Feliz Navidad

I know it's late to be posting about Christmas, but this was our second Christmas in Peru and we have never done a blog about it yet, and I would like to, so I hope a late post is okay :)

To say that the past two Christmas's have been different for our family would be an understatement.  From different foods and different weather, to different traditions, but I think the biggest change is the different people we are spending Christmas with now.  We love our Peru family incredibly, but at this time of year I always do miss my Canadian family a little extra much.

It has been interesting learning and experiencing the Peruvian way of celebrating this special time of year.  We are thankful that the kids at Casa de Paz get very loved on at Christmas time.  Each Christmas we have numerous groups and organizations come in and bless the kids with christmas parties. Here they call it a "chocolatada".  It's a lot of fun for the kids. Games, candy, hot chocolate and the traditional paneton (Peruvian fruitcake) And gifts of coarse!  Most times the toys they get don't last more than a day, and balls have a way of finding thorns and going flat, but this year we were happy to see more gifts of clothes and shoes, things that are needed and can be used are far more valuable than cheap toys. and the kids loved them.

Thankful for kind donations from people with willing hearts

At Christmas we also love to bless the women and children in our bible study ministry.  Our friend Ysabel prepares a big bucket of hot chocolate, and of coarse there is always paneton for all.  Normally we have about 10 women and 30 kids, but at the Christmas chocolatada those numbers almost double. This year we put together treat bags with candy and toothbrushes for all the children, and we also handed out shoes that had been donated by a group from the States. I usually don't have Jake along for bible study but this day I was grateful to have him there to help out.  It was chaos. We had never seen anyone so happy for a new pair of shoes as those kids. As soon as the shoes came out people just magically appeared out of nowhere. But one look at the condition some of their shoes were in and we didn't have to wonder why. Finding the right sizes for everyone was hard, but in the end 30+ kids were blessed with a new pair. It filled my heart with joy watching them try on their new shoes and excitedly run to show their mamas.

The women with their gifts. Glass canisters filled with soap, towels and lotion.

 While Jake bravely handled the shoe situation outside, I sat inside Flor's house with the women where it was much quieter. We read from the bible the nativity story, spent time in prayer, filled our stomachs with hot chocolate and paneton while enjoying good conversations, and at last handed out gifts.

Christmas Day we went to Jequetepeque to visit our missionary friends Auden and Wendy.  We were blessed with a delicious meal that they prepared for us, and after lunch the kids played it the pool and even got to go for a ride on Auden's motorcycle.

After all the kids chocolatadas were done, it was finally our turn. The Saturday after Christmas we had our staff gift exchange. We enjoyed a nice pot luck lunch.  It was so nice to have a little break away from the kids, and for the house moms too. They had put the older girls in charge of looking after the younger ones during that time.  I love our staff! We are so thankful for each one of them and the role they play in keeping this place going.

Merry Christmas from Casa de Paz!!