June 21, 2024
As this first session of Machu Picchu comes to a close, we want to say thank you. Thank you for placing your trust in us, to care for your children over these past two weeks. Thank you for sending them on this once in a lifetime trip and allowing us to be a part of it. Each and every one of them played a crucial role in our group and made a clear impact on one another.
Grace taught us to always be ourselves. She wasn’t afraid to be her true, genuine self and this helped inspire the rest of us to do the same. Everyone looked up to and admired the way she found comfort in authenticity.
Mae showed us that life is all about finding joy in the little things. She consistently reminded us how lucky we were to have this unique Moondance experience and how important is it to appreciate the beauty that exists all around us. She left us all with the quote: “Be kind and Be brave.”
James is the toughest kid we know. Despite some sickness during our trip, James never once complained. Instead, he made sure to make the most of the situation and certainly inspired us to find the good in every circumstance.
Lilly taught us the power of excellent leadership. With or without the LOD title, she was constantly leading us to care for one another, to live in the moment, to bring the hype and so much more. We’re beyond grateful for her experience and leadership.
Tommy knew how to bring joy and laughter to every situation. He always made the people around him feel loved and appreciated whether cracking a joke or having an intentional conversation. He brought so many smiles to this group and knew how to make every moment brighter.
Miller taught us kindness goes a long way. She never failed to treat everyone around her with love and respect and this spread to the rest of the group. She brought a calmness to every situation that made you feel like everything would be okay, but also had radiant energy that made you want to talk to her forever.
Perry taught us resilience. Whether he was diagnosing our van trouble or taking on the challenges of the trip, he taught us the power of never giving up and the ability to conquer anything put in front of us.
Palmer showed us the strength of endless energy. She never failed to rally the group together for a laugh and showed us that being yourself is the most fun version of you! She is a pro at making people smile and we knew that if she was around, there was a guaranteed laugh in our future.
George showed us what true integrity looks like. Whether we were looking or not, we knew that we could trust him to do the right thing. This made him a role model to everyone in our group because he made it clear that he did everything in the best interest of others.
Fairfax taught us the power of connection. She was always interested in talking to the people around her and learning more about them. Talking to her was like talking to a best friend. She made you feel special in every conversation and could always put a smile on your face.
We are so sad to see this group go, but are so grateful for the two unforgettable weeks spent with them. They truly made this trip so special and we feel very lucky to have led them. Once again, thank you for sharing them with us and allowing us to create such special memories with them.
MPU 1, we miss you so much already! Hoping to see you all in our near future. We love y’all and safe travels home!
Love,
Caroline + John
June 19, 2024
We began the trekking section of our trip on Day 8, ready for our next adventure… or so we thought.
On our way to the trailhead, our van experienced some issues. Fortunately, Perry was quick to the front to help diagnose the issue while Tommy and George made a fun game of throwing rocks across a creek. Our backup ride arrived in no time, and we hit the road once again! We drove straight to our campsite that night for a good night’s rest and played a fun game called “Three on a Couch” that soon became Tommy’s new favorite! Students would come to the front of the room in groups of three and tell us a story about “the time I…” but only one of the stories would be true! Our wonderful LODs, Palmer and Tommy, led a great Moonup with a closing ceremony that had us howling at the full moon in preparation for our toughest day of trekking ahead.
Waking up the next day, we all knew the challenge that was ahead: the Salkantay Pass. We hiked nearly 8 miles, reaching a maximum altitude of 15,131 ft. Our LODs, George and Lilly, did an incredible job encouraging our group throughout the entire day. While one was at the front helping with the pace, the other was at the back making sure everyone knew they were more than capable of completing this trek. We experienced some cold rain that could’ve put a damper on our group’s morale, but because of their determination, we put on our raincoats and kept moving forward. About halfway through the uphill trek when we reached flat terrain before another hill, Grace expressed how she simply couldn’t stop smiling. She said that she hadn’t experienced joy like this in a long time. The final uphill trek was a challenge, knowing we were so close to the summit, but also knowing we actually had to make it there. Thanks to the encouragement from the LODs and hard work from everyone on the trail, all 12 of us turned the corner and saw the final stretch leading us to the top of the pass! We celebrated with a big group hug, followed by lots of smiles and some pictures. We could not be more proud of this group. From their positive attitude in the bad weather to their encouragement on the long uphill stretches to their joy when they reached the summit, these students had grit like no other!
The second half of the day consisted of three hours of downhill trekking until we reached our campsite with a beautiful view of the snowy Andes Mountains. Mae kept emphasizing just how lucky we all were to be experiencing something as special as this! In honor of Father’s Day, our LODs asked the question, “what is a special memory you have with one of your parents?” It was very sweet to hear the stories that these students shared and learn more about each other’s families.
Day 10 brought another day of trekking and good conversation. Since this day was flatter/more downhill than the day before, there was a lot more talking on the trails. Palmer and Fairfax found themselves bonding over everything during our hike, and it’s been so special to see their friendship flourish. After arriving at our campsite in Santa Teresa, we headed to hot springs to pass some time before dinner. Once we returned, we indulged in some delicious steak, rice, and potatoes while listening to music. Miller, Fairfax, and Palmer all belted “Enchanted” by Taylor Swift, and George surprised us by knowing all the words to “Country Girl Shake it for Me.” All of this singing led us to an impromptu game of blind karaoke, where we would play the karaoke version of a random song and the students would have to figure out what it was then sing along! The guys started with a strong performance. The fan favorite was “All I Want For Christmas Is You” because they instantly knew the words and got everyone into it. The girls stole the show singing “Starships,” “Sweet Caroline,” and finally “Stay” by Rihanna, in which all the students got up to sing along! This led us into Moonup where our LODs, Perry and Grace, had us say the thing we admire most about the person to our right. It was a very sweet moment hearing the impact each of us has had on each other in two short weeks and what we will take away from each person.
On Day 11, we enjoyed a little more sleep and had another yummy breakfast before jumping into our last day of trekking. Before getting in the van to head to our trail, James got a picture with the parrot named Charlie who lived at our campsite. He had been jokingly searching for a parrot during our whole trekking section and was pleasantly surprised to find one here! We spent the day hiking along train tracks until we arrived at Aguas Calientes where we finally got to shower for the first time in 4 days! We enjoyed a big Italian dinner full of pizza and pasta before heading back to our hotel. During Moonup, our LODs, Mae and James, asked about each person’s favorite memory from the trip. It ranged from the truck ride home from the Inca ceremony to the feeling of reaching the top of the Salkantay Pass to the little moments of laughter and smiles.
This is such a special group of people, and we feel so lucky to get to lead them! As we prepare to finally see Machu Picchu, we are greeted with so many emotions. From happiness to sadness to gratefulness, we know that the end of the trip is near but are so thankful for all of the memories.
Thank you for sharing your wonderful children with us these past two weeks, and we hope you know that they have made such an impact on us as leaders and as people. We will be forever grateful to know and lead them!
Best,
Caroline + John
Lilly: Hi mom and dad!! I just wanted to say a huge thank you to you both for these past two weeks and the opportunity to travel to so many amazing places. You guys have truly gifted me with memories for a lifetime and I will forever be grateful. Love you both tons and can’t wait to see you soon!!
George: Hey mom and dad! I have had a great time on this trip and seen and done some really cool things. Thank you so much for giving me this opportunity and I can’t wait to see y’all soon!
Perry: Hey mom and dad! The second part of the trip was a lot different than what I anticipated, but it was enjoyable still. I also am talking to a lot of people in my group and have made some strong connections. Thanks for the opportunity for me to go on this trip and make the memories I have now. See you both soon!
James: Hey mom and dad! I have had an amazing time in Peru so far. I have built very strong friendships and made many memories. Despite me getting sick way more than I would like, I had an incredible time and definitely would come back here. Thank you so much for letting me go on this trip! Can’t wait to see you soon!
Tommy: Hello parents! Peru has been so much fun so far thank you so much for sending me and giving me the opportunity to see such a unique place. Love you guys see you soon.
Grace: hi my family!!!! No words can explain how grateful my heart is. Heavy with gratitude, joy, and peace! Extremely blessed to be able to come to a place like this surrounded by people like these. Thank you all so so much. Love y’all so much and can’t WAIT to see y’all in two dayssssss!!!!!!
Mae: Thank you for sending me on this experience, it has been the most amazing time and I am incredibly grateful I was able to come!!! LOVE U GUYSSS!!
Miller: Hi Mom and Dad!!! Thank you so much for letting me go on this trip it has been so fun!!! I have had the best time in Peru and I have met so many great people. I’m so excited to see you guys in two days!
Fairfax: Thank y’all so so much for letting me go on this trip!!! I have had SO much fun and met such great friends!! Love y’all so much and I’m so greatful for this experience!!!
Palmer: HEYYY YALL!! I have genuinely had so much fun this entire trip and have made such great friends. I am so excited to see y’all and watch sex and the city but will probably cry when I leave everyone 😢😭. Missing y’all but not too much xoxo
Caroline and John: So many thank you’s to Moondance, the HQ staff, and Hayes! You’ve given us this incredible opportunity and we are so grateful to be a part of this Moondance family!