Service Ministry
Since we live in the dessert and close to the beach, cleaning is a regular thing that has to happen. So this week that is exactly what we did. In the mornings we would have 3 hours to clean. We started with the dormitory rooms. These are rooms that, at one point, were used for the orphanage that used to be in this building. But the church was able to acquire the building so they now use it to house missionaries, likes my team and I, except in larger quantities. We swept the floors, wiped down the walls and counters, and mopped the floor. We were also able to clean the smaller apartment in the compound for another group of missionaries to stay in.
School Program
The next part of our ministry that was new this week was helping with the private after school program. We didn’t know 100% what we were going to be doing coming into this but we were ready for whatever was to come. The first thing the children do is eat lunch when they arrive. After lunch they have a devotional led by the most energetic and patient woman named Betsy. We are able to help in this area by passing out the materials and crowd control. Then the children go outside to play an organized game led by Betsy. I love watching the children involved in the game and participating so well. The children then line back up to go inside to their different classes. There are 3 teachers that come, and the teachers are there to help with their homework and to teach them extra school related topics. I have definitely enjoyed sitting in the class that I am in. I am with the 1st-3rdgrade group and I have been able to help a couple of the children with their mathematics. I have taught them how to count using their fingers. I may or may not be a little prideful about showing them that strategy.
After this class, the children are then released and it is our turn as a team to teach English. Since the attention span of all the children is short by this time of the day, we usually play a few games or songs together and then teach them a little English. I have enjoyed watching them interact with us, especially the ones who really want to learn the different things we teach them.
The children are then released to go play outside until their food is ready.
English Class
This week we continued with out English classes. We were only able to teach on Monday and Wednesday but that is okay. We definitely are enjoying the relationships that we are building and the amount of students we all have.
Trujillo
This week, we also had the pleasure of traveling to Trujillo. The church we are partnered with has another church in Trujillo. We spent 4 days at the church. We were able to explore Trujillo for one of the days and then two other days we worked at the church. We were able to re-organize several areas in the church, clean different rooms, and paint a room. We came together as a team and accomplished multiple tasks in just a day and a half. It was actually quite rewarding to have finished it all.
The last ministry in Trujillo we were able to be a part of was street ministry. We were able to meet up with the youth from Pacasmayo in Trujillo, and we followed everyone to a neighborhood where the ministry began. We set up on a concrete soccer field and the youth started to dance. We also had our time to dance as a team and then Tabitha gave a short testimony for all who were listening. After the time was up, we moved to another park and they started ministry again. This time it was a little different. The youth did a couple of dances and then one of the men gave a sermon. At the end they asked if anyone wanted to receive Christ and a couple of people raised their hand. This was a perfect way to end street ministry.
This week has been ohh so busy but ohh so good. We have not only been able to build the relationships here that we desire to have everywhere we go, but we have been able to grow as a team. I am excited for this next week that is in store for myself and my team.
