By Irma J. Teniente
We had another great day at the orphanage today! What is most amazing is how very loving these children are. They just come up to you and hug you and start talking to you. Most of them seem to be so full of joy and so eager to learn from anyone willing to teach them. They have so little, but they are so grateful for what they do have. They know about Jesus and they are so excited for the opportunity to learn more.
Today they were told they were going to get a surprise. Like most children, they could hardly wait to find out what the surprise was. They waited with great anticipation. Their surprise was a Spanish Bible. They were so excited when they received their Bible, and even the children too young to read were looking through it with great interest. The ones who could read started reading them right away.
The children live as a family in one of the "casas" or houses. From 35 to 60 children live in each house, with a "housemother" and one or two helpers. They are grouped according to age. Josie Cole, Juan Baldour, and I, the Spanish speakers on the team were assigned to visit each house to tell the children the story of how and why Jesus died. We wanted to make sure that they know that Jesus loves them, even when they sin, and that He will never, ever leave them or stop loving them. We wanted them to know that they only way they will get to heaven when they die is through faith in Jesus Christ. Lauren and Nancy, our resident missionaries at the orphanage have done a great job of teaching the children about Jesus and in getting them so excited to learn more about what it means to be a Christian.
Tracy Miller, Jessica De Roache, and Raechel Kirby did a wonderful skit, showing that just being good is not the way to get to heaven, but faith in Jesus Christ is the way to get into heaven. One of the ten Peruvian translators told the story while Tracy, Jessica, and Raechel acted out what the story was telling them. There was music and drama, and all the children were actively involved in all of it.
A total of twelve teams of two to three members taught the children how to make bracelets, crosses and other craft items in the casas. Others led the children in playing outdoor games, teaching them new Christian songs, and different dances. Susan Jernigan was the principal photographer, trying to capture the excitement of the children and the workers with her camera.
Today, for the first time, members of the group went outside the orphanage to have an opportunity to share the joy of knowing Jesus to the people of the town of Ventanilla. Mothers brought their children, grandmothers came, aunts, uncles, fathers, etc. The crowd just grew and grew! Some of the team members were teaching the children and the adults how to make bracelets using embroidery thread, others taught them new games, there were markers, crayons, soccer balls, hula hoops ... well you get the picture.
Each child received a cross, a butterfly, and craft paper on which to stick them on and make of picture to take home.
Just before snacks were distributed to everyone there, those remaining were asked to gather round to listen to a story about Jesus. Many sat while others stood while Juan Baldour told them about what it means to get to know Jesus in a personal way. After he finished the story, Beth Baldour and I were talking with a couple of Moms and noticed a gentleman standing there. At first we thought he was with them, but they left and he stayed. We introduced ourselves and started chatting with him ... about life in Peru, the economy, etc. I sensed that he was interested in learning more about Jesus. I shared the plan of salvation with him and about how Jesus can help each of us get through the tough times that we must all face in life. We invited him to come back tomorrow and he assured us that he would. What an amazing feeling it was to be able to share the joy of Jesus with someone who is seeking a better way of life, a life with hope instead of hopelessness!
Then I turned a little mean. There was a sack of boxes with crayons stacked with other items, ready to be taken back to the orphanage. A little girl asked me if those were for them to take and I told her that they were not. She said that a little boy had just taken a box out of the bag and had walked across the street to his house. I told her that I could not go to his house. Her brother took off and in a few minutes came back with the little boy who took the crayons. I asked him if he had taken them and he said he had not. Then I played a little trick that I used to use on my children. I told him that I could tell if someone was telling the truth by feeling their pulse. Immediately he said that the other little boy had told him to take the crayons. I told him that if he brought the crayons back I would not call the police. He left in a flash and brought the crayons back. I promise I will never do that again! Really, I promise!
Except for that last part, it was a fantastic day for the children and for all of us who participated:
Mary Ann and Gavin, Miranda, Shawn and Heather, Deanne and Hannah, Hayley, Josie and Jeff, Tracy and Jessi, Tera, Alex A, Brian and Lisa, Susan, Amy, Raechel, Wendy, Kevin, Juan and Beth, Kevin, Alex M, Darjuan, Evan, Sherry, Michael, the translators, the medical students who came to work in the orphanage clinic and then came to help us at the orphanage and me.
We all owe a special thanks to Lauren Robertson, who has been in charge of it all (Nancy has been out of the country). She has so much excitement about her love for Jesus and about how He is using her to touch so many. It´s contagious and everyone around her feels it!
Read the blog by Sherry Rettinger tomorrow ... she will have lots of pictures!!
Ciao!
Irma
