Alpacas, Graduation, and Etc.

On Friday we visited many interesting places to view the mountains around Arequipa. This involved way too many stairs which caused my knee to swell and become very painful. So here I am hobbling around Arequipa. Otherwise we are both well.
Saturday we visited an alpaca/llama farm. Black, white, gray, and brown alpaca and llamas surrounded us. They were very tame and we were face to face with them without them spitting in our faces. I loved it there. We also had genuine Peruvian cuisine in a little sidewalk cafe. I don´t know what it was called but it was pretty good.
This morning we went to a bario outside of Arequipa and had S.S. with children there. Then we walked to a market and bought food for a very poor family who lived at the bottom of a very steep hill. Don and I stayed on top of the hill while Dan and Jully and a local boy delivered the food.
Tonight we met at a Christian school where Dan teaches, and had a graduation ceremony for Dan. We took his diploma with us. After Don shared a challenge, he presented Dan with his diploma and his certificate of his Bachelor´s degree. We had taken a cap and gown, too, so this was a very meaningful time for Dan. About 12 of us attended. After picture taking we had refreshments and then visited for a couple of hours. Quite a challenge when we don´t speak the same language. We all had a good time.
Tomorrow will be a slow day, and then on Tues. the four of us will board a bus and go to Colca Canyon. They say it is very beautiful there, but very cold. If we get up early we can see the condors fly over the canyon. We will stay 2 or 3 nights.
Thank you to each of you that are praying for us.

Peru at Last!

Well, here we are in Arequipa, Peru. Our plane left McAllen about an hour and a half late on Wednesday, but we left Houston right on time. We arrived in Lima, Peru, on time at 10:30 p.m. to about 1000 other people waiting to get through customs. I am being literal, not exagerating the number. Three huge flights all came in at the same time. We got through customs without them opening our bags, even though we got a red light - they just scanned our bags and motioned us through.
Our next task was to find Uber, our cab driver. He was not there so after being hassled by many other cab drivers, we paid the price and had one take us to our Hostel. We got there at midnight only to find out they had no record of our reservation. So at midnight what are we to do? The cab driver took us to a hotel of his choosing in Mira Flores in Lima. It was adequate for $40.00 rather than the $25.00 we had been expecting. It is true you should take twice as much money as you think you will need, and half the clothes. We already had taken only half the clothes.
So we got to bed at 1:00 a.m. We slept quite well until the noise started about 6:00.
We left Lima at 1:50 p.m. and arrived at 2:15 in Arequipa, to the smiling faces of Dan and Jully. Another missionary couple came to pick us up. We spent the evening with Dan and Jully and are now ready to get some rest.
Thanks to all who have prayed for us. (No, we did not have to pay for extra weight on Lan Peru) The Lord is good. Don and I are both tired, but feeling pretty well.
Tomorrow we plan to see Arequipa with Dan and Jully. We are staying at La Posada de Cayma, a hostel in Arequipa.

New Countdown to Peru

It has been a week since I gave an update. At that time Don was sick. Now it has been my turn. I have been in bed most of the time for the last 4 days, up only to go to the doctor Friday and again today. I have had some sort of intestinal virus or something. Along with that I have been having esophageal spasms when ever I eat or drink anything. Today the Dr. prescribed Pedialyte, and another medication to prevent acid. Poor kids that have to drink Pedialyte - I think it tastes terrible. I thought he might give me an IV of electrolytes, but he said Pedialyte was just as effective.
I didn't go to work today and am not planning to tomorrow. I still have packing to do as well as gain some strength.
We plan to leave on Wednesday morning flying from McAllen to Houston and on to Lima. After spending the night in Lima we will fly to Arequipa the next afternoon. So, in just 2 short days we should be in Peru. Please continue to pray for us as we need God's strength to make this trip. Pray for Dan and Jully Cunayapi as they work to establish a work there.
Thanks to all who are praying for us.

Reflections on March 19

March 19th always brings special memories for our family. Our grandfather {our dad's father} was born on March 19th, 141 years ago. In 1959 he reached his 92nd birthday on March 19th, but was very ill. He died 2 days later.
Our parents were married on March 19, 1932. They celebrated their 50th anniversary in 1982.
On March 19th, 1984, we had a foot of snow in Hutchinson. Our mom was in a nursing home and we were not able to get there to visit her until evening because of the snow. We found her to be very ill when we arrived. She was sent to the hospital and died in the early morning hours.
I am thankful for these lives that began, were united, and also promoted to heaven on or near the 19th of March.

Countdown to Peru

It is only 9 days until we leave for our mission trip to Peru. We appreciate your prayers for us as we go. Don has not been feeling very well the last 2 days, so we need prayer for good health as we leave. We also pray for opportunities to share the Lord's love with many there.
We will try to update our blog now and then from Peru. We have free access 15 min. a day at the first hostel where we will be staying.

Check out my Slide Show!

This Week's Happenings

I will send one post telling about the pictures, and the next post will show them. On Thursday my day care kids had a program for the winter volunteers at their coffee break time. There are about 150 winter volunteers who meet for coffee each day and have a devotional time as well.
Saturday we took 9 students with us into Mexico to minister. There are various pictures of our ministry time, and then a few of some of the students and a horse. We were in one of the houses praying for the man with the broken leg. When we went out we found some of the students riding a horse from the area. A third student mounted, rode off and when coming back the horse reared up until it was totally vertical. My heart was in my throat, but the horse calmed for a minute, then reared totally upright again. This time the student just slid off the saddle, and the horse went totally over backwards. The last picure shows him being led back to the laughing owners. Thankfully our student wasn't hurt, but I think he had the ride of his life! I was trying to get him in my view finder, but it all happened too fast. I certainly wish I would have had my camera on video.