Daniel gives a tour of Peru

Let Daniel give you a quick tour of the districts of Peru...

From Daniel map of peru

Happy Independence Day!

Today Peru is 188 years old. Today and tomorrow are public holidays to celebrate (I think that they have 2 days off because there are so many other holidays that to make this one special we get an extra day!) It used to be law that every house had to display a flag or else get a fine. Now we are unsure of whether it is law or not (no one seems to know!) We rebelled last year, but now we have 2 Peruvians in our house (Joel and Lili!) we decided it would be fun to participate!!

At church on Sunday we had a traditional musical performance from a lady who sang with a box drum called a cajon. She sang various songs about Peru. I have translated the lyrics of one below. What is lovely is that Peruvians do love their country and they are proud of it. This song represents that (and is in honour of our Peruvian son's first independence day!):

My Peru

I am proud to be Peruvian and I am happy to have been born in this beautiful land of sun
Where the unconquered inca preferring to die,
Bequeathed to my race a great inheritance of worth

Rich mountains, beautiful earth,
Cheerful beaches – that’s my Peru!
Fertile land, snowy peaks,
Rivers, ravines, - that’s my Peru!

You see my race is noble and humble by tradition,
But rebellious when her freedom is inhibited,
So united soul, mind and heart,
Breaking through chains when death approaches.

Rich mountains, beautiful earth,
Cheerful beaches – that’s my Peru!
Fertile land, snowy peaks,
Rivers, ravines, - that’s my Peru!

My cheeky boys...

Whilst I was doing the washing up today, Daniel got distracted from bringing in his bowl into kitchen on finding a purple marker...

Joel is very pleased with himself that he can take his new hat off all by himself...

Ventanilla Update

In the last month the headmistress of 'Discovery High School' has been improving many areas of the school, and making the school function in a more efficient and professional manner.

The 'playground' with banners celebrating the upcoming Independence celebrations on the 28th and 29th of July.

Due to this Anna has stopped teaching the kids every fortnight and we have returned to a more spiritual oversight role as we continue to help Alfredo and also the teachers.

Therefore I went to the school last Tuesday with Chloe and Holly, as well as Chloe and Anna's dad Julian, and we took part in a very special service after the school day had finished. We arrived about 1 o clock and we were greeted by the kids at the school, who performed several songs and recited 3 proverbs from the Bible.This was as you would expect really touching and a great start to our time there.

The kids singing for us and Chloe after with them outside the school building.
Following the children leaving Alfredo preached, and then handed over to myself. I introduced the girls who bravely gave their first 'talks' in spanish, and Julian spoke about the difference what you can see with your 'natural' eyes and what you can see with 'supernatual' eyes. Julian said you could see the school as a wooden hut on sand (or the beach as I badly, but amusingly translated) or a place where faith is really evident and the future seen as a thing where God will provide. Julian also said it was amazing to see the developments in the school since his last visit. I then asked Alfredo what he wanted me to do Alfredo felt I should follow what I felt God was saying. Well I didn't preach my planned sermon but God led me to preach a short(ish) sermon and we then prayed and prophesised over the people there. This was a real blessed time as the presence of God was very strong and people were very touched. We then prayed for many people to be healed, and we saw more than 5 healings, including people who have had some of their illnesses for a long time.

Alfredo spoke to me after and said that he had never experienced a meeting like this, and it was a real blessing.

It is a such a honour to be involved in such a place with so much potential, that continues to grow and thrive, with nothing but faith in God.

Mark speaking before the time of ministry and healing.

Marta, Victoria, Alberto and his wife, Julian and Rosa.

Joel's New steps

Joel has decided it has been long enough watching Daniel go up the stairs, it is now his turn.

The Boys update

The T-shirt says it all.

Anna, Daniel and Thomas (he's the one in blue!)

I see you!

Auntie Chloe and nephew Joel.

More Kidz Klub Photos

Chloe as Velcro(wo)man and then standing by the door as the kids leave receiving their yoghurt and cereal.

Dolly holding the heart where everyone placed their name to show that God loves us all.

Most of the team: (left to right) Joan Paul, Juan Carlos, Dolly, Chloe, Mark, Nilda, Mirella, Lili, Mayra, Monica, and Monica.

Kidz Klub2 Photos

Juan Carlos talking to the kids about the lost sheep.

You don't want to know what this game is.

Registering to get into the club.

Grandma and grandson. (I presume)

Form Peru

Chloe, Anna, Holly and Joel in Starbucks

We now have 2 more visitors in our house. Chloe (Anna’s sister) and Holly (from my parent's church in Leeds UK) are staying in Peru for the next six months. They are both using half of their gap years to get involved in life here in Peru, within the ‘Form’ structure (see http://www.form.org.uk/) a disicpleship program from our church St Thomas in the UK.

Holly and Lili

Last week they started Spanish lessons which they will continue with for the next two months, and will be serving in various areas of the church, including the Kidz Klub. As our job is very varied they will be doing all sorts of different things including going on the church mission trip to the jungle in November. Holly and Chloe at the airport on the arrival of Holly.

Also we will be studying the book of John together as well as living life together and receiving teaching on many areas of practical theology.

Chloe and Holly in the Parque de la Amistad (Friendship Park)

Kidz Klub 2

Firstly apologies for the lack posting during June. We have been seriously busy, but we should be back to it in July.

We had our second Kidz Klub in Pacifico de Villa a week last Saturday. We turned up to find out that there was the Chorillos local festival, and 10 minutes before start time 6 kids had turned up and we had more leaders than kids. However Juan Carlos and Lili went out to look for children and we announced the club over the community's loudspeaker system and an excited 119 children turned up, the majority being those who had not come before.

JOSE!

Anna had prepared a wonderfully efficient administrative system to register the kids and also to give them stickers to identify each one of them, however we are in Peru and all good plans have to be tried and tested. Due to the 80 new kids we still had a vey long wait to get them registered, but hey eventually we will have all their names!

Nilda registering 2 boys

As a result, we now have contact with over 160 children, and their families, through visiting.

The club itself went really well with many kids bringing their flyer that were given we visited them 2 weeks before.
We have an amazing team and they really showed their worth as the club improved so much from the previous time. The highlights being the passionate latin singing and Juan Carlos' lost sheep preach.

Lili leading the singing.

The main excitment for the kids as always was 'hombre pega pega' or 'velcro man' who this month was 'velcro WOman'!

Hombrecita Pega Pega or Velcro WOman

We are really excited to be involved in such a venture, and it is really blessing to be able to serve such a community.

Kidz Klub video

We have recently met an lovely American missionary family who live just a couple of blocks from our house. They have 2 lovely children who Daniel and Joel love playing with.
Anyway, John Mark joined us as part of our Kids Klub team last Saturday, as 'Nacho' and we thought you might like to see his video on the event. (And his face getting covered in shaving foam!) Click here!

Kidz Klub

On Saturday we had our first Kidz Klub in Pacifico de Villa, the place where we did the kids event for over 600 children at Christmas. To not be too overwhelmed with kids we only invited 50, but 83 arrived! Fortunately we had a great team and we were well organised so it went really well and the kids responded really well! We are planning to carry on the club once a month and visit the children and their families once a month too.

Kids waiting outside when we arrived

Daniel helps to sweep the room before we let the kids in

Our team

Getting the children involved with an activity

Mark as Hombre Pegapega (Velcro man!)
Ivania gets shaving foamed and cheesy puffs thrown at her face for the girls team The children listen to an object lesson

Cute

Well, it is nearly June so we are meant to be in the middle of the Peruvian winter, but still Lima has sun nearly every day! (normally it leaves some time in April and doesn't return until at least September!) But being Peruvian, Joel has to keep in line with the Peruvian tradition of wearing hats when you go out after 3pm as otherwise you might get a cold. It is a chilly 17'C you know.

Teaching Art

This year due to now having a car and Anna no longer being pregnant, we can travel to the school in Ventanilla more regularly. We have committed to going every other Tuesday during term time and Anna is their art and music teacher! So she gets just under an hour to do some art or music with them. So far she has been concentrating on art, the first week looking at portraits and getting the children to draw round some of their class mates and do a group collage. The second week Anna taught them to draw a face in proportions.Lili helping some of the younger children with their faces

Both times we have been since the beginning of the school year we have had a few car problems. First time we got stuck in the sand. (Note: when you get stuck in sand, don't try and drive out, the wheel just works like a digger and digs you in further!). The second time the car overheated on the way back going up a hill and we ended up in the middle lane of a highway, just after a bend. Rather hair-raising. We managed to back the car up slightly and in to the fast lane. (couldn't get to slow lane!). Fortunately, Peruvian drivers are used to being cut up and breaking suddenly and doing quick manoeuvres. I think we may have been dead otherwise!! The best bit had to be the helpful policeman who stopped by us and said "you know you can't park here? Someone might hit you".

Of course, silly us!

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