Hey all! We are safe in Iquitos! We got here Monday at around
4:30pm...a friend of a missionary family we know picked us up, we dropped all our bags off
at the their house and then we walked to MEPI. There was a group of them
playing volleyball...we walked in and called to Marcos and Gilber who
were playing...their eyes about dropped out of their heads!
Hahaha...everyone was SO shocked I can´t even describe it with words.
We DID get videos! It was AWESOME...The whole night they kept saying, ´´we´re
dreaming we´re dreaming! We never once thought you guys would be
coming!´´ It was the most amazing epic surprise ever.
They asked us where we were staying and immediately insisted we stay
in the apartment where we lived for 6 months... (su casa! your house! they say) So here we are. In a place that seems so much like home it´s crazy. I woke up this
morning in my bed, and looked around the room, so familiar, feels so
much like home. Just one thing though...the family isn´t here! It is so
strange to be staying in the apartment without them. It is so sad,
and makes us miss them all a ton. Oh what I would do to have them come here!
Everywhere I look here, there´s memories, and they all include the family. It is so
weird being here again without them! So many times, I have looked up at the apartment and expected to see one of my sisters´ heads pop up in the window. Ah! Come to Iquitos you guys!
So, Iquitos is just as hot as ever! Linz and I stepped off the plane
and couldn´t breath...I had forgotten how hot it really is! We had gotten
used to Cusco weather...HUGE difference. Big change in weathr! But everything else here in Iquitos, all the smells...the food...everything´s the same! This morning I was
pleasantly surprised to see the empanada man walk in MEPI at 10:00am
just like clockwork. :) I had forgotten how much I love Iquitos. Truly like a second home!
Tonight will be the wedding of our friend Esther...we are preparing food and cleaning the mission. Lindsey and I had a fun experience plucking a few of the 40 chickens they are preparing. Oh Iquitos! There is supposed to be 250 guests. If you knew how things are here in Iquitos, you´d agree with me how HUGE of an undertaking that is. Crazy! The hardest part is the food preparation of course...just imagine doing EVERYTHING by hand (including killing and plucking the chickens!) I suppose that´s why Peruvian weddings normally don´t start till after 8pm.
Well, the surprise is out and everyone knows we´re here now. So now we will settle in, and I will begin teaching English soon. Please continue to pray for safety and health!
We miss you all.
Blessings,
Larinda

Beware: very lengthy update!

:-O I'm a few days off! :-P

Four more days until we're in Iquitos!! We can not wait! Both Larinda and I care counting down the days! :-D I've been really busy... thats why I'm updating the blog 3 days late!

Larinda only has tomorrow and she's finished! 1:00 pm (2 your time) she will be completely finished. She is super excited and is counting down the hours! This week has been more difficult as it's ''practice teaching'' week. She's making it though! Thanks to many prayers and lots of work!

ok so starting at Tuesday of last week...

Tuesday - was a pretty normal day... I worked in the cafe but it was VERY slow so I studied Spanish while waiting for customers :-D went to Spanish class from 11-1. then got ready to go to the Club (Project CORASON) Today was sports day so we had club in a field instead of the actual club. I personally didn't play any sports... I played uno with about 5 kids the majority of the time. Then I jumped rope with the little girls. On Tuesdays a man by the name of Jose works on coaching the boys in ''futbol' (soccer) The boys from the club enjoy that. we would have had to bring the toys back to the club building but Jose had a motorcycle and offered to bring the stuff up for us... that was nice so we didn't have to walk up the big hill! :-D

Wednesday

normal day today... after Club Clare and I took a taxi to Plaza de Armas. met up with Larinda, Jo, and Carrie at Real McCoys (a restaurant) On Wednesdays they have a trivia night. Everyone pays s/5 to play (all the money goes to a charity) each table is a team. You have 6 categories on a paper. 10 questions for each category. A man asks the question and as a team you have to write the answer. There were about 6 or 7 teams. We had the lowest score out of everyone... we were also the smallest group. But we still had fun! I had a lasagna plate :-D it was goooood :-D

Thursday

A normal day. Very busy.

Friday

We had 22 people with 5 to-go's in one group at the cafe! Scott (overseer of the cafe) knows the group... thats how they found out about us! It was surprisingly easy since we did all the preparations beforehand. it was fun too! we had about 10-12 drinks to make in all but that was fairly easy too. I had Spanish class from 11-1. After which I made sure the Cafe didn't need my help then I left to meet Larm for lunch. Larm and I don't see each other much so we wanted to eat somewhere together for once :-P We went out for chaufa with a stuffed potato and then went to another restaurant and had a spinich, lettuce, tomato and avocado sandwich! ah SO good! :-D At Club I played candy land with 2 girls a few times. There weren't very many kids today so instead of doing what we planned we just played some games with them :-D After Club I met Larinda at the volleyball court and we played for about and hour and a half! Had a great time!

Saturday

Was a wonderful day! I worked in the cafe until closing time (2pm) then Larm and I went walking about the city. we got home around 5 and there was a message left for us... asking if we would like to go out on a progressive Peruvian dinner for Jo's last night out. Jo is a volunteer at the Cafe. we left for the dinner at 6:30. we all met at Jacks. We meaning Clare, volunteer with P.C. Carrie, Also a volunteer with P.C and a worker at the cafe. Nichole, Jo's room mate. Jo, worker at the cafe. Larinda and I. I got a coffee milkshake. it was a-m-a-z-i-n-g then we went to a pizza restaurant and had cuy pizza! (guinea pig!) After that we went to another restaurant and shared 2 plates amongst us... ceviche (raw fish in lemon) and rocotto rellena (stuffed peppers). With all that food in our stomachs we needed a little break so we came to the cafe and let our stomach digest a little while drinking tea. Saulo (a peruvian friend of Jo and Nichole) joined us but Nichole went home cause she hadn't been feeling well all day. After we were rested enough we bought anticuchos (meat on a stick, with a potato) off the street. We had picarones (donut type thing made from sweet potato) for dessert and to top everything off we ended with ice cream! All in all we had a very delicious night! we also were able to get to know everyone a little more :-D

Sunday

Larm and I went to a Mennonite church with Carrie (a worker in and cafe and also with Project CORASON) On our way home we went out to eat at a sorta restaurant I got stuffed peppers... it was good. when we got home I took a nap until 6. that was nice :-D Went to English church downstairs... After we had cake and tea. the cake was like a mint chocolate. it was SO good! :-D A bunch of us went out for cake for Jo's last time at Jacks. Larm didn't come cause she had to much homework to do :-( so off we went to Jacks all 12 of us. Jo and I shared a chocolate cake with ice cream. I got a coffee Milkshake. those things are SO good :-D

Monday

woke up early today study spanish. Jimmy (my Spanish teacher) and I had an interesting conversation about Christianity versus Catholicism. After I got back we had the meeting for Project CORAZON. It was decided that I would go with Liz and Clare to Wilkapie Tuesday. so I didn't go to the club Tuesday. Today was the first time I met Liz (a Peruvian) she is the one who usually oversees the Club but has been sick the entire time we have been here. Today was Larindas first day teaching. We went to Volleyball around 6:30-6:45 played until 8. I was able to video chat with the girls tonight!!!! YEAH!!! :-D :-D

Tuesday

woke up early and met up with Clare and Liz around 8 to go to Wilkapie. Wilkapie is a village about 20 minutes drive or an hour walk from the club. we took a taxi up. The guy said he would meet back up with us at 11 to take us back down. Which would have helped a lot cause I had to be at Spanish class at 11. I told them I would be late and they were fine with that. While at Wilkapie we played with the kids (mostly from about age 2-6 with a few older boys) and read them story books/learning books ie. colors, shapes and numbers. We finished up at 11 and surprise surprise the man did not come pick us up... so we had to walk down the mountain... it took about 45 minutes to get where the taxi's were... I arrived at Spanish lessons at 12 (an hour late :-O) but my teacher didn't mind the hour break :-P After Spanish lessons I had the rest of the day off. so I studied spanish and what not.

Wednesday

another normal busy day... also added... I was able to video chat with Michael and Daniel between Spanish lessons and Club! :-D

Thursday (Today!)

I went with Carrie to a tour place and bought tickets for a tour of The Sacred Valley. Larm and I figured while we're here we might as well do something touristy! ;-) Pretty much everyone else is here for the tourism. So we'll being on the tour from 9am-6pm on Saturday. yeah long I know! But I've heard it will be well worth the $10 :-P Larm and I also went to the market today... it's humongous! and quite fun walking thru! I only have one more Spanish class :'( I've learned a lot and am thankful for my teacher for bearing with me this whole month! it's kinda funny... I've talked to my teacher more then anyone here in Cusco... but then it makes sense that it's like that. I was going to say I'm going to miss speaking Spanish... but thats all I'll be speaking in Iquitos! haha. I also only have one more day at the club :'( I won't miss climbing the hill but I'll miss being with the kids there!

Friday and Saturday are going to be busy days! With finishing Spanish class, working in the cafe a little, last day at CORASON, the tour, packing, a hike to Cristo Blanco, and Larindas last class at maximo along with the celebration party for the Maximo students!

Then it's to Lima we go!

Also... here are pictures of the different things we have done here!

(you have to copy paste the link)

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=194990&id=598491871&l=e96a5395c7

Enjoy! :-D

Until next time,

Lindsey

2 down 2 to go! :-D

Only two more weeks and we'll be on our way to the next city! :-D Both Larinda and I are super excited and these next two weeks couldn't go by fast enough! :-P

The past week has pretty much been the same as the first :-) Seeing as Larinda is here for school she's been going there everyday from 8am-7pm sometimes going earlier and staying later! She's had quite a bit of homework and can't wait until she's finished with that part! only one more week! then she'll teach for a week and be done! Yay!

I have been going to Spanish classes every morning Mon-Fri. Starting today (Monday) I changed from having an hour lessons to two hour lessons. I want to get as much as I can! :-D

A few things we did this week.

ok so these few weeks with Project CORASON have been a little different... Liz (Peruvian who runs P. C.) is sick and I have yet to meet her! Then Jenny (the one who hooked me up with P.C) has been on vacation. so Clare has been the temporary fill-in. She just got here a few weeks before us I think. sooooo.....

Tuesday - Clare (long term volunteer with Project CORASON), George (1 month volunteer with P.C.) and I went to the Project. Tuesday is sports day... there is a man who coaches the futbol (soccer) games.... so we were going to be playing futbol and volleyball! :-D I was excited. We went up there... climbed ''the hill'' and started getting stuff ready to bring to the field when Clare got a call saying the the man who oversees Tuesdays is sick and couldn't make it. Since Clare, George or I have never been to or done a Tuesday and Clare was starting to get sick we decided the best thing to do would be to go home and Clare rest up so she could come to club the next day seeing as she was the ''leader'' for the week. That was fun... haha I suppose :-P

Wednesday - there weren't very many kids at the club today. Though I was able to play basketball with one of the boys from the club. It was fun even though it was one of those really small hoops. And with the altitude difference I got tired pretty fast!

Thursday - Today was Bible club day at the club. But not very many kids came so we ended up just playing some games and building things. Decided to wait until another day when more kids came. That night Larinda and I were able to have cheese and crackers... I know it may seem funny that I see that as a highlight of the week... but if you've ever lived in a foreign country for any amount of time you appreciate small things like that! :-D We also were able to talk to mom a little over skype and heard all about canning peaches!

Friday - We had a dentist come to the club and give a little lesson on teeth. He gave all the kids their own toothbrush.

Saturday - I worked in the Cafe from 8:30-2 (those are the hours of the cafe) I enjoy working there... making the drinks and washing dishes and just having a good time. I had quite a bit of homework to do... my next lesson I was going to finish book 1! yay!! then Larinda and I walked around the city some. then we had some ice cream and watched a live basketball game thru the store window. It was quite amusing! :-D The players were all older... maybe in their 40's give or take a few. They were good for their age :-P Watching basketball made both Larinda and I want to play! after ice cream we went to Larindas school Maximo Nivel. Larinda was going to meet her ''tandem'' Where she would practice her Spanish and the other would practice his English. We waited for 45 minutes but he never showed up so we headed home. :-o

Sunday - We listened to Paul Washer. "The Sovereignty of God and World Missions''. I always enjoy Paul Washer. Later in the day Larinda and I took a stroll about the city. Went to a plaza that was packed with people! found a boy selling popcorn ''dulce'' It was like Iquitos memories! yeah! ate some popcorn then we went to a restaurant and had Chaufa!!!! It was SO good and we both got so stuffed :-D When we got home we had a little time before English church started downstairs. After Church we were able to talk to all the girls and even both mom and dad! I completely enjoyed that! I love talking to them :-D

Monday - (Today) I had my first two hour Spanish lesson! it's getting hard. or has been getting hard. but I love it still... that just means I'm learning even more of it! :-D Mondays are off days... the Cafe is closed and there isn't Club either. Larinda also doesn't have school... though this morning she did have to teach a mini lesson. But we both got home within 5 minutes of each other. :-D I've been enjoying just relaxing! I've been colder today so I've been under a huge blanket pretty much since I got back from Class :-D

Hope you'v enjoyed a little peep into our lives here!

until next time

Lindsey

Well, We've been here a week already! it seems like we just got here. yet it seems like we've been away from home for way longer!

Larinda has had school everyday except for Saturday and Sunday. So she has been pretty busy with that and then homework when she gets home. She said it's a lot more challenging then she thought it would be! But she's making it :-D

I have had Spanish lessons all week! And I am enjoying it! This first week we started on book one and have almost finished it considering most of it was stuff I already knew we could just skimmed through most of it! :-D I'm learning a lot and can already tell it's a easier to talk after just one week of classes! :-D

Here are some things we have done this week.

Wednesday was Peru's Independence Day. So I had off from Spanish lessons and Project CORASON. A lot of places were closed for the holiday but Larinda still had school since Maximo Nivel isn't really a Peruvian company. Their were ''fireworks'' going off all throughout the day. I say ''fireworks'' cause it sounded more like a guns shooting 10 times in a row :-D and it was always the same firework every time one went off. I enjoyed the restful day :-D

Friday both Larinda and I went to Project CORASON to work with the kids. We played games with then then they had a Bible story and craft. The kids really enjoy it there. And are blessed to be able to come and just be kids for a few hours!

Sunday we went to a Peruvian church. It was nice to hear the Spanish songs again! After we went out to eat with the people who live here at The Meeting Place with us. then came and relaxed in our room until 6:30. Every Sunday night they have informal English church here at the cafe. It was nice. And a good sermon too! A good quote... coincidence is God's way of remaining anonymous. how true is that?! after the Sermon there was fellowship... then after Church a group of us went over to Jo's house (one of the girls that occasionally volunteers here) to make s'mores. We played spoons except with cups. and had a lot of fun there! I came home thinking with and English accent! haha :D the majority of the volunteers here are from the UK.

Yesterday Larinda and I went to a friends house for lunch! It was delicious home made pizza! :-D Usually all the volunteers for Project CORASON eat lunch together on Mondays... Larinda was able to join since's she has helped out some too. After lunch we had a meeting to figure out what we would be doing this week at the Project. When that was thru we went to the Project's facility to clean out the office! It was quite a job! lots of stuff in one little room. It took us 3-4 hours to do but was totally worth it! when we got back I had quite a bit of Spanish homework to do. Did I mention I love learning Spanish? It's so great being able to understand another language! :-D

well I miss you all!

oh and My family is the absolute greatest!

I love them so much!!!!

until later,

Lindsey