Hit the Ground Running!

We hit the ground running here in Peru almost a day late after spending Wed. night in Atlanta because of mechanical difficulties and getting up very early the next morning to fly out.  After landing in Peru there was time to check in, have a big lunch (3pm) and freshen up slightly before heading to the church in Miraflores to get ready for our evening session with the women after missing the morning.

Our first evening went quite well as I first taught a song, Beth Anne did a Christmas centerpiece demonstration and then taught the necklace craft.  All of us then sprang into action around the room helping the women get the knack of finger-crocheting.  The women loved the project once they caught on.  Insung then shared her testimony and did some teaching on God´s love.  We ended with another song 2 1/2 hours after we started.  We had a short break, then joined the church for their Wed. night prayer service until after 9.  The church served us dinner and we headed back to the hotel for a team meeting to figure out how to adjust our schedules to acommodate missing some of the first day.  After also packing and repacking several things so they could be shipped ahead to our next ministry sites we all fell into bed exhausted about midnight (1am Rochester time).  My group had breakfast and headed out to Chosica this morning by 7am so it was a short night. 

In Chosica my group had a marvellous day.  It was warm and sunny - it is a mountain desert area above the fog that sits over Lima.  The men there dove into their first day of teaching early while Jane, Kathy, Kelly and I had the chance to relax and enjoy a delightful leisurely morning getting to know missionaries Donna and her daughter Kusi, truly a blessing for all of us.  After lunch we headed to the Quechua church to meet with the women.  What fun we had with them! They sang us some worship songs including one in Quechua, Spanish and English that we could sing with them.  I taught a song in Spanish and then we launched into necklace making, which they loved.  Donna plans to try to get similar materials so she can take the project to other groups of women she works with.  Kelly taught the lesson on God´s love this time, sharing her testimony.  We ending by singing a couple songs again to close and they prayed for us. We had about 40 women and 8 small children there and I think we got hugs and kisses from all of them.  It was hard to leave knowing that the other 1/2 of our team would be teaching the next day and we would not come back.

I´ve only been able to speak briefly to Insung, Joyce, and Beth Anne since getting back tonight but heard their 2nd day in Miraflores went very well. They doubled the attendance from the day before, having 72 women.  The earring project with these women was also a success.  They had the afternoon free and will go to Chosica tomorrow while the the men teach in both locations and the rest of us ladies have a day free.

One prayer request:  "Dr. Manny" stayed back today from Chosica today at the last minute because arrived in Peru sick and was too ill to see patients today (stomach bug).  I´ve heard he was doing better tonight, but haven´t seen him.  Pray he gets better very quickly and regains his strength. 
Gotta post.  Time for a team meeting!
Sally