"God With Us", MCS Christmas Program 2011

At the end of the school year, Kari and I had the opportunity to be part of the planning committee for MCS's Christmas program.  After finding, adapting and translating a script, and adding music to it, Kari and I took charge of all of the music while our committee partners, Katty and Mary, headed up the drama component of the program.  As a team, we worked well together and in the end, the program turned out just as well as we had hoped for. After the program, Pastor Salvador shared the Gospel briefly and our hope is that at least one person was impacted by the realization that God left the incredible glory of heaven and became a man in order to be able to identify with and sacrifice himself for broken people like ourselves. Below are some pictures:

The Venue: A very large tent set up on our school's soccer field...

...inside the tent.

The Actors: Shepherds...

...an angel...

...Mary and Joseph...

...and Narrator #1.

The Stage: Backdrop painted by our very own art teacher, Ms. Sylvia.

The Band: Kari and I, with a special guest on the bongos, our very good friend, Joe.

Co-Music Directors

The Planning Committee: Katty, Kari, Mary and I

Kari and I with our fantastic Stage Manager and best bud, Natalie. 

Thanksgiving 2011

My family away from family...

     This year has been a year of firsts for me and Thanksgiving was no exception. It was the first year that I have celebrated Thanksgiving and decorated a Christmas tree wearing flip-flops and a tank top instead of boots and a sweater.  This year I find myself overwhelmingly thankful for the ways that God has provided for me here in Peru.  Moving to another continent was, in many ways, like stepping off a cliff and falling into the huge abyss of the unknown, but I can say with confidence that every fear that has ever crossed my mind, God has answered in ways that are beyond my imagination.  It seems that every year at this time, I thank God for the same things: family, friends, church.  But being thankful for family takes on another dimension when I realize that although my family is thousands of miles away, God has provided me with another family in the form of roommates who have become like sisters, and in the 20-some Americans who gathered at the Madisons' house to eat turkey and watch the football game. (I have to say the US national anthem was my favorite part of the game...it made me feel at home!)  Being thankful for friends means more when I realize that despite different backgrounds, different cultures, and even a different language, I am forming some of the most meaningful relationships of my life.  The same is true of my church, a place where I can learn and serve despite the same challenges of language and culture. After a year of changes, challenges, and choices, God continues to astound me with His goodness and His faithfulness.

...decorating my home away from home.

We Run Lima - Nike 10K

On Sunday, November 6, 10,000 people gathered in Miraflores to run Nike's annual "We Run Lima" 10K. I went with Natalie, Kari, our friend, Jessica, and 3 gringa teachers from La Molina Christian School to run my first ever 10K.  I was slightly overwhelmed by the amount of people and as it turns out, many people in Lima run like they drive: reckless and disorganized, which made for a lot of swerving and weaving in an attempt to avoid running into people.  The first 7-ish kilometers were doable, but the last 3 were rough.  I ran so slowly it's too embarassing to post my time, but I was much more concerned about finishing in one piece.  I will worry about time the next time around.

Even the President showed up to run!

All 7 of us...

The girls who got me out of bed every morning at 5...

...and the sign I was waiting to see!!

We did it!

October/November Newsletter

Meet My Roommates

One of the greatest blessings of my time in Peru so far has been the girls that I live with.  They are an awesome, fun, godly group of girls and it is such an encouragement to be part of our mini family.  

(from left to right)

Natalie, Amber, Kari, Samantha and Kara

Natalie is from Iowa, graduated from Northwestern College with a degree in ESL education, teaches 5th grade and coaches volleyball at MCS, and cannot resist anything with the word "competition" in the title. She is a great listener and one of the most patient people I know.

Kari is from New York, graduated with an elementary education degree from Baptist Bible College, and is super creative. Anything fun I do in my classroom was probably her idea! She also plays guitar and piano, which has made us fast friends.  The vast majority of people either think that we are the same person (until they see us together and get really confused), or that we are sisters. 

Samantha is from Colorado and just finished her Master's Degree in Special Education. She is in the process of beginning a special ed program at MCS.  Her extra help with students who are struggling has been a great addition to our school and an encouragement to all of the teachers.  

Kara splits her time between Maine and South Carolina, where she attended Bob Jones University. She has a great sense of humor, a story for every occasion, and always keeps us laughing. She is good at a little of everything and we particularly appreciate her when something breaks in our house and she knows how to fix it! Although she will probably not be returning to Peru next year, we are very grateful for this semester that we have been able to spend with her. 

Pajama Party!

 Since I arrived my students had been adding dry macaroni to a jar based on good behavior and after two quarters, our macaroni jar is finally full!!  On the last day of 3rd quarter, we celebrated with a pajama party... 

...complete with popcorn and a movie...

...face painting...

...and Jacque Ward's world-famous macaroni and cheese. 

If you want a party done right, make sure you do it when Jacque Ward is in town to help!

MCS Chapel Music

Last Friday, it was my third graders' turn to lead music in chapel.  

We taught "Because of Your Love" by Phil Wickham to the rest of the elementary students.  

They did a great job!

Welcome to the Early Church

This unit in Bible, my third graders and I have been talking about the early church, how it developed, who were some of the early church leaders, and the persecution that it faced.  This past Friday, we tried to simulate an early church meal, eating Middle Eastern-type food, sitting on the floor, trying to be quiet in order to avoid "persecution", and incorporating some Jewish customs. 

We started with ritual hand washing...

...learned a traditional Jewish prayer...

...and ate.

The kids did a great job listening and following directions and they had a great time! One mom even emailed me to say, "I don't what you did in school today, but my daughter came home in such a good mood!"

September Newsletter

Reminders from Luke 9...

Something that I have really appreciated about my church here in Peru are the young people who have become good friends.  We call it the jovenes group. The best translation I can come up with is "youth group" but it isn't youth group in the traditional sense.  When I think "youth group", I think of hyper, smelly teenagers, ridiculous games, a lot of food, and the phrase "God bless Karl", but that's not what I am talking about at all.  Although "College and Career" isn't a direct translation, it might be a better description of what I am talking about.  It is basically this: every other Saturday, a group of the church's young people who are over 18 and unmarried get together for fellowship, music, a message of some sort, and prayer.  Last night, we kicked off the jovenes group for the spring (fall for those of you in the States) and the church's senior pastor, Beto, preached a message that really challenged me.  He spoke from Luke 9:57-62, the passage where a man says to Jesus, "I will follow you wherever you go...as soon as I bury my father" and another says, "As soon as I say goodbye to those at home." He shared 7 insights into this passage on the cost of following Jesus, but one comment in particular struck a nerve in me.  Although I don't remember the exact wording, the gist of what he said was this: "If you think that by following Christ, you are doing something great and noble, you are mistaken.  Considering what He did for you, serving Him is the least you can do."  Ouch. With that one comment from Pastor Beto, I realized, as a not-so-pleasant surprise, just how much I think of myself.  It is far too easy for me to fall into the mindset that goes something like this: "I left my home, my family, my independence, everything that is normal to me, to serve God.  I moved into an apartment with total strangers.  I've had to make all new friends. I have gone to the trouble of learning another language.  I spend my days with 8-year-olds for the sake of ministry..."  And the list goes on.  But what a convicting and much-needed reminder that we don't love God because He needs us to.  We love Him, and serve Him, because He first loved us.  In light of that, what could our response possibly be, other than to follow Him wherever He goes? Not as soon as we get our plans in order or take care of certain affairs at home, as the man in Luke 9 wanted to, but now.  Not because we are great, but because HE is.

Fiestas Patrias

Peru celebrates its independence day on July 28, which falls during our mid-year vacation, so we at MCS celebrated on our last day of school before vacation, July 15, with a program for our parents.  My class played a song that they have been learning in music class on their recorders.  All of the staff also dressed up in traditional Peruvian costumes.

Waiting for our turn to go on stage...

Third grade all lined up and ready to go on stage...

Their red and white ponchos formed a Peruvian flag...

Me and my co-teacher, Ivonne...

I think Natalie won the prize for most legit-looking costume of the day, complete with a baby on her back and all!

To Katy, With Love From MCS

On August 3, we had to say goodbye to Katy Mejia and her kids, Christian and Breanna, as they headed back to the States after six years in Peru.  About two weeks before she left, Natalie, Kari and I threw a surprise going away party for her to let her know how much she means to us and how much she will be missed.

When I first came to Peru in 2009, Katy is the person who made me feel at home, made sure I saw all of the important tourist traps in Lima, and let me cry on her shoulder when I was homesick.  Since then, she has been the most encouraging and genuine friend I have ever known.  Her absence leaves a hole here in Peru but I am excited to know that another school in New Jersey is gaining an invaluable treasure in her. 

Complete with American food and red, white and blue decor...

Kari - proud of her Peruvian-flag-shaped balloon artwork...

Surprise!!!

We will  be praying without ceasing for Katy's husband, Jaime, who is staying here in Peru while Katy works on his immigration case from the States. 

Katy, always the life of the party, learning a little Peruvian dancing from Natalia. 

We made this video for Katy and showed it at her going away party.   It is only 9 minutes long, but it probably would have taken 900 minutes to accurately express how much the MCS staff appreciates and loves her!