June 2011 Huancayo, Peru Volume 4, Issue 6

UGA AND AUBURN, CLAY IN THE POTTER´S

HANDS

Kia (age 16) – When the University of Georgia (with

assistance from an Auburn student) came, I realized it
was one of the biggest teams I´ve worked with. We
were going to teach English at a school about 10
a very good friend (“adopted” brother) from Costa Rica.
minutes away to the elementary students (first through
We haven´t been hiding another child from y´all!
sixth grade). One thought that kept coming up that week was how
we areI´ve
claybeen
in theliving herehands.
potter´s in Peru for
We almost two years.
are formed and I´ve
We started out as a big group with the kids and some of
shapedseenby him soand many broken families;
the experiences so many
and situations that young
the teachers dancing and singing. The team taught the
he putsrelationships
us in. In the end, goneyoubadendbyupalcohol
lookingandand afeeling
bad mood.
kids (and me too) lots of fun choreographies to songs
Most
different thanofyouthewould time have
I seeexpected.
moms and grandmothers and
such as Baby by Justin Bieber. Then we split up into
aunts and sisters and brothers in the park with their
small groups to talk about the day´s bible verse and One thing I realized
toddlers and through
kids, butthe three fatherly
a good guys on thefigureteam
is almost
English vocabulary. After that we started with the was how spoiled I am as a daughter. All the guys in my
never there.
stations (crafts, reading, music and games). I was life—my dad, my brothers (Todd and Daniel), my
permanently with the games, though the team changed friends,But
and only
Open aboyfriend—are
myCirclecouplePeruofisweeksallago
published did I realize
so monthly
good to by
methe how
and much
McEuen
throughout the week. It was cool to see the creativity love medifference
and itMissionaries
take care
Family, would
of me,make
butto toPeru
it´s those
not the kids The
case
with if their
for dad
allMission
when they thought of games and how they played
kids (obviously). with
Society. Note:them and
The
They carried
Daniel
may be them
listed as aand
reached sangemail
brother
by isto them
at
communicated with the kids through the language andopencircleperu@gmail.com.
put them to bed. Their webpage is found
barrier. at http://opencircleperu.weebly.com. You can send
It just shows how grateful we need to be about the little
them mail at Jirón San José 230; Urb. San Carlos;
things we don´t even think about and how we need to
Huancayo, Perú.
be ready to be changed by our potter into what he

Steel Sharpens Steel…
Be not conformed to the world, but be transformed by
the renewing of your mind… (Romans 12.1)
Steel sharpens steel… Jello never gets sharp. Are we
willing to take the hard things that come into our lives
and let them make us better and stronger, more fit to
the task to which God has called us?
Bumping against concrete or steel is not something I
intentionally do. Just as I would not choose a death
or illness for myself or loved ones, I shy away at times
from things that are hard. But like so many things
that don´t make sense to our human minds, it´s the
hard things that end up helping in the future. Illness
creates immunity.
Furlough October 2011
through January 2012
Every few years it is important for us to return to the
United States to reconnect with the churches and
groups that have partnered with us. If you would like us
to speak at your church or small group (any day of the
week is great), please have the “powers that be” contact
us to schedule a time. In order to save on time and gas,
we are tentatively looking at the following areas and
times:
September – October 18
Colorado, Montana, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and
places in between there and Georgia
October 19 – 31
Northwest Georgia, Northeast Alabama and
Tennessee
November 1-8
Ash, Aylis, and Todd visit
Southwest Georgia and Southeast Alabama
November 9-16

Sometimes, though, we want to avoid the hard US for a quick trip

North Carolina (with possible stop at Emmaus Walk)
November 17-23
things. Slip by them like so much jello. But jello
SouthBROADUS,
Carolina, northeastern
MT, 2011 – and central
it wasn´t Georgiabut it needed
planned,
never gets sharp. What kind of tool can it make? It
Novemberto 27-December 20
be done. It wasn´t easy, but it was a blessing. The
can be molded, but under pressure it liquefies and
Northfinal
Georgia
weekand
of Atlanta Area
April, Ash, Ayliś, and Todd said goodbye to
moves in every direction. Face the things in your path
January 4-15
Audra, Kia and Soraya and headed back to the United
and let God use them to make you more like God
Regional gathering
States in Orlando
for a quick visit. and speak
Ash´s dadinhad
Florida
been diagnosed
created you to be. He may even equip you to bring
and south Georgia
recently with terminal liver cancer and they wanted to
others closer to Him through the trials He has brought
you through. Look at things differently and be spend some time with him. They arrived on Wednesday
These areand
tentative
his dadideas
diedand
on may change
Friday. as difficult.
It was we hear Then five
transformed.
from you.days after the funeral, Ash´s aunt (mom´s younger
sister) died of a sudden heart attack. They had planned
to stay for an entire month. While in the states, Audra,
Kia and Soraya “held down the fort” in Peru and did a
tremendous job with family life, the library, and hosting
the team from the University of Georgia and Auburn.

If you would like to read the obituaries for Ash´s dad and
aunt, go to our webpage (found online at
http://opencircleperu.weebly.com) and click on the link
for the May 2011 newsletter
FINANCIAL SITUATION
ON THE ROAD TO
CRITICAL
HUANCAYO, 2011 – People have been asking us about
our financial situation and the standard answer we
have been giving is, “We have a strong base of
supporters who faithfully give every month. That
helps a lot. What we need is about 10 or 15 more
people and churches like that.” According to recent
report, if all giving were to stop, we have only 1.5
months of support left in our reserve fund. We know
that giving will continue, but we need to raise our
reserve fund to a higher level. A number of the friends
we made in Costa Rica have had to return to the
United States for financial reasons. We don´t want to
Calendar for June 2011
be in that number. We need to have enough to stay
Monday through Friday – Working at the Library and
here until at least October for furlough (October
developing other ministry opportunities
through mid-January), when we will return to the
states to once again talk with supporters and June 7-9 – Travel to Lima to pick up two interns (Omega
churches. Please pray about what you can do to help and Alex) who will be with us until the end of July.
us to stay here. If nothing else, please talk to others
about supporting us financially on a regular ongoing June 13 – Start new cycle of English classes
basis, hold a bake sale, host a golf tournament.
June 9 – 19 – Kia and Ayliś to the Jungle to translate for
Thanks for all you do! You are very special and
a medical mission team
important to us. To send gifts, please use the form at
What´s up with the Family
Kia is doing a lot of preparation work for The
Mission Society´s big meeting to be held here in
July. She will work with the 2-3 year olds and with
music.

Aylis is trying to finish up her school classes for her

freshman year. She is also getting ready to go to the
jungle to work as a translator for a medical mission
team.

Todd really enjoyed getting to know his cousin

Liam during his recent trip to Montana. They
spent a lot of time playing games together and
feeding Liam´s bum lambs.
DEAR ASH, AUDRA, KIA, AYLIŚ, TODD, AND SORAYA,
Soraya is doing great in school. She is really liking playing
Through careful and earnest prayer, I have come to the following decision:
with the four kittens with which we have been blessed.
 I/we will pray for you. Please send me/us your prayer letter.
Audra  did
Please updatejob
a great me by e-mail_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
keeping the ministry going while Ash
 As God provides, I/we will partner with you by giving $ __________ per month / quarter /year
was in the states.
I would like toShe
givestill lovesgift
a one-time reading and is enjoying
of $ __________. a us again next year.
Please contact
lot oftheI books
would like to be yourback
brought liaisonfrom
with my
thechurch or organization.
states.
 I would like to organize an annual support raising event (e.g., sale, dinner, carwash, golf tournament, 5K run, etc)

Ash is trying to figure out what to do now that Audra did

Your aname_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
such good job while he was gone. He is still painting a bit,
but is feeling the bug to do more writing. We´ll see…
Address_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

City_____________________________________________________ State________________ Zip_______________________________________

Phone (______) ___________________________ Church_________________________________________________________________________

Please return this form (with your first gift, if applicable) to:
The Mission Society Designate gifts: “McEuen Support 5/323”
PO Box 922637
Norcross, GA 30010-2637