Last 2 Days

It does not seem possible that we have been here in Peru almost one week. The last two days at the orphanage have just flown by and we have seen miraculous things occur. There is so much evidence that the Holy Spirit has been working 24∕ 7 not just at the orphanage in the part of Ventanilla by the orphanage. Many children and teenagers, as well as adults, accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior this week.

This afternoon the residents of the orphanage gathered to say goodbye to the U.S. friends they have made this week and to those who became friends last year. The orphanage band played spicy Latin beats and children and adults crowded the floor to dance. When the time came to say goodbye the children ran to the workers with plenty of hugs and kisses to last till the next time they see us. It was a time of joy and sadness all wrapped up into one. It was a joy because we knew that so many of them came to know how much Jesus loves them. They learned all week long that there is nothing they can do that will make Jesus stop loving them. They learned that Jesus Christ died to pay for the sins of those who accept Him and love Him, and that getting into heaven is not dependent never sinning or doing good works.
The sad part was saying goodbye to the children that we grew so close to during the week.

From the time I made the decision to be a part of the Mission Peru Team I knew that God had a purpose for my coming here. I just did not know for sure what that purpose was. I had been telling stories to the 3 to 5 year old girls and boys and the 6 to 9 year old boys and girls. It had been a good week, with good responses from them. But it still did not feel like that was God´s purpose for me coming. Then on Thursday, as I was leaving the 6 to 9 girls house, a little girl came to the door with so many questions she wanted to ask me. I answered a few, but I had to go to talk to the next group. When I was finished with the next group I went back to the area where we gathered for activities. I turned around and saw her standing there wanting to talk with me some more. She is 9 years old with no family that comes to see her. She had so many questions about sin, salvation, Jesus, fear, lonliness, and her situation. We spoke for about 20 minutes and I tried to answer her questions. I shared the plan of salvation with her and she accepted Jesus Christ as her Savior. When she left she had a huge smile on her face. I saw and spoke with several times today and each time she had the biggest smile she had had all week. She and another girl danced to the music of the band. She and the other children gave me some many hugs and kisses that they almost knocked me to the floor. All of them called me “Abuelita Irma˝, which means “Granny Irma.“ I knew then that God had brought me here for this one little girl. But God had someone else he wanted me to talk to. He was a 14 year old boy who was a helper in the 6 to 9 year old class. He had been listening attentively all week. As I was leaving the house Beth Baldor told me that she noticed that he was sort of crying during the story and that I should speak to him. I asked him to come outside. I asked him if he understood the plan of salvation. He said that he did, but that he could not go to heaven because he had done something very bad … he had stolen some money and he felt very guilty. He was so sorry he had done it, but now, he felt, he had messed up his chance of going to heaven. We spoke again about the plan of salvation, but on a very personal level for him. I told him to put the money in an envelope, write a note saying that he had stolen the money and was very sorry, and that he was returning it. (no signature.) Then I told him to ask God to forgive him and to give him the strength to resist Satan´s temptations in the future. He had not really understood the plan of salvation before, but he said he did after our talk. He said he felt like a ton of bricks had been lifted off his shoulders. Then he gave me the biggest hug he could. I realized that God did not bring me to Peru just because I speak Spanish. He brought me because He had picked the very specific children with whom He wanted me to share the difference that accepting God as their Savior could make in their lives! There are other team members who had different, but wonderful experiences with the children and adults at the orphanage.

Great things also happened with the people in the town of Ventanilla. There were activities for children of all ages. Adults and children alike received salvation bracelets and other items to take home. Each day Juan Baldor shared with them what it meant to accept Jesus as Savior. The highlight of the week occurred on Friday. A limited number of Spanish Bibles were being handed out to those who wanted one. Children, women, and men of all ages were excited to get a Bible. Some of the people opened their Bible as soon as they got one and started reading them. This year was the first year that the team went outside the orphanage. The people played and got to take home goodies and refreshments. But was most important was that they stayed and heard the story of Jesus! For most of them, that was the first time they had heard it. We believe that this was just seeds that were planted for a wonderful and bountiful harvest in the years to come.

God did indeed had a very special purpose for each of us who came to Peru this year. I am sure that we all fulfilled it. Some of did and did not really know what it was. I, for one, know that I discovered what that purpose was for me. Praise God for His wonderful love, patience, and wisdom!

Irma Teniente

Check next blog for more pictures

Day 3 Pictures

These are some pictures of some of the children in the orphanage.

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

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

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

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

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!