Je parle un peau de francais, mais je ne parle pas beaucoup d'espanol.

I speak a little french, but I don't speak a lot of Spanish.

Thus, I must say MUCHAS GRACIAS to all of the great translators who helped us communicate with the children and adults (including market salespeople!) during my trip to Peru in March with Buckner's Shoes For Orphan Souls.

Carla, Eduardo and me on the bus on the way to the Palace in Lima 3-19-07 to meet the Primera Dama (First Lady).

Me at the Palace in Lima.

Carla and a sweet little baby at the Baby Home we visited that same day.

Julie and her neice Alessandra.

Arturo, Erik (the tallest man in Peru, I think) and Alex at a beautiful park in Lima where we ate lunch that day. Here's the lunch we ate. :)

I can't imagine what my trip would have been like without the help and encouragement from these translators. I got to know some of them pretty well and consider them friends/amigos.

Pictured above is Leslie Chace of Buckner International. She is in charge of Buckner's Latin American programs. She actually grew up in Peru as her family moved there when she was a child due to her father's job. So, she knew the areas very well and was a wonderful blessing as she helped with everything from translating to helping a certain young lady who was experiencing major packing anxiety when we had to prepare for our trip to Cusco. :) Gracias, Leslie!

We also had the privilege of meeting and getting to spend some time with some of the Buckner Peru staff--Rosa, Claudia and Sylvia.

Rosa reminded us toward the end of our time in Lima not to forget the kids we met there. She said, "They expect more from us. The kids deserve a family. Please continue with the efforts for the kids when we're back home." She also told us that Buckner is trying to assist the Peruvian government in launching a Foster Care program in Peru.

Claudia is a lawyer whose garage doubles as the Buckner Shoe Warehouse in Peru.

Sylvia is the sweet lady who met me at the Lima airport upon my arrival in Peru. She helps arrange all the in-country travel, meals, lodging, etc and does whatever Buckner needs her to do. And she does it with a smile. :)

Rosa will be happy to know that we at WBFJ are continuing our efforts to help children in Peru--and in all the countries Buckner takes Shoes For Orphan Souls. We are starting our WBFJ/Buckner Shoes For Orphan Souls Shoe Drive next Monday July 9th. I'll be broadcasting live with other WBFJ amigos at Lemstone (new!) in K-ville, Lifeway in Winston-Salem and Lifeway in Greensboro. Come out and see us and bring a pair of NEW, good-quality shoes to donate to SOS and we'll give you a CD! :) Remember, please, that the shoes you give will be the only new shoes that a child may receive for a while. So please buy sturdy shoes like you'd buy for a child in your own family. Orphans love light-up shoes just as much as our children here do, too, by the way! Thanks in advance for your help and for the gifts you give to share the love of our Abba, Father with the precious orphans Buckner works with! I look forward to meeting you at one of the remotes next week! For more details, go to http://www.wbfj.fm/ or http://www.stereo1550.com/ and look for the Shoes For Orphan Souls logo. :)

Adios for now,

Jennifer

Carla, Julie, me and Alessandra with the Pacific Ocean in the background. :)