Post-trip Thoughts

I have been mostly sleeping since arriving home Friday afternoon. I guess I didn't know
how tired I was.........how sleep-deprived we all most certainly were. And I have only left
the house once. I feel like an alien in my own country, and find myself wanting to return
to Peru. I did not realize how attached I had become to the people of La Merced until I
was back on my own turf. I have seen poverty and deprivation up close and personal,
and it isn't pretty. And I don't know how I can ever be the same again. I have vivid
recall of the tears in the eyes of the children as we were leaving La Merced for the last
time, and of their beautiful faces, and their incredible smiles. But I also see the faces of
their mothers and fathers, where one can discern hopelessness and desperation, and it
is now hard to accept this culture of incredible wealth in which we live when I know
from first-hand experience what hardships these good people in Peru must face every day.
How can one ever return to "life as normal" in America after such an experience as
I have been privileged to have these past couple of weeks? How does one ever truly
"readjust" after visiting the dark side of our world?

We're Home!

WE'RE HOME! On Friday afternoon we all made it safely home to the good ol' "U.S." of "A". The trip opened our eyes in so many ways and we are coming back as new men and women. We have new perspective, wisdom and an appreciation for other cultures and their physical and spiritual needs. We were stretched in ways we never thought possible, pushed out of our comfort zone, and felt emotions that we never knew were hiding deep inside, and learned a tremendous amount about ourselves.


We also have a RESPONSIBILITY. We were chosen for this mission trip for a reason....who knows why but God had it in His plan that we were to be part of this experience. We have a special gift through this experience and also a big responsibility to use our new knowledge and perspective to help others and to use it in our daily lives...sharing the love of Christ with others, and considering our mission field anywhere under our own two feet, whether it be in Peru, or in our own back yard. We are a changed people and God now expects us to act and be His ambassadors wherever we may be.
















THANK YOU to all who have provided support through their prayers, donations or finances on this trip. We were not just a team of 16 people, but rather a team of hundreds who supported us in so many ways. We are forever grateful that we had the opportunity to be your hands and feet, serving as ambassadors sharing God's love for others.




Matt

WE´RE COMING HOME!!!!!!!

Our flights begin this evening with Laura T and Laura L. leaving at midnight, arriving in Madison about 3pm (almost certainly subject to change)

After leaving LaMerced, our team has had opportunities to debrief trying to make sense of the last 14 days. We processed the areas of individual growth, spiritual and emotional. We had a chance to express our feelings about different situations that arose. The challenges and joys of LaMerced were many and discussed in detail. This has proven to be a time of invaluable team bonding so necessary to end our time together. God´s blessings for this trip are innumerable and always being revealed as time passes. We pray that we were successful in following God´s plan for us.







So, please keep our team in your prayers as we complete the last 24 hours in Peru for safety in travel, timely flights and continued good health. (So far, nobody came down with anything more than a few colds and minor intestinal stuff! Praise God!!!



message to our family···Dad and I miss you all and can´t wait to see you and tell you all about our trip.....bisteca a nuestra casa!!!

In Him, Mary

Hola mis amigas and amigos!

We made it...we are now back in Pucullpa awaiting our flight to Lima. Good golly, it just doesn´t get any cooler here. Although, we are now able to do comparisons...today wasn´t as hot as yesterday....but it´s hotter than monday, remember monday? that sure was a pressure cooker.

But, we can´t complain, we enjoyed some AC at our hotel last night....and, are you ready for this....a semi warm shower just long enough to get the dirt out from between the toes. amazing how grit can find it´s way into even the most obscure nooks and crannies....

it was difficult leaving la merced again this year but know that God is at work in the community and in the hearts of those who work with the community. many great relationships were forged in la merced and within the team. it´s such a blessing to see God at work.

had a great time with ana, my sponsored child. she´s much more outgoing this year and hung out with us a lot. It´s so cool to see her growing and to know that she is well in many, many ways.

looking forward to cusco, they say it´s cooler there. i think they lie. although, i am hopeful that there are no bugs. we are just covered. the peruvians laugh at the gringos and gringas covered in red dots. i think they are just happy to get a break from the bugs since they all flock to the newbies. it was so nice to eat last night and not have to thinking about covering your food so that ants don´t fall in from the trees...or to not have to be constantly swatting bugs. ah, the luxuries we take for granted. what a humbling experience.

hugs and smooches to all on the homefront, family, friends, baby g and yashi. miss you all and am looking foward to seeing you all real soon!

jessica

Out of the Jungle

So we´re finally done with our time in the jungle. Yesterday we left La Merced for the last time and made the hour and a half drive back to Pacullpa (¨a nightmare¨ ....Eric from the front of the bus). We were all very sad to be leaving. On our last day we packed up at our lovely hostel and headed for the town. We had another of Jesus´s amazing lunches, and then played our final day of games. There was some intense volleyball (the little girls are killers) and the first official game of American Football in La Merced. The kids also went crazy for balloon animals. We then took a final hike through the rainforest and a river to a small house with an orange grove. Florida orange growers could use some tips from these guys. We were exhausted as the five days in the sun had really taken a toll, but we were excited for the farewell ceremony. After getting back accross the rio, we headed to our park for the dedication. Before it started, Matt and I gave Pastor Alfonso a present from the group (inspired by Mrs. Weil)... a spanish Passion of the Christ DVD. He liked it and talked about how impressed he was with our hard work on the park, which is high praise considering the first day he didn´t want us to use the tools saying, ¨they don´t know what they´re doing¨. He was right about that, but we did improve. The ceremony then consisted of the community leaders thanking us for our work (including a little girl on behalf of the ninos). Our leaders then said a few words and cut the tape on the park. Jack and Mary were appointed the ¨Godparents¨ of the park, and took the first official trips down the slide. We then handed out Bibles to all of the families while the kids peltted eachother with water balloons. Finally getting on the bus was very hard. We had grown very attached to the kids, and although we had discussed it, it was much harder than we imagined to leave them. Everybody was crying... it´s impossible to describe all the goodbyes. The bus ride back was quiet until Jessica gave us all cards with some of her thoughts that we really needed.

After the harrowing trip back to Pacullpa we arrived at the ¨nice hostel¨. Shortly we went to dinner with everyone, including the translators (David, Betsy, and Joel), bus driver (Julio), and chef (Jesus). It was a great meal of pizza and Mexican food. Jesus insisted over and over that I would die within a year from eating too much spicy food. I´m pretty sure none of us had ever appreciated eating a meal without bugs devouring us as much as we did that night. We gave thank you notes/gifts to our Peruvian amigos, and headed back to the hotel. Air conditioning is amazing... enough said. We all quickly fell asleep.

This morning we actually got to sleep in! We then packed up and bought a couple things from the street vendors. I road on the back of David´s motorcycle on the way to this internet cafe.... terrifying. We´re about to leave for the airport, and then fly to Lima. It´s going to be really sad saying goodbye to the translators. Once we arrive in Lima, we have no plan. Then tomorrow we fly to Cusco... and our flight might be at 530 A.M. We´re spending a day there, and then heading to Machupichu. I´m sure there will be more updates soon.

Sorry I couldn´t get everything into this post. Imagine doing something new and crazy every minute of everyday. That´s what Peru is like. We´ll tell you about the bus getting stuck in the middle of the Amazon and having to dig it out, the killer ants (is it 3 or 5 bites that kills you?), and the pet monkeys when we get home. Most of all, we´ll tell you about the great kids. But you´ll have to wait a few more days.

Take it easy America,

Sam Ziegler

From Deep in the Jungle of Peru

Hello from the jungle! All is well everyone is safe (aside from being very hot, humid, sticky, sweaty, and full of bug bites). Everyone is getting used to sharing the two detached showers and toilets. Food has been terrific. We are all being transformed in some way through this experience and our world view is being turned upside down and re-arranged in so many ways. In a debrief today, some words that were used to describe our experience so far were: fabulous, hard work, satisfying, inspiring, awesome, tiring and humbling.

The playground is shaping up nicely and we have been working closely with the community leaders and it´s encouraging there is involvement from those that live here. Even the school children on their break pitch in and help out. They are very excited. We are reaching the children through the kids club and they are experiencing God´s love. The kids are extremely welcoming and are impacting all of us in positive ways.

Please pray for good health, the ability to build stronger relationships with the parents and the older children in their teens, and for the community leadership in LaMerced, for pastor Alfonso and his work.

Thanks for all of your support and love. God bless.

P.S. Anita: Molly is rockín in the jungle. Karen - Wilson is blown away by what he is seeing and experiencing. Doug - Rock pickin has never been so much fun, Laura. To whoever is interested: Sam is the machete man and loves digging stumps. Dr Gretty is taking care of all of us. Dr Josh - we´ve all read your love letters to your honey (jk).

La Merced Update

Mesha Smith here (one of the missionaries with FHPeru). There is no internet access out in La Merced so I am posting these updates from several members of the team for them:

Our mission trip has been amazing so far! The community of La Merced has been so accepting and the children are so loving and energetic! It's been so great to play with the children and to see the smile on their faces - even with the communication barrier, a smile still means the same thing! Many smiles to all of you back home!

To friends and family - All is well, wish you all could be here with me to experience this! Cory - I love and miss you! See you all soon!

Mandy



Dear Family and Friends,
All is well in Peru. Praise God. Yesterday we began our work on the playground. Some of us got our first taste of using machetes while others of us, like myself, experienced finding tarantulas! Yuck. On a good note though, the adults of La Merced enjoyed their workshop and the children loved tiring us out playing soccer and volleyball. We are all so excited to be spreading God's love here. Keep praying for blessing, protection, health, and open hearts.

-Mindy


All is well in La Merced. It's unbelievably hot and humid. We're pouring sweat even in the shade. We are working on the playground although it seems we have to do more resting than working.

The children are beautiful and so excited for us to be here. Many of us have been able to visit our sponsored children. It is a blessing to be able to have that relationship and it will be hard to leave.

Mom and Dad: Everything is fine! I'm not sick and there have been no injuries aside from me falling through the glass coffee table! I love you!

Kate

Bags loaded! Ready to drive to LaMerced!

To the right...we have landed at the airport in Pucallpa. Notice "Wilson" from Home Improvement on the right!



Playing volleyball with the local
children!
Locals: 3
Blackhawk: 0!!!!!!!!!!!


Third day together...team bonding well!

All of us healthy and eating wayyyy too much....

Went from the cool and humid Lima to the very hot and sticky Pucallpa...all adjusting well. Need one good night of sleep tonight then hit the ground running tomorrow.

All programming and planning is finished. Church at 9:30 am Sunday, breakfast at 11 with the locals...

Big celebration planned for our entry by the locals...

All excited and ready for God´s plan to unfold.

• Prayers: For our health through the heat and humidty
• acceptance by the community
• The church in LaMerced
• For those we left behind in Madison

Pastor Chris....we will miss your sermon, but we have Mr. Eric Bakken speaking to us and the community tomorrow. Pray for courage and wisdom for him. (Alias..."Wilson"!)

--Gretty and Jack from the team--

We have arrived!

It´s 3am and we have arrived!! Severe weather in Atlanta delayed all flights flying in and out of their airport therefore we were grounded in Cincinnati for a couple hours. This gave us the opportunity to spend time as a team with great conversation, team bonding, and fun games. Thanks to Mary for bringing the games. When we arrived in Atlanta it was questionable as to whether we would catch our connecting flight to Lima. Our patience was tested as we raced to the gate. With prayer and much determination we all made it. It appeared to be a scene from the show "Amazing Race". Everyone is red eyed, however is in good spirit as we settle into our rooms. All is well, thank the Lord. Thank you for your prayers. Please continue to pray for good health, good rest, and a determined heart.

All for now, as we need to get rest.

Jeanette and Matt

I can never get to sleep.

Well, I'm with Jack. I should be sleeping, but of course I didn't start packing until at least 10pm and before you know it, its 1:30 am and you need to be at the airport in 7 hours. I think most things are checked off the list and ready to go. I've had a whirlwind of a summer leading up to this point and its difficult to wrap my head around the fact that in less than 24 hours I'll be walking out of the airport into the distinct smell of Lima, Peru. And while I can't believe its here, I'm so glad it is.

Thanks to everyone who has aided us in the preparation for this trip, we didn't get here alone, that's for sure. Please continue to pray for us as we travel and arrive and set out to do whatever work is placed before us. Pray that relationships would be built quickly and that we would be able to be more of a family than a team, that we'd walk together as one in the next two weeks. Pray that weather and labor conditions are favorable, that we would get where we need to be. And also pray that our words, often our translated words and lessons and discussions, would be blessed and honest, that we would convey our love and excitement so clearly and that the people of La Merced would know that we are committed to walking beside them as they do great things in their community and shoot towards their full potential, because they have worked hard and learned much, not because anyone from Blackhawk did anything.

ciao for now,
laura

Finally Departure

I should be sleeping but am restless, should not worry as that is only time consuming, should just say a prayer and give it all a rest, but my mind is on each of our team members and leaders. Its 10:30 and all is quiet in the house, bags are packed, trying not to forget anything, yet have to stay under the 50# limit. Gots lots of messages to bring along, hope the security at the airport is short and simple, that is always so stressfull. Am thinking of my family left here at home, my friends who supported me, my life group-what a super group of prayers. Just tons of stuff going through my mind, too tired right now to be excited, but tomorrow morning I will be excited, and the adrenaline will flow.

We are leaving at 10 A.M. and will get into Lima at 10:30 tomorrow nite. Lots of bonding will take place as we travel, good time to prepare for our adult workshop talks. Mine is on Hope. A big thanks to Michelle and Laura and Jessica at Blackhawk for all their help in this program. Lots of praise to Ben and Sara Zimmerman for their sharing of thoughts and time for our group. To all of your who have never had this experience, you should do it just once in your life time. It is hard to describe what happens to your insides. You are never too old to go and God really will not tell anyone your age anyway????

So here we go, follow us on the blog as we journey into cool and dusty Lima, and then transfer into the heat and humidity of Pucullpa. Then ride the muddy road to LaMerced, and stay in the 5 star Hostela. We have gourmey meals everyday, ride in the comfort of a six tire bus, beats walking, mosquitos do not have a chance, and the food is really quite good. Never will you be hungry.

I am excited for our new team members, for the church to be able to have such mission groups, for the new hearts that will come home with a whole new perspective on the world. Just hear them out, they will be full of conversation. Its all God's Plan. Plain and simple.

Jack Mlsna

Packing 16 old suitcases with our supplies. Gotta make sure they aren't over 50 pounds!

Laura, Kate, Matt and Susan at one of our planning meetings with one of the last children that could be chosen to sponsor. And yes....we have 100% sponsorship of the children in the LaMerced Food for the Hungry program! Yay!

So thankful!

I want to take a moment to thank all our supporters. Around 10am Thursday, July 10th our journey in serving the Lord on the field of LaMerced, Peru begins. This would not be possible without your financial, prayer, and spiritual support. A huge thank you goes out to all of you. Are we excited to serve? You bet! The team has spent months planning and praying for this time to come and now lets go. There may be some anxiety and fear, however the Lord is leading us and we put our trust in Him.

While on the mission, please continue to follow us on our blog. LaMerced does not have electricity; therefore updating the blog may be difficult. If you do not hear from us for a few days, be at peace as we are working in the community. We will give you updates as often as possible.

Please pray for safe travel, spiritual growth, wisdom, open hearts, team strength, good health, peace, joy, determination, and our work to be glorifying to the Lord.

Thank you family and friends!!

All for Him,
Jeanette

Preparation

As I race around town trying to prepare for every situation we may encounter in Peru, it becomes easy to lose focus on our true purpose for going there. Putting some of the preparation into God's hands seems to reduce a lot of stress. I must remind myself that having the best sandals and moisture wicking clothing (although helpful) is not going to make the difference while we are in La Merced. What is going to make the difference is whether or not we can open our hearts to the people and humble ourselves to God's plan. So I guess I would ask that people pray that our team remains centered and focused during this stressful yet exhilarating time of preparation. 4 more days!!!! : )