Returned to Owner

We got our Dell laptop back. We met with the D.A. and with the vendor that had the computer. He promised to never possess stolen goods again and we got the computer back. An ABSOLUTE MIRACLE! The D.A told us that people never find their stuff. Christian and our friend Scott went right to work on retrieving everything possible from the hard drive. So far they have recovered about 1,000 photos! God is amazing - nothing is impossible for him.

We also got our Kombi back. . . FINALLY! After a long 6.5 weeks our beloved 1980 VW van has returned from the painters. As you can see 12 days takes longer in Peru.

Before:

After:

We have been having a wonderful vacation from school with the kids and a great visit with my (Amy's) mom. I've got a lot to share with you but it will have to wait till she's gone. Please keep praying . . . . more changes for us in the near future.

Leave it to the government

Here is a little sample of our life in recent weeks to give you and idea of what things are like here. Every year the country celebrates there independence from Spain on July 28th and 29th. The normal vacation for all of the school, both public and private, is the last week of July and the 1st week of august. That is how it is every year . . . . well this past Friday the government changed the vacation schedule because of the swine flu. Friday we were told end of month exams were being moved to Monday and that exams would take place Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, and the rest of the exams would take place when school started again on August 3rd. Tuesday at school we got a new note at the end of the day stating that there was no school the next day and that classes would recommence the 6th of August if they weren't prolonged any more.

So we have begun our unexpected vacation . . .I have to say that it has only been two days but I am enjoying being with the kids again. They have been really good about hanging out a physical therapy with Christian (his ankle still isn't healed) or at the dentist with me (still finishing up a root canal). My mom should be here next week!! We are looking forward to her visit. Spanish classes are moving along. We are feeling more and more confident all the time.

we would love to hear from all of you - please keep in touch.

Plaza de Armas and Current Events

I had been with out a camera for so long that I forget I have one now. Here is a photo, for your viewing pleasure, of the Plaza de Armas here in Arequipa.

Hello All! I keep thinking of the the many things I want to share with you but whenever I have the time to sit down and type I forget what I wanted to say. Things are moving along here. I am in the middle of a root canal and Christian is on his second week of physical therapy after injuring his ankle playing soccer. The kids are doing great and we have had a wonderful long week-end. Early dismissal on Friday, no school Monday due to Teacher's Day, and there has been a transportation strike yesterday and today. It has been fun. Gavin lost his lunch box AGAIN, but I found nothing of value at the market this time when I went to buy a new one.

Back to school as usual tomorrow for the kids and Christian and I have an appointment at the District Attorney's office at 8 a.m. We should be getting our computer back. Have I mentioned that we received a copy of the vendor's statement. He changed his story for the third time and says he got the computer from a young man named "Jorge2". Interesting, no?? Any how, I will let you know how it all plays out tomorrow.

My mom is coming to visit us in two weeks!!!! We can't wait. She is bring suitcases full of stuff for us so anyone has been wanting to send us something (a few people have asked) - can send there packages to my mom and she can carry them down. Let me know if you need more info.

Can you spot the gringo pigeon??

Red Eagles

This is a photo of the kids before the father's day event at school - they are the Red Eagles

Couples Night

O.K. this past Sunday night we experienced our first public ministry in Peru. Christian was the main speaker at the couple's night at church. It was very interesting and didn't go at all like we planned but I believe it was a good ice breaker.
Christian spoke in English and I was his translator - that part went more or less well. After talking with the pastor on Saturday night we realized how careful we needed to be to NOT talk about marriage from a cultural stand point. The self-help tips in the U.S. are not going to be realitive to anybody here. Christian printed out 8 pages of scriptures on marriage - all in Spanish to hand out at the dinner. He simply pesented from scripture what marriage is and what it is not.
This fairly simply chat got off on the wrong foot when, while explaining that in God's eyes marriage is forever and how other than infedelity there is no way out of marrige, it ended up sounding like he was telling everyone how to get OUT of their marriages . . . the pastor quickly helped clear that up.
Actually, we weren't very unclear - we just han't gotten to the scripture about God hating divorce and apparently there were several men in the room who might be looking for an out because they have other women on the side. (a practice not at all uncommon here). However by the end I believe Christian had done a great job presenting the scripture and sending them home with much to read and study. The Holy Spirit can speak, correct, encourage, and convict from here.