October-November Update

As always life has been busy and full of blessings these last few weeks. Here are some of the highlights of both our lives and ministry in the last month or so.

In the beginning of October, Cristian and I received our first visitor to Peru (as a married couple). My long time friend Shawna came for two weeks and we enjoyed exploring some new places with her.

Not only for the fun company, but I also was blessed by Shawna's visit and the time we were able to share together in Cuzco, talking and sharing about our lives. Even though we talk by phone, and see each other when I am home, there is nothing like spending quality one on one time with a dear friend. I am so thankful that God gave us that time together just at the right time.

Later in the month, I spent a couple of days visiting the area where FH serves in Lima. It was great to see so many changes and in the communities and in the lives of people.

One of the activities I visited was a nutrition workshop. When I entered the church where it was being held, I thought that the woman teaching was an FH staff person....but to my surprise it was Elena (the women in the blue smock), one of the community health promoters that FH has trained and mentored for so many years. I remember Elena from my first months working as part of the health project training team, and Wow, what a transformation. I was so excited to see the confidence Elena had as she taught other women in her community about how to prepare nutritious meals for their families. And it was easy to see the joy that Elena had as she served her neighbors.

This year the Health and Nutrition Education Project (that recruited and trained many community health promoters like Elena) is coming to a close, in order for FH to begin a new project focused on violence prevention. But seeing Elena in action teaching her fellow neighbors is evidence of how God is working through FH to change lives and begin overcome different issues of poverty.

The other project I was able to visit was a pilot project that we started this year in one of the Lima communities: a "Ludoteca" - which is a sort of games library/ center where children can c0me an play for a few hours a day with games that help them develop both intellectual, motor and social skills (well and just the opportunity to relax and have fun). There is also a section of books and a table where kids can come to do their homework. The center is completely run by the community. FH is training mother and teen volunteers in how to oversee the administration of the center, as well as how to work with children to provide them a safe and healthy environment to play and learn.



It is encouraging to hear how the community, through the project, has realized the importance of play in a child's development. Eventually the center could also be a place where FH works with children in helping them developing abilities to prevent violence like active communication/ listening, and conflict resolution.

Lastly at the beginning of November, Cristian and I took a mini road trip (only 60 miles or so outside of the city, but nearly 3 hours on a bumpy, curvy, narrow mountain highway) to Canta, north east of Lima. It was great to get out into God's creation.

Hope you enjoyed the update. Thank you for your continued support of our lives and ministry here in Peru.

Blessings,

Lauren and Cristian

Alegres in Washington and Back Again to Peru

A Wedding in Washington

July 23rd Cristian and I finalized our marriage by celebrating a Christian wedding near my parents' home in Washington. It was a beautiful day filled with the love and joy God has been so gracious to grant us for one another. I still don't have all the photos (I promise to post some when I do), but here are a few that were taken by friends on that special day.

In the days after the wedding we kept on thinking about how special the day had been, and about the blessing of having so many loved ones with us to celebrate. My mom was thrilled to share with me how many people (including the catering wait staff) had told her that they could really sense the presence of the Lord and His love that day. Cristian and I hope that will remain true in all the days of our marriage and that together our lives will be glorifying to Him. I hope you will continue to pray for us, that the Lord would continue to strengthen our marriage and fill us with His love so that we can be a light and blessing to others in the different places he has serving now and in the future.

What the Future Holds

As Cristian and I have continued to grow together and pray for God's direction for our lives, we believe that He is preparing us to one day serve Him together in full time ministry.

For now that means that Crisitan will continue to work as a finance manager, and I will continue to serve FH-Peru supporting the National Program Office in assisting with planning, staff training, monitoring and evaluation.

Recently FH-Peru began a process of re-organization, refocusing of our projects. In the last year, many of you know that I had been questioning my role and purpose in serving with FH in Lima, but in the midst of the changes that are taking place in the organization, I have felt a renewed sense of calling to the vision and mission of FH and I have begun to see more clearly the place God has for me with in the ministry of FH. Working with Noemi, the new National Program Manager, God has been using my skills of organization, analysis and even teaching to support the other members the FH team. The Lord has blessed Noemi and me with a good working relationship. I am learning so much from her leadership and am glad to know that I am a support to her as a sounding board and assistant in the training of staff. I am looking forward to continued work with as she guiding the FH team through a process of evaluation and redesign of our projects. (Click here to read more about the ministry changes in FH-Peru).

While Cristian and I serve God in different places during work hours (I with a Christian organization, and Cristian in the secular business world), we are also are beginning to look for new ways that we can serve God and others together. As part of this time of preparation, we felt God calling us join a new outreach ministry in our church here in Lima. In May we began attending services in the new San Borja annex of the Missionary Alliance Church in Miraflores. After returning to Peru as a couple we are beginning to look for the place God wants us to serve within this new annex. As a first step we are opening our home to a studying group for the "40 days of Purpose" the church is promoting. We are inviting several Christian and Non-Christian friends to our group, and we pray the Lord would prepare their hearts and ours for the work He will do.

Please continue to pray for Cristian and me as we seek God's plan for our lives.

Blessings,

Lauren

Ministry Changes - A Clear Calling for FH-Peru and Alignment of Programs

Whenever I read and reflect on the vision and mission of FH International I am encouraged all over again about the ministry I am privileged to be part of.

Vision: God called and we responded until physical and spiritual hungers ended worldwide.

Mission: To walk with churches, leaders and families in overcoming all forms of human poverty by living in healthy relationship with God and His creation.

The vision and mission mark a God sized task of which FH-Peru, by the grace of God will contribute a part. How do we know what our part is? For many years FH-Peru has tried to do a little bit of everything. While God has used different staff and projects to impact the lives of individuals, families and even communities, the work has not always demonstrated the excellence we and God desire. And so in the last few months the ministry team of FH-Peru has been in a process of reflecting on the vision and mission, listening for the specific call God has for FH-Peru, and then refocusing our projects to answer that call.

In May, I participated along with a group of 20 other FH staff members (including Ryan, the director, and Noemi the new Program Manger) in a workshop aimed at hearing God's call for FH-Peru. After 3 days of much prayer, discussion, and reflection God made His call clear, that He wants to use FH-Peru to transform lives so that "Children (boys, girls and teenagers) can develop healthy and joyful lives in harmony with God in a healthy environment."

Children are our focus, and while we will continue to walk with families, leaders, churches and communities in overcoming the issues of poverty that limit their development - we want to see them change so that children, the most vulnerable, have a chance to live healthy and joyful lives.

So with a clear calling heard, the FH Program staff team, lead by Noemi, began a process of evaluating our current projects, the needs in the communities where we serve, and then redesigning our programs for 2011 and on. During the month of July, besides becoming Señora Alegre, I was also busy working with the program teams in Pucallpa and Lima to conduct an evaluation of the most critical problems facing children. My role was to help facilitate the analysis of the information from surveys, interviews and focus groups. Learning to manage Excel spreadsheets and interpret the data was a new experience for many of the staff, but I was so glad to see how everyone contributed to the process.

By the time I returned from weddings and honeymoon, the team had summarized the results of the community needs assessment. After hearing from parents, leaders, and even teens, in both Lima and Pucallpa, it has become clear that violence in all of its forms (physical, psychological, sexual, emotional, etc.), is the greatest threat to children being able to grow up healthy and joyful.

Violence in Peru is actually a critical issue nation wide. According to the UN Peru is considered one of the most dangerous countries for women, and approximately 50% of women in the communities where FH works have experience some type of abuse in their lifetime. The reality of violence in the homes also affects children; it is common for parents to use acts of violence (excessive force, words of rage, and derogatory comments) when disciplining their children. Many parents expressed in the surveys that the biggest problem they faced in raising their children was not knowing how to communicate with them, and when anger rises up a parent can easily turn to violence if they do not know of other ways to communicate and discipline their children. As children grow up with violence it can lead to low self-esteem, learning problems, difficulty relating with others, and involvement in community violence like bullying and gangs. As I have learned more about this issue in the last few weeks, my heart breaks for children who are faced with violence everyday of their lives. It makes me wonder: how could the love of God, and the gospel change the lives of these children and families? If FH-Peru focused our ministry in helping to prevent violence against children, helping families raise children in healthy, joyful homes, what fruits could God produce?

For about four years now FH-Peru has carried out a small project aimed at helping reduce and prevent family violence. This project has seen God produce some fruits in the tranformation of lives as they overcome the violence that has held them captive. Recently I shared with you on such fruit in the story of Jose and Lucy. But I think God wants to use FH to bear more fruit like this.

We are now in the midst of the next step of the process as we are redesigning our projects in Lima and Pucallpa to focus on the critical issue of violence against children. During the last two weeks Noemi and I have carried out project planning workshops in both Lima and Pucallpa. I am so glad I am able to support the program team by teaching new planning tools, and helping the team develop the objectives, and key activities of this new project. As always it is a blessing to serve and learn alongside the Peruvian staff, and I pray that God will continue to grow and transform me so that I can be a support to them.

Please continue to pray that the Lord would continue to guide FH-Peru in finalizing the rest of the details of this new project, pray that we would all continue to be sensitive to His guidance. And stay tuned to hear more details about this new project/ focus of the FH-Peru Ministry.

Ahora Soy Alegre por Siempre/ Now I'm Alegre (Happy) Forever

Yesterday Cristian and I celebrated a Civil Wedding Ceremony in Peru with our friends and family. It was a great evening, and now I can say that I am legally Alegre :). Alegre is Cristian's last name and now mine too. In Spanish it means "happy." We feel so blessed and happy to have been able to share this moment with so many loved ones in Peru, and we are looking forward to our religious ceremony in less than a month in Washington were we can celebrate with our loved ones there.



Here are few pictures from yesterday's preparations and celebration.

Blessings,

Lauren and Cristian.

Back from Haiti, Wedding Plans and a New Boss :)

Back in February, I took a pause from my work Peru to help with the FH relief effort in Haiti. I had hoped to send regular updates to keep folks posted, but the pace (12-15 hr. days, 6 days a week) and the resulting exhaustion quickly snuffed out that hope.


What I do want to share about that time though is that it was a blessing. I was honored to be called on to serve for even a short period of time during which I helped write proposals, and worked with a team of others to get the "Child Friendly Space" project up and running (community safe spaces where children and women to get emotional/ spiritual help and care).


It was also a difficult experience (harder than I expected) to see country and people in the midst of great suffering. I am still processing this part of my time in Haiti, as I continue to pray for the families affected, for the government leaders, for the aid worker who are overwhelmed by the work and most of all for all of the believers in Haiti. I pray that people would turn to the Lord now there, that He would raise up his people and give Haiti a new beginning. I pray that his will be done there in that difficult place and time, just as it is in heaven, and I pray that I and others will trust God to be faithful in his promises to His people there.


If you want to read more about what FH is doing in Haiti - I have posted an update about our work there at the following link:
http://lauren-peru.blogspot.com/2010/04/update-on-fh-haiti-response.html


Before going back to Peru, I also had a week of conferences at the FH headquarters in Phoenix during which time I got a chance to visit with my parents (who came down for WA) and with a two good friends from college, KC and Keeley and her family. It was a great time to reconnect.


After almost 5 weeks away from home I finally returned to Peru in the beginning of March. While it was hard to be away so long, it was also a blessing to see how God used Cristian to support me during that time through prayers and encouraging words. I am even more convinced now after our time apart, that Crisitan is my best friend, my perfect complement, and the partner God has for me. We are both looking forward to finally becoming husband and wife in July, and to see what the Lord has in store for us as we seek to serve Him as a couple.


Of course to make that happen there is much to be done. My mom is graciously helping us plan a ceremony in the states, meanwhile Cristian and I have been busy this last month or so working on plans for a civil ceremony here in Peru.


April has also brought some changes in work with the filling of the National Program Manager role (a position that has been vacant for almost two years), with a new Peruvian staff, Noemi. With Noemi as the National Program Manager, I will continue in my role as the Program Coordinator, supporting and assisting Noemi with different project related to program monitoring, evaluation, reporting and communication. I am excited to get to know and learn from Noemi, and really feel that she will an answer to prayer to me and FH-Peru.


Lastly I wanted to end this update with a short story of impact, just one of the fruits God is bearing through the tree of FH-Peru (http://lauren-peru.blogspot.com/2010/02/tree-of-fhperu-and-fruits-god-is.html).


This last month FH has been focusing its work in Chincha on health issues. During a recent event (a water and parasite museum), the local health center put FH staff in contact with a local psychologist who works in one of the local schools. Last Tuesday the psychologist came to share and about 50 parents came out to hear how they could help their children do well in school. This might not seem like something special, but in a community where many parents have not even finished elementary school, having a turn out like this is amazing. The community leader, Victor - a new believer, was so excited to see the turn out of families. Praise God for giving these families an opportunity and the desire to learn how to invest in the lives of their children!

Update on FH Haiti Response

Your support is enabling Food for the Hungry (FH) to walk with the people of Haiti to facilitate recovery from the devastation of the January 12 earthquake. FH-Haiti staff are showing great courage in service, even as they recover from unimaginable loss of family, friends, homes and other personal possessions.

The communities of focus for FH's relief work are: Bellevue La Montagne, Siloe, Kenscoff and Aux Cadets. There are more than 50,000 displaced people in these communities, and more than 120,000 people are affected.

Haiti Slideshow from Food for the Hungry on Vimeo.

Focus of FH Relief Activities:

Creation of "child-friendly spaces" in target communities to serve at-risk children. These spaces are designed to provide safe, structured areas for play, learning and trauma therapy. Work is taking place in 31 sites with two "child-friendly spaces" per site.

Distribution of tarps and ropes for temporary housing to withstand the rainy season. Many Haitians are living under tents made of bed sheets which will not give protection from rain. Plans and logistics are also being put into place to begin assisting families in the construction of transitional housing designed to protect families from heavy rains that usually begin in April.

"Cash-for-Work" project to facilitate rebuilding and support the local economy. The primary work is rubble removal.

Improvement of water and sanitation access and systems through construction of latrines, setting up of large water storage containers in strategic places throughout affected communities, and distribution of water storage containers, and water filters, and organization of trash clean up teams through the “Cash for Work” project.

Outreach by mobile medical teams and re-establishment of fixed neighborhood clinics in temporary buildings.

Care for orphaned and separated children through establishment of a registration and referral system.

Training pastors and church leaders in holistic Biblical worldview, child protection, gender-based violence prevention, psychosocial care, disaster preparedness and community organization.

Provision of grief counseling services to help communities cope with trauma.


The recovery program led by Food for the Hungry is designed to support the desire of affected families to stay in their home communities, re-establish routine and lay a foundation for further recovery. This approach will serve as an alternative to the large temporary camps being constructed for displaced people which meet immediate needs but cannot address long-term recovery.

Day 3 in Haiti

Today began with a morning devotions with the FH team of staff and volunteers that are staying in the office. We reflected on the first part of Geneis 12: God calls out to Abram to go to a new place where he will make his family great - but why....to bless others. I have been reflecting on this frequently throughout the day.

In the morning we met with a group of community leaders to begin organizing the first child friendly space. It was a good meeting, but challenging: communicating through translators, trying to understand community expectations, and try to explain what FH can do to help.

Later in the afternoon, I went to a meeting to coordinate with another NGO about a possible grant to assist with the child friendly spaces and on the way saw bit more of the damage to the city:

There is so much to do, things is so complicated, the terrain is unstable (both physically and socially), and people are in need. How to be a blessing?...that is and will be my prayer for the rest of my time here.

Tomorrow the government has called a holiday of fasting a prayer (for Friday, Sat. and Sunday).

Please be praying along with the country of Haiti that they would turn to him, hear his voice and begin to follow. That the Lord would begin to rebuild this country that has been so broken, and that he work out his redemption of Haiti through the lives of believers here, that they would also be a blessing to their fellow Haitians.

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Hoy se inició con una devoción por la mañana con el equipo de FH (el personal y los voluntarios) . Se reflexionó sobre la primera parte de Geneis 12: Dios llama a Abram para ir a un nuevo lugar donde hará su gran familia - pero ¿por qué .... para bendecir a otros. He estado reflexionando mucho sobre esto durante el día.

Por la mañana nos reunimos con un grupo de líderes de la comunidad para comenzar a organizar el primer espacio seguro para niños (un lugar para jugar y aprender). Fue una buena reunión, pero difícil: la comunicación a través de traductores, tratando de entender las expectativas de la comunidad, y tratar de explicar lo que FH puede hacer para ayudar.

Por la tarde, fui a una reunión para coordinar con otra ONG acerca de una posible subvención para ayudar a proyecto de espacios seguros para niños y en el camino vi poco más de los daños a la ciudad: (ver fotos arriba)

Hay tanto que hacer, las cosas están tan complicado, el terreno es inestable (tanto física y socialmente), y la gente tienen necesidad. ¿Cómo ser una bendición? ... Es es y será mi oración por el resto de mi tiempo aquí. Mañana, el Gobierno ha pedido un tiempo de descanso, de memoría y de ayuno una oración (para el viernes, sáb y domingo).

Por favor, oren junto con el país de Haití, que ellos puedan escuchar la voz del Señor y empezar a seguirle. Que el Señor pueda comenzar a reconstruir este país que tanto ha roto, y que pueda empezar a redimir al Haiti a través de las vidas de los creyentes aquí, que también serán una bendición a sus hermanos haitianos.

Arrived to Haiti

I arrived to Haiti safely this evening around 6pm, then to the large house that serves as FH Haiti offices.

The office is also serving as home to almost 20 staff and volunteers who have come to help - providing medical aid, organizing distribution of materials like plastic sheeting, and hygiene kits, implementing latrine project, and many other activities.

Tomorrow we begin to look at how to start up some 62 "child friendly spaces" where children will recieve emotional, social and spiritual help. Please continue to pray for safty, wisdom, and energy for the work ahead.

May God be glorified by all we offer Him by our service of love to the people of Haiti.

Interrupted by Haiti

According to Webster's online dictionary interrupted means to stop or hinder, to break up the uniformity of continuity. On Monday this week my own plans for this month were interrupted by a request to go to Haiti and help the FH relief staff (already on the ground for the last month serving those in need), as they prepare to begin a huge relief project to provide shelter, water, medical aid and creation of safe spaces for children in several communities around Port au Prince where over 120,000 people have been affected by the devastating earthquake of January 12th.

As I consulted with loved ones (including Cristian) about the possibility of going to help, I encountered understandable concern. Still the over-arching advice was to follow God's leading and peace. Where is God leading? Following my plans for this month: routine of work in FH/Peru office plans to spend time with friends, and with Cristian, and wedding preparations? Or being willing to have my plans interrupted: going to serve in Haiti for 2-3 weeks (a relatively short time), along side fellow FH staff already at work, and Haitian national staff, whose lives were interrupted on January 12th and have lost so much, but continue with a desire to serve their fellow Haitians? I think the leading of God is clear - my life and plans are not my own, but His, and I am at peace to interrupt my life when proposed an opportunity to serve.

Monday I am leaving for Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, and on from there to Port au Prince. I will be there just over two weeks. Please be praying for safe travels and for wisdom for the work ahead. I hope to continue to update this blog while I am in Haiti so that you can hear more about the work going on there.

You can find out more about the FH relief response in Haiti by visiting http://www.fh.org/.

I also recommend the relief blog being written by staff on the ground.
http://fhrelief.wordpress.com/

Many blessings to you all,

Lauren

The Tree of FH/Peru and the Fruits God is Producing

The last two weeks of January I was busy preparing the annual activity report we (as an international NGO) are required to register with the Peruvian government. While it is a challenge to consolidate the results and financial reports of all of the work FH carried out during 2009 in Lima, Pucallpa, and Chincha, it was a blessing to get a chance to read about all the ways that God has been using FH in the transformation of lives and communities in Peru this last year.


To get an idea in 2009:

• 103 families affected by violence or abuse received assistance, counseling, and spiritual support, of these families, 83% are beginning to restore broken relationships between husbands, wives and children
• 43 volunteer community counselors were trained to respond to families in crisis
• 7 wells were drilled providing 3206 people with improved access to clean water, and have received training on water management, health and hygiene
• 120 volunteer community health promoters received training on how to help their communities stay healthy
• 117 people are participating in micro savings groups in Pucallpa and are learning about God's concern and provision for basic needs, and three savings group members have made commitments for the first time to follow Christ oan size $83
• 4178 children and parents received de-worming medication, and learned more about how to prevent parasite infections (a cause of malnutrition)
• 975 children who received afterschool study help, began to experience academic success for the first time
• 1649 families received physical, social and spiritual support and guidance from FH staff during home visits
• 940 children were able to participate in vacation bible school activities
  

But it is not just numbers, but individual lives being given a chance to experience the transforming power of Christ.

José beat his wife, Lucy, until she bled. He threw their young children out of the house. She left him three times. And three times she returned when he promised to change. But each time, the violence continued. Four times he wielded a knife and threatened her very life. Fourteen years. Fourteen years of physical and psychological abuse. Lucy met another man and after becoming pregnant returned to her husband and five children in repentance. They asked for the help of the local pastor. But things came to breaking point when Lucy was eight months pregnant. José, in a fit of rage, pushed her off a two meter drop near their house. Lucy was hurt, but the baby was unharmed. José and Lucy were ready to separate, to end the relationship. To be done. FH´s psychologist told them how the Lord could forgive them and that God was the only one who had control over the life of this baby. José and Lucy re-thought their decision. They decided to work towards restoring their relationship with the help of the local church, who fasted monthly for them, created a retreat for them and prayed for them. They attended therapy sessions, José received medicine for his maniac depression. And God began to knit them back together. Lucy gave birth to a son, Samuel, who she had conceived with the other man. And José loves him as if he were his own. He dotes on Samuel.José and Lucy´s neighbors clearly see the change in them and their pastor is able to use their testimony to help others. ¨I want to submit myself to God,¨ José declares, ¨and seek integrity. I want to raise holy hands to the Lord.¨ And no longer raise them to assault his family. Reconciliation. Relationships made right. ¨God changes people,¨ Lucy states, her eyes full of the security that comes from experience, ¨He changes people.¨

As I have increasingly moved into an administrative role with FH/Peru, spending less time in the communities, and more time in the office working on plans, communications, reports etc. I have at times struggled to remember why I am here. But getting a chance to reflect on the amazing ways God is using FH/Peru. I am energized again to continue serving and being obedient to the work God has called me to with FH/Peru at this time.

A friend recently shared with me an interesting way to think about this work God is doing through FH/Peru. The ministry of FH is like a tree. These evidences of change and stories of impact are the fruits of the ministry God is working out through FH/Peru. And these fruits don't appear out of no-where, but God grows them through the tree of FH:

THE BRANCHES -amazing national and missionary staff who walk along side people in vulnerable communities, teaching, organizing, listening and praying

THE TRUNK - the administrative structure (planning, reporting, finances, etc.) that support the branches, and make sure that branches have the resources necessary to produce fruit

THE ROOTS- you and many other supporters and donors who give, pray, and share about the work of FH that supplies the resources necessary to the trunk and branches so that God can use the tree to produce this amazing fruit.

I am thankful that the Lord has allowed me to continue to serve in the "trunk" of FH. I know that I am being used to produce fruits, because with out the trunk the branches would not be supported and would fall down. And I am also thankful for you and the many other supporters of the work of FH/Peru. God is also using you to produce fruit, because without the roots the trunk and the branches would not have the resources needed for God to use them to produce fruit. It is not just the branches but the whole tree that are needed to produce fruit. How gracious God is to let us all be used in the process.

Blessing,
Lauren

Home for the Holidays - Blessings for 2010

3 weeks -this is the time since I returned home to Peru since spending some time in Washington for the holidays. I realize that it is now February, but I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and New Year.

We (Cristian and I) had a wonderful time visiting friends, exploring Seattle, playing in the snow, and getting to hang out with family.

Here are a few pictures from my time at home:



I am so glad that I was able to see so many of you during my visit and hope that you will all keep in touch through out the year. Your prayers and support are a huge blessing to me and the ministry God has called me to in Peru, I pray that the Lord bless you richly in 2010.