Pastor Sergio's visit - Day 9, Sunday, April 17

Day 9

Let's begin this entry with day 8 though.  

 As you know, I left the Brinkman's early so they could enjoy the evening without me. I asked John to get a picture of the family, with Sergio, and he graciously obliged me.  

I found out today that Sergio didn't know, realize, that I was not going to be staying at the Brinkman's.  He was sad that he didn't get the chance to say goodbye to me.   I was touched by that thought.   

Now let's get back to today. 

This morning was the service in which Sergio would be involved. Palm Sunday.  Our morning began at 8:00 am, getting things ready with the Youth Praise Team.  We are in the middle of putting in new speakers in the sanctuary so things were a bit hectic getting the sound set up to work.  

I confess I was getting a bit pushy, as I wanted the praise team to get singing.  Pastor Ken took Sergio and walked him through what would be happening for the Communion portion of the service.  Eventually everything was settled and we were ready to start the service.  

I was the liturgist today, with Pastor Ken doing the Communion portion with Pastor Sergio.  

 Our youth praise team got things underway.  They sounded really good with the new speakers in the Sanctuary.  

Peter introduced Pastor Sergio to the church in Spanish, and then in English.  

 Then Sergio spent some time talking with our children.  He told a story of three trees, and how they all had a different wish that came true during the life of Jesus.  I'll have to get that story from the Christian book store someday. 

 Sergio loves to tell stories and use his hands allot  (and yes, Megan, allot is actually a word...check it out in your spell  check and you'll see).  

 The church school children in Pachacutec drew pictures for our church school children.  Each of our church school children got one.  Neat.  

 Sergio also gave each child a Llama finger puppet. He then showed a couple of pictures of the church, school, feeding program and his family.   

 After singing "I've got the Joy, Joy, Joy, Joy down in my heart..." in Spanish  (and me forgetting to have the kids do that song, and creating some confusion in the process)  Sergio spent some time sharing God's word with us.  

 Erin interpreted for him.  He spoke on the theme of unity.  

 Once the Sermon was over, Sergio gave a gift to our church.  This painting is really two paintings in one.  On the left are mountains in Peru, and on the right is a scene scape from Alberta.  Sergio was wanting to symbolize the unity between our two countries.  A wonderful painting.   

 Pastor Ken received the painting on behalf of the church.  I'll be getting it framed and we'll place it somewhere in the church as a reminder of our continuing partnership.  

 Then it was time for Communion.  Pastor Sergio and Pastor Ken did this together.  It was neat to see things being said in both English and Spanish, and Sergio did a marvelous job doing something he hadn't really done before.  

 Here is Sergio helping distribute the bread to the Elders. 

 And then the juice.  

 Words are spoken by Ken and Sergio when taking the bread and the juice.  

 It was soon time for the offering, and then some announcements.  In the process of thanking Sergio for coming here, and sharing with the Congregation about some of the new foods Sergio has tried, Peter piped in and reminded me that Sergio had tried Goose as well.  It was comical.  

We ended our service holding hands and singing the song, "My friends, may you grow in grace."  It was neat to watch this from the front of the church.  

After church was over we shook hands and passed the peace of Christ.  I think Ken and Sergio were passing holy hugs instead.  : )  

Once church was over we had coffee in the fellowship hall.  Soon afterwards we set up tables and chairs and out came the soup and buns.  

 There was lots of food.  Thanks to everyone who made soup.  I heard nothing but compliments about it.  

 Look at the different colours and textures of the soups that were made by loving hands.  There was even salmon soup...made by none other than John B.  It was delicious.  

 After the soup, it was time for me to get things in gear and have Sergio begin to share with us.  I shared a bit first about our week, and the wonderful work that Erin has been doing this week too.  I had to, to combat all the blog comments I've been making about her.  : )  

 Sergio did a wonderful job of sharing his church's history with us.  John B input some slides of the beginnings of Calvin CRC, and they were a nice comparison for where we were, and where Gamaliel church was as they began.  

Even on a Sunday, our schedule was full.  After cleaning up everything at church  (thanks to all those who helped to do that) it was off to Calvary CRC for a Spanish service with some families.  

 After a week of taking Erin's picture, I think she's just about had enough of me.  She just turns her head away now, even when I try to sneak in a picture.  

 She said she was just trying to look in the window here, but I know she was shielding her face from a picture.  Sneaky, sneaky.....

 I didn't know anything about the Spanish church we were going to, and when we got to Calvary there were only 2 cars in the parking lot, and the side door was closed.  We walked around the the front of the church, and found the sanctuary door open.  We walked in and found a small group of people gathered for a time of teaching.  

Apparently this church comprises 2 - 3 families only.  I found out afterwards more about this church, and you can ask me about it sometime if you are interested.  Sergio had a wonderful time of singing and praying and listening to God's word, in his own language for a change.  That was all that mattered to me. 

 I've been taking allot of pictures this week, and I will be giving them to Erin to take with her to Peru.  Sergio will get them too, but I also wanted to print out pictures for an album so Sergio can take them to the homes of his congregation when he visits with them.  I ordered about 200 pictures, and here is Erin putting names on the back of them so Sergio will be able to remember who they are.  I stuffed them into the albums when the were completed.  We did this while Sergio was in the service.  

 We weren't supposed to be at Reg and Marg's until 6 pm, and we were done at 4:30 pm, so I took Erin and Sergio to Tim's for a coffee.  Apparently Sergio has taken a liking to French Vanilla coffee.  : )  He had a medium one, with a double chocolate donut, or as Erin said when she ordered, "I'll have a chocolate, chocolate donut please."  She hasn't gotten our donut lingo down yet...and won't be here long enough to become an expert I don't think  : ) .   

Sergio loved the different varieties of donuts.  I think Erin asked him if he'd ever had a muffin before, and she pointed it out to Sergio.  He said, "No, but I've been to Tim's now a couple of times, so I think I can take my wife out to a place like this in Lima and be able to impress her by ordering these new things for her."   I had to chuckle once again. 

 Time to enjoy.  

It's amazing how Erin's dainty eating style has become infectious. Notice how Sergio is using his napkin to eat his donut......  : )  

We spent a good hour talking together about different things.  How to get Internet to the church, how to be able to possibly use that Internet to take online courses for ministry so Sergio wouldn't have to travel so long to the school.   We also laughed allot about many funny things.  Sergio is so much like a little kid at times.....I think that's what I really like about him.  

Before we knew it, it was 6 pm.  Thank goodness we were already close to Reg and Marg's place.  We arrived and Reg and Marg greeted us.  

 I warned Sergio that I wouldn't be staying for dinner here either, so he wouldn't be sad all over again.  Before I left, I snapped this shot of Sergio's new friends.  Oh, I see Erin decided  to be in the picture this time.  

"The gift"  showed itself as well.  

I left after this picture and am now at home getting some final things done for Sergio before he leaves.  Getting the video of this mornings service to DVD, and finishing up the pictures in the albums, as well as ordering the final 20 from today to complete Sergio's album. 

I don't really want to think about tomorrow, because tomorrow brings with it bitter sweet things.  I know it's time for Erin and Sergio to go home  (I also know they are ready to go home)  but they will be missed.  I've gotten into a routine of visiting (THANKS an tonne BTW to all of you who opened up your homes to us during this week) and then blogging things, and it will seem strange after tomorrow night to not be doing this.....

It will also be strange not hearing Erin's voice as she interprets the words of Sergio.  I will miss the quick Spanish (oh, BTW, in Tim's today, there were a couple of times I actually got the gist of the conversation, and Erin didn't need to translate that for me......I thought that was cool!) being spoken between Sergio and Erin.  I'll miss Sergio's thoughtful insights as we drove in the van between places.  I'll really miss his sense of humour and laughter.  

Until tomorrow then...and the last entry about Sergio and Erin's stay here....then, sometime soon, some reflective thoughts about next steps and moving forward.  

TTYL