Toronto School of Ministry visit Part 3

On the Tuesday (Day 5) we began to visit some of the members of the church and to minister to them, and in the evening the team had the opportunity to do the same to our leadership team, and also our non Christian neighbours who are becoming people who are really open to us, and what we believe.

Jose and Joana in their house

Ines being ministered to.

On Wednesday we went to do the normal tourist “thing” of visiting the centre. A fun day was had by all as we saw the central square, the traditional Peruvian arts and crafts wholesale market, and ending the day in the “world renowned” fountains park. (even in the Guiness book of records as the biggest private fountain park in the World)!

Pictures from the fountain park.

The guys waiting in the wholesale tourist markets.

Friday was the beginning of our mad weekend, which involved going out to see Alfredo in Ventanilla, as well as preaching at my friend Abner’s church. The everchanging and developing view of Ventanilla.

Alfredo as always was an amazing inspiration, and the testimonies of God’s faithfulness continue. The most recent being that he recieved a phone call from the Australian embassy and has 'won' their social outreach project ‘competition’. This means the Australian tax payers will be paying for the school to be built using proper built materials. Nice one mate, fair dinkum!!

Back In Peru

We will update our trip around the world as soon as we get chance but I (Mark) just wanted to let you know about an amazing testimony that Alfredo told us today. Alfredo has recently decided to move to Ventanilla so that he can have a greater presence there among other reasons. Alfredo is also currently living in the school so it isn't robbed or vandalised, as the last caretaker decided to leave recently. Alfredo, his wife Rosa, and son Francis were staying in the school last week when an invasion happened in the next block. An invasion is when several hundred families move into an area overnight. This is officially classed as illegal here, but is the way that most shanty towns are planted. This is then followed by the local government selling the land to the people that have invaded, and then others buy this land, as Alfredo did. However there is a loophole in this very strange law, that if the people can be evicted within 24 hours they are illegal immigrants and have to move on. Alfredo's neighbours didn't want these people to live there and to move on as they had moved in on on land that is classed as park land for the future. (I am presuming much further in the future as all of Ventanilla is currently 100% sand!) Anyway the only way (according to locals) to evict these people is to do it by force. This could be described as a mob, as truncheons, pistols and stones are used to evict people. I have visions of Gangs of New York! (Alfredo told me that the women collect the stones to give to thier husbands to use, this is organised violence)
This mob was unsuccessful and so they had to return the next night with the police and these people were successfully evicted. Alfredo said they heard all of this and it was quite exciting!!! The story however doesn't end there however as many of these people were told there was space to buy land near the school, and some people did this. Others however saw the land owned by Alfredo's organisation and not yet being used by the school and made a decision to invade this.
Alfredo said to them, this is private land. I am however a pastor and will not use violence to kick you out, but as you will be on my land you will be giving me permission to preach to you night and day.
The next day Alfredo woke up and no one had invaded their land!
(All the pictures were taken last year in and around the school)

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?

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.

Ventanilla Kids Christmas Event

Yesterday was the Christmas event for the kids from Alfredo's school in Ventanilla and kids from the surrounding area. Unlike last week's monstrosity, only (!) 80 kids turned up today as Alan García, the president of Peru and the mayor of Callao were both visiting nearby communities to hand out fish and potatoes (as incentives to get people there so they can all celebrate how great Alan García is for getting water to the community!)
A friend of Alfredo offered their show for the kids which was really excellent (so good that they are booked up every weekend until July 09), and then the kids received paneton, hot chocolate and bags of sweets.
Teachers preparing the hot chocolateSome of the kids sat down to watch the show in the school playgroundThe showKids watching the clowns - definitely the highlight!
Kids from the school at the endKids receiving goodie bags, hot chocolate and paneton

Retreat

Welcome Coffee

Last Thursday we had the priviledge to have a retreat for the people who work in Ventanilla in our house. We had an amazing time, with food, fun, teaching, worship,

Daniel leading worship?!

and times of just hanging out together. It was a real blessing to be able to serve them, and to be able to pray and share with them. Everyone enjoyed the food, beautifully prepared by Joey (who was staying with us) and Anna. In addition everyone felt they benefitted from my teaching on 'Leadership, who I am in Christ, and the Holy Spirit'.

Teaching times and praying for the teachers.

Joey, Tassanda and her daughter, and Alfredo.

We also this week went to Ventanilla to show it to Joey. As the kids were on holiday we visited the school, before visiting 3 families, and taking them a love offering of food. The woman in the picture above can hardly walk, and has a crooked hand. She was nearly dying a few years ago but she asked God to heal her for the sake of her daughter. When she got the illness several years ago her husband abandoned her, and left her with nothing, but her 2 daughters. She tries to make ends meat by making Picarones (like Peruvian doughnuts, well sort of), but her oven has died. This is another of the people we would love to help with our social action projects. She was so blessed by having foreigners in her 'humble' as she calls it house. They have 1 bed for them both, a toilet next to the bed, and a kitchen. The thirteen year old daughter wishes to work, but we are persuading her to stay until she at least finishes school. This is unfortuantely just one example of many similar situations for the poor in Peru.

Ventanilla update

We arrived back in the UK last Wednesday after an eventful trip home. It feels very strange to be back in Sheffield after being in Peru for 9 months, and having been in Ventanilla only last Friday.

As always it was a blessing to be there, as well as a challenge. Added to this, it was more of a challenge than normal to get there. Normally it takes at least two hours to get there, due to its location. However a traffic jam, due to an accident on the only route to Ventanilla, I (Mark) ended up arriving after leaving three hours twenty minutes travelling. I usually get a combination of bus and taxi to get there, however due to the traffic jam, I decided to get out to walk at 12.18 (I needed to be at the school before one o clock), hoping to get a bus at the other end of the seemingly endless traffic jam. I however had to get a taxi, then a motor taxi (taxi and motorbike combined) and then walk the further 45 minutes to the school, up through what coculd be described as a dirty large sand dune, which is the area that Alfredo is working in. I arrived at 13:25, and thought the kids would have left, but they were still there, and waiting for me to arrive.

Some of the students at 'Discovery High School' primary school!

They then wanted me to introduce myself, and ask me some questions. (Most of the questions were regarding the price of my camera, or what their name, or another word was in English).
They then showed me their favourite game, skipping, but using the school’s giant hose. (See photos and video below)

Tug of war with a giant hose! (guess which team won)

I was then introduced to a few songs they knew, as well as taking photos inside and outside the school. It was a real privilege to be there yet again, and to see the joy that these children who have virtually nothing financially, but are full of joy, and receiving an education with great happiness and thankfullness, that I haven’t seen in the UK.
The children stayed over an hour and a half after school should have had finished, (again I can’t imagine seeing that in the UK) and were given biscuits and pop, before going home, hopefully, to a good lunch.

Many of these children have no breakfast and a very small lunch. One example of this is the family below, with no dad, and a mum who works now and again, when she can get work sewing or cooking, they have little or no money. Their normal lunch is a bowl of the soup, you can see below, which has beans or pasta in it, and no more. Alfredo was talking to me about this, and saying he would love to be able to provide a basic breakfast of a glass of milk and a roll for each student. We reckon this will only cost about 40 pounds a month, and will really help these children. Things like this have really spoken to me since we got home as this is just taken for granted over here in the UK.

New Year New School

In the Uk, Easter is seen as the time for new beginnings, especially as it is Spring. Here in Peru, we are still in a hot summer, (which personally I am loving) and the only new beginning is the new school year, which starts sometime in March or April.

Some of the new students and teachers

Well last Monday Alfredo opened 'Discovery High School' (that really is the name, and in English as well - and it's a primary school!) in Ventanilla, what he hopes will be his first of many schools in very poor shanty town areas. I went along to meet the 7 kids who had turned up as students on the first day (many can't afford the 40 soles or 8 pounds monthly cost to attend, and others thought it wouldn't open with just a few kids, so stayed away)!!!
Alfredo was only charging, as he needs to find a way to pay his teachers each month, but he believes that God will provide the money through other ways, and he will ask parents to pay what they can afford. If you would like to help, please let us know.

The view from outside the outer wall

On the Thursday night before opening on the Monday Alfredo spoke to me by phone, and he said he had no desks, no teachers, and had just had a horrible mosquito invasion. Well God answered all this in 72 hours. By Friday night Alfredo had 5 teachers, saturday he recieved 30 desks, each for 10 soles rather than the normal 45 soles, and on Sunday had the whole sight fumigated for half the price of fumigating a small house. How good is God? In addition it has been amazing how much work has been done in 4 weeks, since my last visit. When I was last there the roof wasn't on. On opening day, the roof was in, furniture was in, toilets had been built, an outer wall built, and the boundary area sorted.

The current state of the school inside

It was a real priviledge to see the school open after only 4 months from vision to opening the school. They still need lots of things to improve the school, but little by little. It is also amazing to see Alfredo's faith growing daily as this massive project, which was impossible in some many ways, has been started, and opened, and will only continue to help the local community.

The oldest children finishing class

Mark in Ventanilla

Last Thursday I (Mark) went to Ventanilla again to see the progress and support Alfredo and his wife Rosa. It was a humbling time as always, but worth the 2 and a bit hours to get there. (Ventanilla is north of Lima and we live in the south of Lima – it’s like travelling from London to Leicester an back on a dirt track!)
The foundations for the building of the classroom have been done and the land flattened, and the original shack has been pulled down to make way for the new wooden structure which is due to be finished this week. There is just over a month before the school is due to open and the inside of the classrooms are due to be done next week, then teachers need to be employed! Excluding furniture, the remaining building costs are around s/6000 (£1000). You can see progress so far in the photo above (and Mark pretending to be helpful in the photo below!)Whilst I was there I got to see the water truck arrive. Each house has to pay 1 sole 50 cents (about 20p) for each container of water. The truck comes every day and the water will last for 2 days if clothes do not need washing, or just 1 day if they do.

One of the things that I found particularly interesting / bizarre was that one house I went to, the lady of the house had plastered the wooden walls with wrapping paper and adverts for the Peruvian equivalent of Sunny Delight as wallpaper. What I found even more strange was that no-one thought that this was at all weird, in fact, Alfredo and Rosa were impressed with her ingenuity and might have even been secretly thinking about this for the school!