April / Abril 2010
Volume 4, Issue 4
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The McEuen Family
Ash, Audra, Kia, Aylis, Todd, and Soraya Jirón San José 230 Urb. San Carlos Huancayo, Perú |
Small business in Peru
Growing up in the United States, we learned a lot about the capitalism. We learned—at least a little bit—about ways and means and supply and demand. We learned about bear and bull markets. To be honest, I didn´t like those classes in school. I thought they were rather dull. Now I wish I´d paid a bit more attention. I did learn enough, though. Just living in the United States surrounded by people and stores and business both small and large, helped me to understand what it means to earn and save money. That´s going to be handy here in Peru.
This past month we had the opportunity to participate with a team from Roswell United Methodist Church in Roswell, Georgia, as they worked with a group of about 15 men and women from the mountains and the jungle of central Peru. The goal of the event was to equip them with the knowledge they need to start and maintain a successful small business. Ideas ranged from a private school to a bakery to dress making to video reproduction (legal, of course). After talking and planning with the participants, we can be certain some will make it. Others will not. There is still a lot more work to be done.
Some of the difficulties we have working cross-culturally in helping men and women start small businesses here are hard for us North Americans to grasp and understand. We have to be sure not to judge and call things “wrong” simply because we don´t understand them. For example, we´ve discovered…
“Location, location, location” has a different meaning here in Peru. One of the principles we learn in school is that when we open a business, we don´t want to place it near other businesses of the same type. That is contrary to local thinking. We make jokes about going to the “furniture district” or the “plastic container district”, but that´s how things are organized here. People are used to going to one certain area of the city to find certain things. There might be fifteen different stores selling exactly the same thing, but they are all located in the same place. I don´t understand it. It makes no sense to me, but it does to the them. We can´t judge. We just have to accept it and work with where they are (yeah, the pun was intended).
“Specialize” also has a different meaning here. We had to laugh when the team talked to the Peruvians about it. They said, “You need to specialize. If you start out selling dresses, for example, don´t start selling bread and then fruit and then paper and then other things. Focus on the item you really want to sell.” We had to laugh because they had described many of the typical stores here who sell a little of this and a little of that. That´s not to say specializing will not work. It´s not to say it may not help to be successful. What is true is that we need to work with them where they are.
Long term planning is also a difficult concept for some to grasp. In a culture and environment that is hard, many people are living from day to day. Thinking ahead a month, a year, or five years, is hard.
The training has been good. After three years, the church—rightly so, we think—wants to leave the training and work in the hands of the Peruvian people. We who are permanently on the group want to do what we can to help out, but we don´t want to be a part of a problem of dependency (we don´t want them to think they have to depend on the foreigners to be successful. That´s simply not true.) We want to mentor and train mentors. We want to raise up leaders and leaders of leaders in the local business world. Please be in prayer for us as we seek God´s will in this.
This past month we had the opportunity to participate with a team from Roswell United Methodist Church in Roswell, Georgia, as they worked with a group of about 15 men and women from the mountains and the jungle of central Peru. The goal of the event was to equip them with the knowledge they need to start and maintain a successful small business. Ideas ranged from a private school to a bakery to dress making to video reproduction (legal, of course). After talking and planning with the participants, we can be certain some will make it. Others will not. There is still a lot more work to be done.
Some of the difficulties we have working cross-culturally in helping men and women start small businesses here are hard for us North Americans to grasp and understand. We have to be sure not to judge and call things “wrong” simply because we don´t understand them. For example, we´ve discovered…
“Location, location, location” has a different meaning here in Peru. One of the principles we learn in school is that when we open a business, we don´t want to place it near other businesses of the same type. That is contrary to local thinking. We make jokes about going to the “furniture district” or the “plastic container district”, but that´s how things are organized here. People are used to going to one certain area of the city to find certain things. There might be fifteen different stores selling exactly the same thing, but they are all located in the same place. I don´t understand it. It makes no sense to me, but it does to the them. We can´t judge. We just have to accept it and work with where they are (yeah, the pun was intended).
“Specialize” also has a different meaning here. We had to laugh when the team talked to the Peruvians about it. They said, “You need to specialize. If you start out selling dresses, for example, don´t start selling bread and then fruit and then paper and then other things. Focus on the item you really want to sell.” We had to laugh because they had described many of the typical stores here who sell a little of this and a little of that. That´s not to say specializing will not work. It´s not to say it may not help to be successful. What is true is that we need to work with them where they are.
Long term planning is also a difficult concept for some to grasp. In a culture and environment that is hard, many people are living from day to day. Thinking ahead a month, a year, or five years, is hard.
The training has been good. After three years, the church—rightly so, we think—wants to leave the training and work in the hands of the Peruvian people. We who are permanently on the group want to do what we can to help out, but we don´t want to be a part of a problem of dependency (we don´t want them to think they have to depend on the foreigners to be successful. That´s simply not true.) We want to mentor and train mentors. We want to raise up leaders and leaders of leaders in the local business world. Please be in prayer for us as we seek God´s will in this.
Libros Ambulantes
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We are just about ready to get some books out into the community. Right now we have about one hundred books in Spanish (our goal is to find at least 500). We have a logo, signs, blanket and bags for carrying the written word to schools, parks, and the markets. We will start making official appointments starting the beginning of May. Illiteracy in some nearby areas is as high as 40% of the general population. Among those who cannot read, the majority are women. Please pray that doors will continue to open up for us in this.
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Los jovenes
Los jovenes is a sometimes tricky concept in Peru. It literally means “the young ones”, but specifically refers to the young adults from about 18 to 28 (although those ages can vary). A group of young adults (in their late teens and early twenties) have recently started meeting at the house for conversations, prayer, and worship. Our goal is to offer a place where they feel safe and accepted simply for being who they are. A place where they can openly express their beliefs as well as their doubts. Currently, we are working through Paul´s first letter to Timothy. It´s informal. We read a bit and then just talk about what we think. We are taking it as a good sign when they asked one week if they could come back the next night for more.
Please pray about partnering with us financially
We need your help again financially. We are getting most of what we need each month, but are still in danger of having to return to the states early because of lack of financial support. If you are not currently partnering with us on a regular basis, please pray about it. We believe this is where God wants us to be. Your support will help to keep us here.
To partner with us through an online credit card donation, click here.
To print out a form to send in, click here.
Audra is still looking for people to partner with us by hosting a golf tournament on behalf of the people of Peru with whom we are working. Give her a call if you are interested.
To partner with us through an online credit card donation, click here.
To print out a form to send in, click here.
Audra is still looking for people to partner with us by hosting a golf tournament on behalf of the people of Peru with whom we are working. Give her a call if you are interested.
Keeping the Sabbath
Although it is not the easiest thing to do, God commands us to remember the Sabbath and to keep it holy. We try to do that here, as well. Kia put together a video of some of the things we did to take a break from the work and the ministry this month...
Calling out to all healthcare workers...
If you work in the health profession, we need your help this August for a short term medical mission trip to the high jungle. Interested? Contact us as soon as possible, and we will put you in contact with the team leader. The journey into the jungle is difficult, and so it isn´t a great idea to bring kids. If you want them to stay in Huancayo with Audra while you head to the jungle, that might also be an option. To contact us about this possibility, just submit the following form:
Short term teams 2011
Are you interested in bringing a short term team to Peru next year (in 2011)? There are only a few spaces left right now, and they are filling up quickly. There are tremendous things to be done working with children, youth, adults. You can dance, sing, pray, minister, teach and lead. Most importantly, you can offer the love of God as you learn from the Peruvian people. Contact us as soon as possible if you are interested and/or want more information. We can be reached at opencircleperu@gmail.com or 678.701.3757. You can also simply fill out the form below.
Contact us
online www.opencircleperu.wordpress.com
Facebook Ash, Audra
E-mail southernbranch@peoplepc.com or/o opencircleperu@gmail.com
Phone 678.701.3757 (Atlanta number that rings in Peru / numero de Atlanta que suena en Peru)
Mail / Correo The McEuen Family / La Familia McEuen
Jirón San José 230
Urb. San Carlos
Huancayo, Perú
Facebook Ash, Audra
E-mail southernbranch@peoplepc.com or/o opencircleperu@gmail.com
Phone 678.701.3757 (Atlanta number that rings in Peru / numero de Atlanta que suena en Peru)
Mail / Correo The McEuen Family / La Familia McEuen
Jirón San José 230
Urb. San Carlos
Huancayo, Perú
