Time has passed quickly and it is hard to believe we have completed the fourth “Tienda de Navidad” (Christmas Store) in Peru. It has become a major activity for the members of El Buen Pastor church each year as they spend weeks in preparation for the event. But a smile on the faces of children and their families is worth all the effort each year. We acknowledge that while the gift itself meets a material need, it allows us an opportunity to connect in an important way to poor families and opens a door of opportunity to know the need in the family.

Two boys in Peru waiting outside the Christmas Store as mothers “shopped”

The history of the Christmas Store began in Arlington, Texas, years ago and traveled to Georgia where Larry Parsley, now senior pastor at Valley Ranch Baptist Church (VRBC), once served at a local church in Atlanta. When he joined VRBC, the concept traveled with him back to Texas and was implemented 10 years ago at VRBC in association with Cornerstone Baptist Church located in a poor area of south Dallas. This particular part of south Dallas was once known as the “war zone” and was characterized by drugs and violence. Over time, this area has been transformed through the efforts of Cornerstone. The Christmas Store has played a part in that transformation.

A smiling mother carrying the gifts chosen for her children

The Christmas Store event not only opened doors in south Dallas but always has become a part of the DNA of VRBC. Not content to serve in Dallas alone, Kathy Lonborg who has led the event for VRBC envisioned taking the Christmas Store to Peru. She approached me six years ago about the possibility of leading the effort in Peru, and something in me immediately connected with the idea. I took my first trip to Peru in July, 2005, and returned convinced there was a way to translate the concept in a meaningful way into another culture.

A small boy holding the bag containing his new shoes from delivered by team with Buckner International

God had begun preparing the way for the Christmas Store through the Conde-Sandoval family as they served at a small church, El Buen Pastor, located in a poor zone in Chorrillos, a southeastern district of Lima. For years members of the family taught Sunday School and grew to love the children and the families who lived there. Lou Conde-Sandoval went on a mission trip as a translator in July, 2005, and was assigned to my mission team. Several months after the trip, Lou mentioned to me in an email that he and the other teachers who taught Sunday School at El Buen Pastor bought gifts for the children. He sent me a foto of one of the children standing by a table of gifts, and I immediately realized I had found the location for the Peruvian Christmas Store.

Leslie Chase from Buckner International with a group of children from El Buen Pastor

In December 2006 the first Christmas Store in Peru was held for approximately 150 children who attended Sunday School in El Buen Pastor. Four years later 234 children received gifts and most importantly hear the news of God’s love for them and their families. In addition to the partnership with VRBC, Buckner International has a team in Peru at the same time, and they come on a separate day to provide a new pair of shoes for the kids. Families receive a Bible and spend some time with a church member praying about their needs. With the information obtained, home visits are made to the families in an effort to work with them through the church at El Buen Pastor, but also through the community development work that Lou and I now do through the founding of Common Hope, a community center located near El Buen Pastor, where we provide services for the families in conjunction with Buckner International.

George Mason from Buckner International putting shoes on the feet of a child

Team member with Buckner International with a child from El Buen Pastor

Children from El Buen Pastor as they finish their craft activity

Lou Conde Sandoval organizing gifts in his parents’ kitchen before transporting to the Christmas Store

El Buen Pastor youth loading truck with gifts to be taken to the local community center where the Christmas Store is held

Bibles stacked at the dining room table in the home of Lou’s parents with his dog, Nieves, looking on

Judith, El Buen Pastor youth

Assembling toys on the day of the Christmas Store

El Buen Pastor members setting up gifts

Jessica Leon, Sunday School teacher at El Buen Pastor

Moms waiting for their lunch before beginning their shopping for toys

Marcelina Leon, member of El Buen pastor, visiting with mom

El Buen Pastor members awaiting arrival of parents

Renzo Rojas gathering information from a parent

El Buen Pastor youth verifying family information

Gift wrappers

Delivering gifts for shoppers

2009 El Buen Pastor volunteer team

Evento Final del año 2009

Hace 4 años se inicio lo que seria la actividad mas importante para las personas de la iglesia El Buen Pastor y alrredores en la zona de San Genaro, en Chorrillos. Hace 4 años miembros del Buen Pastor y yo pudimos comenzar una asociacion con una iglesia americana llamada Valley Ranch Baptist Church (VRBC), de Texas. Dos niños del Buen Pastor esperando a su mama, que estan dentro de la Tienda "comprando"

Christmas Store (Tienda de Navidad) es un evento de esta iglesia, cuyo objetivo es dar un regalo a los niños pobres de una determinada zona ademas de hablar a los padres de estos niños acerca del amor de Dios. VRBC ha ayudado por 10 años a una iglesia que se encuentra en una zona pobre al sur de la ciudad de Dallas.

Una sonriente mamá saliendo con los regalos de sus hijos

Pero hace 4 años atraves de una miembro de VRBC, Janis Townsend, se comenzo la primera Christmas Store en Lima. Y tambien atraves de ella, pudimos obtener ayuda de Buckner International, que es una ONG que trabaja con adopciones de niños, asi como con orfanatos. Buckner ademas provee zapatos para los niños que pertenecen a Comunidades en Desarrollo.

Un niño llevando en la bolsa blanca sus nuevos zapatos donados por el equipo de Buckner International

Para este año 2009, tanto VRBC, El Buen Pastor y Buckner International han trabajado juntos para llevar alegria a muchas vidas. Los dias 5 y 6 de diciembre, las tres entidades se juntaron y proveyeron, un local muy amplio para hacer dos actividades. Leslie Chase de Buckner International con un grupo de niños del Buen Pastor

El 5 de diciembre 234 niños estuvieron en el Local y recibieron de Buckner un par de zapatillas, medias, ademas de hacer trabajos manuales y escuchar una historia con una moraleja muy importante sobre sus vidas.

Un voluntario americano de Buckner International poniendo los zapatos en los pies de un niño del Buen Pastor

El dia 6, se realizo la cuarta Christmas Store peruana y los padres de los 234 niños vinieron al Local y se les dio los regalos para sus hijos. Ademas del regalo se les dio un folleto, una Biblia, ademas de proporcionarle un sandwich y jugo para beber. Se les vio a los padres muy contentos por la ayuda recibida.

Miembro del Equipo de Buckner International posando con un niño

En mi opinion, la asociacion con VRBC y Buckner International han sido muy importantes, ya que podemos llegar a mas niños y obtener de ellos una sonrisa. El trabajo que se hace cada diciembre, en estos ultimos 4 años ha sido muy dificil, pero saber que has podido alegrar un pequeño corazon, basta para seguir adelante... y eso solo lo sabe Dios...

Niños del Buen Pastor mostrando sus materiales para hacer la actividad manual

Lou poniendo los regalos en bolsas para que sean llevados al Local donde se realizaria la actividad

Jovenes del Buen Pastor poniendo los regalos en una camioneta para que sean llevados al Local

Biblias colocadas una sobre otra para ser llevadas al Local

Judith, una joven del Buen Pastor

Oscar Antón ensamblando juguetes en el dia de la actividad

Miembros del Buen Pastor arreglando los juguetes

Jessica Leon, maestra de la Escuela Dominical en el Buen Pastor

Madres esperando por su regrigerio antes de comenzar su "compra"

Miembro del Buen Pastor dando consejeria a una madre

Miembros del Buen Pastor esperando la llegada de los padres

Renzo Rojas tomando nota de los datos personales de los padres

Jovenes del Buen Pastor verificando la informacion de los padres

Area de Envoltura de Regalos

Area de regalos en plena actividad

Equipo de voluntarios del Buen Pastor 2009

JANIS
Hey, Lou, the silent auction at Valley Ranch Baptist Church went very well recently! I worked in the area where we had some of the donations from El Buen Pastor members. One person purchased a small wallet and returned later to tell me how much she like it. And then she gave me all the money in her purse because she had not paid enough for it. I thought that was a very special moment. But, in all, it is always good to see how many people are committed to giving to the project that helps poor children and their families here in the US as well as in Peru.

LOU
This is a good story to tell me. It is surprising how engaged people are in this project to be able to give a present the poor children here. Knowing the story of this woman makes me realize that the love of God for children is very large.

JANIS
Yes, I have discovered, I think, a motivation for people here. Everyone likes being connected to a project bigger than themselves. It brings people pleasure to know that their contribution, however big or small, can actually reach a child locally or in another part of the world. Some individuals are not able to go on a mission trip but through the Christmas Store they see they can have an impact. And, I think many of us have warm memories of our own Christmas as children, and it is painful to think that poor children are denied this experience.

LOU
I am happy thinking that all of you can have a heart that is available to give. Remember Christmas is Jesus and He loved us so much that He came for us and He was the first that gave a gift so large that He gave His own life. I believe that the children here can have a “double” gift: Jesus in their hearts and also a Christmas present.

JANIS
You’re so right. What we do is not about the gift but what it represents. And, as you know, it also creates a relationship with families so we can learn more about their lives and offer additional social assistance to them. I was glad to hear that you and Buckner have been working together to coordinate the assistance we will be able to provide with the social worker. Tell me more about what’s going on there.

LOU
The Christmas Store wil be December 5th and the day following we will with Buckner and a group of volunteers who give some their time to make the children happy. Also we will be able to share the small gifts donated by Cornerstone for the parents. And, clearly you will be here also accompanying us.

JANIS
It is always a special time for me, too! Like you, I look forward to spending time with the children and the volunteers from Buckner the following day who also bring a present and spend time making a craft.

LOU
Well, we are able to coordiante with Buckner Peru so that a social wCorker can work with us primarily providing securing information about the families that participate with us through the Christmas Store and from there with the rest of the people. The information we obtain will be necessary to have an idea of the problems that the families have here in San Genaro.

JANIS
That’s wonderful news. It is rewarding to know that there are other resources to support the many needs we’ve seen in the families. And, a social worker who knows and understands the social system in Peru is an added convenience. Not only have we encountered parents who want to learn better skills as parents with their children, we are beginning to see there are common problems among the married couples. I am glad we can extend some additional services to them and hopefully strengthen the families.

LOU
Also Buckner has been able to connect us with the Ministry of Education (ana rea of the Peruvian government) so that we can develop the program “Promolibro” which means that the Ministry of Education bring to the house (the center where we work in San Genaro) books so that the children or neighbors can read them. The space in the house where the books will be will transform into a small library whose name is “Sembrando”.

JANIS
I am so grateful for the support and resources through Buckner. You have developed a great relationship with Claudia Leon, the leader of Buckner Peru, and I look forward to a long relationship with them. The program itself is such a great beginning to encourage reading in the families. Among the poor I am sure it is difficult to emphasize reading much less buy books for their homes. These books can open doors for them. By the way, didn’t you tell me that there will be an effort to provide literacy training for the parents? How does that work?

LOU
Wel, I also heard this from Buckner Peru and I hope they can implement it. For now we are thinking more about the library.

JANIS
Okay. We can look forward to more information. I hope that we’ll be able to see reading as an activity that the families grow to enjoy. As you know, reading skills impact a student’s ability to be successful in school and in future careers.

LOU
Clearly reading is important for the development of the person. This is very important. And with the help of VRBC we are able to share the toys in the Christmas Store 2009. It is exciting to think that it is already the 4th event where we can see the happy faces of parents and children who will receive a present. We began purchasing gifts on the 8th of October and are now in the middle of making our purchases.

JANIS
Yes, time has passed very quickly! God’s plans were so much bigger than I ever imagined! Now that the Peruvian store is fully integrated with the efforts here in the United States, I think VRBC members will have a chance to see the ways in which God has been working in the lives of these children.

In the coming months and years, I think more of the church members will be motivated to come to Peru and assist in areas where they have particular interests and skills. Already I have been talking to people who enjoy gardening or work in the medical field. And, with our sports camp in March being advertised in the congregation we have another opportunity to allow youth and adults who enjoy sports to work with the children.

LOU
It is incredible! God has permited us to be able to do this. Already we have completed 4 years working together and like you say there will be more members from VRBC coming with different groups to work here.

JANIS
Well, as you know, I will be arriving there soon with some of the last items we will need for the Christmas Store in Peru. There have been several groups on mission trips in the past few months which have brought almost all the Bibles we need. I have the final 30 already packed. Cornerstone Baptist Church here that benefits from the local store has donated some items that we can use to give small gifts to the mothers or parents of each child. The University of Dallas has donated some leftover supplies from a recent event here for our employees. And, I will be able to bring part of the computers we’ve been given as well as the equipment that will enable us to talk by phone between the US and Peru without cost. As usual, God has blessed His work in Peru in more ways imaginable.