Day-4a, July 6, 2009

Ola!

Today marked the official launch of the work of the children's ministry team in Lima. Almost. We were surprised to learn that this is Teachers' Day - a national holiday - and we arrived to find the school closed. So we hummed a few bars of our mantra "blessed are the flexible" and disappointment transformed into opportunity. The team could scout the school and had the principal at its full disposal as well as a translator so the team turned it into the best of all options: a planning day.

Reverend Julio Montoya and his family opened up both their Church, Santisima Trinidad and their home next door to start a nursery and primary school. Between Sundays, Santisima Trinidad transforms from temple to school with portable walls. The Reverend's daughter Norma Isabel is the principal and she is striving to provide a quality education embracing Christian values at a nominal fee that includes the cost of extras like textbooks. There's no sign on the door because there's no room at the inn. The school is at its maximum of 110 pupils.

Enter the children's ministry team which is here to create fun and learning in strategic ways. Together with the principal, they began to create their curriculum. Team member Caroline Honsberger for example is an elementary teacher turned literacy and numeracy coach. She hopes to use her expertise to raise reading levels.

The team toured the facilities such as the classrooms and the mini gym. The wall mural in the mini gym was painted by American volunteers.Much to its delight, the team found a trampoline wrapped up against the church wall. Coincidentally 3 of the team members are certified tramp teachers. They also found a nearby "park" to set it up.

This is a middle class neighbourhood in Lima. But most of the students come from a hillside shanty town.There is no running water. But we did catch a water truck making its rounds. Electrical wires hang down over the road like an octopus. Two and three families live together and on average the parents make $3 to $6 a day.

What's inspiring is no matter the wage and no matter the environment there is pride. If you view no other photo go to the picture of the man in the suit proudly making his way down the dusty road from his shack en route to work.

On each mission trip I've had the privilege of joining, there is always tension over resources; balancing the need and the money and members we have to meet it. At times members of non-medical teams are redeployed to our dental, eye and medical teams for extra support. Despite this the children's ministry team leader Patti Charbonneau feel strongly her team's mission is of equal value. As she says "we are here for so short a time. We won't solve Peru's problems but we can light the spark of self worth."

There is a special edition blog that accompanies Day 4. I have invited 16 year old Mariah Pettapiece-Phillipps to share her reflections on today's adventures with the children's ministry team. Mariah is an aspiring creative writer of short fiction. I hope you will enjoy hearing her voice as much as I do.

Click this link to see referenced photos: http://gallery.me.com/davidhillock