Creating a Bookworm in Your Family

Enthusiastic readers are made, not born. Parental intervention and encouragement gets the ball rolling and keeps it rolling. Here’s how you can transform your child into a world-class reader.

1.  Start early. If possible, begin exposing your child to books from birth. Even though you may feel like reading to a baby is a useless task, through this process your child will become accustomed to how books “work.” The child will hear you read and will begin to realize the “sound” of reading. Keep reading to your child through the toddler and preschool years. Don’t abandon story time in elementary school. Children of all ages love to be read to.

A true bookworm...reading at the pool!

2.  Provide a wealth of materials in your home. In addition to books, offer newspapers, magazines, comic books, and graphic novels to your child. Even “junk mail” in the form of catalogs can provide a source of reading material.  Allow children to read what interests them, not what you think they should be reading. Boys generally favor nonfiction while girls favor fiction. Any type of reading is still reading, so encourage your child to explore a variety of resources.

3.  Get creative in acquiring materials. If you feel the financial pinch of buying new items, visit your local library. It’s free to acquire a library card, and as long as you don’t incur late fees, the library can keep you stocked in reading material for years. Other low-cost sources include used book stores and garage sales. Parents can also institute a swap policy with families who have kids of similar ages. Load a bucket with books and trade with another family for a month.

If your family uses e-readers, check for free or low cost books that you can download. Most public libraries now have books that can be “checked out” for your e-reader. The website www.bookbub.com will send you a daily e-mail with free and low cost books in your chosen genre. The selections from Book Bub are appropriate for teens and adults.

4.  Set an example. Kids who see their parents read on a regular basis are more apt to do it themselves. Make a concerted effort to read in front of your children, and let them know that it’s a priority for you. If you’re not a fan of chapter books, consider the resources discussed above. Magazines, newspapers, and graphic novels still qualify as reading.

5. Unplug the electronics.  Precious hours of the day are wasted sitting in front of electronic devices. Institute a daily time where there can be no electronics in use. Encourage kids to fill this time with reading. You can make an exception for e-readers as long as they are only for reading.

6.  Find common ground. Once your child becomes older, take time to read some of the same books. This provides common ground for you and your child. Have discussions about the books – the characters, the exciting highs and lows, and anticipation for sequels to be released. Not only does this encourage your child to read, it helps to keep a line of communication open between the child and the parents.

Meeting with YA author Peter Lerangis at an author event.
Check your local bookstores for these free author moments.
It's a great way to excite your child about reading!

7.  Celebrate books. Popular book series garner quite a following among both kids and adults. Book release parties and author visits are some of the events that accompany the release of new books in a popular series. Participate in these events with your child, and go out of your way to make these memorable moments.

8.  Spend time in bookstores and libraries. Make the bookstore a destination. Take the time to browse for an afternoon. Books on every topic can be found on the shelves, and hours can be spent searching and reading. We are fortunate to have wonderful library and bookstore resources in our area. Make great use of what’s available to encourage reading.

It’s never too late to instill the love of reading to your child. Consistent implementation of the techniques described above will, over time, turn your child into a bookworm and will set the stage for a lifetime of reading enjoyment.

Using Holiday Moments to Build Family Traditions

Children enjoy decorating their own
little Christmas trees.

The holiday season is an ideal time to employ special moments as a way to build lifelong traditions with your kids. Take time to slow down and invest in each other to build upon a set of traditions that can be carried on for generations and leave a lasting legacy in your family.

Most of us are decking the halls and making the season bright, but you can turn this into an important time for your child through a few simple steps. Look at the ornaments on your tree. Are there special ones that have significance? Let your kids take ownership of ornaments like this and hang them in a place of honor on the tree. Be sure to tell the stories behind ornaments that are important to the family. Another way to build a family tradition with ornaments is to allow children to purchase a new ornament that they particularly like each Christmas. It will be their job to place it on the tree every year.

To take the decorating tradition up a notch, find a small tree that is just for your kids to decorate. Let them be the masters of the tree and decorate it as they see fit. Knowing that they have their “own” tree, gives them something they can look forward to every year. This year my daughter decorated a small Disney Princess tree that is distinctly her own work of art.

Setting up the nativity scene can be another holiday tradition for religious families. As each piece is placed, retell the story of Jesus, and invite your children to be part of the storytelling.

As more and more lights make their appearance on our holiday horizon, make a yearly tradition of visiting the area’s light displays. I still remember visiting a light display at a local waterfall every year. My family made it a tradition to go to the falls and walk down the path to view the display. It was an annual event and one that I eagerly anticipated. Search out a light display in the area, and make a point to visit that display, even if it’s just a drive-by viewing. Top off the night with a cup of hot cocoa and you’ve got a family tradition in the making.

Children’s Christmas books abound at this time of year, and your family may already have a favorite. Whether the story is read every night of the season or only on a certain night, bringing those moments of literature into the house encourages reading while fostering enjoyment of the season. It may be the story of Jesus read straight from the Bible, a beautifully illustrated version of “Twas the Night Before Christmas,” or even the Dr. Seuss Classic How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Whatever it is, make the reading of a Christmas classic an event for everyone. Pull up pillows in front of the fireplace, grab the milk and cookies, and gather together for the story. Parents don’t necessarily have to do the reading, either. Older siblings can read to the family, or let the willing readers take turns with different books. Stuck on what book to read? Visit Jay & Mary’s Book Center in Troy, and they will be happy to make suggestions for you from the great selection of holiday books that they always stock at this time of year.

Create little sous chefs by allowing kids to be an integral part of the cookie baking process. Everyone can don aprons and set about with cookie making and decorating. Containers of sugars and sprinkles will definitely catch a child’s eye, and they’ll remember spending time in the kitchen baking up warm memories. Share the goodness of your kitchen by delivering plates of baked goods to neighbors. Let the kids add a personal touch by decorating Christmas cards with drawings and stickers. This will surely warm your neighbors’ hearts, and it will help your children understand what it means to give.

Whatever traditions you choose to build in your family both this year and in the years to come, remember that the essential element is time. Spend time together away from the other distractions of life. Turn off the TV and the other electronics. Connect with your kids by giving them your undivided attention while you make those holiday traditions ones that will last a lifetime.

Christmas Gifts for Grandparents

As you’re making your list and checking it twice this year, choosing a gift for a grandparent can be difficult at times. If your grandparent is the type who appears to have everything, the gift selection can be even more strenuous. Here are a few suggestions for choosing the right gift for the grandparents on your list.

The first step in choosing an ideal gift is to listen. In the months prior to Christmas, keep your eyes and ears open when you spend time with your grandparents. The words, “Oh, it would be handy to have…” or “I sure could use…” often precede an off-hand comment that could later turn into a great choice for a Christmas gift. Take a look around your grandparents’ house. Do you see something that needs updated or replaced? Is it an item that grandma and grandpa wouldn’t spend the money on themselves? This, too, could turn into an idea for a Christmas gift.

If distance separates you from your grandparents, employ some spies to help you. Other family members who live in the vicinity of grandma and grandpa could be called upon to be your eyes and ears this Christmas season. Or, another relative may have heard your grandparents mention something that they need or want. If they’re willing to share this information with you, then you can use it in your gift selection.

Another strategy is to pay attention to your grandparents’ hobbies. Choose a gift that will help them enjoy their leisure time activities. For example, my grandmother is a wonderful knitter, so a gift that includes yarn or a knitting idea book is always right up her alley. My grandfather survived Pearl Harbor and was a proud member of the Navy during World War II. Up until his death, he could tell me every detail of his experience on that fateful day. Through the years, I was able to find many gifts related to World War II, the Navy, and Pearl Harbor that were to his liking. He never tired of reading a new book about the war or pouring over a piece of Pearl Harbor memorabilia. Take time to note your grandparents’ interests and then turn those into a thoughtful and creative gift.

If you’re still feeling flummoxed, try to think of a gift that keeps on giving. For example, put together a movie-watching kit of a fleece blanket, popcorn, and a few classic movies on DVD. A coffee kit is another creative gift idea. Choose an interesting mug and then pack a gift bag full of different coffees. The chocolate gift is another selection you might make. Peruse the candy aisle and put together an assortment of different chocolates and treats. Throw in a local favorite like Winan’s or Esther Price, and this makes for a delicious gift for grandma and grandpa. The gift of reading can always be appreciated. Even if you don’t feel comfortable choosing actual titles, pick a novelty book and then include a gift card and an assortment of bookmarks.

The gift of time is one that is always a hit with grandparents. Whether you help with some handyman-type tasks around the house, or you take your grandparent on an outing to the movies or to lunch, spending time with each other is a gift that benefits everyone. Take time to invest in a relationship with your grandparents, and you’ll be all the richer for it.

 

The key to finding just the right gift for a grandparent is to watch, listen, and then apply some creativity. Think outside the box, and you just may be able to surprise them on Christmas morning.

Using the 4 R's with Kids

As a parent, I’ve been blessed with two daughters. As a teacher, I’ve been privileged to teach hundreds of kids. Both of these roles have been learning experiences for me, and I’ve come to understand that successful children have a solid set of expectations to follow. Telling a child, “Be good,” isn’t enough. What does “good” mean? Children need concrete standards and examples, and those standards are ones that can be used at home and at school.

At my school we use a set of standards called the “Four R’s.” These four R’s are respect, responsibility, restraint, and recognizing the rights of others. We use these to help students focus on their behavior and to improve it. These may sound like school strategies, but they can also be successful at home.



Students show respect to each other by listening to
others opinions.

Respect is the first quality, defined by the dictionary as an attitude of deference. School examples of respect include looking at a person when they speak, being quiet when others share their ideas and opinions, and speaking to each other with kind words and voices even when upset. These examples work just as well at home. Teach your children to show respect to their parents by making eye contact and by following directions immediately. Respect can also be shown at home by listening to other family members and allowing them to voice their opinions. Siblings in a fight? Teach them how to speak to each other with kindness, even when they’re upset.

Successful students must be responsible, no matter what their age. At school, we expect students to be responsible for their own belongings and to come to class prepared. However, learning to be responsible starts at home. Use chores to accomplish this task. Choose age appropriate chores for your kids and develop a regular schedule for completion. For example, a four year old can help an older sibling unload the dishwasher. Middle school kids can begin to learn how to do laundry, along with folding it and putting it away. Teenagers can do all this plus more difficult chores such as mowing and other yard work. You can also put the responsibility for completing homework on your child. Give them a quiet place to get it done, but make this part of their daily routine. For example, my oldest daughter comes home and does her homework and chores before doing anything else. Once a routine is established, and the children have accepted the responsibility for it, it becomes a regular part of their day. Start these types of routines as early as you can in a child’s life, and they will grow up thinking it is normal.

Restraint can be a tough area for kids, especially when they are upset. At home, let children see you model self-control when you are distressed. When they see Mom and Dad controlling anger, or expressing it in a mature way, they begin to see proper restraint in action. They will take their cues from you. Sibling interaction is also a great time to teach restraint. Every brother and sister knows what it’s like to have their space invaded! Teach kids how to express their feelings in a rational way towards siblings who have overstepped their bounds. When siblings are fussing, this is a great opportunity to teach them about self-control.

At school, respecting the rights of others means not touching another person’s property or body without permission. At home it means the same thing! For example, brothers and sisters learn to leave siblings’belongings alone. This can also mean respecting the boundaries of mom and dad’s belongings. For example, my own children know that my purse is off limits. The same goes for Dad’s wallet. My girls know they may not enter each other’s bedrooms without permission. Sometimes this is difficult to follow, but by responding to these parameters, they show respect for each other. Personal space also falls into this category. We do not allow our students to physically hurt each other. This is a standard that can be replicated at home, as well.

Children crave boundaries, and they respond when parents set limits for them. Rome wasn’t built in a day, and you won’t gain perfect behavior from your kids overnight. Every child is a work in progress, but using concrete standards such as these can help kids understand expectations and start to follow them. Strong expectations build happy, productive, well-adjusted kids.

 

Note -- This is an article was published in my local newspaper on 10/4/12.

Parents Make the Grade at Parent Teacher Conferences

Parent-Teacher Conference season is upon us, and while the conference you attend may only be 15 minutes long, it is an important 15 minutes. The parent-teacher partnership is an important relationship in the educational success of a child. Here are a few suggestions for parents to help make the conference experience a productive one.

1. Contact the teacher immediately for any changes in your appointment. The teacher needs to meet with 20 to 25 sets of parents. It’s usually possible to reschedule, but the earlier you do it, the better.

2. Be on time. The appointment time is already short enough. Take advantage of every scheduled minute by being punctual. This also helps the teacher to stay on schedule which is a courtesy to other parents.

3. Contact the teacher in advance if you want to discuss a specific concern about your child. This will give the teacher the opportunity to prepare and organize materials that address your particular issue.

4. Realize that you may have to return for a follow-up meeting. The situation of your child may require another appointment to further discuss concerns. Or, if a plan for improvement is put into place, it will be necessary to have other meetings to report on progress.

5. Remember that teachers and parents are all on the same side. Approach this relationship as a partnership. Everyone’s goal is the educational success of your child. Teachers love it when parents work alongside them to support the educational endeavors of the classroom.

6. It’s okay to be frustrated. Calmly explain to the teacher why you’re frustrated. Work with the teacher to find solutions to the problems that your child faces. Come in with an open mind and be open to suggestions.

7. Teachers are great resources for you. They’re experts in their fields, and they’ll be glad to share their knowledge. For example, if you have specific questions about standardized test scores or an educational topic, ask the teacher. The teacher will be happy to explain these.

8. Frequently check your child’s grades online. Online grade books are an excellent tool for monitoring educational progress. If you’ve been a regular visitor to the online grade book, you won’t have any surprises when you attend the conference.

9. If the teacher uses technology to communicate, such as e-mails and websites, be a frequent user of these tools. Not only will it give you vital information about the class, but you’ll get a feeling for who the teacher is. You’ll walk into the conference with a greater understanding of classroom expectations.

10. Both parents should attend the conference, if possible. This gives the teacher a chance to meet and interact with both parents.

When teachers and parents work together, everyone wins. View the parent-teacher conference as an opportunity for you to help your child be as educationally successful as possible. The teacher is your greatest ally in this endeavor.

Poor Lambchop!

Lambchop doesn't know what's coming!

We ate Lambchop! I knew that would get your attention. Let me explain.

I enjoyed the fresh foods that we ate in Peru, but at times, fresh brought on a whole new meaning. As my team and I hiked in the Andes, we were fortunate enough to have cooks with us to prepare and serve all of our food. Most of the food was fresh from local farms, or from other areas of Peru. Some of our meat was actually purchased from the local farmers that we came in contact with in the villages we passed through.

Face to face with dinner...this is not
for the faint of heart!

The group decided to pool our money and buy a sheep which the cooks would then fix for dinner for us. I was excited about this because it meant REALLY fresh meat. I was also a little grossed out because it meant coming face to face with dinner. Admittedly, I am not often spending time with my food before it ends up on my plate. Talk about a reality factor!

The sheep we purchased was nicknamed "Lambchop" by our group. It walked from one village to the next with us. And then, the cooks butchered it. Several group members watched the butchering close up,  but I decided to refrain. I decided I didn't need to see this process close-up. Other team members reported that it was interesting. Even my own hubby watched and didn't seem bothered by it.

The cooking of the meat was the most amazing part. Our cooks built a little "oven" out of stones. They wrapped the meat in individual foil packets which they placed in the oven, and then they piled stones over top. Veggies and potatoes were cooked on top of the stones. The whole process was amazing.

The food...delicious! The fresh lamb was so good, and the veggies and potatoes were all locally grown and harvested. This was some great eating! But, the entire group did agree on one thing...poor Lambchop!

Distinctly Peruvian

Two trips to Peru in two years; I am humbled to have had the opportunity to experience this wonderful country twice in a short amount of time. My first journey was a trip for teachers, and the second journey was with my church.  Both took me out of my comfort zone. I learned, saw, felt, and thought. I was changed beyond my wildest expectations, and it left me thirsting for more. And while I yearn to go back, I am left me with certain memories that are crystal clear in my mind…distinctly Peruvian moments. Allow me to turn back the clock and share a few with you.

We're waiting for the birds to arrive at the clay lick.

I’m in the Amazon rain forest sitting by a clay lick at 5:30 a.m. with twenty American teachers and our Peruvian guides. The goal for the morning is to observe macaws at the clay lick and to take notes about their behavior. The birds don’t care that we’re waiting for them. They’ll arrive when they feel like it. And so, we wait. I begin to write a few notes in my journal when a terrible cacophony starts up in the trees. It’s the howler monkeys. They all howl at the same time, and the noise sounds like a freight train. The din continues for a few moments, and then it suddenly stops. As I puzzle at the abruptness of it all, rain starts to fall. I pull out my raincoat and marvel at the timing of the monkeys. Did they know the rain was coming and call out as a warning? I’ll never know for sure, but the timing of it seems too perfect to be anything else.

It’s a dark night in the Amazon rain forest. We have spent an hour in a boat searching for caimans, relatives of alligators, along the river bank. We found a few, easily seen by their eyes reflecting our light, but it certainly wasn’t the bounty we’d hoped for. We return to the shore and stop for a few moments to listen to the sounds of the forest, the tree frogs. Their croaking sounds more like the chirping of insects. I lay down in the sand of the riverbank to watch the stars above and listen to the frog chorus. With no light pollution to mar the sky, the stars are brighter than I’ve ever seen them. I search for familiar constellations, but the southern hemisphere’s sky looks different from the northern hemisphere’s. In that peaceful moment, I feel like staying on the riverbank forever, listening to the frogs and watching the stars twinkle in the sky.

Fast forward two years, and I’m in Peru again. This time I’m standing on a mountain top. It’s cold, and I’m wearing multiple layers of clothes, plus my hat, scarf, and gloves. The sun has set and the night sky is clear. The stars above me make the sky look like it’s filled with diamonds. I can see the Milky Way cutting a path through space. My breath is taken away at the spectacle of it all. The constellation of the Southern Cross, only seen in the southern hemisphere, is visible before me. Our group spontaneously starts to sing because the sight before us is so majestic. This beautiful scene is repeated night after night. I wish I could photograph what I see, but no camera could do it justice.

This family came out to meet us as we hiked.

Now I’m walking along a mountain path heading towards a village to distribute the translated New Testament to the native Quechua people of Peru. As usual, I’m at the back of the group because I’m a slow hiker, but this time it pays off. A family comes out of their house to talk to the people at the end of our group. Through a translator we are able to have a conversation with them and give them a Bible and a children’s picture Bible. They are so touched by our gift that they run into their house and return with a large basket of potatoes. They insist that we take the potatoes as a thank you gift for the Bibles. They immediately start to look through the Bibles we’ve given them and they even walk down the road to meet the rest of our group. Later that evening, they walk two hours to the village to hear our presentation and see the Jesus video. Their excitement humbles me as I realize what a big deal it is for these families to receive Bibles written in their own native language.

It’s moments like these, plus many more, that have caused me to fall in love with Peru. The people, the scenery, the ruggedness of the place; it has seeped into my veins and become a part of me. I can’t wait to go back, to experience more of what makes this South American country “distinctly Peruvian.”

Adventures in Sleeping in the Peruvian Andes

“Sleeping in a hotel and a tent in the mountains shouldn’t be difficult, right? It doesn’t matter that the hotel and tent will be in the Peruvian Andes. This should be easy.” I deluded myself into thinking that before I left the United States for Peru. Boy, was I wrong! The simple act of sleeping challenged me during the 10 days I spent in Peru.

My first adventure in sleeping took place in a hotel in Huarez, Peru, nestled in the Peruvian Andes. Huarez is not a small town, and thus, I figured the hotels would be decent. Our hotel was not bad, but it had a few quirky qualities that kept reminding me that I was not at home anymore.

Want hot water 24/7? Then this may not be the hotel for you.

One of the most painful quirks was the lack of hot water. Strangely, our shower never had more than a pencil-width stream of water coming out of it, but it was also cold half of the time. There wasn’t a predictable pattern as to when the water would be cold and when it would be hot. In a few instances, there wasn't any water at all, but the hotel staff seemed to be able to fix that. We decided that if there was water and it was hot, then it was time to take a shower!

The particular room my husband and I bunked in allowed us to hear the conversation of our neighbors with startling accuracy. A morning conversation about bodily functions and intestinal distress left us laughing out loud. Poor Stephanie…we didn’t know who she was, but we learned a lot about her health issues that morning.

Street noise was also our constant companion. Loud singing, bands playing in nightclubs, and car horns honking provided a background for much of the night. We learned that Peruvians honk their car horns much more frequently than Americans do, but the honks aren’t necessarily angry honks, just attention getting honks.

Our first campsite, nestled in the mountains. Beautiful, but cold at night!

After leaving Huarez, we set out for the mountains. The main purpose of our trip was to hike in the mountains and distribute translated Bibles to the native people. While on the trekking part of the trip, we slept in tents. I am not a proficient tent sleeper, but I’m always up for an adventure, and I figured that tent sleeping in the Andes ranked in the adventure category.

We slept at elevations above 10,000 feet, and it dipped into the 30’s at night. During the day the sun was always out, and we were toasty warm. After the sun set, the temperature dropped rapidly. In the evening I wore two to three layers of clothes, plus a coat with a hat, scarf, and gloves. I then understood why the Peruvians chose to wear woolen clothes in those conditions. 

When it was bedtime, I still kept on two to three layers of clothes, plus my hat which was made from Alpaca wool. I had my sleeping bag, plus a fleece liner. In the four nights that we camped, I froze for three of them. My nose, the most exposed skin that I had, was the coldest part. Otherwise, I cocooned myself into the sleeping bag to stay warm.

Donkeys may look cute, but they are NOISY!

Being cold wasn’t my only challenge in the tents. It was noisy. I thought that sleeping in the mountains would be a quiet affair, but it was just as noisy as sleeping in Huarez because we were surrounded by the native peoples’ farms. Dogs seemed to be everywhere, and they barked all night long. One night a dog barked directly outside the entrance to my tent, which woke me from my sleep and set my heart thumping against my chest. Donkeys carried our gear in the mountains, so the braying of donkeys was another noise. Their braying is LOUD and long. The roosters started crowing around 4:00 a.m. and continued for hours. The entire group had something to say about the roosters, but our cooks solved the problem for us. They bought a rooster from one of the farmers, and we ate it for dinner that night. It was some of the best poultry we had!

Another night we were camped on a slope, and my sleeping back was made of slick fabric. It constantly slid down to the foot of the tent because my mattress pad was also smooth. I kept trying to scoot back up, but I was cocooned in my bag, so I wasn’t mobile. After a constant battle of sliding down and scooting up, I finally gave up the fight. By morning, I was sleeping in a pile at the foot of the tent.

The sun is starting to go down, and I'm getting cold. But,
it's all worth it for views like this!

After four nights of camping in the freezing cold, I was actually glad to go back to the hotel in Huarez with its lack of hot water, noise from the street, and talkative neighbors. Even though my sleeping wasn’t great for all those nights, all I could do was laugh about it. There’s nothing like having adventures in sleeping!

Guinea Pigs are Not Pets in Peru, They're Food!

Guinea pigs for sale in the market in Huarez, Peru.

Even though I had been to Peru before, I’d never had a chance to try one of their national dishes, the cuy. In America, it’s better known as a guinea pig. Yes, in Peru, guinea pigs are eaten, not kept as pets. My first trip to Peru had not afforded me the opportunity to taste guinea pig, but I felt certain that my second trip would have a guinea pig eating opportunity. And, I was right.

Before the moment for eating arrived, my group had visited a local market where guinea pigs were on display and ready to be sold. This wasn’t a tidy supermarket, as in the United States. It was an open air market where the stalls had no refrigeration, and the meat sat out all day with the organs and innards revealed just waiting for buyers. I saw multitudes of guinea pigs on display in that environment, and it certainly didn’t whet my appetite for the dish.





Guinea pigs on a plate!

On a Sunday afternoon, we made our way to a restaurant and recreational park on the outskirts of Huarez. This was a lovely place to spend a day. As we relaxed at the outdoor dining tables, we noticed an extensive playground for children, a swimming pool, and a stage for live bands. A walk to the back of the property revealed a rushing mountain stream along with views of the surrounding mountains. It was easy to relax and socialize in this setting. It was also a great place to order guinea pigs for lunch.

We ordered our meals, including several guinea pigs. We decided that we’d just share them amongst the group members. We treated them as if they were appetizers, but I wasn’t sure I’d have much of an appetite after ingesting a guinea pig.

Ready to eat...

It wasn’t long before the guinea pigs arrived at the table. They came with heads, arms and legs, claws, and teeth intact. They were arranged neatly on potatoes, but there was no mistaking the fact that we were about to eat rodents.

Our guides told us that the best way to eat them was to pick them up and gnaw away, just as one might dig into fried chicken. Forks and knives were not necessary in this instance because a typical guinea pig doesn’t contain much meat. It’s difficult to cut the meat with utensils. I still found the thought of gnawing on a guinea pig leg to be distasteful, so I used my knife and fork against the advice we were given.

Since everyone in the group was digging in, I took a deep breath and ate the guinea pig meat that I had on my fork. I expected a nasty experience, but I found the meat to have a mild flavor with the texture of chicken. It wasn’t disgusting, but I had trouble getting past the fact that I was eating a rodent. I didn’t devour an entire guinea pig, but I felt satisfied that I had eaten enough to qualify as a guinea pig eater.

Nope, I can't eat it this way. I have to use a fork!

Several of the more adventurous teens in the group decided to eat the guinea pigs’ eyeballs, but I didn’t go that far with my guinea pig eating. The claws of the guinea pig also provided some entertainment as various group members used them as toothpicks.

There are many times in life when I’ve said, “Never!” to myself. But this was one of those times where I felt like I had to jump in the pool. How many Americans can say they’ve eaten a guinea pig? Well, now I can, and it honestly wasn’t that bad!

The attached heads added to the "ick" factor.

 

Distributing Bibles by the Light of a Generator

Thank goodness for these donkeys! They carried our gear in the mountains.

In July, I had the privilege of traveling to Peru as part of a 14-member team from my church. Our mission was to journey into the Andes Mountains to deliver the recently translated New Testament to the Quechua people, the native people of Peru. This mission required hiking between villages to places not easily traversed by vehicles.

We spent the majority of each day hiking, usually about five to ten miles a day. Our group attracted a lot of attention as we traipsed along the mountain pathways. The people living in the mountains looked on with curiosity at this group of “Gringos.” A team of 20 donkeys carried our gear: tents, equipment, and personal effects packed into duffel bags. So, in addition to the Gringos, we had donkeys and the Peruvians who traveled with us as our guides, cooks, and “donkey drivers.” We were quite a crew!

Our teens played soccer with the local kids in each village.

We normally reached our intended villages by mid-afternoon, and our first task was to make camp. After that, we attempted to interact with the local people. To engage them, the teens in our group would start to play soccer. That drew a great number of kids. It didn’t matter that the same language wasn’t spoken; soccer seemed to be the universal language. After playing with us, the kids eagerly brought their parents back later in the evening.

Yeppo, one of the Peruvian missionaries, also walked around the surrounding area with a bullhorn. He’d announce the activities for the evening, which included the “Jesus” film translated into Quechua. As the sun set, the people made their way to us. Some people walked for two or more hours to watch the video and hear what we had to say.

In an area that had virtually no electricity, we had to be fully prepared to share our message. That meant using a generator to power all the equipment. The video projector, the sound system, and a single light bulb were the extent of what we used for the presentations. One little light bulb made a huge difference in a space that was totally dark otherwise.

The “Jesus” movie was shown first. Once it was over, a Peruvian missionary shared the gospel message with the crowd. After that, it was time for the Gringos! Our leader, Pastor Adam, would give a brief introduction to the crowd which was translated by our Peruvian leader, Ade, since he could speak English, Spanish, and Quechua.  Two members from our group would then share their own testimonies, again translated by Ade. After that, we always sang a song in English. Even though the Quechua people didn’t know exactly what we were saying, they seemed to enjoy and appreciate it.




I present a Bible and calendar to one of the Quechua people.
(Photo courtesy of D. Griffieth)

The final moment of every evening was the distribution of the Quechua Bibles. This was a huge event for the villagers, as they’d never before had a Bible in their own language. The mayor of each village called families up one by one, and we took turns presenting them with a Bible. Many families opened the Bibles immediately and started to read by our generator-powered light bulb or by their own headlamps. It humbled me to think how I’d taken for granted owning a Bible in English, and here these people were getting one in Quechua for the first time. The smiles on the people’s faces said it all. This was a big deal. It filled me with joy to be able to spread God’s Word to people who were reading it for the first time…in Quechua!

Next week: Enjoying Peruvian cultural moments