Hola la familia y los amigos! Emily and I are so eager to begin our journey in Peru! We definitely want to keep you all updated as much as possible while we're gone, so this is our first post!
Emily and Lauren's Great Adventure to Peru
Some fun Peruvian facts:
- The country of Peru covers 1,285,220 sq. kilometers, which is about the size of Alaska.
- Indigenous peoples in Peru form about 45% of the total population.
- The indigenous populations of Peru continue to suffer serious marginalization due to their social, economic, and cultural differences.
- 53% of the population live below the poverty line earning just $14 per week.
- 24% of the population live in extreme poverty, living off of $8 per week.
- 37% of young Peruvian children are chronically malnourished.
- More than 600,000 Peruvians still have no access to water, electricity, or sewage infrastructure.
- Peru is famous for pisco sours, ceviche, ponchos, pan pipes, and the Inca ruins.
Why we are going:
Our Almighty God has created a beautiful earth, full of majestic landscapes and unique people that display His Glory. We feel led to explore the earth that God has created in order to know more of Him. By placing ourselves out of our comfort zones, we are able to learn from other people and cultures, embrace diversity, share the life-changing love and grace of Christ and the Cross, and draw closer to our Father. As the Lord goes before us, we are eager to share the Gospel with those that we'll meet. We travel to deepen our understanding of ourselves, others, the world, and Christ, always seeking to bring Him glory.
Our Itinerary:
June 1 - Leave Atlanta 7:10 PM (American Airlines Flight 1945 - Atlanta to Miami; LAN Flight 2511 -Miami to Lima)
June 2 - Arrive in Lima, Peru 4:35 AM
June 3 - Bus to Huancayo, Peru
June 4-9 - Volunteer with Esperanza Peru. We will be helping to build clean stoves for families living in a rural community.
June 10 - Bus back to Lima, Peru
June 11 - Fly to Cuzco
June 12-17 - Hang out in Cuzco
June 18 - Visit Machu Picchu
June 19 - Back to Cuzco
June 20 - Bus to Puno
June 21-22 - Stay with family on Lake Titikaka
June 23 - Bus to Arequipa
June 24-26 - Trek into and out of the Colca Canyon (It's more than 2x's deeper than the Grand Canyon - Wish us luck and lots of energy :))
June 27 - Bus to Lima
June 28 - Hang out in Lima
June 29 - Fly to Iquitos (It's in the middle of the Amazon Jungle and considered the largest city that cannot be reached by road)
June 30-July 2 - Live with an Indigenous community in the middle of the Amazon Rainforest.
July 3-4 - Relax in Lima
July 5 - Arrive in Atlanta 5:40 PM (LAN Flight 2514 - Lima to Miami; American Airlines Flight 1610 - Miami to Atlanta)
Prayer Requests:
Please pray that we would remain in good health, for our safety as we travel and for opportunities to invest in the lives of others. Most importantly, pray that Jesus Christ would be glorified as we seek to make much of Him.
Thank you for all of your support! We are so blessed to have such wonderful people that care for us and rejoice with us in the opportunities that God has laid before us!
- Lauren and Emily
