The feast and the carnival

I was listening to the band and singers warm up and I thought it was the Maimi Sound Machine! After the mass was over the parishioners lined up and we started serving them dinner.....and were listening to the Latin grooves from the highly talented band and choir of the church here. The cooks had turned the bullwe purchased into many gallons of beef stew. After 800 people had come through we still had some left over and were able to pass out more. There were some introductions and thank yous and then the music got cranked ....the dancing began and the Latin Street party was on! I have never danced with so many kids in my life. The conga lines were a blast but one experience that stands out for me was when I asked a young girl named ¨lady¨¨ to dance. She has to use a wheel chair-walker to get around and I was certain she wanted to join in by the way she was moving in her chair. I asked her Mom and Lady and they accepted with enthusiasm. I´d estimate she is about 80 pounds ...it wasn´t easy joining a conga line carrying someone but.... it was worth it. The next tune was La Bamba and so we continued on.... what a blessing it was to have an opportunity to bring some joy to a little girl who probably won´t have many opportunities to dance....you can see my favorite partner in the picture. After the event was over all the Americans here went up on the roof of the compound. It is hard to describe how beautiful it is up there ... I led some singing and we processed some of our experiences ....and just enjoyed looking down on the the sights and sounds of Chimbote.
Today....Sunday... we set up a carnival ..... lots of crazy games and prizes. Much to my delight I was in charge of the dogeball station....the old fashion rubberplayground ball full contact kind ..... some of these kids could bring some heat ..... and of course nothing compares to a dodge ball bouncing off an unsuspecting opponent´s head!
We leave here at midnight for the bus station and will make the 6 hour ride to Lima on the redeye bus.... get a hotel room ...sleep until noon ...meet for lunch then tour the city for the afternoon and evening. We have to be at the airport by ten o´clock for the redeye flight back to the states. So.... pray for safe and trouble free travel and the work we have done and the work the folks here will continue to do here will reap much fruit for God´s kingdom!
The next post will be on life in Chimbote.

John

John

a Squirrel, bull and a birthday party

After our afternoon session of the VBS we went to the kitchen to fill 300 bags of popcorn for the movie and as we were finishing they brought in the bull for the Saturday night feast. When I say the bull....I mean every part of it.... an interesting educational experience. We decided to help the women cut up the meat and one of the daughters of the cooks came to visit with her pet squirrel....that is what is on my shoulder on the picture.... Lately ...I seemed to be blessed with unusal experiences with animals! After all of this we took sister Peggy out to an Argentine restaurant ....the steak I had was incredible ...I almost decided on some of the lamb you see in the picture ....roasting over the fire ...but life is full of tough choices. We had a wonderful time listening to her many stories of her life in Chimbote!
Today....we finished day 3 of the VBS and the kids were so excited to make their whale with Jonah inside .... plus receive a picture of themselves which one of our team members took and printed. We videotaped the music session and hope to have it up on YouTube by next week. After the afternoon session ...We went to Charo´s house .... one of our interpreters and a teacher here in Chimbote .... for a birthday party for her 14 year old daughter. There was lots of dancing ...singing happy birthday or feliz cumpleanos....and when she went to blow out the candles they followed the Peruvian tradition for someone to push her face into the cake....fortunately they only use one candle. Tonight after mass ....we hope to feed about 800 people....tomorrow we set up a carnival..... lots of crazy games and prizes ....and another first experience for most of the kids. Please pray for endurance for us...it will be 4 hours long ....one oclock to five oclock ... in the hot sun .....and for all of us to be vessels of joy and light!

John

Day 2 of VBS

After entering the baloon guantlet and lots of high fives the kids were served breakfast....a juice box .... and a yeast roll with a cinamon, carmel and brown sugar goo inside ....it rivaled Grandma Wilkie´s recipe. Many of these kids would not have breakfast and I did not se a crumb wasted. I started with some music ....and since they now know some of the songs it went even better than yesterday. It is custom here to greet people with a hug and a kiss on the cheek. I may be one of the most hugged and kissed men on the planet. We are probably seeing 400 kids a day...so you can do the math. Our video was on Daniel and the Lion´s den ....then some teaching about seeking the Lord and having courage to do the right thing .....then the groups returned to their communities. My ¨limo¨arrived and off we went to the bumpy, dusty streets of Chimbote.... to play some music for the smaller groups.....and to help with an adorable craft of a lion´s head. Last night about 150 people showed up for Madigascar ....and loved the popcorn and drinks ....tonight is Madigascar 2 with some more chances to love on the kids and have some fun. Tomorrow .... after Saturday mass ...they will serve up a 800 pound bull to the community. Much like the loaves and fishes ....pray there will be enough food and opportunities to share the gospel!

John

first day of VBS

As the kids arrived.... they had to run through the baloon gauntlet....they loved being hit by all those baloons. They were so excited about the VBS as they seldom experience anything like it. The music went very well as the Lord just closed those cultural and language gaps. I wrote a new song in Spanish for the kids here...it has them spinning around, sitting down, standing up and jumping around. They love the song and really appreciate that it is in Spanish. My Spanish is better than I hoped but not as good as would like. After the music we watched a great video on Noah´s ark ....then I did a little teaching on it with the help of an interpreter. We have kids from 3 communities here....so after the large group session the leaders escorted the kids back to their community churches for a craft... an ark with animals. Children and the love of glue is indeed universal! They arranged transportation for me and Charo....my interpreter .... a motorcycle with a cart attached ....so I could get to all three sites for some more music. I was able to see the streets of Chimbote....and will deidicate a later post to what life is like here. Since we are doing morning and afternoon sessions ....both having a different set of kids ....we are a little tired....but it has all been worth it when you see the joy of their smiles! We had 200 more kids than anticipated ....so pray for us to be flexible and for the supplies to hold out!!

John

I have arrived

I left Charlotte after scrapping a couple of inches of snow off my car....and Bonnie dropped me off at at the airport. I flew to Newark...met up with my buddy Keith Guercio....then 8 hours to Lima, Peru.....arriving about midnight. It was an hour long line in customs but we breezed through with no checks. This was an answer to prayer because of the many medical supplies we were carrying in both suitcases. If they think you are trying to sell things on the black market you could be detained for many hours explaining your situation. We went straight to our hotel....were up by 7...the off to the bus station. We rode an amazingly comfortable bus...were served a wonderful breakfast and lunch ....the only downside was having to watch the little mermaid.... if that wasn´t bad enough ...it was in Spanish....although Ariel sings beautifully in Spanish as well. I also participated in a rousing game of bingo....great practice for my number skills in Spanish. The ride up the Pacific coast with the Andes mountains on our right was stunning and spectacular. We arrived at the compound ... a little oasis in the midst of great poverty ...unpacked and then started talking to some kids....it didn´t take long to make friends .... as you can see in the picture.
I met sister Peggy who offered some cold drinks and some¨cuy¨ pronounced koo ee. It is actually a guineau pig. My philosophy about new foods has always been ....When in Rome... I would pay dearly as Montezuma´s revenge hit me about 4 hours later....I have never been that sick in my life. I don´t believe I´ll be eating any more household pets in the near future. Your prayers are working because by morning I was okay ....and amazed the doctor here. I´m ready for the first day of VBS and will give you the report in the next post.

John