Teaching Day 1

Wow, we just completed our first day of teaching.  We are exhausted.

I'll go back a bit.  Yesterday we got to sleep in a bit and then went to breakfast.  The sleeping in meant that there was little food to eat.  There was a group of doctors there from Minneapolis, totally separate from our group, that were doing plastic surgery in Lima and in a village in the hills.  After a piece of bread we go on the bus for a 45 minute ride to the school to clean our classes.  Clean is a relative term but we did move some dust around  Then the men went to the "Men's BBQ."  There were about 75 of us crammed into a room that would hold 50.  So there were men in the doorway, in the kitchen window, and in a room adjoining our meeting room.  Anyway, it was crowded.

The Men's BBQ happens once a year when the Gringos come.  This is the time when the few men in the bible study invite others to a BBQ.  I don't know how many were new but as I understand quite a few.

They sang songs, heard testimonies, and laughed a lot.  I have the testimony for the gringos and David translated.  It was a lot like a hot, smelly, Young Life club only in Spanish.  Shirts, hats, and bags were won by some of the Peruvians who attended and then a
chicken dinner was catered in.  It was a great time.

After the BBQ dinner we went back to the school and then walked to Walter's.  (See Lance's blog about how we were all surprised by love.)

Sally writing- Today we got up early and went to the school.  The kids came at 9:30.  They stand outside the school, some, for an hour.  Once they get in they go to their school room and wait some more.

Kids waiting for class to start

Doesn't seem to bother them.  We had 30+ in our room in both the morning and afternoon and there were about the same in the other classrooms too.  The kids were very cute, very respectful, but still kids.

One of our classes

You want to feel loved?  Well come and teach 7 years olds in Flores de Villa, Peru.  Never have we had so many hugs!  Having been here twice before, my return gets me smiles and welcome like I can hardly believe.  What a warm and wonderful community to feel a part of.

We get these children for 5 days.  They line up at 4am hoping they will be able to come to this week of English classes.  (School begins at 9:30.)  Berrie, Ed, Elgin and I have 34 children in the morning and 30 in the afternoon.  We try to teach some English; we have crafts and activities to reinforce what we are teaching, hoping to make it fun for the children.  We pray before snack time and we go outside where Jeff Lindsay leads outside - get the wiggles out - activities - and then one of us shares something about how Jesus is the center of who we are and what we do.

Coloring the farm animals

Elgin trying to intimidate one of the kids.

Berrie at story time.

We have three Peruvian helpers in our classroom - a translator, young helper from either the boys or girls house, and a mother from the community who do whatever needs to be done - so lovingly.  The helpers love being there and are anxious to also learn English.

It is a privilege and blessing to be here.  But I must say, I'm pooped!!

A team dinner on the ocean, a great meal with a lovely view.

The teaching team - 36 from Minnesota + Gina and David

And so to bed.