Me with Dr. Gehringer (aka "Bob") at the Potluck for Peru reception. I had an awesome time meeting everyone who has helped with Affinity's IMPACT Peru mission in the past and reminiscing with some of those that have gone in past years. A huge "thank you" to my dear friend, Amanda, for coming with me and for supporting my mission efforts as well!

Some Peruvian artifacts

Me with the wonderful Father Alex Busuttil who heads the program through the Missionary Society of St. Paul in Alto Cayma. He is a Catholic priest from the island of Malta who has done amazing work empowering the people of Alto Cayma by helping them learn lifelong skills and providing assistance to those in need, especially the children and elderly.

What was left of my empanadas at the end of the night....

He wants me to bring WHAT??? That's right... what you're looking at are EIGHTY-TWO bulb syringes... or, as we call them at my house "snot suckers". Maybe I should reconsider the larger suitcase? These are just a small piece of what has been donated for missions... there were cases of toothbrushes, mouth-to-mouth blobs, infant and pediatric resucitation dolls, respirators.... the list goes on.

Potluck for Peru - This Friday

On Friday, St. Elizabeth will be hosting a reception for Father Alex (who is in town this week) and the rest of the IMPACT Peru team that's set to head out in 2 weeks, myself included. If you don't know who Father Alex is, read my earlier posts. I'm so excited to finally meet him and hear the stories of past missions! What a great time for all of us to get together and socialize, connect with those who have gone before us, and inspire those who have supported us thus far. If anyone has ever traveled on a misssion in the past, supported this mission indirectly, have had a desire to participate in a mission trip, or simply would like to learn more... PLEASE, come to the reception with me!! We are all whipping up a Peruvian dish to pass and those that have been to Peru before will be sharing photos, scrapbooks, memories, music... it sounds like it's going to be a lot of fun!

Friday, October 21 (6-8pm)
Helen Fowler Conference Center - St. Elizabeth Hospital

Let me know if are interested...

Time to dust off the old suitcases

This week, I pulled up my old dusty suitcases from the basement in anticipation of trying to cram the necessary supplies I'll need into the smallest amount of space. Naturally, I grabbed the large piece of luggage, but changed my mind as I imagined hauling it around the cobbled streets of Arequipa. Nah... better go for the smaller one and a carry-on (in case my checked back doesn't make it there). Besides, what else do I need other than a few changes of layered clothing (we'll have laundry facilities at the volunteer house). Oh, that's right... there's that list of "necessities" we discussed in our meeting with Bob. Sunscreen (it's always sunny in Arequipa), comfortable walking shoes (a common form of public non-transportation), ear plugs (again, for those wild dogs that bark throughout the night), immodium - or even better, Cipro (for the inevitable). And then there are the mission supplies... can I squeeze in a child-size recusitation dummy? Thankfully, I started this task early.

With three weeks left until departure, I'm excited to say that I'm getting SO close to reaching my fundraising goal. A HUGE THANK YOU to my hometown church in Poy Sippi for awarding me with a grant to be used for the mission. That brings my total amount raised to $1,645.18!! Like most people, I absolutely HATE asking people for donations, but without your support I wouldn't have been able to commit to making this trip. With that said, I still have just over $650 yet to raise... and I could REALLY use your help. During my time in Peru, not only will I be providing services and warmth to some of the most kind-hearted and appreciative people I'll ever meet, but I'm hoping to be transformed in the process.

"Those who bring sunshine to the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves".

I'm leavin' on a jet plane!

Well, it's official. I purchased my flight to Peru yesterday. I guess there's no turning back now! Although, after realizing what a long and exhausting ride it will be there and back, the thought did cross my mind. Where exactly is Peru? Oh, yeah... it's 4270 miles (as the crow flies) from Neenah, Wisconsin. Yowza! That means, when I leave the Milwaukee airport at 9:15am on Saturday, November 5th... and after stopping in Chicago, Miami, sleeping off an 8-hour layover in Lima and finally arriving in Arequipa... it'll be a full 24 hours later. Better have myself some good reading material with me! It'll be well worth it in the end. I'm thinking if I can make one elderly Peruvian smile as I deliver them a warm meal or have two little arms wrapped around me with excitement as I give them a brand new pencil... it'll be worth every minute and every dollar it took to get there.

I appreciate all the well wishes and comments sent my way. Thank you, too, to all who have supported this mission financially. Without your dollars, I don't think I would have been able to be a part of this IMPACT Peru team. The flight alone cost $1442! I still have quite a ways to go to reach my fundraising goal of $2300. You know, if each one of my facebook friends and family members took those couple of bucks they'd normally spend on a cafe latte at Starbucks or manicure at the nail salon and plugged it into that little donate box to the right, I'd probably end up reaching my goal in a matter of minutes... just sayin'.

My nerves are getting the best of me...

So, I had this dream last night. The time had finally come to board the plane headed for Peru (yay!). After a LONG and exhausting trip (will take us 24 hours and 4 flights to get there), I finally arrived in Arequipa and boarded a rickety old bus to take me to the volunteer house (which was a shack, in my dream). Once at the house, the bus pulled away... and I realized I was ALONE. Apparently, I had booked my flights for the wrong date. So, there I sat... in a dark empty house... nothing to do... no one around... and the wild dogs that apparently are the norm in this area were surrounding me, barking constantly. I can't remember exactly what happened next, but I do remember finally meeting up with the rest of the group. I think it's safe to say my nerves are getting the best of me...

On a happier note, I'm looking forward to meeting Father Alex (Busuttil) who runs the Mission of Alto Cayma in Peru. He'll be here visiting the Fox Valley some time this month, and will be meeting with our group of volunteers from Affinity during his visit. I can't wait to see and hear from the mastermind of the Mission of Alto Cayma. From humble beginnings out of the trunk of his old Land Rover, Father Alex has overseen the growth of the mission during the last 16 years now serving a population of over 32,000 Peruvians.

"Everybody can be great... because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace... a soul generated by love." - Martin Luther King, Jr.