord has a controversy with the inhabitants of the land. There is no faithfulness or steadfast love, and no knowledge of God in the land; there is swearing, lying, murder, stealing and committing adultery; they break all bounds, and bloodshed follows bloodshed.

Therefore, the land mourns, and all who dwell in it languish... My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge...

Therefore, they shall be like the morning mist or like the dew that goes early away, like the chaff that swirls from the threshing floor or like smoke from a window.

It was I who knew you in the wilderness, in the land of drought; but when they had grazed, they became full, they were filled, and their heart was lifted up;

therefore they forgot Me.

But, I am the Lord your God from the land of Egypt; you know no God but Me, and besides Me there is no Savior.

Hosea 4:1-3 & 6 and 13:3-6