Day Four

Today got started again at nine, as we headed on the bus to Collique, Perú.  This is where the organization that Dr. Campos founded:

Operacion San Andres

Partnership of Holistic Transformation in Collique, Perú

is located.  We arrived and unloaded the bus and went upstairs where we took out our instruments and got ready for the arrival of the kids in the program.  When they came in, 25 in the first group, we had a small group play for them, and then we showed them the difference between the brass, woodwind, string and percussion instruments, and what the different sizes of the instruments sounded like.  Then, we had an instrument petting zoo.  They were so excited to be able to touch the instruments!  Then they asked us some great questions about the instruments, before they had to head back to class.  It was so much fun to see my students having a great time talking to and showing their instruments these amazing Peruvian kids.  We had a blast. 

After the first group, Dr. Campos spent some time explaining the mission of his organization.  They have purchased about 7 acres of land here, and they have a school, that has an apartment on the top floor for missionaries, and a church.  Dr. Campos grew up in Peru and he himself was changed by missionaries, so he and his wife wanted to give back, and in a poorer part of Peru, Collique.  The more he told us about his organization, you could see his passion for the kids in his program and around this area.  They are focusing on not just giving them things, but teaching them to take care of themselves.  They have teachers that are amazing, but they have teachers who teach the teachers to improve their skills as well.  They work with the kids on problems in the community like violence against women and children.  God is definitely in this place.  Dr. Campos and one of his workers, Dennis and all of the people that work here, are doing God's work for these people.  And the smiles and joy, and clothes and books and teachers and the church that this organization provides in this community is truly a bright and shining beacon of love and care in our World.  

Then, we ate another amazing meal made for us by the ladies at the school.   The food is so very good!

Then a quick trip to a city park that had a small zoo and a small section that housed farm animals, and then we headed back to the church for the second group of kids.  This kids' show went much like the other one (a LOT OF FUN) until the last question.  A student asked us, "Can you play our national anthem?"   We had to tell him that we did not know it, to which he said, "Can you play your national anthem?"  That one surprised us!  So, starting with Camden, we all played the Star Spangled Banner for our new friends.  It was great!  

We said good bye to our new friends and then the ladies at the school arrived at the church with homemade pork and chicken empanadas.  OH WOW were they good.  They also made us homemade Peruvian cookies.  Have I told you how well they are feeding us?

Then, because of a delay, we had some time to just hang in the church, so we engaged in the most epic version of bottle flipping, led by Cole.  Several people got the one rotation flip to work, but Cole was sure he could get the two rotation flip to work.  We had to have been there 30-45 minutes, with most of us just watching Cole get so close to sticking the two flip bottle toss.  There were so many near misses and all of us shouted at each of these near misses.  It didn't look like it was going to happen, because the bus arrived and Cole looked up, threw it one last time, and he nailed it.  The cheer from us was deafening!!!   It doesn't take music to entertain us!!

We headed next to the Auditorium at the Municipalidad de Comas.  We had planned to change into our nice clothes for this concert, but when we arrived late, because of unforeseen circumstances (as   

Dr. Campos tells us....in Peru we say....BE FLEXIBLE!!), there were already about 200 or more folks there ready to hear us play, so we immediately took the stage and started the show.  This crowd was amazing.  They gave us so much energy, and it made this the most exciting concert in Peru yet!  They were dancing in the aisles, clapping on one and three (I keep trying to change that but it hasn't worked yet!), yelling for us (the good kind of yelling), and they had a blast.  This was such a fun concert!   After it was over, my BU kids looked like rock stars because of the countless pics that the audience wanted with them!  There was pure joy in that room tonight.  From the crowd, and from us for getting the opportunity to bring joy, and share some of our own.  

After the paparazzi finished taking pics with us, we boarded the bus.  What do you do at 9:00 in Peru?  You eat dinner!!!!  So we went to a Chinese restaurant, Chifa Yen Yen.  Dr. Campos said, i will order and WOW did he!  We started with a dumpling and noodle soup, and then the biggest plates I have ever seen were brought out literally piled HIGH with food.  Shrimp and pork fried rice, sweet and sour pork, chicken and vegetable noodles, and a honey glazed chicken.  It was so good but so much food.  Dr. Campos enjoyed walking down and giving us all a hard time for not eating enough!  We are not going without food under his watch!

Then we headed back to the hotel to get some sleep before another incredible day tomorrow.  

Peaks of the day that I heard included: The fun concert, working with the kids and seeing them smile, and Cole hitting the double flip water bottle on the LAST TRY!  There were very little pits today, but one of them was not being able to spend more time at the park.  

Peak for me...Watching Joy.  Joy in the eyes of the workers at the Operation San Andres as they watched their kids smiling and laughing and clapping, Joy on the faces of my students as they interacted with the students,  Joy in the words of Dr. Campos as he talked about his mission and then later how much he loved what we had given to the people of Comas, Joy in the cheering and dancing of the people of Comas at our concert,  and Joy in the playing of my students who were REALLY enjoying playing today.  It was a good day....

Until tomorrow...

Sic'em Jazz

Some great pics from this amazing day:

 

The children of Operation San Andres

 

 

Sic'em Bears!

Sic'em San Andres!!!

 

 

This was only one complete set of four of these four dishes for the table.  For 25 people!!!  So much good food!

 

Dr. Campos talking to us about his passion for helping the kids of this region. 

  

Sic'em Bears