Lovin' Lima

I feel like we have lived 5 days in the 2 days since I have blogged! There is so much I could tell you. I have been making mental notes throughout each day of blog topics. Unfortunately, my exhausted mind may not remember it all.

Saturday was awesome with a capital AWESOME!!!!!! About 80 high school students came for our English club. They had many opportunities to practice their English as they rotated through our stations. They ran relays, played bingo, learned idioms, played Apples to Apples, made bracelets and crafts, learned to line dance, and played ultimate Frisbee. They also clearly heard the gospel through the "sin" skit and the explanation of the bracelets at the final assembly. Both LCCS students and the Colegio America students had FUN! Watching the students interact, you would have thought they had worked together all week, not just for a few hours. It was hard to tear ourselves away! It was a great experience anyway you look at it. And Tim Mitchell felt like it gave a good foundation for the religion class he will be co-teaching this semester at that school. They will study the life of Christ in this class.

Saturday evening didn't go quite like we had originally planned. (Act surprised --sarcasm.) The Japanese business association canceled their evening events where we were going to do a program, because of a memorial service for a family member that died a year ago. A special service on the first anniversary is a culture expectation. Because of that we only had 4 people come to the ESL (English as a Second Language) class that Tim and his wife, Joy, teach on Saturday nights. The upper classmen stayed to help with the ESL classes while the underclassmen did some prayer walking in a cool park filled with water fountains and light shows.

Today, we had 2 unique church experiences. This morning we worshiped with 6 Peruvians, 6 missionaries (the Mitchell family) and the 19 of us in a tiny room on the 5th floor of a business building. This little church started just a few months ago in a Chinese restaurant primarily for the workers at the restaurant. They have met in a park and for the last 3 weeks have been in their own space. We shared special music and a skit. We were fortunate that they had powerpoint for the words and the sermon outline, so many of our kids were able to get the gist of what was going on.

This evening we worshiped with the church that we (Joe and Lynelle) attended the most when we lived in Lima. It was SO cool to take the kids there. And it was the first time to introduce Jairus to this church family. We really surprised them when we showed up! Here too we were invited to sing a few songs and they would have let us do a mini-concert had we wanted. :) They were so friendly and welcoming.

Tonight in share time, ALL the kids agreed that today was a special day. Having cross-cultural worship services was very eye-opening. One special moment tonight was when the church sang "Open the Eyes of My Heart" because it was a song we all knew. So in both languages we praised God together!

I could also write about our authentic Peruvian dinners yesterday and lunch today. Parents, just start planning now -- we will have a team reunion at the Peruvian restaurant in Dallas, and your student will want you to go. Even though almost every student tried beef heart today (and liked it) and ceviche, you can stick with the more tame Peruvian food that day. :) :)

Oh I have got to get to bed... so I can't tell you about the Indian market or the ice cream dinner or meeting Wu or the long list of funny happenings. This team has really gelled. They are having fun serving the Lord. They are growing! They are experiencing God in a new way, and it is exciting. Tonight during our daily debrief time I just cried as they worshiped. God is at work!!! And I am so blessed for being a small part of it. THANK YOU for sending your children.

Please KEEP PRAYING!!!! Tomorrow we will be with a public school or two working with with Kindergartners. Our Tuesday schedule is still up in the air. Our specific prayer request is that we can get into the Nikkei school on Tuesday. Please join us in praying to this end. Also, please pray for Wu's salvation. The kids can tell you this awesome God-story when they get home. Just trust us -- and pray.

Good night!

Lynelle and the Peru Crew