More pics from Peru

Josh Knitter took the pics you see below ( click on the link).

He took pics mostly of the church area, the museum, and around Lima.      49 pics.

https://picasaweb.google.com/webmaster.zion.belvidere/PicsFromJoshKnitterCamera?authuser=0&feat=directlink

More Pisco pics from Jan Balabuszko's camera

Here is the link for some 233 pics from the camera of Jan Balabuszko.    

https://picasaweb.google.com/webmaster.zion.belvidere/JanBalabuszkoPics?authuser=0&feat=directlink

The rest of you need to get your pics and stories in to Kathy or here.  

Over 500 pics from Ally Moir's camera

Over 500 pictures taken by Ally !      Way to go Girl !!

https://picasaweb.google.com/webmaster.zion.belvidere/PeruTripTakenByAllyMoir?authuser=0&feat=directlink

pics taken via Melissa Bahena while in Pisco

https://picasaweb.google.com/webmaster.zion.belvidere/PicsFromMelissaBahena?authuser=0&feat=directlink

more pics taken from various people

https://picasaweb.google.com/webmaster.zion.belvidere/MorePhotosPeruTrip?authuser=0&feat=directlink

Pics taken by Hanna Randall (trip nurse)

The link below will take you to a whole bunch of pictures taken by Hanna.   Includes pics of a "in ground" stove.

https://picasaweb.google.com/webmaster.zion.belvidere/PicsTakenByHannaTheNurse?authuser=0&feat=directlink

Safe travels! We are now back in Belvidere! After a long traveling day of sitting on buses and airplanes, and going through immigration, we are now home to stay. Although each and every one of the Zion members enjoyed every second spent helping the people of Peru, each person was just as ready to see their families as they were to shower and sleep in the place we have missed called home. As we approached the church we saw people awaiting for our arrival and the local news: channels 13 and 39. It is now our time to recooperate and regain our health and sleep. Now what exactly happened in Pisco, Peru? And how has it affected the way your fellow Zion members look at life now? In 2005 a large earthquake devastated the area of Pisco. What used to be a beautiful and wonderful city was torn apart and is now a city of hope. The people of Pisco have been full of hope and with the help of Pedro Sotelo, their hope was rejuvenated when the Zion congregation stepped up and took on the task of helping and learning about the amazing and wonderful people of Peru. The moment we stepped foot off of the buses and onto the grounds of the poverty stricken town of Pisco, we felt the pure appreciation from everyone around us, young and old. As the days went on, our mission was not to just build a bakery, and a food pantry and to fix up Padre Jose's church and education center, our mission became much more than that. We were there in the name of God, to show the Peruvian people that although a tragic thing had happened to their homes 7 years ago, that there was still hope and love around the world for them. By the Sunday mass, everyone's emotions had been struck when the people of Pisco brought forth a beautiful present for our church to show thanks. As each and every person was given hugs and kisses to offer appreciation, it was shown that God works in many ways. Zion Lutheran Church and Padre Jose's church had been joined and welcomed as one. We all have a new appreciation for everything we used to take for granted, as simple as a working bathroom or stop lights. New outlooks on life have been configured and molded by the works of God and as our faith begins to grow more and more we pray that our missions will grow as well. From the 48 Zion missionaries to everyone that has helped us get to where we are now, thank you! We hope that you enjoy looking through our memories on Zion's Facebook page and that your faith and hope continues to grow as you watch ours unfold with the people of Pisco. Special thanks to the Sotelo family and friends from this area and in Pisco, Mike and Cindy King, Pastor Karl Otto and everyone else that has been supportive to the Zion Youth on a Mission.