Thanksgiving Shared in Peru
Though 99.999 percent of folks in Peru don’t celebrate Thanksgiving, we had the priviledge of sharing it with our daughter’s in-laws. It was a precious time of thanking God for his limitless blessings and then sharing turkey, fruit and nut stuffing, mashed potatoes, green salad, rice & “Russian Salad” (two Peruvian staples), and pumpking pie (made out of sweet potatoes for lack of pumpkins in Peru) with whipped cream and apple pie. It is wonderful how Ricky’s family has welcomed us into their family and shared their own customs with us and been open to our americano ways.
The day before Thanksgiving we were priviledged to share white rice and lentils with a community in Chincha Peru who have been living in a refugee camp since the devastating earthquake on August 15, 2007. 
Since our visit a couple weeks ago, the 300 families have moved out of the refugee camp into a government built community where they were given a small one room building.
Thanks to Stanford Baptist Church, in Stanford, Kentucky (who came to Peru last July) we were given money to buy the people there some rice and lentils. We partnered with a local church we have been working with in Chincha since the earthquake, Iglesia Adoni, to package the food and bring it to the Velma Leon community. Many of the men work by driving mototaxis receiving 1.5 to 2 soles $.5-.66) per trip.
They brought the 400 kilos (881.83 pounds) of rice and 100 kilos (220.46 pounds) of lentils to the community in their 4 vehicles.
It didn’t take long for people to hear about the distribution and a line immediately began to form. After waiting about a half hour for the news to reach throughout the community, Pastor Rodolfo shared the gospel with the people. He talked about how God had given Robert a heart for the people there and that Robert doesn’t come to work with them because he has to but because he loves God and God loves all of them. 
The community was told that there would be only one distribution per family of 2 kilos of rice and 1/2 kilo of lentils.
Pastor Rodolfo passed out the rice and lentils to one line of people.
While his wife, Maritza, handed food out to another line.
Though most of the people were women and children, the men, who were busy working on their homes, lined up to get their share at the end of the distribution. Everyone who came received something, though there was just lentils for the last couple people.
Afterwards we were able to go and visit “baby” Carol. She is a three year old beautiful little girl with cerebral palsy that we have been working with since the World Racers spent 5 weeks ministering to her family in Velma Leon last January and February.
The World Racers raised money to buy formula and medicine for her. Her family could not afford these necessary things. We’ve been bringing them $80 of it at a time.
Carol’s family reports there is some improvement, that she is moving her arm slightly and able to sit up a little. She is alert and likes the attention of her family who have rented an apartment until they are able to safely move into the new one room homes. 
Electricity is expected to be installed in the new community in December.
Though the living situation is far from what the people had before the earthquake, you could really sense the feeling of hope and excitement from the people.
They are survivors and will build again. One of Carol’s aunts explained that the distribution of food was peaceful compared to other times when people were fighting over it.
We went inside Carol’s aunt’s, Jessica’s, new home where she and her husband have added a couple rooms (out of bamboo and thatch) to the one the government supplied. I do believe thes Velma Leon Peruvians know how to make the most of what they have. May God bring his kingdom into that community as the local churches reach out to them. What a blessing it is for Robert and I to work along side them.
Becky and Bob,
God is great and sure knows how to pick people to do His work. May you continue to know what to do and when to do it, and I also pray that Becky finds relief if not a cure to her asthma.
Also prayers sent your way for Baby Carol and her family.
Lastly, give Kelsey, Ricky and Samuel a hug and kiss for me.
Love and prayers always sent your way,
Carol
Check Bioaisable team on Google to see a way to produce clean water one home at time.
Matt