GCC in Peru 2010

So it just hit me like a ton of bricks. In Christ, we are all the same. We all have a love for God that isn´t dependent upon life issues. I see these people who have much less than we do, who love one another in a Christ-like way. We kiss and hug eachother so many times a day. At first, I thought that this cultural difference would bother me... all of the touching. But only after a few days, I´ve become accustomed to it and realize that I am, perhaps, too cold. I´ve been awakened physically, mentally and spiritually already. We are all coming up with ideas on how to engage GCC members and Iglesia El Alfarero members in a larger way. We look forward to sharing some ideas with the mission committee when we return.

Christina and I played with the neighborhood children and teenagers today after church. They taught us some fun games... no computer or video games, just good old-fashioned fun on the sidewalk. The children are a lot of fun.

We went to eat at a Chinese restaurant for lunch today. It was so delicious! I´m not even a huge fan of Chinese food, but it´s nothing like I´ve had in the states before. MMMMMMM. On our way, there, though, while walking to get to a taxi at the main road, my skirt got caught on a fence and ripped it all the way up my leg. I didn´t hurt my leg... just had one huge tear in my skirt. It was probably about a 12-14" tear. I screamed and laughed so loud I think the whole neighborhood heard me. I held it closed and Victor took me back to the church to change, then we just got a separate taxi to the restaurant. Well, when Victor and I showed up, John was soaking wet on the front of his shirt and pants. Carey and Christina both got a good hit of water. Apparently when they were on the bus going to the restaurant, some kids had a water hose and sprayed the bus. They explained like a fireman´s hose! (In February in Peru, this is the time of Carnavale, which is just one big celebration, kind of like Mardi Gras. Kids are always throwing water balloons and practicing water torture techniques on eachother and random adults!)

Tonight we will conduct the placement testing to see where people will be tomorrow for our first night of Outreach English class. There is a basic, intermediate and advanced class. We are looking forward to see what kind of turnout we will have tonight. On Friday, we all walked around the neighborhood (split up with one American and one Peruvian) to pass out flyers about the English classes. I was pleasantly surprised by the warmth we received when doing so. In America, it would be common for people to not want to talk to you, not accept the flyer, or not be very interested... you know how people are when you´re soliciting something. It wasn´t like that, though. Everyone is looking for someone to talk to, to socialize with and to connect with here.

Mark was in charge of tearing down the youth room on the roof (third floor of the church) on Friday. Peruvian masonry men will build a new one that is big enough to accomodate all of the children.