Pat in Peru

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

Sunday in Shalom

On Sunday 24th we held the first service in the Shalom centre and had a blessed time together. Erik and Luis joined us and others gathered to praise the Lord and share communion together.












































Small beginnings but a very positive start to this important aspect of the ministry amongst those with disabilities.
Women's Ministry - 2008 - Association of AnglicanWomen - AMA


On Saturday women from the various parishes in Lima gathered in the church Jesus the Saviour in Villa El Salvador to celebrate the new activities for 2008. There was a time of worship and activities and a bible study focusing on John 15, text from the upcoming World Day of Prayer service.










me leading a small group







and praying together


















We then celebrated the Eucharist together followed by a time of refreshments and catching up.










Pray for the various activities this year, and each group as it meets locally in the parishes. There will be other united events during the year, retreats, Mother's Day activities, we celebrate in May, and coordinations by the leaders for study mateials and themes to be used in the local groups.

Thursday, February 21, 2008

Shalom - ministry with children with disablities

On Saturday 16th February we officially inaugurated the new premises for the Shalom ministry. We have only moved next door from where we were but we have a bit more space for the therapies and other activities with those with disabilities and their families. The parents and other volunteers have decorated and it is looking transformed and very 'homely'. We have purchased some new equipment and gradually getting the essentials in place.

















Shopping for tables and chairs

















Luisa Bravo is now fulltime with the ministry, moving from her long time commitment to the duck project. It is great to have her alongside and she is very enthusiastic. There are several new children involved and we are helping some so they are able to attend the local special school.















We plan to start a morning centre for the youngest children - under 5's, and then therapies will continue in the afternoon, physical, language and occupational. I hope to do some workshops in art and crafts with the children and activities with the mothers as well.

The other important activity is that we are going to start having church services and Sunday school in the building as from this coming Sunday, 10am. Please pray for this initiative. There are quite a few families that live near by so we are praying that we can really develop the pastoral and spiritual side of the ministry in this way.


Due to the development of this ministry and the future plans we have become part of the Diocesan organisation and are a recognised project of the Diocesan NGO (non governmental Organisation) Comunion Peru.

It is still our desire to purchase a building but for the meantime we are in this inbetween stage and are aware of God's blessing and leading on this important ministry.
Fund raising activities

The last few weeks has been an incredibly busy time in Nazareno church. All the young people have been focused on fund raising activities to help pay for their camps. I have been amazed by their enthusiasm and they have been very successful and in both the teenager and youth camp Nazareno has been the largest group.

Cinema night, raffles and tombola, ceviche (raw fish dish), panchos (hot dogs), and a few other enterprizing initiatives!!









Ceviche - raw fish marinated in lemon juice - a typical Lima dish especially in the summer on Sundays!




































Rudy and Lissett having a taste!






Tonight the 11 young people leave for the youth camp which is to held in Ica, the area affected by the earthquake last year. Please pray for them as they have this time away.


Teenage camp

The first weekend of February saw the teenagers from the various Anglican churches gather for the annual summer camp. I went along as a leader and led sessions on prayer and generally helped out keeping the youngsters busy and encouraged! Nazareno sent the biggest group with 12 of us present. I am encouraged the way God has blessed our youth work in Nazareno, please continue to pray for all the young people.

The weekend had a mission focus and on the Saturday we all went into the nearby town to evangelise with mime, singing, puppets, children's activities, giving out drinks and leaflets and also collecting rubbish.

At first the youngsters were a bit anxious but they soon got into the swing of things and working in teams they rose to the task and enjoyed themselves and we pulled quite a crowd and were able to share the Christan message with many who came to look and listen.
Summer Childrens Activities


Since mid January we have been running various activities during the week for the local children. Diana and I have been teaching art, painting and crafts with bible stories mixed in.


















Usually once a week the children watch a Christan DVD, we have seen the life of Peter, Paul, David and other Bible characters. The children are captivated as you can see. The projector has been a real blessing, given last year by the Kairos team from Tunbridge Wells, and recently the new sound system donated by St. Paul's Dunville. We are getting quite techno!!