Updated photos since the project

Here are some photos of Hannah's Home of the work that has been completed over the last couple of weeks since the project. As you can see, doors and gates have been installed plus another section of the wall has been built that goes along one side of the property.

Taking the children from Hogar De Ninos out for ice cream! How Fun!

Here are some pictures of the construction of the front wall of Hannah's Home!

When you visit Peru- There will always be children attached to you during the week! What a blessing!

The Next Trip...

Ola!
I have decided to post the stories of the people we met in Peru on the August Trip Blog, http://wwwchildreachmissions06pe0805.blogspot.com/. We will also post trip information and other interesting tid bits there, so click on the link and read on!

Felix

I've been home for a day and a half now, and I cannot get Felix out of my mind. Tami, my wife, is a big fan of Extreme Makeover Home Edition. She was watching it Sunday as I floated in and out of consciousness on the couch.

I woke up just before the end of the show. They were moving the bus to reveal the family's new home. I watched with a very heavy heart as this family recieved a beautiful new home. Each child got a room that reflected their dreams and aspirations. They were all very appreciative and I am certain they deserved everything they got.

Jeff and I sat with Felix on Thursday to see what the needs at Hogar Di Nino's were. Felix is the director of the orphanage in Chilca across the street from Hannah's Home. Felix and his wife Erika are there because they feel lead by God to help the children at Hogar Di Nino's. They left good jobs in Lima to travel an hour south and live in one room with their three daughters so they could help orphans.

Felix's needs were not a new home, or a spacious bathroom with a jaccuzi tub so he could relax after a hard day, or a new stereo or even a new paint on the walls. His budget from the company who owns the orphanage is short each month. There is no hope of the parent company increasing the budget, they are bankrupt. So Felix has spent his personal savings to meet this shortfall. The debt Hogar has incurred as a result worries Felix. They owed the bread company, and the gas company. They couldn't buy rice or milk for the kids. He had an idea to make Hogar self sustaining, but due to conditions out of his control it didn't work.

We were there painting walls and making things look nice so we felt better about the conditions at Hogar. Extreme Home Makeover, Peruvian Edition.

But they needed food. Imagine that you're worried about how to pay your bills and feed your family, and some people show up saying "We're here to help because we love you. What can we paint?"

Missions is about relationships. Our relationship with Felix has just hit its stride. He felt safe enough about us that he told us what was really going on. What struck me was he didn't say he needed a more living space, or new clothes, or even new strings for his guitar. Food for the kids, an opportunity to succeed and teach these kids how to succeed.

Jeff and I took the need back to the team that night. And they rose to the occassion. We were able to get Felix the opportunity to succeed. We met the short term needs and gave Hogar a chance to take a step toward becoming self sustaining. And Felix will teach the children of Hogar Di Ninos not only how to succeed, but how to be loving and have integrity and character. But most importantly Felix will teach the children of Hogar Di Nino's whose they are. Not his, not ours, but God's kids.

We have a lot of work still to do in Chilca, Peru. And we have a partner in Felix.

Monday May 29, 2006

We were very busy on our last couple of days in Peru. We had a wall to finish, plans for upcoming trips to make, rooms to paint and supplies to purchase. We needed the Lord's help to finish our projects, and He showed up in a BIG way.

Friday was spent finishing our work projects at Hogar Di Nino's (HDN) and Hannah's Home (HH). Wilmer, Jose', Jimmy and John David (a "graduated" HDN child!) helped us to lay the block and to stucco the walls. Without the help of those four local men we could not have finished our project. Wilmer and Jose' are from Pastor Moises' church in Villa El Salvador (Shalom Community Church), and Jimmy and John David are local. John David is 17 years old and was a child in HDN when CRM first came to Chilca. He is now working for a police commander and came to see us and help us at HH. It was wonderful to see he is doing well.

Angie, Heather, Candy and Cindy were my heroes all week. Whenever we needed anything done, or didn't have a plan for a project, we would ask them to help. And everytime they did. No complaints, just love and service. They painted, cleaned, re-painted, re-cleaned, designed, moved, re-designed, re-moved, made lunch for us every day, moved again... you get the picture. Always with a smile on their faces and skip in their step. Cindy took the initiative to make a badly needed list of tools we left at HH, and our next work trip in August will be more productive because of that. Candy, Angie and Heather designed and painted a sign for Hannah's Home. You can see it by clicking on the Flickr badge to the right. On Friday they also cleaned the HDN tool storage room (no small feat), painted the wall around the HDN playground and still found time to love on the kids and neighbors.

At 3:00 we loaded the bus and took all who wanted to go for ice cream. What an adventure! We got to see a Peruvian road crew, Peruvian construction cones (rocks), and Bocerone (big mouth). Bocerone is one of the most beautiful spots I've seen, and its right next to shop that serves ice cream! There's pictures of that on Flickr too.

Back to Chilca and we finished up. Pictures were taken, addresses exchanged, hugs and kisses given and "Chaio" was said, but no "Good bye". We know we'll see each other again... in Chilca or in Heaven it won't matter. They speak spanish in both places.

On Saturday we check out of Ola Grande and went to Lima. We toured Salamanca, a holding facility for children and adolescents found on the streets or in trouble. There were 74 kids there, three of them teen age girls who were pregnant. There was also several babies, one only two months old names Ama.

After lunch at Canastas we toured the square (Presidential Palace, Lima city hall and a huge Cathederal), the coast, and a cross made from communication towers that were destroyed by terrorists in the 1990's, and then to Tony Roma's in Larco Mar for our last meal in Peru. Then off to the Jorge Chavez Aeropuerto in Lima(Special thanks to the team for their patience as their rookie leader paid the exit tax).

Our plane was on time (11:05 p.m.), our flight home uneventful and we landed at Newark as planned (7:55 a.m.). There we split up for the first time in a week. The Rivertree group's plane left at 10:10 a.m. and Living Stones at 12:25 p.m.

I cannot wait to tell you about the profound ways God moved in our Preu trip. I'll update a story each day this week, so come back. A new day has dawned on our jouney.

Finishing Up Strong

Tomorrow (Friday) will be our last day working at Hannah´s Home and Hogar De Ninos. We will be blessed to experience first hand what God has accomplished this past week in Chilca, Peru. Emotions will overflow as the first week of building Hannah´s Home comes to a close. We will also say good bye to the children at Hogar de Ninos who have shown us what it means to be Jesus. From Natalie, to Jose, to Carlos, to Jesus the warmth of these children could only be a meeting with our Savior.

God has shown Himself to us in many ways during the past couple of weeks. From His ability to steer a ship with strategic placement of Hannah´s Home to learning about the love of Jesus through a seven year old boy. What we have done this week is only the beginning of changing lives so that children do not fall prey to the street and the abuse they see from unfit gaurdians.

Thankfully with support of those that read this blog, it is possible to impact the lives of many. The children will not have to experience the tragedies that Felix and Erica are helping them overcome at Hogar de Ninos. The team members that journey to Peru will be changed as well as our support team at home. And the kingdom of Christ will continue to grow as more people birth and grow a relationship with Christ.

Please pray for our team as we say good bye to our friends tomorrow at Hogar de Ninos, Hannah´s Home, and the communicty of Chilca.

Remember that God only uses broken bread. That is exactly what we have learned this week in Peru.

Truckin for Jesus,
Andy and the CDP team

He Reigns!!

Well I have three minutes before we have to go build the rest of the wall so this will short and to the point(actually I just hate writing). Anyways, this week the Lord has really revealed to me the Omni-presence of his almighty glory in the missions team from Ohio and all the peruvians that I have met down here, He is really the God of the Nations.
Umm, the bus is waiting for me.

God Bless,
Brandon

Open The Eyes To My Heart

Oh how awesome has God been this week. Opening my eyes to a completely different way of worship, way of living, and way of ministring. God has shown me throught the smiles, kisses, hugs of what true love is. It does not have to be perfect, clean, smell good, or even look good it truly comes from the heart. If only I could bring back to you all, all of these things my journey here would be complete.

Wednesday night worship service was something I have never experienced in my life. Pastor Moses had talked about the Good Samaritans. He had our teams come to the front and line the front and asked if his congregation felt they needed a hug, the people rushed to the front to each one of us person after person, child after child and looking out at the seats they were empty. A complete pouring of emotion filled that room. After all of this the praise team started we all began to dance and dance and dance. The flags were being waved, the disco ball lit up and everyone´s faces were filled the joy, love , and happiness of worshipping our Almighty Father. God has truly opened my eyes this week. Please continue to pray that the eyes to my heart here in Peru will be obedient in the remaining time He has me here. Love you all.
Candy Hazlerigg

A Life Being Changed!

Our God is Awesome!
It is amazing ho we take things for granted. I have been scared, nervous, excited, tired and moved by God. It is amazing to see people in another country serve the name of God as I do. Worship is so real and authentic here. The children at the orphanage came running to us as they realized we were there. We greeted them with open arms and they have hung on our necks the entire time. You can see the love of Jesus in their eyes. I am so grateful for Hannah´´s Home. The couple that sold the property are so kind and loving. We are doing lots of work and the people are thankful. I am still going through and culture shock and emotionally I have taken in more than I could have ever imagined. God is giving me the strength to endure. It´s not about me. It´´s all about Him!
It´s great to think that God is looking at us and smiling and saying ¨Well Done!¨
He continues to give me the courage and strength.

Love Heather!

God is AWESOME

I can not believe the experience I am having. God has been working since we left the airport. We arrived in Lima, Peru about 9:20 on Sunday evening. We met a group of wonderful people from Ohio that we have been working with all week. It is so obvious that God put the two groups together for this trip. We have bonded such a speical relationship with these wonderful people. Sunday after attending a church service we headed to Hogar de Ninos and I will never be able to express the feeling that I had when we opened those gates and all these beautiful children ran in my arms. You could see Jesus through the eyes of these wonderful children. Candy, Heather and myself have had the opportuinty to work at the orphanage every day this week and what a blessing it has been to build special relations with these children. Last night we attended the best worship service I have ever attended. I have never seen so many excited men, women and children excited for the Lord. There was singing, dancing, and worship in many other ways. It was a very needed lift me up for the middle of the week. I only hope and pray that we (the team) can bring back the excitement and the love for others and most important the love of God as we saw here. So far God has worked in so many ways and I know He is not finished with us yet. Pray for us that we will be able to bring back a portion to you of what we have seen here. God bless you all and we love you and miss you!

Angie Spradley

What a Glorius Day

Hola Todas!

WE HAD AN ABSOLUTELY AMAZING DAY!

We started at Hogar Di Ninos. Felix, the director of HDN shared a little of his story, and the story of one of the children in HDN named Jesus. Not a dry eye in the house.

Next we painted a dormatory bathroom, cleared a small plot so the cook ar HDN can plant bananas. We worked hard, and our backs and knees are barking tonight! Around 1:30 we got visitors, Terry Hunka and Ricky. They were returning from the government office where the title search was performed. We got a clear title (!), and started on Hannah´s Home immediately.

The ladies from KC - Angie, Candy and Heather finished faux painted the rooms, an awesome display of Trading Places knowledge and skill. They not only saved us from having to do another coat, but it looks great. We dug a footer for the wall at Hannah´s, approximately 25 meters long, 16¨wide and 18¨deep. Much of our construction supplies were delivered and we are ready to have another very productive day. (Actually, we measure productivity by the number of hugs, kissess and piggy back rides we give. We will have a productive day tomorrow!)

We ended the day in prayer. Go to the Hannah´s Home update at www.childreachministries.org and check out Terry´s update. We prayed with and for the people we will be working with in this God-given opportunity.

Its getting late. I have lots of kisses, hugs and piggy back rides to give in the morning. I will update again on Wednesday night.

Everyone here sends their love. We miss you all.

Christ´s love,
David and the CTM Team in Peru