:: sst-perufall09

Farewell

1 Dec 2009 14:24 EST

The semester ended where it began -- the Pacific Ocean. We headed to the port city of Callao for a day trip to Islas Palomino to marvel at an island populated by thousands of sea lions. Upon arrival we had a chance to squeeze ourselves into wet suits and jump into the frigid water for a closer look. Then we traveled south for a weekend retreat...

Thanksgiving

27 Nov 2009 07:08 EST

After six weeks of service in the mountains, coast and rain forest, we reunited again at Goshen Tambo just in time for Thanksgiving. We enjoyed a traditional North American meal of turkey, dressing, mashed and sweet potatoes, green beans and (white) pumpkin pie. Then we sang and sang and sang... This weekend we swim with the sea lions and then...

Service in Arequipa

23 Nov 2009 13:38 EST

Arequipa, Peru's second largest city, lies at the foot of a volcano named Misti. It is known as the White City because its buildings are typically made of sillar , a volcanic stone that dazzles in the sun. Arequipa is a popular tourist destination, historic and well-kept, but not all its citizens enjoy an adequate standard of living. David volunteers...

Service on the Coast

17 Nov 2009 14:24 EST

Three students are volunteering in low-income, urban neighborhoods located on the coastal plain near the Pacific Ocean. Chincha is home to about 50,000 inhabitants, many of them descended from African slaves. The city is an agricultural center located several hours south of Lima. Chincha is surrounded by orchards of avocado and mandarin oranges ...

Service in the Selva

11 Nov 2009 15:24 EST

The Gerbi Family is descended from Italian immigrants who settled in the Selva Central , or upper rain forest, over a century ago. Moises, a coffee farmer and outdoor guide, learned about tree planting from his grandfather and uncles and has begun a reforestation project aimed at bringing back native species to the valley where he and his neighbors...

Service in Huaraz

5 Nov 2009 18:39 EST

Hogar Arco Iris , or Rainbow Children's Home, is an orphanage founded ten years ago by a Spanish physician named Maria Jesus in the city of Huaraz, high in the Andes. Each morning Clayton begins his day by taking a disabled boy to school. Hannah begins by playing with a boy and a girl who are too young for school. Later they help out with a variety...

Service in Mancos and Caraz

2 Nov 2009 18:29 EST

Mancos is an Andean village located in the foothills of Peru's highest peak, Huascaran. Chelsea is working there with her host mother, Noemi, to develop an after school arts program for children in the community. Our hope is that she will be able to bring opportunities for artistic expression, including new techniques and media, to the students with...

Saying Goodbye to Lima

20 Oct 2009 08:14 EST

Goshen College has a tradition of hosting a despedida at the end of our time in Lima to thank the host families, language instructors, coordinator, cooks, house keeper, church staff and others who have supported us for the past six weeks. This semester's event began with words of gratitude and a collection of hymns in four-part harmony. Next were...

A Spiritual Reflection

14 Oct 2009 18:09 EST

I want to lead people towards the music the kind that takes social awareness and uses it guiding the clueless, the poor, the hungry to feast that includes the knowledge and honey milk and some money riches of the mind show the blind how to see and start running restrictions please illiteracy means that we need to be some story tellers ...

Afro-Peruvian Music and Dance

12 Oct 2009 09:29 EST

The Chincha area is home to an unusual ethnic mix. Communities like El Carmen are populated by Afro-Peruvians descended from slaves from modern day Senegal and Angola. The Ballumbrosio family hosted us for two days, performing traditional music and dance that reveal a unique blend of Spanish and African influences. Our first day began with a meal...

The Road to Machu Picchu

5 Oct 2009 22:38 EST

We began our journey to Machu Picchu, the most-visited tourist destination in South America, somewhat differently this semester. Students started their adventure in Cusco with opportunities to serve in several subsistence-farming communities far off the beaten track. And we lengthened the trip from four days to eight to give us plenty of time to both...

Children and Gardens, Language and Art

19 Sep 2009 10:16 EST

Lima is surrounded by Pueblos Jovenes , "young cities" settled by families from other parts of Peru. In North America those living in poverty typically populate the inner cities. In Lima the poorest of the poor live on the unplanned and under-served perimeter of this rapidly expanding metropolis. One such area is known as the Southern Cone. ...

Politics and History, Jewelry and Dance

15 Sep 2009 07:20 EST

Our first formal lecture introduced us to a topic that is on many Peruvian's minds these days: politics. James Plunkett is a retired American who married a woman from Lima in his twenties and has lived here for 45 years. He told us a charming tale that wove his personal journey of exploration with a chronicle of the deeds and personalities of each...

Inside Look: A Student's Personal Reflection and a Description of one Peruvian Home

11 Sep 2009 20:07 EST

Exploring Lima

7 Sep 2009 07:31 EST

Lima is a city of 8 million people, or is it 9 million? Hard to tell. We began our time of exploration with a walk from the hostel Home Peru to Goshen Tambo, stopping to see the Union y Paz (Unity and Peace) monument along our way. We got to know each other a little better. And, indeed, we got to know Lima much better by touring downtown with our...

A New Home for our Program

5 Sep 2009 09:30 EST

This week we opened a new chapter in the Peru SST program, hosting our language classes, lectures and workshops in Lima's only Anabaptist Church. Reverend Jose Manuel Prada and his pastoral team gave us a warm welcome to the Comunidad RETO Internacional Lima , loosely translated as the International Community of Total Reconciliation in Lima. Pastor...

New Homes in Lima

4 Sep 2009 09:42 EST

On Thursday evening students met their new host families. They greeted their adopted mothers, fathers, aunts, uncles, sisters, brothers and cousins with kisses, handshakes and hugs. Then they grabbed their luggage and backpacks and headed to their new homes.

Welcome to Peru

2 Sep 2009 10:41 EST

The Fall Peru SST group arrived ahead of schedule early this morning. We got settled right away at Home Peru to get some rest. We plan to meet later this morning to walk to Goshen Tambo and begin our orientation.