Happy Thanksgiving from Peru!

It was the strangest thing to celebrate an American holiday in a foreign country that doesn't acknowledge the special day whatsoever. We spent our Thanksgiving with the Adams, an American missionary couple and their 10 year old daughter. We did get to preserve some traditions, like pumpkin pie thanks to a team bringing pumpkin filling from the States! However, without the normal family fellowship, plenty of extra company and food...fall weather...it wasn't quite the same. But it made us realize how much we take even Thanksgiving for granted. Christmas is going to be pretty hard.

Two Sundays ago we visited Padrecocha with Team Seven. Pastor Jose, one of the workers who walks over an hour and rides a boat 40 minutes every day to come work on the project, blessed our whole group with lunch after church. After seeing his house we were all deeply impressed with his generosity. His house was little more than a few tin sheets leaned against each other to form a small room. His house was demolished in a storm a few months ago. Team 7 felt moved to go back to their church and raise the funds to build a new house for Pastor Jose. The pastor asked Willy to lead this project so during our Christmas break we will be, hopefully, building this new home. Anyone who feels led to donate to this project send donations to:

Freedom Fellowship Church
16044 E. Main St.
PO Box 187
Mount Eaton, OH 44659
c/o Urie Hershberger

Urie will be sending the total collected in a one lump sum to save on transfer sums.
Most importantly, please keep this project in prayer!

Team Seven left last week...we had a one week break for Thanksgiving. During this time the laborers continued to stucco the walls and cleaned up to get ready for painting. Saturday we had a "Minga" which is a work day that everyone is invited to, and lunch is served. Team Eight arrived Sunday...4 guys. This week the team and workers will be working on installing lights, sinks, counters, painting the rooms, and plenty more.
Have a blessed week!
~Larinda

Team Seven

Finished ceiling! Now on to painting...

Team Seven guys working on the ceiling

Pastor Jose

His house

His family

Yesterday was three months exactly since we have been here in Peru! It has seemed way shorter, yet way longer at the same time.
Last night, we put on a 51st birthday celebration for Pastor Ricardo, the vice-president of MEPI. He said that was the first time he'd ever had a birthday like that, with a gathering of family, friends, and cake! It is really a blessing to be able to bless people like Pastor Ricardo, who works diligently, but quietly in God's work.
Team 6 finished all the floor and sidewalk slabs ahead of time, then took a little trip in the jungle. One of the guys on the team was Bill Courtney, who is a pastor in the States. Throughout the weeks they were here, we really enjoyed going to visit churches with them and hearing ENGLISH sermons!
Team Six left last Saturday, and Team Seven arrived at MEPI on Monday. Two couples and one guy on Team Seven. They are working on the wood ceiling, which includes varnishing, sanding, and re-varnishing all the wood. It's a lot of work, but everyone has been pitching in, from the little girls to Mom! Mom of course is enjoying the fellowship of the two ladies who are on the team.
A lot of changes are happening in the political realm of Mepi...good changes. But keep that in your prayers! Everyone is healthy, thanks for your prayers in that. More later!
Blessings,
Larinda

Latest work on the building

Varnishing...the boards never end!


Wood ceiling work...it's beautiful

Dad looking over the plans...

The little girls talking to Kaleb

Team Six

Saulo has been helping us with our Spanish, and we're helping him learn English...it's a big help!

The whole family took a day off and went to Zungarococha for a visit with Saulo's family...good food, swimming, volleyball, and fellowship! It was the first time we all took a day off.

We visited Guido's (a translator) village, Manacamiri...the girls enjoyed the playground!


The girls wishing they could swim in Caballococha (in Manacamiri)

It was stifling hot...the pastor served us some refreshing cold Inca Kola! :)

Celebrating Brandon's birthday...here he is sharing his awesome testimony.

One night we had fun teasing the Peruvians with this toad...they're petrified of them, and were shocked when Renita picked it up!

What I call the "Peruvian Concrete Truck"...assembly line of wheelbarrows! :D

Part of the "Peruvian concrete truck"...wheelbarrows waiting in line to dump their load!

Big rain storm one night...flooded the courtyard!


Roxanne's scar for all those who keep asking...thank God for clean healing!



Lindsey's fingers are also healed now...still a little odd shaped though! :-p

A Birthday and Wedding!

This week, we celebrated Bethany's birthday with a fiesta, including our traditional cheesecake, sent from the states! Bethany was the happiest on her birthday than she has been since we got here. When asked how old she is, she now confidently replies "six!". She is beginning to talk a lot more now...in English, yes! :-p She has stayed happier since her birthday, and is the healthiest she has been since we got here. Glory to God!

The next week Team Five worked on things like the gutters, ceiling, finishing bricks and siding, pouring some floors, electrical, and many things in between. Team Five left Friday, Team Six arrived Sunday. Team Six is three guys, one is Dad's cousin. Dad and Mom were so glad to have someone they know very well come from the states! It's good to see a familiar face after so long. This week all the floors are going to be poured...they will probably be ahead of schedule before too long. Today, the they mixed 92 bags of concrete...sand and water, 2 mixers, and 5 or so wheelbarrows. Peruvian concrete truck! All in all, the work is going great.

Saturday, all eight girls stood in Winquer and Ivone's wedding. Ivone is the daughter of the president of the mission. It was quite an experience...imagine 8 blond headed girls in a Peruvian wedding! It was a lot of fun. The wedding started at 8pm, or was supposed to. Predictably, Peruvian time made the wedding even an hour and a half later! When the ceremony ended, and the reception began, it was already midnight...Peruvians sure know how to celebrate! It was a beautiful wedding though, and we enjoyed the experience.

Blessings!
~Larinda



All the brick work finished...

Inside taking shape!

This was before the brick work...

Bethany calls baby Mateo "Baby Judah"...gives him big hugs. (They live here at the mission with us)

Ryan getting ready to work? :D

Team Five

Bethany being HAPPY! and silly with Charity. :)

Bethany going out for her birthday!

A few wedding pictures: