Remembering Past teams July 10 2008

Hola de Peru!  (Hello from Peru!)

This is Casey Pettit broadcasting to you from Chincha, Peru:  home of Afro-Peruvian rhythms and perhaps the most delicious cookies in the world (called alfajores and made by our lovely tour guide, Gladys.)  I am more than delighted to inform all of you that we are winding down from yet another brilliant and inspired day of work and are beginning to witness great progress!

Waking up this morning proved more challenging because of our exhaustion from a hard day’s work the day before.  However once we got going, we were undoubtedly rockin’ and rollin’ all day long!  We closed our day by discussing the intricate talents each of our group members embody that fit together like a puzzle to create a cohesive whole – and a fantastic one at that!

As a team, we were able to put those talents to work to transport a large pile of sand from one side of the building to the other to clear way to finish the electrical work we began yesterday.  Soon enough, the church will illuminate with just a flip of a switch!  It took the effort of the whole team to begin the slow process of laying tile on the floor of Pastor Pedro’s office.  This project called for extreme concentration and much patience as we assured Pedro he’d have a level surface to conduct his tasks. 

The evening invited us to experience the rich Afro-Peruvian culture as we traveled to the near by city of El Carmen to join the Ballumbrosio family.  The family shared their dances and their skilled drumming with us and even invited us to participate by teaching us how to play the cajon (a drum native to Peru that is a wooden box and is played by sitting on top of it).  Perhaps even more entertaining was a dance called the “Alcatraz” that involved a piece of paper placed on someone’s backside, and a candle in another’s hand.  The goal is to avoid being lit on fire by “shaking it” fast enough to avoid the flame-paper contact.  Needless to say, we all had a great laugh!

We have concluded our evening satisfied with yet another fabulous meal and will undoubtedly fall asleep quickly with full anticipation for all that tomorrow has to offer.  Our plan is to build two houses, finish the tiling, play with two groups of about 40 children from youth groups in Chincha, and visit a local winery.

Sending you all love and peace from Peru!
Hablamos Pronto!  (We’ll talk soon!)

Casey Pettit and our mighty team

2008 - Remembering Past teams January 30th

Picture take by Bailey Warren

These flash back is from the first team that went after the terrible earthquake in 2007:

Yesterday was a busy day with the Internet down I took a much needed nap instead of writing all of you.  So here is my catch up for yesterday.

We spent the morning helping in a youth center building for the district of Ica and Chincha.  It is a building we help start to build a long time ago.  Thankfully they did not have the funds to put the roof on otherwise we would be cleaning that up now too.  Instead the building is in good shape and we are now putting the roof on it.  Our construction money we brought down will provide the money to do this and provide jobs to local people who need work to help them rebuild as well.  Our morning was spent shoveling, digging, and carrying re bar.  Down the street from the building are piles and piles of rubble.  These building were homes and businesses.  Jorge our boss on the site told us the story of what happen and how his family was impacted...

It was evening time and we were sitting down for dinner.  We began to feel something and I told my family it was okay.  As we have had many earthquakes before and did not have any problems.  My sons however were very scared and began to leave our home.  Before we could get out completely the earth began to roll and there was more noise.  As I stepped out I heard people screaming, crying and the sky turn dark.  All of the electricity was gone.  Then I realized my sons 4 and 8 were not there.  I heard them yelling and it was difficult to see because there was also a lot of dust.  I searched and found them between two walls.  Thankfully the wall fell on the other and formed a tent like so the boys were not crushed.  As I got them out a piece of the wall hit my head and made a large scar.  My head now hurts so very much all the time but I cannot afford an X-ray to see what it is.  I am thankful that my family is all right and I give thanks to God.  The church gave me some wood which I use as a temporary wall to our tent home until we can rebuild.  I am hoping soon now to be able to re build our home. 

Later that evening we had day two of vacation Bible school with about 48 children at the Chincha church and we spoke about Joseph and all that had happened to him.  I pray the message of hope that Joseph teaches us that even out of the bad good things can happen, was heard by the children.  Pleas pray for them as many of them have night mares and are still very afraid.

Trip coming up!

Are you ready?  Willing? Hopeful? Joyful?  We are going to Peru in March 2015.