ANNUAL VISITS TO PERU BUILD FRIENDSHIP AND TESTIFY TO MONUMENTAL CHANGE
There’s a good chance you’ve never heard of Rinconada del Sol, Greater Lima, Peru. That was probably the case for most members of University Chapel, a church on the Vancouver campus of the University of British Columbia. But five years ago they committed to enter a long-term partnership with a developing community, facilitated through FH Canada. Now when University Chapel talks about Rinconada del Sol—and vice versa—they’re talking about old friends.
For the past five years, a team from University Chapel has gone to visit and work alongside their partners in Peru. In 2012 the team had eight members, some returning a second, third or fifth time, and others leaving North America for the first time.
Peter Mogan has made the trip all five years, and has seen the steady progress of the community. This is his latest post-trip reflection, and it speaks volumes to the partnership and the amazing accomplishments of the community as they progress towards total self-sustainability.
"It has now been over a week since the goodbye ceremony for our team in Rinconada del Sol and I pause to reflect on what we saw and experienced. We have been sending teams to the community for five years so we have a basis for comparison. Overall, there is much to celebrate as this community has seen great progress and movement in a positive direction.
"At a teen workshop where participants had shared about things in their community that needed to improve, I asked who had the greatest potential to bring about this needed change. What I had in mind was that the youth would have this potential as the emerging leaders. What I got back was a chorus of, “God has the potential.” It was humbling.
"On the physical side there has been the building of significant infrastructure: roads, sewers, a clean water supply, street lights, a pre-school and an educational play centre. The construction of homes has also changed significantly – from simple shacks to some well-constructed brick homes. They are still small and modest, but a massive improvement. Also, the addition of decorative elements to homes and community spaces reflects care and hope.
"Socially and emotionally, we have witnessed an incredible transformation. The children are a great barometer of this change as they have moved from being disorganized and hard to manage to being willing to accept structure, having an optimistic view of their futures, and being committed to set goals and pursue them. Among the youth, leaders have developed who are respected and who promote positive values. There is a sense that the family violence prevention program is off to a good start as there is good responsiveness to the FH workshops and we see more male engagement with families."
There’s a good chance you’ve never heard of Rinconada del Sol, Greater Lima, Peru. That was probably the case for most members of University Chapel, a church on the Vancouver campus of the University of British Columbia. But five years ago they committed to enter a long-term partnership with a developing community, facilitated through FH Canada. Now when University Chapel talks about Rinconada del Sol—and vice versa—they’re talking about old friends. For the past five years, a team from University Chapel has gone to visit and work alongside their partners in Peru. In 2012 the team had eight members, some returning a second, third or fifth time, and others leaving North America for the first time.
Peter Mogan has made the trip all five years, and has seen the steady progress of the community. This is his latest post-trip reflection, and it speaks volumes to the partnership and the amazing accomplishments of the community as they progress towards total self-sustainability.
"It has now been over a week since the goodbye ceremony for our team in Rinconada del Sol and I pause to reflect on what we saw and experienced. We have been sending teams to the community for five years so we have a basis for comparison. Overall, there is much to celebrate as this community has seen great progress and movement in a positive direction.
"At a teen workshop where participants had shared about things in their community that needed to improve, I asked who had the greatest potential to bring about this needed change. What I had in mind was that the youth would have this potential as the emerging leaders. What I got back was a chorus of, “God has the potential.” It was humbling.
"On the physical side there has been the building of significant infrastructure: roads, sewers, a clean water supply, street lights, a pre-school and an educational play centre. The construction of homes has also changed significantly – from simple shacks to some well-constructed brick homes. They are still small and modest, but a massive improvement. Also, the addition of decorative elements to homes and community spaces reflects care and hope.
"Socially and emotionally, we have witnessed an incredible transformation. The children are a great barometer of this change as they have moved from being disorganized and hard to manage to being willing to accept structure, having an optimistic view of their futures, and being committed to set goals and pursue them. Among the youth, leaders have developed who are respected and who promote positive values. There is a sense that the family violence prevention program is off to a good start as there is good responsiveness to the FH workshops and we see more male engagement with families."
- Peter Mogan
For more of Peter’s blog posts and photography from the trip, see www.facebook.com/fh.peru or www.fhcanada.org/peru. If your church, social group or business is interested in a partnership with a developing community, please contact [email protected].
