On Saturday morning, we left for Kawai, a retreat center about two hours south of Lima. We had time to share our stories, reflect on what we have experienced, and to prepare for our return home. Students also presented their interview-based research projects that they completed on service. We…
On Thursday evening, students in Ayacucho, Chanchamayo and Arequipa boarded overnight buses for their return to Lima. By 6:30 Friday morning, the first group had arrived at Casa Goshen, where they enjoyed some breakfast and waited for the arrival of the other groups. By late morning, the house was…
Seven students are serving in Chanchamayo, a province located on the eastern side of the Andes, where the the mountains begin to descend into the Amazon. This area, known as ‘high jungle’ or ‘eyebrow of the jungle’, is well-known for its citrus and coffee production and is home to…
Ian, Clara, Makena, Dillon and Greta are living and serving in Ayacucho, a region in the south central Andes. The city of Ayacucho, also known as Huamanga, is the capital of the region and is famous for its 33 churches, as well as its elaborate Holy Week celebrations which…
Luke and Simon are living and working in the Chincha province. Chincha is about three hours south of Lima in the department of Ica. It is located in the valley created as the foothills of the Andes begin to descend into the Pacific Ocean. It is known for its…
Nick, Manisha, Mariane and Erin are living and serving in Arequipa, the second-most populous city in Perú. The city of Arequipa is located in southwestern Perú, between the coastal desert and the Western Andes. It is surrounded by three volcanoes and is a popular tourist destination because of its…
Our group spent the last week of the study portion in Cusco and the surrounding region known as the Sacred Valley. This region formed the heart of the Inca Empire which flourished in Perú from around 1400-1533 and extended along the Pacific coast of South America from…
This week was spent enjoying our few remaining days in Lima, as well as looking ahead to the adventures that await outside of Lima in the coming weeks. This week, we completed our schedule of lectures and classes. On Monday, we heard a lecture on religious syncretism in Peru…
The names of the dead and disappeared from Peru’s 20-year conflict line the walls of an exhibit hall at the Lugar de la Memoria. This was a tiring week for us, both physically and emotionally. A large portion of the group was struggling with intestinal problems over…
Aidan watches carefully as Camilo Ballumbrosio demonstrates a rhythm on the cajón peruano. This week we took a break from traditional lectures as we further explored the arts in Perú. From painting ceramics, to dancing to the Marinera Norteña, to playing the cajón, we had…
