A Christmas Fiesta
Yesterday the ChildReach Ministry mission group and the 3 Cooleys put on a Christmas fiesta for them.
We came around lunch time to just hang out with them.
Then around 3:00 we started cooking a special meal for them of roast beef, rice, salad, potato salad with peas, beets, potatoes with a Peruvian cheese sauce, and a hot Peruvian aji sauce.
Others of the group continued to spend time with the children and did some crafts with them.
They thoroughly enjoyed making paper chains out of wrapping paper strips.
The place was well decorated with the chains and a Christmas tree.
They also made wood medallions that the children put their finger prints and on.
Then a little animal was made out of the fingerprints after which they were hung on the tree.
The meal went off very well.
We fed about 35 people in all.
The hotel (where we were staying) owner, Hector, and his wife and son joined the party as well.
It was a mix of americano food and peruano food.
Bruce, from Childreach, slipped out and and doned a Santa suit.
The children were all brought into the larger room where presents had been put under the tree. Stockings were stuffed and placed around the room where the children were to sit.
Soon Santa arrived ringing his bells.
After many ho-ho-hos, the children got to go sit on Santa’s lap and receive a toy.
They had also been given a set of clothes.
Then the meal was topped off with some special Christmas fruit bread, hot chocolate and some chocolates that were picked up in the states for the occasion.
The night was full of fun, music, laughter, and dancing.
It was a fruitful day as we were able to bless those children with the love of the Lord and share the blessings that he has given us.
We said our hasta manañas till the next day when we’d be back for the last day of the mission trip.
Robert, Kelsey and I are very happy that we can say “hasta luego”.
wish I could have been there to celebrate too!