Kindergarten of Cristo Redentor School

ON PREVIOUS POSTS I HAVE SHARED about the educational project that is taking place at Cristo Redentor school in Nuevo Chimbote - Perú which includes not only counting on a primary level school, high school or a library but on a kindergarten as well where children from 3-year-old to 5-year-old be able to start their educational process. Considering this noble idea and thanks to the selfless support of many people, among Christian and non-Christian from other countries is that presently Cristo Redentor school has its own kindergarten which is located at the same block as the primary level school and passing a neighbor's house.

In this kindergarten there are three classrooms for 3-4-5-year-old children respectively. Here is the teachers: Miss Grace (3-year-old children), Miss Karla (4-year-old children) and Miss Yaffe (5-year-old children.) Children are able to study here because of the help of donors to whom we are very grateful for all their goodness.

Click on the link to see more PICTURES.

Preparing a Library

CONTINUING WITH THE IMPLEMENTATION of the educational project at Cristo Redentor school, which is located in Primero de Mayo neighborhood in Nuevo Chimbote, I am pleased to share with you through this post, that now it has been begun to implement a library in this educational institution for all students of that school to be able to access to academic information which will help them in their studies and at the same time in their training as future professionals.

To carry out this new challenge firstly, it was chosen and prepared a third-floor room of the school to be the library. Secondly, It has been gotten 6 shelves (and several tables) made of wood for the various educational resources that students will use. All of this was possible thanks to the providence of God and the ongoing help of people indentifying with the need of supporting education of those less advantaged and here I as a residented of Chimbote I would like to thank donors for letting this proyect is becoming a reality.

I must also add that on a fellowship environment it was counted on the visit of three young men members of ACFI (from three countries and two of them were fulfilling a schedule of visits to several ones): Marc Berruezo (AFCI-Spain), Doug Arms (AFCI-USA) and Jorge Visurraga (AFCI-Perú) It was a good time to celebrate the acquirement of the 6 shelves together with the visit of these young people to the Cristo Redentor school. Educational materials are being acquired at the moment. I will share with you when the library is ready for its opening.

Click on the link to see more PICTURES.

Focusing On Education

THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT EDUCATION is one of the ways through which a nation can set the foundations to its integral development. With this focus on mind some people did great efforts to make possible the access to education for children and teenagers living in a poor neighborhood called "Primero de Mayo" and its surrounding poor ones in Nuevo Chimbote - a city located Chimbote north and next to it. This project starts in the beginning of 2005 when two Christian people br. Juan Tapia Ramírez and sr. Doris Bardales Chavez (who passed away in 2007) decided to found "Cristo Redentor" Private Educational Institution.

The school didn't have its own land at first so they rented rooms at Methodist Church located in L-24 Independencia street, Villa María, Nuevo Chimbote. The opening of the school took place in this place in 2005. Classes started in March that year with 136 students. Initial level (2 clms) and primary level (5 clms) In 2006, the opening of the school year was held with 175 students. Initial level (2 clms) and primary level (6 clms) The same year the first class graduates from elementary level. Note: clms=classrooms.

Well, the school could no longer rent all rooms of the church for the next year 2007 so, situation was uncertain since the school had no its own land and there was not even money to buy one. But after many prayers by br. Juan and sr. Doris, God heard them and at the end of 2006 Christian sisters and brothers (even non-Christian people) from Canada, the United States and Spain helped this initiative and so it was possible to buy a land for the school in "Primero de Mayo" neighborhood. Thus, on January 15th, 2007 it was started the construction of the first floor of the school (including four classrooms made of plywood in the schoolyard) which finished March 25th.

In 2007, the opening of the school year was held with 151 students. Initial level (3 clms still at Methodist Church of Villa María) and primary level (6 clms at the land of the school at "Primero de Mayo.") In 2008, thanks to the support of Christian and non-christian people once again it was possible to finish the construction of the second floor of the school and also to buy another land at the same block exclusively for Initial level. So, 2008 school year opening was held with 170 students. Initial level in its own land (3 clms) and elementary level (6 clms.)

At the beginning of 2009 all these good people (benefactors or donors), willing to keep supporting freely this educational project at school, made possible construction of the third floor of the school. Thus, the 2009 school year opening was held with 168 students. Initial level (3 clms), elementary level (6 clms) and Highschool level (1 clms) and we still keep working there for students. I, Pablo Beltrán, have the change of working at this "Cristo Redentor" school as an English teacher.

Click on the link to see more PICTURES.

Life Lessons

ON THIS POST I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU ALL about great lessons that life gives us through exceptional human beings and in this particular case I will focus in a person's life that, even though perhaps for many she is at a disadvantage however demostrates us there is no disadvantages or limiting factors when anybody has steadfastness, perseverance and passion to reach his/her life goals despite circumstances.

Her name is Elizabeth Becerra Salas and she was born in a poor neighborhood as many in Chimbote - Perú called "Florida Alta" in September, 1981. She is 28 years old and her dad is Mr. Francisco Becerra and her mom is Mrs. Mercedes Salas. Her "problem" is catalogued as cerebral palsy. Because of this she had to study at a school for disabled people here in Chimbote called "Joy and Faith" school (colegio "Fe y Alegría"). She was a good student.

Presently she does not live in her parents' house but at a shelter (quinta) called Nativity (Natividad) a place that was gotten by father Jack Davis (Juan Davis) and donated by himself for disabled people just like her. This shelter is located in a neighborhood very near father Jack's parish - among many poor ones. The disabled living there, just like Elizabeth, receive care, food, protection, etc and have a place to connect to people with the same hopes and dreams.

Even though she is suffering from this cerebral palsy yet she is a writer and as such in 1989 wrote and published a book called "Poemario" ("Poetry Collection"), in 2002 another book called "Dios Mío Dame Fuerzas Para Seguir Viviendo" ("My God, Give Me Strength To Keep Living")and now she has written her third book entitled "Lecciones de Vida" ("Life Lessons") and on it she shares about experiences and dreams that only a person from her position has had.

Also she shares her activities by giving talks about self-esteem headed to young people who are caught in the vice of drugs and alcohol.

Click on the link to see more PICTURES.

Testifying in Communities !!

ON SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 27th, 2009 Christian believers of Chimbote came together in the morning at a square of this city called "Plaza 28 de Julio" (July 28th square) which is located next to the sea (Pacific Ocean) and four blocks away from main square. There was a reason for them to attend this public meeting and it was that Chimbote Pastors Association (an entity that includes all pastors of evangelical churches of Chimbote) invited believers to testify and celebrate publicly The Bible's Day by proclaiming it as The Word of God in community.

So, as an answer to this invitation local congregations and denominations got together as one with no differences including children, young people, adult people, leaders and pastors who together showed the community, through several ways, that here in Chimbote there is a people that, even under different denominations, yet is bonded strongly by a common faith and has the Bible as the only Inspired Word of God and as authority that guides our lives.

Here is some churches participating: Methodist, Pentecostal, Baptist, Church of God of Prophecy, Assemblies of God, Christian and Missionary Church, etc even Catholic Church. Also christians schools and ministries. There were some members of Methodist Church of Brazil. The marching band of a christian school was pasticipating as well as a folk music band.

It was a great day of joy where there were song, dance, parade, Word of God, atc and an special opportunity to meet believers of other denominations. It was seen balloons, banners, mottos, pictures, Bible verses, cars with Bible motives and among cheers, shouts, aclamations, claps, etc of the assistants we honored the Bible.

At the same time there was another meeting celebrating The Bible's Day as well at main square in Nuevo Chimbote which is a city located near Chimbote and even catholic community, including their leaders, the faithful, catholic schools and their marching bands, etc, together with other christian congregations and denominations were participating as well there.

We thank God for this great opportunity He gaves us all to publicly testify in communities about His Word: The Bible.

Click on the link to see more PICTURES.