Published on May 31, 2005
in peru.
This is our last week of classes. We have a grand total of three tests this week. Two at LanGrow, our language institute. And then one on Saturday, the OPI. This is the one that counts, it’s given by the IMB. If we don’t reach a certain level we have to go back to school!
Class with Norka today was really good. She had a lot of questions about what we believed. One thing we were trying to explain to her (that she was having a really hard time wrapping her mind around) was the fact that we don’t go to church or pray or read the Bible to earn God’s grace, but because we already have it! We do it out of joy and love and wanting to know God more . . . not to earn his favor!
Published on May 30, 2005
in peru.
Saturday night we had dinner with one of our Spanish teachers and her boyfriend. Norka has become a really good friend over the past few months.
We had agreed that they would come over at 7:30pm for dinner. And, in proper peruvian fashion, they showed up at around 8:15pm. But it went great! For one thing, it wasn’t work. Sometimes it’s just really hard to ‘hang out’ with peruvians . . . because we are americans and they are peruvians. But we all seemed to click. And the language issue was almost a non-issue.
We learned that Alfredo (Norka’s boyfriend) had been studying to be a priest in the Catholic church. He became disillusioned with the corruption and left Catholicism. He said “Ahora, estoy buscando.” [Now, I'm searching.]
We were able to tell him a lot about why we are here and the differences between Catholicism and Evangelicalism. We are getting together next weekend for some beach fishing.
Published on May 28, 2005
in peru.
Today’s room of the day is . . . The Office (a.k.a. Ryan’s Room)
The office was a nursery for the last couple’s baby, but we quickly converted it to something a little more practical (before Amanda could get any bright ideas).
This is where out computer and desk are. We also have a big calender up to keep up with what we are supposed to be doing when. Also, all our books are in here.
Published on May 28, 2005
in peru.
This week has been a lot of fun. All 17 of the summer missionaries flew in throughout this week (which made for some EARLY morning airport runs). And we spent Thursday and Friday getting them ready to head out.
Last night we had Thanksgiving at the Weavers. It was gooood. A final “normal” meal for the Summer Missionaries.
Here’s a picture of all of us last night.
Published on May 26, 2005
in peru.
Well, Amanda and I are now intermediate 2. There are 4 levels in intermediate and out teachers tell us they will have us through all for before our two months with them is up. We have two more weeks of class to do it.
This week we’re busy getting the summer missionaries in and trained. I was at the airport at 4:00am this morning waiting on a couple of summer missionaries from Missouri. They’ve been in training all day today. Amanda and I led a session on culture shock. They’ll head out saturday to villages all over southern Peru.
Saturday night our Spanish teacher, Norka, and her boyfriend are coming over for dinner.
Published on May 24, 2005
in peru.
We had our first test-run to the airport this morning. All our summer missionaries (about 20) are coming in this week so we are keeping busy getting ready for them.
Our first pickup was to be this morning. The flight was scheduled to arrive at 5:33am, so we left for the airport about 5:45am. It was a little stressful getting there because we had never actually drove to the airport and found ourselves a bit turned around a few times. We finally made it, but there was not missionary. We were getting worried when we finally realized at about 8:00am that she was actually coming in tomorrow morning!
At least we know the way now!
Published on May 23, 2005
in peru.
Today’s room of the day is . . . . . THE KITCHEN!
As you can see we have turqouise cabinets. These are a bit bright, but hey!, they keep us cheery in the cloudy weather.
We’ve got a regular size fridge, a microwave, toaster, dos basin sink, propane stove, etc.
This is where the magic happens. My specialities are: fried eggs, Ramen noodles, coffee, toast, oatmeal, corn flakes, and that’s about it.
That’s a water filter to the left of the sink.
Let’s hear it for the kitchen!
Published on May 23, 2005
in peru.
Last night after REAP training, since Amanda was out and about, I decided to head on down to the Ovalo to see some friends and practice a little Spanish.
I saw Maria, a lady of about 40 with two mute sons who sales pirated DVD’s. She was crying because she had gotten “busted” earlier that day and all her money from the weekend’s sales was confiscated.
Piracy is absolutely everywhere in Peru: Books, CD’s, Software, DVD’s. It’s big business. You can buy the exact same DVD (artwork is copied) for 8 Soles that will cost you 50 or 60 Soles in a store. Also, you can get most movies on the street before they even hit the theatres. The latest Star Wars movie for example was being sold in the street corners before the theatre debut.
Anyway, this is how Maria feeds her kids. I have talked to Maria lots of times before. She’s a believer, she goes to Agua Viva, a pretty good church from what I hear. So, I decided to help her out a bit. Amanda had bought a couple E Wong (kind of like Wal Mart) gift cards for this very purpose, so I gave her one. She had no idea what it was. She went and asked a worker in E Wong because I wasn’t doing a very good job explaining. Then a police officer was standing in front of us. This was not a nice police officer. Maria told me later that he was the one who called the people to come and get her in trouble. He was laughing sarcastically at us and acted like he was taking the card. Thankfully, he wandered off without the card. I was a bit nervous for un minuto!! Maria got it figured out and I got out of there. I walked back to the apartment.
Published on May 21, 2005
in peru.
We went to our first Peruvian garage sale this morning. Garage sales in Peru are pretty few and far between, so when we heard about this one we knew we had to be there. A church here in Lima was trying to raise some money so they had a big ole rummage sale.
We showed up at 9:00 when it was supposed to start and found ourselves at the end of a pretty long line. It was serious business in there. No messing around, if you wanted something, you had better throw some elbows.
I threw some elbows to get one fine piece of machinery. A fishing pole. Me encanta pescando. I have grown up fishing and miss it terribly, but now I’m back in business!! I’ll head down to the ocean soon to see what I can drag up. First, I’ve got to figure out where to procure line, hooks, weights, bait, etc.
Published on May 20, 2005
in peru.
Aren’t I such a good wife for taking the blame for Ryan scraping up the car! He shouldn’t be embarassed–it could happen to anybody!!!
Published on May 18, 2005
in peru.
Jesus Eating Cuy at the Last Supper 
Published on May 18, 2005
in peru.
Today is the day of Museums in Peru. Every museum is free admission today. So, we went with profesora Norka to the museum of archeology.
When we showed up, the line to get in was miles long (almost). Apparently, all the schools in Lima decided to take advantage of the free education too! Luckily we got to go right to the front.
The kids were asking Amanda for her autograph (Mi Esposa Famosa!). Afterwards we got some juice at a little snack shop.
On our way home we caught a taxi and found out that our driver was a believer. He attended the Alianza church. He was really encouraging. It was refreshing to meet a Peruvian excited about walking with Christ. We’re really different, but at the most basic level, we’re the same, children of God. Needy and broken. Working.
Published on May 18, 2005
in peru.
Well, we knew it was going to happen sooner or later . . . actually I thought we would end up getting bumped by someone in the Ovalo . . . Amanda hit a column with the truck. It’s not too bad. She was trying to fit in a tight parking space and didn’t quite make it.
Just a little dent, mainly it’s scratches.
Published on May 17, 2005
in peru.
Sorry about the weak blog titles . . . . . I’ll do better.
Class this morning. It was good. No new grammar. Only talking . . . which is what we need right now. I was very excited to be able to tell Rosario the story of Joseph this morning. We read a short story about a guy who had this dream about this treasure and it was really there. I told her about Joseph being able to interpret dreams and how what man meant for bad, God ended up using for good and his glory.
The Whites are leaving tomorrow morning 
We miss them already.
We are staying at the Tabors again tonight. The parents are out of town so we are hija sitting.
Published on May 16, 2005
in peru.
Class was very good today. The first two hours with Norka we did a lot of talking because we were supposed to be working on our pronunciation and phonetics. We talked a lot about why we are in Peru and where we get our joy. We also talked a lot about how you can learn about God through nature because it’s His work.
Then, with Profesora Rosario, we found out that she had gotten engaged Saturday to a Canadian. Go figure.
Published on May 16, 2005
in peru.
A big emphasis in the IMB right now is on storying. The concept is pretty simple. Give people the Word and let it speak for itself. Most of the people in the world are oral. This means that they understand when they hear it. So, missionaries are memorizing the stories of the Bible (just like they used to do before Bibles were being printed) and telling them to people who then can tell them to others.
At our retreat we did a session on storying led by Pam Ammons, one of the leaders for the Xtreme team. Her love for God and passion for knowing His word was inspiring. It challenged both Amanda and I. We want to KNOW the Word. We want to be able to be the Bible to folks who maybe can’t read or won’t read a book, but will gladly listen to a story.
It’s kind of hard to explain, but I feel SO excited about knowing and sharing God’s story.
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