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Today was a fantastic day in Lima, Peru.  I am totally blown away by the faces, testimonies, and stories from all of these projects by Compassion International.

We spent some time this morning getting some tours en route to the church where today’s Compassion project was hosted.  (click the image for a larger picture) … this is one of the big city squares.

We spent a good amount of time with the kids today – for the first time we spent some time with the teenagers today and saw that they are learning marketable skills at the Compassion projects.  For example, they were learning to make silk screen design T-Shirts calendars, printing, and they made some incredible chocolates that they typically would sell.  I say “typically sell” because we ATE THEM today instead.

We also spent time with 3 students who are part of Compassion’s “LTP” (Leadership Training Program).  This is a program where some of the best students get scholarships and leadership training to the colleges and universities.  If only I could have pictures and videos of “Elizabeth” and her story.  She grew up as a sponsored child and now is in the LTP and is studying in the university to be an elementary teacher.  When asked what she wanted to do, she said “go to the farthest parts of Peru and teach the children about my faith in Jesus Christ”.

Last night I shared a once-in-a-lifetime treat with my friend, Scott Copeland.  Scott is a worship pastor up in the Atlanta area and we met at the re:create conference earlier this year.  In addition, Pastor Francis Castañeda from Lima, Peru attends the conference.  We kept thinking it would be a shame to visit Lima, Peru and not see Pastor Francis whom we’d grown to love from our visits at re:create.

In addition to being a full-time Worship Pastor here in Lima, Francis founded the Allegro Institute, a training center for the arts  – worship, music, arts, etc.  His passion for teaching and training worship leaders is contagious – I’m ready to fly back to Peru soon and teach these students in music theory, arranging, and the spiritual aspects of worship leadership.

Scott and I became true locals – as everyone else on our team from Compassion was headed up to bed, we joined Francis and jumped in a cab and toured Allegro Institute.  We toured all around Lima, seeing some sights that I’m sure we’d never see otherwise.  We enjoyed coffee and some incredible “steak-kabob” type dish in a beautiful restaurant overlooking the Pacific Ocean together.  We returned to the hotel around midnight – exhausted, but exhilarated from our time with Francis.

Finally, I captured a great video today with a couple of the sponsored kids.  I’ll post that as a separate blog, it’s still processing.

Thanks for your prayers.  A few of you have emailed or messaged me and asked “how can I sponsor a child”?  Just visit www.compassion.com and it’s so simple.  Have questions, just ask me!

Fred

Related posts:

1. Peru Trip, Day 2
2. Peru Trip, Day 1 – Compassion
3. Peru Trip with Compassion – Follow Us!
4. Headed to Peru with Compassion International
5. Our Trip to Peru – The “Official Video”