This is Isabelle.....she was so sweet!
This lady had to go get her hat before we could take a picture of her. She was showing us her chimney....this is one of the projects going on in the barrio. without the chimney, the coal that they burn fills their home with dangerous smoke.
Me and Dani....She and her husband moved to Peru 4 years ago to be full time missionaries there. They have done a lot in that time.....I'm very proud of them! It was great to see her, we've been friends for over 7 years.

Back Home

Buenos Dias....

Well, I made it home......I am still so tired from all the travel ~ but starting to feel better. Friday night after our goodbyes to all the friends we made in the barrio, I just couldn't post a blog....I was way too emotional. /the day started with some activities with the leaders, we made picarones (Peruvian donut like dessert). The evening ended with praise music and dancing. The goodbye's were overwhelming and I just can't put into words the emotions I was feeling. Saturday was an early morning flight to Lima, where we spent the day in the city - then caught our flight to Houston at midnight....ending up in Phoenix around 945 Sunday morning. I'm still recuperating...as I feel better I will try to post more stories. I loved Peru.....I am just dealing with sadness that things don't need to be the way they are, Peru has MANY natural resources - however, the rights have been sold to foreign countries so that government officials may profit...makes me feel sick.

Thanks again for all of your support.....it has meant so much to me.

xoxoxo Tori

One More Day in the Bario

Wow,

What a busy couple of days! Lets see......yesterday was great, we had some time to work on the school and put up another wall.....yes indeed, I can now drywall. Also Kris and I did some painting. after lunch we set up and got ready for over 30 women to tak about prayer and then make prayer boxes. These are boxes for them to write down their prayers and then look back at them to see what God has done. It was a great time for them to fellowship with eachother, and for us to bond with them too.

Today was an early day in the bario with the kiddos......so little (wish I could upload photos!!!!!)and so precious. you'll see. we did "centers", so they could rotate and do a craft, hear a story, and then have a snack. So many hugs and kisses today, they are getting to know me and call my name when we pull up in our taxi....sometmes they start runnning and waving as we drive by - I think I might have a hard time saying goodbye tomorrow. I wish Darrik and the kids were here to experience this....they would love the people here.

The afternoon and evening was devoted to the youth in the bario. We had a very fun relay race - The peruanas against the gringos. we lost of course by a milisecond thanks to me falling 3 times on my face in the rocks....Im ok.....at least they had a great laugh at the white girl that is clumbsy. serously...they were laughing so hard! then Kris (she is a 20 yr old U of A student)gave her testimony and a lesson on leadership.....the vision of project new hope international is the train up leaders so they can become self sustaining communities. Anyway, the night ended up with some food and fun games with the teens. We had to leave.....seemed too soon.

good night all,
Tori

Great Day

Today was by far the best day yet! We went straight to the bario this morning and got started on some construction, which was great....but, Im realizing something here......Allt he construction in the world means diddly squat if there is no love. A few of us left to take some gifts to ladies in the bario that have church group in their homes....basically they host - often against their husbands wishes. These women risk a lot to share Jesus with eachother. many of them cant read, so others read to them directly from the bible.....over and over so they can memorize it. Amazing, right? I was blown away. They were so excited by the (small) gift we brought, they didnt know what to do.....we prayed with them, and by the time we left they knew we cared and loved them. I somehow feel that doing that was more important than anything else we could have done.

In the afternoon we did get some work done on the school, and then at 3 oclock it was time for the lesson I had prepared. Everthing went very well....Kris, my interpreter did an amazing job and the women undrstood perfectly. We had a great turnout of new women who are unbelievers and hopefully the experience wil lead them to return to church. It was a fun time, we served the ladies by giving them mini maicures and painting their nails. Plus...there was food! Did I mention the food here is pretty good? it is.....yum.

Anyway....goodnight!

Much Love,
Tori

P.S. Met a beautiful 75 year old lady today...Isabella Rodriguez....remined me of my grandma that passed away. The way she moved her hands, her pretty smile....She was so proud to tell us her name...her finger waved through the air as if she were directing music while teling us her name. I miss her.

Long Day........

Ok, just a reminder.......I am typing on a spanish keyboard with most of the keys worn off....plus, tonight its kid of sticky. =( so please forginve mistakes!!!

Today we sent a full day in the bario that our curch started supporting about 4 years ago. Things have improved so much over the years and I have learned that theere are 8 or 9 more barios just like this one that the team here is preparing to start work in. Seems like they are taking on a huge task, but they do it with a joyfull heart.

Today we fed maybe 100 kids, I can hardly wait to share pictures. Then we did a story and craft with the kids, afterward they had their annual bazaar where the kids get a treat for coming to bible story time and being well behaved, etc.

The comunity center actually has a small kitchen where Theresa, a leaders wife made us an amazing lunch. Just a few years ago there was no electricity, no water....nothing.

There is so much more, but I have to go get ready for devotion time......

much love,
Tori

Hi all...just a quick update-
We went into the bario today to meet with the leaders. We went to a park to get to know them better, and build a relationship since we will be working closely with them for the next weeek. It was so humbling to see the conditions of the bario, and yet some from our group that have been here before are marveling at how well things look and how the bario is progressing. I made so many new friends today and many moments that brought me to tears.....I almost lost it when one of the little gilrs at the end of the day gave me a hug, kissed my cheek, and said "Gracias, Tori....Hasa Mañana". What wonderful people....So thankful for the smallest things.

Tomorrow s going to be a long day......we are in the baio from morning till late at night!

Much love to all,
Tori

P.S. To Kelsie and Josh.....these guys LOVE Soccer and Volleyball - They beat us barefoot. ;)
love you xoxoxoxo

Looks like pics will have to wait.......no slot for the sd card. =(
xoxoxoxo

Hi all, I made it in to Trujillo this morning at about 6am!!! I was so tired......It was crazy. Im not going to write too much since all the keys on this key board have the letters worn off and I dont really know this is getting typed! I must be dreaming, I know I dont type this well. anyway, I,m here....I need to eat and we are off to chan chan. love you....T

Hugs and Kisses K&J.....and you too d (wont let me capitalize!!!????)

Off they go!!

From Darrik - Off to Church this morning at 3:45 to catch the PHX shuttle (Kelsie and Josh will be tired today).

The mission team needs your prayers...

Please pray that God will bless the team with a safe trip while traveling to Peru.

Thanks,

DR

Almost There!

Three days to go........All supplies are ready to be packed up at our packing party tomorrow night. I pretty much know what I'm going to pack (not much!). I think we're ready to rock! Please pray for safe travel on Thursday, we fly to Lima via a short layover in Houston. Then we pretty much spend the night in the airport to wait for our flight to Trujillo. I'm glad we don't have to ride the bus for 8 hours like the first team did a few years back, I heard it was pretty scary.

I received some good news yesterday - the school that we originally were going to do some construction on had a legal issue with someone trying to claim the land. We found out yesterday that the issue was resolved so we can move forward with construction.....that is fantastic!

My last dilemma before I go.....do I buy the neck pillow for the plane ride. or just use a sweater?

Picture: Darrik and I in the mountains.

Crazy Daze

Two weeks till take off - I thought I had a ton of stuff to do until I made my list and not so much! Things are getting done and falling in place. My sister Heidi came over yesterday and helped me sort out about 1000 little feet cut out of construction paper into baggies for the kids to make a craft in Trujillo.

Last weekend I was able to get away with my family to go camping - We had a blast! We went with two other couples from our small group. It was a great time to relax spend time with each other and really be blown away by creation. Darrik and I saw a shooting star fly across the whole sky with a huge tail full of amazing colors - that was so beautiful.

These pictures are from our trip. Josh is holding "Cheeseburger" his pet crayfish (yes we still have him and he is doing quite well!) And Kelsie was doing a little crayfishing of her own - she named her's "Bob". They currently reside in an old ten gallon tank in our living room. We installed a bubble stone today, they really love attacking the bubbles.

Our Team

Today we had a team meeting, only one more to go before departure! We got all our crafts organized and ready to go, finalized our lesson plans, and Mitch (our team leader) went over some of the specifics of what to pack, how to pack it, and what NOT to bring! (basically, anything you would be really sad to loose). Anyhow, It was a great day, got a lot done, and the final "to do" check list was made. I can't tell you enough - how thankful I am to have so much support from family and friends.......Your prayers mean so much. Thank you. Here is a picture of the team going to Peru this year - From left: Myself, Andrea, Mitch, Dan, Kristin, and Jamie. Oh, and I need to make a correction from and earlier post......I was under the impression that the flight we take from Lima to Trujillo was going to be on a tiny puddle jumper, and it is going to be a smaller plane......just not that small! So, good news I guess....whew! Either way, it is better than the 8 hour bus ride...for sure!

Countdown

One month from today is our trip.......I'm so extremely excited and at the same time fighting the guilt of leaving my family for ten days. I was out with the kids today picking up some groceries, and I kept wanting to buy them "stuff" to compensate for the fact that I am going out of the country without them. I did alright and did not over do it! The positive side of our shopping trip was that there is a need for some clothing in Peru - I hit the clearance rack today and scored a HUGE bag of clothes for 14.00.....Crazy. Tell me that's not a blessing! The picture is a gardenia flower from my front yard.....we brought the plant with us when we moved from WA state. It just makes me happy to see it. ;)

Getting Ready

Time is flying by, it seems like I just applied for this mission trip and now it's only a month away! I have been blown away by all the support from my friends and family. I wanted to create this blog so anyone could log-in and see what our team is up to in Peru. My hope is that I will be able to post some pictures and keep you updated.

I have to tell you I am getting excited and a little nervous, this is my first time going on a mission trip and first time I will be away from my husband Darrik and kids for so long. I know this is what God wants me to do, so I'm letting go of control (so hard for me) and moving over to the passenger's seat.