Dusting off the old blog...

After over a month of no updates, I am here to try to recount what my life has consisted of recently. And I can honestly tell you that SALI (the english language institute) has successfully consumed my life for the last two months. Especially in May, I have rarely been able to give time to anything else that was not related to SALI. Since taking the position as Academic Director in SALI, one the biggest projects the Fabian, the institute director and I have been working on is creating the institute's organizational structure. SALI started in 2004 with just over 10 students and now in it's 5th year, we continually have over 200 students each month. Which is fantastic growth that no one ever really planned for. God has blessed us entirely, and because we want to be good stewards of this blessing that God has given us, we want to organize SALI well and create a good plan for the future. So right now, Fabian and I have been up to our eyeballs in policies and procedures, strategic who knows whats and all those other wonderful things that make up an organizational plan. If you've ever had to do one, well...you know how it is.

Anyway. The point is, It's been a doozy of a month trying to reorganize SALI. So I unfortunately haven't been able to write as much as I've wanted

BUT, ever the idealist, I really believe that June will be much better and I will be able to have a little more time to breathe. That's what I keep telling myself anyway. But enough about that.

For something more heartwarming. Peru Mission has a team from Belhaven University doing music ministry all over Trujillo for these 2 weeks. They've been performing and teaching non-stop! Wednesday, we had a concert in the Casa De La Emancipacion with the Belhaven Team, Muyupampa (a Peruvian Folk group from our church), and last but not least, with some of the kids from CompArte Peru! (see previous entries for more info)

The kids played soooo well, demonstrating their talents in front of a very large group of people. Most would have been terrified, but not these kids- they're too awesome to be nervous. We played Twinkles (as if we wouldn't), Minuet 1, and the big finish was an ensemble piece of Ode to Joy. I was very impressed by the kids and their ability to play together as a group. It was fantastic.

Today was Saturday and that also means that I go to Porvenir in the afternoon to teach music as part of the CompArte Peru Program. Today we were very blessed to have 3 guest violinists from Belhaven Univeristy who gave mini-master classes for the children in our program. They helped by giving tips about posture, intonation, and listening to each child play a piece. They finished by playing a piece by Vivaldi, and I know that the kids in Porvenir were motivated by their visit. Thanks to Rachel, Arthur, and Gracie from Belhaven!