familybush.com

We spent today with the Summer Missionaries. They start flying out tonight.

We all worshipped together at the Alianza Church on Benavides. Then we went to Jockey Plaza (the big mall here) were all ate lunch at different places. Amanda and I ate with a group at Benihanas. Which is surprisingly cheap here. Only about 7.50$ for a full meal….complete with knife throwing and shrimp tossing.

Then we went bowling. I almost broke a 100! Amanda didn’t!

Frank is coming into Lima tonite!

Frank Schimunek is a good friend of ours from Ouachita Baptist University. He and a friend are going to be travelling around Peru for a few weeks.

Angie Kirksey, Amanda, and I are going to pick him up at the airport.

Today we finished our formal debriefing of the summer missionaries. For the past two months we’ve had 17 college students working all over southern Peru. It’s been really cool getting to hear their stories of what God did through them.

Starting Monday they are flying out bit by bit to the U.S. A few are staying a week or two longer to visit Cuzco. Here are my two favorite pictures that the summer missionaries brought took this summer.

Today is the Peruvian Independence Day. One of the biggest holidays of the year here. There are lots of activities going on for it. I head that there is a bullfight downtown tonite. Couldn’t make it though . . . maybe next year!

I decided to go for a change of scenery today. I’ve been toiling away on the new REAPSouth website. I want to have it up and running this week. That means a lot of hours staring at a computer screen. So . . . I got out of our office today and am now staring at a computer screen in Starbucks. They’ve got free wireless here! And good coffee too!

Living in a different country sets you up for all kinds of awkward situations.

Lino, the guy who takes care of our building buzzed me down yesterday saying he wanted some advice. “What in the world???” I thought. I have barely ever talked to him before. He’s really nice, just not the talkative type.

He had a big ole camera. It was old, but really nice. With a big lense and manual zoom and focus and all that complicated stuff. He wanted me to show him how to use it. Here was his reasoning, “This camera is from America and you are from America.” I guess that means I should be an expert.

Well, I took it and said I had to investigarlo (reasearch it). I figured out how to take pictures on it . . . but that’s about it. Now, I don’t know anything about photography, couple that with my very weak Spanish . . . and what do you get??? A red faced gringo trying to explain to this peruvian how to take pictures with a complicated camera. I used the phrase ‘esta cosita’ (this little thingy) a lot!

Ever heard of him? I hadn’t really until last night. I went to his concert in La Molina with some of the Hutchison sobrinas. It was awesome. He has won some Grammys (i heard) . . . he was one of the most famous latin christian artists.

There were thousands of people. The stage was as big as anything I had ever been to. Also, it was really touchy feely. Peruvians are more that way. . . holding hands and hugging and giving besitos. It was an experience!!

I have learned some interesting things living here in Lima.
Did you know…..

-If women sleep with cats it will keep them from getting pregnant. During the night, you swallow the cat’s hair, and the hair contains microorganisms that will keep you from getting pregnant. (Now I know why Ryan let me get our cat!!!)

-You should never hold a baby under 6 months old upright. Its’ bones are developing, and if you hold it upright, its’ face will droop.

-Drinking cold drinks (water, coca-cola, etc.) can give you a cold. You should never drink cold drinks during winter. Peruvians rarely ever drink cold drinks or use ice. If you do drink something cold, you should drink it slow. This will help keep it from making you sick.

-It is healthier to eat more solid foods during your meal, and then work to the less solid food. It is healthier for you to wait and drink your drink at the end of your meal, not during it.

Who knew!!!!

Amanda

Now that Jamie is gone, I am in charge of the REAP English Ministry. Through the English Ministry, we get the translators we need for trips. Currently, I am teaching an advanced English conversational class on Tuesdays and Saturdays, and I am leading a Bible Study in English on Wednesdays. Also part of this ministry is monthly fellowships and discipling new believers. I am also in charge of getting the translators for all the trips. Needless to say, I have been staying pretty busy. I am trying to learn names and faces of those who come to class and Bible Study, and I am lining up translators for upcoming trips. The translators are so essential to the REAP strategy–we couldn’t do it without them.

Amanda

Jeff Roe asked me a really hard question while he was here. Jeff, his wife Sandie, and his daughter Samera are talking with the IMB about a two year term somewhere in the world. Jeff wanted to know if, as missionaries, God ever gets squeezed out of our schedule.

Yup. It’s really scary. I get just as busy here as I did in college or at Geyer Springs. I get busy and don’t spend time with God like I need. It’s really hard . . . to slow down and talk to God . . . . listen to him . . . think about his word. It’s hard when you’ve got lots of ‘stuff’ to do. Lots of people to see.

But the fact is, it’s the most important thing. Everything in my life hinges on this relationship. Nothing is more important. Not REAP. Not doing missions. Not making everyone happy. Not myself. Nothing.

It was a good reminder. It’s good to think about it . . . often. What am I ‘giving’ myself to? Usually whatever most of my energy and thought and passion are put into . . . that’s what my priority is . . .