Interpol and Lima trip

Well interpol went well yesterday. I paid my $ for my carnet for residency here and got my fingerprints and my teeth checked. I am able to go on to the next stage. They are also translating Victoria´s birth certificate so I can get hers next time I am in Lima. I made a few purchases for the house and will be going back out today to find lighting and fans.

I had the pleasure of spending alot of the day with Adeila, the Peruvian lady who runs the SAM house here in Lima where we stay. She is so helpful. I had a great time getting to know her and laughing and riding around in many taxis with her. Lima is a city of 8 million and it is sprawling. We ended the evening meandering through the Inca Market in Miraflores and then having dinner overlooking the Pacific Ocean. It was a real treat for both of us! I could tell she had never been to the rest. I took her to--we both loved our meals. We got back around 10pm and I got settled into bed around 11. Shortly thereafter there was loud commotion in the street outside and then a gun shot. There is a park next to the house. The police came;I believe some joven (young person) was shot. Sleep evaded me for a while and I laid there thinking about how many of these 8 million are unsaved. We must press on towards the goal friends...whether here in Lima, Pucallpa, or in the US...there is a lost world out there that needs Christ. The taxi drivers here have little statues and cards with saints pictures on them. They believe these things will protect them. It is such a lie that Satan has brought into this culture.

On a positive note, my Spanish is holding its own. I pretty much understood everyone yesterday and got around town with no problem. Even my conversation with Adeila was flowing. I am planning on getting a tutor with a couple of the other new folks so that we can stay on top of the language.

Brrrrrrr...

Wow! We are super cold in the jungle--Yesterday, it was 98 degrees; however, in the night, a storm rolled in from the South. Today it was only in the 50's which is freezing for us here. The drastic drop has been causing many to be sick today and church was very intersting as the chairs blew away. The church has no walls of course. The pastor was preaching on psalm 23 and had just finished saying that God is our Shepherd/Pastor...and the wind blew so much that the roof shook. He said, "Hey, aren't you glad He is?" Tonight it is 40 some degrees colder and since we only have screens, it is chilly. We have one room finished with windows (Victoria's), so she was sheltered last night -- PTL!

Please pray for our counterparts in Bolivia. They are being evacuated b/c of civil unrest. Two single ladies are arriving here as we speak. They are teachers and will be helping us out at SAM Academy.

Our Open House was a success this week; we had alot of fun too. The kids displayed their work and many parents and other missionaries attended. It was my first official duty as Adminstrator. School continues to go well.

My talk at the ladies retreat went well too. I saw a few of them at church today, and they again said how much they appreciated my sharing. A few of them went home and shared my testimony with their families as well. We will be meeting each Saturday afternoon from 4-6pm. I am praying the Lord will continue to build these relationships and help me with communicating in Spanish. Thank you for your prayers.

almost there...

Well, we are almost there...the house is still in progress, but we are closer. Electrical stuff is being finished today (Lord willing), floors are going to be finished Friday and screens put in. The cleaning(which is going to be a huge undertaking) will be on Sat. and Monday. Thanks to so many, windowns are being measured and hopefully within a few weeks, they will be installed. The Lord has touched the hearts of our dear spiritual family and has provided the means for almost all of them!!!! He has also provided for other house needs as well.

School continues to go well. I have been assessing where we are at and where we need to head. Our first teacher meeting is today after school, and I am looking forward to sharing with everyone my vision for the school and areas needing improvement. The Lord is teaching me alot in this position. Teaching is going great! I have been filling in for someone until they get here for High School Bible (one of my favorite subjects) as well as Geography (we have a great project going on right now), Literature/Larts, and teaching Daniel.

Please be in prayer as I speak this Saturday (IN SPANISH) at a ladies retreat for a local church here. It is a privilege to be asked to do this, and I am hoping the Lord will use it in the lives of these women. I am also praying for the development of relationships with this group as many of them will be in my upcoming Bible study (IN SPANISH) Lord I Want to Know You. It is awesome to see how the Lord is already working in my life in this area, which has been a heart's desire for several years. We are sensing His leading and your prayers in this endeavor. Praise the Lord with us!

Victoria is doing wonderfully! As always, she is a top student. She loves her friends here already and will be helping watch the young children while I am teaching the Bible study. She is quite active each day and enjoying the outdoors and warm weather. The students get together twice a week after school and play volleyball or soccer; she has alot of fun.

I will send pictures of the house when it is completed...until then -- be blessed and have a great day in the Lord!

update

Well, our 3rd week of school is well under way. We have a new bat in our classroom now. This is a continual problem as they live in the ceilings, and they have not been cleaned out in many years. Classes are going well. In Geography, the kids are responsible for researching their chosen area in the world and construct a hotel/resort given the dynamics of the geographical features in that area. Victoria is loving it! She selected the Galapago Islands. Her "draw" is, "Come sleep in both hemispheres"... My time with Daniel, the 4th grade boy I am helping is going great! He is very motivated to overcome his challenges. He is extremely bright.

Our house is not quite finished, but it is coming along. They are saying by the end of next week maybe. It actually has been a blessing to be a part of the process and getting to make choices for the layout etc... We are very excited about finally getting settled. Our trips into town are dusty. We have to take a mototaxi (which is a motorcycle that has a rickshaw like cart on the back). I think I am pretty familiar where stuff is now. I continue to struggle with breathing and coughing to the point of being doubled over at times b/c of the smoke that 24 hours a day pours into the sky here from the wood factory. The Lord has been gracious though and has kept me strong and able to continue in my responsibilities.

Next week I will be speaking at a ladies retreat for a local church, so my sharing (30 mins.) will be all in Spanish. Wow, what an opportunity! I am thrilled the Lord has given me this privilege. Pray for me next Friday evening that all the Lord has for them will flow freely in Spanish from my mouth and heart.