Kidz Klub Christmas Event

As pastors of mission in our church we have been doing many things to try and encourage our church to look outside the four walls. We now have an amazing and growing team which help us to do this. The church is steadily growing in its understanding of what mission is. To help this continue we are doing our main outreach event this year and asking for the church members to be involved, on the day and also financially. Please watch, and enjoy how we are publicising the event. (It has been translated!!)

Pachacamac and update.

We realised it has been a very long time since we lasted posted anything on our blog, Apologies to those of you who read regularly. We have been busy in the last month, and blog posting time has just not been available, along with emailing, and other such things.

Jobs on our current to do list include; a huge amount of planning to do before we go back to the UK. In addition we have had to organise, and do last minute organisation for the jungle trip (posts to follow) and also organisation for the end of year kid’s Christmas do (12 December posts to follow). We also had the visit of Holly’s parents and sister, Les, Heather and Robyn.

We are currently on retreat in Cienaguilla at the moment and therefore have a little time to catch up on the blog, and other things.

Last week partly due to the visit of our friend Naomi Hill,

who is also part of our missionary family TOM (see http://www.missionorder.org/) we went to a pre Incan ruin called Pachacamac. (The photo above shows Naomi, NOT at Pachacamac, but in the jungle! - posts to follow!) On the forbidden staircase - the security guard with a gun took us on a special trip to this staircase, as a treat, but wouldn't let us go up any further unless we were seen!

This ruin is about 45 minutes out of the centre of Lima and very interesting, especially comparing with Inca ruins and especially those buildings found in Cusco and obviously with Peru’s number one tourist destination, Macchu Picchu.
One interesting comparison between the two building forms is the difference between the landscapes of Macchu Picchu, which is situated in a green well irrigated mountain valley, compared with Pachacamac which is situated in the desert at sea level. This however is just a climatic comparison, but not where the comparisons end. For example the people who built Pachacamac built their buildings using adobe (a mud like substance) and mud as mortar. The architecture as well was very rounded in form. This is compared to the very angular form of Macchu Picchu and Cusco which uses no mortar to hold them together, but instead mathematical shapes which interlock. The other thing that also struck me when at Pachacamac was the way there is a great similarity between the way the people were treated in the time that this establishment was active and today. For example the lords and leaders treated their servants and the women as second class citizens and beneath them. The old adage ‘jump servant’, and the servant’s response should be ‘how high’. This is still reflected today as some of the middle and upper class treat those from the working class and below as there for their convenience at best, and as bad as dirt. In the time of Pachacamac you had little or no rights. This also happens today with the private beaches, which aren’t private unless you don’t look as though you can afford to be there, and the lack of courtesy when ordering in restaurants.
This as a Christian is not what I see the Bible saying, and something which shocks me culturally, and makes me ask the question, what is my response, what is my role?

daniel

Can you save a starfish?

Last Friday I (Mark) went to Ventanilla for my monthly visit. It is a great time to encourage the staff and children there and also to spend some time sharing what is on my heart with the teachers. It is such a priviledge to be able to be involved in such a work and to be able to help disciple Alfredo, a man who reallys wants to serve in every way possible, living on the breadline, by faith, for the love of God and those he serves.

The kids were in their final class of the week, which was free drawing with the title 'Spring' or 'Primavera' in Spanish. It is lovely to see children who have so little and are disadvantaged in so many ways enjoying learning, and producing good quality work to boot.

As I've got to know this kids their stories have touched my heart. One such story is Sofia (see below) who has no dad and whose mum works from dawn to after dusk to provide food for Sofia to live. Last month when I went to Ventanilla she was just wandering around and had no place to go, until her mum arrived home late at night. What sort of life is this fof Sofia? (She is one example of so many here). Most of the kids have similar stories, with generally 1 parent available to them, when not working, or sometimes they have no-one, technical orphans who live with a family member as both parents have disappeared for one of so many reasons.

This situation really reminded me of a story I heard some years ago about starfishes on the beach. The story goes like this:

'A man was walking on the beach, a beach covered in starfish, thousands if not hundreds of thousands. As he was walking he saw his friend tossing some of the starfish into the water. The man asked his friend 'what are you doing you cannot save all of these starfish'? His friend replied 'you're right, but I can save this one, and this one, and this one'.

I feel this is why I am here in Peru, I cannot save and alter all the lives of the people here in Peru, (although I want to)or even those I meet, or even work with, but I can help one here, one there. I can train and inspire leaders so they in turn can do the same job. Jesus Christ walked the planet 2000 years ago and has altered the face of human history, and he told us to remember the poor. To look after the widows and orphans. I want to do the same. I want to be able to save hundreds of starfishes, as many as possible. My question is how can I do more? I am affecting the lives of many people here, young and old alike, but I want to do more. Can you help us? Can you be a hero of the poor? Can you defend the defenceless? Can you help us save more starfish? Can you help Sofia?

Happy First Birthday Joel!

Yes, amazingly, Joel is 1 today! Happy Birthday Joel!



Here is the first year of his life in just under 4 minutes...

Musings on life here

Today I was sat in Pacifico de Villa where we are currently doing the Kidz Klub and the mums and tots group and thinking about why we are here. This didn't last very long because I was sitting with Daniel and Joel eating biscuits we had just bought from the shop. (9p for a small packet of biscuits can't be bad, except on the waistline of course)! I was thinking what an amazing opportunity we have been given here in Peru to serve the people and God, as well as the people of Pacifico de Villa. As I was sitting there I said to Daniel 'can you see the sea'. He replied 'where'?

Ordered disorder giving out the balls for 'Hombre PegaPega'

It made me think this place is so beautiful naturally, sun sea and sand, (well the sun outside of winter) but due to people having to find someone to live, and having very little money to do this a beautiful place becomes an eyesore. It is the real hard story of those who have and those who have not, and the people of Pacifico are in the bracket of have not. (This situation is the same with Ventanilla, which again is a beautiful place that overlooks the Pacific Ocean, but is even poorer than Pacifico), Most of those who work in Pacifico serve those who have. Therefore it is wonderful to be able to reverse this process and be in the part of those who have and serve those who do not have.

Action shot!

Kidz Klub was last Saturday and was the best one we have done and many of the kids prayed to accept Jesus, an amazing time and one I will never forget.

Our amazing team

We also have been growing in number and maturity in regards to the mums and tots. Today I felt we made another step forward as mums are now asking questions of us, and also helping us clear up, which culturally is a real sign of acceptance. Some of the mums are now asking us about our church and how they can be part of the bigger picture. It is such an honour to be involved in work as this.

Keyla and Ana, (smiling) 2 of the mums that are regulars to the group

1 day holiday! (aka day off!)

Today we went on holiday for 6 hours!!
Things have been seriously busy recently and with the girls both away this week staying with Peruvian families, we took advantage of the space and went 1 hour out of Lima to Cieneguilla in the foothills of the Andes (where there is sunshine - yea!) Amazingly, I can't remember we ate lunch just the four of us, it was definitely over 2 months ago if not longer! We had a lovely BBQ lunch at the Mesa de Piedra (Stone Table) restaurant (Yes it did make me think of Narnia!)

Chicha Morada is one of Daniel's favourite drinks - made from purple corn! (yes it really does exist!)

Much to Daddy's dismay, Daniel and Joel think pushing the ball down the hole or attack the players is much more fun that actually playing the game. Mark learned that maybe his children were not quite ready for table tennis yet.

I did have a couple of times when I wondered whether we would end up in A&E today - the boys both decided to take a tumble - Joel head first down the stairs, and Daniel slipped on the top-metal rung of the 2 1/2metre high slide and fell to the floor. We went to get ice-cream to make it all better (thankfully no broken limbs!) and then Daniel was keen to head back to the park, the first thing he wanted to do was to conquer the slide!

Mums & Tots session 2

We had a really good time again this week with the Mums and 0-3's - there was even a Dad who turned up! It was a smaller group, but I think that God had his hand in that as we were a very small team - just Mark, I and Lili as no one else was able to make it. We had problems getting into the building so we started 1 1/2hrs late, but we had a fun time and the mums all seemed to enjoy themselves, as did the kids!

Lili did some games to make them move about a bit and make them laugh (I think in the photo above they had to pretend to be aeroplanes?!), and I (Anna) did a short activity about identifying problems (or not) with children and breastfeeding and then shared with them about Jesus saying he was the bread of life.

I had baked some bread in the morning to go with some soup (which turned out to be very delicious!) and shared how the bread was fresh, for everyone and tasty, but that each one of us had a choice whether or not we were going to try it! It is great to see mothers who live so close to one another (all within 11 blocks) but who don't know one another, starting to build relationships too.

Next week, a missionary friend of ours who is a GP is going to do a short talk with the group on nutrition, so watch this space!!

Trip out with Sunday school kids

This morning we went on the Sunday School outing to a park by the sea (very cold - my head froze!) and then to KFC (a real treat here!) Here are a few pics...

Mum's and tots group

Today was the first meeting of Mums and babies / tots (up to age 3) and was a really encouraging time. We held the meeting in Pacifico de Villa, the same community where we are holding the Kidz Klub, and over 20 mothers came with their little ones. We discussed things connected with breastfeeding and childcare and I (Anna) shared with them about the importance of developing a heart-to-heart connection with our children so that they will be guided by us and not negative influences as they get older. I also shared about the heart-to-heart connection that God wants to have with each one of us and what He did so that could happen. The women were really enthuasiastic and receptive and we hope to continue with a good group of mothers in the coming weeks!
Joel and some girls play with the toys

Daniel calls his 'amigos' on the community tannoy system!

Lili does some action songs with the kids

I share about the importance of a heart-to-heart connection with our children and with God.

An Englishman 'delayed' In New York

Well after the flying visit to my cousin's wedding I was aiming to return home to Peru on Monday, however when I arrived at Toronto Airport I was told that I might have problems with my connection. I was told several times that I would be fine as the gates were close in New York and I would have 20 minutes. Well circling for 30 minutes meant I missed my connection to Peru!

Therefore I was an Englishman delayed in New York, or Newark to be exact. Well Continental Airlines have a policy that weather is not covered by their insurance policy, and so I had to pay for my hotel. (I did get a 'I am a missionary' meal voucher!) Therefore Anna said to me 'you're in New York go and discover it'.

Madison Square Gardens

Therefore I dropped my bags off and got the train to New York, New York. I arrived at Penn Station and climbed up to find Madison Square Gardens.

Times Square

The Empire State Building

I then saw the building all gorillas love, but 88 dollars to go up it and to see the Statue of Liberty seemed a bit steep. (no pun intended)So I did another New York tradition instead and bought a Hot dog off the street!

Broadway and Yellow taxis

I then decided to see how many sights I could see before it went dark, and walked for about 4 hours and a half round New York. I saw Times Square, Broadway, Central Park, The Waldorf Astoria (big letdown, it's just a hotel) Carneige Hall (still have no idea what it is), the Plaza Hotel, and Grand Central Station. I obviously missed a few important sites, but with time and money limited, I throughly enjoyed my impromptu visit to New York, New York.

How many films have used Grand Central Station. (Answers on a postcard)