This week has been full of time spent with the kids; big and small.  We took 2 bus loads of teen agers to a National Park called Hells Gate.  It has a natural hot spring, picnic areas and a hiking trail.  A Park Ranger took the group on a 2 mile hike through the wilderness that the kids thoroughly enjoyed…as did Lydia and Mama Lisa!  We went to a lake that we thought we were going to be able to let the kids swim in, but was told that none of the lakes near were safe, as there are hippos and crocodiles in them!!  I’ll pass.  We did take plenty of other outdoor activity toys for them, like Frisbee’s and soccer balls, and the kids had a great time.  They also enjoyed the hotdogs, sodas, watermelon and cookies we gave them as well.  For some, it was the first time they had ever had a hotdog.

The rest of the week has been spent on work projects for the home.  We finished removing the scaffolding from the boys dorm and getting it ready for the next phase.  The scaffolding here is made of tree trunks and nails; nothing like the modern stuff we have in the US.  It was a tedious process and a lot of hard work, but we worked as a team and got it done for Mama Zipporah.  We also took down their old basketball back-boards, constructed new, painted and set them up.  Again, not like the states.  These back-boards were just odd shaped in size, and not the same on both ends.  Our guys had to measure them, cut the wood and get it to fit into the odd shaped frames.  After 3 coats of oil paint, we were able to hang them and re-hang the hoops.  Another job well done and a team effort.  Our men put up two doors in the main building too.  You guessed it, not conventional sizes and had to be cut to fit!

A Pastor’s conference was held on Friday and Saturday, lead by Pastor Linn and Pastor Jojo.  Over 250 Pastors from around Kenya came to share the word, learn from each other and how they can grow their churches.  Cornerstone team members participated in various activities preparing for the conference and some team members spoke to the group as well.  It has been deemed a very successful conference and well attended.

These last hours we have here are bittersweet.  As we are looking forward to coming home to our families in Arizona, we are also sad to leave our new family here in Huruma.  We have been blessed in many ways here, and as stated before, I believe we have learned as much and have been emotionally effected as much as the children here.  Several of the children have given us letters of gratitude and love.  They enjoy writing and receiving letters.  I encourage you to write to your sponsored child as much as possible if you have one.  If you don’t have one yet, you can speak to the Cornerstone Office on how you can participate and be a part of these wonderful children’s lives.

We are heading out to spend our last hours here with the children and say our goodbyes.  It’s been a life changing trip and one I hope to make again.

We arrived back from safari yesterday evening to a large rain storm, so pardon the delay in blog posts.  We were able to capture what I believe to be one of God’s greatest pictures of art; the beautiful landscape is the back-drop to some the most exquisite animals on earth.  We were able to experience a cheetah hunt a Thompson Gazel.  The adrenaline of the hunt came to life as it captured it’s prey and then took it to a private place to partake.  It was almost sad, yet we all realized that every creature has a purpose; God’s purpose.  As ‘The Lion King’ movie says; it’s the circle of life.  We were also able to observe the likeness of the animals, yet how every stripe of the zebra was different from the next zebra and that every spot on the cheetah was unique to each cat.  God knows the numbers of hairs on each of His children’s heads and every person is unique; as is every animal in His kingdom.

This morning we had a spirit filled church service led by our very own Pastor Linn, or as they call him here:  Papa Linn.  He taught the kids that “we are better together” from Ecclesiastes 4:9-12.  Once again, he was amazing, had the kids very involved in the service and showed them how much God loves them.  The team finds it’s greatest rewards for us AND the kids when we are able to share in God’s word.  They pray for us as much as we pray for them and they are reminded often that there is a church in Chandler, Arizona that loves them and prays for them.  Thank you for sharing in that and continuing your prayers and support of the children of Huruma and the mission team representing our great church family.

After VBS, the team was taken on a tour of the dormitories and the class rooms.  We learned that the children sleep in multiples in the beds, with the little ones sometimes sleeping 3 or 4 to a bed.  They are happy to be together though, and here at Huruma, where they know they are safe, well cared for and loved.  Mama Zipporah and her staff work tirelessly to be sure the kids are shown God’s love at all times.  Mama is up before the sun and rests long after it sets.

Every day starts and ends with song and dance rejoicing in the gifts and blessings that God gives them.  This author has learned more from them than they are probably learning from me…that I NEED to start and end each day being thankful for all my blessings, great and small.  What may be small to me would be HUGE blessings to each of these kids here.

Thank you for your continued support and prayers.  We are truly blessed to be your team representing the great people of Cornerstone.  Peace and blessings.

Pastor Luis and his family treated us to dinner tonight from a chicken they had been raising. The food was remarkable. Saying goodbye to everyone so so hard for me as well as the entire team.

I am feeling a bitter sweetness, knowing that I will get to see my family in a few days but yet I feel the need to want to stay with the people of Chincha.

Love you all,

Cynthia xoxoxo

P.S. : Memo a.k.a. Will says “cluck cluck, cluck”! LoL

I can’t wait to share the stories with our friends and family once we return.  Love and miss you E,K, and H.

Will

We started this trip off having to be patient, spending a lot of time in the Miami airport before we headed to Peru, but after today it was well worth it and then some. Today we had the opportunity to spend with the children of El Porvenier in Chincha Alta. We played frisbee and soccer. Will, Mike, Walt, Eddie, and Angel spent time spinning the kids around in the field.

It was such an amazing feeling to see familiar faces again. It was so overwhelming I had a hard time keeping myself together. Seeing the kids who were not even crawling last year walking was amazing. The community center we started to build last year is completed and it looks GREAT!!

Later in the afternoon we split into 2 groups for family visits. Kris, Eddie, Mikayla, Joe, Abel, and I went to see 2 different families. The first we visited was Jaquiline’s family. I can only speak for myself when saying this, but I was completely unprepared for the mother’s story she shared with us. Josephina, the mother, told us that she had lost 2 of her older daughters because of illness. She said that she would always ask God why does such bad things happen to her. She said she felt alone and that she was not strong enough for her family. She had lost hope. Their house was severely damaged from the earthquake several years ago, but could not afford to get it repaired. There was cracks in the walls and the foundation was shifted. They were forced to move to a small section of the home next to a door for a quick escape route. She said they did not feel safe. Just hearing her and seeing her pain brought me to instant tears.

I was so compelled by the Holy Spirit I told her that no matter where we are or who we are, that with life comes problems and strife, but through the love of Jesus we can have eternal peace in our hearts no matter what trials and tribulations may occur. At the beginning of our trip we received bracelets with the bible verse Phillippians 4:13 “I can do everything through Him that gives me strength.” I decided to give her my bracelet and recite this verse to her. I told her that was a physical reminder of the love not only between her and the Lord, but also with our team. We all wept, then prayed for her and her family.

We then went to go see Ingrid’s family. This was such a blessing to see the growth with this family from last year. Last year, Charla had asked how she was doing in school, she was upset she was not in school. This year it was amazing to know that now she was back in school and she was very proud and happy.

God has done tremendous works in the lives of those in Chincha Alta since last year. The seeds of hope, peace, and love through Jesus Christ was so remarkable I can not even begin to describe. We have only been here 2 days and I have found myself in tears on several occasions.

All is well with the group. I can tell already that this trip is forever going to change the lives of the entire team.

I am off to bed. I hope all is well back in the States. We are all thinking of you all and keeping you in our prayers while we are here in Chincha. Thank you all for your continuing love and support.

Much Love,

Cynthia

Sending much love to everyone at home. xoxoxoxo

GOD BLESS YOU ALL!!