After two amazingly full days, we were happy to have a late start at 9:45, but the rest of the day made up for it in a remarkable way!
I made the most of the late start to check out our hotel grounds. We are staying at a hotel in central Cajamarca at the site of some hot springs where the last Inca prince was killed. It was comfortable and spacious, very different from urban hotels.
Janet standing outside our room which looked out onto a large courtyard.We had frost on our roof, but the air temperature was already well above freezing.The back of our room was covered in steam rising from a river fed by the hot springs.The hot pools looked beautiful in the early sunOff to breakfast on this crisp morning.
After breakfast, we boarded our bus and headed out of town about 1/2 hour. It was refreshing driving through verdant open countryside, and interesting!
It’s not every day you see cows being driven down the road – even in Texas!We passed by safely. Cool hat, though we would see many more.
We arrived at our destination and there was a short walk to the church where we were warmly greeted. We knew this church had been a Compassion partner for less than a year. They only had 30 adult church members with 170 kids in the Compassion program, so we were open to what we’d find, albeit a little skeptical.
The road to the church was too rough for the bus. We had to warn each other of large holes.As we passed some abandoned mud walls, we spotted a crowd outside the blue building.Our welcoming party.Great handmade signs.
Initial introductions were made, including the local church leadership and Compassion staff. They started explaining the background of the family whose home we would visit, but a trip coordinator stopped them as it was private information. The Compassion staff are very sensitive about the privacy of program participants.
The Compassion staff include a course director, a treasurer, a social worker, and several volunteer tutors. The church had elders and a pastor. The pastor was Jolita, the wife of the previous pastor who had died a couple of years ago. Though Jolita was shy, she was leading a strong and passionate team who really cared for the children. Ashley and Nora thank the church for hosting our visit.The church building had a fascinating blend of wood holding up the roof, and electronics. Compassion will not build initial infrastructure, but they help a church set up to be effective with their program with equipment like projectors and computers.We later learned this was Carlos. We saw a lot of him throughout the day, and he had the spark of a typical boy!They presented a slide with a picture which showed how excited they were when they started the Compassion program.
Next, the staff and some families simulated what would be discussed during a home visit. The first was teaching mom to keep dangerous chemicals out of reach, especially as they are often stored in beverage bottles. The second was about how distractions prevent you achieving what you want to.
The simulation.
Simulating the lesson about dangerous chemicals really hurting a baby.The boys needed to be given an orange to stop them wriggling so much.Time for a snack!We enjoyed some tasty cactus fruit.I asked about their program logo. Initially it was translated “hairs of God”, until we realized they meant “heirs.”
Next was a tour of the classrooms and offices at the back of the church.
A water tank which appeared to have water feeding into it, and only one outlet faucet, so no plumbing in the building.The Compassion office. Inside the locked cabinet were the kids’ confidential records.A photocopier and computer in the Compassion office were also part of the Compassion startup.Impressive security cameras.There was always time for a quick selfie.The classroom wall showed how they seamlessly included the Bible in regular teaching.We weren’t too steady going up and down these narrow stairs which had no railing, especially with us feeling the effects of the 8400 ft altitude.This microwave dish (not satellite) allowed an internet connection. Much of Compassion’s operation requires connection to the internet for letter distribution and other communication.There was a field behind the church and its outhouse. I’d wanted to use it to check it out, but they insisted I use a nice plumbed toilet at a house over the road, owned by one of the staff.The fruit of this tree in the field next to the church is good for sore throat when gargled.The church’s cooking areaThe front of the church and the dirt road that leads to it.
Next up a visit to Carlos’s home. We took our bus but it would have been only a 5-10 minute walk across the field. Romina, Carlos’s mom, was excited to be selected to show us her home. We stayed in her kitchen as she did not want to show us the rest of her house. Carlos was restless!
Momma tells Carlos to be quiet when we all were talking, but he couldn’t keep still.Their family situation was challenging and we prayed for them.Ducks took over the kitchen after we had left.The essential group picture.
Next was lunch. The church did not have the facilities to prepare our lunch so we went to a trout restaurant at the nearby main town of Jesus.
Great views!Rainbow trout were introduced into this area by American workers about 50 years ago.The trout was prepared in three different ways. All were yummy!Guinea pig was offered. Gary was brave and described it as like chewy chicken.The restrooms had little privacy. Note that this picture was simulated!
Next was a visit to the house of Augustine and Nessida. He was a carpenter and she worked in alfalfa fields. Their son was in the Compassion program and he had taught them to pray more, including before meals.
Augustine and his family outside their home.He explained drying lentils in front of a load of eucalyptus trees which had come from his father’s mill, about twenty minutes away. He would use it to build houses, and they looked like the logs in the church’s roof.I loved their son’s bucket hat.They were happy to show us their home.On the mountain above their house were the initials of the local college, which reminded us of the “M” above Golden, the home of Colorado School of Mines.
Next, we headed back to the church, where we were greeted as VIPs. There were many more children around, who had been at school in the morning, though not all program participants were there as they hold Compassion activities on Saturdays. It still felt very full! I could tell that Soledad had put in great effort in helping this new Compassion partner prepare for a sponsor visit, which might be the only visit they ever get. However, I loved how different each visit had been, highlighting the local ownership of the implementation of the Compassion program and its intent to maintain local flavor.
The welcoming committeeKids in traditional dress formed a receiving line.I loved the hand drawn signs. The sign says that the sponsor is the reason for their ability to move forward and they are thanked.The kids are keen to see what happens next.We were shown a dance in traditional costume.
A dance in traditional costume to the song about our big and powerful God.Looking good.Time for a quick selfie.Ready for the next song.
We are the soldiers of the Lord!Getting ready to recite all 66 books of the Bible.
The 66 books of the Bible in Spanish.I think these kids knew a big show was coming!
Next up was group worship led by some energetic young adults and a couple of costume characters. It reminded us so much of a program at our home church called GIGL (Growing in God Love). We moved to Houston from a small town in England with only four kids at our church, including our two! On visiting a church in Houston, our seven year old daughter walked into kids worship where all the kids were dancing and we never looked back. Both our children went on to be members of the lead team and loved it, and these performances and competitions brought it all back!
Getting ready to lead kids worship. This group were fantastic, and the girl in pink had so much energy!
The first kids worship song.Next was a race, which started with Ashley and Nora feeding short lengths of pool noodle onto a long piece of string, which the many kids then had to push to the end.
The pool noodle race!Ashley’s team won and she immediately became very popular!Next up was the hamburger game.
The hamburger race.A cool dude.A pizza race
Ashley and Janet’s battle of the pizza.Bonita!
Ashley and Nora played a stop/start game, somewhat at a disadvantage as the instructions were in Spanish!The pastor and Ashley exchange thanks and gifts.Team photo with our gifts of hats and local dolls.The big group photo.A final selfie with Carlos.
Back at the hotel, we had dinner with three alumni of the Compassion program in their twenties. Janet and I enjoyed chatting with Lesley and Emerson as they were about to qualify as an elementary teacher and an engineer, like us! Emerson gave his testimony about how Compassion had helped him, from helping his go to camp where he accepted Jesus, to the long term impact of the program’s education and positive message.
The group photo.Lesley, Janet, me, and Emerson
It had been a remarkably full day, and the consensus for the day’s word was “joyful.” I was in awe at what a congregation of 30 adults could achieve with a children’s program in less than a year. It was a testament to Compassion’s process of church partnership selection, on boarding, and the impact of their structure and curriculum. The local church remains the backbone of the program. And I continue to be amazed at how much these kids want to warmly hug complete strangers! We are all convinced that Compassion has a fantastic program and it makes tremendous impact on individuals and communities in responsible and efficient ways.
"Cajunlimeys" combines Lousiana (Janet) and Britain (Peter). British sailors in the 19th century were nicknamed "limeys" as they drank lime juice to prevent scurvy. However, while Janet is a fine cook, she has no Cajun blood, but the name fit.
We love adventures and use blogging to write a photo diary to preserve our memories. Some crazy friends enjoy following us, and my notes might help others plan.
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The Adventures of the Cajunlimeys 