Though a knock at the door of Casa Goshen came a tad early (around 6:30 a.m.) we were excited to see our students return safely from their service locations. The early group, Lydia, Trevor, Laura and Shina, came in from the jungle. An hour later we were joined by Adriene, Jessica and Armando, who arrived on another overnight bus from Chiclayo. The final all-night bus brought Elizabeth and Mariah, who walked in just in time to join us for a breakfast of pancakes, eggs in frames, hash browns, sausages and juice. Maddie, Max, Frances, Danielle, Bryan and Abby, who spent their service time in Cusco, arrived by plane in the early afternoon.
Mariah and Elizabeth receive a big hug from Shina after arriving on the bus from Ayacucho.
Everyone was eager to see each other and swap stories. However after filling stomachs and taking care of other business, most headed out to area markets to purchase last minute gifts and to visit Lima host family members.
On Friday, after a final meeting with language professors and a short quiz, we drove two hours south of Lima to a retreat center along the Pacific Ocean for our final weekend together in Peru.
We devoted much of the day Saturday to presentations on independent research carried out during six weeks of service. The research subjects reflected a diversity of interests (and the presence in our group of eight students studying American Sign Language):
traditional medicine
evangelical weddings
funerals for evangelicals and Catholics
deaf storytelling
breastfeeding
school and home learning for the deaf
Peruvian food (including a case study of patasca)
coffee from the Chanchamayo region
teaching methodologies for the deaf
Peruvian greetings
World Vision’s services for children
case study of a deaf boy in Cusco
Students play on the beach in between presentations.
At the retreat center, called Kawai, the sun came out both afternoons. We had free time to play Frisbee, wade along the shore or lay on the sand. After dark we enjoyed s’mores around a bonfire.
Enjoying s’mores during a Saturday night bonfire on the beach at Kawai.
By Sunday evening we were back at Casa Goshen for soup and papa rellena (rounds of mashed potato stuffed and fried) and a tres leches cake to celebrate Laura’s upcoming birthday.
The final night was short. Students left the Cirque Hostel at 4 a.m. to catch a 7:15 a.m. flight bound for the United States. They are already missed.
Photos and editing by Karen Stoltzfus
Elizabeth gets a hug from Trevor as she walks into Casa Goshen.Mariah and Elizabeth receive a big hug from Shina after arriving on the bus from Ayacucho.Maddie and Max arriving at Casa Goshen from Cusco.A chirimoya cake for Maddie and Max.Mariah and Maddie relax during our first evening at Kawai.Singing to Max and Maddie, who celebrated birthdays in Cusco.Max and Maddie blowing out candles.Trevor gives a presentation on traditional medicine.Danielle helps Trevor in his demonstration on traditional medicine.Danielle helps Trevor in his demonstration on traditional medicine.Laura talks about coffee in Peru.Lovely flowers at the Kawai retreat center Students waiting to eat lunch at Kawai retreat center.Table reserved for Universidad de Goshen.One path to the beach.Plants at Kawai.A close-up of flowering ground cover at Kawai.On the beach at Kawai.Abby, Maddie, Mariah.Shina, Trevor, Abby, Mariah and Maddie.Shina, Trevor, Abby, Mariah and Maddie.Lydia enjoying the sun at Kawai.Adriene, Lydia and Jessica.Jessica, Lydia and Adriene.Shina, Mariah, Abby, Maddie.Shina, Mariah, Abby, Maddie.Shina, Mariah, Abby, Maddie.Trevor, Max, Bryan and Armando pose on the beach at Kawai.Birds on the beach.Many birds on the beach.Running on the beach at Kawai.On the beach at Kawai.Playing in the water at Kawai.On the beach at Kawai.Running on the beach at Kawai.On the beach at Kawai.On the beach at Kawai.Playing in the water at Kawai.Playing in the water at Kawai.Abby and Laura in the water at Kawai.Playing in the water at Kawai.On the beach at Kawai.Señor, he dejado mi barca. (Lord, I left my boat.) – On the beach at Kawai.Señor, he dejado mi barca. (Lord, I left my boat.)The grounds of the retreat center at Kawai (run by Unión Bíblica).Frances gives her presentation on World Vision.Frances shows us a hat made by a woman whose family is benefiting from World Vision services.Frances models a hat made for her by a family supported through World Vision, her service project.Close-up of a hat made by a woman whose family is benefiting from World Vision services.Adriene demonstrates a Peruvian greeting.Danielle talks about deaf education.Danielle demonstrates a learning exercise during her presentation.Danielle demonstrates a learning exercise during her presentation.Mariah demonstrates how many Peruvian women carry their babies.Late afternoon on the beach.Enjoying s’mores on the beach.Around the bonfire at Kawai.Roasting marshmallows around the bonfire at Kawai.Sitting around the bonfire at Kawai.Trevor, Danielle, Bryan, Mariah, Maddie and Abby by the bonfire.A beach group photo.A beach group photo.A beach group photo.Celia ushers students onto the bus to head back to Lima.Alicia poses with Mariah and her chanchito.A tres leches cake for Laura.Singing an early ‘Happy Birthday’ to Laura at Casa Goshen.Alicia poses for a final group photo with the stuents before they leave for Cirque Hostel.Shina, Bryan, Danielle and Maddie eat a bite of breakfast at the airport before boarding the plane to Miami.Trevor and Frances visit as students are checking in at Lima’s airport.Just before heading through security and final good-byes.
