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Hey everyone! Sorry about the comment problems... I fixed it and your comments will show up from now on! :-D Everyone is doing well... We've started studying Spanish and I am enjoying it! I also got to go to the market for the first time today and had a good time :-) At one point Larinda and I were both carrying food, I was carrying watermelon and Larinda a branch of bananas. I guess the Peruvians have never seen gringos carry they're own food! We had many stares! :-D Mom is making pasty tonight! yay! what a treat... we even get ketchup with it :-D hope everyone is doing well in the states!

~Lindsey

A Good Week

Praise God, we are beginning to settle in and adjust to our surroundings. Although many things will be hard to get used to, such as the constant city noise, we are enjoying it so far! The building work had a good first week, considering we are on Peruvian time (which is not quite punctual at times.)! :) Each pillar had to be made by hand...every metal bar bent to the shape needed. I believe there are 30 pillars to be poured, and they are nearly finished with them. This is the most important part, as no work will continue as long as the pillars and foundation are not finished.
The first team of 4 people arrived last week. One member had to leave early, and one is out of commission from an accident on the job...almost cut off his foot! Praise God for nothing worse, and for good healing so far! This team has been a blessing because they are fluent Spanish speakers! They have helped us set the groundwork for the upcoming teams with their translation help!
Everyone looks forward to lunch time, when we are able to fellowship over a generous and delicious Peruvian meal. One of the Peruvian ladies wanted Mom to teach her how to cook American food, so we had the family over for supper. Mom made American spaghetti and Edelka made Peruvian spaghetti (it's green!).
They have church here almost every night...Tuesday, Thurday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Often, we will go to the church that is right here at MEPI. Although it is strange going to services without understanding anything, they are still always a blessing and the language barrier does not stop the Spirit!
Beginning this week, we are trying to jump into deep study of Spanish. Pray for us as we try to use this amazing opportunity to learn Spanish...it would be quite easy to let the 6 months go by without really learning and becoming fluent. We are having fun spending time with a few people who are trying to learn English...we help them, and they help us with Spanish. Many laughs, but lots of learning!
Today, we taught them how to play Ultimate Frisbee...we were having a blast, until the first accident happened! Roxanne was on top of one of the sand piles, and tried to catch a throw but jumped to the bottom and cut her face on a wooden soccer goal. She is doing fine now, but pray for quick healing! (She had to get super daddy stitches, ;) ) Keep praying for safety, we definitely need it! Also, Caitlyn has been pretty sick the last 2 days...not sure what is causing it. Pray for health!

Thanks for all the prayers, and Dios te bendiga! (God bless you!)

Concrete mixer...sand and water carried in 5 gal. buckets.

Every one of the little bars on these pillars were hammered and bent into shape by hand.
Lots of work!

Kitt and Pablo bending metal rebar for pillars (or unbending, the big ones are bought bent).

Construction site from our apartment.

Tarantula found in the walls!


Marcos and Gilber live here at MEPI...so we are becoming great friends!


Playing in the "la nieve peruana" (Peruvian "snow")!!! :D


Grace's car, made by Marcos. :)

Bethany loves sitting in the motokars.

More laundry washin...

The kids love Dutch Blitz.

Enjoying the "red and green" spaghettis.

Enjoying lunch time food and fellowship.

Bethany's playmate...Ryan lives here at MEPI. He is one of the only Peruvian kids she likes!

She likes Gilber too...

First (God willing, ONLY!!) job site injury...Matthew from Team 1. It is healing nicely.

First Matson injury...cut on wooden soccer goal!


Close up...


Screaming in pain...not really. :D Believe it or not, she is laughing really hard here. She laughed so hard she couldn't breath.


Super Daddy Stitches... the nurse who is helping with Matt came and helped Dad with "surgery".



Blessings,
Larinda

Pictures!

Here´s the pictures you all have been waiting for!


Just arriving at the airport!

Bethany and Kaleb

Bethany ready to go!


Waiting to leave


Lacey, Kaleb and Christina came to see us off!


sleeping in the Lima airport for 9 hours


The Andes Mountains! snow? in Peru?


Welcome to Iquitos!


the apartment (the girls room)





where all work is happening





Up close (today)





Some of the Peruvian kids helping


Betania and Tami


Peruvian Ice cream!!! A nice Sunday treat


First laundry wash of the trip! twas interesting! =)


The kids LOVE dutch blitz


looking out the kitchen sink window


ok thats all for now! will update more later!
adios!

Lindsey

¡Hola de Peru!

The time was getting closer...Monday morning we planned to leave our house no later than noon. Inevitably, many things happened that delayed us many hours. Sunday we had to bring Renita to the E.R. because she had hurt her wrist the night before. Kaleb thought it might be broken so we went ahead and brought her in. Sure enough, she broke her wrist. This was 2 days before leaving! So Monday morning amidst the scurry of final packing, Mom had to bring her to get casted. Two hours without Mom put us significantly behind. :) But by 4:30, we were on the road. When we arrived at Kaleb´s house, we had a quick supper and headed to his home church. It was such a blessing to worship God with all the college people there and to hear about His marvelous work in their lives this summer. They gave us an awesome send-off prayer and in the morning we headed to Washington D.C.. Wednesday morning we had a good ole American breakfast courtesy of a family Kaleb knows, and we headed to the airport! As you can imagine, 11 people´s luggage for 6 months is a big load. After getting all checked in, the excitement began to rise. For most of the kids, this would be their first time on an airplane. So, we said goodbye to Kaleb and Lacey and excitedly began the security process...the girls were squealing with glee as the airplane took off. It was like a rollercoaster for them. :p We had a short layover in Houston, then a 6 hour plane ride to Lima. We arrived in Lima around 11:30 and got through customs without problems (praise God!). We claimed a little corner in the aiport and tried to sleep as much as is possible on the cold hard floor. Thank God for suitcases to sleep on! :p In the morning, some of us left at 9:30 and arrived in Iquitos around 12:30 and got settled in the apartment at Iquitos. The rest arrived in Iquitos around 5pm. We were all exhausted by this time and went to bed early...9:00! ;) In the morning, Lorena, a Peruvian lady who is in charge of the mission, helped us get breakfast and brought mom and me to the market. Mom´s first experience was overwhelming I´m sure, but it went well and we got a good idea everything in the market. Yesterday, our first day was spent mostly unpacking, organizing, and resting. Also, learning how to work with the Peruvian food, and trying to communicate with the locals! The little girls already have a little group of Peruvian niños (children) coming in to the courtyard to play. They will pick up Spanish fast I´m sure! Last night we went to a church called Filedelfia, a fairly large church. They asked us to sing a song for them, and were delighted with all the blonde headed children, especially the little ones! Today Mom and I went to the market with Lorena and bought food for the next couple of days...4 chickens (freshly killed) some hamburger (ground right in front of us) and some vegetables. Dad has been busy collecting supplies and planning. The first team from America comes in Sunday, and work begins Monday morning! Thank you all for your prayers, and please continue to pray for health and specifically that we will be able to adjust to our surroundings and the language! Also, pray for Mom and Bethany...they are both a little down. Bethany with a little fever and Mom a sore throat.

I will upload pictures soon!

Larinda

Getting Closer!

Well everyone, we're leaving home in two days! Heading up to Kalebs on Monday then driving up to DC on Tuesday, and leaving early Wednesday morning! (6 AM)... time has flown by WAY to fast! One thing will be nice... the house will be clean when we get back! the last five days have been pretty much cleaning and swimming and cleaning and eating and cleaning and... ok you get the point. We are all very excited to go!! yet it will be sad to leave close friends but thankfully there's e-mail so we can keep in touch with them Yay! Now that we're leaving we'll be updating more or I hope anyway :-P the first month or so should be interesting! maybe I'll learn the language in a month! boy that would be nice!

Well I better skidaddle... it's 1:30 AM and I need sleep!