El Dia de Los Ninos

We decided one day last week to take the kids to a nice part of Lima called Miraflores. There is a place here called Larco Mar which they have built restaurants and stores into the side of the cliff which overlooks the ocean. It is such a pleasant place to just relax, so we decided to get off the bus here instead of riding all the way to a park like we had originally planned. Once we walked close enough we discovered that they had an entire day planned just for the kids (El Dia de Los Ninos). We took the kids down to see all the animals and enjoy the free events. Josiah had a ball but Hadassah was a bit afraid of all of the characters running around.

A view from above. There are almost always clouds hanging over Lima as you can see here.

A view in the other direction.

Ocassionally the sun will peak it's head out and here is a view with a bit of blue sky.

They had these cute little ducklings for the kids to pet as well as bunnies. Hadassah wasn't trying to touch them but Josiah couldn't keep his hands off of them!

I'm sorry this one is crooked, for some reason the format changed when I uploaded it. It was too cute to leave out and I know Karin will appreciate it.

Hadassah with her favorite friends Pooh & Tiger. She wasn't so thrilled as some other walking character had just tripped into her lap causing her to become a bit hysterical.

Josiah relaxing and flirting with the ladies after lunch. Don't worry Theresa and MB, you are still his favorites!!

We did eventually make it to the park and the kids really enjoyed themselves despite all of the crowds. Josiah liked the fact that we let him crawl around everywhere (they had that green carpet stuff on the ground) and that he could manage to climb on a few things.

Hadassah is getting so big, she is growing up so fast. She offically started speaking Spanglish yesterday with a few more words today. I'm glad that she is begining to pick up the language. We are excited that we are going to her school this Saturday for a traditional festival. There will be traditional dancing (by the kids) and the opportunity for us to meet her schoolmates and their families.

We have a busy weekend planned ahead of us so if you could keep all of these things in prayer we would appreciate it. Eddy will be going to Ica tomorrow with Robin (this is the place that is a minimum of four hours away) and then Friday evening is our outreach for Halloween. We will be having puppets and mimes in the church with other fun games and candies for the kids (I guess you could call it a harvest party except it is not harvest time here!) Saturday we have the festival at Hadassah's school and then Eddy will be leading the usual outreach team in an effort to reach the neighborhood around the church (normally they go to places further out). I'm not sure what Sunday holds as of yet but I'll keep you posted. Thank you once again for your continued prayers.

Announcement: Josiah cut his first tooth yesterday!! Yah!!

The cafe in progress

Drywall has already been added to the stell studs, these pictures are about a week old.

Behind this wall are two garage doors leading to a very noisy street. This wall will help to cut down on the noise and provide a more pleasant environment for fellowship.

I believe Eddy told me that they are preparing this wall pictured here for a mural.

An interesting fact... drywall is somewhat of a new building material here. Almost everything is made of brick and concrete.

Six Weeks in Lima

I was talking with a classmate earlier and I realized that as of today we have been here in Lima, Peru for six weeks already. The time has passed so quickly and for this I am thankful for. The transition moving from the United States to here was a fairly smooth one. I never realized that is was a "move'"so to speak but it has been. We have had to start a new life here with many of the elements that we are used to having been altered. It truly is amazing how the Lord has settled us and given us such peace in a city much different than we are accustomed to. I do not speak just for myself either. Although Eddy is a native of Peru, he has been living outside of this country now for twenty years with all the conviences of the first world. Yet, we do not miss those "conviences" in the least bit. This is one way that the Lord has confirmed to us that this is His will for us. He has given us the grace to deal with the things that take more time than we are used to taking, the dirt, the crime and the lack of many of our creature comforts. In place of the things that we may have "lost" He has placed in our lives warm hearts and new friendships. We have also been blessed with a a family who is always willing to help us with whatever we may need.

Now that we have been here for over a month we have settled into somwhat of a routine, although things are always changing and I suppose they will continue to. Friday is my last day of my current Spanish class, I should be moving on to level four next week. I am so excited to be finally learning Spanish and actually begining to have conversations with people. I thank the Lord he has allowed me the opportunity to do this. I also sat in with another missionary named Denise as she taught an English class last week, it seems like a great opportunity to get to know more people and I hope to continue this, Lord willing when she leaves. Eddy has been working hard in a variety of areas. He is helping another missionary named Robin to convert the back of the church into a cafe. A few Sundays ago they started serving lunch after Sunday service to raise money for mission trips. I believe they are planning a outreach to Ica in January and they would like to allow for as many people to go as have a desire. The addition of the cafe will make it a little more comfortable to sit down in eat as the church is located next to a very busy road. All you hear day and night is honk, honk, honk!!! He has spent a great deal of time teaching (well the time was invested mostly in preparing) these past two weeks as well. I know I am so far behind in updating you with photos but Iwill catch up once these exams are over. If you look to the right of the blog you will see two other links. One is for the other couple serving here full-time, Robin & Tracey Shelley and the other is for Pastor Brian's blog. You can also check these out if you want to read more about the work going on here.

One other note. We are going with two other couples to a nice place situated outside of Lima this Friday. I hear it is beautiful there (the name is Chosica) and I look forward to the time away. One of the couples that we are going with have become very good friends to us. We met them last year while we were here and as the time passes we realize more and more how the Lord has used them to draw us here. I'll write more on this later.

I promised you the final update on Santa Rosa and it is almost done. It is just a matter of finding time for Eddy and I to sit down (without children in tow) and writing down all of the details. Soon, maybe early next week.

Please pray for our time away, that the lord would speak to us about so many things. Also for a time of refreshment and fellowship with the other couples.

Oh, I keep forgeting to mention. If you use Windows Live Messenger (MSN) you can find us on there with the folowing address: eddykoplin@hotmail.com we hope to chat with you soon, the kids enjoy being able to see people from home with this neat tool.

Oh, Oh.. one final thing... did you notice the poll to the right? Cast your vote for which animal you think Peru is best known for!!

Campana Medica Santa Rosa de Villa - Part Three

Eddy & Lucho.

We met Lucho and his wife Chipe last year when we spoke briefly at another fellowship here in Lima. After the service Lucho approached Eddy and they began to chat. As the Lord would have it, they had known each other in their youth and now many years later as adults they have both come to put their trust in Jesus. Eddy kept in touch with Lucho the following year after we returned to the United States and as we were praying about where to serve in Lima, the Lord used Lucho to bring us here to Iglesia Cristiana Koinonia. Lucho and Eddy have become close friends over these last two years and we thank the Lord for yet another blessing.

Eddy goofing around as they prepare to open. If you can't figure out what is going on here then I guess you will have a little homework to do.

Eddy and Crystil setting up consultation stations.

Eddy and Lucho guard the door as a line forms on the first day.

The medical team arrives from Lima. They were a team from the United States that came for a week and did two medical clinics. Prior to the one here in Santa Rosa they went to the North and did one there in Trujillo. I have a link to their pictures if anyone is interested I'll forward it along (they have some great pictures).

Our "Luchito" as Eddy calls him.

Entertainment for the little ones as they wait.

More waiting

The Pharmacy

The medicines. (She came with the medical team, I wish I could tell you her name)

I'm sorry that I do not have much more information on some of these pictures but it is very hard for Eddy and I to catch up and sit down together at the same time. So I am filling in the blanks with the information that I do know. For those of you who are following this blog and want to leave comments with more information, please feel free.

Eddy & Lucho hanging out in the Pharmacy

This is the traditional way of carrying babies here. Mothers work all day long with their babies on their backs like this. Just the other day we were walking near our house and an empleada (a maid) was working with her child tied to her back. It is a sad life for the kids especailly when you see them on the backs or in the arms of their mothers who weave in and out of traffic trying to sell candies just to make pennies. Many of the children do not develop the simplest of motor skills as a result of being tied to their mothers all day long. If I had not read an article on this before coming here I would think it strange that ripping paper and scrunching it into little picees was really a necessary activity for kids. They do this with children just the same as we would color with them only they are doing it to develop the strength in their fingers.

Filling up water for the toilets. I believe they have to take this to the roof to use for flushing the toilets.

A consultation. The man in the black jacket is named Michael, he came especially for the clinic and stayed just a couple of days to lend a hand.

Such a cute picture.

Eddy said that this little boy was so shy and that he came in clutching this bunny, I guess it is his pet.

Views from outside the church in Santa Rosa de Villa.

Some of the children of Santa Rosa de Villa

On the last day the doctors donated some money to buy food for the local people. A team from the church went to the market to buy some staple items such as rice and put together about 17 bags to distribute to the people. After the clinic they went with the doctors to hand them out to the neediest families... below are some of the pictures they took as they traveled around the neighborhood.

Yes, she is washing the clothes by hand.

The team outside the church in Santa Rosa on day two.

Over the span of two days the doctors saw over 450 patients, wow! What a blessing it was to have them come and minister to the needs of these people, most of which can not afford to see a doctor.

I'm sorry it has taken us so long to finish this update but I hope you enjoy it. Eddy is actually going to continue teaching in this village once a month. Please continue to pray for us to discern His will for us here in Peru.

Another note, we are receiving mail from the USA so if you want to send something small or cards/letters it should arrive in about a weeks time (we have received a few things already). If you need our address just write and we'll send it to you.