The Times They Are A-Changin'

It seems a long time since we last posted an update, probably because there´s been a lot of change in the last couple of weeks. We spent a great few days in Lima over Christmas, which was a welcome opportunity to relax, spend time with friends and reflect on our first few months in Peru. We returned to our projects in Huaraz on 27th after a ropey journey back up the windy roads, ready to get stuck in again.

Our first week back in Huaraz after our trip was a bit frustrating and disheartening. We'd been working on various things for the café and the opening of a new venue, enjoying the challenge, until we started to hear from different folk that Arco Iris was reconsidering the café's options. We met with one of the managers who told us that the organization had changed its mind about the café and would no longer be opening a new venue, but instead were thinking of closing it altogether. We hadn't really expected to hear this but were even more surprised to hear their proposition - we were told we could take on the management and daily running of the café (as well as the publicity and development strategies we had been working on), however, that would mean giving up our involvement in all our other ministries. If we said no, the café would close immediately. We spent a few days thinking, praying and talking to others about our decision, but I think deep down we knew we couldn't commit to this. Firstly, we'd already agreed our schedules for the street work, the Casa Hogar and the kids' club and secondly, we really believed for the long-term future of the café, a local Peruvian with business experience would be much better placed to fulfill this role. So, the café closed, but we think that maybe this was for the best at this time.

There have also been changes in the Casa Hogar. The decision was made that the boys and girls should no longer live together in the home and so the boys have now moved to another apartment in town. This has also meant changes for our schedule.

On our return from Lima we thought we'd feel more settled now that we knew what we were doing, we didn't expect so many things to change so quickly (as one of our colleagues said - Welcome to Peru!). These changes and the lack of communication knocked us a bit but they've also provided us with opportunities. We're learning more about being flexible and patient and have also been able to reevaluate our purpose and expectations in being here. Unfortunately, we were operating from too much of a British mindset - we wanted fixed schedules so we could know what we should be doing, when we should be doing it and how we were going to achieve 'results.' Now we realize we were focusing on the wrong thing. Instead, we are here to serve in whatever ways the organization want us to and we're here to show the love of God to those we meet and work with. We continue to hope and pray that God can use us in whatever way He wishes, in spite of our weaknesses. And we know that these experiences are opportunities for God to work in us and shape us more into who He wants us to be.

Since this change in mindset we've seen a big improvement and are now really enjoying being here. We're taking one day at a time and are a lot more open to whatever it brings. We're now helping with Tejidos - the sewing workshop that produces clothes for local and international markets. We've been doing some translation work, publicity and will be attempting to find new markets for them in the UK/Ireland (!) Karen continues to help with the kids' club in the Comedor, while Mark is still involved with the street work, sharing his first Bible story with the kids on Saturday - he hopes to start a football tournament for the boys in February. We both run sports, games and English classes in the Casa Hogar. Karen's also doing arts & crafts and is attempting to teach a few lessons of piano in Spanish! The kids in the Casa Hogar have definitely been one of the highlights of the last few weeks and I think we're finally understanding the importance of just spending time with them - giving them attention, giving them hugs, giving them praise. It's tempting to want to spoil them all the time but we know we have to get the balance as realistically we're only here for a short time and it mightn't be in their best interests. We're hoping to take them away for the day at some point soon to visit the sea, as some have never seen it before, but as with many things here, we'll have to wait and see!