Working hard!

Even though I haven't had classes this week, man have we been busy!!! I love to be busy, and am glad for things that I can do!

Everything is in full preparation for the gira! (Pronounced hee-da) groups of about 7 or 8 are headed out all over Peru! Our group is going to Puno, which is 8 hours south, and a few hundred feet higher. We are driving over 1400 feet. And south is colder, so without heat will be interesting. :-) :-) fun fun, can't wait! It will be one PACKED week! We are knocking on every door in the community (200), teaching the Sunday school classes and junior church for 2 Sundays in 2 churches. Doing a 5 day club/VBS type thing. Pat is teaching a condensed revelation course and Rachel is translating. Wendy is also teaching part a class. We are doing 8 songs or so special music, and they sound really great! 

We are handing out gift packs to every house that include a Gideon's New Testament, a pen that says either "smile, Christ loves you" or "the Bible contains the answer. Read it!", a box of matches (everyone uses them to start their gas stoves, so they are very practical) and a few different kinds of tracts. I have been working on each section, and today, Thursday, Elena and I finished tying the ribbon on the last one!!! It is great to finish a big project like that! I've spent a lot of hours on it, but a lot of lives will hopefully be changed by those packets. I might not be able to teach a 20 min lesson on Spanish, but I can take pens apart with the best of them, and after 200, you've gotten pretty efficient. :-) I will be teaching verse time in Spanish one day, and I'll be in charge of the pre club games a few days.

Last time we went to Cusco, Rachel picked up the 10,000 tracts she got printed. Today, we passed the 3,000 mark that we double stamped and folded. Rachel wants to take 4,000 to hand out in Puno on market day, but we have been making progress. A lot of different girls have been over helping with different things. Milka, Alicia, Elena, Isabel, Jackie, and Yanet have all helped at one time or another. Milka especially has really helped when the pens. I take them apart, and she stuffs them.

Wednesday instead of chapel, we had a Gira meeting. We worked on our songs. I didn't know all of them, but by counting everything out, it has been working ok. One song was really high, so they asked if I could transpose it down. It was in A flat with 5 flats or something, so I lowered it a little to G, with 1 sharp. It takes a bit to think about it when I play it in my brain, but it's going well! Everyone started to put all the finished pieces together of the bags. Elena and Roxana put the pens in bags (because of the altitude we don't want them to burst and ruin everything in the bags), Juan and Rachel put the pens with the Bible in the bag, and Hna Wendy and I put in the tracts and matches. Raul and Juan taught their lessons for practice also. When they had to go back to class, I kept on working away.:-)

I am playing the music for the gira, and I didn't know about 1/2 the songs, so I have gone over to the chapel some afternoons and evenings to practice. I love to worship God through music! There is one really beautiful song here that I've learned that I think is my favorite, Abba Father. We sang it at church tonight. I never heard it in the US, but I find myself humming it and other Peru songs often. They have study hours here until 9, so after that the students sometimes play ping pong or join me at the piano. I was playing through the hymnal, and when I got to one song, Juan came out of the side room and got the number because that was one of his favorites. I told him that "Hallelujah, What a Savior" was one if my dad's favorite too. 

Monday, after a long day of work, Rachel and I were both exhausted! Rachel had the great idea of heading down to the little bakery/restaurant for hot chocolate and cake. It was really cold, so that sounded great! We put on an extra sweatshirt and our sock hats, and headed out. The hot chocolate is a bit different here, but we got it with milk and added sugar, and it was the best hot chocolate I've had here! Rachel got chocolate cake, and I got tres leches. Not quite as good as Annette's but the best I've had here. It was delicious! We sipped on the hot chocolate, ate our cake, and watched princess diaries in Spanish. Y yo comprendí cada palabra. And I understood every word... That Rachel translated. :-) :-) Yes, very girly, but after a long day of stamping, folding, and stuffing, the relaxation was perfect! 

Tuesday afternoon I had lunch with the seminary girls. I really enjoy that! I don't have my class to talk about any more, but we branch out to other topics. After, Raquel said she had some time because she didn't have to be at work until later, and she wanted to do my hair. I quickly agreed, and she did the most beautiful braid I've ever seen! It was all very smooth, and stayed together nicely! I really really enjoy her company! I do a lot with her. I'm going to miss her...

Tuesday night, Rachel and I volunteered to babysit the Pardine kids so Eric and Cassandra could go out for her birthday, which was Wednesday. We went over around 4. The boys are really busy, but they petty much entertained themselves and were very well behaved. Gabriella almost 4 months, and like to be held, so I happily obliged. :-) she really only cried when we took away her empty bottle. We are homemade pizzas and watched a movie. It's hard to beat that with a cuddly bundle on your lap! 

Oansa is a highlight of my week! I love helping with that! Rachel had some extra hats and shirt I could borrow, so I looked like an official líder de chispas. Alicia, Rachel and I headed out early so we could go to our favorite pre Oansa dinner place. They got the usual hot dog and French fries, and I got the empanada. We got to watch the end of a world cup game which was pretty close. :-) I have watched a lot of soccer, and I really don't remember who was playing or who won. :-) soccer is huge here, and people are very talented at it! On the way to church, Alicia sneezed, and Rachel explained the significance of the first, second, third, fourth sneeze etc. In the US, you say bless you, no matter how many times you sneeze. Here, sneeze 1 is salud, or heath, 2 I'd amor, or love, 3 is dinero, or money, and 4 is like they have given up, or casket. Interesting... She sneezed again, and I was trying to think of all the different words, and I got the first 3, but was like... "¿Silla de ruedas?..." Or wheelchair? It was pretty hilarious, and we were laughing the rest of the way to church. Hey, it's better than casket. :-) 

I got chosen to hold the Oansa flag for pledges, and Hna Wendy has some pictures, but her camera is in the Dominican Republic. First, is book time. Sami from last week wasn't there, so I helped a girl named Ruth. Good name huh? She was just starting out, and we learned Juan 3:16 and practiced the pledges. I really enjoyed helping her, and my Spanish is decent enough, I can. 

For game time, I went on the green team because Ruth was on green that night. I think the leaders and kids are on different teams each week. At least that is what I can gather from observing. Verde did petty well, and I enjoyed congratulating the kids. (Happy sigh... So much fun!) Jumping up and down yelling Verde at the top of your lungs makes a very interesting evening. 

Sonya taught the lesson, and during lesson, I say with a special needs girl. She was probably 20 and has downs syndrome, but she did pretty well altogether. Hna Wendy really was good with her during games, and I think she had a good night! She didn't want to go. :-) 

Monday we did some laundry, and we hung it on our lines on Rachel's back patio. Random aside... I was chatting with Christin, and she said she had to go get the laundry out of the dryer. I haven't had to do that for a month!  That's because we don't have a dryer. :-) She moved a cement block, and behind it she found a very dead fuzzy foe the second. It was very large and very dead. Rachel thinks it ate the poison. Hey, at least we are getting rid of them before Ariel and the other family get in Saturday. :-) most American women don't do too well with rats in the roof. I heard something the had few nights, but it didn't sound like the rat before. Other than that, I haven't heard then she the night after we got rid of number 1.

Today for lunch we went out to one of Rachel's favorite restaurants. This morning the USA played Germany in the world cup! We got all dressed up in our red, white, and blue. :-)  I forgot to bring a flag shirt, and I'm going to be better fit 4th of July too... :-\ we are going to have a picnic though, which will be a lot of fun! Wendy came with us, because Pat headed off to the Dominican republic for 12 days on a baseball outreach. Anyone who has gone to the Dominican knows how big baseball is there! It's funny, because people here don't even know the rules. We got a good seat to watch. The while 90 min game had only one point. Germany beat the USA 1-0. I think Germany played a bit better, but those last few min especially were very close! We all had the same dish. French fries, rice, grilled chicken, and a salad. I had their soup to go with it, and it was ok. Others of theirs have been really good though! We had a great meal with great friends with a great game. It was all good!

For breakfast this morning, Thursday, we had a papaya smoothie, which contains papaya, milk, vanilla, and sugar all blended together.  I also had dried habas. We had cooked ones when we went to Adín. These though were very hard, so I sucked then a bit before I ate them. Today also I had some flower seeds that they cook and soak multiple times because at the beginning they are poisonous. Hope they got cooked well! :-) They weren't bad at all. Now the cheese here isn't my all time favorite, and I don't really like pumpkin/squash type stuff in my soup, but I'll eat it.

Church this evening was great! I walked over with Raquel because she goes earlier than others. She brought some cards she made to give to someone, and they are so beautiful! She uses white paper, and arranges dried flowers beautifully! If I get back from Cusco in time, she and I are going to made cards Saturday afternoon. Hna Cassandra wasn't there, and the piano is locked, so I couldn't play. It was kinda sad though, because I actually knew all the songs except one, which is unusual. They sang my favorite one that I learned here, Abba Father. Before church started, I talked to this one family that speaks English really well. The dad spent some time in the states in Florida. He lived/was in Miami, Orlando, and Mount Dora! Pretty crazy! I really enjoyed talking to them! I find though when I talk to a person that speaks/understands English, my Spanish is lacking, but when I'm tossed into the water of all Spanish, sometimes I can do ok. And other times I don't know if I'll ever learn it. :-) 

I really love the prayer time here Thursday nights. I can usually understand the prayers, and it's neat to think how God hears each one, and knows our hearts. The message was really good. Pastor Rojas preached on Romans 8. It's a well known chapter, but I still was able to follow along. He talked about how when you accept Christ there is no more condemnation, we can call him Abba Father, and nothing can separate us from his love!  

Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers. Sorry it's not as long and in kinda a random order. :-) I've been doing a lot of the same things in the morning. Enjoy the pictures.

Isabel and me stuffing pens

Elena and Roxana preparing bags

Raquel... She is the sweetest thing!

Stuffing bags at the gira meeting while Raul teaches his lesson

OANSA!!! Left to right...

Raul, Tonya, Julia, Roy, Ariana, Ruth, and me

Little Milka! She is so cute!

Go team USA!!! after lunch and watching world cup.

Bags with all our gift bags!

When Raquel braided my hair. Ashleigh, here is your newest style to learn. :-) 

Pens all taken apart

The Bibles to put in the bags. I stamped 200

Jackie and me plugging away.

Milka and me stamping and folding tracts.

Sonya teaching lesson time. Try to find my head. :-) 

Our VERY dead other fuzzy foe

This morning Elena and I finished all of them!

1,000 tracts in that bag

It's not a good picture, but it's a picture. Helping Ruth at Oansa! 

#lovekids #loveoansa

Bibles

El Señor del Mundo (the Lord of the world)

We serve an amazing, all powerful, all knowing, all hearing, and all seeing God! Sunday, I saw both ends of the spectrum here in Peru.

First of all, Rachel and I set out for church! Sunday school with pastor Eric is always really good. You start out with a few people, then more keep coming in. We had almost 50 in SS and all the benches were full! We are working or way through Acts. Everyone is learning the chapter themes, and a memory verse. He is very interesting to listen to, and does a great job.

Hein gave me the music for Sunday morning... Drumroll... Thursday! That has to be a record for the most time ahead! I enjoy the challenge of playing on short notice, but it also is nice to have a bit of time to prepare. I played all morning, and all the praise to God, I did my best, and it went well. I never heard a song before, but I counted and plunked it out for a few days. I didn't know how fast it was, so played that part by ear. ;-) Raquel and I played "In Christ Alone" or "Solo en Jesús". I played that song from memory the first Sunday I was here, and every time I'm on the piano, someone asks me to play it. It's definitely their favorite! Like Christin and I do sometimes, she played the right hand part up high, and I played chords down below. It's a very beautiful song with beautiful words! We played well, and I really enjoyed it. I don't want to seem like I'm coming in to dominate and I want to include people here for sure! 

I watched a few people for when to do what. In the states, you play your intro and go straight into the song, and when you finish one song, you go straight into the next song. Not so here. There is a break between every song. When you start a song, you play your intro and stop. The person leading will say "cantamos" or "dos, tres, cantamos". The morning went very smoothly, for which I was very thankful! I sat with some girls towards the front because I needed to play at the end. Pastor Samuel preached on Acts 4. Very soon, they were at the end and I went to play the closing hymn. They couldn't get the words to work I later found out, but they didn't sing it, so I played that while everyone was leaving. It all worked out!

We went to lunch at this one really good restaurant that we have gone to before. We both got basically extra large extra good chicken nuggets with rice and French fries and a salad. We got to watch part of the world cup. I think it was 0-0 and then with 5 min left, one team made a point to win the game.

The festival celebrating El Señor de Torrechayoc is coming to a close, and after lunch when we were walking back home, we heard some commotion in the town square. We walked down because it seems that I have missed a bunch of the festival. We usually hear it when we are trying to sleep or when we are in church. We really had perfect timing. Later we asked someone, and they said it was the last day, and what the people were carrying was the "real thing". (People will have miniature ones, or flags from their church or that they got made because they contributed to something. They will bring them to the festival and carry them in the parade. Because they carried it the whole way it is supposed to be blessed)  

When we got there, it was passing the catholic church in the main town square. There were older prominent men in suits who carried it slowly with solemn music past the church. People were in front with candles and burning incense. The cross itself is on a carved wooden platform. It takes at least 10 men to carry it. It's so heavy, and they think they are partaking/helping with Christ's sufferings. They will load it down extra with bricks and rocks to try to please God more. At the very top of the cross, there is a small picture of Jesus. The Torrechayoc is kinda like Urubamba's picture of Jesus. He has a crown of thorns, but his eyes are not painted really. They are weird to look at. The coverings of the cross are very ornate. On the back though were 2 pictures of a car and a bus. Rachel said that the person that had that covering made wanted it, and had a better chance kinda of getting it.

Once they passed the church, the younger men took the statute and the music changed to more lively music. We went on ahead to the chapel where they keep it, because Rachel was trying to figure out of that was the real thing. The church was empty... It's not a holy festival worshipping God. It's an excuse to mix what they want with God. Drunkenness and immodesty are rampant. And the church is empty. There is no hope.

Right by the chapel, there are booths selling candles and pictures of the Torrechayoc and rosaries. The different colors of candles you can buy to light mean different things. Yellow is for health, white for peace, green for money, blue for work, and then there were other colors and meanings too. We asked a few people selling them, but could never figure out what the orange meant. When we were walking back, the statute was making its way up the street. A few dancers were out, but not as many as other days. Rachel has some more pictures on her computer, so I am going to get those sometime.

We headed back home for a afternoon of skyping, a little dishes and room arranging, and relaxing. Ariel is coming Saturday, and we had to get a bed in here and have enough space for all her stuff. I talked to my mom back home for a while, and got to hear all about your VBS. Sounds like everyone that came had a good time. I'm sad to miss it. It's hard to imagine 100 degree weather when I wake up to 40 degrees in my house. 

If you Google "El Señor de Torrechayoc Urubamba Peru" you will get some pictures and video. Watch at your own risk. It's very different than anything in the states. (Some people aren't so modest, btw)

Sunday evening was... Unforgettable and very...special. We got there early and people were watching the world cup on Mr Rojas computer. US vs Portugal. That was fun. I asked Cassandra if she had the songs and if she wanted me to play anything. She ended up getting a list of numbers 5 minutes before. I had never heard of half of them. I told Cassandra if she needed to go out, I would play at the end. When we were signing, I think we sang 1 song from the list, and then other ones. The guy leading singing didn't strike me as to prepared, and he definitely liked the sound of his own voice! He is slightly charismatic ish... I told Rachel that I didn't think I could ever play with him leading. He was so unpredictable!!! He works talk soooo much between songs, if you found the right place to play the intro, he would be "dos....... Tres........... Cantamos....." And then start of at a flying speed! It struck me funny. :-)

At the end, Raquel motioned the "you go play" motion to me and the Rachel got out of the row, so I had to and wanted to go. I walked up not knowing how things were going to end up and not knowing what I was playing. I turned to the last song on the list, but we ended up singing a different one. I had heard it before, but never played it. It only has 3 flats. The main trouble I had was trying to figure out when to play my intro. I really didn't know what he was saying, so that complicated things more. Whenever he stopped talking I would be ready, then he would start taking again. :-)  That song went OK. They sang some choruses not from the hymn book, so I didn't have to play those.

 Then came all the birthdays. Remember, I can't understand him. Rachel motioned to me that the song was 633 so I knew where to find it. He kept stopping and starting his talking that I really couldn't tell when I was supposed to come in. He raised his hand and stopped talking, so I started my intro... And quickly ended with a C chord when I could obviously tell I came in at the wrong time. :-) :-) it was hilarious and awful at the same time! This gringo was trying so hard and was doing my best, and right then it didn't work out. I waited until I knew for sure it was my turn, then tried round 2. I did it at the normal speed I had heard it sung, he did his slow dos, tree, and then took off 5x faster than normal. I was very surprised, and for the first line I was playing catch up. Other then those minor details, piano went great! I've learned to look at the director not the slides to determine how many verses to sing. That's improvement from the beginning. I'm really appreciating all the work and organization Mrs Tracy does. It's a pretty awesome system when you can get your music a month ahead. :-) :-) thanks! 

I played the closing hymn, and then played around afterwards. Like I said, their favorite song is "In Christ is Alone" so I played that with guitar and violin and Raquel. Hein in the back was messing with my volume, and after that song, in a funny way was like, "I quit, no more piano tonight!" All in all it wasn't too awful. Part of the fun is learning to play on the fly, and there is a lot of that over here!!!

Headed down the street past the church. Look at all the people!

Sunday school. It was very full!

The chapel where they keep the Torrechayoc.

This is it. You can see how ornate it is, and the tiny picture at the top. This is going pat the church where the older men were carrying it. Everyone has a little one pinned somewhere on them if they are in it. Ask the dancers and all these men here.

This is a good picture of the blown up version. This is the picture that are celebrating/worshipping.

Offering box and lit candles

Torrechayoc on the left, catholic church on the right, and lots of people!

Next to the chapel selling different colored candles, Torrechayoc pictures, and rosaries.

Emptiness... The church and lives.

Raquel and me after church Sunday. I love this picture!!!

Burning incense and carrying candles

Another view. I serve a living Savior that isn't a small picture that's still wearing a crown of thorns. He is the Lord of everything and Lord of the world, not the Señor de Torrechayoc.

Random pictures

Here are a few random pictures that I had that I thought you would enjoy. Some didn't upload correctly, or I forgot to put them in. Hope you all had a great Sunday!

Piling all the food under layers of rock. The beans were towards the end.

Teaching my lesson in class.

The 4th year students. Left to right...

Hein, pastor Patrick, Alex, Raul

Rachel, Raquel, and Elena

Alicia

Top 2 teams for the guys. 

Lenin, Juan, Raul, and Douglas

Sticking on the meat. Someone asked me if I liked it because Rachel said I never had lamb before. They asked if we had it in the states, and Rachel said "Yes, but we don't usually eat it." They thought that was pretty funny!

Before putting on the food.

Some special music in chapel in Quechua. 

Pastor Augustine, Walberto, Alfredo

Hna. Wendy, Alicia, Elena, and pastor Pat

Milka teaching her lesson. She is a very talented girl!!!

Happy Birthday!

Happy 19th Birthday David, from Peru to Michigan! Hope you had a great day, and I'm glad I got to talk to you for a little tonight. I'm thinking about you and praying for you!
Lots of love,
Joanna

My awesome week... part 3 (Saturday)

This morning (Saturday) started very early… and I didn’t have much sleep because the ping pong went late. I got up at 7, and was at the Campbell’s house at 7:20. I helped serve breakfast of hot chocolate, pineapple juice, fried eggs, and pancakes with syrup. They were really good! It was hard to get out of bed because it was cold. 2 shirts and a sweatshirt, jeans with leggings, and my cozy hat later, I felt a bit better. The mornings are so cold, but by the time we finished baseball at 10 or so, I was down to my long sleeve shirt with the sleeves pushed up. The weather is strange here…

Everyone enjoyed breakfast, and then we headed down to play baseball. Baseball isn’t the biggest sport here, and a lot of people didn’t know the rules. I never realized how many rules baseball has until you try to explain everything! Hein, Marco, and Milka are all really talented, and can pick up things really quickly. Milka did really well!  She played 3^rd, and caught at least one, and got a few people out too. Hein hit the only out of the park homerun, and Marco scored multiple times too. For my lack of playing, and generally untalentedness at baseball, I did ok! My first time I struck out, but I think the next time I got a triple. I didn’t do so well in the field. Whenever I tried to run after a ball, I would end up on the ground every time because the dry longish grass is really slippery.  Everyone had fun, and we ended playing longer than originally planned. My team won 17-7. One inning we creamed them, and the others, we won by a bit, but not that much though. :-) Mr. Pat pitched for everyone and when I got up to bat, he would do the whole announcer voice “Joanna de Florida!” and everyone would cheer… I don’t know why, lol! It was really fun, and the ping pong the night before also! 

I did a few things here, and then for lunch, we were invited to Yucay, a town 20 min ride away. It is more rural than Urumabma, and the ride is beautiful! The meal is called pachamanca (earth pot). That is literally what it is. They dig a whole, and make a igloo of rocks all around it, and fire inside. They started the fire at 9 this morning, and it was ready at 12:30. Then they take out the wood, and move the rocks, and toss in potatoes, rocks, meat, rocks, more potatoes, rocks, and these habas (kinda between a pea pod and lima beans). Then they covered that with what you peel off of a corn cob, then with a paper sheet, then plastic sheet, then covered with dirt. They let that cook for 45 min, and then we were ready for lunch!  It was pretty awesome! You can see the huge plate of food the before and after.  I had 1 sweet potato, 2 reg potatoes, 6 pea pods, and 1 piece of lamb, 1 piece of chicken, and 1 piece of pork. And I finished it all! :-) 

While we were there, Rachel and I got to work on her tracts that she got from Cusco. We stamped and folded about 600! I also got to hold Israel for a while so his mom could help with other stuff! He is a cuddly bundle. After lunch, and after we worked on tracts, we played volleyball in their courtyard. It was 3 on 3, so you got to play a bunch! We lost the first by 2 points, won the second by 10, and I left before the 3^rd was done. 

It was a very relaxing and fun day. Tonight, I’m going to finish working on this, go over to the chapel and play piano for a bit because I’m playing tomorrow, and I NEED to practice, and have dinner. (if I can eat anything) 

Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers!

(written Saturday afternoon)

 

 Hein on our team.

 Lis Beth and some kids of one student. In the background you can see mountains, chapel/where classes are is the big building, and the green building is a meeting room, where Alex and Sonya live, and where Mr. and Mrs. Campbell live. Our house/apartment building is behind that.

 breakfast early!

 Girls' Table... me, Raquel, Jackie, Lisbeth, Isabel, and Heidi.

 Dishing out the food! Me, Raquel, and Alfredo (Roxana's brother)

 One more table of students staying cozy.

 before.....

 and after... I ate the whole thing!

 After they finished cooking.

 their back yard... what an amazing view!

 the picture doesn't do it justice. It's beautiful!

 Baby Israel :-)

 working on stamping the tracts. (the 10,000 tracts)

 so focused... I need all the help I can get

The whole group!