´We're kind of a big deal around here´ Ron Burgundy

Clowning Around.

So the emphasis of our work has changed somewhat over the past 2 weeks, from that of work on the site, to moe hospitality, and work with people so to speak. Technically, our work on construction is done. Our aim was to build a new roof (which is actually a first floor) which is done! So really the moving of materials upstairs this week in order to do the walls for the 1st floor next week is all a bonus. The church main meeting room will be the big room on the 1st floor, and the downstairs will be offices and classrooms. So as we hand over to the church and local people to carry on the church building, we've been able to spend more time with our church family, building our relationships with them.

You'll also have to forgive me for the lack of photos this week, the computer I'm on is refusing to let me upload photos from anywhere, facebook, camera and all. So once again sorry.

Hospitality Week...

So after not dying on Death Road the week inviting tones and tones of people round began, 

• Tuesday we had 2 hermanas who work at the church, Maggie and Vicky, over to eat (of course) and to paint nails with the girls... well mainly the girls... Yes, Alex and I were dragged into it and ended the evening with a guitar on my thumb and snoopy on Alex's. Manhood dented...
• Wednesday evening saw Juan, his wife Rosemary and their youngest daughter Natalia come round for, you guessed it, some food, and general time together. We did a devotion whilst they wee there and it was a truly special time, worshiping and praying together (even if they couldn't understand most of it). 
• People were in and out all week, can't remember exactually who (again, write it down Jon, I know..) but it was so much fun to just open our house up to everyone. I felt like Mary and David! 

Dia De Niños...

Last Saturday morning, was another bizzare Bolivian experience. The 'Day of the Children' is a national holiday in Bolivia, and needs next to n promotion, by that I mean, a child forgetting Dia De Niños would be like a child forgetting Christmas or their Birthday. It's a big deal.
So what was our role in the celebrations. Well, first and formost every adult, including us, had to dress up as clowns and paint our face (because why would you dress normally, who even does that?).
The morning basically consisted of tones of games and songs for all the children, multipule fizzy drinks, serveral sweets, and a massive, incredibly sickly cake accompanied by jelly. Having stuffed the kids t bursting point and hyped them all up, we sent them home with party bags and bouncing off the walls.
Again, an amazing and really fun morning, but rather serreal and truly Bolivian in every sense!

Week of Birthdays...

As the subheading suggests, we went to some birthdays this week. First up was Carmen's suprise party last Saturday. To be honest, it wasn't much f a suprise as Carmen asked us what time we were coming round that evening earlier in the afternoon. Nevertheless, an evening with our closest Bolivian friends, playing/teaching them pass the parcel and dancing madly to 'the best of the 90's' including, Five, Steps, S club 7 and Robbie Williams, was one of the most fun since we've been here, and Carmen's statement that she'll never froget this birthday and will play pass the parcel every year now in memory of us brought about a few wet eyes.

Tuesday night was the next date but a very different affair. Hermano George invited us to his house for a very small gathering without a main meal as he was unable to cook. We knew that George had been in an accident but we thought that was a car accident. Whilst sharing his testimony with us we discovered that George had been shot twice in the head just outside his house, was operated on, and survived. His friend who was with his was not so lucky. As a result of this accident he cannot walk very well and his left side is somewhat crippled, plus he gets memory loss, and his though proccessing speed has slowed. To add to this George's marriage has collapsed and despite him doing no wrong his wife has taken legal action in order to stop him from seeing his daughter.
Yet through all of this George has kept his faith, in fact, its become stronger. Despite what would appear to be all the struggle and hardship a human could take, his faith remains so strong, and he is so assured in the knowledge of his place and hope in Christ. He is a couragous and gental man, who trusts and fights through the mst difficult circumstances. He is also without paid employment because he works with the homeless as a volenteer. Such an inpirational guy and a pleasure to spend the evening with him telling him about England.

Our cheerful keyboard player at church, Feidel, has his birthday last night. Unfortunatly I was ill and spent the evening at home, once again feeling sorry for myself. Apparently it was a great evening though with lots of party food, and Feidel cried at our card. Love a bit of emotional manipulation... I joke of course...

Patrecio

Sponsors...

As I've mentioned before, the charity compassion is very much at work in the church and over half the children in the church are sponsored. About half the members of the team have chosen to sponsor children they'v got to know and lve and yesterday Carmen told us that we were allowed to tell them we were sponsoring them. She broke the news however in a very mean way...
They were called into her office, and she confronted them,
'So whats this I hear about you?' she would ask. The terror edged on the innocent children's faces was changed almost instantaniouly when she releaved that the English people behind them were sponsoring them.
The most magical moment however was when we told Patrecio. We've decided as a whole team to sponsor Patrecio, as we've got to know him and his background.
His father was a drunk and one day left his baby brother on a rubbish tip. A few days later he committed suicide. Losing his brother and Dad in the space of about a week is almost unthinkable. His mother sells coca leaves everyday at the roadside in Senkata, and just about earns enough to feed him and his 4 siblings, but they are only just getting by. We only found out this info about his life after we had decided to sponsor him, so it was clearly God placing him on our hearts.
His reaction as brilliant. He look shellhocked, then gave us all a hug in turn. Then he stood back for a bit speechless and on the verge of tears, before running back in for a team hug. I had to hold them back myself, and my smile lasted a long long time.

Its mad that next week is our final week here. None of us want to leave, (although we are all very keen for team holiday, bring on the salt flats and lake Titicaka) as we've built up such amazing relationships and been taught so much by God. But we all know one thing: that he has plenty more up his sleave for this final week, and for Peru.

Love you all, and thank you for your contiued support in thought and prayer.

JJ