Our 15 Goshen College students returned safety to Lima Thursday morning from Chancay, Ayacucho, Tarma, San Ramon, La Merced and San Miguel. They were a sight for sore eyes and we (Peru SST Co-Directors Richard R. Aguirre and Judy Weaver) were thrilled to see them! And as pleased as they may have been to see us, they were ecstatic to see each other. It had been almost six long weeks since they were together.
Jonathan greets Malaina with a big hug.
Our spring group of students bonded unusually well from the moment they arrived in Peru, on Jan. 8. Aimee, April, Caleb, Dean, Derek, Gina, Gretchen, Jackson, Jake, Jonathan, Malaina, Maria, Natalie, Neal and Thomas liked to spend class breaks standing in a circle and talking, stayed as a group during field trips and even got together on weekends. So coming back to Lima was more than a reunion – it was like a party.
Gina gives Gretchen a big welcoming embrace.
As the students started arriving at 6 a.m. Thursday at Casa Goshen (in the San Isidro district of Lima) after overnight bus trips, they wore broad smiles, laughed and greeted each other warmly with hugs, hugs and more hugs. The normal noise volume in Casa Goshen for student gatherings grew five-fold as students chatted away amid piles of suitcases and backpacks.
Thomas and Derek enjoy seconds.
In what has become a Peru SST tradition, we treated the students to a U.S.-style breakfast – pancakes, eggs, sausage and fruit. Dozens of pancakes were cooked and consumed. Most students had seconds and a few had thirds and fourths. All said they enjoyed familiar food after weeks of Peruvian meals.
Natalie Gina and Maina complete some survey forms.
After turning in assignments, filling out forms, returning books and taking care of other housekeeping chores, the students headed out to spend the afternoon and evening with their Lima host families and to do some last-minute shopping. Overnight, they were staying at Casa Miraflores, a nearby hostel.
Students pause for a group photo before heading off for a free afternoon in Lima.
On Friday, students will head to the Anglican Cathedral of the Good Shepherd (Buen Pastor) for some final academic work – their final quiz and an oral Spanish language evaluation. We then will leave for our concluding time together at a Christian retreat center called Kawai, located on the beach about an hour and a half south of Lima. The retreat center consists of a wonderful collection of buildings amid well-landscaped grounds, just a few hundred yards from the Pacific Ocean. We can hardly wait – and we’re delighted to be together again.
Casa Goshen, on the top two floors, on April 3, 2014.A silly door signed welcomed students back to Lima from their service assignments.Derek, Caleb, Dean and Jackson walk toward Casa Goshen.Maria and Neal head toward Casa Goshen.Dean is among the first students to arrive at Casa Goshen on April 3.Natalie and Gina return to Casa Goshen.Jonathan is happy to be back in Lima.Jake is back with a big smile.Thomas arrives at Casa Goshen.Malaina prepares to greet students while April says hello to Peru SST Co-Director Richard R. Aguirre.Maria and Natalie prepare to embrace.Jackson and Natalie hug while Neal and Gina prepare to greet each other.Gina gives Gretchen a big welcoming embrace.Natalie greets Aimee.Jonathan greets Malaina with a big hug.Malaina and Maria greet each other.Maria and Neal unwind at Casa Goshen.Caleb and Dean at Casa Goshen.Natalie and Jackson swap stories about their service experiences.Alicia Taipe Tello, who cooks for Peru SST program, greets the students after their return from service.Caleb and Gina chat about their service experiences.Student enjoy a breakfast of pancakes, eggs and sausage.Student enjoy a breakfast of pancakes, eggs and sausage.Aimee enjoys her pancakes.Gretchen savors breakfast.Thomas and Derek enjoy seconds.Neal enjoys thirds or is it fourths?Dean pauses to listen to another student.Caleb enjoys a student’s story.Derek listens to another student talking about a service experience.April fills out some paperwork.Gretchen chats with Natalie.Peru SST Service Coordinator Willy Villavicencio bids farewell to the students.Peru SST Co-Director Richard R. Aguirre, having finished cooking dozens of pancakes for the students, finally enjoys a bite to eat.Alicia Tapie Tello enjoys a break.Natalie Gina and Maina complete some survey forms.Jackson and Dean work on some survey forms.Aimee repacks her luggage.Gretchen, Maria, Gina and other students repack their luggage.Jake and Derek organize their luggage.Caleb, Neal, Dean, Derek, Jonathan, Thomas, Jake and Jackson chat outside Casa Goshen.Malaina chats with other students outside Casa Goshen.Thomas shares a laugh outside Casa Goshen.Students pause for a group photo before heading off for a free afternoon in Lima.
