News

Last Updated on Friday, 30 July 2010 03:39 Written by Meg Friday, 30 July 2010 02:38

It is hard to believe that August will be here next week.  We have had a great month.  I like to write these "journal-type" news articles to remember back but to also jeep you informed.

1.  We love our house church time.  We meet every Sunday evening rotating between our house, the Smith house, and now, Alfredo and Judith's home.  2 Sundays ago we chose to meet out at a beautiful park.  We grilled out, visited, and shared communion together.

2.  Since Maggie got her harness off, I am LOVING taking her out in the stroller.  Our park is closed on Monday and Tuesday, but I usually take the girls for a walk around the park a couple of times (it is great for the afternoon naps!).  We have been going to the park alot, and since we go during the Peruvian lunchtime we usually have the whole place to ourselves.  :)

3.  This is a big month for Peru.  July 28 is Independence Day.  ALL of the schools seem to have special performances.  This year, Ana played the part of "Criolla" (typically an African Peruvian).  Out of all the costumes, Ana's was the skimpiest of all and she had no problem "shaking her thang" on the stage.  This is what Peruvian schooling is doing for our daughter.  :)  Actually, I loved the performance.  It is such a rich, colorful culture, and dancing comes second nature to these people.

4.  On Saturday we hosted a major library event in Porvenir.  Around 50 kids attended.  I was really happy with the turnout and every child received a children's Bible.  We hired a drama troop to perform, a speaker from the public school to promote literacy, and gave a tour of the library to advertise our events and promote community involvement.  Here is one of our faithful library attendees helping with the Bibles.

5.  Our interns leave us next Wednesday.  Bob has been living with us, and on the 25th of July he turned 25.  After the library event we took him to our favorite restaurant, Zig Zag.  He enjoyed the "Three Meats Plate"--beef, ostrich, and alpaca.  Happy Birthday Bob!

6.  If the weekend hadn't been crazy enough, we left the house at 7 am Sunday morning to head out to Naranjal (Manuela's community).  The guys and interns have been working on the latrines every Sunday morning.  Rachel has started teaching a Sunday school, and Larissa and I rotate who is going out to help with that.  It is quite a morning to wake 2 little girls up, head out in the cold, and stay at Naranjal until 1 pm.  Besides Maggie not getting a great nap in, I love being out there with the people and being in the "country" away from the city noise.  It was my first time to help Rachel.  The kids are so sweet, and I look forward to building stronger relationships with them.  Here we are on the way to pick everyone up (all bundled up), and here is a picture of "Sunday School."

7.  After leaving Naranjal, we brought Manuela home with us.  Manuela's spiritual birthday fell on Bob's birthday.  You can read more of the specifics on her story here.  It was her first time to attend house church with us.  We ended our time together with a birthday cake for the two of them.

8.  Ana has been out of school this week.  Tuesday was a long day, and the beginning of sickness.  I began a small women's Bible study group with Inez on Tuesday morning.  Her cousin will be joining us also (I will probably journal about this at another time).  Late morning, Ana and I traveled to her school for next year to see Isabel (Paty's daughter) perform her in school's Independence Day program.  This is a picture of Angi (Isa's friend that has visited house church) and Isabel dancing as Serranas (rural culture).  For Tuesday lunch, Greg has begun meeting with a young university student interested in Bible training.  He came for the first time, and I look forward to seeing their relationship grow.  Tuesday night, Ana began her first night of ballet class.  Her 3 little amigas are also in the class.  We aren't huge ballet fans. but for the price ($20 for 8 classes!) and the excitement she has about it I am willing to take her.  The picture is horrible, but this is Ana's teacher showing her how to stretch (with Rafa behind her)--I took the picture through a small opening in the door, and the flash didn't agree with me.

9.  Wednesday morning, Greg woke up with fever and a very swollen throat.  After checking symptoms and talking to my Dad, he felt pretty sure that he had tonsillitis. Ana woke up with a rash all over her face.  We have been recuperating since then.  Leaving Greg in the bed, I went and ate Adobo with our landlord's family in celebration of the 28th.  It is Thursday night, and Greg is still on the mend.

That's the news up until now.  August will be here before we know it!