The Rev. Dana Nelson and her husband,  Thomas Ososki, are ELCA missionaries based in Lima, Peru.  Here is an edited excerpt from one of their newsletters.  Learn how to help support the “hand in hand” ministries of ELCA missionaries like Pr. Dana and Thomas by visiting www.elca.org/missionarysponsorship.

 “What’s a pollada?” I asked, understanding that it had something to do with chicken (the Spanish word for “chicken” is pollo).  I was told it’s “a chickening” or “a chicken shower.”  I’ve come to understand pollada (pronounced poyáda) to be a chicken-dinner-fundraiser.

 Last month my kids and I attended a pollada at Roberto’s house to raise money for his healthcare.  Roberto, a dear member of our congregation, and his family seasoned and fried up about 20 pollos for the dinner. The evening of dinner, dancing and socializing raised enough money to buy a three-month supply of needed medicine.

 As I looked around the dance floor (his mother’s living room) I saw many members of the congregation.  We were happy to be together and to be able to help.  Perhaps I should translate pollada as “the mutual up-building of the saints.”

 “Therefore encourage one another and build up each other, as indeed you are doing” (1 Thessalonians 5:11).