One of the great things about Arequipa is its constant deep blue sky and the surrounding mountains. This speaks for itself. To see a more detailed view of this panorama (be sure to zoom in) click here. I’m sure going to miss the Summer in the south while I’m freezing here in Philly.
[caption id="attachment_1061" align="aligncenter" width="900" caption="View of the city of Arequipa Peru from the Mirador of Sachaca"]
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Makiver, photographed here, sharing his testimony on how he arrived at New Hope and how New Hope has helped turn his life around for the better. After Makiver’s mother and father passed away, he didn’t have anyone to look after him. Makiver now has the loving people here at New Hope to expand his family. The sign behind him “Quiero Alabarte” says, “I want to give you praise,” meaning towards God.
Many of the kids here at New Hope have stories to tell. Their stories make you cringe with anger and wonder how anyone could treat a child in such a way that it makes it difficult to wrap your brain around. Each child’s situation is different, but in the end they are the same when they come to New Hope. When a Child arrives, they find a permanent home where they are loved, treated as an important individual in this large loving family, and shown how to forgive through the power of the Gospel.
If you feel led to help the children at New Hope and would like to sponsor any of the children, please click here.
Lets just say this… I grew up in a small town in central Pennsylvania called Hanover. Hanover, PA is named after the city, Hannover, in Germany, except here in the states they dropped the second “n”. Hanover is very well known for one of a few things they do well: pretzels.
Growing up as a kid, my friends worked in pretzel factories, boxing pretzels, rolling pretzels, and all sorts of other jobs to do with pretzels. Pretzel companies are a big part of Hanover and my childhood. Even after graduating high school and moving to Philadelphia ,the Pretzel title followed you everywhere. When I would tell people I’m from Hanover, PA, they would have this lost look in there eyes until they realized that Hanover equaled Snyder’s pretzels, or I’d prompt them, “have you ever heard of Snyder’s Pretzels?” and they would say, “oh yeah! Those are my favorite!”
Well, growing up in Hanover, I didn’t know how blessed I was to be living so close to such amazing and well known pretzels until I left. And I have to be honest; I’m not a huge pretzel fan. I’m more of a Chocolate Chip cookie fan (or monster is more like it.) But there is something comforting about seeing a familiar face when you’re far away from home.
I remember about a year and a half ago when I was in a really, really small gas station in Soldotna Alaska, and on the snack shelf there sat in all its dusty glory a bag of Snyder’s Pretzels all the way from Hanover PA. I was so happy to see it that I had to tell the guy I was with about how amazing it is to see a bag of Snyder’s Pretzels on this tiny gas station’s snack shelf. Did I mention I had only know the guy for about 3 hours? I think my excited tone over a bag of pretzels made him think I was a bit nuts. I mean, I’m close to the top of the world, and there sits a bag of pretzels from my tiny little home town of town Hanover, PA. This guy had no idea that pure gold was sitting only a few feet away.
Well, the other week, when we were shopping at the local “Walmart of Peru” called Plaza Vea, there I spotted on the way top shelf, set apart from all the local normal Peruvian treats, some bags of Snyder’s Pretzels!!!!!!!!! I’m not even sure if any other pretzel companies can be found anywhere in this city. I just know that I was floored to see a bag of Snyder’s here in Arequipa. I’m in Peru people, and that’s many miles or kilometers from the dinky blue collar town of Hanover, PA. Hanover’s only other claims to fame are the Hanover Shoe company who used to make awesome shoes way back in the day. People would travel pretty far distances to get a pair of these snazzy shoes. I’ve heard personal stories to prove it. The other thing that puts Hanover on the Map is the famous snack food company, Utz, which makes potato chips. They’re good, but they don’t have a reputation like Snyder’s.
This is different, and maybe I’m blowing this way out of proportion. I’m in Arequipa, Peru, South America. Who the heck was responsible at the Snyder Food company for getting these things down here? Whoever it was, they deserve a bonus. Because I, for one, was only too happy to shell out the 12.00 soles or 4.00 USD for a modest bag of salted pretzel sticks. What can I say but There’s no place like home 
Today, Dave, Debbie, and Timo left to return home to the states for a while. Timo needs to focus on his School work, and Dave and Debbie have a Steve Green fund raising concert in December to put on in upstate New York. It was a chaotic day with all the last minute preparations in just enough time that they could barely leave on time.
Dave and Debbie founded the home years ago and as of recent have had to bounce back and forth between the states and Peru more frequently and spend less time in Peru than they would like, due to many reasons: health, lack of financial support, family priorities, etc. They care for these kids at the home as if they were their own, and they have so much of their lives invested here that it’s hard for them to leave so often.
Only Dave intends to return in January, because Timo needs to finish his school in a more focused environment than his living room with so much going on. Not many kids are like this 14 year old. Around New Hope, Timo pretty much functions as a normal kid. He does his best to focus on his studies in a home school environment (only with about 40 kids around), but it can be difficult when your friends are playing futbol outside, or you are needed to translate for Americans. However, there was some hopeful last minute talk about an english school Timo could attend here in Arequipa so he would be able to finish his schooling here. This would mean that Dave, Debbie and Timo would be able to remain in Peru together for a longer period of time, that Timo would be in a focused educational environment instead, and they could live together instead of living apart in different halves of the world.
This would mean a lot of things. They would be able to serve where they feel called, do what they love, and be together as a family. An additional selfish thing I have to admit is that it would mean there would be a bit more daily sanity for us gringos who have relied on Dave and Debbie to mediate with the kids, translate, and help everything function a bit smoother. It will be an interesting few weeks until Dave or everyone returns.
There is a whole staff of great Peruvian people at the home to help everything function properly, but Dave and Debbie have given their lives for these kids and this entire home. Actions speak louder than words, and after only spending a week and a half with Dave and Debbie, you can see and feel how much of their lives they have poured into the kids here at New Hope.
If you would like to support or know of someone who would be interested in helping Dave and Debbie in their ministry to the kids here in Arequipa, Peru, please do so by supporting them by visiting this link www.peruhope.org
Thanks for your time.
