Pastor Sergio's Visit - Day 1, Saturday, April 9th

The day has finally arrived.  It's been two years on the making, but Pastor Sergio and Erin have finally arrived in Canada.  They have been travelling since 2 AM from Lima.  They arrived on time in Toronto, and were slightly early into Ottawa.  

Here are Sergio and Erin coming in off the plane.  They look tired, but were happy to be here.  

Sergio takes some time to thank us for the gift/priviledge of being able to come to Canada.  We are honored to have him come and thankful that God has seen fit to make it happen.  

While we talked, we waited for the luggage to show up. Erin is pointing to her luggage.  Maybe she thought I was going to get it for her?  : )   

As we moved from the airport to the car garage, Sergio commented that he could feel the cold.  We chuckled a little bit because we know how cold it can actually get here, but Sergio doesn't know this.  He commented that he's seen snow, but never touched it.  I decided to take him to the church to touch some very old snow.   Here you see Nick getting there first.  

Sergio walked up the the small pile tentatively and then put his hand on the snow. We had to tell him to actually take a handful and place it in his hand.  He did, and smiled.  

Erin was born in Canada, actually, but left after only being in the world for 9 months.  She hasn't seen snow for a long time either, so she got right in there and grabbed a bunch in her hand and made a snowball.  Now, knowing Erin, that also means she had other ideas for that snow........

Here you see her trying to convince Sergio to throw the snowball at me.  Being the wonderful Christian gentleman that he is, he wouldn't do it.  I laughed........

Katrina, my daughter, came with and I told her to throw a snowball at me so Sergio would see how a snowball fight would work.  Katrina couldn't believe I was actually telling her to hit me with a snowball...eventually she hit me pretty good.  : )  

After the snow episode, Nick and I took Sergio and Erin on a tour of the church.  We started with the picture that was made by Gamaliel church for us the last time we went.  

We moved into the sanctuary and Sergio just drank it all in.  He asked good questions about the stage area and noticed all the artwork on the walls.   We found the plaque that talked about all the different pieces of artwork and Erin read some of the stuff to Sergio.  

Sergio also noticed our Hymnals and Bibles in the pew.  He took a moment to browse through them both.  

Then it was downstairs to see the rest of the church.  We paused to see all the past Pastors of the church.....

Then I showed him the gas fireplace and demonstrated it to him.  He was amazed at the instant fire and the fake logs.  We had to remind him that it gets cold here in the winter and this fireplace is a favourite place for many.  

Sergio wanted a picture of all of us by the church sign, so Erin obliged.....she doesn't like being in pictures.  I'll get her in more during the week if I can.  

Here is Sergio taking his own picture of the church name.   He was very impressed with the church, and is now at least somewhat familiar with it for the week.  

Sergio and Erin will be sleeping at Nick and Margaret's for the week.  Thanks for your hospitality.  Here they are relaxing and getting acquainted.  

Here are Erin and Sergio putting together a set of pictures for me to print so he will have pictures to show others when a PowerPoint presentation can't be done.  Erin is so good at what she does.   I know she's tired, but she's on and translating, and working to ensure that Sergio is comfortable and his nerves are calmed.  

Pastor Sergio came with three prints to present to us.  Two of them were for Nick and Margaret and us, and this one is to be presented to the church next Sunday.   You will be able to see it better then.  

 It was now time for Katrina and I to get the pictures and then go home so I could pick up Joycegina and return to Nick and Margaret's for dinner.  Joycegina has never met Erin, so here they are for the first time together.  

 It just happened to be Colin's birthday this past Thursday so he came over to meet Pastor Sergio and also to celebrate his birthday.  

 Erin showed us a new project that some of the women in the Gamaliel church are starting in order to earn an income for themselves.  They are going to be making these children's books from cloth material.  They will be sold in North America and the sale of the book will also allow a textbook to be purchased for a child in Peru.  

 Here Sergio and Colin meet once again.  Colin has been on all three trips to Peru.  I think he and I are the only ones who have done all three.  

 Pastor Sergio meeting Joycegina.  

 Soon it was time for dinner.  My favourite time of day.  : ) We sat down to a wonderful meal.   

 Erin and Sergio waiting patiently before we start.  

 We were treated to Mexican lasagna  made by Nick.  It was VERY good.    

We finished off our meal with a cake for Colin.  We sang happy Birthday in English and then Erin and Pepe sang a birthday rendition in Spanish.  Apparently they sing happy Birthday in English in Peru often.  

I have many questions about the school and how it works, etc.  

Joycegina and I left to go home, and right now Erin and Sergio are taking in a church playoff hockey game.  We wanted Sergio to go to a game to experience Canada's national past time.  

So, day one is done.  It's been a long day for Sergio and Erin.  I hope they get a good night's sleep and that Sergio has had time to drink in all the experiences of the day.  I gave him a journal so he can write down things he wishes to ponder over the week. 

Tomorrow it's on to Cornwall for the day.  More on that tomorrow night.......