Ayacucho, Peru
July 5 to July 18, 2011
This trip marks the beginning of a mission partnership with Iglesia Presbiteriana De Ayacucho (Ayacucho Presbyterian Church).
Team Members
Pastor Calvin, Lee and Callee Gittner, Linda Filegar, Cierra Jackson, Kaitlin and Kerry Lyons, Celia and Margaret Nolin, Kaylee Vander Ploeg, John and Carmen Hixon
The Work They'll Do There
Our team will be involved in a number of repair projects while in Ayacucho, including work on some elderly church member's homes, repainting the facade of the church and tearing up an earth floor to be replaced by concrete in the school assembly area. On Sunday, Pastor Calvin will of course be expected to preach (with translators provided). In addition to time spent with church members in fellowship, the team will be assisting with classes for (highly active) 6 to 14 year-olds in handcrafts and introductory English studies.
Map generated by the Great Circle Mapper - copyright © Karl L. Swartz.
Flight Distances
Orlando, FL to Fort Lauderdale, FL = 177 miles
Fort Lauderdale, FL to Lima, Peru = 2627 miles
Lima, Peru to Ayacucho, Peru = 211 miles
Total = 3015 miles
The Andean city of Ayacucho lies within the Central Highlands area of southern Peru at an altitude of approximately 9,000 feet [elevation of Port Orange = 20 feet]. It is famous for its distinctive colonial character and its 33 churches which represent one for each year of Jesus’ life. It has a population of about 150,000 people with an economy based on agriculture and light manufactures, such as textiles, pottery, leather goods and filigree ware. [The combined population of Daytona Beach, Port Orange, South Daytona and Holly Hill is approximately 146,000.]
The area has a number of Incan and pre-Incan sites. Pikimachay, which lies about 15 miles north of Ayacucho, is a cave system thought to be a settlement from more than 14,000 years ago. The famous site of Machu Picchu, often referred to as the “Lost City of the Incas”, is within what passes in Peruvian tourist guides as “easy access” from Ayacucho. This 14th century Incan site is only accessible from the city of Cuzco, which is 115 miles by air from Ayacucho. From there, it is only a 70 mile train trip to Machu Picchu.
Estelí, Nicaragua
With First Presbyterian Church, Deland, these trips are part of our continuing mission partnership with Iglesia Presbiteriana Shalom (Shalom Presbyterian Church) in Estelí, Nicaragua.
July 16 to July 24, 2011
Team Members
Jack and Carolyn Horner, Donna and Nicole Ketchledge, Steven McDonald
The Work They'll Do There
During this week, our team will be working with at-risk teens though Vida Joven (Young Life) [see the Vida Joven Nicaragua website for more information on this organization]. This will include soccer matches, crafts, dancing, music and skits, culminating with a celebratory gathering (PARTY!).
July 24 to July 31, 2011
Team Members
Cathie Burns, Nathaniel Gittner, Donna and Nicole Ketchledge, Gary, Pastor Jean and Kacie Meredith, Matt and Kristi Miller, Alice Pelphrey
The Work They'll Do There
The mission of our second week team is two-fold. First, they will be conducting Vacation Bible School for area children for four days in a row where the total turn-out over the four days is expected to be nearly 500 kids. Second, there is also a construction component where Shalom Presbyterian is building a preschool. It’s a toss-up on which will be more exhausting!
Map generated by the Great Circle Mapper - copyright © Karl L. Swartz.
Flight Distances
Orlando, FL to Miami, FL = 192 miles
Miami, FL to Managua, Nicaragua = 1014 miles
Total = 1206 miles
The city of Estelí is the third largest city in Nicaragua and is an active commercial center. Having served as a refuge for Cuban cigar makers during the Cuban Revolution, it has become famous for the tobacco production that takes place in the high quality cigar factories and plantations, located in the urban area. Its 119,000 residents enjoy a much cooler, more pleasant climate than much of the rest of the country. [The combined population of Daytona Beach and Port Orange is approximately 119,000.] This is largely due to its location in the north central highlands at an elevation of 2770 feet [elevation of Port Orange = 20 feet] where it is surrounded by forested mountains.
Several natural attractions can be found nearby. The Miraflor Natural Reserve to the north is a large mountainous area with several agro-production farms and natural conservation sites. Here, one can find waterfalls, tropical dry and cloud forests, and a great variety of birds and orchids. The El Tisey-La Estanzuela to the south is commonly known for the Salto de la Estanzuela waterfall, where visitors can take a good swim and practice rappelling.