DESPEDIDAS (GOOD-BYES)

The most difficult thing in leaving was saying farewell
 to the precious children we worked with at the two homes...

SAN JOSE - MAY 12th, 2011

Maria Perez offers introductory

remarks, thanking the Johnsons

for their service at the homes.

THEN...

The children love to perform, especially dances!

The opening number features Isela, Wilber, and Tamara...

Juan Diego gets into the act!

  

The sixth graders, Yasmin, Rosa Maria, and Diego Armando

Estrella and Diego Armando treat us to

 a traditional Peruvian dance, "La Marinera"

The children then present us

with handmade cards each one especially made...

Plus we received beautiful hand knit chullos

Ben and Jinah, were there to share in the goodbye

 Everyone gets into the dancing!

Estrella, our God-daughter

Yasmin

The whole group poses for a picture 

MAY 13th

The teens at Sagrada Familia are not
to be outdone by the younger kids,
so they, too, hold a despedida

 Director Pedro introduces visitors Ben and Jinah 

and expresses good-bye wishes

Each of the teens stand and offer a few words....

Susana

Manuel 

 Martha

 Katiuska and Lizbeth

The teens love to choreograph

their own dances

Manuel

Margot, Arelis, and Hermelinda

 Giovanna and Susana

 Such nice gifts from the kids....

 Giovanna and Susana are enamored 

with all things Korean,

  so are thrilled to meet Jinah

 

A group shot with the girls...

 Giovanna, Gloria, Susana, and Victoria

With Pedro and Nestor

MAY 22nd

Our last Sunday at Cristo Redentor Church

 Our last time together with the music team

The congregation prays for us before we leave

 Lots of personal hugs and good-byes

With Fiorella

SUNDAY AFTERNOON/EVENING AT SANTIAGO APOSTOL

The clergy pray for us and Chris Easley
as we prepare to leave Peru

With one of the tutoras from
Sagrada Familia, Martha

Sandy and Chris, whom he
mentored for three months

 Manuel, what a sweetheart!

 Juan Ayala with Fr. Chris and Anne Lewis-Jenkins

Some of the teen girls with Gloria


We were so overwhelmed by all the good-bye

parties the Peruvians put on for us ...

 Our Bible study ("The Bufalos") has a special
 party for us our last Monday in Arequipa, May 23rd

Special gifts!  Chocolate, yum!!!

And a beautiful pastoral scene of Arequipa

The next night the Directorio (and friends)
of the two children's homes bids us farewell...

Ricardo and Nestor

with Natividad from San Lucas Church

Vicki Ayala with her grand-daughter Dania

Freddy, the Master Chef!

The whole group shares dinner

 More gifts presented by Juan Ayala

 A blessed time of singing with Nestor

MAY 25th

And THEN, the final good-bye at the airport!
Chris Easley was leaving on the same plane with us.
All the kids from both children's homes appeared,
plus and the Directors and some of the tutors,
as well as Naty, Maria Andia and Padre Juan Carlos,
and Fr. Chris and Anne Lewis-Jenkins, visiting from Wales.
It got a bit tearful at times!

 The group from San Jose, the younger home

We became especially close with Manuel

Hard to leave Estrella and Yasmin...
(Our smiles don't reflect our
sadness at parting)

Estrella stuck like glue to Tia Gloria...
and is joined by Martha, Giovanna, and Susana

 Victoria, one of the sweetest girls
we had the privilege of knowing

 Pedro, Director of the teen home

 Maria Perez, Director of San Jose
and Maria Andia

Estrella and Tamara

 Diego Armando, Arelis, and Hermelinda

Gimena, we will miss you!

All these children wrapped themselves

around our hearts!!!