JANIS
It has been my hope that one day some members of my church, Valley Ranch Baptist Church in Coppell, Texas would be able to personally know the children who benefit from the annual Christmas Store project that VRBC helps sponsor. I was delighted that 5 members of the church were able to visit in April.
Since the return of the VRBC team to the United States, there has been much discussion among the members about the trip they made here.
El Buen Pastor was filled with music as the team walked in that Sunday. Children were overflowing the building. Everyone was filled with curiosity as the VRBC sat down along the wall and the children watched them as they sang.
It has been my hope that one day some members of my church, Valley Ranch Baptist Church in Coppell, Texas would be able to personally know the children who benefit from the annual Christmas Store project that VRBC helps sponsor. I was delighted that 5 members of the church were able to visit in April.
Since the return of the VRBC team to the United States, there has been much discussion among the members about the trip they made here.
El Buen Pastor was filled with music as the team walked in that Sunday. Children were overflowing the building. Everyone was filled with curiosity as the VRBC sat down along the wall and the children watched them as they sang. It’s funny to me…but the members El Buen Pastor expected the VRBC members to be older. And here they were a group of forty-something or less Americans watching in amazement at the children singing with enthusiasm and viewing a visual portrait of the setting that had only been described to them through a few pictures and stories. 
But I think, for the Peruvians, the one thing that opened their hearts to my pastor, Larry Parsley, was his admission of terrible shyness when he was a child. Here he was, the senior pastor, admitting his unbearably shyness and how that had affected him.
But I think, for the Peruvians, the one thing that opened their hearts to my pastor, Larry Parsley, was his admission of terrible shyness when he was a child. Here he was, the senior pastor, admitting his unbearably shyness and how that had affected him. LOU
I believe that the members of El Buen Pastor were very excited to know Larry and the rest of the members from your church. They gave their time to repair some things that didn’t work in the church. They worked a lot so that the Americans could use the facility.
From the beginning, your pastor said that when he was a boy and teenager he was very shy and this made me remember how many Peruvians are the same way. Members of El Buen Pastor are this way too. Because of the shyness of your pastor and members of the church in Chorrillos, I believe they could understand one another.
JANISAmericans take for granted all the things that work on a regular basis in the church building. I imagine it would cause them some embarrassment to know that the members put in so much effort for them in so many small ways that they would not be aware of. Someone must have asked me about the lunch menu a dozen times wanting to be sure the food was appropriate for sensitive American stomachs. When I cautioned them against the use of salad or lettuce there was some disappointment because the lettuce added color to the food on the plate! We finally decided that the Americans could tolerate one leaf of lettuce and so the women doing the cooking were satisfied.
I know the teachers were all encouraging the children to sing and act appropriately in front of their guests. But a few small children managed to escape and sit in the laps of two or three of the visitors. Because there is a difference in the average height of Americans and Peruvians, it is sometimes hard for Americans to guess how old a child is in Peru. I was asked names and ages as each person tried to steal a few minutes to interact with the kids at the beginning of the opening assembly. 
LOUWell, I remember that I asked you what kind of food the Americans could eat and you advised me that chicken, rice….then the members of the church did what was necessary so the Americans felt sure about what they ate.
The teachers had talked with the kids for a week that they would have visitors from far away. So the adults, the teachers and the kids prepared themselves to give friendship to the Americans. And as you say some of the kids like Barbara and Azucena joined the two Americans and climbed on their backs. I believe this demonstrated an open visit between the children and the Americans.
JANISYes, any concerns about one another disappeared very quickly. Those who knew a little Spanish were eager to try a very words with the children. The kids were, of course, anxious for a touch or a few moments to talk with one of the Americans.
Yes, it was delightful to see Gary Dixon and Tom Rutledge carrying two children on their shoulders! Both are tall men so the girls must have felt their heads nearly touched the sky! Tom clearly enjoyed it as he has 4 sons; Gary’s children are older so he had a brief opportunity to enjoy the innocent delights of small children. We are so much more alike than we realize!
LOUYes, the concerns of the Americans disappeared because they were able to laugh with the children. And the kids were content with them. For a few moments, the two girls were high in the air…
The Americans were distributed among each Sunday School class. I remember that Larry was in my class and he heard my words about the Apocalypse and was very attentive to what I said. Their shyness disappeared when he had questions and he responded to them. The teenagers in my class enjoyed the presence of Larry and it was very fun to have him. I believe the other classes also had good stories having Americans in their classes.
JANIS
Yes, I went with Tom and Gary to Rocio’s class. Amy stayed with one of the younger children’s classes. And the others must have visited with Choya or one of the other teachers. Gary and Tom were very impressed with the way Rocio taught class and found he to be a very good teacher. They both have taught adult classes at my church for some time, and I think they enjoyed watching and hearing another teacher talk about some of the difficult issues that teenagers face as Christians.
After Sunday School, I enjoyed taking the Americans to see the house and land we’ve purchased. It was a great opportunity to share the vision we have for establishing a children’s center in San Genaro that will allow them to continue having homework help and a safe place to meet with their friends. And, of course, the view of the Pacific Ocean was spectacular…particularly from the roof. It was a pleasant day which offered everyone a chance to ask questions and walk around.
LOU
I believe that the teachers and children had a good visit. Regarding the house and the land, I agree with you about the visit. It a great idea to have these places to help the children and the community.
Then they walked through the poor zone and I believe that Choya, you and I were able to provide responses to their questions.
JANISYes, I think this was the most moving part of the day for the Americans. As we began our walk through the zones, the contrast at the bottom of the hill was apparent. The Pacific Ocean was in view and the field for the sports club visible. Everyone noticed the nice homes below.
However, the view nearby was very different. Over and over the Americans inquired about food, water and electricity. As we climbed further up the hill it was apparent that some homes had neither water or electricity. At this point, I think that poverty always becomes more than a concept. They were walking side by side with the people who lived in poverty every day. 
LOUWell, the view of the Pacific Ocean with the houses below gave a beautiful view for our eyes. Then we walked and could see the reality of the families that live there. Many of these families don’t have water or electricity. And now that it’s winter, these families also are cold. I believe that the Americans could have an clearer understanding of poverty here in Chorrillos.
JANISThe view of the area is interesting. But the impact, for me, of the homes on the hill is very dramatic. You can see rows and rows of homes that are clearly impoverished.
It seems to extend as far as you can see. For these Americans the contrast to their lives in the United States would have been very apparent. 
I think the climax of the walk came at the very end when we stopped near the top of the hill. The families here have no water or electricity. Remember how Todd ran up the “steps” constructed from old car tires? It is a difficult climb. Everyone watching was aware that women and children must climb those very steps daily to return home and to carry their water to their house. 
And then, Angelica came out of her home and walked down to talk to us. She shared about her life and desire to share God’s love with her neighbors. Her children walk at least 30 minutes every time they go to Sunday School at El Buen Pastor. As a group, we had just finished making that walk ourselves. We had experienced a small part of her daily life. It was quite moving.
LOUYes, in the mind of each of the Americans they had been able to compare their lives in Texas and the life of each one of the poor. In this poor zone in Chorrillos, the people need basic things to be able to live (water, electricity, a job, food and clothing) but many times it is difficult to secure because there are also gangs and drugs in the poor zone. The children grow up that grow up in this poor zone surrounded by misery, many times lacking the love from their parents and don’t believe they can have a good life.
JANIS
Well, I have waited for this opportunity to visibly share with members of my church about the lives of the children who benefit from the Christmas Store in Peru every December. I hope that as time continues, these visits will increase and cause others to want to become involved in the work in San Genaro and the other poor zones nearby in Chorrillos.
El Buen Pastor estaba lleno y los niños cantaban ese domingo. Todos estábamos llenos de curiosidad por la presencia de miembros de VRBC que estaban sentados y los niños los miraban cuando ellos cantaban también.
Pero pienso, que la cosa que abrió los corazones de los peruanos a mi pastor Larry Parsley, fue que él admitió haber sido extremadamente tímido cuando era un niño.
JANIS
Yo sé que los maestros estaban animando a los niños a cantar y actuar apropiadamente delante de los invitados. Pero unos niños pequeños se sentaron en los regazos de dos o tres de los visitantes. Porque hay diferencia en la altura de los americanos y peruanos, a veces es duro para los americanos suponer cuántos años un niño tiene en Perú. Yo pregunté nombres y edades y cada persona intentó tener unos minutos para actuar recíprocamente con los niños al principio en la apertura de la reunión. 
LOU
LOU
JANIS
Sin embargo, la vista cercana era muy diferente. Los americanos querían averiguar sobre la comida, agua y electricidad en la zona. Cuando subimos el cerro y vimos las casas, fue claro para nosotros que la gente no disponía de agua y electricidad. A estas alturas, pienso que la pobreza siempre se vuelve más que un concepto. Ellos estaban caminando lado a lado con personas que viven en la pobreza todos los días. 
LOU
JANIS
Parece extenderse tan lejos como tu puedes ver. Para estos americanos el contraste a sus vidas en los Estados Unidos había sido muy claro. 
Pienso que el clímax de la caminata vino al cuando nos detuvimos cerca de la cima del cerro. Las familias de aquí no tienen ni agua y ni electricidad. ¿Recuerdas como Todd subió corriendo las escaleras construidos de llantas de automóviles viejos? Eso era difícil de subir. Todos miraban conscientes que mujeres y niños debían subir esas escaleras diariamente para regresar a su hogar llevando agua. 
Entonces, salió Angélica de su casa y bajo para hablar con nosotros. Ella compartió sobre su vida y desea compartir el amor de Dios con sus vecinos. Sus niños caminan 30 minutos por lo menos cada vez que ellos van a la Escuela Dominical en El Buen Pastor. Como grupo, habíamos terminado aquella caminata. Habíamos experimentado una pequeña parte de su vida diaria. 
LOU