New Children's Work in Lima
Jacky became a Christian in Fundo California, one of the dusty shantytowns surrounding Lima, the capital of Peru, where Latin Link's Margaret Saunderson works, setting up children's clubs and supporting the local evangelical church.
Although Jacky lives in Fundo California, she was brought up in Surco, an older neighbourhood, where she now works. For a long time she has wanted to work with the children and teenagers there.
Surco isn't a new shanty, but an old area of Lima where many houses are made of adobe (mud brick) criss-crossed by little alleyways. Many families live in cramped conditions. Children easily get involved in drugs and gangs because their parents aren't around much.
'Many of the men spend their time gambling and playing cards or drinking,' says Margaret. 'The women go out partying with their friends leaving the children abandoned and starved of love. Children of all ages stay out on the streets throughout the day and night.'
Jacky asked Margaret to help her set up a club for the children in Surco, although due to Margaret's already-busy schedule, it took a while to get things going. Then one night they began talking about the needs of the area. Jacky introduced Margaret to a friend of her husband who had become a Christian recently and offered his house to start up a club for the children and teenagers.
'The house is tiny, but Lucho and his wife Elsa are incredibly hospitable and willing to have the kids round at all hours. They started by showing the video of The Cross and the Switchblade on a Friday night at the end of August. About 30 came, a mixture of teenagers, adults and children. Somehow they all squeezed in!'
The videos have continued on Friday nights with a good group attending each time. About three weeks later they started the children's club on a Saturday afternoon with help from Roxana, who helped Margaret start the children's work in Fundo California nearly six years ago.
'Since then others have come along to help. Strider, Ruth Finlay, is now teaching the younger ones, while the older ones have their class with Roxana on the roof of Lucho and Elsa's house. About 25 children come regularly. If the numbers grow they will have to meet out in the street!'
Jacky and Margaret are really aware of how much the children need love and attention and how easily they could become street kids, drug addicts or gamblers if they don't come to know Jesus. Quite a few have already prayed to receive Jesus in their hearts. Please pray that they will increasingly understand what this means.
'It is really exciting and challenging to be with a new group,' concludes Margaret. 'Please pray for these children and teenagers to experience the love of Jesus and his transformation of their lives. Also that through them we may be able to reach their parents with the gospel and that they may change too.'
© Latin Link 2001
