Aldea!

Here is a link to the blog we are keeping for the Orphanage!! It will be updated on who is donating to the oven we are fundraising for, along with progress in our baking business!!

http://helpperuorphanage.blogspot.com/

2 Weeks of Smiles!

I have officially been in Peru for over two weeks! I am so happy to be here and find myself grateful everyday for all my blessings! We are working with some amazing people on some great projects! We are starting a Big Brother Big Sister program involving a local University and a Rural Elementary School.  One of the big problems here in Peru is the lack of ambition to earn a higher education.  Many students have no plans of finishing High School let along going to a University and just plan on driving Moto Taxi´s.  The program is set up wonderfully.  We have created it to be very sustainable so when we leave it will still continue.  We plan to have our first visit to the Elementary on Wednesday!
The project I am mainly working on is at the Orphanage.  I love the children there, and though people warned me, I have become attached to these kids!  I fell in love the first day with Jessie, she can´t talk or walk, however she is learning to walk with help.  I love taking her out of her chair and walking around with her!

We are helping the Orphanage start their own bread making business, and I am so excited with the progress!! We are going to build a stand to sale the bread on this week, and hopefully begin to work with a baker teaching the older children how to bake.  I get to plan a Big Grand opening for July 25th!! I´m so excited, we are going to have face paint, music, bread samples and spread the word to everyone! The orphange lacks in money and is not able to buy all the neccessary medicines for the children.  The bakery will help bring in needed money!
There are many other wonderful projects and I am hoping to start another one soon.  We are in a Desert area, so we are hoping to go into classrooms and teach how to grow vegetables indoor without soil.  We will also be teaching how to cook some simple meals using these vegetables!!
I am so happy everyday to be here and work with these wonderful people, the culture is amazing and everyone is kind and loving!

Inside Out

One of the projects Megan is in charge of here in Peru is called Inside Out. It´s a global art project that we have decided to become apart of. We are trying to show the people of Peru how beautiful their women are. Today we  went out with her and had the opportunity to shoot a few photographs of some of the nicest ladies this world has to offer. Our plan is to send them to the inside out website, receive 3 and a half by 4 feet posters and post them in public places.We hope that the people of Piura appreciate these women as much as we do.

Living with what I need

Here in Peru, I have learned how fortune and blessed we are in America! Many things we take advantage of, like clean water are not available to these amazing people! However, even those here with nothing, find happiness in everything!
I came to Peru with only what would fit in my suitcase and backpack. And while here I live out of my suitcase! This has been a humbling experience,  I left a room full of everything I think I need back at home and living now with just my necessities! And still I have more here than many Peruvians have!
It gives me a greater desire everyday to help change lives!

Aldea!

Yesterday we went to the orphanage, just to tour and meet the children! It's surprisingly nice and super cute and colorful! The children are precious! We spent most of our time with the preschool children, who were so loving and had the biggest smiles! The orphanage has some great leaders!
The orphanage does lack on money and has asked us to help them start a bakery! So I will be setting up meetings and getting a volunteer Baker to come in once a week and bake with the older children and then help them set up a system to sale it! Hopefully we will have baking lessons here in the next two weeks and we can get this project rolling!
there are only a few older kids and they are excited to have a program that is more on their level!

Peruvian life!

I tried posting this before, but it never worked! I am loving life here in Peru, the culture is so fascinating and wonderful!
It has only been a week here and yet I feel like I've already learned so much and met some amazing people!
I live in a house with eleven other people and they are so kind and loving! We live above Mary Carmen's store, she is our landlord and is one of us! She also has the cutest kids that give the best hugs! They are going to get me speaking Spanish by the end of this experience!
I will try to catch up and do better at blogging!

The Peruvian way!

I love the little quirks of living in another country! I love keeping track of them, so here is the beginning!
1. Napkins only come in one ply! It's a joyful occasion when you get an actual real napkin!
2. If it's hot the men just lift up their shirts, I think rubbing the belly helps!
3. There are vans 'combis' that drive around everywhere with a man hanging out the window yelling where their destinations are!
4. No flushing toilet paper down the toilet!
5. There are stray dogs everywhere! Some are beautiful, others not so much! It's hard not to pet them!
6. Shower heads are right above the toilets, wonderful idea! Just sit and shower! :)
This is my list for now! :) I love it here and all the experiences I'm having!

Piura, Peru!

This is where I am headed in TWO DAYS! :) 

So Excited for this opportunity to make a difference!

Check out this link with a description of one of the projects I will be working on this summer!!

Peru Orphanage

You are most likely reading this blog because I sent out a letter asking for donations. However, if you did not receive a letter and would like to contribute to my International

Service in Peru for the summer- You can make a donation through PayPal online at: http://help-international.org/donate-now, click on the destination tab and including “Debbie Stauffer” after you pass the Paypal portion. If you’d like more information please visit the HELP International website www.help-international.org

Getting Ready for Peru!

If you are at my blog website you probably got my letter asking for donations to support my journey to Peru!! I am so thankful for the help I am receiving, every penny will make a difference in the lives of these amazing people!