International Highlight: Peru

GENERAL INFO

If you want to read more about the history, education and other information, read Compassion's page on Peru.

Compassion asks that we pray for three things for these kids here:

1) Please pray for parents who are looking for work so that they can support their children. Pray for God to open doors and to provide for these families.
2)Please pray for the children as they attend the Compassion center. Pray for God to bring hope into their hearts and that they will experience joy and love in the midst of living in poverty.
3)Please pray for the many children who are hurt while playing outside because they live in unsafe areas. Pray for the Lord's protection to be over them while they do play, and please pray for the little ones who have been hurt to receive full medical attention and healing.

And for some beautiful photos of Peru, check out Compassion's Flickr album here.

COMPASSION IN PERU

If you want to read a thorough description of Compassion's work in Peru, read their ministry highlight here.

Ever wonder if your letters matter? Check out this post: The Power of a Letter.

And here is a fun post about the Child Survival Program in Peru: Child Survival Program: Building Trust and a Better Tomorrow.

INDIVIDUAL STORIES

Jessica's story is very inspiring: From Sponsored Child to Public Prosecutor.

Meet Merly Anai and her family and here how Compassion's Child Sponsorship Program has affected her life: Living in Lima: Visiting Merly Anai.

I also recommend reading Job's story: The Trials of Job.

Check out Silveria's story and learn how Compassion's Child Survival Program has helped her family: One Mom Gets a New Start.

Marco shares the value of letters to sponsored children in this blog post: Hope in the Darkness.

Giovanna's story is also encouraging: Formerly Sponsored Child Now Serving the Poor with Compassion.

Ever wonder what a Compassion Tour is like from the in-country employees' perspective? Check out these posts: One Day in the Life of a Tour and Visits Team Leader and Part II.

The Compassion Bloggers went to Peru in 2012. You can read all their posts here, but I picked out a few of my favorites to share with you below:

* Boys Will Be Boys, but... (Peru: Day 3): He knew I was watching him. That cute, little rascal. It started as a quick pinch to the kid sitting next to him, and oh, how his eyes danced as our eyes locked.That pinch became a full fledged body push under the table ( yes, head and all), and then it culminated with a perfect head lock that would do my three teen boys proud. More...

* The Best Christmas Present Ever - Now is the Time: As I regroup from this Christmas week, my husband frantically works long hours trying to finish his office’s fiscal year end. His account mind also gathers year end tax deductions. As I share this post from my trip to Peru, the memories of this day are forever etched in my mind. They were life changing, and I invite you to share this gift. More...

* For Thanks to God: We walk the desert, uphill past a mama dog lounging under a gray sky feeding her pups. We climb past brightly colored homes made of wooden planks and sheets of plastic.
When we arrive at the house a little girl cracks the door and says, in Spanish, “I’m not mama.”
We wait for mama and when she comes she’s barefoot. Her hair is pulled back and her son’s sweaty face rests in the curve of her neck. More...

* Thanksgiving 2012: Happy Thanksgiving 2012! We’re home!(Translation: I made it through 3 of the 4 flights, but chickened out on the last one and we drove home from Houston!) And speaking of things I’m afraid of…
Last week was jam packed with ‘em. Planes, pills, and unfamiliar places, chock full of scraggly stray dogs. More...

FOOD

Compassion's website shares this information about food in Peru:

"Typical Peruvian foods include ceviche (fish and seafood marinated in lemon juice with spices and onions), rice, beef, pork (baked or fried with spices), potatoes, corn and fruit. Potatoes originated in Peru and there is a wide variety of dishes made with potatoes throughout the country.

Rice and Milk Dessert
4 cups water
1 stick cinnamon
1/4 tsp. salt
3 cups sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
1 cup rice, rinsed and drained
1 small piece of orange skin
1 cup evaporated milk

Bring to a boil four cups of water with the cinnamon stick, orange skin and salt. Add rice. Simmer on low heat until the water evaporates, then add evaporated milk and sugar. Stir constantly while letting the mixture boil 15 minutes. Add vanilla and let boil five minutes. Pour into serving bowl. Sprinkle with cinnamon and serve."

SPECIAL OCCASIONS

Here is a post about Easter in Peru.

AVAILABLE KIDS

Please be praying for the kids of Peru who are still waiting for sponsors.

Meet Sherly, who's 8 and who has been waiting 307 days for a sponsor.

Sherly's birthday is December 3. Sherly lives with her father and her mother. She is responsible for running errands. Her father is sometimes employed as a farmer and her mother maintains the home. There are 2 children in the family.
For fun, Sherly enjoys playing house and playing with dolls. She attends church activities regularly and is in primary school where her performance is average. To sponsor Sherly, click here.

And meet Luis, who's 13 and who has been waiting 400 days for a sponsor.

Luis' birthday is October 16. Luis lives with his father and his mother. His duties at home include making beds, running errands and cleaning. There are 4 children in the family. His father is sometimes employed and his mother maintains the home.
Soccer, singing and hide-and-seek are Luis's favorite activities. In high school his performance is average and he also regularly attends Bible class. To sponsor Luis, click here.

To see more available kids from the Peru, please click here.

(Note: all facts & photos are taken from Compassion's website and blog.)