Villa Natalia/Chaclacayo

Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!

Psalm 133:1

Un Rey (A King)
Josiah has captured the hearts of many a female here in Lima, here he sits with a few of his admirers on the bus ride to the country.

Once we arrived, all forty plus of us, we got together for a time of worship. Pastor Brian shared a a bit from the word and then a woman named Elvira from Santa Rosa shared her testimony. She traveled with us in order to be baptized.

Worship time.

Ricardo our worship leader.

I have a video of a worship time in the church I would like to upload but I am having trouble doing it, I hope that I will be able to post it so you can experience a little bit of what we have here.

Eddy's brother Kike came along with us on the picnic. It was a blessing to have him, he even brought a tent for the kids to nap in, that was a great idea.

Jimmy, such a nice guy and one of Eddy's closer friends here.

Josiah and his Uncle Kike having a good time during worship.

Elvira sharing her testimony, Pastor Brian encouraging her.

Does this place look familiar? This is where we had the baptism a month earlier and were planning to do so again that afternoon. When we hiked to the spot we discovered that it was laundry time for some people and had to hike back down to the pools.

Miguel resting above the pool.

Lucho beginning a trend of diving, the guys had a blast diving off these rocks.

Ana, another one of Josiah's fans. Josiah discovering the hand drum.

Futbol, a game of soccer to pass the afternoon.

I think this is a first, a picture of Eddy & I.

Wheeee!!

The entrance to Villa Natalia

The hike up a long hill to our awaiting bus. We were lucky he took us that far, we were not persuading him to go down this hill.

Hadassah was having a ball running up the hill. She actually decided to stop and pose for a picture.

Look, the bus is now in sight.

A view of Villa Natalia from the road.

On the way back out we encountered livestock in the road. We had to move to one side to let them pass.

Mooooo.

On the way home we asked to be dropped off in Chaclacayo, a town about an hour east of Lima. Here an orphanage is being built for Peru's street children and there is an American couple overseeing the work. We read about them before coming to Peru and had the opportunity to meet them one Sunday morning while they were visiting our church. They have two babies just about the same ages as our little ones. We decided to stop and pass a night there with them. We had a great time of fellowship and Eddy was able to lend a hand to Justin with his current project, a deck.

The kids had a great time, don't they look so cute eating their breakfast together?

I also had a great time passing the day with Sarah, Justin's wife. It was nice to chat with someone in a similar situation as I and very nice to have company while Eddy worked. While the guys were working we decided that we should go for a walk but could not figure out how we would do it with four kids. The roads outside the orphanage are not paved which would not prove to be very suitable for the two-year olds to walk on so we had to think of another plan. We managed to put all four into the backseat of their car and drive to the town square (don't worry moms, it was a short drive).

Kathryn and Hadassah taking time to smell the flowers.

New best friend.

We left Justin in charge of the babies and well...

Just kidding, we were all right there, but he was really sleeping as the kids romped around him.

Eddy working on the deck, well taking a break anyway.

OK, here he was working.

The orphanage, almost complete and ready for kiddies. They probably will not get them until early next year but they hope to be ready. This is the same place that I wrote about a month or so ago that was robbed just before they moved in. God has been very gracious to take care of them despite the enemies attempts to slow the work.

The journey ahead

...that God may grant unto us the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him: allowing the eyes of our understanding to be enlightened; that we would know what is the hope of His calling.

Ephesians 1:17-18

(translation my own)

Having been here now for close to three months, ten and a half weeks to be exact, we are seeking the Lord a bit more earnestly to reveal to us His will for us here in Peru. Although we are quite sure He will not lay out a complete road map we are asking Him to confirm to us what we are to do after these first six months have expired. We have spent the first couple of months trying to adjust and become accustomed to a new way of life. Thanks be to Him we have adapted well to the culture and enjoy living among the Peruvians here. Trying to develop a routine and sticking to it has been a bit of a challenge as of late with all of the bumps we are encountering in the road. The Lord was gracious to us in allowing for such a smooth transition but we feel that the tests and trials have now begun. Every time we get used to something, it changes and so we must adjust as well. It is really a time for us to learn how to live in the missions field and drive on through the bumpy roads. We are excited to explore all of what lies ahead, whatever that may be. I know this is a short post lacking photos but it is a very time consuming task to prepare the posts with photos and I would like to keep you all better informed. I would also like to share about our time away this past week but my duties are calling... a sick baby boy. Please keep Josiah in your prayers as he seems to be sick again (he slept from 4 PM last night until this morning and is running a slight fever). We miss all of you back home and would love to know you are reading along with us so leave us comments or just say hello!! I was planning to list a few more prayer requests but I'll do that later ,I suppose when time permits. In the mean time just pray that the Lord would guide us with His hand and that we would walk the path He desires for us.

I have uploaded all of our pictures from this trip to Villa Natalia and Chaclacayo to my Facebook account if you want to check them out, I know it will be awhile before I can get them all on here.

Here is the link: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/profile.php?id=726542535&ref=name click on the photos tab.

Happenings

These past few weeks the entire family has been ill with various aliments. The kids had bronchitis and ear infections and Eddy and I have been sick with cold/flu like symptoms. I'm actually heading into round four of some type of cold or allergy which has made life a little bit difficult at times. The climate here is very different and quite deceptive. The air is humid and the weather changes without warning which can cause one to catch a cold quite easily. This seems to be the climate in Lima alone for if you travel a little bit in any direction the weather is much more reasonable and for this reason many people have begun to move to the out lying areas of Lima.

Daddy trying to soothe Josiah to sleep, he was in such discomfort... he was also cutting his first two teeth on top of his bronchitis and ear infection.

Finally he fell asleep in Daddy's arms, I couldn't resist the photo opportunity.

Robin sharing the word of God in Ica.

A few weeks ago Eddy had a chance to join a few other brothers for the Thursday night bible study in Ica. They left around 1 PM and traveled for about four hours South by bus. They spent some time witnessing to a few different people and deciding where the outreach will be held in January. The church here in Surco will be taking a trip to Ica to hold an outreach for two nights there in one of the parks. They have been preparing for months now, saving up so that everyone can go on the trip who has a heart to. One of the objectives of the cafe in the church is to raise money for trips like this. After they had dinner they began the study which lasts for a few hours and then they took the long trip back home, arriving somewhere around 4 AM. Eddy had a great time and hopes to be able to go again. I am excited as we plan to go as a family for the outreach in January.

The missionary who has been traveling to Ica every week to hold the bible study will be moving with his family there in a few months. The people in Ica are very happy to have someone to come and teach them the word of God. You can read this missonary's blog as well, there is a link to the right (Robin & Tracey Shelly).

On October 31st we held a festival for the kids at the church here in Surco as an outreach tot he community. Here the kids are singing a few songs.

The guy in the white shirt is named Jimmy. He has become a good friend to Eddy, we are so thankful for all of the wonderful friends the Lord has provided here for us.

A skit with clowns

A puppet show.

Hadassah all dressed and ready for the mini-olimypics this week in her school. Her class is green, hense the reason she looks like she is ready for St. Patricks day.

She really has such a beautiful smile but it can rarely be captured on camera, this day she was so excited that we were able to capture a handful of nice photos.

Pom-poms to cheer her classmates on.

Another rare photo, one of my princess and I together... and look she is even smiling... priceless!!

PRAYER REQUESTS

• Please continue to lift us up in prayer for complete healing from all of our aliments. It has been very hard for Eddy to serve in church while he has had to take care of us here in the house. We've been feeling better these past few days so he has been able to get back into "the swing of things."
• We will be going on a church retreat for the day on Thursday. We'll be getting out of Lima to the place I posted about before Villa Natallia. We will spend the day there and then stay a night or so with another missionary couple that are starting an orphanage in Chaclacyo. They are also from the States and have two children similar in ages to our own, I'm looking forward to the fellowship. I think the change in climate (warmer, drier and no smog) will help us to mend... please pray that it will.
• For discernment in many of the decisions we are facing with regard to the length of our stay. Whether or not we should extend the ticket or return as planned and then come back for a longer period of time. Where we will live if we stay on longer and all of those little details that we will need to work out.
• Pray for Eddy as he is now spending an extra day with the pastor here in a discipleship class. This is a praise as it is something Eddy has wanted to do for awhile but it is also a new venture for him as he is used to working with his hands. Pray for the Lord to teach him how to now be a student and to balance all of the commitments he has.
• I also ask you to pray for me for direction as to how I can be more involved with the fellowship. I am hoping that I will have an opportunity to join two of the ladies from church as they go every other week or so to Santa Rosa for more of one on one discipleship with the women there. I also may need to take a break from my class this month if there are not enough students to fulfill the class size requirement. Although I am enjoying my time studying I am am praying about what the Lord would have me to do if the class is canceled. Should I take a break altogether (not study elsewhere for the month) and focus on something else?

Villa Natalia

Two weekends ago we were able to get away for the night and head out for the mountains. It was a nice change of scenery and literally a breath of fresh air. There is such a difference in climate once you drive even a hour outside of Lima. The temperatures allowed for shorts and even required sunblock... too bad we forgot the bug repelant!

We went with two other couples and their kids. The one couple is Lucho and Chipe which we have wrote about in past entries. The other are friends of theirs from another near by church.

A view of the river valley as we drove up in to the mountains. Notice a little green? This is a result of the river running through the valley, everything else around is just brown earth.

A pipeline that pumps water up the mountain to be released back down again creating energy. This picture was taken from the campsite.

This was taken from a rock above the campsite. If you look at the very bottom of the photo you will see the roof of the place we stayed in. Very basic accomodations but you can not beat the price... $10 a night!

These are the mountain roads that must be driven on in order to reach the campsite. Do you see the car in the picture? There were a few times I couldn't see the edge of the road outside of my passenger window! Of course Lucho assured me that he was quite the fair driver and I need not be afraid... it didn't make me feel any more secure.

A very pituresque bridge, nice to look at but not so nice to cross... especially with a baby in hand!

Another view.

We went for a short walk up the river and saw some horses feeding. They were not wild but belong to the owner of the camp.

El Rio - The River

There was a trench built to divert water away from the river for use in various ways in the camp... our dishes being one of them. I loved hearing the gurgle of it in the quiet of the night. I also enjoyed waking up to crow of roosters!

Another view through the rail on the bridge crossing the trench (I'm sure there is a better name for this)

The night we arrived Lucho blessed us with a huge feast all cooked over the fire.

Lucho insisting Eddy try the Lomo (tender meat).

All of us preparing for the baptism.

"See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?"

One of the highlights of the trip was a baptism Saturday afternoon. A few days prior to the trip Eddy received a phone call from Lucho asking if He could baptize Rebecca and her son. Since there was water and nothing hindering us, we went ahead and proclaimed with Rebecca and her son, their new found faith in Jesus Christ.

Rebecca and her son Sebastian.

Rebecca was the first to be baptized.

Her son next.

Eddy and Lucho embrace and pray afterward.

What an honor to be able to take part in such an event.

Rebecca, her husband and her son with Eddy & Lucho.

Sebastian and Yevone (Rebecca's husband) relaxing after the baptism.

Little Hadassah sitting quiet as a mouse.

Father & Son

Lucho cooking us another meal. Lemon Chicken and Papas (potatoes).

Josiah enjoying a morsel of bread for breakfast.

Last but not least, our little Josiah is growing up so fast and is quite a handful. Here he is exploring the suitcase

Well, I'm happy to have finally posted this entry. I have a couple of more lined up for you already. Eddy took a trip to Ica this past Thursday (a four and a half hour trip one way) and then on Friday we had an event at the church for the kids.

Did anyone ready about the "earthquake" here on Saturday? I say earthquake because the paper reported it that way (4.5) but everyone here says it was a stong tremor and indeed it was! The first tremor I experienced I could only hear but this one I felt. This is the "month of the temblors" (tremors) and this is one thing that will surely take some getting used to!