Day 1/2 Pictures

It was a bit Frosty in Houston

That'll be Mr. Lenentine's name from now on.

Gerardo, one of the first street boys at Kawai,

met us at the airport just to say hello!

Keith Powlison's truck with all our luggage

 Arrival at the hotel for some much needed rest!

Today, we jumped on the bus for the short ride from the hotel in Lima, followed by a short flight from Lima to Cusco, followed by a short van/truck ride to the hotel (above).  After a siesta, we headed to the Powlisons' house where we finally got to meet little Zoe!  We also got to meet Keith & Ruth Powlison, their daughters Ellie and Emma, their daughter Holly, her husband Tim, their sons Tristan, Sean, and Caleb and daughter Katie, and the cat, "Kitty."  Add the 11 of us, and you have the definition of a full house!  The Powlisons are amazing hosts!

We also got to spend some time with the kids at Casa Josefina.  What a cute bunch of kids!  We're really excited to spend more time with them this week!

Come back tomorrow for pictures from Casa Josefina!  (That's called a teaser.)

Cuscotopia

Just another quick post to let everyone know we've made it to Cusco and checked into our hotel!  We're headed over to Casa Josefina in a few hours.  We'll post a more substantial update this evening.

Peru!!!

Just a quick post to let everyone know that we made it to Lima!  After several hours of sleep in a hotel near the airport, we're up and eating breakfast.  We'll be off to the airport here in a few minutes.  Next post will be from Cusco!!

Breakfast in Lima

We made it to Lima last after a couple of uneventful flights.  Thanks to Rick for helping with the blog.

Yes, security did have some interest in me.  All I have to say about that is what happens in the custodial closest, stays in the custodial closet.
We have rented a USB modem which is working with Lauren´s laptop.  We should have plenty of access while here.  Still need to get it connected to mine.

In a couple hours we fly to Cusco.  We will see you from there!

On Our Way!

We've made it to the airport, and everyone is checked in with no issues.  Well, almost no issues.  Jason got to take a trip into the "special room" with TSA personnel.  Turns out they just wanted to get a look at what was underneath his belt (it was just his money belt).  After that, we all got to the gate just fine.  Now, we're just getting a bite to eat before our flight boards.

Next stop, Houston!

Weapons of Spiritual Warfare

We are leaving today and I wanted to show you what it is all about:

These are 3 types of special bottles that will hopefully lead to Zoe no longer eating from an eye dropper.  Once that happens she'll add to her 5 pounds of weight. 

Why do we do this?  

Isaiah 1:17 says, "Stop doing wrong.  Learn to do right!  Seek justice, encourage the oppressed.  Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow."

That's what it is all about...

For now, we're out.  See you in Peru.

The Team Members

With a day to go before we leave I wanted to share with you the names of the 11 team members going on the trip.

Jonathan Barnette
Lauren Davenport
Alan Droege
Kristy Hill
Jason Lenentine
Wendy Lenentine
Rick McCann
Teri McQuinn
Judy Purinton
Polly Ricks
Ken Stuart

We had a packing/weighing meeting last night.  Everyone's luggage came in underweight with some room to spare.  Mine weighed the least.   Apparently there is a perception I packed no clothes.  I was just trying to set a good example. I will confess I didn't pack any extra shoes.

Thanks to everyone who has supported/helped/prayed for the names above.  When asked you responded in the spirit of 3 John 6 where John talks about sending out a group "in a manner worthy of God."  You have lived that out with us and we are thankful for it.

Tomorrow we leave Huntsville and will make it to Lima tomorrow night.  After spending the night there we arrive in Cusco late morning Saturday.

More Pictures from Cusco

After going over the geography, our hosts, Josephine House, and Santo Tomas let's go back to Cusco to look at some of the facilities that are part of the Hinterland ministry.  A lot has developed in the 12 years the Powlisons have been in the area.

Here's the Powlison's house.  It is definitely rustic, but is perfect for where they are at.  The views they have are incredible! 

This is a well on the Powlison's property.  It is covered to keep varmint droppings out.  The spiral staircase is to provide easy access to prevent a "Baby Jessica" situation.  A similar well is going to be built at Josephine House to ensure the orphanage has an uninterrupted water supply.  The kids at church collected nearly $2000 at VBS this year to support building the well. 

The large full court basketball court and soccer field were built in the late 90's.  They are open to the community.  Keith has noticed a decline in alcoholism among the local men due to the role of the court, field, and the church.  During the day the kids from Josephine House run and play on the court.

This is a great big ginormous playground for the kids.  At the time of our first trip last fall, it was incomplete.  We have learned a team earlier this year finished the job.  We just might have to try it out ourselves...

Gardens, crops, and cows in the vicinity are part of an over all strategy to make Josephine House more self-sustaining.  The Powlisons have a really good view that someday they won't be around, but want to see their work last.

The biggest cash crop for the Powlisons are Cui. They can fetch about $3 each at the market...

High up above the main property is 15 acres of land.  The truck ride up there was a blast.  The altitude probably did me in last time.  All that aside, the Powlisons intend to use this land for dairy cow raising.  If successful this leads to greater sustainability.

This is the sign to a building is called "The Ark."  It was a building that used to house short term teams.  It is formerly home of the Bible Institute.  It currently is being used as an orphanage to house 45 older children. It is run by friends of the Powlisons.  They are currently building a permanent site in the jungle.  After they move to the permanent facility it will revert back to use by the Powlisons.

This is Dr. Bill Allen of La Fuente clinic.  It is a medical missions work not far from the Powlison's property.  

The following text is from the MTW website describing the work of Dr. Allen and the clinic.

Based in Cusco, Peru the Health Ministry seeks to care for whole person spiritually, mentally, and physically.  The heart of the Hinterland Health Ministry is the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Knowing that we have been saved through grace alone, we are propelled to tell others about the love that has transformed us.

The clinic, La Fuente, is located on the edge of the city and serves the poor who do not have access to quality medical care.  It is open Monday through Friday and currently sees approximately 270 patients per month.  Many of the patients have chronic illnesses that have gone undetected and untreated.  The health ministry comes alongside these patients to give them support and medical treatment.  In most cases it is not just the patients that are treated but the whole family as well.

This is the local church.  There are several churches affiliated with this one around Cusco, but this is the one closest to the Powlisons.  It is directly adjacent to the medical clinic.

With that you have seen all the major places and facilities the Vision Team toured in Cusco that pertain to the Powlison's ministry. 

You have not yet gotten a large dose of the children of Josephine House.  With only a couple days left before we leave, I may not get a chance to do that before we go.  


I will say there has been a new addition to the Josephine House.  Her name is Zoe and she has already put a big imprint on our trip.  The complexion of the trip has changed since we learned about her.

She is a 3-4 week premie with a severe cleft palate and weighs ~5 pounds.  She is currently being fed by an eye dropper.  We are bringing special bottles that will hopefully improve the quality of her feedings.  

To reduce her infection risk, she is staying at the Powlisons house.  She is watched 24/7.  Our team is showing up at a good time to help relieve the Powlisons some.  Hopefully we can be helpful to them!

The Town of Santo Tomas

In a prior post you learned about the route to Santo Tomas.  Now that we have completed the long drive into the Andes to reach the town, let's talk some about Santo Tomas.

The Powlisons got connected to Santo Tomas in the 2000/2001 timeframe.  Francisco, a Santo Tomas native and now a Josephine House worker, told Keith that nothing spiritually was happening in Santo Tomas.  Keith decided to make an exploratory visit there.  Beginning a new work in Santo Tomas would have been impossible unless Keith was already a missionary.  His existing work in Cusco gave him credibility with the Quechua in Santo Tomas.

Cayo, who speaks Spanish and Quechua and studied at the Bible Institute in Cusco got connected with the Santo Tomas church.  He lives in Cusco and travels back and forth to Santo Tomas.  He lives at the small church when he visits.  

Over the last decade Keith has only been to Santo Tomas eight or nine times.  His motivation for keeping a low profile is that he wants the national leaders like Cayo to be out in front of the people.  He doesn't want the Peruvians to see it as Keith's work, but work led by the nationals.

Very few teams have visited Santo Tomas.  Keith would like to one day have a medical team visit there and perform a multi-day clinic. 

Regarding the response the people of Santo Tomas gave our Vision Team, "They were deeply encouraged that you came".

With that background information in mind, let's tour the town and the people.

Here are some street views of Santo Tomas. Approximately 12,000 people live there.

Teams stay at the Hostel de Amistad.  Accommodations are typical rustic Peruvian with widow maker showers.

A medical team can use the local hospital.  They would need to bring their own medication.  Keith remarked teams need to be prepared to deal with sexual abuse situations in both children and adults.

A school is across the street from the church.  The church plans to build a school supply store on church grounds.  This will be a good revenue opportunity to make the church more self-supportive.

The church Southwood is partnering with is situated at the top of a lot that resembles a rock quarry.  

The view from the street is of a piled up rock wall.  The quality of the site is not in keeping with the rest of the street.

Churches are part of the IEPRP.  This denomination was started in the 1930's  from American missionaries.  

A very crude, rocky, path leads up to a narrow stairs into the plywood building.  Note the other rocky path leading over loose boards to the ramshackle outhouse.

A group of folks from the church waited several hours for the team to arrive.  They were very glad to meet the team!

This is Deaconess Margarita.  She works hard for the church.  She is anxious for her church to have a pastor and wife who can speak both Spanish and Quechua come to serve full-time.

This is Cayo.  He has a real heart for God.  He is fearless.  He wades into areas without fear.  He is a counter cultural person.

The Alabama hat was not a plant.  A team from a previous trip gave it to Cayo as a gift.

The last thing they expected were Tennessee and Alabama fans to cross paths in the Andes!

Paloma showing off her yarn spinning skills.

That should give you a flavor of where the Santo Tomas team will be.  It will be exciting to hear how the church in Santo Tomas is building.  

Architectural plans for upgrading the site have been completed.  New concrete foundations are going to be soon built.  Then two new stores will be built, followed by a new church building and a residence for a pastor.  

Pray for our team: for save travels and good connections with the Santo Tomas church.  Pray for that church to get a pastor and the local government would not hinder any building plans.  

Where are all the pictures coming from?

In October 2009 a Vision Team from Southwood Presbyterian Church visited Cusco and Santo Tomas.  The team consisted of our iPastor Ken Leggett,  Polly Ricks, Dr. Tim Howard, and myself (Jason Lenentine).   I stayed in Cusco for the entire trip while the other three traveled to Santo Tomas.  My time in Cusco was spent recovering from altitude sickness but was blessed with a tremendous day at Josephine House where I got a real sense of how it is a real house.  Between the four of us we really covered all the bases of the work with the Hinterland Ministry and strongly recommended our church partner with the Powlisons.

Here's the four of us from way up at the top of  the Powlison's property.  My altitude sickness was just a couple hours away!

We all took pictures but the real picture warrior on this trip was Tim Howard.  He was a machine and it makes communicating to everyone what we'll be doing that much easier with his pictures.

It is the next team's plan to post updates on the trip.  Hopefully the internet connection will facilitate that happening day-to-day.  If not, we'll catch up after the trip so all our supporters can see what happened.