New Year, Great Expectations

The year is already half a month on its way, but we still want to wish all our readers, family, friends, and supporters a blessed 2012!!! We hope you are also excited to see what God has in store for this year.

We received the New Year in the Netherlands, where we spent the Christmas holidays with my family and friends. This time, we were there for a special reason, the celebration of my parents’ 40^th wedding anniversary. We thank God for this milestone. We realized that in today’s society it’s not a common celebration anymore.

The three weeks we were in Holland we spent mostly relaxing and resting from our first four months of work in Collique. Especially the first days, we recognized that our minds and bodies were rather exhausted.

This time, the temperatures didn’t get below freezing points and we didn’t see snow like last year. Some days were more like fall, with rain and wind. We look back on three weeks of quality time with our family and we shared some about our work with our brothers and sisters in the church in Wijngaarden.

My niece and nephew wearing their new Peruvian chullo

On Thursday night, January 5^th, we arrived back in Lima. From 45°F in Holland to 85°F in Lima was quite a step, which our bodies couldn’t take in one day. They say it’s warmer than normal this time of the year. Now, 10 days later, our bodies seem to be used to the warmth and with a nice breeze it’s bearable. It was good to meet the team members, children, mothers and their family members again.

Now, it’s summer on this side of the equator and the children have summer break until March. A school year in Peru begins in March and ends in December; however, OSA started its classes last Monday. The children are excited to come and learn and were happy to meet us again.

Last Monday, we were on the bus from my mother-in-law to Collique. I was reading a book in which I read the following quote of Edmund Burke:

“Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could do only a little.”

It made me think. Looking out of the window, I see uncountable faces passing by—not mentioning the houses that hold many families. On this trip of about 20 miles there are many communities like Collique. Many people that need to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ. For a moment I dream of reaching them all, by myself. Reaching a city with a population of more than 8 million. I think I won’t even start it. That’s why I didn’t want to make the mistake of doing nothing. The work in Collique among about 40 children and their families seems of no impact, seems to be little, but one day these 40 children can reach other 40 and these can reach other 40… (40x40x40x…) I believe in the great plans God has for Operación San Andrés and the people of Collique, that’s why I am here, that’s why we are here!

Then I looked out of the window again. A sign on top of a mountain caught my eye. “Con Cristo todo es posible” (“With Jesus everything is possible”). With a smile on my face I continued, x40x40x40x…

“Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”” (Matthew 19:26) That’s why we expect the unexpected, also in 2012!

Last weeks of 2011

Thursday, December 8^th was a holiday in Peru. On this day we took the Scouts to the beach of Ancon. We left Collique around 8 in the morning. The sky was filled with clouds and the sun was still behind them, but the spirit was good. We expected a sunny sky when we would arrive at the beach, but there it was even cloudier and the little breeze from the ocean made it a little chilly.

In the end of the day, we saw the sun for a little while and still had lots of fun in the water and on the beach. Some of the mothers had prepared a great tasting lunch in the early morning, which was enough for two meals for all. We all look back on a great day and although the sun was there for only a while it was enough that I still got sunburn.

 

Musical “Ray el Angel”

Saturday, December 10^th, was the big day for which the sixth graders practiced two hours per week since August. Although, OSA had the last classes the Wednesday before, Elizabett continued to practice the musical, “Ray el Angel.” Friday, December 9^th, the whole group was present in the Church to get an idea place and practice the choreography.

At 6:30pm all children were ready to show their parents, brothers and sisters, grandparents, friends, etc. and some church members what they had practiced. The sixth graders all with a new shirt, which stated “Angeles en Accion” (Angels in action), came singing and ‘flying’ to the platform. After a nervous start of the first song, they all did a great job in both singing and acting. The first graders acted the nativity scene during one of the songs. The mothers of these little ones did a great job on the outfits.

For more photos, click on the photo.

 

OSA Christmas Celebration

In the afternoon of Wednesday, December 14^th, was OSA’s Christmas celebration and closing ceremony. The first part of the program was for two Christian clowns (payasitas). They did a great job. They brought smiles to the faces of all and in the end got most of the parents dancing and singing with their children. They even managed to share the Gospel during their 45 minute presentation of fun, songs, dances, and puppet show.

After the clowns it was time for another performance of the musical. Most of the people in the audience had been in the church on Saturday, which helped the children to give a more relaxed performance. In the end of the event the children and mothers received gifts. There was also Panettone and hot chocolate to make the Christmas celebration complete.

For more photos of this event, click on the photo.

After the Christmas program we set good-bye to the people of Collique. We never imagined that four months can bond so much that even a farewell for three weeks can bring a certain emotions. Yes, these people have already a special place in our hearts that we miss them now.

But we are for an extra reason with my family in the Netherlands right now, because on the day of OSA’s Christmas celebration (December 14^th), my parents celebrated 40 years of marriage. Last year, we were in Holland too, that time Holland was already white. (photos of last year) At the moment temperatures are above average and days are cloudy with some rain. However, we enjoy the time with our family and a time during which our bodies and minds can rest of the busy last months in Collique with lots of impressions, testimonies, life stories, etc. We don’t dream of a white Christmas, but we pray for peace on earth, a peace that starts in the hearts of people. This is also the prayer for you, the reader, and for the people of Collique. Only the Christmas child can give that peace, which many are searching for.

It’s getting warmer

Lima is getting ready for Christmas and if there is one Holiday which Peruvians love to celebrate, than it’s Christmas. By the end of September, the first Christmas trees appeared in the stores and the last weeks it seems that all stores, from grocery store till the little tienda (little shop) on the corner of the street, sell Christmas decoration. However, I already recognized some decoration in restaurants and homes in June. Yes, there are people who just leave it hanging the whole year.

Although, it’s the second time I live close to the equator this time of the year, my mind and body just can’t match Christmas with summer temperatures. Now, my mind and body don’t have to deal with it on the 25^th, because we will fly to Holland on the 15^th to celebrate Christmas, my birthday, and New Year’s with my family. Actually, this time the main reason is the 40^th wedding anniversary of my parents.

What’s happening in Collique?

The last day of classes was Wednesday, November 30. Since then it’s quiet in the OSA house, although Elizabett continues to practice for the Christmas musical, which will be preformed this Saturday (10^th) and Wednesday next week (14^th). It’s encouraging seeing the children grow in their roles and singing! We are looking forward to both performances. The first one will be in a church in the 1^st zone of Collique and the second one will be at OSA during the annual Christmas/end year’s celebration, complete with hot chocolate and Panettone (Fruitcake). This celebration starts with a performance of a group of Christian clowns (payasitos). At the end of the program the OSA children receive a Christmas gift.

The good thing of more quiet times like this week is that it gives opportunity to catch up and to prepare for next year. With the team we are updating the agreement, which the parents need to sign every year. Further, we are working on a new course schedule and so on.

The weekend of November 26^th, we had several activities with the teenagers of our program. On Friday night we watched the movie “The Climb.” It was interesting to observe these five teens and their reactions during the movie. It surprised us both that at the end they were able to answer almost all the question we asked them about the movie. Now, we pray that it may have a positive impact on their lives. Saturday afternoon, we took them to a conference in a church in San Isidro. Sunday morning we took them to Elizabett’s church in Miraflores, followed by a lunch and games at Larcomar. All of them visited Larcomar for the first time. For photos go to OSA’s Facebook page.

Vamos a la playa – This Thursday (8^th) is a national holiday in Peru. We take this opportunity to take the group of scouts, with whom we have worked on Saturdays to the beach of Ancon, north of Lima. This is also the last activity of the year for the Scouts.

Al langere tijd op mijn lijstje en eindelijk is het zover… Nu ook in het Nederlands, Hart voor Peru!

If you can’t read the above, continue reading here. If you can read it, you can click the link above and continue reading on our new Dutch website. I used to translate the English blog post in Dutch and post them on my personal blog, but from now on the news related to our ministry will be posted on “Hart voor Peru.”