Days are flying....

Sorry y'all. But, our days are flying by with just trying to keep up with language, culture and then the normal school business for our kids. And they don't even have afterschool activities!

So, again, sorry for not posting until today.

We're all now in full force with our tutor schedules. We are engaging as best we can clearly with much help from our Father and Lord as we begin to develop friendships and relationships with our neighbors, landlord, and other folks we see daily or weekly, like at the close by grocery store called "Wong".

Our apartment (departamento) is actually a part of the same building as Wong's. So, it's great to go shopping when we need to and to practice our Espanol too!

Not to mention all of the taxis and combis (Peruvian buses) that we take everywhere since we have no car. I like it, to be honest. I like not having a car. It can be, at times, an inconvience, but overall, it's really not that difficult a change.

I'll have to get pics to you all of the taxis and combis and Wongs...daily life, so that you can see what life is like here. Oh, and the kids' school (colegio), too!

All for now!
Jim

Thanks everyone for your comments on that last post. You are a great encouragement to me.

This week starts our first full-time week with our spanish tutor. I'm looking forward to it. I feel the pain of not being able to speak...to communicate with folks.

However, God continues to encourage us in the day to day details.

We took pics of our new pad the other day so I hope to post them very soon.

We celebrated Easter today even though it is not a big deal in Peru at all. Most folks at the church where we worship weren't doing anything special for today. We gathered together with the Lima New City Team and a family of Peruvian brothers and sisters to celebrate. We had....spaghetti! Of course.

We had fun coloring eggs and hunting for them, too. Funny, huh?

I'm tired (since I'm on Nyquil) so I'm gonna go

Using My Spanish

Okay. So, here we are in full swing, now. The kids are somewhat settling into their new school with helpers/tutorings beginning to get in place to help them with their spanish. God is always so kind and good.

Sara and I have now had 4 classes with our Spanish tutor and she is very sweet and helpful...and good at what she does.

The thing now? That I humble myself and come to the realization that I just need to speak...I just need to do it - to go out and speak to people: taxi drivers, cashiers, neighbors, Peruvian team members and fellow church members; and plan on making a million mistakes so that eventually I can "get it."

Pray for me. Sara's much better at this side of things than I am.

But, I NEED to do this. I want to do this. I really do becuase I want to RELATE to Peruvians heart to heart as best as possible. But, there's this fear and insecurity and pride. Lord Jesus...Father...please help me!

Time flies....I didn't realize that it's been 3-4 days since my last entry. I was so sick early this week. My stomach was finally feeling good yesterday. It was a nice treat.

Today, we start learning Spanish! yay!

Our tutor/teacher is so sweet. We're looking forward to learning from her.

Language is becoming more and more an issue at school for our kids, though. We need to find help (a tutor) for them very soon so they don't get too far behind. We tried to get someone yesterday but she couldn't do it. We're beginning to get a little concerned. And yet...

...how many times has our Father worked out details as we've come to Him asking for His help.

"...an ever-present help in times of trouble." Psalm 46:1

Lima is a big city. I mean, it's really big. I know that there are at least 10 million people here and growing. But, as you drive around you can see the bigness of it.

Plus, I hope I'm not being too critical here, Lima is a very dirty place. There's always dust everywhere in light of the fact that this is dessert territory. Pollution is the norm, specifically from cars. I'm still not used to that smell yet. It turns your stomach.

We have our own place now. Just moved in last Friday. It's a temporary deal while we wait for a house to open up. This is a cool place: it's two bedrooms, a big living room ("sala" in Spanish) and dining room ("comidor") combined and then a galley kitchen. Plus, we're a 1 minute walk from one of the main grocery stores in Lima: "Wong." Good location.

So, here it is - my “cultural illness” has hit me...a 2nd time.

I knew my body had to begin adjusting sometime...and here it is...in full force.

Lord, have mercy...please...

Sara's Birthday!!!

Happy birthday to Sara,
Happy birthday to Sara,
Happy birthday to Sara,
Happy birthday to Sara!

First Day (Almost) of School

As the kids were going to bed tonight they could hardly contain their excitement over tomorrow's 1st Day of school. They've been asking us how long until they start and now it's finally here. They begin their new adventure with new Peruvian friends.

The reality is that the work load and the spanish on top of it will be hard, and sometimes it will drive them and us to utter frustration and weariness. But, that doesn't take away the joy of this new adventure that God our Dear Father has given us the opportunity to experience and be a part of.

Rejoice in the Lord always.

Today, I rejoice in the Lord because He is RICH in love and shows kindness to us even though what I (we) deserve is so much the opposite.

So, La Molina Christian School...here we come! :)