Arequipa Connect Conference

Plans are almost complete for the First Annual Arequipa Connect Conference. For over a year HBI and Medical Ministry International (MMI) have been planning and strategizing to bring together a broad base of non-governmental organizations working in the Arequipa area to discuss ways to collaborate and share resources. The planning has finally ended the conference beings on Monday, 19 January at 8 am in Arequipa.

The past two days have been slam packed with preparing for the conference – with meetings, last minute shopping runs and final document preparations. At this point the only real road block for the event is . . . well . . . a literal road block. Rumor has it that the labor organizations in the Arequipa are calling for a general strike (if you have not been in Peru or Bolivia for a “general strike” – think absolute shut down; nothing goes on the roads and the day-to-day life of the community halts).

The strike is planned for Tuesday, 20 January – the second day of our event. Alas there is little to nothing we can do at this point but send out good thoughts and a bounty of prayers. Hopefully, the strikers will decide that the “First Annual Arequipa Connect Conference” is far too important an event to hold up with a mass protest. Only time will tell.

Stay tuned to the HBI BlogSpot for updates and pictures. In the interim – keep those good thoughts coming.