Peru 2018 - Visit to Compassion Site and Sponsor children.

After the group left, Joycegina and Katrina and I were transported to a hostel for the next couple of days. 

Erin and Pepe's place is getting smaller these days. : ) 

Was your basic hostel.  

Three beds and a bathroom. 

The windows weren't that well designed for ventilation.  

AND I didn't realize there may have been air conditioning in the room until a day and a half later.  : (  

But we managed.  

The interior was old and very nice.  

Lounge areas.  

Front entrance.  

Only a couple of blocks from Pepe and Erin's.  

Cute store display. 

We spent time with Pepe and Erin and the kids on Tuesday morning and then went out for lunch with Pastor Sergio and family just to relax and share life together. 

In the evening we went out for dinner and had the most wonderful steak once again.  

After a week of Learning and Growing, the steak was just amazing.  And yes, I pretty much finished them all off.  

Katrina was still having stomach issues so we ordered her some soup.   A meal in itself.  

Bed time and soon we were awake and ready to visit with Keysi and Fernando, whom we sponsor through Compassion Canada. 
Our taxi driver, whom we have had for years now, and our ride.  Glad we had air conditioning.  : ) 

Our Interpretor.
She has been interpreting for Compassion for 25 years.  
And yes, I forget her name.  

On our way.  

Haven't seen a LADA in a looonngggg time. 
This one was is very well preserved.  

Architecture.  

Getting closer.  

I'm still amazed at where people build and live in Peru.  

A new tunnel that cuts through the mountain and saves time to get to the community we need to get to. 

We arrived in about 1 hour and 15 minutes. 
They were waiting for us.  : )  

Greetings.  Always nice to see them again.  

Cute.  

Keysi and Fernando made this wonderful poster for us. 
We took it home....after we returned to get it because we forgot it as we left for lunch.  

A nice pic of us together with their mom and their little sister.   

Yes, I video taped our opening conversations.  

This site cares for 150 ish children.  
They have just built a new soccer and volleyball court. 

Keysi is looking forward to playing on it over Easter. 

We met the cooks again. 
Food made with loving hands for the children.  

Rice. 

And a stew of sorts with corn and beans and squash.  

The meat is yet to go in. 

Watermelon.
Good in any culture.  :) 

The drink today is pineapple juice.  

And salads too. 
They eat healthy here as they do in each compassion site.  

Where did everyone go.  : ) 

After visiting the site we went out for lunch. 
She's such a cutie.  : ) 

Our favourite place.  :)  

She just didn't want to smile for me.  

Keysi did. 
She is 18 years old now. 
We have sponsored her (and Fernando) for many years now. 
Keysi is finishing up her nursing studies soon and we are very proud of her.  
We can apparently sponsor her until she is 22 years old now. 
Have to look into what that means, but if it continues to help her achieve her life goals, it's well worth it.  

We gave some gifts to the family again. 

School supplies are always appreciated.  

Fernando playing with his sister.  

A fun picture. 

Once we took this one, Fernando realized he was on the wrong side.  :) 

So we had to take it again.  

These two have grown so much over the years.  

It has been wonderful to watch Keysi grow up in front of our eyes, literally every two years. 
We are well aware that it's very rare for sponsors to see their sponsor children so many times, and I get the sense that Keysi is very aware of that too. 
They only found out 3 days before we visited that we were coming, but they were very excited. 
Without our sponsorship I'm not sure if Keysi would have been able to fulfill her dream of being a nurse. 
Before we parted ways she expressed her sincere thanks for our support of her and, indirectly, her family.  
Her mom also thanked us sincerely for our support of her children.  I could tell it meant a great deal to her.  

Fernando continues to be a quiet boy. 
Few words, but wise words when spoken. 
He wants to be a photographer one day, and if that doesn't work out, maybe a chef.  
He has become a bit more talkative and he is growing up to be a wonderful man.  

Time is short on these visits. 

Before we knew it it was time to go. 

It's been a great gift to be able to visit with them once again. Great that Katrina could see them again too. 

Like in Gamaliel church, 

we are not just sponsors, 

we are family.  Our visits have forged a relationship. 

I realize that our decision to sponsor a child(ren) in Peru was a good decision.  Our 5 visits have helped bolster and give hope to this family. Keysi remembers every visit she says.  And her recall is amazing (as any nurses would be).  I'm glad we can give her memory gifts and we look forward to continued sponsorship and letters back and forth and seeing what the Lord does in their lives.  

Thanks Compassion for the opportunity to come and visit our children, though they aren't really children any more.  : ) 

Before we left, we took time to pray for the family. 

A touching time.  

And so ends blogging of our Peru experience. 

Lots of memories. 

Lots to process. 

Lots to be thankful for.