How our friends live in the Amazon Basin

Here's a video of how some of our Latin America ChildCare kids live. As you can see, they have no plumbing, which makes going to the bathroom, cleaning and drinking a challenge. Also, their house only has one wall. On the video, I say they have three walls. I was nervous and meant to say that they don't have three walls. These two boys are very special and it is the greatest blessing in the world to get the chance to bless them in Jesus' name.

A Clean Toilet

https://voice.adobe.com/a/R43n6/

In March, 2015, I hosted a team of friends made up of students and staff from the University of Valley Forge and the charity Alzamora International. We went to Iquitos to put in clean bathrooms and minister to the children and in churches. We had a wonderful time and saw excellent progress on the bathrooms. Here's a quick video about it all (https://voice.adobe.com/a/R43n6/) and a few photos.

Doors, a sink and seats on the toilets are just a small example of the luxuries of the new bathrooms!

Thanks to my friend Percy Alzamora and all those who have partnered with Alzamora International for providing sweaty labor and much needed funding to make the bathroom project a reality.

Here's a great video starring my friend Jeremias, who attends our school Victoria de Jesus in Iquitos, Peru.

Jeremias goes to School

Going Farther-Peru from Latin America ChildCare on Vimeo.

Merry Christmas 2014 from the Luz y Verdad (Light and Truth) School

Mark Randall Memorial

On September 25, I was in a small bus crossing the border from Peru into Bolivia. Lena called with the news that my friend, Mark Randall, had passed away. Mark was one of my closest friends. We worked together in XA since 1989, when I was serving at the University of Louisville (with Joe and Jayne Zickafoose). We worked together on the SALT and SICM planning teams. We also vacationed together. My kids loved going to "Uncle Mark's" lake to go skiing. Mark was one of the friends who continued to call me, long after we moved to Peru. And he was one of the friends that I called whenever I had a hard decision to make. He was filled with faith and had a very good head for business. He was an inspiration, especially in the area of Evangelism. 

It was painful to not be able to go to his funeral--especially since I wanted to comfort his many disciples, who were like children to him. Mark never married, but that didn't stop him from having a lot of love in his life. He loved my kids like they were his family. He also loved his XA disciples the same way. He had a gift for encouraging the best in others and steering them to use their gifts for the Gospel. As such, the verse that came to mind when I heard of his passing was Isaiah 54:1, “Sing, barren woman, you who never bore a child; burst into song, shout for joy, you who were never in labor; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband," says the LORD. (NIV)” 

Since I couldn't be at the funeral, I decided to make a video of what I would have said. I posted that video here.

I'm grateful for Mark and I have no doubt that on September 25, Jesus said to him, "... Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness! (Matt. 25:23)."

Will and Abi talk to kids about life in Peru

Sometimes churches call and ask us for videos about our ministry or our life in Peru. This is one that was produced by three of our kids (Colton, Will and Abi) regarding their lives in Peru.

Will explains a Simple Electric Motor

Each year, the Shrader family has one or more entries in the International Christian School of Lima Science Fair. The 2014 entry came from Will, who built a small electric motor, then had to explain how it works. Will produced two videos: the first is entitled, May the Force be with you, is short and sweet (but to see it, you have to go here). The second is below.

Mario and Aaron -- Fatherless boys in Catacaos

This from Bill: Here's a recent video I made in Catacaos (Piura), Peru. It's a brief introduction to two very needy Latin America ChildCare students -- Mario and Aaron. Their father passed away last year, leaving their widowed mother with three kids. She's a faithful member of the church we work with. As you can see, they live in a grass hut, which has a dirt floor.

If you'd like to sponsor these boys, please let me know.

Hands of Jesus - Video

This is a video produced by my friend Curtis Smith of Smith Cinematic (SmithCinematic.com). He shot the video while working with a mixed medical and construction team at our school in Catacaos.

Thanks, Curtis!

Transformation in a young girl's life

I'm editing blog posts that somehow never got published. Here is a video that I (Bill) took three years ago of a girl (whom we'll call "Laurie") in one of our Latin America ChildCare (LACC)  schools in Lima. Here, Laurie is in the computer lab that LACC helped to purchase for the school. Laurie's story is an excellent example of the Gospel in action. She was kicked out of all the other schools in the area. Her parents put her in our LACC school as a last ditch effort. When she entered the school, she was more than a handful – kicking and biting the students and teachers. She would throw temper tantrums, forcing the teachers to hold her down. The director told me that the teachers would hold her down and pray over her until she settled down. The teachers began a concerted effort to pray for her outside of class and in their meetings. After time, her attitude began to change. Now, she is a model student. After she changed, her mother came to the church. She gave her life to the Lord and is attending regularly. The father also attends, though I don't know if he is a believer--yet. The family loves the school and the church. This story is a testimony to the power of the school and the church working together to change the destiny of a whole family!

Bus Singer

People do all sorts of things to beg in Lima. Often, little kids get on the bus and sing for loose change. This was the first time I've heard opera on the bus. This guy was incredible! I gave him 1 sole (about 35 cents) and asked for another song. If riding the bus in the States was this classy, more people would take the bus!

Dancing the Marinera

While the Bakersfield First Assembly team was working in Catacaos (a suburb of Piura, Peru), the pastor asked two individuals show us the Marinera. It is a traditional dance from that region and is supposed to be two chickens courting. I love it!

Bill and Colton's Ayacucho trip - Part 2

Bill and Colton travel back to Lima from Ayacucho, Peru. This video shows lovely shots of the Andes Mountains, with a soundtrack from the Movie RED (Retired Extremely Dangerous) dubbed into Spanish.

Bill and Colton's Trip to Ayacucho - part 1

Bill and Colton Traveled to Ayacucho, Peru, to give Christmas gifts to Latin America ChildCare children. Here's a taste of what they experienced. The best shots of the mountains are in the "Part 2" video.

Bill gets a doctorate!

This video takes one minute to watch, but it took seven years to make! I started working on a doctor of ministry degree back in 2003--about three months prior to receiving God's call to Peru. The doctoral demands and the move across the equator combined to create God's arduous boot-camp of life transformation. I'm grateful to God, my wife, my kids and a whole lot of friends for dragging me across the finish line. It is a dream come true.

This video was taken on March 25, so I'm a bit late in getting it posted. Nonetheless, each time we encounter something as beautiful as a real mother bird feeding her chicks (as opposed to the high definition TV version), it is amazing.

Hannah, Colton and Bill sing John Deer Green

Salvations & Salud (Timberline Medical Clinic)

Wright State XA + Belding Family = Evangelism!

We just wrapped up a week of intensive evangelism throughout Lima. The Wright State XA team came down, along with Brad and Patti Belding and their daughters. We saw over 100 kids and adults give their lives to the Lord. The Beldings specialize in illusions and balloons. The Wright State team added music and muscle. Together, it turned out to be a powerful combination. The opening night, we went witnessing in a famous city park. One of our Peruvian friends came with us. She witnessed to a lady who was suicidal. The lady and her children all gave their lives to the Lord! That was just the first night. I'll be writing more entries about the trip, but for starters, I'd like to leave you this link to our picasaweb photo journal. There you will find pictures and video.

http://picasaweb.google.com/BillandLenaPics/WrightStateXABeldingFamilyEvangelism#

Ken eats Cuy (Guinea Pig)