The end of our vacation....

Well, we are now at the end of a wonderful time with my family. Today we head back to Iquitos, and my family heads back to the States. What an incredible experience we have had in Cusco and Machu Pichu. We truly have made wonderful memories together. Matthew and Kristi have enjoyed being with their Nana and Grandpa as well as my Aunt and Uncle. Well, we head back to our girls, to put some closure as we pack and head back to life in the United States on Dec. 1. Please pray that God will lead us as we make the transition to US life.

Enjoy some of our pictures of this last week. You can see some of the diversity of this incredible country. Sadly, no matter where we went, poverty is still so prevalent!

a small child in Cusco

Cusco downtown square

one of the amazing churches in Cusco

Loved the architecture...rocks on the bottom from the Inca time with the Spanish colonials building above

Kristi enjoying some warm soup!

Some Llamas

Matthew and Kristi got a chance to ride the Llamas

Local ladies doing some weaving

Some amazing Inca ruins found in the Cusco area

Looking over the Sacred Valley

The Sacred Valley

Chincheros

The train to Machu Pichu

Kids first train ride...it was beautiful!!

Machu Pichu...breathtaking!

After my Dad fell trying to take a picture of a chinchilla...I think he might have broken his arm!

Some of the incredible ruins

Some of the views arond Machu Pichu...truly the top of the world!

Some of the many terraces

More ruins...

Just incredible!!

Always an adventure....

So last week was incredibly crazy! We have been enjoying my parents visit and at the same time I have been so busy with the girls!  So  much has happened...I truly believe that every day here is an adventure waiting to happen. Last Saturday night as I was tucking my girls to bed, there was a horrible thunder storm. A bolt of lightning hit so close, it scared all of us to death! Unfortunately, out went our electricity and with that, our water. Sunday morning found us at the local water pump with bandejas so we would have water to make breakfast that morning and clean up. The way I see it, who needs a bicep work out when all you have to do is pump water!

 A few days later, after my parents came, I took the org.'s truck with my mom, aunt, Matthew and Kristi to a sanctuary so we could do a little bird watching. But, as usual, nothing goes as planned! As I was driving, I noticed a strange noise. And sure enough, our tire went flat on kilometer 13 on our way to Nauta, and try as I might, I couldn't figure out how to drop that spare from the bottom of the truck. Our guide, knew nothing of what to do, so we called Paul (who we now call our AAA service) and he helped us get back on the road.
The next day found us at the Bora tribe and up the Amazon river. We all had a wonderful time. That afternoon, while shopping at our little next door bodega for food items for our food baskets, Jess comes running in to tell me we have an emergency. One of our girls has fallen off the scooter, while trying to learn how to drive. I raced back over wondering what I would find. There is so much drama in a house full of girls that you really can't believe everything you hear. But, one look at Olga's right arm told me we were hospital bound again. Into the truck we go, to Iquitos hospital we head, wondering what kind of service we would find! Well, what an expereince that was. First we go in, we are immediately sent away with a slip of paper to pay for an x-ray. Then I get told I need to find the tech to see if they are here since there is a strike going on. Just then Camila came who is a pro at dealing with the hospitals. That left us waiting for the verdict. A while later, and much sadness and heartache witnessed in waiting outside of the hospital, Camila comes out to say that, yes, she has a broken arm and a dislocated elbow. Oh, and she will have to spend the night in the hospital. Out we go, back to the house to get her necessities, bowl, plate, sheets, clothes, etc. so she can be admited. Now it is raining. WE go and then come back again. Finally we leave her with Camila at the hospital, praying she wont need surgery and head back out to the house. Three girls on a dangerous dirt, road at 11:30 on a rainy night makes for quite a site. It didn't help that Elvira, one of our older girls spent her time telling us of different attacks she knows of that have happened to her and her brother! I drive as fast as the truck will take me on a muddy river we call our road! Praise the Lord for His protection, we made it back.  The next day we ended up sending her to the Ana Stahl clinic because they could do her surgery that day instead of waiting four days to fix her arm. She is now recouperating well....must say, the number of girls lining up to learn how to drive a scooter has dropped dramatically!

Oh, next morning found me at 5am waiting at the Posta, our local clinic, so that a couple of our girls can get seen by the Dr. You see, they only see 24 government insurance patients a day. So if you want to get seen for free, you get up early and wait 2 hours for the Doc. And that is exactly what I was doing. Like I said, always something!

I am sure there is more, but we will leave it at this for now. It is hard to believe that we leave in just two weeks. My heart is sad, there is so much that needs to be done. There are so many that need to be reached with the good news!

mom and dad on a motorkar

dancing with the Bora

tuckered after a day on the Amazon River

Aunt Lois, Mom and Matthew birding

Dad enjoying some time with Angel at worship

Uncle Don and Dad making Mangu breakfast for the girls...they didn't like it!

Delivering food baskets to families in Union. Mom and Dad's church donated money for this

Everyone was soooo grateful!

Our flat tire with our AAA service helping us out!

Jess and Elvira waiting at the hospital

Olga at the Ana Stahl Clinic waiting for surgery

Olga and her daughter Sarai before we leave for the night

Breann, our knew volunteer with Vivian

Mom and Aunt Lois as they leave the girls

Dad ,Uncle Don, and David as they leave

Fun with the family!

My parents and my uncle and aunt arrive!

Driving in a morokar downtown to grab a bite to eat

We all fit in one car

Well, my parents and my husband have arrived! How wonderful to have all of us together in the jungles of Peru! What a blessing! Well, this week I tried a new pepper that put my mouth on fire. I poured a bunch of them on my food the other day while our gardener and cook looked on in amazement. I really didn't understand why. I thought everyone ate these charapitas. Well, after about a couple of bites of these I about died! The table burst in laughter as they explained that the peppers were only to give the onions and water that they were soaking in, flavor and spice. I no longer add these to my food.
The other night as I laid in bed, I was once again reminded that we are surrounded by living creatures of all kind. Some of which I am sure have a party every night on our roof. The kids and I were having an interesting conversation when we were interrupted by the sounds of MICE or RATS running around wild on our ceiling! Oh, how wonderful to not feel alone in the world!
This last evening we went out to eat with my family. How wonderful to eat pizza and drink cold maracuya juice! After that we strolled on the plaza, ate shambos (popcicles) and headed home. In our motokar I notice that the driver had baby shoes hanging all around him. I asked him what they were about. He said that he started collecting them off the road about 15 days ago. He feels that they have become a good luck charm and have helped him get more people to use his car and even has noticed that his first customers of the day tend to be moms with children or pregnant women. I told him that surely he did not believe that.  I explained that God is the one that blesses. As I left him at our drop off place I gave him a little extra money and told him it wasn't the shoes, but God that was blessing.  I love the people here!! So many to reach!



Here are some pictures of what has been going on this week!

We celebrated David's 43rd birthday on the day he arrived

Enjoying some family time!

Enjoying some good food together!

And enjoying time with grandpa!

Sabbath Musings...

Well, we now only have a little over three weeks left of our time here. Due to some circumstances beyond my control, we are heading back Dec. 1. There is so much left undone here, my heart really aches. The girls, I know, will be fine. It is just the ideas, the future of the organization, the people we are getting to know and so  much more that I hate to leave. Just today, as I stayed home from church with Kristi and a few other girls, I realized that I will so miss the relationships that we have formed here. As the rest of the girls were coming home from church, they were stopped by the guy that watches the chickens on  our property. He said that he needed something for a fever. So, I went down there and asked what was going on and if he needed anything else, since there is a BAD flu going around. Nope, he informed me that it was Malaria. So the poor man, has been sleeping on the ground, miserable with malaria and just asked if we had something for the fever. Several Ibuprofen, and some lunch later, I hope he is feeling a little better. Soon after that, I get a call from another friend that was wondering if I had something for a fever for another person's daughter. It seems like everyone in our community is sick!  So many times people knock at our door requesting some meds. Even though a lot is given them through the government, they still cannot afford even the basics. The other day I got stopped by our neighbor lady wondering if I had drops to give her that would help her see better. She is in her late 40's and said she is struggling to see. I told her I didn't think drops would do the trick, she probably needed glasses. She asked if I would give her mine. Ummm, tried to explain mine would do her little good since my problem is astigmatism. I did tell her I would see what I could do. I found out you can buy glasses and get a consult for about 90 soles which is equivalent to about $30.00. For her, that is a lot of money!!  Am hoping to try to help her get some soon.

The fact is, there are so many people with so many needs that sometimes I feel quite overwhelmed and just do nothing. But as I face going back to the States, I worry even more about becoming apathetic to the call of Jesus to reach out and share the gospel with eveyrone. Sharing Jesus has become a daily thing in my life here. Talking about Him to our girls, our staff, having worship talks, and just being drawn to my knees due to circumstances in my life, has brought me so much closer to Him. I pray that somehow, wherever we end up, I wont lose that. Why is it so hard to stay focused in the United States? Hmmm...just wondering. Well, enough musings, praying that all of you will be drawn closer to our Saviour, our Lord, our Friend and that somehow you will find a way to share Him today with someone you know. God Bless....

Oops, I always forget something else I want to share! I have attached some photos of Matthew's birthday, his new Peru shirt and some other fun picutres.  Enjoy!

Blowing the candle on the birthday cake!

I love my kids!!!

Matt's new Peru shrit

Matthew with some of the family

Matthew helping in the kitchen...grading Yuca

Food for thougt....

Well, it is hard to believe almost another week has gone by. We are so excited because this next week my parents and my uncle and aunt are coming to see us!!! But more exciting than that, David is finally coming, too. He will get to be with us for  the last weeks we are here. I was looking at Matthew this week and noticed how skinny he has become. I feel so bad, the food has been one of the most difficult areas for us. I love my kids and know that they have sacrificed a lot being here serving God.  So, last night, I took my two kids down town to eat at a restaurant that serves American food. We had a wonderful time together and just enjoyed a small taste of home. As we left, we grabbed an ice cream bar across the street and started walking to catch a motokar back home. On the corner, there was a man looking at our bag of left overs, asking if we could please give him the food. Of course, we handed it over(sorry Jess) and also the little bit of ice cream we had left on the stick. He grabbed it all greedily and left to eat. Just then a little girl came over and asked for food. Unthinkingly, I told her that we had just given our food away. It wasn't until minutes later, sitting in the motokar, that I realized that I should have just taken her to a little place and bought her some food. Forgive me, Lord, for not thinking quick enough! We left down town a little more pensive and thoughtful about those who are in such need around us.

Here are some more pictures of what we have been doing this week...

Jess and Nelcy washing dogs

Poor Bobby

Just thinking...

Krist and Jess finishing putting together the weight machine that Jess won running a 14K

Matt enjoying some good food!!

There is Kristi, too!

The place is called the Yellow Rose of Texas!