Vacation Bible School- Health Charlas

I was hoping to be able to put video clips on this blog from the charlas I did at the VBSs here in January, but I have resigned to just putting up pictures for the time being. (Because my computer is still inoperable and so my video clips cannot be uploaded.....but in due time

We ended up only doing 3 VBSs this summer* here- Huaycan, Santa Anita, and Amauta. At each VBS I gave 2 health talks- One of personal hygiene (and the kids all received a bar of soap and a sample pack of shampoo) and the other of dental care (and the kids all received a toothbrush and a travelsize toothpaste).

The personal hygiene talk started out like a skit (that I've done before in another location), where I come out dressed very dirty (literally) with dirt all over my clothes, arms, hands, and face (really the face is brown makeup), and also ratty hair. The pastor's daughter Judith acted alongside of me semi-explaining why I needed to keep clean. After the skit I talked more of the importance, and on the way out, no kid wanted to hug me.... hmmm...

The dental care talk was fun too. (I think some energy from my camp days came back). Anyways I explained about cavities (all the kids have them... or have lost several teeth because of them), and why we should brush our teeth. I showed them fun ways to brush their teeth, and in the end we did a chant about brushing teeth. (I wrote the chant to the military chant- "I don't know but I've been told...") It was fun because the kids really got into it and started chanting loadly with me, shouting even. It was a blast.

(At the Santa Anita VBS)

(At the Huaycan VBS)

It is only a glimpse of God's work here.Please pray for all the children who attended the VBSs and their families. That the seeds planted would grow, and people would come to know Christ personally.

***I also want to take this time too to thank Millbrook Presbyterian for their collection of toothbrushes and toothpaste for me. They were distributed at each VBS. Thank you for your hand and help in this part of the ministry! I shared that they were from our "brothers and sisters" in Alabama, and the pastor led them in a prayer for you all. Gracias! Thanks again! ***

Summer Fun

THE BEACH

It is summer here in Peru, actually it is getting to the end of the summer. It has been very hot, very humid, and somedays almost untolerable! Yet, fall is near, there will be less sun, and soon the many months of gray overcast Lima sky. HOWEVER.... we have enjoyed the summer as one would normally here, and being that Lima is on the coast, we've taken a few trips to the beach on our off days. The beaches around Lima are not that pleasant, and quite polluted, so we've gone south about 40 minutes to some cleaner, nicer beaches. Our first trip was with a dear Peruvian family, the Matamoros (Kike, Martha, Romina, and Gianella). We had a great time, and got a little burned. Our second time we went with the Davidson ladies (Bonita, Anna, and Ila- some MTW missionaries here in Lima). Both beaches were nice in their own ways, and us single MTW Lima gals had a good time. (It is good to get away every now and then).

THE ZOO

Also we treated our friend/househelper Lucia and her family to a day with us at the Lima Zoo- Parque de las Leyendas. It is the largest zoo in Peru, and was a fun place to spend the day. Her children had only been to tiny zoos, petting farm type places, so it was fun to see them getting excited about the animals. Especially her son Santiago, who is really into animals right now.

(Lucia, Santiago, Felix, and Zarumi)

(Zarumi)

(Santiago)

*One side story about Santiago is that this past year he was going through a difficult phase, learning some horrible habits, words, and attitudes from some of the kids in his preschool. Lucia was really concerned. Once in his interaction with me, he sported an attitude like I'd never seen and then hit me. (The issue was addressed of course, but I was quite confused in his interaction with me.) Well, he seems to have passed that stage and is behaving a lot better, and even becoming pals with me! (On the way home he fell asleep, and we all parted ways.... His first thought upon waking was "¡Pero no les dije gracias a las señoritas!" (But I didn't tell the girls thank you!) Lucia and Felix were happy about hearing this because often they struggle in getting him to say thank you and that is when they make him. He wanted to do this on his own.

(Me and my new pal Santiago)

A Little Change

Ok, so the last post was telling you all about the health ministry training that was to begin. It has now been postponed until the end of March. Its definetly for good reasons though. Although I met with the national pastor and my team leader Mark Berry about the health ministry and when to start it, after a team meeting and a discussion, I realized that for the best ownership of this ministry is for it to come from the church, and from the leadership specifically. We had never met with the elders of the church, only the pastor in regards to this ministry. My team leader is on vacation for a few weeks, and when he gets back I'll be gone as well, so our meeting with the elders is going to be the 13th of March. Although they'd probably hop on board with this, we know it is not the best way to start out. So it has been further postponed until we get their approval. This is a God-thing too in that I am having some computer problems, and although I have been blessed with another on loan, I have several files on the other that were meant for the training. Pray with me that my computer issue will be solved by the latest mid-March so that I will be able to retrieve these files. And please continue to pray with me for the training materials, creativity, and perseverance. (I have been getting cabin fever a lot).