Greetings from the VIM team via today's reporter, Helen.
The day started very early for some of us...those who thought that cell phones automatically adjusted to the correct local time. Instead of getting up at 0530, a few of us got us at 0430 to be ready to go on a 30 minute morning walk that included the market. We caught on when no one else showed up by what we thought was 0645. It was interesting that it seemed light and plenty of traffic at 0430 and I even felt rested. It did stay cool and gray all day...it is mostly in the 60's.
Georgia lead the walk since it is familiar to her. We could have purchased already plucked chickens, or freshly caught fish...some thought the pretty silver medium-sized fish that we saw were Pike. I also saw Smelt, and other sea foods in bowls...no ice around any of the meats. Familar fruits and vegetables such as numerous varieties of bananas, mostly the minis, some different varieties of apples, papaya, purplish-red pineapples, numerous varieties of oranges, hearty beans in fibrous pods, sacks of several different grains, celery, carrots, onions, and numerous potatoes. Numerous powdered spices are also available in bulk. I also saw whole ginger root. You could see people eating hot soups and vendors selling sandwiches. It seemed that more men were up and in the streets..some women and some children...a few women in traditional dress with their flat topped, broadbrimed hats, long black braids, and full skirts that are below the knees. Shoes that are paired with those outfits vary...a lot of flipflops due to availability and price most likely.
Our breakfast at the Lega's Hostel consisted of tasty fresh squeezed orange juice, finely cut bananas, apples, pineapple, and papaya...along with the crusty tasty hard rolls with butter, strawberry jam, and then scrambled eggs and ham, and hot coffee or tea. We are not going hungry at all! During breakfast we visit, listen, continue to get to know our team members and make plans for the day.
We pile into Raul's van after breakfast...twelve of us and take off for the morning. Little covered three-wheeled vehicles provide cheap transportation to those that can afford to pay 30-60 cents (1-2 soles...local currency, not involving shoes or a pact with the devil). Those little vehicles can be very brightly decorated and many offer testimony to a Dios or other ways to customize them. All the vehicles except the big water deliver or produce trucks are little vehicles. It is like a dance as they manuever through the streets...it is amazing that we have not seen any accidents. Lots of use of horns but it is not done with road-rage attitudes...it seems to be only a friendly indication of "heads-up, be careful".
We meet the District UM Superintendent, Pastor Pedro, at the DS office and future youth and UMW center. It was very gratifying to hear the excitement in the voices of Steve, Jill, and Georgia as they recognized how much progress had been made by various VIM teams since they had all worked on the project in it various stages. Jill had actually carried many rocks to fill holes in the ground. Georgia recalled how a VIM team with many strong youth worked to pound out holes in concrete to allow for some wiring. She accomplished installing the 14 inch ceramic tiles in the office during the July trip (and it looked very professional!). The office has electricity and a phone. There is also a functional bathroom. Those are the only two functional rooms. There are cement stairs to the upstairs...future home of the UMW. When Pastor Pedro unlocked the gate to the upstairs, we found ourselves on what seemed like an open rooftop. From there we could see damage to buildings...much that has been removed. People are very resourceful and since it seldom rains or is windy, they can use what we would rate as very flimsey materials for fence- type walls.
Many photos have been taken. Dale has excellent equipment and does well with documentation and plans to make a CD compilation for us.
It was very interesting to me to get to visit some with Steve who has been coming to do mission work in Peru since 2005...before the earthquake of Sept 2007. The connectional ministry of the UM Church is awesome to see at work. We can all be smug at home in our churches and ask why do people go to foreign countries when there is so much to be done in our own home churches and soil. Our poorest churches have more resources than the richest ones that we have seen. The people are so appreciative and filled with the Spirit.
This morning's prep work of delivering money for construction costs, etc and the van ride to do those things did not prepare us for our arrival in a squatter's-type community to work on a dwelling. We seemed to be the outskirts of Chincha. There was a billard that said "Chincha...a new city". Like much architecture in hispanic cities, houses share common exterior walls. In this case, it is a long row of woven mats, cardboard, nylon tarps, or anything that can be held upright to serve as walls.
This neighborhood has dusty dirt roads, dirt floors in most of the houses, no indoor plumbing and water is delivered once a week or so and place in big barrel drums that are infront of the people's homes. Then they dip out what they need when they need it. We met a young man who I guess to be nearing 30 years, unmarried, and we were there to work on his sister's adjoining one room house. The walls are actually tongue and grooved wood and has two simple doorways and two cut outs for windows. Most likely there will never be glass in them. Our task was to figure out how to support the corregated cement panels that were intended to be a roof. We also needed to secured the four walls. With the make shift ladder, the team had to be careful to have some providing support on the wall to counterbalance the pressure of the ladder. The whole thing could have easily turned into a slapstick comedy skit but it didn't...we caught the spirit of being resourceful with what we had.
There was a generator there in the dusty center lot that served as the courtyard. Several dogs were back there, with one tied but did not appear to be emaciated and did have a big water kettle to drink from. The generator required the use of a piece of extension cord to be made into a pull cord. (After Pastor Pedro took us to get a plastic fruit jug filled with gasoline.) The men surprised themselves that they were able to get it started on the third pull. Then came becoming imaginative and hotwiring it to be able to run the electric drill since the plug would not fit the outlet in the generator. It did not take long and they had the holes drilled for the lug nuts to hold the corners of the walls more securely.
Also in the courtyard were things used to heat water and butcher chickens, it looked to me. Many people were not home during the day...some are gone during the week to go to bigger cities where it is easier to find work.
Jill and Edna stayed back at the Hostel to compile and organize everyone's mission donation items for the week. It was a huge job and they finished just in time for lunch about 1300.
Gladys made a bread pudding, egg salad sandwiches, and shoe-string potatoes and soda was the rest of the meal.
After lunch we completed compiling the supplies for afternoon Bible school. We headed back to the same place we worked this morning and since there is no church there, we held Bible school a fresco (in the open air). In order to draw people out Georgia started us with a silly game in a circle of just our team members. People saw that we were really no threat to them and we had their curiosity arosed. We then started with some songs..."If you are happy and you know it, clap your hands" and then the spanish version which is really much more spiritual.
There were about 50-60 children and mostly mothers of all ages. The children enjoyed having their hands traced and labeled with "Jesus Me Ame" (Jesus Loves Me) and their name. Some mothers helped by putting on the children's names. Steve and Ron were playing frisbee and other active games with some children as Georgia got the children involved in taking turns with the bouncy balloons on an elastic band. Ron's balloons were quickly used up. Coloring pages and colors were dispensed and it was wonderful to see three adults get totally into very artistically coloring and really treasuring their surprise blessing. It definitely seemed like an afternoon that nourished our bodies minds and spirits.
An elder from the church that we attended Sunday night was there and was amazed at the "Holy Bible" clown trick book that I demonstrated as Georgia translated. It appears to be blank at first, then with only black lined drawings of the Biblical stories, and then with the final flipping...the pictures come to life with color. The elder was so impressed and puzzled that I took him aside and taught him how to do it. We later saw him giving the presentation to two women who were very interested and thanked him. We spent two hours doing the VBS program.
When we heard the thump-thump, we realized that Raul was back to pick us up but with a flat tire. The team men helped change the tire while some of the village young boys watched with interest. During this time Edna was approached by a male in this 30's who wanted to know what she thought about McCain and Obama. Edna related to us at dinner who she said that both men have things about them that are good and some that are bad. She said that he said, "yes but Obama has skin like mine." She interpreted that he felt more hope for him to rise up in life as well.
Dinner was served in courses tonight and included a delicious chicken soup with pasta and lime and a spicy aji sauce. The main course was a cold vegetable medley salad that had been cooked, a real chicken fried steak (made of chicken), and potatoes. For dessert...a baked merieng with prunes and coffee. We finished our meal with devotions lead by Edna and Ron based on Matthew 7:7. BOth shared testimony about real servanthood and reminders that we are disciples of Christ ministering to the Christ in the people we serve.
It is time for this chapter to close for the night and time for me to find out what game the rest of the team is having so much fun playing just around the corner.
Thanks for being part of our team by supporting us with your gifts and prayers!
The day started very early for some of us...those who thought that cell phones automatically adjusted to the correct local time. Instead of getting up at 0530, a few of us got us at 0430 to be ready to go on a 30 minute morning walk that included the market. We caught on when no one else showed up by what we thought was 0645. It was interesting that it seemed light and plenty of traffic at 0430 and I even felt rested. It did stay cool and gray all day...it is mostly in the 60's.
Georgia lead the walk since it is familiar to her. We could have purchased already plucked chickens, or freshly caught fish...some thought the pretty silver medium-sized fish that we saw were Pike. I also saw Smelt, and other sea foods in bowls...no ice around any of the meats. Familar fruits and vegetables such as numerous varieties of bananas, mostly the minis, some different varieties of apples, papaya, purplish-red pineapples, numerous varieties of oranges, hearty beans in fibrous pods, sacks of several different grains, celery, carrots, onions, and numerous potatoes. Numerous powdered spices are also available in bulk. I also saw whole ginger root. You could see people eating hot soups and vendors selling sandwiches. It seemed that more men were up and in the streets..some women and some children...a few women in traditional dress with their flat topped, broadbrimed hats, long black braids, and full skirts that are below the knees. Shoes that are paired with those outfits vary...a lot of flipflops due to availability and price most likely.
Our breakfast at the Lega's Hostel consisted of tasty fresh squeezed orange juice, finely cut bananas, apples, pineapple, and papaya...along with the crusty tasty hard rolls with butter, strawberry jam, and then scrambled eggs and ham, and hot coffee or tea. We are not going hungry at all! During breakfast we visit, listen, continue to get to know our team members and make plans for the day.
We pile into Raul's van after breakfast...twelve of us and take off for the morning. Little covered three-wheeled vehicles provide cheap transportation to those that can afford to pay 30-60 cents (1-2 soles...local currency, not involving shoes or a pact with the devil). Those little vehicles can be very brightly decorated and many offer testimony to a Dios or other ways to customize them. All the vehicles except the big water deliver or produce trucks are little vehicles. It is like a dance as they manuever through the streets...it is amazing that we have not seen any accidents. Lots of use of horns but it is not done with road-rage attitudes...it seems to be only a friendly indication of "heads-up, be careful".
We meet the District UM Superintendent, Pastor Pedro, at the DS office and future youth and UMW center. It was very gratifying to hear the excitement in the voices of Steve, Jill, and Georgia as they recognized how much progress had been made by various VIM teams since they had all worked on the project in it various stages. Jill had actually carried many rocks to fill holes in the ground. Georgia recalled how a VIM team with many strong youth worked to pound out holes in concrete to allow for some wiring. She accomplished installing the 14 inch ceramic tiles in the office during the July trip (and it looked very professional!). The office has electricity and a phone. There is also a functional bathroom. Those are the only two functional rooms. There are cement stairs to the upstairs...future home of the UMW. When Pastor Pedro unlocked the gate to the upstairs, we found ourselves on what seemed like an open rooftop. From there we could see damage to buildings...much that has been removed. People are very resourceful and since it seldom rains or is windy, they can use what we would rate as very flimsey materials for fence- type walls.
Many photos have been taken. Dale has excellent equipment and does well with documentation and plans to make a CD compilation for us.
It was very interesting to me to get to visit some with Steve who has been coming to do mission work in Peru since 2005...before the earthquake of Sept 2007. The connectional ministry of the UM Church is awesome to see at work. We can all be smug at home in our churches and ask why do people go to foreign countries when there is so much to be done in our own home churches and soil. Our poorest churches have more resources than the richest ones that we have seen. The people are so appreciative and filled with the Spirit.
This morning's prep work of delivering money for construction costs, etc and the van ride to do those things did not prepare us for our arrival in a squatter's-type community to work on a dwelling. We seemed to be the outskirts of Chincha. There was a billard that said "Chincha...a new city". Like much architecture in hispanic cities, houses share common exterior walls. In this case, it is a long row of woven mats, cardboard, nylon tarps, or anything that can be held upright to serve as walls.
This neighborhood has dusty dirt roads, dirt floors in most of the houses, no indoor plumbing and water is delivered once a week or so and place in big barrel drums that are infront of the people's homes. Then they dip out what they need when they need it. We met a young man who I guess to be nearing 30 years, unmarried, and we were there to work on his sister's adjoining one room house. The walls are actually tongue and grooved wood and has two simple doorways and two cut outs for windows. Most likely there will never be glass in them. Our task was to figure out how to support the corregated cement panels that were intended to be a roof. We also needed to secured the four walls. With the make shift ladder, the team had to be careful to have some providing support on the wall to counterbalance the pressure of the ladder. The whole thing could have easily turned into a slapstick comedy skit but it didn't...we caught the spirit of being resourceful with what we had.
There was a generator there in the dusty center lot that served as the courtyard. Several dogs were back there, with one tied but did not appear to be emaciated and did have a big water kettle to drink from. The generator required the use of a piece of extension cord to be made into a pull cord. (After Pastor Pedro took us to get a plastic fruit jug filled with gasoline.) The men surprised themselves that they were able to get it started on the third pull. Then came becoming imaginative and hotwiring it to be able to run the electric drill since the plug would not fit the outlet in the generator. It did not take long and they had the holes drilled for the lug nuts to hold the corners of the walls more securely.
Also in the courtyard were things used to heat water and butcher chickens, it looked to me. Many people were not home during the day...some are gone during the week to go to bigger cities where it is easier to find work.
Jill and Edna stayed back at the Hostel to compile and organize everyone's mission donation items for the week. It was a huge job and they finished just in time for lunch about 1300.
Gladys made a bread pudding, egg salad sandwiches, and shoe-string potatoes and soda was the rest of the meal.
After lunch we completed compiling the supplies for afternoon Bible school. We headed back to the same place we worked this morning and since there is no church there, we held Bible school a fresco (in the open air). In order to draw people out Georgia started us with a silly game in a circle of just our team members. People saw that we were really no threat to them and we had their curiosity arosed. We then started with some songs..."If you are happy and you know it, clap your hands" and then the spanish version which is really much more spiritual.
There were about 50-60 children and mostly mothers of all ages. The children enjoyed having their hands traced and labeled with "Jesus Me Ame" (Jesus Loves Me) and their name. Some mothers helped by putting on the children's names. Steve and Ron were playing frisbee and other active games with some children as Georgia got the children involved in taking turns with the bouncy balloons on an elastic band. Ron's balloons were quickly used up. Coloring pages and colors were dispensed and it was wonderful to see three adults get totally into very artistically coloring and really treasuring their surprise blessing. It definitely seemed like an afternoon that nourished our bodies minds and spirits.
An elder from the church that we attended Sunday night was there and was amazed at the "Holy Bible" clown trick book that I demonstrated as Georgia translated. It appears to be blank at first, then with only black lined drawings of the Biblical stories, and then with the final flipping...the pictures come to life with color. The elder was so impressed and puzzled that I took him aside and taught him how to do it. We later saw him giving the presentation to two women who were very interested and thanked him. We spent two hours doing the VBS program.
When we heard the thump-thump, we realized that Raul was back to pick us up but with a flat tire. The team men helped change the tire while some of the village young boys watched with interest. During this time Edna was approached by a male in this 30's who wanted to know what she thought about McCain and Obama. Edna related to us at dinner who she said that both men have things about them that are good and some that are bad. She said that he said, "yes but Obama has skin like mine." She interpreted that he felt more hope for him to rise up in life as well.
Dinner was served in courses tonight and included a delicious chicken soup with pasta and lime and a spicy aji sauce. The main course was a cold vegetable medley salad that had been cooked, a real chicken fried steak (made of chicken), and potatoes. For dessert...a baked merieng with prunes and coffee. We finished our meal with devotions lead by Edna and Ron based on Matthew 7:7. BOth shared testimony about real servanthood and reminders that we are disciples of Christ ministering to the Christ in the people we serve.
It is time for this chapter to close for the night and time for me to find out what game the rest of the team is having so much fun playing just around the corner.
Thanks for being part of our team by supporting us with your gifts and prayers!
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