A Few of My Favorite Things

Well, two things . . . one may not be my "favorite", but it sure happens a lot. The other is actually a favorite. And they both happened on Monday to start my week.  So, I'll start with the "interesting, but maybe not favorite thing" and then end on the good note.

Mondays I take a tennis lesson during the morning.  This particular Monday morning I noticed that balls started appearing on my court as I was hitting with my coach.  There were some little boys walking home from school (guess it let out early for some reason?) and they were "helping" by throwing the balls from the grass onto the court for us.  I just laughed and we kept on, but then at one point had to turn around to ask them to please wait to "help" us and that is when I saw it . . . a little boy using the bathroom right there on the lawn -- AND my tennis balls!  I had to yell out for him to please stop!  "Por favor, no orina en las pelotas!" (translation:  Please, don't pee on the balls).  This is one I do not understand, but it is very Peruvian--men and boys of all ages peeing on the side of the road, the city walls, the yard, matters not where--they will pee anywhere!  I even had a dog pee on a piece of furniture I was buying one time in a market.  Indiscriminatory peeing--it makes for interesting ball pick up during your tennis lesson!

After my tennis lesson, I walked to the grocery store on my way home.  This grocery store is exactly 4 blocks from my apartment building and I often stop on my way home from tennis to pick up some groceries on the way home.  This Monday I had more than normal as I was cooking for some friends that night.  As I was leaving the grocery store, I saw Sandi and we proceeded to chat at the front of the store on my way out and her way in.  She noticed my groceries in the buggy and the bag boy just standing there and waiting on us to finish talking.  She asked, "Is he going to walk those groceries to your house with the buggy?"  I answered, "Well, they have before and sometimes do, but I will probably carry them today.  It is not as much as it seems."  Well, I didn't.  As I readied to leave, I told the nice young man, I've got it.  Thanks though.  But he was not taking no for an answer.  So, we leave the grocery store, me, the bag boy and my buggy of groceries as he proceeds to walk me all the way to my apartment building.  This time he even took the buggy up the stairs to the elevator inside the building. I thought he was about to come to my door, but I insisted I had it from there.  And this is indeed one of my favorite things.  Incredible kindness and thoughtfulness from the grocery store bag boy.  It is definitely one of the perks of living here!

A Moment Captured

Ross Stone was with us for 6 weeks. 

Thanks for all of your hard work and time with us. 

We will miss you!  

And a special thanks for your farewell song at your last Sunday Lunch!

One Original Thought

I did actually have one creative idea. It came to me sitting in the movie theater on Saturday night.  The place was packed (normally is on weekends).  And, as always, someone answered their phone and began talking in the middle of the movie.  The conversation usually goes something like this.  "Hi. Yeah, I am in the movie.  Hmm, it is okay, it is a comedy/drama/terror/etc. Okay that sounds good.  Yeah. . . tomorrow.  Sure, okay.  Thanks for calling.  Talk to you soon."  Yes, an entire conversation. . . not necessarily whispered, but it is just one of those Peruvian things.  They happen all the time, just small bits of life that will forever remind me of Peru.  So, I thought I'd start sharing them with you.  So, new posts coming entitled, "A Few of My Favorite Things".  As I am reminded of these funny, nice, annoying "things" that happen . . . I'll share them with you.  The phone call during the movie is just the first. . . stay tuned.

True Confession -- I am a Thief

There.  I admit it.  I steal ideas.  I like to think I can come up with my own grand ideas, but much of what I lack in creativity, I can steal from someone else.  My latest, greatest idea is stolen from my teammates.  It started with Whitney Ueltschey and her blog entries labeled "Daily Sighting".  Then, Sandi Smith stole it and called her blog entries, "Freezing Time".  The idea is simple: give our readers a glimpse into life here in Peru through photography without a lot of text.  Just let you see life through our eyes.  What we see each day and what we experience.  So, I am stealing the idea too.  I just love it!

Aaron Sussman said, "Photography is a means of recording forever the things one sees for a moment."  I thought that really summed it up. . . capturing forever what we see for a moment day to day.  So, I am embarking on a new, stolen idea.  Now, I don't have the talent they do for photography . . . so bear with my novice skills and welcome to my first "A Moment Captured" in Peru. 

View of the sunset from the Side of the Arévalo Church.

Feliz Cumpleaños a mi!

I was so blessed to have a fantastic birthday!  It was the third birthday I've celebrated here in Peru and by far the best! May 1st was a Sunday and it started with the arrival of my friend Patty Kinsey, who was here to visit and work for 2 weeks. We went to church at Cristo Rey and then mission lunch. Allen and Sandi were kind enough to build me a brownie cake and sing happy birthday.  And in good Peruvian fashion Allen asked those present to share some encouraging words for me. It was a great way to celebrate. By the time we got home from lunch, another friend, Julie Breck was here also for 2 weeks to work and visit. We all attended my cell group meeting (where we had more cake) and then I was kidnapped and taken off by my friends from cell group. I was genuinely surprised when my blindfold was taken off and saw a room full of my friends to wish me well! We sang karoke and had a great time. I am so thankful for the many blessings my Lord has given me here, but especially the family and friends that he has provided!

Patty and I at missionary lunch.

One of my birthday "cakes".  :)

Allen Smith's birthday was April 30th and mine the next day

so cell group celebrated both together.

Along with one of our guests, who also had a birthday that day!

Excited for all my friends to be there:

Me, Julie, Kati, and Patty

I was so surprised!

Blowing out the candle on my final cake. Tres Leches!

Enjoying singing at karaoke.

Good times with Good friends.

Thanks to Hermes for planning it all!

World's Worst Blogger

I could win this title hands down. I always have such great ambitions and ideas, but never the time. There are other blogs I read and they are so energetic, funny, informative, and I think, "How do they do it all?" Guess blogging is just not my spiritual gift. Being stubborn, however, is something I am good at and so I shall perservere to try and redeem myself at blogging and sharing what is happening my corner of the world.

After Easter, I left with our Fellows for an end of the year trip to the jungle. We studied Galations each day and it was really encouraging to see the growth in these young people over the course of the past 10 months. And inspiring to see God use the problems of a church thousands of years ago to still speak truth in our lives today. What a savoir! And of course, it was hard to ignore His glory as we explored another part of his creation. Seventy percent (70%) of Peru is jungle and we went to the heart of it -- Iquitos.

This was a fabulous trip to get away from the hustle and bustle of Trujillo and after a 10 hour bus, full day in Lima, 2 hour flight, and then finally 2 hours on a boat, find ourselves in a jungle lodge to use as a base for exploring--and explore we did! The water was extremely high. It was rainy season, but even so, it was higher than normal. Every 3 or 4 years, there is a really "high" rainy season and we got to see that. I had been on a trip similar to this before and some places I had walked were now under 20 feet of water; it was surreal and beautiful.

Sunset on the Amazon River.

Hanging out watching the world (or gringos in this case) go by.

Or just playing with the family pet, a sloth.

Daily excursions through the jungle in our boats were fun!

And often ended up with surprises like this hidden lake.

When the water gets high, just build a float for your chickens.

Alligator anyone? Cute isn't he?

The pink flowers on this tree were brilliant among the dark green jungle.

Who knew there could be so many shades of green?

We were lucky to have such great days during rainy season.

And we got to see the BIG lilly pads!

But the best part of the trip overall had to be spending time with these great guys!