February

We had an incredible turn out for VBS. 41 kids the first day, 45 on the second. With only Ana and me teaching, it was the perfect amount to show up. We did not have the 2010 VBS lessons, so we made up our own material. Our theme was obedience. We talked about Abraham the first day, and Sodom and Gomorra the second. We had songs, work sheets, and a special craft for each day. We had snacks and gave out little rewards to encourage good behavior. We decorated the walls. We did the same thing for all 3 of our locations, and on a budget of about $75. It was a BLAST!

We continue to have “Sunday School” on Wednesdays from 4 to 5. The kids are so sweet. I love watching them grow in their knowledge. It’s fantastic to have them come to the church on Sundays and know as much as the others. To watch them learn their memory verses, and ask questions. It is a beautiful thing.

There is a 9 year old girl, Pilar, who is the youngest child of 8. She comes regularly to our Sunday school, and she also comes to church on Sundays (with a group of other kids). Ana and I were talking with her mom the other day, and she told us how her is always inviting her brothers and sisters to come to ¨her¨ church. So cute.

Another Paul?

7 DE JUNIO

On Saturday the 23^rd, Ana and I went to prison. One of the women that we are discipling in 7 de Junio has a brother that has been in the prison for the past 4 years for something he says that he did not do. His sister-in-law made the accusation. We do not know who is telling the truth, but we do know that he is a man who needs the grace of God just as much as the rest of us. With Senora Lima guiding us, we found him in his workshop making dressers and armoires. Men in the prison become expert carpenters and women become professional seamstresses. They can also crochet anything you could possibly desire and more. Anyway, we spent a couple hours in there talking with him. He is frustrated with the system. He is upset with his lawyer for seemingly doing nothing. He listened intently as I recounted stories of Saul who became Paul and spent time in the slammer as well. We left a Bible with him, and hope to come visit him again soon. Please be in prayer for this man as he waits out his days. Pray that he will allow God to transform his life, and accept the peace and joy that Paul felt. Perhaps this young man can be used as Paul was, to share the Gospel with other inmates and prison guards…

Dec 23

For Christmas, Ana and I went to several different toy stores and different bakeries around town asking for donations for the children. We had an incredible response and over 200 toys were donated for children between the ages of 4 months to 12 years. We also had 150 small fruit cakes (a disgusting [when you don't like their fruitcake] Peruvian tradition) donated. Ana and I bought stuff to make hot chocolate (even here in the heat of the jungle, people know that you're supposed to drink hot chocolate for Christmas) and got help from two 'hermanas' in making it. The only difference in Peruvian hot chocolate and ours is that they like to put butter in theirs....not very good like that.
But the point is, the kids loved it! We had a darling little service on the 23rd of December in which we read Luke 2 and sang a few songs. You will be shocked (I was ) to learn that not even our Pastor knows the traditional Christmas hymns. In fact, they do not know ANY Christmas songs. Even though they are in their hymnal...they don't know them. So, I sang Silent Night (in Spanish) for them. After singing, and the Bible story, we passed out the fruitcake and hot chocolate. While they were busy munching we got out a suitcase full of toys, and allowed the kids to come receive their gift. It was truly an awesome experience...For all of us I think.