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.”

Three months

This week, we are already working for three months in Collique. It probably counts for every new place where one starts working or living, but it’s funny when I think back on the first weeks here. Elizabett and I talked about the people in descriptions, because we didn’t know their names yet. And from others one of us knew the name, but the other not. Now, we know the children here at Operación San Andrés (OSA) by name and simply name the mothers the mother of so and so, if we talk about them.

The same thing applies to the community where we live. When I was watching the children in their recreation time after lunch, I asked some of them where they live. Some said that they live on the other side of the hill; in other words, their house was not visible from the playground. That time we hadn’t really walked the streets of the community. Now, after visiting several of the families of the OSA children, I realize that they all live close by and distances seemed further than they really are. Okay, some streets are quite steep, which doesn’t make it a pleasant walk.

All this said, I can say that we feel at home here in the 4^th zone of Collique. In the beginning of this year, I didn’t even know of its existence and now I call it home.

After the first visit to OSA, I started searching on Google Maps to find the location in order to share it with my family. I found out that the street on which OSA is located, as well as many other streets in the area, was not listed. Little did I know that with my Google account I could become a contributor to Google Maps. Since last week, not only the street has its name, but also OSA is pinned on the map. Let’s make it easy, click on the following numbers which are the coordinates of OSA on Google Maps, -11.910123,-77.012722. If you are on the map, you can zoom out to get an idea where we are.

Keep these coordinates for your records, because you might need them in the future when you can just go to an online map and check us out live… Well, until then I continue writing here.

Elizabett is getting the 6^th graders ready for the performance of the Christmas musical, Arch the Angel. They will perform twice, first in a church in the 1^st zone of Collique and a few days later here at OSA, when we have the annual Christmas celebration with Panettone, chocolate, and gifts. The last week she will also practice with the 1^st graders, who will be acting out the biblical characters of the Christmas story during the musical. Today, I visited one of the children at her home and her mother shared that she was practicing a lot with the CD Elizabett gave all of them. Immediately, she turned on the CD and started singing. Our prayer is that the words of the song can touch the hearts of the children and all who will come to the performances. Will you pray with us?

There are only two weeks of classes left. The month of December there are no classes at OSA. Today, the 6^th graders already had their final exam for math, so Elizabett will use the rest of the math classes to practice for the musical.

We have had several meetings the last weeks as we are preparing the program for next year. We will be doing the whole spiritual side of the program and work with all the teenagers and their families. We also will do the Bible study with the mothers once a month and we plan on having a marriage course with the couples. We thank God for bringing people on our path over the last month via whom He provided us with great books and study material.

We ask you all to pray for the people who accepted Christ during the Medical Campaign. We invited them all for discipleship classes about four weeks ago, but so far we have had two of them come.

Finally, we thank the new subscribers to our blog for their interest in our ministry!