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