Goshen College students began their week in Cuzco with study, music, dancing and quiet time with new host families. It was a great start to what proved to be a rich week filled with hiking, learning, exploration, new experiences and awesome beauty.
After an uneventful flight from Lima to Goshen, students relaxed in Sol de Oro, a beautiful hotel perched on a hillside just outside Cuzco. Some students suffered from fatigue or headaches from altitude sickness; the elevation in Cuzco is 11,200 feet. The symptoms eased after a light supper, herb tea and a good night of rest.
The next day, after breakfast, students enjoyed an excellent presentation on the Inca civilization and Andean spirituality by Juan Carlos Machicado Figueroa, a tour guide, lecturer and author of “When the Stones Speak: Inkan Architecture and Spirituality in the Andes.” Machicado compared and contrasted the beliefs of Christians and the Incas and described the significance of archaeological sites. He also helped students understand how the Incas incorporated their spiritual beliefs into their architecture.
Juan Carlos Machicado Figueroa, our lecturer on the Incas and Andean spirituality, addresses the students.
After lunch, students enjoyed a presentation on Andean music by Americo (Amaru) Mejia Suñiga and Mauro Claros Chatas, two talented Cusco musicians adept at playing many instruments. They performed traditional Andean music, taught students how to play the pan flute. We danced to their lively music while an afternoon rainstorm drenched the landscape outside.
Rudy and Becca take a turn dancing.
That evening, students traveled to Lucre, mountain town of several thousand people. The first Mennonite Church in Peru, La Iglesia Evangelica Menonita de Lucre (Lucre Mennonite Evangelical Church), was founded here in 1990. Students spent the weekend with host families in Lucre. On Sunday, students joined their host parents for a worship service in Spanish and Quechua. Afterward, we invited the families for a delicious lunch at a trout farm owned by Eloy Sullca Bombilla, pastor of the Mennonite church.
Landon and his host sister. She called Landon “tio” (uncle).Sol de Oro, our hotel in Cuzco.Juan Carlos Machicado Figueroa, our lecturer on the Incas and Andean spirituality, addresses the students.Juan Carlos Machicado Figueroa is the author of “When the Stones Speak: Inkan Architecture and Spirituality in the Andes.” Americo (Amaru) Mejia Suñiga plays for the students.Mauro Claros Chatas and Americo (Amaru) Mejia Suñiga perform Andean music.Jacob gets a lesson from Mauro Claros Chatas.Alan takes a turn on the pan flute.Mauro Claros Chatas teaches Lauren how to play the flute.Joshua tries out the pan flute.Rudy practices on the flute.Landon proved to be adept at playing the pan flute.Jacob and Rudy join the celebration.Rudy and Becca take a turn dancing.Alan and Lauren join the dancing.Landon joins the dancing.SST co-directors Judy Weaver and Richard Aguirre take a turn on the dance floor with Landon and Maria, a Cuzco dancer.Pan flutes.Maria, a local dancer, showed students how to dance to Andean music.Jacob shows off his dance moves.All joined in the dancing.Lucre host families wait for their students to arrive.Lauren and Becca with their host family.Landon and Rudy with their host family.Jacob with his host family.Joshua and Aln with their host family.Alan Joshua and their host family walk home in Lucre.The sign for La Iglesia Evangelica Menonita de Lucre (Lucre Mennonite Evangelical Church), which was founded in 1990. The exterior of La Iglesia Evangelica Menonita de Lucre (Lucre Mennonite Evangelical Church).Jacob and his host mother walk to church in Lucre.Landon, Rudy and their host family walk to church.Becca, Lauren and their host mother walk to church.Joshua, Alan and their host family head to church.The Sunday service at La Iglesia Evangelica Menonita de Lucre (Lucre Mennonite Evangelical Church).The Sunday service at La Iglesia Evangelica Menonita de Lucre (Lucre Mennonite Evangelical Church).A visit to a trout farm owned by Eloy Sullca Bombilla, pastor of the Lucre Mennonite church.Trout at the farm owned by Eloy Sullca Bombilla, pastor of the Lucre Mennonite church.Capturing trout for a meal.Capturing trout for a meal.Jacob tries to grab a trout.Lauren takes in the scene at the trout farm.Cleaning the trout.A chef in the kitchen used to cook the trout.Students enjoy a fresh trout dinner.The catch of the day – fresh trout, fried and served with vegetablesBecca, Lauren and Rudy relax after their meal.Landon and Rudy spend time with their host sister.Landon and his host sister. She called Landon “tio” (uncle).Joshua and Alan spend time with a new friend.Alan plays with some children from Lucre.Becca and Lauren share a memory with their host mother and grandmother in Lucre.
