Princeton Bible Church - Peru Trip - Day 3

From the moment we gathered together this morning, you could sense the enthusiasm.  Today is the day we have been waiting for.  Today we would be seeing the kids, playing with them, teaching them...  the team was ready to go.

We ate breakfast at the church and then had devotions.  We started our study in the book of James, and I loved hearing the team wrestle with trials, wisdom, and God's blessings.  After a great conversation about our passage, the team packed up and headed for Spiros Zodhiates Child Care Center.

When we arrived, we were met with the few kids that were already there, and shortly we were surrounded  by many more.  We divided into three groups - Bible Story, Craft and Games.  The Bible story group acted out the story of the Good Samaritan - as Carlo taught the story in Spanish.  The kids seemed to enjoy the presentation.  The craft group had coloring pages for the story and they had to put the story in order of the events.  The games group spent time outside playing soccer and volleyball.

All of the groups did well, and as the groups finished their work, the kids would go to another group.  Things were very well organized and moved rather smoothly.  There was about 150 kids or so that we saw in all.  We eventually fed them and sent them on to school, and some of the afternoon kids began coming for their lunch time.  We stayed a little longer and eventually headed off to the "good shepherd" center.

As we arrived there, I was looking forward to seeing Norma, but she was not there yet. We interacted with the kids as they completed eating lunch.  Eventually Norma arrived, and - true to Norma form - she acted like she didn't know Harrison or I.  She said her name wasn't Norma.  She is a character - too smart for her own good! 

Again the group performed the skits, did the crafts, and played games - then we stayed the rest of the afternoon playing with the kids - everything from braiding hair to soccer, hopscotch, etc. They were fabulous!  Each team member found an opportunity to love on the kids and did it well.  I loved watching as they ministered to the kids.

Eventually we had to pack it up and head for home.  The kids were thrilled to hear that we would be back tomorrow!  The team members were excited about it as well.  It is going to be a great week.

We have lots of opportunities of things we can do with the kids, and it will be fun to watch as we break out the bracelets, nail polish, K'nex blocks, tennis balls, bubbles...  and interact with the kids.  I know the team was anxious to get started on some of the things we brought to do, but I wanted to see what the normal program was before we do the things we have brought.

Tomorrow begins at 8 - devotions at 8:30!  It is going to be a great day.

Thought for the day: I had the privilege of driving again today - and man is it fun!  I love the chaos of driving the roads of Peru.  Numerous times the bigger vehicles would push their way into my lane to  edge me out.  It is amazing how quickly my flesh wants to push back and say, "not today, big boy!".

Could you imagine being Jesus?  Just another man in this world, yet God incarnate.  As others "flexed" their muscles and pushed Him around - they were messing with the "biggest vehicle" of all, and yet his instinct was to bend and serve.  What a wonderful picture of strength as the strongest "man" of all, bends His knee to the weak men who thought they were strong.

From the smallest child to the most important influential person in the world, how willing am I to be a servant of all?  To bend my will, my desires, my goals to the ones around me so that they might know Christ?  Oh that my response would be like Christ - this is what I need to pray for.