On Wednesday we had our last Spanish grammar class. We had been due to finish grammar the previous week but due to Dave being sick we had one extra week of grammar. We had a real sense of achievement at completing the course, however in terms of langugae study it only means that there is more work ahead of us! Next week we will increase from one practical class a day to two classes a day instead of grammar. The idea now is to get lots of practice speaking and begin using the grammar that we have been taught.
Today (Thursday) we travelled by bus to Ilo. We will spend the evening with the Morrows, before heading out to Ite for our field conference tomorrow morning. This will invovle a series of meetings where Pastor Harry Dowds, who has accompanied the Baptist Team this year will speak. We are looking forward to being refreshed and challenged by God´s Word.
We plan to travel back to Arequipa after the weekend and then in the middle of the week Gordon Darragh, his wife Janet and eight year old daughter Amy will join us for a few nights. Sarah is looking forward to Amy´s company - and Gordon and Janet too of course!
Friday, June 29, 2007
Saturday, June 23, 2007
A Reminder that Peru Needs the the Freeing Message of the Gospel
Today (Saturday) we decided that since Sarah and I (Dave) had recovered from our stomach bugs that we could venture out into the town for a while as we had both been stuck in the apartment for most of the week. It was nice to get a change of scenery and we were also able to enjoy a lovely meal out at lunchtime, our day as a family was just what the doctor ordered!
As we were on our way into the town in a taxi and passing under the bridge that ran above us our attention was drawn to a crowd standing below the bridge on the other side of the road. It became apparent that the crowd were standing around a body. About ten minutes previous to us passing a young person had thrown themselves off the bridge above. This is not an isolated event as suicides are very common here in Peru, however as we passed it struck me how hopeless so many people here in Peru feel. It was a reminder to us how many people need God to touch their desperate situations. It was a reminder that so many people here do not know that they are special to God, that their lives are precious, and have never heard Jesus' words of John 10:10 that he Has come to bring life and that we may have it to it to the full.
As I thought about this tragic event my heart was moved but it also confirmed to us the need to share God's love with so many people in desperate situations here in Peru. Praise God that the Gospel is a message a of hope, a message that assures us that our lives are valuable and ultimately it is a message that can deliver from darkness.
As we were on our way into the town in a taxi and passing under the bridge that ran above us our attention was drawn to a crowd standing below the bridge on the other side of the road. It became apparent that the crowd were standing around a body. About ten minutes previous to us passing a young person had thrown themselves off the bridge above. This is not an isolated event as suicides are very common here in Peru, however as we passed it struck me how hopeless so many people here in Peru feel. It was a reminder to us how many people need God to touch their desperate situations. It was a reminder that so many people here do not know that they are special to God, that their lives are precious, and have never heard Jesus' words of John 10:10 that he Has come to bring life and that we may have it to it to the full.
As I thought about this tragic event my heart was moved but it also confirmed to us the need to share God's love with so many people in desperate situations here in Peru. Praise God that the Gospel is a message a of hope, a message that assures us that our lives are valuable and ultimately it is a message that can deliver from darkness.
Monday, June 18, 2007
A Few Hiccups (for want of a better word!) and a Few Upcoming Events
We had been really fortunate that in 25 months of Sarah's life and 5 months in Peru Sarah had not been sick. On Friday the inevitable happened! When Alicia went to collect Sarah from her nursery Sarah's teacher told her that Sarah had been sick four times that morning. Apparently a stomach virus has been working its way around the children.
We brought Sarah home and in the evening she seemed to pick up quite a bit and she was not being sick as often. On Saturday morning Sarah seemed much better and at that point we had thought that she had just picked up a 24 hour bug. Sarah's nursery had planned a Father's Day performanc on Saturday morning and given that she seemed much better we decided to allow her to go. Unfortunately, the performance did not go to plan. Unlike Sarah's Mother's Day performance where she stole the show as the only child on stage to follow instructions, in this performance she copied her classmates and just stood motionless with a big frown on her face. (Therefore we have withheld the photos this time!)
Following Sarah's performance (or lack of!) she came down into the audience and watched the rest of the classes doing their bit. Half way through the programme she decided to be sick once again. I guess her Father's Day gift was to completely miss her Dad and totally cover her mum! At this we decided it was time to make a quick exit! Fortunately now after being prescribed some medicine Sarah is much better and well on the road to recovery.
With regards to our Spanish classes, things are going quite well. Up to this point we have had two classes each day. One class was to get a grasp of the grammar and the other class was a conversation class which allowed us to use the grammar we had been learning. This Friday will be our last grammar class and from then on we will have two practical/conversation classes a day. Just because we are finished grammar does not mean we are anywhere near fluent as knowing the rules of the grammar and being able to apply them in conversations are completely different things, however we are glad that we have made progress and day by day we are growing in confidence (although there are still days of frustration!)
From now on we will also be able to develop our Biblical and theological vocabulary as in one of our practical classes we will be expected to work through a Spanish Christian book of our choice and write summaries of the chapters, discuss topics and probably a whole lot more. We are looking forward to this and hope that it will also enable us to get a better grasp of the sermons we have been hearing in our church. Again thanks to all who have been praying for our progress in language study, we really are committed to getting the language really well (although we know that we will be learning for many years and that the language school is really just to get us off the ground and able to communicate), as we really want to be able to communicate God's love to the people here in the most simple and understandable manner.
Next week will be a short week at the language institute as we have a Mission Conference at the new Camp Centre in Ite. We will leave Arequipa on Thursday by bus and come back on Monday morning. We are looking forward to meeting the Baptist Missions team from Ireland while there and also to being encouraged by Harry Dowds' ministry. Pray that we will be refreshed by this time both spiritually and physically and please pray for Harry as he prepares God's Word.
We brought Sarah home and in the evening she seemed to pick up quite a bit and she was not being sick as often. On Saturday morning Sarah seemed much better and at that point we had thought that she had just picked up a 24 hour bug. Sarah's nursery had planned a Father's Day performanc on Saturday morning and given that she seemed much better we decided to allow her to go. Unfortunately, the performance did not go to plan. Unlike Sarah's Mother's Day performance where she stole the show as the only child on stage to follow instructions, in this performance she copied her classmates and just stood motionless with a big frown on her face. (Therefore we have withheld the photos this time!)
Following Sarah's performance (or lack of!) she came down into the audience and watched the rest of the classes doing their bit. Half way through the programme she decided to be sick once again. I guess her Father's Day gift was to completely miss her Dad and totally cover her mum! At this we decided it was time to make a quick exit! Fortunately now after being prescribed some medicine Sarah is much better and well on the road to recovery.
With regards to our Spanish classes, things are going quite well. Up to this point we have had two classes each day. One class was to get a grasp of the grammar and the other class was a conversation class which allowed us to use the grammar we had been learning. This Friday will be our last grammar class and from then on we will have two practical/conversation classes a day. Just because we are finished grammar does not mean we are anywhere near fluent as knowing the rules of the grammar and being able to apply them in conversations are completely different things, however we are glad that we have made progress and day by day we are growing in confidence (although there are still days of frustration!)
From now on we will also be able to develop our Biblical and theological vocabulary as in one of our practical classes we will be expected to work through a Spanish Christian book of our choice and write summaries of the chapters, discuss topics and probably a whole lot more. We are looking forward to this and hope that it will also enable us to get a better grasp of the sermons we have been hearing in our church. Again thanks to all who have been praying for our progress in language study, we really are committed to getting the language really well (although we know that we will be learning for many years and that the language school is really just to get us off the ground and able to communicate), as we really want to be able to communicate God's love to the people here in the most simple and understandable manner.
Next week will be a short week at the language institute as we have a Mission Conference at the new Camp Centre in Ite. We will leave Arequipa on Thursday by bus and come back on Monday morning. We are looking forward to meeting the Baptist Missions team from Ireland while there and also to being encouraged by Harry Dowds' ministry. Pray that we will be refreshed by this time both spiritually and physically and please pray for Harry as he prepares God's Word.
Friday, June 8, 2007
A Welcome Break
At the end of last week we had Friday off from the language institute as we had to go to our field meeting in Tacna. We decided that since we would not be back in Arequipa until Sunday evening we would also take Monday off from studies and use the time as a little break since we had been feeling quite tired by all the studying. It was great to meet up with the other missionaries in Tacna once again and spend some time in prayer with them.
Following the meeting we travelled across to Ilo with Trevor Morrow where we spent the rest of the weekend. we had a great time with the Morrows and Sarah enjoyed being spoilt by all! We found it so refreshing to be away from the hussle and bussle of the city here in Arequipa and to be able to spend time on the coast. It was almost like being at home!
While in Ilo we were able to take a short boat trip around the port. We stopped at various points to see the seals. Sarah was fascinated with this, and although enjoyed the boat trip was a little less amused when we pulled into port once again!
The cliche of short and sweet was definitely true of our weekend away and our break from studying. It seemed like we had no sooner arrived in Ilo than we were getting on the bus for the five hour journey back to Arequipa. To make the most of the break on Monday morning we took Sarah into nursery and since we had the day off studies we were able to spend time together looking around some shops and enjoying a coffee together.
On Tuesday we were back into class with renewed enthusiasm and energy. I am sure by the time the weekend comes around again we will be ready for another couple of days rest!
Following the meeting we travelled across to Ilo with Trevor Morrow where we spent the rest of the weekend. we had a great time with the Morrows and Sarah enjoyed being spoilt by all! We found it so refreshing to be away from the hussle and bussle of the city here in Arequipa and to be able to spend time on the coast. It was almost like being at home!
While in Ilo we were able to take a short boat trip around the port. We stopped at various points to see the seals. Sarah was fascinated with this, and although enjoyed the boat trip was a little less amused when we pulled into port once again!
The cliche of short and sweet was definitely true of our weekend away and our break from studying. It seemed like we had no sooner arrived in Ilo than we were getting on the bus for the five hour journey back to Arequipa. To make the most of the break on Monday morning we took Sarah into nursery and since we had the day off studies we were able to spend time together looking around some shops and enjoying a coffee together.
On Tuesday we were back into class with renewed enthusiasm and energy. I am sure by the time the weekend comes around again we will be ready for another couple of days rest!
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