Ventenilla

Due to the time difference I was woken early this morning by texts arriving from the UK, but did manage to sleep until 9.30 this morning and have managed through today - I'm feeling weary now, but am still surprisingly awake (considering it's 3.21 in the morning UK time)

After a late breakfast, Sarah and I got ready and went to a place called Ventenilla where Sarah carries out her play project called El Arca. We caught a taxi into Lima and then caught a bus - but nothing like a UK bus. It was much smaller, and made very busy, fast stops with people barely having time to get on or off. Music blared from speakers for a lot of the journey, but also people got on and sold things like sweets while we were driving along - very different to the UK.

Our journey took us past the seaside, where people were surfing and then past lots of dry and dusty hills dotted with houses in various states of construction. On the way we stopped at a supermarket to use the toilet there (as there are none at the El Arca project) and bought some rolls and bananas for lunch - I spotted a loaf shaped like a tortoise - very cute!

Ventenilla is a district of Lima that has many small buildings like those seen en route. We were met by lots of children who know Sarah well. We opened up the church building - not like anything I've experienced before - and set up the toys. After a time of play, Sarah told a story about Paul and Silas and then the children did a sticking activity. With everything cleared away we went to someone's home to pray for a small boy, Fabian, who had pneumonia.

A two hour journey followed, with a stop off again at the supermarket to use the toilet again and then caught another bus home. We're now just about to eat dinner and then I think I'd better catch up on some sleep!