Peru 2012 - Day 7 - Thursday - It will be raining in Pachacutec today

Thursday....the final day in Pachacutec.  A day when it always rains here.....  : )  The tears flow and flow, but it's all good.  It's a day when I have to be the bad guy and force people on the bus at the end of the day.......it's lonely as the leader sometimes...  : )

Last night, after the fountains, people showered and went to bed rather quickly.  NICE!!!!  : )

This morning it was up by 7 am.  Wasn't easy, but we are motivated.  Time for morning devotions and reading all your wonderful comments...(I'm going to miss them). 

People finished off the journals for the day and then breakfast.  Eggs, peanut butter and jam, coffee, tea, yogurt juice, bananas, etc. 

We took the donations for the medical clinic, and other places today, and they will be handed out.  The toothpaste and brushes for the dental clinic will be handed out by Pepe later next week. 

I need to do 2 clerical things so that Marsha and Edith don't kill me (type A and all you know).  : )

So, greetings go out to all the "Left Behind" group (BTW, you don't have to be that group if you decide to come in two years....just sayin'  : ) )  from the Cornwall group here in Peru.  As you meet together on Friday, have a GREAT time and we'll see you soon.

Edith wants to say hello to Nicole.  Carl, Kyle, and Edith appreciate your comments on the blog and miss you too.....(it's getting way to mushy for me now)!

So, I'll let you know how the last day goes this evening.  We will have the closing program from the children, and Sergio will more than likely be giving us a gift.  John has an aerial photo of the church to give as a gift to the church, and I have the donated laptops to give  (one now for the school, and the other one later for Sergio, who's laptop has stopped working).  I will also be giving (a bit later and through frontline) the funds for the feeding program that Calvinites had collected over the past year, and the donation from Brenda's work (which will be going for the feeding program of the church.  FYI) 

Talk to you soon......

Brenda says to her clinic ladies - your gift has been delivered! I even got to check the doctor's blood pressure and you'll be pleased to know the instructions also came in Spanish! yay! My Pastor blessed it before I gave it to him so all is well...the week is passing quickly, many blessings, what a privilege to be here and witness God's grace here.

Gems group: the pencils you made were passed out to the students today, what fun! Robert, Brit and family...love you lots, thanks for the blog messages, they give me strength. See you all Saturday! Time to go play with children!

Hi, this is Clint here. My experience in Peru started by meeting forty Canadians I have never met. My goal for this trip was to figure out what God is calling my to do. So, I wanted to go into this trip open- minded and willing to let God work through my this week. I have been very impressed with the Frontline Peru staff. It is obvious that Pepe and Erin are very passionate and dedicated about the mission and vision of Peru. I was also impressed with the commitment of the translators. They helped us get comfortable with the community through communication but more importantly they encouraged us with their actions. I was also inspired by Pastor Ron and Pastor Steve and their congregations. My eyes were opened by Pastor Sergio, the people of Gamaliel church and the community.Their happiness and passion for God was different from what I am used to back home. It was easy to express my love for God around people who have the same passion myself.

Everyday we had the opportunity to experience God working in different places. I will get back home with a stronger passion for not only the people of Peru, but also for God and my country. Because of this trip I will be a better husband, father, and mentor to my community. I have definitely received more from the Peruvians than they have learned from me. Hope y'all enjoy reading this, eh? :)

- Clint

Ron here again.

We are now on the bus back to the hostel.  The bus is much quieter today...as it is every year on the last day. :  )  Indeed it did rain in Pachacutec today.  After our morning work, we had lunch and then it was time for VBS again.  We had 85 children today. We started a bit earlier to try to get out of the city on time.

Throughout the week we have had many minor mishaps, and they have kept Wilma busy.  Nothing serious. Blisters, falling into wheelbarrows (I can't say who that was)  and Ian getting a pretty good scratch from a child who just didn't want to let go of his neck.  At least no one has been sick so far.  That has been a blessings. 

Today was good-bye day and closing ceremony day.  VBS went well, with lots of songs and drama and crafts again.  After VBS we said good-bye to the children.  The tears began in earnest for some.  Always a difficult day, but a day I like because people are full of mixed emotions....(well, maybe not Ian, but I bet he has had them too... : ) ) 

Then it was time for the closing ceremonies with Pastor Sergio.  We were treated to a drama from the youth group, and a dance routine from the older members.  Two young children did a dance for us as well.

Then Pastor Sergio called me up and I received some gifts for myself, and for Calvin.  John gave out the pictures, and I was able to give one of the two laptops donated by a member of the team. 

Pastor Steve received gifts as well.  He prayed for Calvin and Cornwall churches.  I closed the time with praying for Gamaliel church.  We gathered in a circle around the members and teachers of the school and lifted our hands in blessing for them and I prayed. 

We then sang the song, "My friends may you grow in grace."  A great song of blessing.  It was now time to say goodbye and get on the bus.  Tears flowed again. 

I will see Pastor Sergio on Sunday for lunch, so we said our goodbye's but not real good bye's yet. 

Now people are pondering lots of things, and that is good.  One person would just love to come back again next year.  Others are thinking about the children they have left behind and what will be happening to them.  I hope all of them are thinking about how God is speaking to them in this moment, and the days to come, and how their lives could/should be different. 

Tonight, after dinner and a shower, we will do our traditional closing exercise of comments to each other.  It takes a bit of time, but well worth it in the long run. 

As we arrived again today, the children greet us. 
 It made Dianne's day. 

See, It's Dianne with the kids.

The inside of the new feeding program building. 

At the medical clinic. 

The pharmacy sign. 

The Dr.  talking to the final group of the week.

 

Brenda was keen to go on the last day because that's the day the donations were given out.  Here she is showing the Dr. how to use the Blood Pressure gauge she donated. 

Brenda's cup runneth over.  : )

All the records of all the patients. 

The group with the Dr. 

We began work on the walkway..well, Ian and Fontana and Megan did. 

It took shape pretty fast. 

Fontana took a bit of a spill...falling into a wheelbarrow, but she was fine after some TLC from Wilma and mostly Mel. 

Zack catching up on the lack of sleep we missed,  though I don't think we ever catch up until we get home. 

Isias resting somewhere.....

Peru is known for its many different variety of potatoes.  Here are just some of them for sale.

John took a trip to a local market in Pachacutec to get some pictures of the produce.  Looks good, but I don't think if we ate the food we'd feel too good afterwards.

Nice colour. 

Like Canada, food prices are expensive here. 

More fun stuff with the children before VBS. 

Is that such a good idea Ian? 

Wilma Skipping......  : ) 

Mother and son.  Both enjoying this week immensely. 

One of the many children who come to VBS.


 

Chris with someone on his back.


 

The girls just hanging out waiting for other children to come.

Time for some Frisbee action.

Don't let him go Michael. 

Brenda with her girls. 

This was the final day of teaching.  Certificates were handed out at the end of the day...and gifts were given to each of our teachers.  Nice...

This teaching program was a huge success in my books.  The teachers here learned a lot and both cultures learned from each other.  We'll have to continue working on this element with Gamaliel church via email and Skye, and coming back in two years.  :  )

Time for more VBS Songs.....

Mel and Corinne and Maria doing the drama. 

Beautiful eyes. 

Signing one of our teams hats.

Gerry, a heart of gold that man.......

Clint in the thick of craft time.

More arm art! 

Looks like someone might have an ouchy!

This is the third time a child has fallen asleep on Tobie's shoulders....I know she likes it.....

Cute...just plain cute. 

Putting the craft together.  A necklace today. 

Lori Ann trying to hold back the tears. 

Junior planting a kiss on Marg's cheek...don't get jealous now Reg.....  : )

It wasn't easy threading that string through the straws.....

Matching colors...who would have thought! 

Cute pic.

More actions to songs at the end of VBS. 

Smile everyone....that's not a smile Madii.....

Steve getting into the song...yes, we might just be more like our Pentecostal brothers and sisters after this week. 

Time to leave and say good-bye.

I think Chris is going to be taking this boy home with him...

Madii would like to too....

The following pics are just good-bye ones.  I'll let them speak for themselves. 

Time for the ending program.  Pastor Sergio and Linda giving us words of farewell.

A drama by the youth group. 

Notice the Canada flags...we are the Canadian evangelists here. 

A song done by the older crowd...

....And a dance by the younger...

Pastor Sergrio gave us a wonderful plaque for Calvin...

As well as a nice sunset framed.  I also got a foot with a Bible verse engraved in it.  You can see them when we come home.

John giving out the photographs.....one of the church, and one of the neighbour's building.....

Pastor Sergio receiving one of the two laptops.  Thanks Reg and Marg for that donation.  Really cool.

Pastor Steve getting the same gifts I did. 

Our team received a picture of a Pachacutec sunset, a wrist band, and a key chain..all hand made.  

Ending our time with prayer for Gamaliel church and singing "My friends may you grow in grace."

Time to say our last good-bye's. Again, I'll let the pictures speak for themselves..... 

And so ends our time in Pachacutec.  We drove home, and had our dinner and did our closing exercise. Everyone's in bed, and that's where I'm off too.  More salient thoughts when I'm actually able to think clearly....I'm tired..... and seeing two pictures where there should be one...... :  ) 

It's exactly 12 am....

Tomorrow we will be doing some closing exercise stuff here at the hostel and then going for lunch, to the market, for supper and to the airport.  I hope to get one last post in for you all to read on Saturday morning, before the team arrives home.

Then I'll be posting Chris and my adventures with Erin and Pepe and our visit with Keysi, our compassion child and family.  Read along if you'd like. 

Good night all..................