A few went to Lima and found jobs there whilst others have gone on to further education courses, some in our Training Centre, which is now known as The Margery Gulliver Institute.  At least one has started on a university course.

Five girls graduated from the dressmaking workshop in December and enjoyed a graduation ceremony when they received their diplomas.  (See our picture gallery)

All the children and their siblings enjoyed the Christmas parties just before Christmas, and in February about 100 of them went to the annual camp for a week.

At camp, which is held in a conference centre in Chupaca, the children enjoyed games and handicrafts and Bible teaching. It was a real treat for them to be able to sleep in a bed of their own in clean sheets, and have three good meals a day, as well as the fun of being with other children and forgetting about the pressures of school and household chores. When the parents and guardians came to collect them on the final day they gave a presentation of all that they had been learning.  Also the children who attended for the first time each received a bible.

Our faithful worker, Jill Abell, returned to Huancayo for another 3 months in December and was able to help with these activities, besides working alongside the three Family Support Workers  as they visited new families to assess them for sponsorship.

Our other exciting news is that an English couple, Paul and Rachel Elliston, have now been living in Huancayo  for the past 3 months as part of the team. They are hoping to stay for 18 months, which will give good continuity.  Rachel is teaching to help to support them and Paul is using his skills as an overseas development worker by co-ordinating the work of the Institute and the childrens’ work and communicating regularly with the trustees in this country.

We are very grateful to all those who go and help in the work in Peru and grateful to God for the way he is blessing the work.

Job

Graduated from the T C, after studying Carpentry and Metal Work for two years. He is now in Lima living and working with his Uncle in his Carpentry workshop, they are working in ‘Asia’ a very rich area south of Lima, where they have been putting in new floors, doors and windows, his Uncle was so impressed with the quality of his work, he is now making furniture as well. The Uncle’s neighbour has a metal workshop and Job is working with him, and is becoming known as ‘a very committed worker who can be trusted’, we praise God for His hand on this young life, and the way he is now earning a living thanks to the sponsors.

Amilcar

Graduated from the T C, after studying for two years in the Cookery Workshop, he now has a job teaching Culinary Art in a local college. He is also a very changed young man, he has made a new commitment to the Lord, and his old ‘ways’ have disappeared with his new life. For this he is grateful to the devotions held in every workshop before classes start at the T C, and reading his Bible more. He is now able to help support his needy family. His Father ( abandoned the family after years of physical and emotional abuse), went to the Graduation, and was very moved at the way his son had made a success of his life with the help of ‘El Shaddai’, so his life was touched as well. Thanks again to a faithful sponsor who has made a real difference to the life of this young man.

Carlos

Graduated from the Cookery Workshop last December, went to Lima for a job, and was given one as a ‘kitchen helper’, but only after one week he was promoted to ‘Chef !’ with a wage of 1200 soles a month ! ! (approx £300.00p). With which I am sure he is able to help his family out. Thanks again to the faithful support of a sponsor who has made all this possible. All three of these testimonies speak of the high standard of teaching which is given at the Training Centre. With prayerful support may this continue.

In November 2008 a celebration to mark the anniversary of El Tambo was held, and the municipal authority, through their mayor, made a public recognition of the Association El Shaddai and the PCT as beneficial organisations for deprived young people and children of the region. To mark this they presented Manuel with a trophy of bronze and marble. Since there were representatives of political, military, civil and religious authorities present, plus the local press, it was good publicity for the Training Centre and the PCT.

On December 18th a graduation ceremony for the 9 students who had completed their courses in the Training Centre was held in the local Chamber of Commerce.

The Training Centre is near to receiving state recognition, which will enable the students to gain state accredited qualifications.

Besides these successes in the TC the children’s work has been going well, and most children have achieved good grades at the end of the academic year.

The children and some siblings enjoyed successful Christmas parties in December when they received presents , besides enjoying a good meal, games, a film and a Bible story presentation.

The medical work has been helping a large number of people with the Saturday morning clinics and various campaigns. The medical team, who give of their time and expertise for very little remuneration, have also gone into schools to hold campaigns on general health and hygiene issues and dental campaigns to encourage awareness of the need for oral hygiene. Medicines were donated by a Peruvian pharmaceutical company, and toothbrushes and toothpaste were donated by Colgate.

The nurse works full-time for the Trust now and a psychologist has also joined the team, working one day a week as the families suffer many emotional and mental problems.

The dressmaking workshop has made all the uniforms for other workshops and has also made other clothing, such as sports shirts for sale. In the cookery and bakery workshops the students are learning to make buffets and are serving these at various public functions.For practice the hairdressing students provide free services such as haircutting, styling and tinting.

Besides the workshops another development this year has been that the Medical Centre is now fully functional. Using two rooms in the Training Centre building a surgery has been set up for general medicine and dentistry.

Families from the Trust can use these facilities for free (a small amount is taken out of their sponsorship money to pay for medicines and treatment). Anyone else can use the Centre but pay a larger fee to help to cover the expenses of the doctors, dentist and nurse who ask for very little remuneration.

All the families who enter the Trust are screened for malnutrition and parasites and are treated. The Trust also now holds a monthly Medical Campaign, which besides the dentistry and general medicine includes such things as gynaecology.

All this is helping to improve the health of the parents as well as the children and we thank God for the generosity of the medical staff who give of their time and expertise so willingly.