Invaded From The North

Before I explain this slightly odd title I need to just add some things to my somewhat rushed last post, plus I've added some photos to it.

As I'm sure you've gathered, Hanocca was very, very rural. The nearest 'town' was Layo and contained a few shops, was around the size of Nether Stowey, and was a 45 min walk away from us! Therefore, contact with the outside world, and in fact anyone was somewhat rare. Our project was to help build a kitchen for the training centre that we were staying at, a centre that holds confrences for as many at 1000 people. There are 22 little churches scattered around the lake, and the centre is used when they need somewhere to meet when the come together. The first week there we got invited to several youth groups which actually turned out to be services with a couple of youth present, although at one of these we were the youngest by at least 10 years, so I think the term 'youth' is use somewhat loosely...

Birthday Banter..

On the 26th May, it was our very own Rachel Adam's Birthday!! Our hours of pre-planning on what we could do for her whole day, picnic up the mountain, day by the lake, were somewhat dashed when we discovered that Rachel's birthday fell, on a Sunday... That's right, what better way to celebrate your birthday than with a 5 hour Quechua service, the ultimate present! Despite this, we were able to make a massive camp fire and play plenty of childish party games including pass the parcel, and the most terrifying game of sardines in the pitch black. Also the church gave Rach a massive cake and did tributes to her, which was lovely, and her packages arrived from home on time, so Rach's birthday in rural Peru, although different, was  one she's never forget.

Anyway, we were originally due to be in Hanocca for 3 weeks, and then move on to our second mini project in Urcos for the remaining 4 weeks. However, a week before we were due to move on we were told by our supervisor Roland that a team of medics were coming to Hanocca for a week would we like to stay on and help them. Despite apprehension from some of the team, I signed us up to the extra week in the wilderness and on Sunday 9th, the rabble arrived...

The Grace Fellowship Mission...

Us waiting in Urcos for a bus to Cusco just earlier this morning.

The rooms have been re-ordered to make space fore the 30 new people, bathrooms have been cleaned, lots of people are hanging around after church to help, and at 5 in the afternoon, the Americans arrive! But first, a truck, yes a full truck, arrives with their baggage and supplies. You'd have thought they were the one's staying for 4 months and we were the one's there for a week...

It would've been hard for them to be more stereotypically America, I have to admit. They were mainly from Texas and Georgia, and were very southern, massively over stocked on snacks, even described Peru as a 'third world' country, but were absolutely LOVELY!!!! 

Optition Jon, with Abel, my Quechua translator.

A worry before they came was that we wouldn't really be able to do much or be included and simply end up cooking and cleaning for them. That worry was immidiately crushed: on tuesday (the 2nd day of clinic) I was on my own, fitting glasses!! A carreer in optictions beckons methinks.. 

We had such fun meeting new people (who actually spoke our langauge as well!) and just getting stuck into everything from running patients between various stations, to applying flouride to children's teeth. 

I must say God's timing was very good. They came right in the middle of our 2 projects in Peru and right when the team was feeling ready to move on from isolation. Plus, the American's (although very well reasourced) needed the extra 8 people so much, the whole place was buzzing, and on Friday we saw a record 384 people! They needed us, and we needed them, not an accident that we came together. Well played God...

So having been stocked up with all of the left over snacks (honestly it was like Christmas), generously being donated 100 soles by their leader Mike (their generosity was amazing), and in the safe knowledge that I always had a place to crash in Altlanta or San Antonio, we left Layo with the Americans and parted ways with them at Urcos. The return to civilisation was quite comforting. Urcos is a beautiful town with a mini 'christ redeemer' Rio De Jinero style, an hour south of Cusco. Since arriving so saturday night we've, been introduced to the church, met the youth group (which is actually like a typical english group!), helped with sunday school, and gone to a football match between Real Garcilaso and Alianza Lima, the top 2 teams in Peru. 

The shirts we're wearing are Layo football shirts that we were given before we left. We were also given Layo jackets (which are reallt nice!)

So entereth team Bo-ru into the final stage to their tale. God has done so much in so little time and this next 3 weeks will be no different, Psalm 103:2 comes to mind. Love you all hundreds and once again I can't thank you enough for your prayers and support. 

JJ