Thursday

Hello again. We're back at the hostel after a long and emotional last day in Pachecutec. But I'll let Ron give you the details, I'll stick with the pictures and a few comments.

On arriving in Pachecutec, one of the first businesses you'll see is a shop with Internet access. It seems so incongruous that people with such limited means would choose to spend resources on getting to the Internet. Also, interestingly, I've not seen a computer with an operating system newer than Windows 98 since I got here.
I've been remiss in not properly introducing one of our translators. This is Christian. He's shown authority and kindness to the kids, and has shown a quick wit to the adults.When we arrived we split up in our usual three groups. My group was on construction detail again. We managed to finish the roof, but didn't quite have enough sand mix to finish the floor. Jose will need to finish tomorrow without us.

After lunch we did our usual play in the street, waiting for the kids to arrive.

Ron advised us to not work too hard at games, since it was a longer and hotter day than usual. However, once the competitive juices were flowing, the game had the same intensity as yesterday.

The drama depicted Jesus washing the disciples feet. If the climate from Israel was anything like here in Peru, then I have a new appreciation for Jesus' action to wash feet. From what I've seen this week, I wouldn't get close to the feet of any of this set of disciples.
Margaret van Dyk has been teaching us a Spanish song all week. We sang it for the kids -- it was very well received.

Come craft time, the usual pandemonium. Today we had over 140 kids!

Meanwhile, a few guys escaped to go finish the roof.

We also fed a meal to the kids this time. Very simple: a peanut butter and jam sandwich, apple and chocolate milk.

Then some closing ceremonies. Songs, gifts, speeches, prayers etc.

Then emotional good-byes. It took a while to make it to the bus...

So, Sergio: any other projects that need to be done around here?

Apparently it's a tradition to have a water fight on the bus.
Here's some soaked participants.

Over to Ron...

Hello all. Well, the end of a VERY long day as I sit here on my balcony with Pepe at my side. It’s 11:50 pm and I’ll do my best to give you a run down of our day, but forgive me if I misspell or sound a bit off. I’m tired, as is the rest of the team.

Today was our last day in Pachecutec. It was a whirlwind day. Lots of emotions, and lots of activity. Our breakfast and bus ride were as usual. Today we finished off the roof of the church, and continued working on the concrete floor in one of the classrooms. It was hot work. Lugging all that sand up the sandy hill. Some of us were feeling the strains of the work. Ken had to sit down a couple of times, and Rosalynn was barred from working because she was falling asleep standing up. John on the other hand was lifting huge loads of sand bags. I guess he missed his basket ball practice that day and was making up for it. I did find him sleeping on a bench after lunch, snoring away. Marg has had about enough of that pain in her foot. Just doesn’t seem to be getting any better, but I’m not surprised because she worked this week like she didn’t have a foot issue to begin with. We all hope things improve for her after she returns. I commend her for her stamina, stubbornness, and the ways in which she was able to connect with certain people of the church this week.

I worked today as well, just in case you were all wondering. Lifting bags of sand, but not near the weight of John. It was not easy at times, but it was doable. Wilma was again just a fountain of positiveness. She is having back issues, and when she heard she was going to be doing construction she had Carmen tape her up. Even though Carmen is a nurse, Wilma was giving instructions. Wilma lifted lots of water to the top of the hill, and always with a smile.

We mixed concrete as well. Holly was really into the work today. She helped with the sand and then mixed lots of concrete. She was VERY happy to being doing construction. She hadn’t done any yet, and was hoping to do some today. It was a pleasure to see her working so hard. Her shoes, though, looked a bit too clean, so I helped her break them in by placing a wonderfully messy shovel full of concrete on her feet. For some reason, she didn’t seem to like that.

I was going to write a separate blog about her and Leah, but quite honestly, I’m just too tired. Sorry about that Schofields and Gordon. Leah was feeling quite good today. She was perky, and yes, even annoying. That means she’s feeling good.

Cindy did good today, but wasn’t feeling that well. Kevin too had to take it easy again today. 2 gravols do make one sleepy, so I found him on the concrete floor in the library resting comfortably. Carmen was keeping vigil over him and the others.

Jeremy, well, he just did his thing. He often observes whether I’m working or not, and makes comments about my lack of effort, or my effort. I love that man!! : )

Kellina and Wilma were having lots of fun mixing concrete today. They just shoveled and chatted, and shoveled and chatted. It was amazing to watch.

The group that went to the orphanage ended up giving 5 quilts for the kids there. The highlight for them was feeding the kids and then singing songs in Spanish for the children and having the children join in as well. They also had the chance to meet a seniors group that meets there. This group has no family or relatives any longer. They were able to sing Spanish songs with them too.

The home visiting group had a good day as well. We have found that many families are giving us small gifts from their possessions as we visit them. Bracelets, purses, and other things. Truly humbling for those who receive them.

After our lunch we held our VBS again.We began with sports again. A great soccer game took place today again. Christian and Kellina squared off and we witnessed some great competition. Christian was impressed at how Kellina could body check him out of the way so often. I think he was surprised at her skill level, until we mentioned to him that she plays high level soccer in Ottawa. Then he understood. Christopher had some pretty good moves to, and Harold turned out to be a VERY good goalie. Bethany showcased her soccer moves too, and the kids just loved it all. Ruth did some skipping with the kids, and Wilma was once again in the thick of the kids making name tags for them. She did a GREAT job of this all through the week and the kids just thronged to her. Wonderful to watch.

We often had to stop because a MOTO was coming up or down the road. They don’t stop for us, so we have to watch out.

Today we had 135 kids. Ines did her usual great job of singing with the kids, along with our group. We had one drama today, about Jesus washing the disciples feet. Then we sang the kids a Spanish song as a group, complete with actions, well, except for Harold. He held the paper : ) The kids really enjoyed it.

Then it was craft time. We had so many kids we ended up only doing two crafts today, not three, to enable every child to be able to do one. Again, they were GREAT, and I commend the craft people for all that they have done. Near the end of the craft time we began to corral the children in the upper level of the property and set up tables. We were about to give them a meal.

Let me back up by saying that last night many of our group traveled to a local supermarket and we purchased the bread, jam, chocolate milk, cookies and apples we needed for the meal. We used the peanut butter we brought with us. We then took that to Patchecutec and just after lunch several people prepared the sandwiches to serve to the children.

They lined up after craft time and we served them all. I hadn’t planned on 135 kids, but we came close in what we could give them. Most of them got something. It was neat to watch the process unfold and to be able to serve just one meal that the kids might not normally get. You’ll have to ask the team members how they felt about doing this when they return.

Once this was done, we moved back into the library with members of the church for a goodbye ceremony. Sergio gave us parting words of encouragement, and then the children of the church did some FANTASTIC music and drama presentations. VERY talented, and very inspiring to watch. They also gave us all hand made gifts personalized for each of us.

We were able to bless them with the quilts and the suitcases of clothing. Sergio was very thankful for the items, and will use them for his church and to serve others who may need assistance.

I was asked to pray for Sergio’s wife who is pregnant, which I gladly did. It was neat to see the love for God in the eyes, and voices of those in that time. They are spiritually rich, even though they are not materially rich, and that’s something we could all pause and take time to contemplate.

Then it was time to say goodbye. Most of the kids had left, but some hung around to say goodbye, and the church kids and adults did say goodbye. It was a touching time of mixed emotions. It rained in Patchecutec today (tears), right Ashlyn : ) and Bethany, and others.

I had to be that bad guy again by pushing people onto the bus. I don’t always like doing it, but we had to get going. It was 5 pm already and we had other things to get done that evening.

All in all, up to this point, the day had been hectic and busy for Pepe and I. Trying to be flexible with the team as their emotions went up and down, and trying to keep order in what we were doing, and trying to stay on a N.A. schedule in a Peruvian culture. It all worked out, but by the time I got on the bus, I was feeling the most exhausted of all the days there.

As we drove home, we processed out emotions, and then I allowed something that proved to be a great way to ease all those tensions and feelings. Colin and Kellina both started a water fight on the bus. Pepe and Luis made sure to stay out of it, but boy the others on the bus got VERY wet. Nick was in there like crazy as was Jeremy, Christopher and others. I had to get Ruth and Bethany after the fact, because they managed to stay very dry. Cindy and Kellina and Christian got VERY wet in the second round, as did some of the more daring translators. It was LOTS of fun, and a good way to move the mood from somber to something bearable. It was interesting to note that some struggled with using our water for a water fight, knowing that during the week we needed that water to survive on. More things that we need to process that maybe we didn’t think we would when we entered this mission trip.

Back at the Hostel the cooks were waiting for us. We had a special meal tonight of rice, French fries, beef and onions and peppers. It was VERY good. After the meal we gave our translators and Pepe some gifts as thank you’s for their great work with us during the week. I then handed out 1 Peruvian beer each to the adults (19 and older) as a thank you for putting up with my pushing them hard all day, and coca cola for the others. The adults were VERY thankful for that.

We then held our final video session with our groups. Some great comments came out tonight. All good stuff.

Then came to final event of the mission trip portion of our trip. We sat down and wrote comments to each other on sheets of paper. John read some blog comments and I downloaded all the pictures from the other camera’s, so I can sort through them and give them to the team eventually. They will be able to get John’s great pictures as well, and they should then have TONNES of memories of the trip.

Pepe also handed out the soccer Jerseys we ordered before the trip. VERY nice. This took us until 11 ish pm. I wanted to get a team photo, and had to cut short the writing of some of the slower, final writers as Nick and Brian were about done for the evening. I hope they will forgive me (eventually) for keeping them up so long, but they are now asleep. They will be getting up early in the morning to leave for some sightseeing in Peru. It will be sad to not have them returning with us. I hope the team photo’s also turn out. It seems John was tired too, and having a hard time focusing his camera on us this evening.

So, we draw the mission experience to a close now. Tomorrow we become tourists for the day. We leave the hostel at 9”45 am so we get to sleep a little longer this time, well at least they all do : )

It has once again gone very fast, but it has been a good week. I have enjoyed our week together. We all have many experiences tucked away in our hearts now, and we will never forget what we have experienced in this wonderful country of Peru. We have grown together as a team, and we have grown in the Lord. We have seen God at work in our lives, and in the lives of those we have met. Each person must now find ways to make this trip stick in their lives, and we will return home and attempt to do just that. We will also find ways to continue the relationship with those in Patchecutec, we just aren’t sure how yet.

I thank Pepe and his translators, and Erin for all their hard work. So much we did not see, but all of it helped to make our experience here wonderful. I’ll write some more reflective thoughts in a final blog entry on Monday, and there will be one more at some point on the travels home, so don’t stop reading the blog just yet.

Blessings to you all, and it’s time to get some sleep.