Early this morning we learned why it is, in fact, called the RAINforest. About 3am, we were awakened by a downpour that would rival any of our southern summer storms (minus the thunder and lightening). Our breakfast included a thick juice made of papaya, banana, and grapefruit....I was a little wary (not a fan of papaya).....but it was way excelente!
Following breakfast, we all hopped in some MOTOCARROs and wound our way through the busy streets to the Centro Iquitos, but only after Elizabeth and I had to change drivers due to a flat tire.
Centro Iquitos is run by Scripture Union and seeks to help boys in poverty so that they do not end up in the streets. We were greeted with lots of hugs and kisses and kids that all seemed to be named Jhon, Juan, or Jony. One of the John´s and a cute little kid named Jony stole my heart (pictures coming soon).
As we set up our puppet stage, Paolo, a volunteer for Scripture Union got our his guitar and started to sing with the kids.....they sang SOOOOO LOUD and with really good tone =) They sang 2 or 3 songs (including Montaña and Abre los ojos) and then did 2 choreographies for us, with lots of dancing and more loud singing. Little Jony had a dance solo in the middle of the second song.
We did a little Bible club for the kid when they were finished. We talked about how God created the whole earth (and they acted out each part of creation)......we talked about how God made man special (and sang a song with more dancing)...and we talked about how God wants to make us His and give a new, clean heart. We also did a cute puppet show about the Sheep and the Goats (from Matthew 25).
The kids were so open and responsive....and VERY intelligent. A lot of them knew the answers to questions about the Bible. After that we learneda verse and made a craft.
I wish I could communicate better about these kids. They´re not just cute....there´s more....a depth..... a whole other life that in the US we know nothing about. Their eyes light up when they see you, but behind those same eyes it seems there is a searching for hope. It is so exciting to be a part of what God is doing in their lives. They are hungry for the life that Christ offers, and we get to parnter with SU in bringing that message. And yet there is s0 much more to be done.
The city of Iquitos is infamous for child prostitution...there are signs every where that say ¨say no to sexual tourism¨. They told us that a lot of Europeans come here just for that. One of the SU workers had a lady walk up to him with her daughter and offer her to him.
Please pray for the work here.....what we are doing is only a part.....there is so much more to be done.
Tomorrow we go up the river to schools to do a little Bible club. Then in the night we are going to be doing teacher training to help equip the teachers who go into the Peruvian schools.
Pictures to follow soon.....
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