A Different Pace

This week has been a little different than most weeks. We have had our two hours of Spanish in the morning, but no other class follows, as would normally be the case. Also, this week, there is a work group from South Carolina that is helping the Carlton’s build their new church building in Manchay and is hosting Bible clubs in the afternoon. After finishing our Spanish in the morning, it has been great to help in Manchay. The other ARRIBA girls and I have helped serve lunch to the workers, gather children for the club, and taking part in the club by singing, helping with crafts, and translating a bit. All in all, it has been nice to fellowship with other brothers and sisters in Christ and to take part in my first Bible club here in Peru.

When Pigs go to School

Students around Lima have been rejoicing since this last weekend. It was announced late last week that all classes would be suspended until August 3rd. This took affect July 15th. This suspension occurred because of the presence of “AH1N1” (the swine flu here in Peru) in the schools. The government is trying to control the spreading of this flu. There have been a few people who have contracted this flu and died, but had health problems previous to their contracting “AH1N1.” Though people are nervous about the spreading of this influenza, the students are enjoying their time off. Normally, their summer break begins in December, so this is a short winter break for them. This suspension is only for the kindergarten through the high school, so yes, I still am going to classes each day.

Making Melody in Your Hearts

After rolling out of my warm bed two Sundays ago, I was greeted by the familiar sound of Pastor Antenor (my host father) singing. He was singing and whistling familiar hymns as he woke up his daughters and called them to breakfast. While we were sitting at the table half-awake, Pastor came in with a wide, bright smile on his face as he greeted us all enthusiastically, “¡Buenos días, Chicas!” After a somewhat mumbled response, he explained how enjoyable it is to sing praises to God in the morning. I let the comment pass by until this last Sunday. The night before I didn’t get to bed until after two in the morning, but as I helped María in the kitchen before breakfast, I couldn’t help but sing. Let me tell you, that singing and joyfulness stayed with me the rest of the day. Though in the morning you feel as though you just want to sleep, let me encourage you to sing praise to your God. It will brighten your day as you think about all He’s done for you and of what praise He is worthy.

Three Strikes...You're Out!

Peruvians depend very heavily on the bus system, because most Peruvians do not own their own vehicles. Since the buses are very necessary, it is a problem when there are days that the buses do not run. For example, two weeks ago there was a paro (a strike) where the buses did not run for an entire day. Taxis were available, but the ladies that I normally go with each morning and I walked for about a half an hour before we even found a taxi that was willing to take us to our desired location. In other places in Lima, people destroyed parked buses with stones and fists. When we found out the next week that the strike was going to run for two consecutive days and was supposed to be worse than the last one, we knew that something needed to be done. The strike was going to be held part way through the week, so how were we supposed to make it to Fetzer Memorial Christian School (were we have a special ARRIBA building for our classes) each morning? Because the school year had ended at Fetzer early this month, and the teachers were moved out from their apartments on campus, the three other ARRIBA girls and I got to stay on campus for two nights. The language helpers (that we normally have) had a day off, while some other tutors who lived nearby were able to come. The Morrells, the professor and his wife, had the apartment behind the classroom, so they had no problem getting in in the morning. We all made it through the strikes and were thankful for the place available for us to stay. With the three strikes, we were out of our Peruvian homes. It felt so good to get back to them just after the two days we were gone.

A Stranger

With my time in Peru, thus far, I have come to realize just how much of an outsider I am. A tall, blonde American girl walking down a Peruvian street is quite a contrast to the shorter, darker population of Peru. There have been many times when I wished I could just blend in and not be the object of so many people's stares and comments, but it is in those times when I cannot help but think of my position on this earth. I am a stranger, not just in Peru, but in the world. My true home is in heaven, and I am only on this earth for a time. Just as I feel like a stranger in Peru, I ought to feel like a stranger on this earth. I ought stand out in a dark world, because I have the light of the world within me. Though being a practicing Christian in the world is not always easy, so being an American in a different culture is not always easy. The language is different, the customs are different, and the people look different. Yet, reflecting on all of these things, comes a good reminder to seek those things which are above rather than the things that are in the world. Heaven is where my true citizenship is, and my passport (or the way to enter heaven) is only through the precious blood of God's only begotten Son.

A Taste of Peru

As was already mentioned, Hermana Maria is a wonderful cook. She works so efficiently around the kitchen without having a refrigerator or an oven. It amazes me at how quickly a meal from scratch is put together. To a Peruvian, a meal is not a meal unless there is rice, therefore, with dinner at home, the rice is piled high with normally chicken on top and a vegetable sauce on the side. Besides rice, limones (limes) are a favorite. Limes are normally on the table or nearby to put in your soup, your drink, or over your rice. Some of my favorite things with lime are the fresh-squeezed limeade and raw red onions with lime and salt. During the week, the other ARRIBA students and I are responsible for making our own lunches, so each Monday, we get to go shopping in a three-story supermarket. Some of the things that I have enjoyed experiencing are drinkable yogurt (found in a half-gallon sized milk container), the seemingly endless supply of fresh fruits and vegetables, and the breads that are still hot when you stick it in your paper sack. After disinfecting the fruits, fresh fruit salad has been one of my favorite dishes. Of course, there are some things that are not my favorites, but are still good, like: drinkable oatmeal, large, strong black olives, and pica (a very hot pepper). I have been so thankful for God´s provision in helping me adjust to odd hours of mealtimes as well. During the week, supper is normally around 7:00-7:30 pm, but on the weekend, it is rare to eat before 10:00 pm. Eating at that time, though, makes you grateful for the amount of rice on your plate. After talking about all of this food, I hope your mouth isn´t watering too much :)

A Feel of Peru

Each morning as I roll out of my nice, warm bed, I thank God that the house has hot water, granted, I have to wake up an hour earlier to actually turn it on, but it is hot nonetheless. After going through my normal morning routine, the bus ride to the ARRIBA center quickly jostles me awake an gears my mind for another day. Let me put it this way, the members of the road crew do not fear their job security. The bus driver, with incredible skill, winds amongst the largest holes and hits all the ¨little¨ ones in between. My favorite section on my bus route is the road between tow of the districts of Lima separating Ate (where I live) and Santa Anita (another district). In this particular section, each governing part of each of the districts claims that it is the other´s responsibilityñ therefore, for a couple hundred feet, the bus bounces, bumps, and creaks along the rock-strewn ¨road.¨Along with the bumping of the buses comes the crowdedness fo the buses as well. The Peruvians have a philosophy of, ¨There´s always room for one more.¨ This philosophy, I´m sure had to originate on the bus routes. At times, there will be people jammed into a bus meant only for half the number of people actually on the bus. People are pressed so closely to each other, at times, that it is almost impossible to move, let alone to get off the bus at your desired location when you are in the back of the bus. Numerous times in getting off the bus, the pain in my head reminds me that I am not Peruvian. I think though, the greatest feeling is the saludar (a slight kiss on the cheek upon meeting someone) given to sisters in Christ. How wonderful it has been to fellowship with brothers and sisters in Christ. What a great reminder of the omnipresence of God.