Peru (MNN) — The celebration of
Christmas in Peru began late last night and goes on through today with much
fanfare.
In some areas, Christmas
celebrations with colorful fiestas take place, complete with costumes and music. Nativity scenes are common, and in some areas
markets are held which draw many people
to the festivities.
Called "La Noche Buena" or the
good night, many families cook a turkey
or chicken and exchange gifts. Giannina Posner with Kids Alive International says in one mountainous region
where they're working, those family gatherings are difficult.
In many cases, the men in the
families have gone to the cities to find work. Often, they don't return. Combined with the effect of poverty, the
celebration of the birth of Christ can be especially heartbreaking.
Kids Alive
has been working with
these at-risk families to help them support themselves. In this case, Posner says, "For Christmas, they get
together, and they cook together and they sell their meals.So, there's a lot of things that we are
teaching them. There's so much to do yet. It's a very hard situation. We bring hope, but we also have to teach them how they can live right now in their
circumstance."
Aside from launching a program to
keep families together, they've also launched job skills training programs and
schools.
Posner says with each opportunity
comes an open door for the Gospel. "Becoming a sponsor is such a wonderful thing. You become part of
this child's life. You can also donate to the general funds so we can keep
running the children's schools and the women's programs."
Becoming a KidLife Sponsor connects a
sponsor with a child in need. A sponsor can
to write to the child, and to receive letters in return.
Your support will mean one
precious little boy or girl receives everything needed for physical survival,
plus the promise of a better future. And most importantly, he or she will
have an opportunity to receive eternal life and hope in Jesus Christ. Click
here for more details.
