Friday, July 20th:

We got through security and retrieved our bags, and then stepped out into Lima, Peru. Some of the San Juan boys came to help us with luggage and bring us to our hotel (I'll explain about the San Juan house later). We arrived at Hotel Senorial and went to bed. The time was approximately 2am.

We arrived in Flores de Villa to an amazing welcoming committee! The village had choreographed a skit and several dances. From the school children to the teenagers to the old women of the village, everyone participated. At the end, even the Americans did! We attempted to dance but mostly just had fun and laughed. It was a great time.




We ate lunch at the San Juan house. The San Juan house is a place that was set up for young men whose home situations weren't good. Maybe there was abuse or gang related problems, but wherever they came from, these young men were being taught to live like Christ's disciples. They have a schedule set up for them and they each have certain chores to do. They get up early each morning to play soccer. They're extremely hard workers and they each are going to school. They each have dreams and the San Juan house is helping them come true. For some they're learning Accounting or some other profession, but since they weren't born in a place where opportunity is easily obtained, the San Juan is helping them get that opportunity and grow in a relationship with Jesus Christ.

Soon after we ate dinner (Pardo's Chicken) and then the youth of the trip went to Youth Group at the San Juan house. We sang both Spanish and English songs, and played some games. The Peruvians bleached some shirts that we had brought (kind of like tie dying). It was a great time!



After the carnival we went to Larcomar and ate dinner. Ali and I ate at Chili's. Yum! There's nothing like eating American food while in Peru.
On Monday morning we started on projects. I helped paint a preschool with white primer. That took all morning, and then we headed to lunch at one of the Peruvians house. The meals there were so amazing! That afternoon I went to Rosa's house with the Devine's to help them build a room. I ended up watching the kids and trying to prevent the little boy from running into the street (since cars down there don't yield to people, people yield to cars). We ate dinner at the Darling house which is basically a San Juan house for girls. About 1/2 of the girls have been abused and they all have extremely hard pasts. It was amazing to hear their testimonies and see how much joy they have even though they've had such a hard past. I shared my testimony as well. After that we got a tour of the Darling House and then everyone left besides the High School girls. We stayed and made journals with the DH Girls and then spent the night.

At 6am the next morning we got up and ate breakfast. We walked to the San Juan house to get our assignments for the day. I went with the Devine's to visit a different Rosa's house. She had been abused by her husband and her children were so downcast, it was heartwrenching. Ali and I tried to comfort the little kids, but we could hardly get a smile from them. It was horrible seeing these little children have to go through that horrible experience.
That night we went to a restaurant by the Pacific Ocean with the Stavros'. It was very fun, and the food was great.

On Thursday we painted the San Juan House. The colors were bright orange for the main eating and living area, bright green for the courtyard, and a more calming blue for the study. We would finish it on Saturday. That night we went to eat at Larcomar again.



On Saturday morning we talked about our experience in Peru, both Peruvians and Americans did. We handed out the gifts of toiletries we had put together for the DH girls and the SJ boys. We took group photos and said goodbye to the Darling House girls, who had to leave. We finished painting the San Juan house. Finally, we said goodbye to the San Juan house boys and went back to the Children's Club or Community Center to eat lunch. After, the Devines and I visited Rosa's family one last time. Only a few of the kids were there but it was good to say goodbye and take a few more pictures to remember them by. Finally, we all got into the bus and waved goodbye as we headed to the Hotel. It was so hard to say goodbye to all of the amazing friends we had made. We'll definitely be staying in touch though! :)


1. Don't measure your joy by your belongings.
The girls in the Darling House don't have that much. However, they're filled with joy. I was so humbled hearing what they had gone through. I've had a pretty easy life...my parents have always been there for me, protected me, and provided for me. But I still get grumpy. I still get upset. I still complain. The Darling House girls were a great example of being joyful even though you've had it rough.
2. Knowing God isn't about knowing everything.
I've known God almost my entire life. However, some of the girls in the Darling House have known Him for such a short while and seem to understand Him better than I do. I could feel God's love through them and it made me want to be used by God even more.

