Friday, May 11: Pictures and the last month. . .
Hey Family and Friends,
I am listing the link to see my pictures from Peru for those interested.
http://picasaweb.google.com/Charles.B.Wright
Things are busy here, we have a group from Anderson, SC, here and a group from Belhaven University is coming next week. Microfinances is going great, we will be adding a second group next month! Hope things are well, I return to the USA next month!
Love,
Charie
I am listing the link to see my pictures from Peru for those interested.
http://picasaweb.google.com/Charles.B.Wright
Things are busy here, we have a group from Anderson, SC, here and a group from Belhaven University is coming next week. Microfinances is going great, we will be adding a second group next month! Hope things are well, I return to the USA next month!
Love,
Charie
Tuesday, February 27: El año nuevo. . .
Hello family and friends,
It has been a while and I apologize for being AWOL for so long. Well, things have really taken off here:
In January we prepared our microfinancing organization, holding a series of orientation meetings for our 10 women and making the necessary preparations. We also are employing the expertise of a Peruvian college student, Willy Madrid, who attends the Wichanzao parish. So far things have gone well and our first collection will be at the end of March. All of the women are in good spirits and we are excited to see what will happen with our NGO.
SALI has grown by leaps and bounds and we are in the middle of formalizing under the Peruvian ministry of education. This past month we hosted a highly successful children´s program and starting in March we are offering classes for adults who want to work in an english environment in the next 6 months. We are excited about our growth and hope that we can continue to minister to the peruvians who come through our doors! Please pray for a continued witness in SALI.
We are also in the middle of building a clinic in the parish of Arevalo. It will be 4 floors when it is finished and will provide a much needed medical service to one of the poorer districts of Trujillo.
I also was able to take part in a summer english school for the kids of Arevalo. We had between 10 to 15 in regular attendance and they were always in good spirits. Together we were able to get to know each other, pray and learn a little english. May God continue to work in their lives!
I hope that has given you a glimpse of our work here in Trujillo. Please know that your prayers, emails and letters are much appreciated! God bless,
Charlie
It has been a while and I apologize for being AWOL for so long. Well, things have really taken off here:
In January we prepared our microfinancing organization, holding a series of orientation meetings for our 10 women and making the necessary preparations. We also are employing the expertise of a Peruvian college student, Willy Madrid, who attends the Wichanzao parish. So far things have gone well and our first collection will be at the end of March. All of the women are in good spirits and we are excited to see what will happen with our NGO.
SALI has grown by leaps and bounds and we are in the middle of formalizing under the Peruvian ministry of education. This past month we hosted a highly successful children´s program and starting in March we are offering classes for adults who want to work in an english environment in the next 6 months. We are excited about our growth and hope that we can continue to minister to the peruvians who come through our doors! Please pray for a continued witness in SALI.
We are also in the middle of building a clinic in the parish of Arevalo. It will be 4 floors when it is finished and will provide a much needed medical service to one of the poorer districts of Trujillo.
I also was able to take part in a summer english school for the kids of Arevalo. We had between 10 to 15 in regular attendance and they were always in good spirits. Together we were able to get to know each other, pray and learn a little english. May God continue to work in their lives!
I hope that has given you a glimpse of our work here in Trujillo. Please know that your prayers, emails and letters are much appreciated! God bless,
Charlie
Saturday, December 23: ¡Feliz Navidad!
Hello friends, family and supporters,
I know it has been a while and I apologize for not updating sooner. I have recently returned home for a 2 week vacation to enjoy Christmas with the family. Well, what has been happening with Peru Mission and myself in Peru recently. . .
We are on the verge of beginning the microfinancing. We have selected 3 groups of women who own either very small bodegas(general stores) or are street venders. They will receive different loan sizes depending on their needs. Orientation will last the later half of january, while they will receive funding beggining in February. Great news! We have also recruited a Peruvian, Willy Madrid Alvarez, who is a university student as well as a member of the church in Wichanzao. He will be helping with the training, orientation and loan collection. We are very excited about what is happening in Wichanzao.
The Woodshop has been producing furniture for a variety of entities: the churches in Arevalo and Wichanzao, missionaries here in Trujillo and some supporters in the US. If you are interested in having a piece of furniture made at a great price with some exotic woods(mahogeny, cedar, tornillo, or mohena), please let me know. It would be an honor to build a quality product for you!
SALI(the english language institute) recently had its director step down, and so Caleb and myself are taking a more active role in the day-to-day activities of the ministry until a director can be found. Please pray that God would provide a qualified canidate to head this important ministry.
Also, the Baker's(one of the missionary families) was recently cheated by their landlord and will have to vacate their house as soon as possible. Pray that God would grant them housing, and soon.
Peru recently passed some accountability legislature for all NGO's requiring reports for all projects realized in the last 3 years. It is due in 6 months and we are in the middle of finishing those. Pray that God would grant us favor in the eyes of the Peruvian government, so that we could continue the work of the Kingdom here in Peru.
We are also in the middle of switching Accounting Programs, to incorporate a comprehensive, Peruvian-made software package. It has been a headache and a half and it should be completely live starting January 1st. Praise God for that!
May you have a blessed Christmas and New Year's and please let me know how you are through email(charles.b.wright@gmail.com) or phone(678-520-6848).
Blessings,
Charlie
I know it has been a while and I apologize for not updating sooner. I have recently returned home for a 2 week vacation to enjoy Christmas with the family. Well, what has been happening with Peru Mission and myself in Peru recently. . .
We are on the verge of beginning the microfinancing. We have selected 3 groups of women who own either very small bodegas(general stores) or are street venders. They will receive different loan sizes depending on their needs. Orientation will last the later half of january, while they will receive funding beggining in February. Great news! We have also recruited a Peruvian, Willy Madrid Alvarez, who is a university student as well as a member of the church in Wichanzao. He will be helping with the training, orientation and loan collection. We are very excited about what is happening in Wichanzao.
The Woodshop has been producing furniture for a variety of entities: the churches in Arevalo and Wichanzao, missionaries here in Trujillo and some supporters in the US. If you are interested in having a piece of furniture made at a great price with some exotic woods(mahogeny, cedar, tornillo, or mohena), please let me know. It would be an honor to build a quality product for you!
SALI(the english language institute) recently had its director step down, and so Caleb and myself are taking a more active role in the day-to-day activities of the ministry until a director can be found. Please pray that God would provide a qualified canidate to head this important ministry.
Also, the Baker's(one of the missionary families) was recently cheated by their landlord and will have to vacate their house as soon as possible. Pray that God would grant them housing, and soon.
Peru recently passed some accountability legislature for all NGO's requiring reports for all projects realized in the last 3 years. It is due in 6 months and we are in the middle of finishing those. Pray that God would grant us favor in the eyes of the Peruvian government, so that we could continue the work of the Kingdom here in Peru.
We are also in the middle of switching Accounting Programs, to incorporate a comprehensive, Peruvian-made software package. It has been a headache and a half and it should be completely live starting January 1st. Praise God for that!
May you have a blessed Christmas and New Year's and please let me know how you are through email(charles.b.wright@gmail.com) or phone(678-520-6848).
Blessings,
Charlie
Friday, November 24: Feliz día de la acción de gracias (happy Thanksgiving Day)
Hello Family, Friends and Supporters!
Yesterday we all celebrated Thanksgiving Day, including those of us here in Peru. We had a great spread of food (although we didn't partake of any Turkey). We did, however, have fajitas, chicken, casseroles, and pies, and enjoyed a relaxing day. We also managed to break out a copy of the Macy's Day Parade 2004, and relive the memories!
Life in Peru has been extremely busy, I have been tweaking our December budget for the past week and learning more about all we do here. I also had the priveledge to interview two christian ladies who might be part of our first microlending group. They were very excited about the opportunities and willing to learn and incorporate our system into their businesses. The pastors, also made some visits in the neighborhood and were able to pray with and for some of those who are suffering from various diseases and injuries.
We just had the mayoral elections down here and the new mayor of Trujillo actually owns a the local university called Cesar Vallejo. The new mayor of "La Esperanza," a suburb of Trujillo where our clinics are, is a Christian and has spoken with us specifically about helping us in projects we have there! Very exciting news!
I for one am enjoying my time here but am looking forward to coming home for Christmas and spending time with y'all! May God bless you this and every week and know that you are in my prayers!
Charlie
Yesterday we all celebrated Thanksgiving Day, including those of us here in Peru. We had a great spread of food (although we didn't partake of any Turkey). We did, however, have fajitas, chicken, casseroles, and pies, and enjoyed a relaxing day. We also managed to break out a copy of the Macy's Day Parade 2004, and relive the memories!
Life in Peru has been extremely busy, I have been tweaking our December budget for the past week and learning more about all we do here. I also had the priveledge to interview two christian ladies who might be part of our first microlending group. They were very excited about the opportunities and willing to learn and incorporate our system into their businesses. The pastors, also made some visits in the neighborhood and were able to pray with and for some of those who are suffering from various diseases and injuries.
We just had the mayoral elections down here and the new mayor of Trujillo actually owns a the local university called Cesar Vallejo. The new mayor of "La Esperanza," a suburb of Trujillo where our clinics are, is a Christian and has spoken with us specifically about helping us in projects we have there! Very exciting news!
I for one am enjoying my time here but am looking forward to coming home for Christmas and spending time with y'all! May God bless you this and every week and know that you are in my prayers!
Charlie
Sunday, November 12: Sillas para el mundo y construcciones(Wheelchairs for the world and Construction)
Hello Family, Friends and Supporters!
Things are really moving here in Trujillo. Monday, I translated for Joni and Friends, an organization that gives wheelchairs to handicapped people who cannot afford them. I helped translate for a wheelchair technician and a physical therapist who helped to fit the wheelchair to each patient. Our first patient was a young man of about 20, who had a progressive muscle disease that causes his muscles to calcify. He lived in extreme poverty and was thrilled to get a chair. His mom and dad basically have to do everything for him, from feeding to moving him, but he was in great spirits on monday and was telling me about how much he loves to go to church on the weekends. As he lives near to the beach, his father is also going to take him on walks in the afternoon on the beach!
Our second patient was a 22 year old girl who has a spinal injury along with a mental handicap. Her face really lit up when she got her chair and a new teddy bear to go with it.
All in all, Joni and Friends delivered over 80 wheelchairs to needy families and blessed the community in an amazing way!
This week also saw the arrival of one of our teams from Chicago. 17 builder construction professionals came down and built our new clinic in Wichanzao. The current facilities that were being used as the clinic will become the space for a classical christian school that will start this coming school year!
I have never seen a building of this size go up so quickly and efficiently in Peru! I will try to post some pictures of it. On Thursday I went out and got to work throwing and moving brick and had a great time getting to know this group. They greatly blessed us and the people of Trujillo and I was pleased to meet some more of our church family!
Friday at Sociedad San Augustin(SSA), we had a great discussion of what defines beauty and I was elected "Mr. Sociedad San Augustin 2006" for all those interested. . . .
Saturday, we hosted a soccer and volleyball tournament. Peruvian teams won both tournaments but I like to think that the "gringo" teams put up a good fight. I got to meet some more guys from SSA and CBU(an interuniversity evangelical group in Trujillo). God is really blessing our work and the university ministry continues to grow here in Trujillo!
Please pray for the safe travel of our group from Chicago and the continued success of all our ministries. May God bless and keep you!
Charlie
Things are really moving here in Trujillo. Monday, I translated for Joni and Friends, an organization that gives wheelchairs to handicapped people who cannot afford them. I helped translate for a wheelchair technician and a physical therapist who helped to fit the wheelchair to each patient. Our first patient was a young man of about 20, who had a progressive muscle disease that causes his muscles to calcify. He lived in extreme poverty and was thrilled to get a chair. His mom and dad basically have to do everything for him, from feeding to moving him, but he was in great spirits on monday and was telling me about how much he loves to go to church on the weekends. As he lives near to the beach, his father is also going to take him on walks in the afternoon on the beach!
Our second patient was a 22 year old girl who has a spinal injury along with a mental handicap. Her face really lit up when she got her chair and a new teddy bear to go with it.
All in all, Joni and Friends delivered over 80 wheelchairs to needy families and blessed the community in an amazing way!
This week also saw the arrival of one of our teams from Chicago. 17 builder construction professionals came down and built our new clinic in Wichanzao. The current facilities that were being used as the clinic will become the space for a classical christian school that will start this coming school year!
I have never seen a building of this size go up so quickly and efficiently in Peru! I will try to post some pictures of it. On Thursday I went out and got to work throwing and moving brick and had a great time getting to know this group. They greatly blessed us and the people of Trujillo and I was pleased to meet some more of our church family!
Friday at Sociedad San Augustin(SSA), we had a great discussion of what defines beauty and I was elected "Mr. Sociedad San Augustin 2006" for all those interested. . . .
Saturday, we hosted a soccer and volleyball tournament. Peruvian teams won both tournaments but I like to think that the "gringo" teams put up a good fight. I got to meet some more guys from SSA and CBU(an interuniversity evangelical group in Trujillo). God is really blessing our work and the university ministry continues to grow here in Trujillo!
Please pray for the safe travel of our group from Chicago and the continued success of all our ministries. May God bless and keep you!
Charlie
Saturday, October 28: Micropréstamos (Microloans)
Hello Family, Friends and Supporters!
I hope the fall in the USA is beautiful, here we are finally experiencing a little of why Trujillo is the ¨international¨ home of spring.
This week has been fun and tiring. We will be sending out a newsletter to ALL of our supporters(numbering over 1500). I was in charge of getting all of the addresses right, so, if you don´t receive one, give me a call. . .
I have been hanging out and talking to a lot of peruvians in Sociedad San Augustin, our version of RUF and things are really moving. Last weekend, we held a movie night and watched the 6th sense, a great movie for discussion. Peruvian culture really enjoys mystical topics and this one certainly was.
I have been also going Wichanzao where we will be starting our microloan program. I interviewed a lady yesterday who sells fruits and candies out of her home. She is in the process of spreading the word to her friends who will eventually form one of our loan groups(we loan to groups, not individuals). Her face really lit up when we discussed the process of growing her business and providing for her children and parents. She, like everyone is Wichanzao, lives on dirt floors with little or no electricity or plumbing.
This week is vacation for SALI and as such, the girls are going to guayaquil, ecuador, and Caleb and I are going to Lima for a little r and r for 2 days.
May God bless you and go jackets!
Charlie
I hope the fall in the USA is beautiful, here we are finally experiencing a little of why Trujillo is the ¨international¨ home of spring.
This week has been fun and tiring. We will be sending out a newsletter to ALL of our supporters(numbering over 1500). I was in charge of getting all of the addresses right, so, if you don´t receive one, give me a call. . .
I have been hanging out and talking to a lot of peruvians in Sociedad San Augustin, our version of RUF and things are really moving. Last weekend, we held a movie night and watched the 6th sense, a great movie for discussion. Peruvian culture really enjoys mystical topics and this one certainly was.
I have been also going Wichanzao where we will be starting our microloan program. I interviewed a lady yesterday who sells fruits and candies out of her home. She is in the process of spreading the word to her friends who will eventually form one of our loan groups(we loan to groups, not individuals). Her face really lit up when we discussed the process of growing her business and providing for her children and parents. She, like everyone is Wichanzao, lives on dirt floors with little or no electricity or plumbing.
This week is vacation for SALI and as such, the girls are going to guayaquil, ecuador, and Caleb and I are going to Lima for a little r and r for 2 days.
May God bless you and go jackets!
Charlie
Friday, October 20: Madera de la Selva. . . (Jungle Wood)
Greetings Family, Friends and Supporters!
It has been a great week in Trujillo! Things are really moving and I am getting to know a lot of people throughout Trujillo.
Yesterday, I helped move 5500 feet of raw wood from a trailer to our Woodshop. We moved screw wood, cedar, mahogany and a local wood called mohena. I had no idea how heavy the screw wood was, some of them weighed over 300 pounds!
This afternoon I am going to Wichanzao and will be surveying people about their businesses and how we can help them with microfinancing. We are basing our work off of the research of Accion, International and some of the work of Grameen Bank.
The administration of Peru Mission is also going well. I am working with our Accountant, Martin, so that we can clean our books up. We will be doing some outside auditing to clean up our books and make us eligible for grants.
This week I had a great conversations with two of our RUF students. One is the leader of CBU(congreso biblico universitario), an evangelic christian organization on the campus. He told me about his experiences and I told him about my ideas for weekly soccer games.
On Saturday, I went to my first bullfight, with another student who attends RUF but isnt a christian. We had some great conversation and I am excited that he is really interested in the Gospel and what it really says(the culture has a peculiar way, of course here I mean any culture, of distorting truth).
In all it has been a great week. Please keep the following students in your prayers as well as the mission as it continues to grow!
Charlie
It has been a great week in Trujillo! Things are really moving and I am getting to know a lot of people throughout Trujillo.
Yesterday, I helped move 5500 feet of raw wood from a trailer to our Woodshop. We moved screw wood, cedar, mahogany and a local wood called mohena. I had no idea how heavy the screw wood was, some of them weighed over 300 pounds!
This afternoon I am going to Wichanzao and will be surveying people about their businesses and how we can help them with microfinancing. We are basing our work off of the research of Accion, International and some of the work of Grameen Bank.
The administration of Peru Mission is also going well. I am working with our Accountant, Martin, so that we can clean our books up. We will be doing some outside auditing to clean up our books and make us eligible for grants.
This week I had a great conversations with two of our RUF students. One is the leader of CBU(congreso biblico universitario), an evangelic christian organization on the campus. He told me about his experiences and I told him about my ideas for weekly soccer games.
On Saturday, I went to my first bullfight, with another student who attends RUF but isnt a christian. We had some great conversation and I am excited that he is really interested in the Gospel and what it really says(the culture has a peculiar way, of course here I mean any culture, of distorting truth).
In all it has been a great week. Please keep the following students in your prayers as well as the mission as it continues to grow!
Charlie
Friday, October 13: Traduciones. . . (Translations)
Hello Family,Friends and Supporters!
It has been a great week in Peru. This sunday I translated the sunday school message for Pastor John Ferguson, who is in charge of RUF(Reformed University Fellowship, a PCA college ministry) here in Trujillo. It was exhilirating and a little nerve racking, but I got through it well. From what the Peruvians said, the translation went well.
This week has been busy. I have been constantly in meetings , trying to get a grip on our accounting, the woodshop, the microfinance and SALI. It has been well spent.
I have been meeting a lot of new peruvians. This weekend I will be playing "football"(soccer for those of us not communists) with a bunch of guys behind our church. Please pray for me that these relationships would be fruitful.
Hope you have a blessed weekend!
Love,
Charlie
It has been a great week in Peru. This sunday I translated the sunday school message for Pastor John Ferguson, who is in charge of RUF(Reformed University Fellowship, a PCA college ministry) here in Trujillo. It was exhilirating and a little nerve racking, but I got through it well. From what the Peruvians said, the translation went well.
This week has been busy. I have been constantly in meetings , trying to get a grip on our accounting, the woodshop, the microfinance and SALI. It has been well spent.
I have been meeting a lot of new peruvians. This weekend I will be playing "football"(soccer for those of us not communists) with a bunch of guys behind our church. Please pray for me that these relationships would be fruitful.
Hope you have a blessed weekend!
Love,
Charlie
Friday, October 06: LLegué en Perú(Arrived in Peru)
Hello family, friends and supporters!
I hope that you are enjoying the beginnings of Fall in the USA. I have just arrived back in Trujillo,Peru and will be starting my new work on Monday! I will be helping with a bunch of Economic Development: a woodshop/furniture business, a microfinance enterprise and helping our Clinics get off the ground.
Tonight I am going to Sociedad San Augustin(the Peruvian Version of RUF). It is run by a Peruvian pastor/psychologist and usually covers a wide variety of topics. Next week I am planning to give a short message before Gerardo, our pastor, gives the main talk. Please pray for me as I attempt to really work with the Peruvian college students.
I am starting more spanish clases and am feeling increasingly more comfortable in the language. Also, I now have a webcam so if anyone is interested in seeing me, or I seeing you, skype me(gt05cbw). Also, I have included a map of Peru below and the red dot is Trujillo if you are interested.
Have a great week, and Dios les bendiga(God bless you)!
Charles
I hope that you are enjoying the beginnings of Fall in the USA. I have just arrived back in Trujillo,Peru and will be starting my new work on Monday! I will be helping with a bunch of Economic Development: a woodshop/furniture business, a microfinance enterprise and helping our Clinics get off the ground.
Tonight I am going to Sociedad San Augustin(the Peruvian Version of RUF). It is run by a Peruvian pastor/psychologist and usually covers a wide variety of topics. Next week I am planning to give a short message before Gerardo, our pastor, gives the main talk. Please pray for me as I attempt to really work with the Peruvian college students.
I am starting more spanish clases and am feeling increasingly more comfortable in the language. Also, I now have a webcam so if anyone is interested in seeing me, or I seeing you, skype me(gt05cbw). Also, I have included a map of Peru below and the red dot is Trujillo if you are interested.
Have a great week, and Dios les bendiga(God bless you)!
Charles
Tuesday, July 25: ¡Día de Independencia!
¡Benvenidos todos! Thank you for visiting my humble blog. Here in Trujillo we are in the middle of winter and preparing for Independence Day, this July 28th. We are headed to Mancora for some much needed R&R. I have been working on the software systems here, we have an accounting package, a church donor management program and a school software package. Life has been good but stressful. I am preparing to return to the United States at the end of August.
We are having a complete staff transition, including our director. Our benevolent director, Alex Sherling, is moving back to the US and Dinko, a Peruvian who has an amazing testimony will be taking the reins. We have one intern staying and 3 more arriving this coming month I believe. As well, we have John Ferguson, former director of RUF, coming down this week, to start the first RUF international program. It is an exciting time with the mission as well as the school.
I have mixed feelings about returning. I really have enjoyed Peru and the Peruvians that have been so gracious to share abundantly all that they have with us. I have also enjoyed the internship and the interns. However, I am a little exhausted and ready to return the US. I miss my family and friends, and am ready to eat some good american food.
I hope this week finds you well and may God bless you in everything you do!
Sincerely,
Charlie
We are having a complete staff transition, including our director. Our benevolent director, Alex Sherling, is moving back to the US and Dinko, a Peruvian who has an amazing testimony will be taking the reins. We have one intern staying and 3 more arriving this coming month I believe. As well, we have John Ferguson, former director of RUF, coming down this week, to start the first RUF international program. It is an exciting time with the mission as well as the school.
I have mixed feelings about returning. I really have enjoyed Peru and the Peruvians that have been so gracious to share abundantly all that they have with us. I have also enjoyed the internship and the interns. However, I am a little exhausted and ready to return the US. I miss my family and friends, and am ready to eat some good american food.
I hope this week finds you well and may God bless you in everything you do!
Sincerely,
Charlie