GUATEMALA VBS 2013

What a strange feeling it was to not be in Gualan for the 2013 VBS.  For 5 straight years, members of Trinity Lutheran Church - Roselle, IL.  have been blessed to assist with the VBS at the Lutheran Church of the Resurrection.  This year, there were not enough people to form a team, so we were unable to go.  We'll see what next year brings.

I know that God blessed the congregation's efforts, and I am sure Pastor Jasinto and his youth and other congregation members did a great job both at the church and at their site at Los Limones.  He forwarded several pictures.  As always, it looks like there was quite a large group at Los Limones.  There is now a roof at the site which is a tremendous blessing!

This year's VBS program was Concordia's "Cool Adventures", and it was all about the gifts that God gives us - gifts of forgiveness, salvation, joy, life, and hope.  "Well done thou good and faithful servants!"

ILLINOIS OR PERU?!

Had a chance to visit Waldron Grove Alpaca Farm in Elgin over the weekend.  It seemed so strange to know that alpacas are living nearby!  I thought I was back in Peru again.  They are really a very beautiful animal with a gentle face.  The products made from baby alpaca wool are very special and SOOOOOO soft.

WENT TO A DIFFERENT COUNTRY! GUESS WHICH ONE!

Enjoyed a trip to Peru with my sister Ruthie and 4 of our Egerton family - Nancy, Brian, Dan, and Ellen.  Seemed strange to go somewhere other than Guatemala after all my trips there! Here we are eating lunch overlooking Lake Titicaca - the highest navigable lake in the world. Whew!  12,500 feet, way up there!

 

But here's the REALLY high spot - the highest we visited.  It was a whopping 15,500 feet high!  Whew!  No running around here when we got off the bus. And the snow-capped Andes in the background were beautiful!  

  Ok now let me think about this, is it a llama, a vicuna, or an alpaca!  Well, whatever it is, how cute!

The Incan ruins of Machu Picchu!  Wow!  A dream come true.  The climbing around at a high altitude was difficult for me but was worth the efforts.  It was hard to even drink it all in!  But yes, I really was there!

 

 

Below is the Machu Picchu train station.  Dan, Nancy E., and Ruthie are looking at the camera. 

 

We really enjoyed our train ride.  We were served a snack and on the return trip even had a fashion show of items made of baby alpaca wool!

 

 

 Our quick trip to the Amazon was unforgettable - just slightly toasty with 90% humidity, but very enjoyable.  Our lodge was called the Posada Amazonas.

 All rooms have one side open to the jungle.  We slept with mosquito nets over our beds at night.  Here I am taking a delightful nap in the hammock!

So many highlights on the trip it's hard to know where to start.  Definitely the trip of a lifetime!

THE WHOLE GROUP!

Here is the whole church group on Friday, Nov. 16th (the last day of our VBS).  As you can see, we had quite a crowd!  The picture includes all leaders, teachers, translators, and youth helpers.  We were around 120+.  All in all, such a fun time!

A FEW MORE PHOTOS

Here is what it looked like at Los Limones (our outdoor site) the day the kids had a chance to paint.  These are really cool things that come with a paint palette.  With wet Q-tips, the kids are able to paint their pictures.  This is the first time we ever attempted this, and it worked out pretty well.  You'll notice that the kids are kneeling on the ground and using their chairs like a desk.  Doesn't seem too comfortable to me, but they didn't complain a bit!

 

Enjoying a few minutes of quiet in my classroom at the church, after the kids have left for the day!  Hanging in the background is the unity chain that the kids made.



CONFIRMATION SUNDAY

Sunday Nov. 11th was Confirmation Sunday in Gualan.  11 youth made their confirmation, and there was quite a celebration!  Beautiful flowers decorated the church, the youth were very dressed up, and afterwards there was a luncheon attended by many people.  All in all, it was a great celebration!  Pastor Jasinto is great with the youth and really knows how to get them motivated.