The Bossa Nova

Room with a view

2008-09-01T21:13:00.000-07:00

Here's the view from in and around the new apartment! Only lack the pic from my hall window up to the 4th floor where Romina and Gianella can stick their heads out their office window and talk to me!

EXTREME MOVE-OVER Salamanca edition Day 2

2008-09-01T20:50:00.000-07:00

So the geniuses with "spacial reconciliation" and the strong guys got all the stuff into the truck and up to my apartment to all the assigned places and left it as if I had been the recipient of "While you were out " treatment But I hd to say goodbye to the my home away from home and all the super sweet memories left there!

EXTREME MOVE-OVER Salamanca edition

2008-09-01T20:26:00.000-07:00

Many of you have prayed and heard about my search so here are the pics! It's a great story of God's grace in finding the right place in the same building of my good friends Kike, Martha, Romina and Gianella! having a green space to enjoy and a wonderful team of talented folks to help me pack and move everything over there! God knows just the right way to make it happen, just in time! Last celebration in the house- Kiara's 12th birthday DAY 1 of the MOVE- all my stuff in the dining room in boxes and moving in office stuff in the living room!

Fun in Sunday school

2007-11-11T13:39:00.000-08:00

I thought I'd let you see some fun we're having with Noah and the ark this week! I am preparing for the Christmas celebration this coming week!
Tissue Paper Rainbows, banana and jello rainbow snack
Marjorie, Kiera and me

Fight! Fight!

2007-11-11T12:48:00.000-08:00

As many of you know Amanda and I have been going to the DOMI house to volunteer. It's a home in our neighborhood for at-risk girls, many who have been on the streets. We have had mixed experiences, the first time we just talked with a few girls and threw frisbees, a novelty here! The pshychologist asked us to create a plan so we decided to commit to 12 weeks and to teach the Fruits of the Spirit found in Galatians 5. The second time Amanda got sick, so I went sola- and taught her lesson on love. I caught myself in the middle of it asking myself, am I really loving these girls because it was not going as planned! The next time we showed up ready with guidelines we wanted to follow and they were getting their hair done by a cosmotologist group practicuum. We invited Elita our Peruvian friend to come with us to get to know the ministry and help us with the slang they use. Each week it's something different, watching a special movie, Oliver Twist, or it's their birthday celebration. They were just finishing up singing to the girls who had had a birthday in October. I thought, how great! But then as we got settled in the tiny "library" we've been using there was a call for cheezitos so they all ran to get the snack, then a few minutes later the cake, then jello the third time. The girls were being pretty rude to us and I was already so it was not a good week. Elita finally told them to stop, she said there's a point to which you can joke but they were going to far. She gave us the full scoop as we were walking back to my house. I was dreading returning the next week when I was to teach on gentleness and the lesson finally came together just before we were to go. Of course, they were a lot more calm than we expected and even a staff member, Rosa, wanted to join. She shared her hope in working with these girls and we agreed that we wanted God's word to go with them as they confront many difficult experiences. Things seemed normal when we arrived on Friday. We got a pretty good group and were just starting the game, Fruit Salad! (A favorite of mine and great culminating activity as we were finishing the Fruit of the Spirit before Amanda headed to the States, literally) When one girl didn't want to participate and so the other had something to say about it and it escalted into an exchange of a few choice words, few of which I understood. When suddenly the both stood up and began kicking and pulling hair. They ended up in a headlock before we could do much and even as we were telling them to stop and let go of one another. A few girls tried to get in between to break it up but they continued to exchange words and kick ( the girls in the midle suffered as did Elita) They finally let go and we told them that that was not allowed and they'd have to leave. They didn't want to and I wasn't sure what to do but I thought to give them 2 options: excuse one another/ask forgiveness OR get out! One said I'll never excuse myself, she started it! We waited for them to respond and they finally chose to forgive one another, not whole heartedly but promised participate correctly. TENSION was high- Emotions were higher! I tried to continue like normal and when I looked over at Amanda she was on the verge of tears and that immediately struck a chord, and it was the best release I knew. I said in a broken voice, I'm gonna pray b/c this is not why we come. I prayed and the girls were all quiet so I tried to move on with the game. God knows what He's doing, giving us a perfect example of their need for Christ to change them and give them His spirit to allow them to have self-control! Amanda was able to teach the lesson and after we did a craft and they asked if she had cried because she was going to the States for a conference. She emphatically said no that it made her really sad to see that. During the lesson, someone called Elita out to describe what had happened and she later told us that the "educator" said that's how they resolve things on the streets! INCREDIBLE! Incredibly sad, actually! Elita was able to mention the affect watching so much television prbably has on the girls. It's a very sad situation at that home, please pray that God would be working ""something" in the lives of those girls and even the staff. I am definitely being taught and molded in our times there. Elita and I will continue go while Amanda is in the States and I hope to secifically talk about Jesus and his interactions with women and girls like them and their need for the gospel. Please pray for continued good ideas and trusting God in the results!
Thank you I'll post pics of them soon-The two girls are Naddia ( with me) and Wendy(center of 2nd, Amanda on right)!

Life in October

2007-10-29T19:15:00.000-07:00

Not too much happening here but I realize it's been a month since I wrote! My brithday was a highlight weekend! Very fun lots of food and love! See my facebook for pics and the photo essay. We finish tomorrow with the Day of the Criolla song- they just play music although I think they celebrated this past weekend. No much really! Sunday school continues! Now advances in our at-risk girls ministry. And changing of our pipes here- they're finally switching to PVC after 30 years or so. that's the update from Lima! Our team grew to 3 families and a whopping 5 guys in all! God is good! Any themes you haven't heard spoken on here- I'm taking suggestions!

Inca Trail

2007-09-24T20:07:00.001-07:00

As we speak I'm uploading video of our time last week to hike the Inca Trail! I went to Cusco and met the girls one day before we headed out to get used to the altitude. It was not a bad adjustment- I didn't push myself. We shopped around and hit the good restaurants. We ate with Andrew, one of his last few meals in Cusco before he headed back to the states. Got some fun gl-ittens ( cross between gloves and mittens) After we were debriefed about the trip. A lot more showers available and places to buy drinks than we thought. We woke up early to eat breakfast at our Hotel Amaru- a good hotel with pretty wood carved everywhere. We drove 2 hours to Kilometer 82 where we'd start. We met 2 young lawyers from NY, Josh and Seth, that would be in our group. WE passes where Becca went bungee jumping head first the day before- CRAZY girl! We bought our poncho and stick at the tourist trap and found Reeces Pieces- yummy! We unloaded out stuff and realized we had the most stuff...oops! We met the Venezuelan guy also in our group, Juan. Unfortunately our friend Chris didn't make it! Hope he's ok! Then we took a pic by the token sign that you don't really walk through to start! We were pumped, Becca and I had already decided that we should adopt the Appalachian Trail custom to make trail names. Becca picked Ligre-for me a spanish version of a Napoleon Dynamite reference! I thought of a bunch for her but none really stuck. We did well and then tried chicha made by the locals without alcohol before out lunch stop. We also got christened on the trail with bug blood on our cheeks from bugs off the prickly pear cactus. Lunch was impressive in a tent with everything down to handwashing system. We had the first of our digestive teas after each meal and we had time to digest and take in the view!
We kept trucking and arrived at our camp just before it was getting dark to take our birdbaths and a nap before dinner. It was a great dinner with dessert- it was Josh's birthday and the porters had baked a cake- we're still not sure hoe- it was great! Then a Pisco sour and an attempt at a dance session while our guide and a few porteros sang. We slept well once we shifted diagonal so I could fit in the tent. I got a slow start on day 2 gettingeverything situated. We paid the porters to carry our stuff because the second day is advertised as the hardest. I was definitely glad even though they don't do it in the most honest way. There is a law against how much the porters can carry and so we gave our bags to the guide after we passed through the weigh-in station. Had to fill my pockets of my various jackets and pants . We made it slowly up to Dead Woman's Pass- not named for anything that happened, but a rock formation. Then dowhill- I had some time to reflect with God in the sun- so nice! Got to the camp and I had time to have a frigid shower before lunch. I was ready to go on but that was it for the day so we hung out and ate- tea time then dinner 3 hours later- pizza and lomo saltado- crazy combo and flaming banana dessert! I got woken up in the middle of the night for a bathroom trip- that was the coldest night!
I was scared about day 3 to have the backpack back. I toted it all for a bit until the cook, Chu chu came and asked if he could help so he took the seeping bag and a book I brought- (I told you I had too much) and made it the rest of the day very managably. Thanks to him. A little uphill but mostly down hill- nice til after lunch. A very extensive set of ruins gave us time to rest. Lunch seemed quick that day but enough time to dry clothes that had been sweaty since day one. We headed out for what seemed like the eternal afternoon. We finished up with Josh and Seth and played the city, state, country game to get us through and talked about life...interesting perspective! We were suffering by the time we got to camp and it happened to be the camp arthest from the bathrooms! My favorite dressed porters led me to the bathroom but didn't speak any spanish- only Quechua so we had a funny interaction. More team time and dinner shortly after- I was really sore! We filled out the comment cards in that moment unfortunately- our lowest point! Then we went to bed after thanking the porters. We were woken up in the dark to make it to the sun gate for sunrise. It was a very do able hike and great for a little sunday worship- amazing sights! God is so good! We arrived but the clouds just moved the littlest bit to see the wonder of the world! Pretty exciting to be headed there from that point I had seen pointed out in June. There was a large group of Argentinian men making a lot fo noise that day and some Europeans celebrating by lighting a smoke then and there, each celebrates his own way! Fun to arrive so early and see it from way above. Then we walked down to entrance after dropping our bags off. I got a pic with the Hiram Bingham plaque- my new hero-missionary family. Our guide was a little far out but gave a little help on why they call it castellano instead of espanol and how hiram found the place. I wanted to run away from him but luckily we had other time to play and hike around. It seemed more valuable coming from the Trail instead of the train! And we got to go up MAchu Picchu, just enough time. My feet were about done but I made it up and back and met a guy from Asheville in a crawl space amazingly enough! Machu Pucchu looks tiny from the top of Wayna Picchu!
Machu Picchu was my playground this time. We headed down the hill shortly after- cute little 'Chasqui' 8 year old who yelled us down the hill. We ate a great buffet lunch in Aguas Calientes and bought ourselves souvenirs. Spent quiet time near the river and then headed to the train station. Wow what an experience! I thank God for getting us through. IT was a lifetime experience for sure! So glad I did it and highly reccommend it to all the other hikers I know!

Sad story... well the second part

2007-09-08T22:05:00.000-07:00

So many of you have heard about the earthquake whose epicenter was 95 miles south of us. I took my intern in June there so see some of the pretty parts of Peru so she wouldn't be jaded by Lima. We did the trip very quickly well, we slept for about 2 hours won night woke up really early to take a bus to Pisco, watch an hour of Spanglish in the bus terminal and then take a taxi to Pisco ( where the earthquake hit, not where Pisco sour's are from) and then another taxi to Paracas, the poor man's Galapagos, they call it! We made it in time to leave at 9 on the boats to the Islas Bellestas! The boat ride was so nice- such peace and the motion ( and my lack of sleep) allowed me to fall asleep on the way to the islands- even though ti was beautiful there- sun and all! We got to see lots of wildlife and learn about guano, burn droppings, that they export apparently! In the afternoon we went to the Reserve- a desert reserve! We didn't see the flamingos nfortunately but the best part of that was The Cathedral, a beautiful rock formation on the coast of the reserve. We stopped to take pictures and a little video- it was SOOOO windy- that's what Paracas means! So we finished with a not so great lunch but came back happy!

So the sad part of the story is that I heard that the cathedral in all it's glory partly fell into the see. I'd say pray for the people that depend on things like tourism and how they'll be affected. I hear the Nazca Lines are open again. ( My roommates kept up b/c she was supposed to be there the day after the earthquake right there!) What we read the night it happened at prayer meeting as repurcussions came, and where I found comfort this summer as I've had a bit of a hard heart... Psalm 62:5,6 Find rest O my soul in God alone; my hope comes from him, He alone is my rock and my salvation, he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.

Art Camp

2007-09-08T21:17:00.000-07:00

Now that's I've finished my update after 4 months... I learned my lesson not to do that again! And I can tell you about all the things that didn't get "crunched" in my update. We had a really fun art camp in Salamanca this year and I have fun pics. The kids got to do rythm, drawing, painting and theater. Such a treat for these kids b/c the private schools hardly even have fine arts classes. The team that came from Nashville was a lot of fun. I hung out with the youngest group the most and in theater- they acted out the creation story. the middle group did parables of Jesus and the oldest group did an abbreviated version of the Lion, witch and the wardrobe. The program at the end of the week was pretty amazing. We'll see if I can upload some video! We ate well that week, Martha cooked for all 90 of us. Nathan Reidell totally reminds me of my brother, such a sweet guy! I got some really fun shots or cute lieel Josue, he was the MVArtist even though he isn´t old enough to be in the camp just yet!

WOAH!

2007-09-08T21:14:00.000-07:00

I know it's been a super long time. I could make up a billion excuses, I've had to for my teammates- my most faithful "readers" I've been reading friends' blogs and now am ready to take the plunge. I have a list of things I wanna write about since april so we'll see how many topics I can cover.

Marriage Proposal- please read carefully

2007-06-12T21:57:00.000-07:00

I thought everyone should know the news...
I was just reminded when talking to a friend yesterday that this had happened since I'd written last!
Alisha and I were riding in a moto- taxi to visit one of the youth and the drvier asked us where we were from and how he could get there. I said you have to get a visa, paid him and we were on our way to a Peruvian's house. A few minutes later he returns to the house and asks the mother to call me out to talk to him. He says will you marry me and I'll pay you to take me to the states! I said no I'm sorry I have another year here and I'm not in that business. He asked me if I had any friends that would be interested, I said no. The mother mentioned our team leader, el pastor, and I said yeah, you're welcome to come to church on Sunday and talk to Mark. I said the best way I know how to get to the States is to work really hard, save your money and get a visa there. So I can't say I haven't ever been proposed to now! It lacked a little romance! but is a great blog material!

EE Niños

2007-06-01T21:44:00.000-07:00

While my wonderful intern, Alisha, was here I got to be trained in Evagelism Explosion for Kids. It was a super full week but a great time. We met other people who work with kids in churches around Lima and got a great tool to use. We were able to share the presentation with kids and elderly folks the last day of out training. The second elderly man I talked to wouldn't have any answering of questions and was pretty caustic , but did take the snack we brought! The first man though said he had accepted Christ, as best as wee could hear, his speech was a little impaired. The kids that went with us did a great job with the skit and the illustrations. It is really neat to see children share the hope that is within them. We hope to implement this in our new church plant once we do EE for adults wich starts in September. I wish I had some pics of all our fun crafts and doing the chants of the verses and doing the presentation with hand motions- it helped me so much. After the training I was able to share it with a young girl when Alisha and I went to talk with kids in our neighborhood. She saw the pin on my jacket and asked about it. IT was a good practice although she was hurried and didn't make any decision.

Open air meetings!

2007-03-28T21:09:00.000-07:00

For the last couple of weeks we have had our Salamanca Sunday school in the park around the corner. We had been meeting in local nursery schools since they began last July. We thought it would be a good attracter for kids ready to play outside in the summer. We sing the same songs but we play games and have mainly been doing object lessons with a verse to memorize. The oldest class because they normally just had 3 come have been helping the younger classes as there are no “boundaries.” The games range from duck, duck, goose ( pato, pato, ganzo) to a giant dice game where you roll a 6 or 1 to run to the middle and eat chocolate and drink Sprite. This last we did team. Haydee’ continue to teach us new songs that the kids really enjoy. Although the park is surrounded by a heavily Catholic neighborhood we have had onlookers but no complaints, thanks to a gracious God. We appreciate your prayers in a permanent location as we move into the fall and winter here. Also pray for safety for the kids and that more will come and hear the Gospel and be able to apply what they learn in their homes and at school.

Catching up...

2007-01-26T09:23:00.000-08:00

I've been inspired to write in my blog because my roommates a encouraging me to get a My Space account (when I can barely keep my blog updated) and because I was reading another missionary's blog- their animal killing escapade reminded me of what I saw, New Years Eve, coming back from chruch- don't know if I wrote about it but I still ride past the area where they were killing young pigs and turkeys and see the feathers covering the ground and mounds of ash from burnt leftovers, I suppose- it was a very sad sight and sounds- seeing little pigs dragged, squealing and blood and feathers everywhere that sunny Sunday afternoon. Since then things have been more "normal" No huge celebrations ( though the birthday parties never seem to end) So I haven't taken many photos... We have been having Vacation Bible Schools here with a break (back to regular schedule this week) and our last one this year in Santa Anita starting Monday! I'm learning new kids songs to add to my reportoire (I don't know how to spell in French)They are fun but lots of preparation required. We're studying Pedro. I got a chance to show pics of my ESOL kids in the States and ask which of the kids from Amauta would like to tell other kids from other places about the good news of Christ. A taste of my vision for being here! Praise God! The kids in Amauta were sweet ~for the most part. It reminded me how fun getting to know kids is. Pray for Alexander; he did not want to participate at all in the craft the first day but got into it the other days and Thursday I had a little chance to practice discipline with him, he didn't come back Friday but hopefully a seed was planted and he'll come to the sunday school they have each Sunday. Pray for men to get involved there too. This coming month looks very full with additional classes of English before the kids go back to school and the Rosses arriving on the field- very good things- pray God would show me when to rest! Maybe I'll have sometime to eventually give some 6 month impressions...

Year In(d) YEar OUT 2

2007-01-03T21:03:00.000-08:00

I realized I didn't really write about New Years- it's because we didn't do much! There were opportunities to stay up late or all night but we opted to rest instead- we stayed up til 12- Laura almost didn't make it- we took our drinks and grapes up to the roof to see all the fireworks- about as many as Christmas Eve. Apparently they eat a big meal too at midnight like thhey do for Cristmas eve so we saw lots of live piglets and turkeys about to be killed or being killed along the side of the Central Highway here on the way back from church. It's really relaxing for me to go up there though our feet were super dusty and dirty when we climbed down the ladder. Earlier that evening we went to the store- it was packed out- everyone getting their supplies to go to the beach or their champagne, I had wondered what the grapes were about and found out it is a tradition here to eat 12 grapes at midnight to get a wish granted each month, also to wear yellow undergarments ( yes mom they only save them for that day), also they burn old clothes in the form of a scarecrow to get rid of the old! One other curious thing is the women who take an empty suitcase and run around the block if they want to travel that year!???

Year (In)d, Year Out!

2006-12-31T16:14:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone! Wanted to catch you up on life here- Christmas was fun- it seemed hard a couple weeks out but the Lord always proves faithful- do I doubt that!- He is the same yesterday today and tomorrow!
We celebrated a little Peruvian, a little North American style! Sunday lunch we had with out team leaders and family- salmon- yum- at 4 and we exchanged gifts- towels just in time for summer beach trips! Yeah! Home in time to take a nap and do another layer of Crenshaw family jello! WE headed over to Raquel, Paulo and Carlos' house at 9 with our desserts in hand. Some Peruvians visit friends on this night so their grandmother had a friend over. The typical PEruvuian Christmas eve dinner is turkey but out neighhbor family decided to do non traditional- grill out - hot dog sausage and steak, salad and papa hauincaina (sp?) yum! But first we had to do a few errands... drinks and fireworks of course! We went to the market to find people who were selling fireworks- legal- sparklers and OTHERS! Interesting, everyone was strolling the streets like us. It was fun- fireworks were beginning to be set off and

Birthdays since

2006-11-20T20:10:00.000-08:00

... I hope it doesn't seem like all I write about is birthdays but that's mostly what I bring my camera to! And we had a bunch of tings to celebrate- our friends Marta and Kike both had their birthday the first week of November which is also when Mark and Lori celebrated their 10th wedding anniversary ( we kept the kids!) There have been other things that have popped into my mind to comment on if I was able to enter entries more often ( due to problems with my computer and this website) But big OTHER news is I bought two plants for the summer- it's getting very warm in my room in the afternoons. We had another election- for mayor. We'll be celebrating Thanksgiving with the MTW folks and a family from the Embassy. I'll teach a little about it in my English classes ( this is a pic of my class that will meet Thurs. night, this is from Martha's pre- party, after dancing! They're a whole bunch of fun ladies!)
The cake shot is Becca's Heath ( sent from the states) Bar cake- really good-almost like a chocolate tres leches! There's no shortage of sweets in the last month- thanks for all the care packages!

Post- Birthday Bash

2006-11-20T20:05:00.000-08:00

Hi all- I've found that I'd rather read other blogs than write my own but did have to fill you in on this story...as I was telling my sister I realized it was "blog-worthy." A liitle background... Everyone should know that birthdays are a big deal here. SO my friends Patty and Monica wanted to take me out to celebrate my birthday- they decided we were gonna eat a big something! We went out a few nights after I returned from Panama, which happened to be the birthday of a mutual friend. We all ended up eating at that party and the mothers started to dance, so we stayed there until 11pm! I ,of course didn't want to cancel on my friends and their birthday celebration they planned ( and rarely pass up an offer for food) so I said let's go.The girls brainstormed that we wouldn't find muc in our neighborhood so we should head out. Patty knew I wanted to taste the Picarones (Liman doughnuts) but was perplexed by where to find them as was the taxi driver- he told us we wouldn't find them but there was a place in Surco. The idea of Baranco was tossed around but the said "full discos" so thhat was not an option! He dropped us off in a square that reminded me of the squares in Arequipa( well- lit) and we strolled around. Patty was still on the trail of Picarones but all the vendors were sutting down that we found! I told her I was not set on them so after taking a quick picture in front of the church we made a full circle and went to the Turistic restaurant where he dropped us off. We headed in hearing live music, passing the rotisserie chicken to see the group singing and went further back and came upon a cock fighting arena. We decided we liked the music- popular Peruvian music- from Raggaeton, to ballads("My body's not made of wood") to Selena favorites! We sat down and enjoyed their semi-dry wine- very good! We enjoyed the music and at midnight the girls decide it's time to order- none other than pollo a la brasa (rotisserie chicken) I was gonna take it home but couldn't resist! Just after it was served was about the time the cock fights seemed to have ended because these men came through carrying what looked like miniature versions of the canvas laundry compartments- which held none other than, you guessed it! The chickens! Some had less professional "carrying cases" and at the end of the stream of men was one with a flour sack with blood stains (I hope no one's eating and reading!) Well, it was a memorable evening/ morning to say the least! Not sure if that tops my former story of eating arroz con pollo (chicken and rice) and chickens walking around freely in the open-air restaurant in Costa Rica! ( At least they had a chance of escape!) Maybe I'll show a pic if Monica sends them to me! I felt celebrated though- the band even sang happy b-day- well not to me particularly- I didn't want to get up and dance!

It's been a month!!!

2006-10-02T18:24:00.000-07:00

Sorry everyone, work has picked up! This week we began our tutoring program and our young people group. We invited 15 students to participate; half from inside the church and half from the community. Wednesdays from 3-5 is when we host a tutoring program to help single parent families within the church and to reach out tofamilies with children in the community struggling in school. Carlos, a teenager, and I waited while Mauro went to remind the kids. Each came with their homework or tests so that we could see where they were in their studies. The first thing that demonstrates the difference in the education here is that the students learned to read and write cursive first! I helped two kids mainly though answered a few questions in between. Carlos is in third grade- he had his reading book with him so I asked him to read. What he read me was close to what was actually written but not exactly...so I knew 2 things: he had read or heard this page in class a number of times so he could remember it and he knew one reading technique to help himself. I asked him to write his alphabet and had to help him every few letters in attention and with what came next. I also looked over Alejandro's math test and saw that he had almost every problem wrong so I was not sure where to start- Iasked him to say his numbers and he had trouble every time he started a new ten. We made a number line and then marked dots over the numbers he had to put in order. He also was very interested in what was happening around him. We got two problems corrected in our two hours! Then I gave the devotional about the fruits of the Spirit and brought the fruits along that we had at the house- an orange, pineapple, mango and apple. They almost all said mango was their favorite. Another (maybe) cultural difference! Please pray for the ministry that we would be able to help the kids in some way before the end of the school year. Pray te kids would learn their value in God whether they pass tis year or not. We hope to visit their homes to understand them better and help their parents help their children grow their whole selves (Luke 2:52). Pray mostly for the salvation of these kids and their parents.

Mi trabajo cont'd

2006-09-10T21:38:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure how many entries I'll have with this title but thought I should update you! I got my job description (don't know the spanish translation for that) this week. It's crazy how excited I was to have someting in writing with hours and everything! It helps me realize how task-oriented I am! That day(maybe it continued to the next) was actually a great balance. That night we began a sonship study that brought back to my mind important points of my saving faith. The next morning we were able to flesh out those ideas and how they apply to our lives here. So before I was able to jump into a little more brainstorming more specific to what I will be doing I was able to reorient my thinking. Lori said some great things about us loving our work and that the hours hopefully will flow out of that- great perspective- that is what I want but I was almost tempted to treat it with the same attitude as my first job. (not always pleasant) So the specific things I'll be doing for now are women's ministry at Santa Anita- and any diaconal ministry that comes from that, disciple children Wednesday nights, help develop a jovenes ministry, teach English to kids in the Cristo Salvador project and some adults in Salamanca, volunteer at a feeding program in my neighborhood, and continue helping at the children's sunday school and of course keep up with you guys! Sounds like a full week huh! I'm excited to get things going! Please pray that God would continue to give me the love I need to pour out on these folks, to help remember names, give me good ideas and clear teaching, and would continue to improve my Spanish as a read and speak it! Thanks so much you guys!

URBANA!

2006-09-02T20:16:00.000-07:00

It's not Spanish in case you were tricked! It's a city in Illinois where the conference ISN'T this year- It's in St. Louis, MO this year! December 27-31 2006 A super big, super cool missions conference for those 18 and up! Please check out the website http://www.urbana.org/_today.cfm It's a big reason I'm so excited about missions! I met some really great people had awesome conversations and learned a whole lot of great stuff. I've told many people what one girl described it as- seeing the work of God's kindgdom in a microscope! He is working all over, in every walk of life! They have topics on just about everything, whether you're interested in missions (yet!) or not! There are scholarships but it is well worth what it costs! So I'm encouraging everyone I know to check out the website if nothing else! I'll be checking in on what's going down via Internet but want everyone I know to know about it and go if you have any chance to!

Embajada

2006-09-01T09:25:00.000-07:00

I had the chance yesterday and today to visit the US Embassy. I was doing an errand for the Ross girls. You might ask why I was there two days!? Yesterday I headed over there at 1:30- entered the security- you are not allowed to have cell phones in the Embassy so I checked mine. Then I walked along this long sidewalk to the Consulate building. There was a nice yard of grass that didn't seem to serve much purpose besides beign a barrier and the door to the Consulate was huge and heavy. I entered through another security checkpoint and was told that the notary is only available in the morning. But since I was there I thought I'd take the opportunity to meet a contact one of my supporters knew in the Embassy- a former missionary! I only had his name so I went to the receptionist- behind the glass( like a driver through bank teller is) and waited in this huge hall that was decorated with pictures of art that students from Texas had done. Next to the receptionist was another office where a Marine or some uniformed officer was keeping watch. The ceiling and high walls had blue square panels with stars at the joints! Yhe phone rang and they called me to answer- I seemed to have forgotten names, the connection and my English ( I think I'm accustomed to getting myself ready to talk on the phone and know what I'm going to say in Spanish that I tense up whenever using the phone now) Anyway, I fumbled through what I wanted to say and he finally made the connection as well and he came out to meet me. We were only able to talk in the lobby because of the high security. He was a very nice guy and he shared where he was attending church and about his family. I told him about our team and work. It was a very nice visit! Glad to know there are more Christians in our government especially working with the Peruvians. He is in charge of deciding tourist visas. He explained it a little to me. And he also told me about a friend he was discipling in the office. He is interested in equipping Peruvians to be missionaries which is right along my vision and got me excited. Today I went back and got the notary copies. For a second, I thought, the North American system is not supposed to be like this- not open after lunch and waiting forever in a waiting room- that's Peruvian "time" then I heard someone say "the American government" and I remembered that yes, in government offices it is like this- I realized no complaining!- I would get back to my appointment late. I prayed for the lady who was working at the window who has to deal with disgruntled North Americans in Peru! (There was a customer asking for a name or number of the girl to be able to report who she talked to...) When I came out to the main lobby I saw all the Peruvians lined up for their visa appointments-probably many who would see Chris. Outside the walls they had finished polishing some of the copper letters of the United States yesterday but the workers had not come to finish yet today! Very interesting! I also got in contact with the Young Life (Algo Nuevo in el Peru) and the BSF lady this week to find out when they meet so I can go visit sometime. Both very nice people with whom were a delight to talk. I am building my web of contacts here and hope to go to the National Library soon to check out resources for the tutoring and English teaching.

Mi trabajo

2006-08-18T16:07:00.000-07:00

MY JOB! I got my job description this week- very exciting! It was explained in very general terms because we are all walking by faith as the team is forming and the opportunities are opening up. We had a team meeting a week ago with the pastor and pastoral interns and their wives. It was a good time of prayer and getting to know a little of the experiences and stories of each one. Some of the things I will be doing are working with a new after school program at the Santa Anita, where my main ministry will be, creating English as a second language ministry at each church plant and then help the Rosses in the next steps for the Huaycan Cristo Salvador project. Mauro and his wife Haydee are very laid back and fun loving newlyweds so I'm excited to work along side them. Although these were all given as somewhat nebulous ideas I was very excited about all of them. I see areas where I'll be challenged (in CREATING a MINISTRY) and where I hope to use some of my experience but all of it very differently than I've ever worked before. The beginning stages will be more "office work;" planning and preparing, that doesn't make me so excited but it is all part of the process! I will be a part of the Evangelism Explosion when it starts up again in late fall or next year. There is a possibility of discipling some young girls who have recently become Christians through EE this fall. God is so generous to me!

Amauta

2006-08-09T21:27:00.000-07:00

Again, I'd love to be uploading pics with this entry but I didn't have my camera with me today...(gotta buy a new card or clear off my documenting of the last 5 months) I went with Laura to Amauta today. My first time to the pueblo joven, or squatter town I guess you could call it. It was quite an adventure getting there even though we took a taxi, what we do when we don't leave an our early to take the bus. The area leading into Amauta is covered with flourescent advertisements on the walls of buildings and people everywhere. They were doing construction on the main road out there and there were hardly any signs indicating that, except those that read " Keep following the detour"- though we had to turn around and find a new route when we saw those. After going over some huge speed bumps, we were actually allowed to cross the "construction zone" to get were we needed to go and our taxi driver finally saw the busses traveling through so he was assured of how he could get out. The road was covered in potholes so I was defintely glad they were trying to make improvements. We were dropped off at a nice simple yellow dwelling. It was one room church building in the front area of a family's home. You passed through a passageway where they did their laundry until you saw the small chicken pen in front of you, when you turned left and went into the chhurch room or walked through the hanging clothes to get to the rest of the house. Laura had told me they only have a hole for the bathroom and the daughter did look a little unsure when I asked her where the bathroom was for a little child to use. I later saw the kitchen that was a very clean room with a table, a cooker( Irish word for oven and stovetop) and a well-kept dirt floor. The roof there was a blue tarp. We came to play volleyball with some of the girls in the area so we brought the ball and went looking for a net in the neighborhood. The girls thought they knew of someone who rented it out to people. We went to two more houses looking for it- one house more shabbily made than theirs and one with a solid wood door and tile floor. The last lady told us that no, they didn't have it but someone farther up did. When I looked up to where they seemed to be referring, I was really hoping we were not going to go find it. In this area, like in other areas of Lima I have seen as I entered this overcrowded city, there are (usually yellow) stairs that climb high up these dust mountains- the only way to reach houses that have been built where no roads go. It is dumbfounding this "city planning." So we played volleyball by drawing the lines in the dust out back behind the houses. It worked fine until some mean little boys came trapsing (is that how you spell that word?) through our game to play some soccer in the same area. Luckily they didn't stay long or there would have been some scuffles! -There was at least one rough and tumble girl in the group! Then we headed back inside an hour later for the women's Bible study. It was a good turn out: about 10 ladies besides leaders, many with their babies tied in blankets on their backs. It was suprisingly cool out there as today was cloudy. They seemed to understand some more about repentance and faith. One or two of the women needed one of us to read the questions to them because they are unable to read or write. The leaders assured them that it is great to come and we're always willing to help. It was a neat time but we left as it was getting dark because there is no lighting in the church room yet! The bus ride(s) home were a little tiring!

Summer Teams

2006-07-29T16:58:00.000-07:00

I was very excited to come to Lima and get to see how our team works with teams from the states. We have a team coming in tonight and said goodbye to a team a week ago. It's a busy time! Our team focuses all it's attention on the work with the group that is here and continues a few regularly scheduled activities. The last team came to do a VBS in our neighborhood- Salamanca. We had it in the basement of an apartment building where a family who came to Christ because of our team lives. They continue to be a huge success story of Christ's changing power. We had meetings with the men and women and kicked off the sunday school that we'll be continuing every Sunday afternoon with children. We had over 80 kids come troughout the week which will be great contacts as we continue to build more relationships in the community. It was a family team from Atlanta, Georgia- I got chill bumps when the 8 year old girl from Kennesaw shared her testimony to the Peruvian kids! The team was very generous; bringing about 8 suitcases of things to distribute to the churches and leaving all their sport equipment and art supplies they had used during the week when they left. It is really neat to be a part of God's work on both sides: to see some fruit of the team living and working here and to get excited about what He will do in the next 2-3 years. This week's team will be doing an art camp in Huaycan where our after school project takes place. The church is basically working on its own but we'll be there to translate and help direct the kids. We saw one of the moms whose children are in the project selling caramels in front of a grocery store with her youngest daughter. It brought home the reality of these families' every day life. Please pray for our team and the one that is coming to be a light and help make new strides in the community. Thanks!

Lima: Estoy aca!

2006-07-18T11:54:00.000-07:00

Well, I can't show you photos- you'll have to go to photobucket for that! Sorry it's been a while... leaving Arequipa got to be a busy time; trying to focus in on my Spanish the last few weeks. But I arrived in Lima yesterday morning after a 15 hour bus ride- great deal really! It's crazy to have just been getting to know Arequipa and move to a city the size of NYC. It was funny to hear all the opinions of Lima from the Ariquepenans ( I need to learn how to type Spanish). At first I was overwhelmed by it all; realizing that this is my home for the next two years and what to do first but the team is great to let me wase into it all. Yesterday a team arrived and one left so my roommates are very busy! We celebrated Laura's birthday last night. I'll go visit a VBS they're having in our neighborhood today and slowly get oriented to the house, the city and how the team works. Hopefully, this will be a step in the direction of starting a church here in Salamanca. That's the word here... thanks for checking in...

The Bossa Nova revealed!

2006-07-05T13:38:00.000-07:00

I let my friends here in on a little secret- why my blog´s called The Bossa Nova. I was able to celebrate my favorite holiday in a big way yesterday- thanks to encouragement from back home! After Canada was well represented July 1st (Cananda Day) at the Institute, we could not be out done! Amanda invited me to make star sugar cookies on Saturday with Kayla- it was fun and I introduced them to the music of novelty dances. Later she made a cookie cake with the flag that she brought to the Institute. We both dressed up in our true colors! We played the national anthem twice- I couldn´t finish it ...and home of the brave ( I´m not feeling so brave these days). I had a long ride on a bus- took the one going the wrong way- I got to know the other half of the route! I played octopus and elbow tag with the kids a the YMCA post in Horacio. Then headed home to get ready for the party- red, white and blue ballons and little flags that my mom sent. (Thanks-they arrived just in time- the night before!) I ordered pizza( Hawaiian and pepperoni, the Americanos not so North Americano), had big sturdy plates and hefty napkins- unusual here! Ginny sent cotton candy ( a little flat but same great taste) and I made sweet tea- not too many takers! I brought down Napoleon Dynamite for the early comers and we ended up watching the first part- a little hard for foreigners to understand- even for some North Americans! Then we moved some furniture and we danced-I couldn´t believe it - they all participated! I started them out easy and ended with Bossa Nova! They liked New York, New York- they recognized the song!, got some idea of Amos Moses though there was not circular group motion and the Irish girl knew Agadoo! Who´d a thunk it! The piece (pun intended) de resistance was the apple pie ( not really incredible as far as pies go, but nothing´s as American as apple pie, they say) and ice cream we enjoyed after- I even made a black cow! It meant so much to me that my friend´s came, even three of my teachers, and that they got so excited with me! It´s a special group here! God is good!

¡Titulado!

2006-06-16T10:40:00.000-07:00

I had a fun experience last night! Ana has been working on her thesis for a year and a half and she presented it last night. Her theme was creating a company that produces Andean granola bars. They are called Misky bars and have quinoa and kiwicha pop( two grains widely preduced here that have many health benefits) in them. She and her partner had to create the company from scratch and organize it. They also had test groups and tried many granola bars from the States. Fortunately, her brother does graphic design and helped her to create a box, poster and the bar wrapper. They decided that they couldn´t actually create this product because the machine that wraps those bars is specailized and very expensive. It was fun and a little nerve wracking to watch them present after their many late nights working on this. After the presentation the professors ask questions and then we had to wait outside while the ( ate their bars) and deliberated! I decided I understood almost all of it which is pretty good for post graduate business vocabulary. With all their calculation they found that the investment would be realized in 9 years! If any one is looking for a business to invest in... (McCarthy!)
Afterwards (9:30) we went to eat Chifa- Peruvian chinese food- a food I´ve been waiting to try. It´s a little but like our Chinese food but I think it made me miss my family! They were all together celebrating by eating out- a custom in my family as well! And it reminded me of my sister´s master´s presentation a few years ago and the sweet family girl time!

Good News... Bad News!?

2006-05-24T13:21:00.000-07:00

I was suprised to find out today I´ll be here another full month- probably until the middle of July! Pedro says I have some things to iron out and then we can work on level 3, being able to explain yourself on deeper topics. That´s good and bad! I was advised to do between 3 and 6 months of language school but was really hoping for 3! I was excited to go to Lima and ¨get in on the action¨ but was also sad to leave the family here and this new place that was beginning to feel comfortable! Just a chance to work on contentedness! I want to be present to whatever the Lord has for me. In some ways that is an easy way to live, but it´s so different from my initial response!

Culture Shock

2006-05-12T13:51:00.000-07:00

So they tell you it´s gonna happen... This week and last I´ve been going through it but I think it´s more of a culture ¨mood¨ and part of me wants to debate if it has anything to do with the culture! When your teacher asks what has been the biggest ¨choque¨ or, crash, with the culture- it begs a few tears- remember who you´re dealing with here! Well, Pedro didn´t know that... I´t´s my first week with him. He´s the language school director and happens to be a pastor of a church many of us go to, as well as Peruvians. At first, these two careers seem like a lot on one person´s plate- and it is! But it also makes a lot of sense. Especially in this case. I answered it was that there is no 8-5 job description and then you can enjoy yourself like at home... but it came out in Spanish through an event of this week. A friend of one of the language school students died the day before. He was serving in Lima with LatinLink. He´s about my age and is from England( pray for his family who do not understand why he was in Peru). In someways this triggered my thoughts, but they have been brewing for a while! Mostly I´ve been missing material things from the states- sadly. (Well, my sister has been super at sending me pics and videos of my new nephew so I feel a part!) So what is this choque about? well, it´s mostly that I want to be doing what God sent me down here to do- minister His gospel! But I can´t minister well if I don´t understand the gospel well or the culture here. Right now I´m to be learning the language and the culture and I can enjoy it!- I realized I was taking a verse and changing it- that we aren´t guranteed tomorrow ¨ was what I was thinking (Matt.6:34 I guess is what I was thinking of I´m not really sure if this idea is even in the Bible actually!) Pedro was sweet to listen to me and to share his own struggles with contentedness and enjoying what God has given him today. He gave me Ecclesiastes 3:11-13 ¨He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men, yet they cannot fathom what God has done from the beginning to end. I know that there is nothing better for men to be happy and do good while they live. That everyone may eat and drink and find satisfaction in all his toil-this is the gift of God. 14 is good too ¨I know that everything God does will endure forever, nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that men will revere him.¨ I hope that encourages you! It does me! If anyone finds a New Testament agreement with that I´d be interested- I´m looking too. Thanks for your prayers and being the conduits of so many of the things I am thankful to God for!

subiendo Misti (climbing Misti)

2006-05-08T14:13:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to write a week later about our climbing Misti. It is 8500 meters to the top and it was our friend´s idea that we´d all go. Most of us didn´t know what we were getting into but we went all the same. The first day we climbed with our packs to the campsite. it was hard for me because I had never hiked with a big pack. but it didn´t compare to the second day. I had taken some pills to help with the altitude but that only dulled the pain in my head. We got to see a beautiful sunset and the lights of the city turning on as the sunset! WOW! and we got a good view of another mountain near Arequipa called Chachani. but as soon as the sun went down we got very cold_ very cold. The spaghetti, soup and tea helped a bit but we all took cover in our tents as soon as we finished because we weould be waking up at 4 am to start the second day ( so we could catch the sunrise too). IT was not a fun night but was certainly better than being outside! I had a bunch of dreams that night_ that my brother Jon was there and that it was all a fun ride at an amusement park- I wish! We didn´t make it before the sunrise unfortunately. The ascent was incredible_ we felt so great wothout our packs that i wanted to go fast but the guides wouldn´t let you waste your energy. it was like I imagined expeditions to be but never thought I´d be on one! There are no trees on this mountain- we saw our last one as we drove up to the starting point! It´s a volcano remember! lots of sand and rocks! It´s a little difficult getting up but advantageous on the way down! My head started hurting when the second group turned around because they couldn´t make it! Once we got to the edge of the crater I thought I was finished but they said we´re going to the cross! I wasn´t sure about that and you really have to have desire to go further in those conditions but I had come with out host sister whose dream to climb has been since high school so i was going as far as she did! i made it but do¨m´t have the pics to show yet! My head was pounding and that was more than I ever want to see at the altitide so I didn´t enjoy the destination as much as the journey but I barely made the pictures! I wanted to get down_ luckily that´s the fastest part_ it´s just like the dunes_ you run down- except this time we had shoes and socks on and there are rocks!- makes for a mess but cuts the time down by one fifth ( 5 hours up day two- one hour down)We met the rest of the group at the camp and headed down some more sand! crazy stuff- my grammar teacher keeps asking if I want to climb the others but I´m trying to tell him that was more than enough adventure for me!

Acostumbrandome (growing accustomed)

2006-04-24T12:32:00.000-07:00

The more I leave Arequipa and come back I realize that I´m coming to love it. It makes me a little worried that I am because I know I will have to leave it! I had just been learning about not making this world my home. I know it is normal to settle into a place and I´m glad am doing that! I was able to talk with a couple who had been traveling around the world for the last 6 months. I really felt bad for them and how much I would long for home at this point of their trip ( they only have a week or so left). They seemed to be searching and there are some crazy ideas especially with all the mysteries of the Incan people! I shared with them the comfort that I feel seeing the beautiful creation and knowing God is caring for it all and he cares for me and wants a relationship. We also talked about injustice that they had seen in the church and elsewhere. I´m praying for these two and others who come looking for meaning.

Easter in Ica

2006-04-19T14:18:00.000-07:00

Some of you who received my update saw a picture of part of my time in Ica. We left last Wednesday night and rode a bus for 14 hours to Ica. The early morning was a neat time to look out the window and see waves crashing on an untouched beach lit by the moon... one plus for being awake at that hour! I was inpacted by how much God cares for all the places of the world that we don´t even think or know about!
We got there and rested and then were off to see and do everything Ica had to offer; wine tours, dune buggies and sand boarding, watching the Good Friday procession, having a bonfire in the outskirts of town, swimming in a pool and tasting Ica´s finest fare! We had a great time and almost every moment was filled. Our host family´s dad is a great HOST! Ica is know for it´s wine and pisco. The stuff that´s in Pisco Sours- the alcoholic drink of Peru! Ana´s dad, Litos, works at a manufacturing plant for small grape farmers so we got a taste! Strong stuff!
Right outside Ica are the dunes and the only Oasis in South America. The picture was of us walking up the sand dunes(hard work) with family friends and then running down the face of them (scary at first but fun)! Sandboarding was actually sand sledding for those who had no snowboarding experience but fun all the same. And yes you find sand all over your body, even in your ears afterwards. The dune buggy ride felt like a roller coaster without the security of a closed course. I realized we hadn´t signed anything before getting in and taking off. You never knew if it was a steep decline or a little hill ahead!
The procession was impressive! First, the rugs, they call them that are on the streets- formerly made of flowers but now done with tinted chalk of some kind. Some great artistry! Then we walked the streets trying all the fare that only comes out during Semana Santa- manjar- thick caramel, ponche- hot milk drink, anticuchos- cow´s heart- really pretty good, chinchuli- intestines- chewy and yuck!, etc. Then we headed to a spot above the street to better observe the slow procession of about 40 men carrying on their shoulders an enourmous float of Jesus on the cross. The float was lit by lights all the way around and flowers were on top that people threw as it passed. The people carrying incense were in front. The priests surrounded the float to coordinate the men changing positions with those others that were lined up, smashed together waiting for a chance to take part. The band was behind them playing loud funeral type music. If I had only had my camera... The mood was somewhat depressing for me. So many people watching it but really not having a part. It was a reminder to me that we need to take up Christ´s cross each day, not just on special holidays. Those men seemed to get a glimpse of what Christ suffered carrying his cross up the hill, but for what? The procession supposedly went on for 16 hours. It gave me a glimpse into their reality. I asked one Catholic we were with, was this all they celebrate but he assured me in the churches on Sunday they celebrated the Resurrection. We didn´t get an opportunity to see that part but I sure did see a lot fo people walking around town on Sunday morning like a normal work day! ( As were we!)
Not a usual Easter to say the least!

Claudia

2006-04-07T12:27:00.000-07:00

This is one of my teacher´s names. She´s about 22 years old and studying economics at university. Her birthday was this week- on Monday. I went on an open invitation- LAura was going, and said basically, your friends just drop by your house on the night of your birthday. We came from another meeting at about 9. Everyone was seated in a circle and there were snacks and drinks on the table. American music was playing. I realized I need to get used to this-- in this culture-- American music is playing everywhere- in the stores, on the buses. Claudia lived in the states for a while so she know a lot fo American music. Comversation is more with those you sit next to, than across the room. Her friends from the neighborhood were there as well as cousins and others that work at the Insitute. As more people came in, she introduced each of us and we all greeted with the customary cheek kiss. We were given a fork and a napkin and so I figured it was for cake, but little did I know we would be served a meal! It was good! And guess who served it- Claudia! When it was time for the cake the lights were turned off, and we sang three versions of Happy Birthday- a christian version in Spanish, the English version and then the Spanish one- they joked we would sing the Norwegian one next. Once she blew out the candles the lights were turned on, the candles were taken out and we were waiting for something. Her close friends gathered around close to the cake. I wasn´t sure what they were gonna do but it seemed like it was gonna be messy- she made it without too much frosting on her face. And she only took a small bite. Then another cake was served. Guess who served it- Claudia! I was blown away that in America we are the ones served on our birthdays! As I talked to her the next day in class, I commented on this difference and she said it´s because they´re Christians. At a normal Peruvian birthday they would be drinking! It was very fun and I was glad to be a part!

Funny picture...

2006-03-28T06:12:00.000-08:00

Well, I didn´t have my camera with me but imagine me in a combi(the buses here) getting on in my flip flops, no available seating so I stand with my head curled because the roof is too low. We go over the first speed bump and I just about sock the guy in the stomach who´s sitting below me. I turn around to lean against the pole that Laura´s hanging on to and we go a few more feet over another speed bump unbeknownst(sp?) to me! So I´m sliding into Laura this time. And I finally sit down in the aisle until a seat becomes open. They offer me the very front passenger seat but I can just see myself climbing over two people and then slamming into the winshield, so I relent! I´m sure it was funnier if you were there! Laura says I gained repor (sp?) with those Peruvians- I said ¨what?¨ She said you had them all smiling!! Well, I´m good for that!

Primer Semana de Clases

2006-03-24T12:57:00.000-08:00

FIRST WEEK OF CLASSES!
I have at least 11 more to go. I was walking home today with a full head of things floating around; new words, grammar I´d forgotten, old subjects I hadn´t seen in quite a while! I can see how it can be exhausting! I´m very thankful to be here. I realize my need for it each day. It´s also great because the school is tutor style so I can go at my own pace (I´m trying to speed through) or slow down when you need to. The teachers are great! There are lots of fun people here from Canada, England and Ireland. I realized that I´m either sleeping because my choices (when the family is busy) are : study Spanish or watch TV in Spanish or I´m trying to avoid hard situations. Possibly I´m still adjusting to the climate! I haven´t gone out to get anything unless I really needed it( a notebook and a phone card). I hope that´s not a comment on my attitude of being in this new place.
I´ve gotten a little taste of some ministries here in Arequipa. A ministry to special needs kids and a coffee bar where a guy from Pensacola spoke! The food is good: I haven´t picked a favorite yet. I´ve gotten to share in some table conversations with friends of the family. I´m a little ´mal estomago´ but nothing terrible! It has taken some adjusting to not looking people in their faces and saying hi! I can´t be as observant it seems! Just some rambling thoughts! Not sure of plans for the weekend, I´m just taking each day at a time! Today has enough worries of its own! If anyone wants to mail me something, e-mail me, it only takes two weeks if you send it air mail.

En Arequipa!

2006-03-19T17:29:00.000-08:00

I had my first full day in Arequipa yesterday. In the morning we went to the Market to get fruits and veggies for the week. They also have meat there so Anna showed me around. They helped me learn a few more veggies I didn´t know! And there were a lot of potatoes! I kind of wish I had my camera because while we were there one of the candidates for election was there with handing out cards with two characters escorting her. One was in the shape of Peru and the other the shape that represents choosing her. Each candidate has a image to mark on the ballot! How interesting! Then we went to the Saga Falabella- name for the department store that dominates that mall area. The grocery store is underneath so we picked up other things there. Later that night we toured around Arequipa with a friend of my host mom´s while doing errands. They took me to see a good view of the city but you couldn´t see El Misti and the other volcanoes because of the clouds! We saw a wedding happening there and then went to Plaza de Las Armas. The Grand Plaits, if you will. (Belgian folks) or Hotel de Ville(French folks) We actually saw two more couples who had just been married- reminded me of walking down Fifth Avenue on Saturday and seeing 5 different weddings at various stages with Tay, mom and Ginny. There were a couple of groups performing. One with typical Peruvian music- it´s very mysterious sounding. I learned the name of the rock that all the old buildings are made of- I think we call it igneous!? ¿Any physical science students in the audience? We ended the night with buñuelos, Peruvian doughnuts, I had seen at the store earlier. They are thinner than ours, more like funnel cake except in doughnut shape, covered in honey! MMMM! I start classes tomorrow!

Estoy Aqui!

2006-03-15T14:48:00.000-08:00

I have to keep telling myself that I'm really here to live! I arrived at almost midnight into Lima. It took me a while to get my bags but they all arrived safely! Everything in one piece! I got to the house and met Becca and the intern, Kiera. The sounds of Lima are very different. A parrot neighbor, people selling ice cream, fruit, constuction materials, etc. Things do take longer here: making ice, washing dishes, getting out to do errands when people come by. Just some initial thoughts... I've been reading in Isaiah and other places about having ears to hear- with all these new sounds( let alone spanish all around) I think the Lord's calling me to listen to Him closer. I'm thankful for his gentle whispers!

Ciao!

2006-03-10T12:34:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone! I'm testing out the blog thing...