Objective of the Trip

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In terms of an 'objective' of this trip, the best way to describe what we'll be doing is participating in a journey of discovery.
At this point, we are relying heavily on arrangements that our partner organization - Diaconia (in Peru)- is making on our behalf. We will visit project-sites, but I'm not clear on the exact kind of farming we'll be witnessing - it may be livestock (eg. raising guinea pigs; yes, they raise and eat guinea pigs) (if I'm served it, I will eat it) or crop (eg. fruit trees or grasses).
As the Global Encounter tour participants and leaders, we will have opportunity to visit with Peruvians (we'll converse with the farmers through translators) and get a first-hand sense of the work and impact of CLWR in South America. In this journey of discovery, the intent is that we connect with people in different circumstances, find out the needs they have, and how those needs are being addressed, and to convey their stories (and, of course, our experiences of them) to fellow Canadians upon our return.
We will have opportunity to connect with a worshipping community (maybe more than one) as well, and I imagine that to be something that will be unique about this trip - being able to worship in another language, using different music and customs, and perhaps finding a way to incorporate some of that learning into worship-life back in one's home congregation upon return.
I expect a large amount of learning will be personal for each participant, as well - realizing things about one's-self and one's culture, and perhaps finding ways to live differently upon return (as well as much to reflect on over time).