These are some pictures of some of the children in the orphanage.
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Day 3
By Sherry Rettinger
¡Hola de Peru!
We had a wonderful day today! My first praise is that Heather Castoe and I led nine girls to Christ this morning in their casa! It was very exciting! The girls are from 14-17 years old (picture on the left). If that isn´t enough for one day, I have more good news. I received an email from my 7 year old son today that he was led to the Lord last night by my father! I am so happy and proud of him. So, as you can see I had a wonderful day.
The entire day in the orphanage was fantastic. It is quite obvious that all of the children are grasping a great understanding of salvation, which is amazing when they have been taught completely differently their entire lives. They are full of questions and hungry for the Word. It is a wonderful place to be in Ventanilla, Peru.
I can´t wait to get up in the morning to see what God has in store for us tomorrow.
Until then,
Sherry
¡Hola de Peru!
We had a wonderful day today! My first praise is that Heather Castoe and I led nine girls to Christ this morning in their casa! It was very exciting! The girls are from 14-17 years old (picture on the left). If that isn´t enough for one day, I have more good news. I received an email from my 7 year old son today that he was led to the Lord last night by my father! I am so happy and proud of him. So, as you can see I had a wonderful day.
The entire day in the orphanage was fantastic. It is quite obvious that all of the children are grasping a great understanding of salvation, which is amazing when they have been taught completely differently their entire lives. They are full of questions and hungry for the Word. It is a wonderful place to be in Ventanilla, Peru.
I can´t wait to get up in the morning to see what God has in store for us tomorrow.
Until then,
Sherry
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
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
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
A note from the orphanage
Those of us staying at the orphanage are having a great time! This afternoon we went to a bible study Lauren led for new believers. They sang songs in Spanish and English, which was amazing to listen to! Lauren taught them from James. Even though most of us don't speak Spanish, we could tell what a great job she did! This evening we went to another bible study with her for some of the older boys. They are so much fun! Evan played the guitar and sang, and the boys loved it - he has another engagement tomorrow! The study was about Jesus washing the disciples feet, and then we got to wash the boys' feet. It was really neat.
After doing a little craft prep for tomorrow, we went to eat at the "chicken shack" - fabulous!
Thanks for you prayers!
-Amy Pierce
After doing a little craft prep for tomorrow, we went to eat at the "chicken shack" - fabulous!
Thanks for you prayers!
-Amy Pierce
Monday, December 27, 2010
Day One-Success!
We had a great day at the orphanage today! To the left is a picture of us decorating the orphanages' chapel or capilla for the Christmas Party we threw for the children today.They had a great time. First we served them chicken (pollo y papas) box lunches furnished by Southmont Baptist Church (thank you!) which were delivered in three seperate taxi cabs. The first children were served at 12 and the last meals did not arrive until almost 1pm. But, one thing we did not account for is that the children do not begin to eat until all have been served. We were all a little stressed out over this, but the children are quite accustomed to it, and did not complain a bit while quietly sitting and staring at their lunch for almost an hour without being able to eat it!After lunch, we had a Christmas play in the Capilla, narrated by Dr. Baldour which the children loved! We then sang songs, did crafts, then gave each child a gift consisting of a beanie baby, a hot wheel, and some candy. They were very excited about their gifts and it was so rewarding to be able to offer these gifts to them. Along with meeting dozens of children who wanted nothing more than to hug me, find out my name, and talk for a minute; I was able to spend some time in the baby house, which was a wonderful experience.
We are now preparing for an exciting day we have in store for tomorrow. We will go into the dorm rooms or casas for small group lessons. We will tell them the stories of Jesus´death, burial, and ressurrection during the next few days and will also present salvation to them.
In the afternoons we will have large group time in a VBS style program. During the same time, some of the group will be going into the city of Ventanilla outside of the walls of the orphanage to share the gospel with the neighborhood children.
This is an exciting time, so please pray for us and for the people we will be witnessing to in the next few days.
-Sherry Rettinger
Sunday, December 26, 2010
We made it!
We arrived safely at our hotel in Lima just a few minutes ago. We´ll get a few hours of sleep and then be off for the orphanage in about 6 and a half hours!
Thank you for your prayers!
Thank you for your prayers!
Friday, December 24, 2010
It is Christmas Eve and our lives are filled with last minute shopping, plentiful food, family gatherings, homes decorated with cheer, and presents in all sizes and colors to be opened tomorrow morning. All of these trappings give me pause, I stop and think of the 800 plus precious kids that I will see in the 26th. I think about how today and tomorrow is such a stark contrast to ours. I can hardly wait to get thru my hoilday gatherings so that I can be on a plane to Peru. We are taking gifts but none as great at the gift of salvation. There is no better gift that I can share than the Good News of Jesus Christ. That God has been seeking each of these children and has arms open wide waiting to be their Father-forever!
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