Our last day in Lima was very relaxing and refreshing. It was at least 10 degrees cooler there and breezy instead of humid. The winds from the Pacific Ocean keep it nice and comfortable. While Iquitos definitely had a tribal feel to it, Lima had more of a European flavor.
Our great tour guide Ysabel took us to a Catholic cathedral that had the bones of 25,000 people in its catacombs and 25,000 books in its library. Then we saw the governmental plaza with its distinctive architecture and colonial feel.
Next we drove up a narrow, winding road to the top of a mountain to see the huge cross at the top and the expansive view of the whole city. Then we went to the beach, which was covered in colorful, smooth rocks. They were purple, black, grey, yellow, pink and very smooth, about the size of eggs or larger. The water was surprisingly cold, as Art, Jack, and Derrick found out by wading in.
Then we headed to the market to go shopping, and the crafts there were BEAUTIFUL. I was stunned by the artistry of the colorful paintings, the detail of the ceramic sculptures, the warmth of the hand-made llama-wool clothes, and the variety of the keepsakes there. The prices were appealing too.
Lastly, we went to a city park with huge fountains that gave us an awesome laser and water show synchronized to music. That was very memorable. Derrick got it all on video. He is in charge of condensing his hours of video footage into a short movie-montage film of our experience in Peru.
Our flights from Lima to Atlanta and Atlanta to Greensboro went well and were fairly uneventful, although we wound up delayed by about an hour or two. We are so thankful for the safe and happy trip and for all the amazing people we met in Peru. Thanks also to each of you who supported and prayed for us each day while we were gone!
Arriving back at the Greensboro airport was moving. Thanks to all the friends and family who came to greet us upon our return!
Now that I'm back to my routine world, I will miss the camaraderie of getting to live and work in a group and serving others in such a tangible and rewarding way. Praise be to God for blessing us with this experience and protecting and providing for us so faithfully!!
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Friday, May 28, 2010
last evening in Iquitos
Tonight we shopped for some souvenirs and met the family of our tour guide Brian. His wife and two young children are so beautiful and kind. What a sweet memory. Then we had some Peruvian pizza together, drinking Chicha Morada (a delicious purple corn juice). I can't believe how quickly it has all gone by.
Jim gave us a great devotional tonight about how the Beatitudes relate to our experience here. Amen. Then we shared some ways we have been stretched and impacted by all this. Good stuff.
Tomorrow we fly to Lima in the morning. We have an all-day layover there, so we will tour the city before flying out. Then overnight to Atlanta and back to Greensboro before noon on Sunday.
No more blogs until we're back in the States!!! Thanks for following along and keeping us in your thoughts!!!!!
Jim gave us a great devotional tonight about how the Beatitudes relate to our experience here. Amen. Then we shared some ways we have been stretched and impacted by all this. Good stuff.
Tomorrow we fly to Lima in the morning. We have an all-day layover there, so we will tour the city before flying out. Then overnight to Atlanta and back to Greensboro before noon on Sunday.
No more blogs until we're back in the States!!! Thanks for following along and keeping us in your thoughts!!!!!
The Amazon River
We took a nice boat ride on the Amazon River today.
First we stopped at Monkey Island. There were 5 or 6 different kinds of monkeys there. They are not shy at all. They climb up your legs and try to take things out of your hands. They are so strong and agile as they fly from tree to tree.
Then we went to the jungle to see the Bora tribe. They speak Spanish and also their native tribal language. They danced for us and sold us their beautiful crafts. They dress in feathers and wraps and necklaces.
Then we went to see the awful snakes and turtles and crocodiles. Yuck. Everyone but me held the anaconda around his or her neck. Craziness. It makes for good pictures, though.
More later.
First we stopped at Monkey Island. There were 5 or 6 different kinds of monkeys there. They are not shy at all. They climb up your legs and try to take things out of your hands. They are so strong and agile as they fly from tree to tree.
Then we went to the jungle to see the Bora tribe. They speak Spanish and also their native tribal language. They danced for us and sold us their beautiful crafts. They dress in feathers and wraps and necklaces.
Then we went to see the awful snakes and turtles and crocodiles. Yuck. Everyone but me held the anaconda around his or her neck. Craziness. It makes for good pictures, though.
More later.
viernes
We ate at a great Peruvian restaurant last night called Carbón. Lots of grilled and smoked meats, plus fried potatoes and plantains with creamy spicy sauces and salad on the side. Yum. Taking the little cabs to the restaurant was an adventure. The cabs look like motorcycles on the front but carriages on the back. It's definitely an open-air, exhilirating ride. And it seems like there are always 3.5 rows of vehicles driving in and between 2 lanes of road! Most of the amputations of limbs for the people who live here happen due to an arm resting outside of a vehicle that gets too close to a neighboring bus as it barrels down the highway.
But the highways in Iquitos are much better than the dirt roads in the nearby pueblos like Santo Tomás. They make for a bumpy ride even at low speeds. We all pile into a big truck to head from headquarters to the women's shelter and back. Sometimes there are 3 in the front seat, 3 in the back seat, and 4 or 5 in the truck bed with our supplies. Each bump sends the passengers in the truck bed a few inches in the air....
Dogs are free to roam wherever they want to here. None seem to have tags or belong to anyone in particular. They eat the food and trash of the street and people like that because they make things cleaner. They are living trash compactors, Paul Opp said, because they digest and reduce large quantities of scrap into tiny piles of waste that are more manageable and biodegradable. Most of the dogs seems really friendly and laid-back. There is a small hairless variety here I have never seen before.
We are going to the jungle today. They told us we would see "monkey island" and some vipers and anacondas in captivity. Those better be the only snakes we see.
I was hammering some nails yesterday into some VERY hard wood, and it was WAY HARDER than I thought it would be. But when I imagined that I was smashing a viper's head, that made it go much faster!!
I am really going to miss all the staff and volunteers I met at "Poppy's House," the women's shelter for ladies who have been raped or abused and have children to care for. One couple who works there, Kelly and Aaron, have been there for 2 years. They came to serve right out of college. What an amazing testimony from such young, beautiful, vibrant people who could go anywhere and do anything together but choose to live humbly and care for those in need in Perú. I came here to bless others, but instead I have been extremely blessed by them.
But the highways in Iquitos are much better than the dirt roads in the nearby pueblos like Santo Tomás. They make for a bumpy ride even at low speeds. We all pile into a big truck to head from headquarters to the women's shelter and back. Sometimes there are 3 in the front seat, 3 in the back seat, and 4 or 5 in the truck bed with our supplies. Each bump sends the passengers in the truck bed a few inches in the air....
Dogs are free to roam wherever they want to here. None seem to have tags or belong to anyone in particular. They eat the food and trash of the street and people like that because they make things cleaner. They are living trash compactors, Paul Opp said, because they digest and reduce large quantities of scrap into tiny piles of waste that are more manageable and biodegradable. Most of the dogs seems really friendly and laid-back. There is a small hairless variety here I have never seen before.
We are going to the jungle today. They told us we would see "monkey island" and some vipers and anacondas in captivity. Those better be the only snakes we see.
I was hammering some nails yesterday into some VERY hard wood, and it was WAY HARDER than I thought it would be. But when I imagined that I was smashing a viper's head, that made it go much faster!!
I am really going to miss all the staff and volunteers I met at "Poppy's House," the women's shelter for ladies who have been raped or abused and have children to care for. One couple who works there, Kelly and Aaron, have been there for 2 years. They came to serve right out of college. What an amazing testimony from such young, beautiful, vibrant people who could go anywhere and do anything together but choose to live humbly and care for those in need in Perú. I came here to bless others, but instead I have been extremely blessed by them.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
letter from Andrea
Today we made new doors for the barn where we hold the programs for the kids. The new doors look great and are much stronger than the old rotten ones. We had 68 kids at our presentation tonight. They are ADORABLE.
We met a lady recovering from malaria today. She said that it was the worst headache and fever she has ever had. She is being treated now but is still very weak.
I met another boy named Danielito. He is four but cannot talk. His arms and legs are curved and he can't walk. But he has a beautiful smile and the biggest brown eyes I've ever seen. His mom loves him very much but can't afford to take him to a specialist for his deformity.
More later!
We met a lady recovering from malaria today. She said that it was the worst headache and fever she has ever had. She is being treated now but is still very weak.
I met another boy named Danielito. He is four but cannot talk. His arms and legs are curved and he can't walk. But he has a beautiful smile and the biggest brown eyes I've ever seen. His mom loves him very much but can't afford to take him to a specialist for his deformity.
More later!
a letter from Jim
As you can see from the pictures, our lives here are quite full! Yesterday we gave out groceries to needy families, assisted in a dental clinic (Denise, our dentist, actually extracted some teeth.... uhhhhh), we built some benches (I was very happy how they turned out. Within 5 minutes of being built, Peruvians were sitting on them waiting and watching the dental services!!! ) It was exciting to see how the Lord was using each of us. In the evening we held a childrens' service. Singing, a play, a devotional, more singing, and treats! We will be doing much of the same today. All of us have a true love for these people. We walk among so many unsanitary places. "Homes" under other "houses" with open sewage areas. Children walking barefoot in mud streets. Most cook in a wood shack with the "stove" on the inside. I'm amazed the houses don't all burn down! Two of us are fluent in Spanish. I'm about 70 percent there. It's been a blessing sharing Bible verses in Spanish (I've memorized 3!). I know the Word of God is powerful, so it is exciting to be "planting verses" here in Peru. I can only imagine... some day we hope to see these precious people in heaven. But in the meantime, we are praying our short stint here will make a difference, improving their lives, helping them to live abundant lives in Christ. Thank you so much for praying for us. We have rounded a corner and will be home soon. Tomorrow we go up the Amazon into the jungle. Amazing. Our sixth day!
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