Saw Arthur and Pete off at the airport. Always sad to say goodbye to our few and far between visitors (though, of course, having them around is a real encouragement and joy), but can’t be too downhearted this time since we ourselves are leaving in a couple of days. Can’t wait!!
Feb 282011
Feb 262011
The home gardening workshop went well. Arthur, who came with me, was very encouraging and said it was obvious how good a rapport I had with the families and that they had really responded to what I was sharing with them. We made a raised bed (a new concept for them) and then planted it with 5 different seeds. What was most encouraging for me is that, in a culture where working together is often absent, the families themselves have decided to get together and do a communal garden – a very exciting development as far as I am concerned.
Afterwards, we took the car down to Lima and only nearly died once – overtaking on a blind bend is not quite what I had in mind when I asked our driver to get us there safely!! It was good to get there and relax!
Feb 252011
My busy week and a half translating in various conference sessions and workshops for Arthur and Pete has reached an end. They’ve gone really well, but it is quite tiring to be constantly thinking in 2 languages and trying to remember who needs to hear what.
Off to Lima tomorrow (after giving a workshop on home gardening) to take Arthur and Pete to the airport before flying off ourselves on the 2nd to Brazil and Paraguay. Feeling exhausted, so hoping that a break will be just what the doctor ordered.
Feb 242011
We’ve been spending a fair bit of time in San Jeronimo, a nearby village where there is a Vineyard church plant, this week with Arthur and Pete. We’ve seen lots of people showing up to hear about the Kingdom of God and then receive training in how to pray for other people. The real encouragement being that the various churches in the village came together to have a joint meeting and hear the teaching.
The slight disappointment perhaps was the only a handful turned up the next day, though all of them were from the Vineyard group and they were very willing. We prayed for around 30 people perhaps over the course of the morning and we saw some amazing stuff going on – backs healed, headache gone, people touched by the peace of God…
I personally had the chance to pray with a lady who’d had a stress-related headache for the past 4 years (since separating from her husband). As soon as I touched her head, my hand became really hot (a sign of the Holy Spirit at work) and a minute later she was saying that she was completely pain-free. Wow!!
In the end, we had to leave, but the locals from San Jeronimo were so enthused by what they were witnessing that they just couldn’t bring themselves to pack up and go home!
Today were were back, this time to do an afternoon workshop on the importance of giving children boundaries (part of a 2 day series on parenting). It was relatively poorly attended (perhaps 15), but once the session finally got under way (about an hour late), it was actually a good time and helpful for those that were there. We hope for more and more of the same tomorrow.
Feb 212011
Back up in the mountains with Pete and Arthur from Plymouth Vineyard (as well as being reunited with Rachel) having had 3 days in Lima running a Peru Vineyard conference on Kingdom of God and the Healing On The Streets ministry that Plymouth are involved with. It was a great time and I, as translator, surprised myself with how much Spanish I actually know. We saw God move and many people touched and some people healed from a variety of ailments, ranging from sore throats to bad backs and bad knees – great stuff!!
It’s a rest day today (for Arthur and Pete anyway), but then tomorrow we’re doing the same training and I’ll be translating again in San Jeronimo, a small nearby village where there is a Vineyard church plant.
Feb 152011
Just got back from the first 2.5 days of the PCT Camp for the children (which gives them an opportunity to be kids, eat well, sleep in a bed and get some spiritual input). It was exhausting, but good.
I got the opportunity to lead some participative workshops with the children on two evenings, using a range of activities to “listen” to their problems – there are lots, the most significant of which are financial problems, difficulties with school work, poor quality housing and health concerns. I have to say that I was moved to tears reading all their comments about the physical abuse they suffer and particularly the comment (which one has to remember was coming from a child below the age of 12) that read “I feel that I am not for this world”.
Feb 112011
After a bit of an all-nighter, I have finally got to the stage of having all 4 courses ready… just need to go an find a printer… Hoping that they should all be ready for tomorrow
I am done in and how wonderful it would be to enjoy a day off tomorrow before the camp starts with 150 kids but, unfortunately, it is the only chance I have, before being out of action for a while, to visit the community where I am doing the Home Gardening Project and speak with the folk there about what they would like to plant and what size of garden they can make available. Never thought that a kids camp would be my opportunity to rest!!
Feb 102011
A few modifications made and 3 whole new pages added tonight to the site – check out the options in the “Work With PCT” tab. Still more to come, but not tonight!
Feb 102011
The fly is halfway out of the ointment. I’ve now got 3 course texts books finished (for 10 weeks only) and 1 of the teachers’ books. Could still be a long day tomorrow though…
Feb 102011
Just found out that I’d been planning for academic terms lasting 11 weeks (based on my experience last year) and that this year we’ve decided to have 4 terms of 10 weeks instead. That means rewriting the courses so that they can now fit in to the time allowed – and it was a squeeze before!!
So, 48 hours to go and now no courses ready!!!