Neighbor

We have an especially nice neighbor now. Across the street by the security guard´s stand, we have a baby llama. He (She?) has been there about a month now. Looks so soft, too. Not sure just why he is there, but we enjoy watching him. What´s next door to you all?

School Opens

Yes, it is that time again! March 1 the opening ceremony for our Anglican school "San Lucas." As all but 6 of our kids attend there, Padre Ron and Vicki were there to see it get underway. Padre Ron, as the regional director represented the Church along with Padre Juan Carlos who celebrated the opening Eucharist. Everyone was impressed with all the changes and improvements Juan Carlos has done. Padre Ron is making a list of all the Casas kids´teachers so he can stay in contact with them. Our staff looked especially professional, too.

Lord I Lift Your Name on High

The Casa Hogar "San José" is getting ready for our "roofdog" team's visit. Unusual weather conditions on the day the first trip was scheduled caused the flight to be cancelled and the entire trip to be rescheduled. March 25 the team will arrive. We're excited and learning some bilingual skills in preparation for their arrival. Tía Vicki has been helping with the English words and showing us how to smile in two languages! Padre Ron came along to see how good we´re getting!

Anglican Women's World Day of Prayer Service

Another event recently celebrated here was a special program of prayers and intercessions. The women have an annual celebration showcasing Christian women from other parts of the globe. This year Paraguay was showcased. As a part of this celebration the women each CROCHETTED a round to join together just as the women of Paraguay do. Here it is, folks! Vicki's piece is circled in red. I'm sure Mama June is looking down in amazment. As many of you know, Vicki has many talents, crochet, however, is NOT one of her favorites! Her flute, however, added a special beauty to the service celebrating the important role of Christian women worldwide.

Seminary Year Begins

February 10 our new seminary classes began. Our first two classes were Preaching and Liturgics. These Certificate I classes are offered on Sat. morning with the Morning Prayer service in between the two classes. During the week Padre offers two Certificate III classes. On Tuesday he offers Major Prophets and on Thursday he offers Revelation. Classes last 8 weeks and then the next set are offered. Our Morning Prayer service gives the students a chance to learn how to lead the service and also a chance to deliver a 5 minute homily. Friendly faces are a good place to get rid of those beginner's butterflies! Here is our opening day with students listening intently as they learn that their Preaching class final exams (10 minute homilies) are going to be filmed. To top it all off, Padre is inviting people to come and provide a "real" congregation. Keep these students in your prayers and pray no one passes out from nerves!

Future

What will it be??? We have been catapulted forward this year to looking at the kids' futures. One of our boys moved in last year, according to the courts, as a 12 yr. old. New records which we are contesting say he was 17 in December '06. Legally he must move out of the house when he is 17 yrs. and 11 months old. What will that mean for him? Currently we have enrolled him in a PRONOE which is a type of Saturday school where he will be able to advance more rapidly with his education. (He only finished 6th grade last year.) Now we have to find appropriate life skills for him so that he can support himself after he leaves us. (No, we'll not just pitch him out into the cold, but that piece remains as yet unfocused.) He wants to learn to drive and wants to drive BIG trucks. (Yeh, I know. Sounds like a "guy" thing, doesn't it?) Anyway, first things first- as he shows maturity in decisions, we will give him liberty to go and come to his school without being accompanied by a houseparent. Edgar tried out a couple of months as an apprentice to an automechanic. While not his "cup of tea" he learned a bit about motors. Not a bad thing if one wants to drive a BIG truck through some very isolated parts of Peru. He is pictured here in his mechanic's outfit- acting really "cool" about it all.

Building Community

Another way of building community is through our young people. Recently our "adolescentes" went to a teen gathering with the churches in Lima. Padre Juan Carlos drove the 15-17 of them to Lima in his van. They had a great time! He stopped for them to see the coast, look down on the Nazca lines, and bumped off the road to show them a tiny museum that houses a whale skeleton in the middle of a huge, dry desert. Our Arequipa youth were able to share with other teens in Lima. They left here as a group of acquaintances and came back a group of friends. Margot from Casa Hogar Sagrada Familia was with our group. Padre Ron and Vicki are always looking for ways to include the Casas kids in activities outside their daily routine. After the trip there was a great follow-up session with kids and their families present. We go as the parents of our Casas kids. There was sharing, many giggles, and prayers afterwards. Even the parents got to know one another a bit more as they comisserated on the trials of parenting adolescents. You can just make out Margot with a big smile in the background.

MISSIONARY FRONT LINES!!

Well, missionary work isn't all high drama and quoting Bible verses to the lost. Sometimes it is simply being a part of the community. Sometimes we are off to a birthday party- a BIG event in most Peruvian families. And, no, it isn't a matter of "Hi," a piece of cake and hug and "Goodbye." It is a 3 to 5 hour session of chatting, a full meal, making room for more people, and listening intently to multiple conversations in a language other than one's first language! But it is a community building event. (Maybe I should say a community FATTENING event, too!) Often someone will give an intricate handmade card, some beautiful flowers, or a handmade purse out of bluejean material. Usually gifts are not opened until the crowd has left in order to not embarrass those who are unable to bring anything. The focus is on making sure the GUESTS are well cared for.

Community means caring about one another. Caring enough to spend time on one another and building trust so that later deep things may be shared and prayed about. Here I'll include a picture of a missionary on the front lines- Vicki helping with a fund-raising dinner at the church.