Reina, etc.

March 22
From Sue
It is hard to believe that we are entering into our last week here in Lima. We are all getting excited to be home again.
Last Thursday we went to Reina because, if you remember from a previous post, our time slot was given to someone else. Eric, Maggie and I reviewed with the girls what we had discussed the previous 9 weeks. They remembered it amazingly well. They also like to ask us questions about our family. One of the girls asked what would happen if a guy wanted to take Maggie out. We said that they have to talk to Eric first. They also wanted to know how Eric and I met and how long we knew each other before we got married. The question that really got me was when one of the girls asked Maggie how she would feel if her mother told her she hates her. Maggie didn't know what to say. She replied, "I would wonder what happened to my mom." This led into a discussion of how kids will say this to their parents and it hurts but that they don't mean it. As a parent we have to be very careful to think before we speak because words are very powerful.
Eric and Maggie then entered into a tutoring session with 2 of the girls with them teaching English and the girls teaching them Quechua, a language spoken most often in the highlands of Peru. Emily, Elijah, Rebakah and Carolyn helped to feed, change and play with babies. They were tired! They just love those kids though and always talk about who they want to take home with us. Little Fiorela looked much more comfortable on Thursday and we have heard that her mother is with her at Domi. She also has a new pair of pink and white sneakers thanks to Giuli.
On Saturday, we had the opportunity to meet up with one of Eric's former students and his girlfriend who happen to be in Lima right now. Joe and Juleen have been travelling since September through Central and South America volunteering and seeing the sights. They have had some very interesting experiences and it was a pleasure hanging out with them and exchanging stories about what we have seen and done while away from the US. Emily and Maggie both seem to think this is a very cool thing to do ( and it is) especially when it's other people's kids:)
Yesterday was our last Sunday at Flamingo Road Church and we have thoroughly enjoyed it. If you remember last week I blogged about how all of the Sunday School workers love Rebekah. Well, yesterday I had to break the news that it was her last Sunday. The first girl I told gasped, put her hands over mouth and said, "no". She passed it on and they all had the same reaction. Hands over mouth, gasp and a bunch of stuff in Spanish I couldn't understand. They ended up taking a group photo, getting our email and mailing address, giving her a gift and giving her many hugs and kisses. They also prayed over her. What a wonderful, loving group of people! Our little girl has certainly made an impression!