Saturday, January 24, 2009

Hello everyone,

I hope you have been staying warm, yet have given your chance to enjoy the snow over the last couple of weeks.  Although it is quite chilly, it is so beautiful!  I have recently gotten back into winter sports, so I am happy when the snow falls.  Some may think I am out of my mind, but I’ve never cared too much about that in the past, so why start now?

The prayer team is almost complete for my travel partners and myself, not to mention the kids we are traveling to visit with

I have been so anxious about the trip and as the time nears to get on the flight, I feel like I am accomplishing the tasks necessary my travels commence.  There is much more to do than I had anticipated, but I have received a lot of help over the last month from family and friends – I cannot thank everyone enough for the support!

Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.  ~Proverbs 22:6

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Topics for Discussion:

1.  Prayer Chain

2.  Stop Child Poverty Campaign

Prayer Chain

The trip would never be a success without the kind and selfless prayers from others.  I am delighted to say, my prayer team for the trip is just about set.  Let me know if you would like to be included on the email reminders and prayer requests and I can add you to the team!!  I know I am going to need the strength of other’s words to God about this trip.  I am not the strongest person physically or emotionally, so my first request would be to give me the strength I need to care for the kids in Peru.

I know God will protect us.  Between the compassion I have seen in those on the prayer team already and my determination to do as much positive change as I can in the limited time I am away,  I am convinced God will take us on a fantastic ride!

Stop Child Poverty Campaign

I am forwarding a link below to a campaign hoping to ’stop child poverty’.  I really want to spread the word to bring awareness and would love for your help – the children of the world need your prayers!  If you would like to point others in this direction also, to learn more about the fight to reduce child poverty in our country and overseas, please tell them to go to: http://www.stopchildpoverty.org/, to learn more about the efforts.

There is also a form on the site to print out that you can ask others to sign.  The time spent in conversation about the current issue will inform others and hopefully they will climb on board with the rest of us!  Feel free to add any of the names of people you know who would like to learn more about the subject or do not hesitate to forward me the names and I can post them on the site.

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Thanks for all that you do!  God Bless your kind hearts and may He bring peace to your soul.

Warmest regards,

-Jessica, GVN Volunteer

LEARN IT, LIVE IT, PASS IT ON!  ~GVN Website

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Hello everyone,

I am not feeling too well today and thought I would try to be productive as possible and catch up on tasks for my Peru excursion. As I was lying on my couch this morning, I came to the realization that my trip to Peru is right around the corner.  I have a lot to do and will do my best to keep everyone posted as I go through the process.  I plan on keeping the posts as short and to-the-point as possible. Please remember, although I may write much about myself – the point of this on-line journal serves a greater purpose than hearing about how I have reacted to the trip. There are children in our world who need a reason and the motivation to continue in life. They are so precious and are worth every moment with them and dime spent on them.

Children are one third of our population and all of our future. ~Select Panel for the Promotion of Child Health, 1981

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Topics for Discussion:

1. Basics

2.  Safety and Family Concern

Basics

I will be traveling to Cusco, Peru in February and March of 2007.  I am so blessed that the company I work for will compensate me for a week’s worth of work while I am there.  My family and friends are all supportive (for the most part) and I am excited for this opportunity!

I will be volunteering in the childcare program, which you can read about on the GVN website; http://www.volunteer.org.nz/peru/.  Feel free to take a look around the site to see if you find any interest in the other programs, as I will need a ‘buddy’ to join me on my next volunteer trip in 2010.

Safety and Family Concern

As many of you know, my family is pretty close.  There is much concern about my travels oversees.  I cannot allow myself to fear this experience and welcome it with open arms.  God has brought me to this opportunity and I have faith in Him he will keep me safe.

As my dad has just recently reminded me – I must also take my own safety precautions.  There will be someone back home who will have all information regarding my trip and the documents that will keep me safe.  There is a lot that goes into this trip and I promise you I have contacted every individual to find all relevant information to ensure my safe return.

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I am looking forward to sharing this experience with everyone and I hope you find some joy or peace from hearing about the children in Peru.  There are so many innocent individuals in our world who desperately need to feel the love and compassion from another person.

Times are tough and we have to all stick together to make it through this.  Much love to all of my friends and family; I cannot thank you enough for the support and encouragement you have provided for me along the years.

-Jessica, Peru Volunteer

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do.  Explore. Dream. Discover.”  -Mark Twain