Photo Update!

A lot has happened since I first started uploading these
pictures, but I figured you'd still like to see them!
Sorry it has taken so long to get them on. I wanted to
do more but it just takes to long to upload so I'm just
putting these ones out. Have a nice day!


Keller, Kaleb and Christina came to visit the
family after they went to Machu Picchu.


Kalebs surprise for us!



A Sauna!!! :-D we've used it many times!
All the Peruvians tried it without us trying
to convincing them ;-)


Skyping with our church!


Lacey's birthday! She got the most 'blessings' yet!
a total of nine eggs!


Having fun with Gilber
(pronounced Hilber)


Sometimes you just got to do what you got to
do to get your clothes dry here in Peru! :-D


Wouldn't you just love riding on that saddle?!
Wooden!

Roxy trying to break the world record... or
just having fun!

This bugs official name (by Grace)
is Jack. There's also baby Jack.

Hope you enjoyed these!
Lindsey

Christmas is in the air...

...even here in Peru, where the weather is like July and Christmas songs are nearly non existent, and every house on the block is not decorated, and Christmas cards are unheard of....well, I think you get the picture. Christmas here is very different. But in our house at least, we have been able to make it feel a little like it would at home. The other night we put Christmas music playing and made our traditional Christmas countdown bell chain, using Grace's old school papers (we only had to make 14 links...Christmas is almost here already!)...the girls have also made snowflakes, which the Peruvians just don't understand what they have to do with Christmas :P I think having to celebrate Christmas here in Peru is teaching us to be creative with what we have...it is also making us think about what makes Christmas. What makes Christmas for you? Is it the lights, the decorations, the tree, the music, the church programs, the weather, the food? Just something I've been thinking about, especially because we're having to do without many of the normal "Christmas" things.

Our December started out blessed with a visit from Kaleb and two of his friends. Lindsey and I were able to meet them in Lima and take a backpacking trip to Machu Picchu with them. What an amazing experience...the beauty is absolutely indescribable. I'd recommend it to anyone! After the Machu Picchu trip, Kaleb and the rest of us flew back to Iquitos...Kaleb and his friends stayed with us for 4 days. While here, he built us a little sauna (out of plastic tarp)! He found some scrap iron that we heat in a fire till red hot, then we put it in a tire rim inside the little sauna and steam till the heat is gone. Hey, it works! :) It was so nice to just be able to visit with them. Lacey also arrived the day before Kaleb left, so for a day we had an almost-complete family, minus four =p. Yesterday we celebrated Lacey's birthday with volleyball, watermelon, and cake! It is so nice to have Lacey here!

The project is on the homestretch! The bedrooms are really starting to look livable and even inviting now. This week they have been painting and tiling...which, with the ceiling and lights all finished, is bringing it all together. Team Eight left Friday, and we will now have about a month till the LAST team arrives! Wow time flies. During this month, the Peruvian workers will continue on the project, as well as begin building Pastor Jose's house.

Pictures coming soon!
Blessings,
Larinda

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