Mis padres vinieron y salieron

What a fun but crazy whirlwind of a visit! My parents were supposed to get in around 7am on Sunday, Feb 20th, but unfortunately my dads body disagreed. My friend and I went to pick them up and knew their flight was going to be delayed bc of some serious fog, but had no clue they were not even ON the flight! Apparently, they had only gotten 2-3 hours of sleep after they got into Lima late Fri night and had to be at the airport around 3:30 am for the Lima to Trujillo flight. The only thing to eat in the airport at that time was Dunkin Donuts and between that, no sleep, traveling, prob dehydration, etc, my dad collapsed on the airplane! Only 15 min in to the 1hr flight, they turned the plane around and had an ambulance waiting. He was a new man after lots of IV fluids and rest. They medically cleared him to fly and my friend kristi and I picked them up at 5pm. They were really excited to get here and the kids gave them a royal welcome with tons o' hugs!

My dad seemed to be doing a lot better until lunch time when he almost passed out again!! Nonstop water and rest was his schedule for the rest of the day. We did finally get to get out to the market, the mall, the next town for "magical burgers" that have a thin patty of meat, a fried egg and French fries all for about 60 cents!! They saw the plaza de armas, the center of town, and the cute beach town, Huanchaco. They were amazing with the kids! I think my mom actually learned all 41 of their names in less than a week!! I don't know who had more fun, my parents or the kids. Each day they passed out another treat: stickers, marbles, t-shirts made by uncle and his company, candy bars and more candy!! These kids were in heaven! Before they left on Saturday, we took the 3 kids from my tutoria out to pizza hut and to get ice cream for an end of summer and summer programs treat. They start school this week. Now I know how moms feel at the end of summer! Let more structure begin!!




They made it..finally! And in 2 pieces!




Hugs all around!




Can you say CAVATIES and BRIBERY??!!







The shirts my uncle, aunt, and Team Sportsprint made! They loved them!








Warning: candy attracts swarms of children.





Our trip out!




Is that baby Eva or baby Jessica? Hard to tell!

Don't tell anyone...

But I have a favorite. I know you shouldn't, esp here where kids are fighting hard enough to get noticed, but it's inevitable. I figured I would soon enough. His name is Paul (pronounced Pa Ewl) and he's 6. His boyish toothless grin and chubby squish-able cheeks reeled me in right away. His sense of humor, intelligence, and consistency continue to amaze me day after day. This kid is so smart and he loves to learn/repeat English! How fun is it having a human life-size "parrot" with a Spanish accent? SO FUN!!! He has an older brother and sister that live at the orphanage as well. Not too sure on their story as to why they are here, but usually it is not good. I pray every day for loving homes and families for these amazing little beings. Please join me in prayer.














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Mis amigos

Let me take a quick minute to introduce you to some of my new friends here, Leah and Harrison. First of all, they are newlyweds! They just got married June 2010 and came to the orphanage 3 months later to start their marriage serving the Lord. They are such awesome peeps and have done such amazing work. Leah works with the little ones and has her work cut out for her as many of the children are delayed in crucial areas of learning and communicating. For instance, 6 yr old Rosita does not talk yet. She gives her heart and soul planning curriculum and fun activities to stimulate these kids. When Harrison is not cracking everyone up (I swear he is 3 of my friends morphed together!! Darren, Pete, and Nick...1/3 of each of you is in Peru!), he is tending to the orchard, organizing a new library system, helping with maintenance,starting a compost here, tutoring the kids and helping Leah out. Their 6 months is up at the end of Feb but they want to stay for 4 months more. The problem is they don't have the funds to stay. If they raise $2,000 this next week, they can stay and Leah will hopefully be able to hear Rosita's first word. To read more about them and their journey, check out their blog at: http://hickstravel.xanga.com

If you would like to help support them, you can email me or send the check (made out to Kelly Roth) to my parents bc they access to my Peru account and I can withdraw money and give it to them. Thanks so much for your consideration! We don't want them to leave yet!



Little Rosita


Leah, Harrison, and Rosita's little bro, Alejandro




Harrison and Jose Luis

Location:Peru

Been a while...

I feel like there is so much to say but never enough time or energy to blog! I will do installments to catch up. Last week the founder, his wife, and her dtr were here to visit. What a fun time! That guy has one hilarious story after another and he doesn't tire of telling them. The daughter, Joy, and I got along really well. They are from Joplin, MO! Small world, huh?! She asked all the same exact questions that I asked when I got here so it was fun to download my files to her. When we were around the kids together, it was cool to feel like I knew spanish bc she was asking what all the kids were saying and telling me what to say back to them. While they were here, we went out to eat a few times, went to the mall, explored markets, churched it up (and I'm talking 2+ hr services!), taught more English to the kids (they all know "will you push me please?" bc they know I won't push them on the swings unless they ask me English!!), and met some AMAZING missionaries. They have been in Peru for over 60 years!! They came right after getting married so they are in their mid-80's now and did I mention they are ADORABLE??!! His brother, Jim Elliot, was one of the five missionaries that was murdered in Ecuador in 1956. The movie "End of the Spear" is based on them.I haven't seen it yet, but I want to. Here are some pics of our time together.



Bert and Colene Elliot


Dinner on the Miller fam! Thanks again for a rice-free night!


Church and more church


Watching the superbowl-- sadly, no commercials!


Outside the mall


Checking out the produce...


I thought this image/smell was going to show up in a nightmare! Nasty!


Apparently this is how you spell "Joy" in peru!



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Pretty in pink (eyes) again! NO!!!

Ok, I need to have a serious couples counseling session between Peru and my eyeballs. They are simply not getting along! Pink eye has struck again...hopefully for the last time!

Well, other new experiences...
Almost needing to crowd-surf on the micro (bus about the size of a small school bus) due to about 60 peeps shoving themselves in...likely over capacity, but it's Peru...which means nothing surprises me anymore. It was tough to know where to look, too...straight ahead=a few hairy armpits in yo' face, to the left=an overweight belly protruding into you, to the right=a middle-aged woman breast feeding with full boob-age showing, to the back=a stinky chicken!

So my friends and I survived getting to the mall and were greeting by a mime in the mall! Love the randomness! And then I almost ran into a stuffed mascot of a telephone near the cell phone stand. On the way home, our lives flashed before our eyes multiple times as the taxi put on "Girls just wanna have fun", "Land down under", and "Thriller" and watched us sing at the top of our lungs from the rearview mirror the whole time...which meant he didnt see the huge potholes or bumps that we flew over at 60 mph!!

The rice is starting to get really old...and the things they decide to pair it with. Seaweed, a fish patty, beans, beans, beans! I'm getting sad I see my stock of cliff bars diminish to a frightening two. I have discovered a drink that brings me a lot of joy. Inca Kola- how much more Peruvian can it sound? Oh, ps...my english is starting to suck. I keep forgetting how to say things correctly or the names for certain things.

The founder, David Miller, and his wife are here for a week so that's cool to be able to talk to the guy who started this whole operation 9 hrs ago! I've attached a pic.



Ok, on to more adorable pictures of the Kiddos.


















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