Llama Reporter - Fall 2009

Llama Reporter News from the Ministries of kids alive international Peru Fall 2009

Give Me Words to Speak—by

Shannon Eaton

Hector* arrived to our Home last September along with his older brother. Though 2 1/2 years old, he arrived not knowing how to talk or even communicate his needs very well. In order to communicate his needs, he used animal like gestures and noises. He was also very shy, timid, and insecure and even isolated himself from others. Doctors suggested he lacked early stimulation as a baby and needs speech therapy. Hector* began speech therapy in March and meets with the therapist weekly. Although this little toddler has a long ways to go to catch up with kids his own age he is not only talking now, but is so much more social as well. It is an amazing transformation to see and we are still only at the beginning.

Moms Helping Moms Graduation 15 women from the inaugural class of Moms Helping Moms at the Manchay Oasis Care Center graduated this past June. Many gave testimony to the positive changes they had made during that time such as growth in their relationship with Christ, with their husbands (those who have them) and with their children. The teachers also noticed a big difference throughout the year in the moms’ children. They were more stable and more care had been taken in their appearance and hygiene. Besides discipleship and parenting classes the women learned many skills like sewing, jewellery making, budgeting and how to start a small business.

*names of minors have been changed to protect privacy.

The Gift of Sight by Shannon Eaton

Expansion Update

Milagros* had such a problem seeing that she would have to bend her head extremely close and squint to see anything. That all changed with a trip to the eye doctor and a new pair of glasses. She didn’t talk much on the car ride to buy her glasses, but a whole new world opened up before her on the car ride home. Milagros* didn’t stop talking on the 30 minute trip back home and kept pointing at things that she could now see more clearly than before.

Culturally Curious? On July 28th Peruvians celebrate their Independence Day. By law, all buildings must display a Peruvian flag. Families and friends get together to celebrate by eating traditional food from the coast, the mountains, and the rainforest. Often participants dress for each region as they serve the food. Many streets are blocked off for parades. Looking to buy a new digital SLR camera? Why not donate your old one to us? We would love to be able to take better pictures of the kids. Please let us know if you would be willing to donate a new or used digital SLR camera.

One of our new, future Children’s Homes is in the jungle city of Pucullpa. Land is being donated by a former missionary who is also building the first family unit. Although the paperwork to register with the government is usually slow we are excited about this new opportunity to rescue children at risk in the Peruvian Amazon. In January, we began managing the Friends of Peru Children’s Home in the highlands of Andahuaylas. The 1st family unit is done and construction has started on the second floor of what will be the 2nd and 3rd family units. We need to finish enough construction ASAP to be able to register the new Home with the government so that the kids can move onto the new site. Currently there are 18 children.

Construction Update—by

Tyler Foss

The new site in Pachacamac for the Lima Children’s Home

2009 has been a productive year here in Peru thanks to some large donations and many service teams that have come to bless us. Here’s a quick overview of accomplishments: Manchay Oasis Care Center

Service Team Testimonial

―There are not words to describe how this trip has changed me! I grew to appreciate all the little things I neglect at home. I could not have enjoyed this trip more and am so glad I am able to be here. The children and families we’ve seen taught me so much about God and the incandescent happiness that they exude, even with what little they have.‖

Completed new office building Completed new sewing workshop for Moms Helping Moms (MHM) Nearly completed new boardroom Laid over 100 square yards of sod Planted trees and flowers Added 23 yards of concrete driveway

New Children’s Home in Pachacamac Finished the 1st and 2nd housing units Finished the shells of 3rd and 4th housing units (now starting #5!) Constructed ecologically-friendly sewage treatment plant Began landscaping with sod and gravel Built duck pen

Older boys living in 1st House

Began kids’ gardens

In the Community Built a retaining wall at the house of one of our Oasis teachers Excavated land, poured a concrete floor, and built a house addition for a MHM grad.

Graduate Update—by

Nancy Miller

Javier Gutierrez has become quite the world traveler -- he has worked for cruise lines in the Caribbean, Alaska, and in the Mediterranean. Recently he returned to us from a visit to Canada. There he reconnected with a number of people who have been to the Home on service teams, including a couple that he calls his ―Canadian parents.‖ Javier was also able to build relationships with migrant workers by playing soccer and then shared the Gospel. He was also able to visit the Bartels family (founders of the Lima Children’s Home) and share his testimony at their church. He has since returned home and left for a third cruise ship tour. Please pray for him and his continued spiritual growth in the worldly environment of working on a cruise ship.

Director’s Deliberations

Mike & Diane

Recently our house was broken into and many items were stolen. Although it has been a huge frustration we are thankful for many things, one being, as Matthew Henry once said, that, ‖I was the one who was robbed, not I who robbed.‖

What kind of people go into someone else’s house to take that which is not theirs? Typically, former ―children at risk‖! There are still millions of children here in Peru in extreme poverty, without loving parents to guide them, who are forced at a very young age into working or stealing in order to survive. Obviously we still have a lot of work ahead of us as our break-in attests. Thank you for your part in helping us do that here in Peru. We are always amazed at the blessings we receive from service teams that come to work with us. Thank you so much those of you that gave up a chunk of their summer to visit and serve with us: People’s Bible Church (Goshen, IN), First Church (Highland, IN), People’s Church (Wyoming, ON), and Bethel Church (Crown Point, IN). We also hosted a vision team from MVPC (Moraga, CA) that has begun a partnership with our Home in Andahuaylas.

WISH LIST Individual Child sponsorship Home/Classroom sponsorship

$35/month $100/month

Giving has decreased for our Lima ministries and we need more sponsors to keep them running properly! Please prayerfully consider sponsorship, encourage friends and church small groups to sponsor or give a one-time gift towards our operational costs. Help us save printing/postage costs—receive this newsletter by email. Contact Jon at [email protected]

CONTACT US! Field Address: Lima Children’s Home Casilla 50, La Molina, Lima 12, Peru phone: 011 (511) 479–1341 Kids Alive Int’l Addresses: In the US: 1(800) KIDS-330 2507 Cumberland Drive Valparaiso, IN 46383 e-mail: [email protected] www.kidsalive.org In Canada: (519) 624-9406 55 Fleming Dr., Unit 2 Cambridge, ON N1T 2A9 e-mail: [email protected] www.kidsalive.ca

MISSIONARIES Field Directors Mike and Diane Fietje Maintenance & Construction Tyler Foss MHM Coordinator Brenda Foss Nurse Shannon Eaton Work Team Coordinator Jon Chadwick Child Sponsorship Coordinator Elise Chadwick Alumni Support Nancy Miller (non-KAI)