AN UNEXPECTED TRIP BACK TO THE U.S.

On March 14, 2011, Gloria's 90-year-old father, 

Sam Callaway, passed away from a sudden heart attack.

We flew from Arequipa back to Denver, Laura and

 Kevin drove down from Montana, and Ben and Jinah

drove from Los Angeles to attend the funeral.

  Gloria and Kevin provided music for the

 service at the funeral home, March 21st.

Aunt Jean, Fran Berry, and Laura

 Dinner following at the Olive Garden, one

of Grandpa's favorite places to eat.

The following morning, the burial is held at Fairmount

 Mausoleum. It was a special time of tribute to an

incredible man who loved and cared for his family so much.

Aunt Jean, Sandy, Gloria, Jinah, Ben, Laura,

 Kevin, and Fran and Ken Berry (Laura's godparents).

Following the burial, Gloria drives the family around

Denver, showing them places where she grew up, 

went to school, church, married Sandy, and 

where Laura and Ben were both born and lived.

 Washington Park

Ben and Jinah with his godparents,

Charlie and Lynn Green

At Chili's Restaurant

Jinah's sister, Jin Young, comes to Denver 

to see us, and to drive back with Ben and Jinah, 

going through Zion National Park.

But first we take them to Red Rocks above Denver...

Gloria remembered going to

Red Rocks amphitheater to

see her favorite group,

The Carpenters

The Yoo sisters are soooo happy to find a Korean barbeque in Denver!

  Jin Young also meets Ben's godparents

 Saying good-bye to our hosts, the Berrys

We now receive the sad news that Ron Robertson

is not doing well, so make plans to fly to Dallas.

He passes away early morning March 29th, 

and we arrive that afternoon.

Ron fought the good fight, and kept the faith, and
this humble servant of God now is in His presence.

.

Roof Dog Ginny Lydick opened her home to us during our 

time in Dallas, and even loaned us her Prius so we could 

drive to Houston to see Gloria's Aunt Maurine, her father's

youngest and only remaining sibling, and her daughter, Jeanne.

 Aunt Maurine lives in a smaller house near

her daughter Jeanne's home.

Gloria and Aunt Maurine

Gloria and her cousin Jeanne are just five days apart in age

Gloria also visits with her Aunt Maurine's oldest daughter,
Carolyn, whom she hasn't seen since college days!

Back in Dallas, the funeral for Ron Robertson
is Monday, April 4th....one of the biggest blessings
was getting the opportunity to see the Nelson family,
which included the three whom had been adopted
from San Jose children's home in Arequipa.

 Gloria with Angela and Lizet

TIA GLORIA'S BIRTHDAY

Sandy's brother Bob comes for a visit

 to Arequipa on January 7th

He and Gloria share the same birthday,

just eight years apart!  Sandy buys a carrot cake
to celebrate the occasion ~ yum!

When Tia Gloria arrived at the younger

children's home to give music lessons

on January 18th, she was in for a big

surprise ~ a party for her birthday!

Diego Armando, Wilber, and Juan Diego are pretty excited, too!

So many special presents and cards!

Gloria was very touched that the kids

all gave her something they valued or made

And the nicest surprise were some hand

embroidered gifts from Rosa and Yasmin...

All those cross-stitch lessons paid off!

Then when the Directorio of the Casas met that night,

guess what?  Another cake!

 With other members of the Directorio, Juan Ayala and Ricardo

Special guests, Vicky Ayala 

with new grandbaby, Dania

ALPHA TRAINING TEAM COMES FROM DENVER!

We were very blessed to have a seven-member team from

 one of our supporting churches, Christ Church, Denver, 

come to Arequipa to put on a three-day training January

11-13 to enable clergy and lay leaders from the Anglican 

churches in southern Peru to put on their own Alpha course...

At the January 9th morning service
 at Cristo Redentor with Padre Juan Carlos
shortly after the team arrived

That afternoon we took the team
out to the Santiago Apostol mission
where Deacon Juan Ayala is in charge

Jamie put her Spanish skills to good use
talking with the little children and reading
one of the lessons from Scripture

Alba translates Juan's sermon into English

The team is invited to pray with some of
local folk who came forward following
the service - here Fr. Tom takes the lead

The children line up for candies from Tio Alejandro

The next day, Monday, the team sees the new
 construction for the teen home (Casa Hogar)

and Ricardo explains the building plans

Then the team visits the younger children's home

The kids introduce themselves and sing
a couple of songs in English for the team

Jimena wraps herself around everyone's
heart, including Fr. Tom

20-year old Alba is a big hit with the girls
(plus she speaks Spanish fluently)

on the other end of the age spectrum
is 75 year young Bunnie!

        Finally, the day for the Alpha presentation arrives,
        and we have an excellent turnout of around 30 folks

David Blankenship, the leader,

introduces his team, as Penny 

Marces from Lima translates

Right to left are:  David, Penny, Fr. Tom,

Rhonda, Jamie, Bunnie, and Hunter 

(somehow Alba is missing from this shot)

 Here Alba translates for Fr. Tom

Early morning good-bye from Ricardo

 and Naty

 We had so much fun with the two
youngest members of the team, Alba and
 Hunter (a professional photographer)

THANK YOU CHRIST CHURCH TEAM
FOR BLESSING US WITH YOUR
TEACHING AND PRESENCE!
GOD WORKED MIGHTILY
THROUGH YOU ALL!