The Heat is On!

Hola amigos! Que tal? We are doing very well. I have so much to tell you, but I will try to be brief. First of all, GOD IS SO GOOD. I am truly amazed by HIM continually! We arrived here in Pucallpa, Peru on Saturday as scheduled, and the luggage was here by the end of the day. The trip over the Andes Mtns. was incredible. We even saw snow on the tops of some of the peaks. It was just so strange seeing that knowing we were going to land in extreme heat. And we did...our new friends, students and co-workers met us at the quaint airport with a welcome sign. We made the short trip to the SAM academy compound and got settled in right away. It immediately felt like home even though we are not yet able to move into our home for another couple of weeks. The workers are so diligent and even working in extreme heat to get it done promptly. I took before pictures today and will include them in our next newsletter. The house needed repair and an addition, as it was built some decades ago. It is made of wood and is on brick stilts to cut down on the bugs and such.

Pucallpa is alot like where we were in Venezuela except much poorer and if you can imagine, I think a bit hotter. I love the heat though and have been enjoying the trickles down my back while unfortunately for others, they are dripping wet. We have not had many bug bites yet, but the smoke from the next door wood factory is almost unbearable, especially at night. Victoria has already had a nose bleed from the dryness and smoke, but God is able and all we need to adapt. We are living in the old boys dorm in two seperate rooms that have not been occupied for many years. It is quite sufficient but rustic. Another teacher is gracious enough to let us use her bathroom and kitchen.

School began yesterday, and it was quite a day. I am teaching middle school Language Arts, Spelling, Literature and Writing along with Geography. I was going to teach HS Lit. as well, however, I have decided to tutor a 4th grade boy who has some learning disabilities while his mother who is a certified teacher for HS Lit. and taught a couple of years ago (as I am sure much better than I) serves in that capacity. I am excited about helping this young man with the goal of getting him in the mainstream classroom. (I sure wish I had Ed Lawson down here - NILD instructor). My students are quite smart. I have 6th-8th grades; Victoria is the only 6th grader and will be challenged and she is excited! I am teaching her Latin III several times a week, and she is taking Spanish as well with another teacher.

The other great news is that one of the pastor's wives here who is Peruvian has been praying that someone would come and teach a group of young believers (women) in her church using the inductive study method that she experienced while spending time in the US. This has been my heart's desire for many years. I am humbled that God has put me here equipped with Spanish and a love for inductive study. I hope to begin next month. Please pray that the women would be receptive to this indepth study on the names of God by Kay Arthur/Precept. I have taught it in English before, now I have the privilege to teach it in Spanish.

We are so full of joy in this ministry opportunity. I am hesitant to say I could stay here for a long time b/c of what happened in Venezuela, but I truly do feel as though we have once again been put in the right place for the right time--thanks be to GOD. Let us hear from you...KandV