It's remarkable to think that we are nearly finished with Peru Camp 2012.
The third day of camp was excellent. At crafts, each child made a picture frame for the group picture they will receive at the end of the week. Sports is dominated by soccer and volleyball, but today we mixed it up (and succeeded in getting the kids out of the sun for a bit) by stopping each group for a dance lesson. Not surprisingly, the pool is annual favorite of our campers, and "Super Fun Games" was a blast - complete with street hockey, and trampoline, and a giant inflatable slide. We saw lots of mustaches coming from face painting. Maybe they were pretending to be secret agents in disguise at archery....
Each group also stopped for a bible lesson from the book of Daniel. Today we saw God's grace to Nebuchadnezzar (which is even more difficult to say in Spanish - Nabucodonosor). God showed grace that rescued the king from pride and led to repentance. At our large group meeting, Frankie Daniell from IPC Savannah clearly shared the gospel in teaching the kids about repentance and faith.
We have settled down after a delicious meal and uproarious fellowship at Stuart and Meg Mills' house, and look forward with a little sadness towards the last day at camp.
The highlight of the day was spending time with our bus driver, Pedro. He must have caught on that we are a very musical group, because today when we loaded onto Bob the Bus, Pedro began belting out hymns with a powerfully beautiful voice. As we sang in English, his voice soared over ours in Spanish.
It is breathtaking to see in other parts of the Body of Christ the uniquely crafted image of God.
"Elect from every nation, yet one over all the earth
Her charter of salvation, One Lord, one faith, one birth" Samuel Stone
In Christ Alone,
Zack
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Monday, January 2, 2012
O The Deep, Deep Love of Jesus - Spread His Praise from shore to shore
The first two days of camp are complete!
After an early morning breakfast we loaded Bob the bus en route to Las Lagunas - a fun and quirky rental facility outside of Trujillo. LL is complete with terraced open air structures of incredible variety, two pools, and a lagoon complete with two very real penguins. Check out our facebook page for pictures.
This morning our team began studying John chapter 11 - the raising of Lazarus from the dead. It is our hope that in seeing the heart of our Savior in the way He lived His life, we will be challenged and comforted in our own work.
The first day is always rather raucous - we have a few minutes to prepare for 200 people at a facility that most of the team had never seen. Thankfully, Stuart Mills (missionary and director of the Parish Woodshop - an economic development venture that has provided jobs for many skilled craftsman in the community while going about the work of discipleship - visit http://parish.myshopify.com) and many other volunteers were hard at work behind the scenes the entire time.
The best part of these first two days was watching our team spring into action. All of the planning and vision of he past year saw life. We saw joy on the faces of everyone involved - joy in serving and the hilarity of summer camp. The language barrier is difficult, but Peru Mission has provided and incredible team of translators.
The night before our first day of camp, we gathered to sing. It was incredible to hear our team sing in praise and thanksgiving to God. On the last verse of the great hymn, O the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus, we began to sing accapella. The entire hotel was filled with 4 part harmony (this team is shockingly talented). We received word later that the staff and guests of the hotel had marveled at the beauty of it all. I pray that the beauty of our song would be reflected in our hearts.
In Christ Alone,
- Zack
After an early morning breakfast we loaded Bob the bus en route to Las Lagunas - a fun and quirky rental facility outside of Trujillo. LL is complete with terraced open air structures of incredible variety, two pools, and a lagoon complete with two very real penguins. Check out our facebook page for pictures.
This morning our team began studying John chapter 11 - the raising of Lazarus from the dead. It is our hope that in seeing the heart of our Savior in the way He lived His life, we will be challenged and comforted in our own work.
The first day is always rather raucous - we have a few minutes to prepare for 200 people at a facility that most of the team had never seen. Thankfully, Stuart Mills (missionary and director of the Parish Woodshop - an economic development venture that has provided jobs for many skilled craftsman in the community while going about the work of discipleship - visit http://parish.myshopify.com) and many other volunteers were hard at work behind the scenes the entire time.
The best part of these first two days was watching our team spring into action. All of the planning and vision of he past year saw life. We saw joy on the faces of everyone involved - joy in serving and the hilarity of summer camp. The language barrier is difficult, but Peru Mission has provided and incredible team of translators.
The night before our first day of camp, we gathered to sing. It was incredible to hear our team sing in praise and thanksgiving to God. On the last verse of the great hymn, O the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus, we began to sing accapella. The entire hotel was filled with 4 part harmony (this team is shockingly talented). We received word later that the staff and guests of the hotel had marveled at the beauty of it all. I pray that the beauty of our song would be reflected in our hearts.
In Christ Alone,
- Zack
Sunday, January 1, 2012
O Dayof Rest and Gladness
Greetings from Trujillo!
After a few days of traveling, we have at last reached our destination. And we could not be more thrilled!
From 6:30am on Friday to 7:00pm on Saturday, we have been on the move. We are incredibly thankful that all of our bags arrived, and with the exception of a few ear aches, our team has been healthy. Two of our team members - Austin and Brandon - had never flown before this trip. They are both pretty cool characters, so if they were nervous, they didn´t let on.
After meeting up in Lima (at 2:00am on Saturday) with Frankie Daniell and his team from IPC Savannah, GA, we spent the night and did some time sight seeing in Lima while waiting on our plane to Trujillo. The crew from Savannah are great! Frankie, his wife Judy, one pastor and one elder from IPC, and counselors from their day camp, Point Pleasant, have been a joy to get to know.
Our new years eve was spent eating dinner in our hotel, and meeting for an overview of the history of camp, mission and vision, cultural education, and an early night to bed. We were considerably exhausted from traveling and lack of sleep on Friday night. But God has provided us a day of rest for His worship and our good. We look forward to worshipping with our brothers and sisters at Arevalo church, and to our full staff orientation with all of our Peru Mission volunteers. Continue to pray for us:
O day of rest and gladness, o day of joy and light,
Today on weary nations the heavenly manna falls;
After a few days of traveling, we have at last reached our destination. And we could not be more thrilled!
From 6:30am on Friday to 7:00pm on Saturday, we have been on the move. We are incredibly thankful that all of our bags arrived, and with the exception of a few ear aches, our team has been healthy. Two of our team members - Austin and Brandon - had never flown before this trip. They are both pretty cool characters, so if they were nervous, they didn´t let on.
After meeting up in Lima (at 2:00am on Saturday) with Frankie Daniell and his team from IPC Savannah, GA, we spent the night and did some time sight seeing in Lima while waiting on our plane to Trujillo. The crew from Savannah are great! Frankie, his wife Judy, one pastor and one elder from IPC, and counselors from their day camp, Point Pleasant, have been a joy to get to know.
Our new years eve was spent eating dinner in our hotel, and meeting for an overview of the history of camp, mission and vision, cultural education, and an early night to bed. We were considerably exhausted from traveling and lack of sleep on Friday night. But God has provided us a day of rest for His worship and our good. We look forward to worshipping with our brothers and sisters at Arevalo church, and to our full staff orientation with all of our Peru Mission volunteers. Continue to pray for us:
- That as we have witnessed the grace of Jesus Christ, others would see hearts of grace and truth.
- That God would prepare and open hearts to the Gospel
- That we would be a blessing to missionaries, churches, and communities in Peru
- That we would have good health and stamina
- For protection as we travel, serve, and sweat
- That the facilities we rent would be welcoming to our ministry, accomodating, and understanding
- That we will work well with translators and those learning from us how to run camp
- Protection of our families that remain home in the States
- That we will be flexible, patient, understanding, kind, courteous, and loving - especially when we may be tired or things do not go as planned
- That we would be sensitive to cultural differences, thinking of others above ourselves
Finally, pray that we would rest in Jesus, and worship Him while we encourage His worship amongst children and families here in Trujillo.
O day of rest and gladness, o day of joy and light,
O balm of care and sadness, most beautiful, most bright:
On Thee, the high and lowly, through ages joined in tune,
Sing holy, holy, holy, to the great God Triune.
Today on weary nations the heavenly manna falls;
To holy convocations the silver trumpet calls,
Where Gospel light is glowing with pure and radiant beams,
And living water flowing, with soul refreshing streams.
New graces ever gaining from this our day of rest,
We reach the rest remaining to spirits of the blessed.
To Holy Ghost be praises, to Father, and to Son;
The church her voice upraises to Thee, blessed Three in One.
In Christ Alone,
Zack
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