Little family celebrates big!

In our simple mind, being brought up in the states, we think of anniversaries as reasons to celebrate. Well, guess what! It’s the same thing here in Peru! Not so different after all. Let me share with you our recent experience.

The Sector 6 Church is located in a poor area, up Central Avenue about 20 minutes by bus from the main church in San Juan De Lurigancho. We have visited many times and have come to love the people that call this their church home. The building is small, but the people are always lively! There are about 35 chairs and five wooden benches for the comfort of the congregation. There is a small kitchen, bathroom (yes, it has running water!) and a second floor which is used for Sunday School classes.

The church family is made up of three or more generations and they are very tightly knit. Just like the church we read about in Acts. They live life together. They have a church band and use multi-media overheads during praise and worship. The ensemble is made up of 5 young adults. The congregation numbers about 35 and their AWANA club (which is just a year old!) has up to 45 in attendance. The economic state of this area is poor. There are a few school teachers who attend this church and we believe that is why the AWANA and Adolescents programs are so successful. Teachers loving kids seven days a week. They are small in number, but make up for it in their excitement and strength -- pulling together to make whatever task is before them, seem simple and successful!

We were invited to attend by three different people and decided since this church has such a great AWANA club and one of the families has sort of adopted us, we would make a point of putting it on our calendar to attend. We heard from some of the folks that they were dressing up since it was an anniversary celebration. However, we chose to attend in our regular Sunday attire.

We left home in time to get to the church just about 10 minutes before the announced starting hour of 7:00 p.m. We noticed they were still putting the final touches on the decorations outside the church, and that very few people were there. Upon our arrival, the band and ensemble were still practicing. Well, as you have read before in my writings, Peruvian culture provides for a delayed start in almost everything that is scheduled. It was after 8:00 p.m. by the time the service began!

The building was elegantly decorated with swags of cream and gold fabric in a tunnel at the entrance, throughout the worship center, and the platform had a gold curtain flanking more fabric with the words Feliz VIII Anniversario! There was a draped table with a pair of beautiful huge flower arrangements, and three cakes in the center. (These however didn’t arrived until 7:30 p.m.!) Some of the church family members did dress up, and the young ladies were in long dresses, while the young men had white shirts and ties on! This was going to be a night to remember.

The praise and worship was exciting, partly because they sang How Great Thou Art, and we could sing along, knowing the tune, and what the Spanish words meant It touched me to sing of the greatness of my God! A prayer of thanksgiving for the years they have been together and for God’s faithfulness was offered. Throughout the next two and one half hours different ministries of the church were highlighted, through the presentation of skits, the teen band, dance, a slide show, and a short message. Families were honored and presented certificates for their membership since the beginning of this church family. It was a very sweet time and the place was packed full! I counted over 75 people but some were always moving about! Eight year old Anaid and her family are members of this sector, and she sat on Don’s lap most of the time, as her aunts, half sister, and grandmother were all busy making sure the program details ran smoothly and the food was prepared.

At the end of the service, dinner was served, along with the cutting of the cakes that were used for decoration. It was after 11:00 pm when we headed home, with a new appreciation for the work and commitment this church family expended in celebrating their anniversary. What a wonderful memory we have of a little church family and their big celebration.