Peru Trip Day 4 - Camp heats up

Good morning! Buenos Dias! Our Spanish is improving each day and many youth band members are now attempting to communicate with the local natives as well as some of the boys attempting to see how many friend requests they can get on Facebook for the journey home. Last night a huge argument developed between Reggie, Wilber and Yohannis about who was going to make more friends and at 2am in the morning yours truly had to go out and calm them down and send them to bed with no supper!

Morning was the usual the cold shower and early rise after a late night. It does appear that the girls block has now run out of water for the rest of the week as they were the lucky ones to get warm showers but were too generous with their helpings of daily water and have now run out. There is a trip to the river today where i suspect many people will take a bath in the natural spring water.

Breakfast was once again delicious and consisted of egg and cheese sandwich's as well as the hot fryer fat drink that re-appeared again. Nate McMillian decided to show Christian charity by taking an entire tray out to a table of Peruvian ladies but his good intentions were dashed when he tripped and split the tray over the table and ladies.....he is now on the most wanted list at camp and his greasy fyer fat drink ration privileges have now been removed for the rest of the Peruvian summer.

The bugs have once again struck and have laid down a few people with swollen ankle syndrome and benedryl is now knocking them out for the rest of the day. The bugs have been finally identified by Dr Kate Wholman who says they are sand flies and they attack as soon as they see your legs and ankles but you become immune to it after a day which explains why no one has been bitten today.

Last night it also became apparent why we are struggling with the 19 hour days and our Peruvian friends are full of energy. Apparently there is a daily siesta (nap) that all the Peruvians take but they failed to tell us which explains why the afternoon theory class and timpani tuning masterclass was all empty. We do believe that this is one tradition that all will take today however Esther Lee decided to go ahead and start early by taking a 5 hour afternoon nap yesterday whilst the rest of us ran up a mountain, played soccer and tuned timpani heads.

Morning worship was a wonderful experience and devotions were once again led by Lt Michael Good and was based on the bible passage Psalm 150, and was all about praising the Lord no matter what skills you have and no matter what trials you are going through in life.

Classes resumed and theory and choir was full of life as always as the teachers led clapping rhythms and explained long and short notes to the classes of keen Peruvian children and young adults. Choir continued with the girls and boys split up and rehearsing "David Danced". The girls being led by David Delaney explained that when David danced in the bible he was naked and this was drawn by oooo's and ahhhhh's by the young ladies who thought that David Delaney would give an example but they were let down by the safe from harm rules paragraph 42 subsection 3.

Major lessons began as soon as choir finished and it is again obvious that the groups are improving with every lesson they have and you can see the excitement on the faces of the delegates as they get ready for the concert tomorrow.

Lunch was again a delicious meal of rice, beef and potatoes and a cold pineapple drink. It is interesting to watch them prepare the meals for everyone in the kitchen as the chef cooks from scratch and cooks all the meat in a large frying fan. All the soups, rice and potatoes are cooked in a large pot. The food is cooked healthy and it is amazing how they are able to prepare so much food in such a short space of time in their small stoves in the kitchen and as one meal is being cooked, the next one is being prepared.

Electives are happening right now and our video crew will be shooting video interviews for a video at youth councils. We will also take a trip to the river at the base of the mountain and prepare for tonight's new year eve party! It will be a long night, scheduled to end at 2:45am so we may not have an update till late this morning or early tomorrow morning! Happy new year!!