Raquel Avila teaches English, Music and Art at a school in Peru, and is particularly concentrating on comprehension in Spanish with the 2nd thru 4th grades. On Mondays and Wednesdays she
heads up the road to the Cuyo Chico High School after school to work with the kids there. The children she works with are dedicated. Most have quite a distance to go (anywhere from 2 to 3 hours), but will stay and wait for her to arrive. She works with their band, despite limited music knowledge. Her work includes writing harmony for the percussion section and helping young trumpet players learn by ear, as well as learning to read music.
In July, the band played during the community's Independence Day marches. She helped the children learn to play and march to the national hymn, something that had never been done. All eyes were on the children as the broke with tradition. "This might not sound too serious, in comparison to life and death situations, but ultimately everything that we do is watched and commented upon," said Avila."We reach out to these communities to open doors that will allow us to share Christ. Pray that God will be honored by our actions."
She also travels to the town of Anta when it's not harvest time to offer a Saturday ministry. Sunday school is offered in the towns of Cusco and Anta.
