Well well well.... It seems that taking time to sit down and just write a blog has been more difficult than I imagined. Anyways no excuses I'll just write!
This week marks the beginning of a new chapter and new journey altogether for me here in Peru. The last three weeks have been interesting as Brent left to head back to the U.S. and Bob left yesterday to head home to Sweden leaving only Stefan and I here until tomorrow when he leaves as well. Its kind of hard to imagine what the next three months are going to look like. I keep trying to think of things that I definitely want to accomplish in the remainder of my time here and MAN there is a lot to do. I am excited to be fully emerged in the culture and forced to really learn and practice more Spanish. That is certainly one thing I want to do is learn the language! With that there is also the completion of the house. We have made good progress so far on the bathroom and all we lack is finishing that and completing the other room with the kitchen. I am very interested to see how it will all turn out as Stefan leaves. So far, I have just been following his lead as he has the experience but I will be flying solo soon and trying to figure out the best ways to complete the house on my own. I'm pretty excited about the challenge though! On top of the physical work there is definitely some work in continuing to build the relationships with the boys as well as working to connect the 3 groups of Christian surfers here and encouraging them to work together.
The kids are headed back to school this week so I will be searching for time to spend with them after school and on the weekends. The relationships so far have been pretty easy to create but I want to make the effort to spend more time with these guys and try to somehow show them that they are the ones that have the ability to make changes to their city by the way they choose to live now and the tempo they create for others to follow after them.
Along with all this there is most certainly the much needed alone time that will be coming over the next three months. I will have the ability to hold a more regular schedule by myself and can just be alone when I need to. I feel like I have learned so much already but there is much to learn while I'm here on my own!
I ask that you guys keep Christian Surfers Peru in your prayers as leadership issues are being worked out and that I can have the boldness to speak up when I feel the time is right. Also that the relationships with the kids would continue to grow and strengthen. Then that during this time that I will just stay focused and be open to learn and grow as well!
Here we GO!
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Sunday, January 16, 2011
And Im BACK!!!
Alright everyone so I know its been a while since you have gotten a legit update and I'm sorry but it can get a bit crazy around here with all the last minute changes of plans and hey lets get up and do this or surf and by the time I lay down to bed its late and I'm like oh man I need to blog but then I just pass out and forget about it. SOOO with all my excuses out of the way I want to say thanks for being so patient!
Wow ok where to begin... the last post that I made was right before Christmas and I was able to tell you guys the awesome thing with all the gifts that came in unexpected! So cool and on Christmas Eve we were able to go around and pass all those gifts out and all the clothes out to the kids and to the families in need. We actually walked up the hill from where we are staying now and the houses just begin to look worse and worse as you walk up the mtn. Huge families of like 10 are living in these chantilly built homes that have damage from earthquakes. The people living in most of the homes have no running water and if there is water then there is no hot water. It's crazy to see such poverty right across the street from a club that costs about 30,000 US Dollars a year to be a part of. I guess it is just hard for me to understand. But it was nice to walk around and hand out the gifts and everyone was so happy and excited to see that they could receive something on Christmas. We walked back with some of the boys and we had a few boxes of gifts left for some of the families that we weren't able to see that night. We allowed the boys to look through some of the packages that we had to take what they wanted... I looked over and watched a boy that was about 15 years old rummaging through this box with girls toys in it and watched as he picked up doll after doll searching for the best one and then he noticed that I had been watching and said "por me hermana." Which means for my sister. I was so touched at the fact that he had reign to all the toys there and yet could put aside what he wanted and looked for something to give his sister on Christmas. It amazes me to see that in a culture where it is pretty dog eat dog for what you can get that there are still hearts like the one this boy showed that night. Andres tells us that these boys have come a long way over the past year or so. It shows and gives me so much hope that changes can be made here for these boys. Most of the kids here are surrounded by crime and drugs but most families are pushed to these means to provide based on the fact there is literally no work or people aren't able to get work based on lack of education. We see quite a bit of dropouts because there is no reason to look higher because there is really nothing to look higher for. You can make twice the money dealing drugs here than you can with some of the highest paid salaries so there is a bit of an endless cycle and way of thinking that has a lot of these kids almost trapped. We hope that we can help to educate a bit better of the things that are possible when you put your mind to something. We are trying to encourage the boys to dream and to dream big and to go for it... whatever their interests or desires may be.
Along with the passing of Christmas and New Years and some awesome Pisco Sours (the drink of choice by most Peruvians) came the completion of our NEW HOUSE!!! OK well just our room is finished as of now and we are completely moved in with shelves, bunkbeds, and a sweet window that looks out towards the ocean. We finished this room in a little under 4 weeks and will begin construction on the second part of the house at the end of this week. Andres along with a couple of the other guys who are running TPC have dreams to make a camp here that is sustained year round that volunteers can come and help from other countries much like we are doing now. Andres wants to have a school and a surf school where kids are taught how to provide for themselves through fishing, making and selling art and just whatever other avenues are open for kids here. Its so cool to think the house that we have been so blessed to be a part of building will be used for years to come as this place grows and others come to help. I have no doubt that God will continue to bless what is going on here as He has already began a good work here. We are going to be traveling to the North in the next couple of weeks where we hope to meet with another group that began something very similar to what they are trying to do here. The guy that runs the organization is actually from the states so we hope to talk and gain some perspective as to what we are getting ourselves into. Andres is such a passionate guy when it comes to these boys and wants so badly for them all to see a bigger picture of what is available for them to do but beginning with treating each other with love and respect which is amazing!
Surfing classes and English lessons began last week and we travel to the south tomorrow to help with a surf camp. We are heading these classes up right now and they seem to be going really well. You can begin to see just a small picture of what it all could look like one day. But as we have all said... one step at a time.
We have been eating some of the most amazing food and surfing a lot and just spending a lot of time with the boys. They are always around and we are joking and learning each others' languages. Its so much fun and I am beginning to grow very fond of this place. I appreciate the prayers for safety and protection and just the moral support from friends and family but just saying hi on skype or something. It has been so amazing to keep in touch as well as we have. I wish we could do more but hey we ARE in different countries. But thank God for technology! Well like I said I am up early in the morning to head south. Entonces, ahora voy a dormir!!! So then, now I will go to sleep! haha. Im learning slowly but surely!
Love you guys and please post questions if there is anything you guys want to know more details about!
I will post again soon!
Chris
Wow ok where to begin... the last post that I made was right before Christmas and I was able to tell you guys the awesome thing with all the gifts that came in unexpected! So cool and on Christmas Eve we were able to go around and pass all those gifts out and all the clothes out to the kids and to the families in need. We actually walked up the hill from where we are staying now and the houses just begin to look worse and worse as you walk up the mtn. Huge families of like 10 are living in these chantilly built homes that have damage from earthquakes. The people living in most of the homes have no running water and if there is water then there is no hot water. It's crazy to see such poverty right across the street from a club that costs about 30,000 US Dollars a year to be a part of. I guess it is just hard for me to understand. But it was nice to walk around and hand out the gifts and everyone was so happy and excited to see that they could receive something on Christmas. We walked back with some of the boys and we had a few boxes of gifts left for some of the families that we weren't able to see that night. We allowed the boys to look through some of the packages that we had to take what they wanted... I looked over and watched a boy that was about 15 years old rummaging through this box with girls toys in it and watched as he picked up doll after doll searching for the best one and then he noticed that I had been watching and said "por me hermana." Which means for my sister. I was so touched at the fact that he had reign to all the toys there and yet could put aside what he wanted and looked for something to give his sister on Christmas. It amazes me to see that in a culture where it is pretty dog eat dog for what you can get that there are still hearts like the one this boy showed that night. Andres tells us that these boys have come a long way over the past year or so. It shows and gives me so much hope that changes can be made here for these boys. Most of the kids here are surrounded by crime and drugs but most families are pushed to these means to provide based on the fact there is literally no work or people aren't able to get work based on lack of education. We see quite a bit of dropouts because there is no reason to look higher because there is really nothing to look higher for. You can make twice the money dealing drugs here than you can with some of the highest paid salaries so there is a bit of an endless cycle and way of thinking that has a lot of these kids almost trapped. We hope that we can help to educate a bit better of the things that are possible when you put your mind to something. We are trying to encourage the boys to dream and to dream big and to go for it... whatever their interests or desires may be.
Along with the passing of Christmas and New Years and some awesome Pisco Sours (the drink of choice by most Peruvians) came the completion of our NEW HOUSE!!! OK well just our room is finished as of now and we are completely moved in with shelves, bunkbeds, and a sweet window that looks out towards the ocean. We finished this room in a little under 4 weeks and will begin construction on the second part of the house at the end of this week. Andres along with a couple of the other guys who are running TPC have dreams to make a camp here that is sustained year round that volunteers can come and help from other countries much like we are doing now. Andres wants to have a school and a surf school where kids are taught how to provide for themselves through fishing, making and selling art and just whatever other avenues are open for kids here. Its so cool to think the house that we have been so blessed to be a part of building will be used for years to come as this place grows and others come to help. I have no doubt that God will continue to bless what is going on here as He has already began a good work here. We are going to be traveling to the North in the next couple of weeks where we hope to meet with another group that began something very similar to what they are trying to do here. The guy that runs the organization is actually from the states so we hope to talk and gain some perspective as to what we are getting ourselves into. Andres is such a passionate guy when it comes to these boys and wants so badly for them all to see a bigger picture of what is available for them to do but beginning with treating each other with love and respect which is amazing!
Surfing classes and English lessons began last week and we travel to the south tomorrow to help with a surf camp. We are heading these classes up right now and they seem to be going really well. You can begin to see just a small picture of what it all could look like one day. But as we have all said... one step at a time.
We have been eating some of the most amazing food and surfing a lot and just spending a lot of time with the boys. They are always around and we are joking and learning each others' languages. Its so much fun and I am beginning to grow very fond of this place. I appreciate the prayers for safety and protection and just the moral support from friends and family but just saying hi on skype or something. It has been so amazing to keep in touch as well as we have. I wish we could do more but hey we ARE in different countries. But thank God for technology! Well like I said I am up early in the morning to head south. Entonces, ahora voy a dormir!!! So then, now I will go to sleep! haha. Im learning slowly but surely!
Love you guys and please post questions if there is anything you guys want to know more details about!
I will post again soon!
Chris
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
WOW... Too long!
OK guys!!! It has been too long and so much has happened... We actually just got the internet working back really well again and I am able to get on really whenever I need to so these blogs are going to start coming more frequently I promise. There is so much to go over and I want to do it all at once but have to get up super early tomorrow to get some materials for the house we are building right now... It has to be early because the place we are getting the materials from may or may not be an abandoned disco tech that is guarded .... haha so we are headed to bed so we can get up early in the morning to get the bamboo... its going to look so good.
Ok so wanted to tell everyone that I haven't forgot about you all and more is on the way along with pictures.
Love you all and will post again THIS WEEK!!!
Chris
Ok so wanted to tell everyone that I haven't forgot about you all and more is on the way along with pictures.
Love you all and will post again THIS WEEK!!!
Chris
Monday, December 20, 2010
Christmas Time Approaches
Whats up everyone?! Well tomorrow will be one month since I have arrived in Peru and so much has happened. Its amazing to just sit back and watch how things unfold every day. Nothing is like you expect and then what comes is so much cooler than you could have planned it to be. We have been making a lot of progress on our house building. Everything is almost in place to pour the concrete for the floor and we will begin construction on the walls sometime late tomorrow or Wednesday. The 2 Swedish guys, Brent and I will have PLENTY of room in this place and I think I mentioned that we have this HUGE pole that will stick out about 10 feet above our house that we are going to place a flag at the top of for Andres' restaurant. We are also going to build a crows nest to be able to see all of Chorrillos from... and the surf of course!!! haha. Andres' is so excited. He and his family will be able to use this place for a lot. He and his family of about 10 live live here and share the space of a house and the restaurant for their living quarters. It can be a bit hectic when everyone is around but they have been so welcoming to us and make us food all the time so it has been a great experience so far.
As Christmas time is right around the corner we have all been trying to think of things to do for the kids but were unsure of what we could do for 60 to 70 kids that we could all afford and couldnt really come up with anything other than buying a bunch of skateboards and giving it to them. We were out yesterday after church and were just walking around one of the local places in a market and Andres gets a call from a friend that says hey come back to the restaurant... there was a local toy drive today that we had people donate to and we had a bit too much and we want you to have what is left over... We jumped in the car and drove back to the restaurant expecting a pickup with a bed half full of toys and left over goodie bags and to our surprise we found a big u-haul sized truck with about 6 guys unloading HUGE plastic bags full of toys and clothes into the front door of the restaurant. We were all so excited to see this amazing surprise. We jumped out to help and continued to unload these bags along with water, juice, chocolate milk, cokes, bread, and sandwiches. It was amazing. Just really makes stop and think... how could there not be a God. We didnt "need" to give the kids or the families anything and yet now we have something to give everyone. It blows my mind.
So Christmas Eve is Friday and I couldnt be more excited. They call Santa here... Papa Noel. So cool! The kids along with everyone else will stay up until 12 midnight on Friday night and its a huge celebration much like our New Years Eve with fireworks and everything... except they get to open presents and everything that night. Then Christmas Day is an extended celebration that lasts all day. I am really starting to miss the family time that I have back home for the holidays but I am excited to see how another country celebrates such a special time of year.
I hope that this post finds everyone back in the states or wherever you are in an awesome Christmas spirit! If there is snow where you are... eat some for me!
Love you all and will post again soon!
Chris
Monday, December 13, 2010
Long time guys!!!
hey everyone!!! Sorry it has been so long since my last post but things here have seemed to take a turn of events... The guy Andres that we are staying with that began TPC in Chorrillos has been so kind to offer us a place to stay there is only one catch.... We are going to BUILD that place!!! haha we are so excited though. He owns a restaurant that is right beside his house and there is a place over the bathrooms that will support another room and we will build there. It is quite the view also! There are two guys who came here from Sweden that we have met up with and they were just going to pass through but after they had been here 3 days they felt like this is a place that they should stay for the rest of their time here!! Its so cool to see what is going on... and by the way, one of the guys is a carpenter!!! So cool how God worked that out.
We will buy the wood today and begin taking the roof off of the bathrooms to begin work as soon as possible. There have also been a few of the older boys who have offered to help out so this place should be up in no time! We are going to make it into a really rustic looking surf shack. so pumped!!!
We have been hanging out with the kids almost every day and on the weekends we have helped out in the kitchen at the resaurant. We are slowly learning Spanish but most of the older Peruvians know English so well. We got to take some of the younger kids out last night to go surfing before the sun went down and it was awesome. All these kids are so good at surfing and snowboarding... its rediculous! I have made a couple of friends so far that are really cool guys.
Well I guess that is all for now. Just wanted to update you all really quick. Much love and thanks to everyone for all the prayers and thoughts! I will post pictures of the new place as soon as construction begins!
Chris
We will buy the wood today and begin taking the roof off of the bathrooms to begin work as soon as possible. There have also been a few of the older boys who have offered to help out so this place should be up in no time! We are going to make it into a really rustic looking surf shack. so pumped!!!
We have been hanging out with the kids almost every day and on the weekends we have helped out in the kitchen at the resaurant. We are slowly learning Spanish but most of the older Peruvians know English so well. We got to take some of the younger kids out last night to go surfing before the sun went down and it was awesome. All these kids are so good at surfing and snowboarding... its rediculous! I have made a couple of friends so far that are really cool guys.
Well I guess that is all for now. Just wanted to update you all really quick. Much love and thanks to everyone for all the prayers and thoughts! I will post pictures of the new place as soon as construction begins!
Chris
Friday, December 3, 2010
Week 2 coming to a Close
Brent and I got to surf again today and then went to Chorrillos tonight to meet with the group again. There is such an awesome feeling going there because there are many younger kids who just look at us and laugh but when I speak a little spanish its like they switch gears a bit and start to be like oh man he speaks a little bit of our language. So we talk a little bit and I ask them about surfing and what they like to do and then before you know it there are a bunch of little kids circling you and whispering and giggling. Its awesome though. Oh for the day when I can speak fluent Espanol and talk to them better... haha for now body language, hand motions and broken spanish will have to do. It is still fun just to interact with them. We will be joining the group of Christian Surfers in Chorrillos for in two weeks to head south to San Bartolo and serve the kids who live there for Christmas. The kids are going to put on a play and sing and someone will preach about Christmas. Luckily I was listening intently tonight when Zelmar, the leader, called me out and asked if I understood what he was talking about. I said yes and told him in English what I could understand from what he was saying and all the kids started to clap for me... haha it was funny. I could feel my face turn red though. Its quite different being in a place where you are helpless without words. Makes me have more compassion for people in the states that dont know English. The night ended well though and we had a blast.
Tomorrow we wake up around 7 and meet Andres down at the beach to hang out with him and the kids. They are all having their picture taken for their surfing lessons so we get to go and hang out with them all morning. Andres will be taking us around Chorrillos on Tuesday morning. We are really excited to hang out with him one on one. The difference between where we are staying right now and Chorrillos are night and day. Chorrillos is very run down and streets with dirt and trash. We are staying in the "Buckhead" of Lima if you will. Lots of middle class and upper class with a mix of lower class. Im really excited to get closer to the kids though. I will post some pictures very soon. I know you guys are chomping at the bit to see what it looks like down here... I would be too! Will post again soon!
Chris
Monday, November 29, 2010
Week 1 in Peru
HOLA from Peru!
Well week one is down the hatch and Brent and I are still alive and loving it! We have had the chance to meet most everyone we will be working with and we are beginning to have things added to the schedule. We have been just getting acclimated so far to the culture and the fact that cars on the street WILL NOT stop for you when crossing the street... haha Brent found that out first hand a couple of days ago when an SUV rounded the corner and about took out his knees. Luckily his cat-like reflexes saved him from what could have been certain disaster.
The first trip south about 3 miles to Chorrillos was Saturday night. It was amazing to meet everyone there. The pictures on the blog from the videos are very true to what we saw there. Many kids came to sing, dance, and hear what was said that night and the leader, Zelmar, said that it was a miracle that they were there much less the fact that they were able to keep all the kids quiet and still for that long. The kids were awesome. Hardly any speak English which makes me want to continue to learn Spanish even more. Brent and I are both looking forward to what we are able to do with the kids as summer approaches and we begin to spend more time with them.
We have been able to see a good bit of Mira Flores and Chorrillos over the past few days with our new friend and tour guide Tonito. He was actually a part of the first group that began TPC in Mira Flores and he has been very nice to take us around and has even bought us dinner a couple of times. Last night we met him and 5 time national champion and local hero surfer Roberto "Mueles" (stands for molars... like teeth) Maz for a movie and some ice cream. He owns and runs one of the best surf camps here in Mira Flores. His company even partners with a private school here in town to give surfing as a class during the school year. Sounds like my kind of recess.
Everyone so far has been very nice and have gone out of their way to make us feel welcome. We go to the Mira Flores TPC meeting tonight to watch a movie that was actually made by some guys who are from North Carolina. It's going to be a good night. Brent learns to surf we think tomorrow so wish us luck as we brave the cold waters of Lima! Waves should be pretty good though and we cant wait. Thanks to everyone who is following, I will continue to post! Pictures to come!
Chris
Well week one is down the hatch and Brent and I are still alive and loving it! We have had the chance to meet most everyone we will be working with and we are beginning to have things added to the schedule. We have been just getting acclimated so far to the culture and the fact that cars on the street WILL NOT stop for you when crossing the street... haha Brent found that out first hand a couple of days ago when an SUV rounded the corner and about took out his knees. Luckily his cat-like reflexes saved him from what could have been certain disaster.
The first trip south about 3 miles to Chorrillos was Saturday night. It was amazing to meet everyone there. The pictures on the blog from the videos are very true to what we saw there. Many kids came to sing, dance, and hear what was said that night and the leader, Zelmar, said that it was a miracle that they were there much less the fact that they were able to keep all the kids quiet and still for that long. The kids were awesome. Hardly any speak English which makes me want to continue to learn Spanish even more. Brent and I are both looking forward to what we are able to do with the kids as summer approaches and we begin to spend more time with them.
We have been able to see a good bit of Mira Flores and Chorrillos over the past few days with our new friend and tour guide Tonito. He was actually a part of the first group that began TPC in Mira Flores and he has been very nice to take us around and has even bought us dinner a couple of times. Last night we met him and 5 time national champion and local hero surfer Roberto "Mueles" (stands for molars... like teeth) Maz for a movie and some ice cream. He owns and runs one of the best surf camps here in Mira Flores. His company even partners with a private school here in town to give surfing as a class during the school year. Sounds like my kind of recess.
Everyone so far has been very nice and have gone out of their way to make us feel welcome. We go to the Mira Flores TPC meeting tonight to watch a movie that was actually made by some guys who are from North Carolina. It's going to be a good night. Brent learns to surf we think tomorrow so wish us luck as we brave the cold waters of Lima! Waves should be pretty good though and we cant wait. Thanks to everyone who is following, I will continue to post! Pictures to come!
Chris
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