{ Adventures in Peru }: navidad

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Feliz Navidad!

FELIZ NAVIDAD FROM PERU!!!
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY! I LOVE YOU ALL DEARLY!

The way Christmas is celebrated over here, is about as different from how it is in the USA as everything else in this culture.

In Peru, they celebrate on December 24th - "Nocha Buena".

During the day we had traveled to a different district (Rimac, again) to stay the night at "Abuelas" and spend time with relatives.

For me and my family here, our festivities start around 8:00 pm, when we got dressed up and ready for dinner.

At about 11 (yes, PM) we started eating a delicious Navidad Dinner. Turkey, Ham, Pasta, Panaton (very traditional cake here) and Chocolatada (a special Hot Chocolate with spices and butter in it! yum!).

The big shabang happens at Midnight, the sky lights up with fireworks (literally- shabang...)
Every direction you look, you can see bursting colors and lights. Its like 4th of July times 10.

They went on for a good 30 with full force, and then went on intermittently all night long.
A lot of Peruvians may not have many possessions, but by golly, they do know how to celebrate!

poor little chicken before being cooked!

It was the most interesting Christmas I have ever experienced.

I think we should adopt the fireworks and hot-chocolate-with-butter-and-spices-in-it as traditions for the U.S!

There weren't any presents. There wasn't a Christmas tree. There wasn't a nativity scene. And yet the true spirit of Christmas here- The love of Christ was present.

Christmas morning, we went into the streets to hand out little gifts and milk to the impoverished street children.

Those that didn't receive, still gave. What hearts.

I realize how accustomed I have become to "comforts" and "tradition" and "familiarity". Being here, especially during the holidays, or when I am sick, makes me realize how much I have tended to rely on those things in the US.The truth is no matter where we are, gifts or not, we should rely solely on Christ.

I eat a lot of rice, potatoes and chicken. Lots of chicken.

Isaiah 9:6-7 (6) For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (7) Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.

P.S Send some snow this way! okay??? its about 75 degrees over here.

Tuesday, December 25, 2012

Christmas for the Kids

Outside my window in Rimac

I had the incredible opportunity to spend this past week in a different district- Rimac, and travel to different locations to help give Christmas and the gospel to impoverished kids.

Peruvian Pastors from many different churches and districts host Christmas parties for very poor needy kids with this program I got to participate with.

They give them a wonderful Christmas party, Peruvian style. Each location was so great, complete with clowns, fake snow, a hot meal, hot chocolate, Panaton (the traditional Christmas fruit cake), a nice present and also songs and stories about the true meaning of Christmas, and the gospel. The kids were loved and fed in many different ways.

Again, I was so blessed this week by the body of Christ here in Peru.
I was hosted by an amazing family from Rimac, who although they don't have much themselves were incredible hosts in whom the love of Jesus just shone through.

Here are some pictures from the different parties this week

Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." -Matthew 19:14