Yes friends. Our daily lives here in Lima sometimes incorporate visits to jail. Monica and I went last week to visit our friends. As always, it was a hard experience - however the hearts of our friends continually receive us with open arms and it is a great gift. It is a gift to bring a smile, hug and the Truth of Christ in and for their lives. Many of my friends encourage me to continue to "Press on for the Prize".
Monica wrote a blog on her perspective and jail experience. She gives a very detailed look at what jail is like, and you might enjoy it. I have pasted the link below!
Thanks Monica for your insights and detailed description!
Monica's Blog
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Friday, February 23, 2007
Another Day in the Life of Lima
Well, first of all, thank you to Linsey, I like meatloaf. All that to say, I did not eat a lot of it, because as you may or may not know my vegetarian days, (Thank you faithful members of the Environmental Club at Gunn Highschool :) sometimes keep me from eating lots of meat. My meat intake tends fluxuate. Anyways, I'm not opposed to meatloaf, it was good! The name still gets me though...
Life in Lima is completely unpredictable. You never know who you might come across or what you might see. It really is an adventure. For instance, on your way home from work you might be serenaded by a man with a portable amplifier and an electric guitar rocking out to your most favorite 70's tune. Or like today, we listened to two men playing their typical Peruvian instruments on the bus. This is the way they make their living. One played the Charango - A small guitar like instrument that looks more like a bango and the other was playing the Samponia - (the pan flute) and singing. These artists are truly amazing! Today when we arrived at the Friday morning program with our friends who live on the streets ages 8-18 we were suprised to be greeted with an applause as we walked through the door and a unanimous "Buenos Dias!" from our sweet friends. This of course is all due to another friend, Luis who formerly lived on the streets but now lives at home and works with an organization called INPARRES that has a program for young kids who live on the streets - providing medical education and life-skills encouragment. Today, Linsey taught us all about prayer and that we can talk with God all the time. At first, the kids had a hard time listening because they love to do school work types of hand-outs, but then they started listening.
I continue to learn more about what keeps my friends on the streets. The lie of being embarrassed or ashamed of the way they look and the life that they live. The lie that they will not be received or loved after having been on the streets, keeps them bound to believing that they were made to be there on the streets. I pray for their freedom from this lie and for my own freedom from believing that the bad things and habits that I have, mark me and make me who I am.
Today when I arrived home, there were around 100 young ladies running around the park in army shirts and pants chanting army chants - mind you they were running at 3:30PM in the striking heat of the day - probably up to 85 or 90 degrees!
Ok, this is a bit random. Up and coming, I will give you highlights from 2006 and some pics as well as reference to other fellow Lima blogs so you can learn a bit more about what life is like here.
Life in Lima is completely unpredictable. You never know who you might come across or what you might see. It really is an adventure. For instance, on your way home from work you might be serenaded by a man with a portable amplifier and an electric guitar rocking out to your most favorite 70's tune. Or like today, we listened to two men playing their typical Peruvian instruments on the bus. This is the way they make their living. One played the Charango - A small guitar like instrument that looks more like a bango and the other was playing the Samponia - (the pan flute) and singing. These artists are truly amazing! Today when we arrived at the Friday morning program with our friends who live on the streets ages 8-18 we were suprised to be greeted with an applause as we walked through the door and a unanimous "Buenos Dias!" from our sweet friends. This of course is all due to another friend, Luis who formerly lived on the streets but now lives at home and works with an organization called INPARRES that has a program for young kids who live on the streets - providing medical education and life-skills encouragment. Today, Linsey taught us all about prayer and that we can talk with God all the time. At first, the kids had a hard time listening because they love to do school work types of hand-outs, but then they started listening.
I continue to learn more about what keeps my friends on the streets. The lie of being embarrassed or ashamed of the way they look and the life that they live. The lie that they will not be received or loved after having been on the streets, keeps them bound to believing that they were made to be there on the streets. I pray for their freedom from this lie and for my own freedom from believing that the bad things and habits that I have, mark me and make me who I am.
Today when I arrived home, there were around 100 young ladies running around the park in army shirts and pants chanting army chants - mind you they were running at 3:30PM in the striking heat of the day - probably up to 85 or 90 degrees!
Ok, this is a bit random. Up and coming, I will give you highlights from 2006 and some pics as well as reference to other fellow Lima blogs so you can learn a bit more about what life is like here.
Friday, February 16, 2007
Thoughts on Self-Care, Being Me and Slowing Down
I find myself today in the quietness of working at home, taking a breathe to reflect a bit, and listening to the funny horn blowing of the ice cream sellers. Here are two quotes that I have enjoyed today.
"Make ready for the Christ, whose smile-like lightning - sets free the song of everlasting glory that now sleeps, in your paper flesh - like dynamite." - Thomas Merton
"If you can't take time to do nothing, you're a slave to doing. Doing nothing is a radical, revolutionary act. It frees you from the universal slavery of our age; slavery to the clock. The clock measures doing but not being." - Peter Kreeft
"Make ready for the Christ, whose smile-like lightning - sets free the song of everlasting glory that now sleeps, in your paper flesh - like dynamite." - Thomas Merton
"If you can't take time to do nothing, you're a slave to doing. Doing nothing is a radical, revolutionary act. It frees you from the universal slavery of our age; slavery to the clock. The clock measures doing but not being." - Peter Kreeft
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Feliz dia de Amistad!
Happy Valentines Day everyone! Here in Lima we not only celebrate the day of St. Valentine, but we also celebrate "Dia de Amistad" which means, "Friendship Day!"
I am thankful for your friendship! So be celebrated!!!
As for love - alas - there is no one in sight, in mind, IN THE PICTURE and despite the fact that I am whistled and hollered at, at least 20 times a day, there is not one guy who I fancy or who fancies me (at least one that I know about). I guess I'll just keep praying and try and keep a good attitude about it all.
No, but really. We are celebrating friendship here. Monica invited some of us over for Valentine Milkshakes on her rooftop. Yes - it is summer here and well, I love it!
Today was a great day. On Wednesdays, we usually meet at the office for a few minutes and then leave to make visits to our friends who have transitioned from the streets back to their homes. Jose Luis and I went to visit two of our friends in the same district but who live far from each other. Our first friend lives so far outside of the center of Lima that once we got off of the bus (after at least an hour), we walked 15 minutes up into the dirt hills to reach her house. It was a humbling experience to be a part of her reality and know that my friend continues to fight to make good decisions for herself and her family instead of heading back to street life - which in some ways might feel like an easier option at this point. After visiting with our friend and her two children we returned to the "Tragamoneda" translated "Swallowing Coins" - which is a Casino located in the central market area of the district that we were in. At the front door of the Tragamoneda, we found our other friend and once again hopped on a bus for another adventure in a different direction to visit his house and family. Upon arrival we were invited to eat an ice cream cone (which was most satisfying in the heat) and then spent some time sharing with our friend and hearing about how he has been doing in his job as a "Cobrador" - the person who collects money on the buses. Perhaps in another blog I will explain this better.
Happy dia de San Valentin and Dia de Amistad!
I am thankful for your friendship! So be celebrated!!!
As for love - alas - there is no one in sight, in mind, IN THE PICTURE and despite the fact that I am whistled and hollered at, at least 20 times a day, there is not one guy who I fancy or who fancies me (at least one that I know about). I guess I'll just keep praying and try and keep a good attitude about it all.
No, but really. We are celebrating friendship here. Monica invited some of us over for Valentine Milkshakes on her rooftop. Yes - it is summer here and well, I love it!
Today was a great day. On Wednesdays, we usually meet at the office for a few minutes and then leave to make visits to our friends who have transitioned from the streets back to their homes. Jose Luis and I went to visit two of our friends in the same district but who live far from each other. Our first friend lives so far outside of the center of Lima that once we got off of the bus (after at least an hour), we walked 15 minutes up into the dirt hills to reach her house. It was a humbling experience to be a part of her reality and know that my friend continues to fight to make good decisions for herself and her family instead of heading back to street life - which in some ways might feel like an easier option at this point. After visiting with our friend and her two children we returned to the "Tragamoneda" translated "Swallowing Coins" - which is a Casino located in the central market area of the district that we were in. At the front door of the Tragamoneda, we found our other friend and once again hopped on a bus for another adventure in a different direction to visit his house and family. Upon arrival we were invited to eat an ice cream cone (which was most satisfying in the heat) and then spent some time sharing with our friend and hearing about how he has been doing in his job as a "Cobrador" - the person who collects money on the buses. Perhaps in another blog I will explain this better.
Happy dia de San Valentin and Dia de Amistad!
Saturday, February 10, 2007
Meatloaf Anyone?
Alas, I am finally writing again. After a month of craziness and some computer problems, I'm back to blogging. I'm struggling with the inspiration here, but forcing myself to do it. I figure it will get easier as time goes by. To be honest, it is just really hard to think about summarzing my days and thoughts in a few words. It is hard to even know what to say when there is so much to say. But I'm going to do my best to help you learn the context!
Anyhow, we recently found out that our dear friends Samuel and Techi were taking the opportunity to travel with their daughter to Israel. Patty was offered a scholarship to study in the university in Israel. We are all really sad to have seen them gone because they are family to us. I am excited for them too because I know that there are not opportunities like this in Peru. It has been the longing of their hearts and that of their children, that someday they might study at University.
Here is a paragraph that has encouraged me lately, taken from Jean Vanier's book "Community and Growth". If you have not read it - it is a jem.
"The more a community grows and gives life, sometimes by sending some of its members far away, the deeper its roots must grow into its soil. Expansion has to be accompanied by deepening. The more a tree grows, the stronger its roots must be; otherwise, it will be uprooted by the first storm. Jesus speaks of a house built on sand. A community's solid foundation is in the heart of God. If is God who is at the source of the community, and the more it grows and expands, the more it needs people who stay close to this source.
There is external growth, which is nearly always in expansion. But there is also internal and secret growth, which is a deeper rooting in prayer in Jesus, in greater love and forgiveness between brothers and sisters, and greater compassion and welcome. This growth is not visible but it creates a tangible atmosphere: a lighter joy, a denser silence, a peace which touches people's hearts and leads to a true experience of God."
On a lighter note - we are having meatloaf, mashed potatoes (with gravy) and string beans, curtousy of Linsey. I informed my friends, that I have never had meatloaf in my life and that meatloaf is something we Californians only see on TV or in the movies. (Or maybe its just my family???) Linsey and David informed me that meatloaf is a regular dinner treat in Michigan and Crestview, Florida. I'm a little suspicous, but ready to try something new :)
Anyhow, we recently found out that our dear friends Samuel and Techi were taking the opportunity to travel with their daughter to Israel. Patty was offered a scholarship to study in the university in Israel. We are all really sad to have seen them gone because they are family to us. I am excited for them too because I know that there are not opportunities like this in Peru. It has been the longing of their hearts and that of their children, that someday they might study at University.
Here is a paragraph that has encouraged me lately, taken from Jean Vanier's book "Community and Growth". If you have not read it - it is a jem.
"The more a community grows and gives life, sometimes by sending some of its members far away, the deeper its roots must grow into its soil. Expansion has to be accompanied by deepening. The more a tree grows, the stronger its roots must be; otherwise, it will be uprooted by the first storm. Jesus speaks of a house built on sand. A community's solid foundation is in the heart of God. If is God who is at the source of the community, and the more it grows and expands, the more it needs people who stay close to this source.
There is external growth, which is nearly always in expansion. But there is also internal and secret growth, which is a deeper rooting in prayer in Jesus, in greater love and forgiveness between brothers and sisters, and greater compassion and welcome. This growth is not visible but it creates a tangible atmosphere: a lighter joy, a denser silence, a peace which touches people's hearts and leads to a true experience of God."
On a lighter note - we are having meatloaf, mashed potatoes (with gravy) and string beans, curtousy of Linsey. I informed my friends, that I have never had meatloaf in my life and that meatloaf is something we Californians only see on TV or in the movies. (Or maybe its just my family???) Linsey and David informed me that meatloaf is a regular dinner treat in Michigan and Crestview, Florida. I'm a little suspicous, but ready to try something new :)
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