Plans are taking shape.

As we continue this process of preparation, a few things have been determined.  We will be divided into 2 teams for most of our ministry time.  It looks like Team 1 will be Insung, Joyce and Jane.  Team 2 will be Beth Anne, Kelly, Sally and Kathy.  While we are in Lima we will all be staying together and both teams will split their time between the suburban church in Miraflores and in the Quechuan town of Chosica 2 hours away.  After 2 days of ministry, we will have a day to rest, review, sight-see and attend Saturday evening church.  Then our two teams will head in different directions.  Team 1 will fly over the mountains to the "jungle" side cities of Tingo Maria and Pucallpa.  Team 2 will be driven up into the mountains to the cities of Huancayo (11,000') and La Merced (2,500').  The men will also have 2 teams going to each of these places to do their teaching and medical ministries.  After each day of travel we will have a day to aclimate (especially important in the high altitude) and rest (also good after a long winding bumpy road trip) before spending 2 days doing our various minstries.

After much research and hard work by Beth Anne we have settled on some fun simple crafts to teach the women.  We will be making some beautiful necklaces finger crocheted out of special ribbon.  In most places the women will be able to make one for themselves and one to give as a gift to someone for Christmas.  These are crafts they could later adapt to make from local supplies to sell if they choose.  We will also have the opportunity to share stories of God's love with these women and sing a few songs. With the suburdan women in Miraflores, at their request, we will also be demonstrating to them how to make an American style Christmas table deocration which we will raffle off at the end.

The team going to la Merced will also be doing ministry at a school.  After learning last week that we will have 250 kids, not the 50 we expected, we've ditched the now unmanageable idea to do a craft in favor of acting out a story, singing songs and playing games.