I know I've been remiss in updating- but we've had several slow weeks here and I'm not too good about writing without subject matter:)

We are doing good and enjoying spring time here in Lima. As I said things have been slow...until this past week. When it rains it pours- except that we live in a desert now and it never rains...anyway.

We had our monthly check up last Wed. And things are looking good- the baby's heartbeat was good and strong and no problems with my health. The doctor fussed because I haven't gained very much weight yet- and then lectured me on eating healthy. I hate to tell him, but with my metabolism, I ain't going to get fat on salad. We go for a 4D ultrasound the day after Thanksgiving and should be able to determine the sex of the baby then! Yay!

The rest of the week we spent in meetings with leadership talking about upcoming changes in our team and method of work. We dont' have a lot of definate answers- but we know change is coming and that God will provide what we need to do what He wants us to do. Saturday we had a crazy morning involving a power outage which made for some creative problem solving. We had two teams to meet that morning and accompany one of them to their destination to cart stuff and some folks. Except that our truck was stuck at home b/c without power we couldn't open the gate:) We figured out an alternate plan and drove the team to their ministry spot about 5 hours from Lima. It was so good to get out of the city and see some countryside again. We didn't get back until that night and then early the next morning we met our home church and saw them off for their week-long ministry trip. It was good to be working hard and getting some things done. We are planning on going on a research trip to the jungle next week with our boss Jeff to do some research and right after Thanksgiving we are driving up the coast to find some beaches! More stories and photos to come!

Tomorrow David hits the road again. Please be praying for him as he travels with a couple from Southside Baptist Church to the Tarma area. They will be in the Tarma area until next Wednesday. Pray for a sucessful trip with ample opportunities to share the gospel and to disciple growing believers in the towns.

Please pray for me as I stay home once again.

We had our 12 wk check up yesterday and everything is going fine. This baby has grown!!! I go back next week to have an ultrasound to check for Downs.

Please keep praying for us as we continue to adjust to all the changes.

Thanks to you all!

Buenas Tardes todos!

I'm trying hard to adjust to this whole "seeing David off on a trip" thing, but its hard!

I've gotten so used to going everywhere with him this past year that it feels very weird to be apart so much. We've gotten spoiled!

I'm here in Lima, trying to adjust to life here. I've been learning a new market. Thankfully there is a market within walking distance- so I haven't had to completely revert back to being a grocery store girl. We've enjoyed attending Vida Nueva church nearby the past two Sundays. And in this dusty place we've been learning that the floor really has to be swept once a day at least. Hmm.

We've really enjoyed our housemates and teammates, the Nelsons these past 3 weeks. But yesterday their home became available and they have since departed to their own quarters! We will miss them...and their dog.

David got back fine from his last research trip which was fruitful and full! He said the average driving/researching day was 15 hours and he was in some high places! He'll be heading out again tomorrow for San Jose de Quero with Jamie Byers from our home church and super translator Hector. They'll be gone a short week- which will seem long back here on the ranch.

Please be praying for them, that God will direct their ministry and efforts, that He will bless and enrich relationships, and for health for all these guys.

I will admit, I am feeling left out a little bit and am concerned about what they will eat up there without me there to man the kitchen like normal??? But David reminds me that Hector has a reputation as a good cook and that there is a restaurant and hey, there is always PB&J. So I sigh and admit he's right...but I've become a part of that kitchen up there and it just doesn't seem right for me not to be in it:)

Hope you all are doing well and please please please let us know how you are doing and how we can pray for you.

Howdy! We are writting this as official Limanos now! We've completed the move and are spending most of our time settling in and making this place our place. We are getting to be housemates with our team members the Nelsons, and that has been lots of fun. Things have slowed down which has been a great break for us after that crazy summer.

David will be traveling next week to do some research in the Pasco area and then a week after that, he will travel with Grace Richmond to Quero. I will staying home as I am busy growing a baby! We were thrilled to find out right before we moved that we are expecting and due this coming April! Please pray for us! Its all very new and already causing a lot to change. The sight of cheese has never made me sick before. I'm not sure what to do about that!! But it means that my ability to go with David on trips is very much limited right now. And that changes a lot of things! So please be praying for our flexibility and ability to adapt quickly. Also pray that I will still be able to be effective even though I'm not on the road all the time and I that I can work despite of the nausea. :)

Thanks as always for your prayers- they are our best support!

Please don't hesitate to let us know how we can be praying for you and your families.

The sun is out full force today in Huanuco and it is great to be here. We are soaking up these last few days here- visiting with friends and enjoying the best weather in the world.

We've been hopping around a little this past month, but not so dramatic as the last post!

Crossroads came to do ministry in the form of a vet clinic- which is always fun and an adventure. This year Edmin took us way out to the boonies to work, out to where Quechua is definately their primary language. We saw a lot of sheep, pigs, mules, horses, chickens and guinea pigs. We also slept on a dirt floor- all 12 of us in the same room. It was interesting...

David and I could only be with them for 2 days and then we returned to Huanuco. Shortly after that, we headed to Tarma for a Pastor's conference there. This time I escaped kitchen duty and got to sit in on the ladies' sessions. It was a good conference and we love Tarma. After Huanuco it may be one of the best mountain towns to live in. After the conference, we spent a morning witnessing in a small near-by town. The following day we headed into Lima and dropped off our first truck full of stuff at the Holder's house. We have begun the move...

We headed back to Huanuco and rested for a few days, then set out to do some research and got into a fender bender with a bus on a blind curve on those mountain roads. His fender didn't bend at all. Our truck is still in the shop. Thankfully everyone was fine and we got to see the Huanuco police in action (had to file a report). So we rested a few more days and then went up to Panao again, this time for the dedication of the Quechua de Panao New Testament! After 26 years of work- they had a celebration and distributed the Bibles. It was a neat weekend and really special for us to be able to to attend.

So here we are, back at home and getting ready to head out Thursday night to go to Huancayo to meet up with our home church and go to Quero for a few days.

Thanks to all of you for your prayers, we found out last week that we have been approved for a second term! That means we will go home this winter for 2 months stateside and then return for 2 more years, putting us here in Peru until early 2013. Thanks for praying for us!

Miss ya'll!

Whew! Its been a whirwind that's for sure. You won't believe some of the things I've done this week! But more on that later. We left Huanuco and researched our way to Cerro de Pasco and from there we drove to Huancayo and parked our truck at the church-bought our bus tickets for the overnight bus to Lima, saw a movie and took the bus all night. That was day 1. We arrived in Lima early morning saturday. David took care of 1 team's needs and in the afternoon we received the van for the New River team. The team arrived that night and the next morning we set out for Jauja. David did a great job driving the bus and we made good time. The hostel we stayed at was a treat! Very cool Colonial style with really hot water. We attended the church service that night. The next morning we started ministering in Molinos. We set up the medical clinic but the crowd wasn't coming. So we did a house calland the rest of the team went out tell people to come. By the time we got back from the house call they were lined up outside the clinic. Its difficult to share what all David and I did during the clinic. Generally we helped keep order, translated, brought lunch, coordinated the upcoming day, etc. I even translated a little in the doctors office and I can now say "do you have blood in your stools" in spanish. Of course I couldn't at the time, so you should have heard me try to "talk around" that one! We left this team early Wed morning and did some coordination for the upcoming medical trip this next week. From there we went to Huancayo and picked up a few things for the students in Quero. We made it up there and brought tears to their eyes when I told them that I'd brought stiff to make hamburgers for supper. Larry arrived that evening and we spent the next day visiting around Quero with them. Friday morning we drove early in the morning to the Jauja team, picked them up- left our truck there- and drove them to Lima. We spent the night and following day there in Lima, and that night we took another overnight bus to Jauja, picked up our truck, drove to Huancayo and then crashed for a few hours before church. We met the group from New Orleans at church and spent the day preparing for the week's upcoming pastors conference. I'd like to say the conference went well... but I don't know. I spent 15 hours a day either in the market or kitchen, helping ladies from the church prepare meals for 200 people. What an experience. I got lessons in my different types of ajis (pepper sauces), an even faster way to cut up a chicken (or 25 chickens to be exact) and the proper technique for cleaning chicken feet. Quite an adventure. I also had a major breakthrough that week. I had my first real dream in spanish- speaking and hearing in spanish. Of course it was about chicken... so I'm not sure if that was a breakthrough or just insanity... time will tell I suppose. The conference overlapped with the International World Changer's project in Huancayo- so we ended at 11 pm one night and started again the next morning at 7. Whew. We had a day of training and then we spent the rest of the week doing door to door medical visits. After this team, we headed into Lima to prep for our move there in September. We had a surprise awaiting us- some generous soul gave us a night at the Marriot- a cream of the crop hotel establishment located in the swanky part of Lima- every room with an ocean view. Very very swanky:) Of course we felt like the Beverly Hillbillies coming in with a very dirty truck and no clean clothes for ourselves. A little intimidating but a great time none the less. We got our errands done in Lima and then finally headed home to Huanuco, where we rested for a day. To celebrate this rest, the next day we took a 12.5 hour road trip to do some scouting for this upcoming week's vet clinic. So the past two days have been rest for the weary and now we have our vet clinic team in town and head out tomorrow. Please forgive the punchy note to this blog- but I think I just might BE punchy soo.... go figure ! Pray for us, our sanity and that the Lord will do great and mighty things here in Peru!

We are in town for just a few days and are heading out again Tuesday!

We just got back from San Jose de Quero where we spent the last week. Our team is grateful to have a team of students staying in Quero for 2 months! Our job this week was to get them started: familiarizing them with the people and area and strategy, teaching them how to cook, and as always enjoying being up there. The student team is GREAT! Go - getters and very grounded in the Word. We are confident God will use them mightily this summer. I enjoyed holding "cooking classes" every day and teaching them to shop in the market in Chaquicocha. If anyone needs some tips- I found a much faster way to cut up a whole chicken. I'm a beast.

Please lift these students up in your prayers as they minister "on their own" these next few weeks. We will be up to check on them in a few weeks with Larry Pumpelly, but until then they are holding down the fort.

We are enjoying Huanuco and the warmth very much today! We had a great time of worship at church this morning and had a visit from our friends Lindor, Zoila and Samuelito this afternoon. What a blessing to have been able to live here and make friends. We will surely miss Huanuco come September. However, we are excited about living in Lima as well- being close to our team will be good and make us more helpful to them. Please pray for us as we say goodbyes these next few months to our friends here though.

Our schedule peaks this month and I've listed it below so that you can be praying for us in "real time". I may not be able to update the blog again until mid-July. Your prayers are definately needed and we earnestly ask for them. We can not do the work here- we desperately need God to do it for us.

Tomorrow is David's 28th birthday and I have made Betty's famous Mocha Chocolate Torte Cake to celebrate the occasion. We are glad to spend the day together and in a warm climate:)

Here is our schedule- please be praying for us~

June 15-18: Research in Pasco area

June 18-20: Travel via bus to Lima to meet New River Team

June 20-22: Minister in Jauja with New River

June 23-24: Meet Larry Pumpelly in San Jose de Quero

June 25-26: Return to Lima with New River Team and Stay the night in Lima

June 26-July 2: Return to Huancayo with team from New Orleans Seminary for Pastors conference in Huancayo

July 2-July 8: International World Changers Medical team: I will be leading a team to the Quero/Usibamba area and David will lead one to the Jauja area.

July 9: Return to Huanuco.

As you can see its a lot of traveling and a lot of work- so lift us before the Father that we may have the endurance and right attitude to do all this well.

Thanks! Love to you all! Please send us updates on how you are doing and how we can be praying for you!

These past few weeks have certaintly been busy ones! We waited in vain for our new tires but the daily excuses added up to zero & so we left town and headed for San Jose de Quero. We made it with only 1 flat tire-not bad considering. There we met up with Mindy, Larry Pumpelly from our home church, and 10 South Carolina college students. They had already been there for five days or so. It was a great trip and a great team. We did some painting in Usibamba and some discipleship in Quero. We attended/led Bible studies in both of those towns and met with believers in Porvenir again. It has been a true blessing to be able to be in this area so many times this year. David and I are really seeing the difference that consistency makes in our relationships with the people there. We are looking forward to going back in a week or so to help get some suumer missionaries started. They will live and minister there for two months.
David and I had a really neat thing happen this past trip-the believers from Porvenir attended a Bible study in Quero one night and one of the couples wanted to dedicate their child that night and asked us to be godparents! So we are now godparents to a beautiful baby girl named Thaiza. What a sweet blessing for us!
Straight from Quero we along with translator JP split off from the Lima-bound group and headed to Huancayo. There we coordinated details for the upcoming pastors conference in June. Afterwards we went to Jauja to coordinate upcoming June and July trips there with our friend Miguel. We also enjoyed another flat tire (3rd of the trip) so we spent the night in the very nice Xauxa House and headed out the next morning for Tarma. There we met with Pastor Paul and planned for their upcoming pastors conference in July. We also awaited the arrival of the Southside Baptist Church team. We spent the next few days with them ministering in a town called Huasahuasi (wasawasi) focusing on evangelism. Now we are back home in Huanuco enjoying some much needed rest before we head out again.

Post from Lima:

Just a short note today! We are in Lima for a few days for meetings and training and are having some fun hanging out with our team here. We just got back from 4 days in San Jose de Quero, Usibamba, Chaquicocha, and Santa Rosa. We had Pachamanca twice- a traditional Peruvian special occasion meal. We met with believers in Por Venir (near San Jose), San Jose and Usibamba. We spent some time in discipleship as well. Here are some prayer requests for us these days...

Prayer Requests:

Please pray for encouragement for the believers in these areas, especially for Arminda (Godofredo's wife). Pray for us as well as meeting with her can be very discouraging.

Please pray for us as we make decisions about the future- it appears an extension is very probable in our future.

Please pray for the intense months ahead of us! And the exciting work ahead!

Well, we are back home for a little while anyway! We just finished up with a GREAT trip. A group from the South Carolina Baptist Convention came to provide medical treatment and counseling and widespread gospel sharing. We spent a day in Cansejos...

A camp of about 20-25 tents for the victims of a recent mudslide that completely destroyed this small town. Dr. Mark said that some of the older people had probably never had medical attention their whole lives. One young boy decided it was safer in the tree than seeing that doctor- poor fellow. We should have told him we weren't giving shots...

Even in the midst of suffering, these people showed their characteristic hospitality. After we had visited everyone, 2 men took us up to the hydrangea fields. Yes, fields of hydrangeas that they are growing to export to the US. He insisted on stopping to pick us "a few" and came back looking like this...

I think I might have swooned a little at these blooms:)

We were also blessed during the day seeing a group from Huanuco with our friend Edwin minister to the kids- they did a phenomenal job!

The next day- we enjoyed worshiping in the town of Ambo- site of the another tremendous mudslide that has left hundreds homeless and over 70 dead. We joined the congregation of the Alianza church and had a sweet time with them. After lunch we moved to one of the camps and shared the gospel and provided tent to tent medical attention. These days were challenging and sad, but joyful in being able to share the hope we have in Christ with these hurting people.

Monday was a travel day to Huancayo where we spent the night. The next morning we went to San Jose de Quero to minister there for 2 days. In this rural community, the house call method was more challenging and time consuming. But all around it was very effective. We know now where folks live and how to find them to check back up on them. We had a number of people pray to receive Christ and a full Bible study Wed. night.

One of my favorite stories is Elizabeth's mom. Elizabeth is a young mother we've developed a relationship with in de Quero. We stopped by to visit her and she asked if the team could see her mother who lived in a different town 15 minutes away. We agreed and picked up Eli. and her 3 kids later that afternoon. Her mother had been diagnosed with breast cancer 14 years ago and had been living in fear of "death any day now" from it. The doctor was able to assure her that she did not have cancer and this relief opened her heart and she prayed to receive the Lord. What a blessing:)

We heard some sad stories these few days too. Please be praying for a 91 yr old lady who is still traumatized by the terror of the Shining Path, her murdered husband and disfigured daughter as a result of their terrorism. Also please pray for a young 8 year old boy who had fractured his thigh and received insufficient medical attention. He is now dealing with infections in his leg and chest due to being bed ridden. He has also become withdrawn and rarely will speak. Pray for his total healing.

This volunteer team was one of the very best I've ever worked with. They were truly hard working, servant minded and were a huge encouragement to us!

We welcomed a team from Crossroads Baptist Church to Huanuco yesterday. Today they headed out for a pastor's training in Panao- where we will join them later in the week.

But for the next few days we are going to kick back and catch up and sleep!

A piece of good news... we heard that there is a very high likelihood that we will be extended for another year! Thanks for praying about that for us!

Hey there! I'm writing this in between batches of muffins and cookies- Cameron's Bakery is open today folks! Actually I am getting ready for a team coming into Huanuco this evening. This is a medical and evangelism team that is coming to serve in Consejos & Ambo- locations very near Huanuco that have recently suffered from devastating landslides. Hundreds of people are living in tents, having lost everything. We won't spend more than a day in each location, but we are hoping to encourage and help the best we can in that time. We have been told that the greater need will surface in 2 weeks when government aid pulls out. David and I will re-evaluate needs at that time and plan accordingly. After the 2 days here, we'll head out to San Jose de Quero to work for a few days as well.

Maruja's hostal will definitely be our second home this summer, well ok, maybe our first home and our apartment will be our second home.:)
We actually just got back from San Jose, where we spent a great week discipling, leading and participating in Bible studies and teaching in the schools a little.

Going there is always an encouragement to us- its the kind of place you can just go walking around and not worry about safety or unfriendly people.

Anecdote: We went to visit Rosa, Maruja's mother. She and her husband live outside of town a ways. Eugenio usually rides his horse to the store to see us, but he was visiting in another town when we came calling. Rosa was standing in her doorway, hand on hip, peering out to see who the group of gringos was. She welcomed us warmly as always. I'm always taken aback at how short she is. I swear she only comes up to my rib cage! SO tiny- we could just pack her up in a bookbag and carry her around. I'll bet she'd love that! She always invites us in her house which is a big deal culturally, not at all common. We came in and sat down and Rosa began show and tell. We started with her football sized potatoes, which she insisted on giving us a bag of. Then she brought in an apron full of abas, beans that is, which she promptly put in the potato bag, insisting that it was only a few. It was more than a few. Then she tried to give us some of her freshly sheared- yet unwashed wool. Thankfully, we convinced her not to give us that. But she did show us how to spin with nothing but your fingers. In about 10 seconds she produced a string of yarn nearly a foot long. She then showed us old photos she had, one of her as a young woman- probably early 20s, her brother and a few others. That was really special. She is 78 years old, sharp as a tack. She remembered a joke she made back in January and added to it this time. She sent us on our way with detailed instructions on which way to go to avoid the mud and huge smiles for all of us. Rosa and I have the same hat. I love that.

The next, oh I don't know, 5 months are going to be a little crazy, but we are excited about upcoming trips.

Please pray for us:

As we still seek an extension,

Keep up with logistics for teams,

Ministry for the summer,

That our current renters will renew their lease or we will find new renters without missing a month

Thanks so much to all of you, we miss you and love you. Keep us updated on whats going on with you! We love hearing from folks back home or wherever this finds you!

We are just back in Lima for a few days now, enjoying the warm humid weather and the occasional sunshine! We had a great past week in San Jose de Quero and Usibamba with our home church, Grace Community Baptist, and some guest visitors from Asheville, NC.

After a night in Huancayo, we set out for the higher altitude of 13,100 ft of San Jose. This trip's purpose was discipleship and we saw God do some amazing things this week! Teammate Mindy McCord and I were the only ladies on the trip and we were able to spend some great time with a few of the women. We went through a few old testament stories with Maruja, one of the key people in town (store and hostel manager, mayor's sister). It was wonderful to see her read the stories for the first time ever, her excitement about the Word, and her insight into application! We were encouraged with her eagerness to share the stories with others, without any prompting from us. God really used us despite our limited language skills and spoke through the power of His Word. We also spent a few evenings with Arminda in Usibamba. Arminda has been difficult in the past due to her tendancy to dominate the conversation and overwhelm us with unrelevant questions. She has also expressed in the past a lack of regard for Mindy's and my ability to teach the Bible because we don't have kids. Yeah...

Well this time, we really saw a softening in her and more gentleness for which we were grateful. We had two great nights working through some discipleship material. God taught me a lot through this- showing His power in my inadequecies. It constantly amazes me when I give it all up to Him, readily admitting that I am not able to do anything, how sufficient He is and how gracious. The men had a great week as well, spending very concentrated time with Teodoro, Godofredo, Rolando, and a new member of the group, Manuel. They had great results in teaching them to lead a Bible study using a passage of scripture and 3 simple question, what do I like, what do I not like, and what can I apply? I think the leaders were encouraged through this week and we are looking forward to seeing what is going when we return next month. We had a Sunday night Bible study in both towns, and both went really well. We were blessed to have 2 of the very best translators with us: Hector and Mijail, and they not only translate, they minister and pour into the people as much if not more than we do.

We are thankful for a wonderful time that was refreshing and encouraging. God highlighted this time with 2 clear nights where we saw His handiwork in the stars! You've never seen stars like this back home- trust me! You look up into the sky and you get dizzy because you see so much!

We will be in Lima for a few days until Saturday when we travel with a church to Jauja to help out with a baseball camp! Looking forward to this! We will leave this team early and head up to Ambo to see College Street ministering there before heading home to Huanuco for a few days. Ahhh home.

Blog Update:

So sorry its been so long! We have been on the move and when we stop- we still feel like we are moving...
So this blog is a recap of February!

After the great time with the team from College Street Baptist Church, we had a few restful days at home which were a blessing to us! I have been sewing and reading, David has been roof gardening and reading as well!
We headed into Lima around February 10 to meet an incoming team from Hesperia Baptist Church from Hesperia, CA. We arrived a few days early to meet with our bosses and discuss the near future and to sketch out our calendar for the next 6 months. We are going to be very busy- but are glad for that! More opportunities to see what God is doing here in Peru! We have also discussed the possibility of a relocation to Lima around September. While we love Huanuco so much, we have realized that it is not the most strategic location for us as our team changes. I would say that the move is pretty much a sure thing- but I wouldn't set it in concrete just yet.
We went with a team of 4 from Hesperia to a town called Tarma, nicknamed the city of flowers. Sounds pretty good huh? We drove into this mountain town that is located more or less between La Oroya and Cerro de Pasco, through fields of chrysanthemums, gladiolas, baby's breath and others! Que bonita! We stayed the week in the apartments above one of the Baptist Churches in Tarma. Hesperia is partnering with this church to reach a nearby town called Acobamba. Pastor Paul of Tarma was a great encouragement to us- to see his heart for the lost and for discipleship and training were remarkable. We spent the week partnering with Peruvian brothers and sisters from Tarma, evangelizing door to door 8 hours a day, for 4 days. At night we showed the Jesus film and the Hope film and had a Bible study.
They were one translator short for the trip, so David, Pastor Paul and I made our own team (no english allowed). We were stretched way beyond our comfort zone, in not only the language, but hey, the door to door thing. I think there are few who would say that is easy for them. But God was so faithful and was able to work through our shortcomings and fears show Himself powerful that week. David and I were able to share the gospel with over 50 people who received Christ as their Lord. As always its NOT about the numbers, but it was an encouragement to see their desire for a Savior. There are trained local leaders already in place for follow-up discipleship. WOW! Thats amazing! What a blessing to serve along side of these faithful brothers in Christ who desire to see their neighbors realize the love of Christ. We returned to Huanuco following this trip- thoroughly stretched, tired and refreshed. We spent a few days at home, during which time David helped a semi-local VBS by playing chauffer. So he didn't get a good rest from time in the truck. I did. Anyway. A few days later we headed back into Lima to pick up David's folks. We tried an alternate route which ended in a mudslide, detour, and a total of 13 hours on the road. But we made it to Lima nonetheless and spent the next day recouping while the truck had its day in the spa getting tuned up. We spent the next day on the beach! Rough huh?
That night Betty and Jim arrived. We spent 1 day in Lima, drove to Huaraz, drove to Banos, drove to Huanuco and stayed there 2 days, drove to Jauja, San Jose de Quero, and then to Paracas! Ahh Paracas! A day on the coast and we took a boat tour out to the Ballestas islands to see sea lions, pelicans, penguins and much much more! How fun for us! We went back to Lima and spent the night and got them on the plane the following morning. We had an adventerous time that morning, as our side mirror had been stolen the night before. So we set off on a quest to find a replacement. After 3 hours of fighting Lima traffic, we are not city folk by the way, we had the mirror replaced. We drove to the hotel to pick up the team from Santa Cruz from our home church Grace. I am writing this now from San Jose de Quero- but will post it in Lima- and will write more about this trip soon!

Pray for us as we go go go!

Hey everyone! Just a quick one today but I don't want to get so far behind that I have to write a novel next time!

We've been getting to know the Huanuco/Ambo area a little better these past several days. College Street Baptist Church has let us tag along on their trip. These pros don't need our help when they come to minister as this is their 5th year serving here in Ambo as a Strategy Coordinator Church. However, they are gracious enough to invite us along and introduce us to all the contacts they've made. We visited several pastors in the area for follow-up and for preparations for a March pastor's conference they will be holding. We attended an Alianza service Sunday morning and a Pentacostal service Sunday night. In the Pent. we sang one song for 30 mins. I timed it. Same tune, the words changed about every 5 minutes!

This church is a great encouragement for us and we enjoyed getting to know some new faces on their team. We'll spend the next week or so here in Huanuco with maybe a few day trips and a day to celebrate my birthday.

Here are some prayer requests:

Safety in travel for the College Street Team

Language ability

Health- some allergy issues and stomach aches.

Cameron's sister- she needs about 5 more weeks until she delivers baby #3- and is on bed rest now. Please pray for her protection and the baby's health.

David's Great -Uncle Ed- recovering from surgery- pray for his healing and that he will come to know the Father.

Thanks ya'll! Miss you and appreciate the prayers more than you know!

Hey everyone! We are back in Huanuco and for longer than a few days this time!

We just got back from a trip to Huaraz for a pastors conference. We left early early early Monday morning and made the 7 hour trip with no hiccups! We drove through a National Reserve which was amazing! Huaraz is a beautiful city- with amazing views of snow capped peaks, including the highest mountain in Peru at over 20,000 ft. We spent the rest of Monday settling in and gearing up for the following day. David and I, along with 2 members of Ingleside Church from the US, 2 fabulous translators (what would we do without them) and Reap teammates: Amber, Mindy and Sandi were on day care duty. With over 250 pastors and their wives, we had a boatload of kids! most days we averaged around 85-100. Fortunately, we had a huge yard to keep them in - most importantly with a very high wall and gate to keep them in:) It also had a swing set, jungle gym, basketball court and most popularly a trampoline! The kids were a bit over enthusiastic about the trampoline so that became David's domain- he ran it like a pro carnival ride keeper! Somehow- I got talked into getting up myself (twice) and bounced myself back about 10 years:) We put the trampoline up after the second day to give it a rest- not to mention David. The majority of the kids were so sweet and very well behaved but as always there were a few trouble makers who couldn't stay out of trouble for very long. There is one kid I will never forget- a chubby 3 year old with a Batman t-shirt. Yeah- he got spanked a few times. Don't freak out- we are in Peru, you can spank other peoples kids.

We played a lot of volleyball, soccer, memory card game, colored and tried gamely to keep the peace. I think we did pretty darn good considering our lack of child experience. We all got badly sunburned as we were at 10,000 ft. playing in the sunshine for about 8 hours a day. But it was a good week of hard work and sweet rewards. The kids are so cute and most are so sweet. When you've got a 6 year old kissing your cheek in the cultural greeting of Peru calling you "hermana" (sister) it just melts your heart a little. We enjoyed it- but it is good to be home and have a little rest. We have a church arrive next Thursday- College Street Baptist- who has worked in a town about 20 minutes from us. We will catch up with them as time and opportunity allows- and are looking forward to tagging along. This church is a pro and doesn't need any help from us- but we are glad to ride around with them and are grateful they let us:)

After that David's folks will be coming out to visit and we are looking forward to that. I hope you are all well and know that we miss you! Thanks for praying for us- we need it:)

Prayer Requests:

As always, Language learning (we are getting better!)

Pray for decisions about our future ministry and timing

Pray for Lottie Moon offerings to be sufficient for His work

Pray for our team leaders as they plan the upcoming year's schedule and face the challenges of the diminishing short termers on our team.

Thanks so much!

Nose to the Grindstone...

Hey there! Well we are back at it! On the road more than not, but thankfully the police stops have been much much fewer and we've been safe.

This past week we were able to go back to San Jose de Quero- still probably our favorite place here. Cambridge Baptist Church- partner with Grace Community, arrived Wednesday night and we hit the road Thursday morning. We arrived in Huancayo that afternoon and after being appalled at hotel prices in El Presidente, we settled into Los Balcones. We had dinner and then a few of us braved Plaza Vea (grocery store) which rivals a super Wal-Mart and is ALWAYS packed with people. The next morning we drove the 1.5 hours to San Jose de Quero. We spent the rest of that day setting up meetings and touring the market in Chaquicocha a neighboring town. We took it easy that night- as the first night in that altitude usually has its effect of making everyone sleepy. The next morning, we did some prayer walking around San Jose and ran into all sorts of people that we know there, Elizabeth and her 3 kids, Norma & Alexander, Gomerciendo, and a few others. I always love getting out and walking around out there. Its the closest to feeling at home that I've felt here, pastures and the smell of cows...

We spent the afternoon in Usibamba, meeting with Godofredo and Armenda. The rainy season makes things more challenging. The back roads are slippery to get from town to town, people don't come out as much, and some even leave town to go to Huancayo. This made things more difficult, but I am proud of the team for making the most of every opportunity! After we met with this couple, I was able to call Mama to wish her a happy birthday- which I was glad I could do. Godo. & Armen. have a tienda with a phone and they wouldn't let me pay for the call! They are sometimes difficult to talk with, but they are so welcoming and sweet to us.

Sunday, we headed back to Usibamba to meet with them again in the morning. This time Godofredo invited a young man who had a lot of questions about salvation and the Christian life. We were able to share with him for over two hours and he seemed encouraged and thoughtful about what was shared. We are glad to have made a new contact there and will hopefully be able to follow up with him in March. The afternoon the girls had planned a kids event in de Quero, but rain made attendance a little low. However, the 5 kids that did come seemed to enjoy themselves, singing, playing and listening to the story of Jonah and the whale. David was Jonah in the dramatization:) That evening we had a Bible study with the believers in San Jose and again there weren't many who would come out in the rain but we still had about 8 or so. Don't be quick to judge them for letting rain deter them. They usually only have 1 set of clothing and when they get wet- they stay wet for a long time and its cold up there. Miserable. The time with the group is always a highlight for me- they are a sweet group!

We met the owner of the town's restaurant and he expressed some interest in joining the group and potential leadership. I am still unsure how to take this, given that he's never attended the Bible study but is willing to lead it. However, we encouraged him to meet with the group and pray for the Lord's leading.

Monday we spent the morning walking down to the river- always one of my favorite things to do. It was muddy and the river is way up- overflowing in the canals. There are tons of little flowers blooming now that the rain has started and you wouldn't believe how green it all is! Its like someone plugged it in and now instead of brown its electric green.

That afternoon we visited Santa Rosa- a potential ministry town that has been in the backs of all our minds for a while now. We also made a trip out to San Pedro de Sulcan- a place we've been a few times but have not done anything past showing the Hope film. we just went to look around and ended up talking with the owner of a tienda there named Lydia (no coincidence in the name). Uncle Guy and Aunt Gay and translator Hector had visited there and had lunch one day last March. Hector was with us on this trip and remembered eating there. We came into her shop and began talking. Aunt Gay had enjoyed a green soup that she served there and had told me about it. I mentioned to Lydia that Gay was still talking about what a wonderful soup she had served there and Lydia remembered that it was a green soup. What small impressions can do!! This opened some doors and before long Hector was sharing with her and praying with her to receive Christ. She had the quote of the week saying "no one has come to teach us, we would change if we knew, but no on has taught us." Wow, talk about your open doors huh? We are praying for her and that town and hoping that maybe our churches can do some teaching there.

The next day we departed for Lima, taking a chance on that back way through Yauyos again. The other two times we've taken it, we've encountered serious delays. But promises of completed paving and beautiful views made us take the bait. And third times a charm- because we made record time and it was indeed beautiful! Herds of llama, lakes, racing rivers, flowers blooming everywhere, and less trucks on the road. It was a great trip!

We spent a day in Lima resting and running some errands and then retreated to Huanuco the next day. We are glad to be home at least for a few days. Monday we head to Huaraz for a pastors conference that one of the SC churches is hosting. We are expecting several hundred peruvian pastors and their families.

I think we will be on child care along with several teammates. We are looking forward to seeing the "Alps" of Peru and the city of Huaraz. After that we have some down time here in Huanuco- I'll keep you posted. Here are some things you can be praying for !

• Pray for the believers in San Jose and Usibamba for encouragement and growth and development of leadership.
• Pray for Lydia and her town Sulcan
• Pray for Michel and his mother Berta in Usibamba (the young man we shared with)
• Pray for the Pastor's conference in Huaraz
• Pray for safety in travel
• Pray for guidance and wisdom for us in reference to extending and the future of REAP North as short term missionaries' terms end.
• Pray for continued language learning!

Thanks so much to all of you!