LOU
It is a great time to begin the new year with our blog since the last one was about the Christmas Store in 2007.
It is a great time to begin the new year with our blog since the last one was about the Christmas Store in 2007.
The these past two months God has blessed the kids with classes in the keyboard, math and choreography. How have you been these past two months? 
JANIS
Yes, it has been a good beginning this year. Since the Christmas Store in December 2007, I have been speaking with Buckner International to arrange a community day at El Buen Pastor this coming June when one of the Texas mission teams is in Lima.
We also hope to have a medical mission in October through Buckner. Kelly Jensen with SportReach would like to bring one of his teams to San Genaro to work with the kids in July.
And, of course, you know that Karina Sandoval, a graduate student at the University of Dallas, has received word from the World Youth Congress that her proposal project for school supplies for the Bridge of Hope kids has been accepted for presentation in August 2008 in Canada. 
We have also been given the opportunity to “field test” some materials through Girls Circle. They have translated a 12 week program called “Body, Mind and Spirit” into Spanish and want us to use it with our girls to see how it works in Peru. We’ll have some publicity on their website as a result.
I hadn’t realized how many good things have happened in two short months. Tell me about the classes this summer.
LOU
It is interesting all the you have told me and the activities that Buckner and SportReach will do as well as Karina. We will have a very busy year.
Maybe you will have other news for the people in Peru later. Well, after the Christmas Store and Christmas, we had a two week rest and then we coordinated on who would be the teachers for 4 classes that were given during the 2 months of summer vacation. 
I believe that the persons cosen were given to us by God so that they could be our help. 
The year before we had about 20 students in two classes. Now we have about 35 students in 4 classes. Not only did you have summer classes for Studies but each Friday we offered a movie for the kids to see. Also, we enjoyed two times at the Beach. I believe that the kids enjoyed this summer. I was a great summer.
JANIS
That’s wonderful. I know the kids enjoyed the beach. February is the warmest month there and the beach is a popular activity for everyone. I’m sure the movies have been a great diversion. A good friend of mine has volunteered to donate more movies that we can use throughout the year.
But math classes? I can’t imagine American children actually requesting math during the summer.
Tell me, who helped with the teaching this summer? Weren’t there also some classes for the little kids, too? 
LOU
Well, I had thought about only having classes in keyboard, English and a class for the younger children entering school this year. But the same kids from El Buen Pastor Church asked for math classes.
The teachers that partipated this year were Rafael Leon, who taught the keyboard. The class for the younger children who are entering school was Rocio Cuestas who had a good teaching method for the kids. 
And, I am the one who has taught English and coreography. Math was taught by me and we were joined by Luis Enrique Vergara who is now an engineering student. 
JANIS
Last summer you taught the classes alone. It was great that a friend of mine provided enough money to have all these activities with additional teachers. Tell me, what has been the high point in the summer for the kids?
LOU
Well, the kids have been able to study with us and have been entertained. Each child not only has learned but also has played with the teacher.
On Fridays we were able to see movies that entertained them. Besides, we also went twice to the Beach. Apart from this, the teenagers went to a camp in Canete located about 2.5 hours from Lima. 
During one week they learned about God and were entertained playing with other kids from other parts of Peru. 
JANIS
I think the camp sounds like a great experience for the kids. Describe the activities they participated in during the week? Was there anything they enjoyed in particular?
LOU
I believe everyone was entertained by all of the activities. The kids were divided by ages; they were not together. We left Chorrillos at 7 am and arrived hungry in Canete. We ate lunch at 3:30 p.m.
We were divided by ages. The kids met others kids from different parts of Peru. Each dormitory had a counselor and they helped the kids. I believe the kid-counselor relationship was very good.
That day we saw a choreography and the kids finished the day tired. The following day they participated in the game MUFAPUFA (where they divided into teams and competed with each other during the week). 
In this game some of the El Buen Pastor kids lost their fear of leaving earlier. In the mornings we had Bible Studies for adolescents and by mid-day they were able to begin playing games. 
An activity that they enjoyed was the “Tarde Mojada” where they had to play in the water in order to win the most points. 
Another activity was an afternoon in the pool where they had “free play” in the pool. 
One night we had a bonfire where many kids made a decision to follow Christ. 
The lessons at night were stories, choreographies and drama. Very interesting. 
JANIS
Wow, that rounds like a full week for everyone.
There is something beneficial for kids when they are away from home with kids from other locations. I think they learn a lot through these new relationships. 
I remember similar opportunities in my life, and for me, these were defining experiences. They will never forget this opportunity particularly if they made a personal decision related to the direction of their life.
Can you think of particular kids and the changes you witnessed in them during the week?
LOU
I can think of three girls. The first, named Judith who is 14 and is the secretary and part of the Sunday School program (at El Buen Pastor). She had learned keyboard during the summer. She went to camp and was able to relate to other girls in her dormitory. She found a new relationship with Jesus as an adolescente. She took away a good experience from Canete, new friends and a new relationship with Jesus Christ.
The second girl, Amali, who is 13, participated last year in the summer classes. 
This summer Amali continued participating in math classes, keyboard and English. She had not given much thought to the classes in English (we learned vocabulary for food, the kitchen, etc). 
In camp, we had a group of American secondary students who worked as helpers serving food to us. Our waitress didn’t speak any Spanish but Amali learned that the English classes I had given were necessary for eating.
We returned to Lima, Amali, I continued giving English classes and Amali now participates and understands the importance of English.
But the most important part is that Amali accepted Jesus as her Savior in her life.
The third girl is Flor who is 13 years old. She was one of my best students in my English class and also enjoyed the activities in camp. 
The moment that lunch or supper began she lost her timidity and was able to communicate with our American waitress. She also rededicated her life to God. 
JANIS
Well, it seems that the summer was a success in a variety of ways.
Obviously, the most important result is knowing the kids are finding a personal connection to God who will be with them throughout their lives. They are also having experiences outsider of their usual community which allows them to make new friendships and learn more of others. 
The classroom activities have been reinforced because they can see what they learn in class can be used in beneficial ways away from the class. Little by little, they will be able to gain confidence in themselves and their ability to choose the life they want for themselves.
It is interesting all the you have told me and the activities that Buckner and SportReach will do as well as Karina. We will have a very busy year.
Maybe you will have other news for the people in Peru later. Well, after the Christmas Store and Christmas, we had a two week rest and then we coordinated on who would be the teachers for 4 classes that were given during the 2 months of summer vacation. I believe that the persons cosen were given to us by God so that they could be our help. The year before we had about 20 students in two classes. Now we have about 35 students in 4 classes. Not only did you have summer classes for Studies but each Friday we offered a movie for the kids to see. Also, we enjoyed two times at the Beach. I believe that the kids enjoyed this summer. I was a great summer.
JANIS
That’s wonderful. I know the kids enjoyed the beach. February is the warmest month there and the beach is a popular activity for everyone. I’m sure the movies have been a great diversion. A good friend of mine has volunteered to donate more movies that we can use throughout the year.
But math classes? I can’t imagine American children actually requesting math during the summer.
Tell me, who helped with the teaching this summer? Weren’t there also some classes for the little kids, too? LOUWell, I had thought about only having classes in keyboard, English and a class for the younger children entering school this year. But the same kids from El Buen Pastor Church asked for math classes.
The teachers that partipated this year were Rafael Leon, who taught the keyboard. The class for the younger children who are entering school was Rocio Cuestas who had a good teaching method for the kids. And, I am the one who has taught English and coreography. Math was taught by me and we were joined by Luis Enrique Vergara who is now an engineering student. JANISLast summer you taught the classes alone. It was great that a friend of mine provided enough money to have all these activities with additional teachers. Tell me, what has been the high point in the summer for the kids?
LOUWell, the kids have been able to study with us and have been entertained. Each child not only has learned but also has played with the teacher.
On Fridays we were able to see movies that entertained them. Besides, we also went twice to the Beach. Apart from this, the teenagers went to a camp in Canete located about 2.5 hours from Lima. During one week they learned about God and were entertained playing with other kids from other parts of Peru. JANISI think the camp sounds like a great experience for the kids. Describe the activities they participated in during the week? Was there anything they enjoyed in particular?
LOUI believe everyone was entertained by all of the activities. The kids were divided by ages; they were not together. We left Chorrillos at 7 am and arrived hungry in Canete. We ate lunch at 3:30 p.m.
We were divided by ages. The kids met others kids from different parts of Peru. Each dormitory had a counselor and they helped the kids. I believe the kid-counselor relationship was very good. That day we saw a choreography and the kids finished the day tired. The following day they participated in the game MUFAPUFA (where they divided into teams and competed with each other during the week). In this game some of the El Buen Pastor kids lost their fear of leaving earlier. In the mornings we had Bible Studies for adolescents and by mid-day they were able to begin playing games. An activity that they enjoyed was the “Tarde Mojada” where they had to play in the water in order to win the most points. Another activity was an afternoon in the pool where they had “free play” in the pool. One night we had a bonfire where many kids made a decision to follow Christ. The lessons at night were stories, choreographies and drama. Very interesting. JANISWow, that rounds like a full week for everyone.
There is something beneficial for kids when they are away from home with kids from other locations. I think they learn a lot through these new relationships. I remember similar opportunities in my life, and for me, these were defining experiences. They will never forget this opportunity particularly if they made a personal decision related to the direction of their life.
Can you think of particular kids and the changes you witnessed in them during the week?LOUI can think of three girls. The first, named Judith who is 14 and is the secretary and part of the Sunday School program (at El Buen Pastor). She had learned keyboard during the summer. She went to camp and was able to relate to other girls in her dormitory. She found a new relationship with Jesus as an adolescente. She took away a good experience from Canete, new friends and a new relationship with Jesus Christ.
The second girl, Amali, who is 13, participated last year in the summer classes. This summer Amali continued participating in math classes, keyboard and English. She had not given much thought to the classes in English (we learned vocabulary for food, the kitchen, etc). In camp, we had a group of American secondary students who worked as helpers serving food to us. Our waitress didn’t speak any Spanish but Amali learned that the English classes I had given were necessary for eating.We returned to Lima, Amali, I continued giving English classes and Amali now participates and understands the importance of English.But the most important part is that Amali accepted Jesus as her Savior in her life.
The third girl is Flor who is 13 years old. She was one of my best students in my English class and also enjoyed the activities in camp. The moment that lunch or supper began she lost her timidity and was able to communicate with our American waitress. She also rededicated her life to God. JANISWell, it seems that the summer was a success in a variety of ways.
Obviously, the most important result is knowing the kids are finding a personal connection to God who will be with them throughout their lives. They are also having experiences outsider of their usual community which allows them to make new friendships and learn more of others. The classroom activities have been reinforced because they can see what they learn in class can be used in beneficial ways away from the class. Little by little, they will be able to gain confidence in themselves and their ability to choose the life they want for themselves.
En estos dos meses Dios pudo bendecir a los chicos con clases de teclado, ingles, matemáticas y coreografía. Que tal tu, como te fue en estos dos meses? 
Yo no me habia dado cuenta de cuántas cosas buenas han pasado en dos cortos meses. Dígame sobre las clases de este verano. 
Creo que las personas elegidas fueron dadas por Dios para que sean nuestra ayuda. 
¿Pero clases de matemática? Yo no puedo imaginar a niños americanos que pidiendo matemáticas realmente durante el verano. ¿Dígame, quién ayudó con la enseñanza este verano? ¿No Hubo algunas clases para los niños pequeños, también? 
LOU
Los maestros que participaron en estos dos meses fueron, Rafael León, encargado de la música de la iglesia quien enseño teclado. Nivelación Escolar fue enseñado por Rocío Cuestas, quien tiene buena metodología de enseñanzas para los niños. 
Y este servidor es quien ha enseñado ingles, coreografía. Matemáticas ha sido enseñado por mi persona y por Luis Enrique Vergara quien todavía es un estudiante de ingeniería se unió a nosotros a mitad de Febrero. Creo que ha sido buenos maestros. 
LOU
JANIS
Ese día vimos una coreografía, los chicos terminaron cansados. Al siguiente día los chicos participaron en el juego MUFAPUFA (en donde a los campistas los dividían en dos equipos y por toda la semana iban a competir por el campeonato). 
Aquí en este juego algunos chicos del Buen Pastor se divirtieron, y fueron perdiendo el temor a salir adelante. En las mañanas teníamos enseñanzas de la Palabra de Dios y eran temas para adolescentes (obvio) y a partir del mediodía podíamos ya comenzar a jugar en los diferentes juegos. 
JANIS
Yo recuerdo las oportunidades similares en mi vida, y para mí, esas fueron experiencias definidas. Ellos nunca se olvidarán particularmente de esta oportunidad si ellos tomaron una decisión personal relacionada a la dirección de sus vidas. 
¿Puedes pensar en particulares niños y los cambios que tu fuiste testigo en ellos durante la semana? 
LOU
Ella encontró en Jesús una nueva forma de ver la vida como una adolescente. Se llevo una buena experiencia en Cañete, nuevas amigas y una nueva relación con Jesucristo.
En el campamento estuvieron un grupo de estudiantes americanos de secundaria, quienes se ofrecieron a servirnos la comida. Nuestra waitress no hablaba nada de español, así que Amali entendió que las clases que yo había dado eran necesarias para comer. 
Cuando regresamos a Lima, yo seguí dando las clases de ingles y Amali ahora si participaba y le daba importancia al ingles. Pero lo mas importante es que Amali acepto a Jesús como Señor de su vida. 
En el momento del almuerzo o cena, ella perdió la timidez y pudo comunicarse con nuestra joven “american waitress”. Flor también se reconcilio con el Señor. 
JANIS
Las actividades del aula han sido reforzadas porque ellos pueden ver lo que aprendieron en clase y pueden ser usadas en forma beneficiosa fuera de ella. Poco a poco, ellos podrán ganar confianza en ellos mismos y tendrán la habilidad de escoger la vida que ellos quieran.
