Here is an update of our happenings in Peru over the last few months....
Signing of agreement between FH-Peru and CENEPRED
One my key responsibilities as the Disaster
Risk Reduction (DRR) specialist for Food for the Hungry Peru is networking and
forming partnerships with different DRR institutions. In May after more
than a year of conversations and negotiations, Food for the Hungry Peru finally
signed a general working agreement with CENEPRED, the government agency in Peru
responsible for Disaster Risk Reduction. Having this working agreement is
an important step in coordinating DRR initiatives in the communities we serve
with the work of the government, laying the groundwork for ongoing support and sustainability.
Please pray that this partnership will bring blessing both to the work of Food
for the Hungry Peru, the communities we serve and the local governments we partner
with.
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| Merban (FH Peru Country Director - on left) signing agreement with Director of CENEPRED. That is me on the in the right corner :) |
Sisters for Change
Although it is not one of my official
duties, I am often asked to help with collecting, writing and/ or translating
stories that reflect the transformation that has occurred in the lives of
people who have been served by Food for the Hungry projects. Recently I
had the privilege of talking with two sisters from a community that is graduating
from Food for the Hungry Peru´s community development program. After more
than 10 years of walking alongside the families, leaders and churches in their community here is what these women had to share:
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| Norma with her husband Miguel |
Later, when the sisters started their own families, they also made their homes on the same hillside where their parents had come to live. In 2000, the family of Alicia and Norma along with 40 other families who had come to live on the same hillside officially formed the community of Santa Barbara. However as Norma and Alicia explained, the community was unorganized and each family kept to themselves, not really interacting beyond a simple greeting when passing each other to go to the market or fetch water.
A couple of years later Alicia and a couple other mothers from Santa Barbara began to see the FH truck pass their community (in route to work in a neighboring community). Curious the mothers began to inquire about FH and decided to ask FH to come and work in their community as well. In 2003 FH began child sponsorship and development programming in Santa Barbara, and both Norma and Alicia say that this was a turning point for their community.
“FH changed things for our community, helping us to organize, providing training and orientation to our community leaders so that they could coordinate with local authorizes to get title to our land, electricity, water, and sewer. Later FH helped our community with the initial construction of our community center. FH also trained health promoters in our community who helped teach people to prevent disease and how to provide better nutrition for our children. ” said Norma.
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| Norma |
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| Carmen, another women from the community sharing about violence prevention with her neighbor. |
But it wasn’t just in physical projects that FH helped our community explained Alicia. “Before FH came, every family kept to themselves, we didn’t know each other or reach out to help each other when in need, but though FH trainings we would get to know each other. Lots of families in the community also had problems with violence, arguments, youth delinquency. FH taught us how to resolve conflicts without violence, how to raise and instruct our children, how to better relate to our spouses” said Alicia.
Both Alicia and Norma also explained that through retreats, and counselling sessions, the violence prevention and parenting programs, they have been forever changed. “Now I know the way that God wants me to live my life. Before I used to be quick to anger, but now I try to calm myself and then respond to my kids or husband and that has made my relationship with my family much better. I feel so blessed and am so thankful that FH has come to work in our community” said Norma.
But the transformation does not stop with Norma and Alicia. Both shared that they now feel compelled to continue serving and reaching out to their neighbors. “When I see my neighbor in need, now I know I can go and see how she is doing. I may not be able to offer money or a solution, but I can offer a hug, a listening ear and share my meal with her” said Norma.
“When I see kids or families having problems, I can share with them what I have learned from FH and how putting into practice the principles FH has taught me has changed my life and family and can change their family too” said Alicia.
While the development projects of FH are coming to a close in Santa Barbara, the seeds that have been planted will continue to give fruit through the lives of these two sisters, and the many others who have been touched by FH
Thank you for your support of me and Food for the Hungry that help make this transformation possible.
Caleb turns 3.
In August our little Caleb turned 3. Well I guess he is not so little any more :) Caleb loves animals, so we celebrated with friends and family during a special farm animal themed party complete with bunnies and chicks.
As you can see both Caleb and Liana are growing like weeds, and their loving, playful personalities are a blessing to our family.
Thank you for your support and prayers for our family. Many blessings to you and your families!
Lauren, Cristian, Caleb and Liana
