Where I Am:
This month, I’m in Cusco Peru!
Fun facts about Cusco: it used to be the capital of the Incan Empire, which was the largest empire that existed in the Western hemisphere until the Spanish invasion in 1532. By that time, the Incans had expanded their empire from Southern Colombia to Central Chile, including the construction of the super cool place called Machu Picchu… and they did all of this without modern technology. The empire was huge, the people were savage, and the Incans were really cool.
Who I’m With:
This month I’m working with my team at Josephine House! We live and work with our ministry hosts, Tim and Holly Anderson. I found Tim & Holly through Eric, as he was on the first World Race team that came to Josephine House. Eric loved his experience with Tim & Holly during his time here. Three years later, I’m able to come to the same place and continue to help them in their ministry. Being able to share the World Race experience with Eric has been extremely special for us, but being able to share a ministry host has been really uniting.
our neighborhood road
What is Josephine House?:
The Josephine House is a baby orphanage that was started by Holly’s parents many years ago. Tim and Holly now live next door to the orphanage, and host World Race teams and other missions’ teams that come to serve the orphanage in a variety of ways. Tim and Holly have also been pouring into us and discipling us throughout our time here. We get to have great conversations with them, share meals, and do ministry together.
the Josephine House
Our Daily Schedule:
In classic World Race style, every day at the Josephine House is different. Our team works in shifts from 7AM to 5PM each day, assisting the tia’s (aunt’s) of the orphanage in caring for the babies.
The house currently has 16 babies, divided into the relaxed baby group and the wild toddler group. The daily schedule is more or less: wake up, change diapers (cloth diapers with safety pins, that is!), eat / snack / milk time, play time, another diaper change, sleep, and repeat.
Daily schedule highlights include watching the chickens in their pens, watching the guys work outside from the living room window, playing in the massive indoor ball pit, reading, and making animal noises.
playing with the chickens
This week, the Joe & Tyler have been helping our host extend the roofing on the house’s outdoor playground so the kids have more shade while playing outside.
the guys working on the playground
Where We Live:
This month, we live in the downstairs level of Tim & Holly’s home. There’s a full kitchen, washing machine, place to hang dry, and hot-ish water in the shower! We have separate guy & girls’ room with bunk beds in each – bunk beds that Eric helped Tim build 3 years ago when he was here. Thanks for the awesome pad, guys!!
our bedroom
our living room
The Fun Stuff:
I haven’t been on many adventures yet – but there are lots of fun ones scheduled!
First adventure: Rainbow Mountain
Rainbow Mountain, towering at an impressive 17,100 feet in elevation is a part of the Andes Mountain range. The internet tells me that during the formation of the mountain range and volcanoes in the area, the mountain now has unique colors due to different minerals in the earth. Weathering of the mountains have also contributed to the unique colors.
Second Adventure: Machu Picchu
Towards the end of the month – I’m headed to Machu Picchu! I’ve wanted to go to Machu Picchu since I was young, it was one of the first places in a foreign country that caught my attention. I like to say Machu Picchu was the first place that romanced me into wanting to travel internationally. And 17 countries & 5ish years later.. I’ve got a ticket to go!
