Getting settled in, poco a poco

We have been in Peru now for 2 full weeks and in our new apartment for a week and a half. We are beginning to get settled here in our new Home.
As settled as one could be while hardly being able to communicate.  We are able to get to school and to the store on our own, but have had help getting to church on Sundays. "Poco a poco" or "little by little" has become our theme.

Becky and I have had a week of classes now.  Pride went out the window on the first day. It makes you feel really good when the professor has to correct you when spelling your own name (I didn't even get the first letter right). " Poco a poco". We are starting to make a little progress. I think we have our ABC's and 123's down. Today we learned how to tell time and I know how to say I eat and I run and Becky knows how to answer the question "Tu tienes un novio?". Try Google Translate you will have a laugh. It took her awhile to answer. Sitting in class the other day I was reminded  of the song I used to sing as a child. It says, "He's still working on me, to make me what I ought to be".  Two years from now He will still be sharpening my ability to communicate and molding me into the servant that He needs me to be. I hope you too will allow God to form you as you press on in your journey wherever that may be.

The girls are doing great. Alexis loves going to church and comes home talking about her friends at church. It doesn't seem to bother Lexi that she can't communicate with words. The girls love their new baby sitter, Karla. Karla comes from 12:30 to 5:30 to watch the girls while we are in class. She knows a few words in English but for the most part she speaks in Spanish. Alexis has learned the word "cuidado" from Karla. I think for some reason she hears that word alot. I don't know if it has something to do with the altitude or what, but Hailey got her first two teeth the week before we traveled here and now has decided to cut four more teeth  all on the top all at once. Three of them have cut through in the last few days and the next one is about to surface. Despite her new crop of teeth she has been a pretty good kid and even sleeps through the night most nights in her  new bed.  She can now crawl with the best of them. She hasn't shown much interest in walking; though I don't think it will be long before she realizes that it is a much better form of transportation.

All in all we are doing great, but we have a long way to go. We thank you for your prayers and  support. Please continue to pray as we submerse ourselves more and more into a new culture so that we can better understand the people that we are here to serve.

That is all for now.

Adios mis amigos.

Our New Home

11 0'clock local time (12 am eastern standard time) we set foot for the first time in Peru. After a short nights sleep we were up and off to do some paper work (with the help of  Edwin) to start our residency process. After lunch we were able to sit and relax and the girls were able to catch up on some much needed sleep. We are staying at the Nazarene Office in Lima. The main floor has a small apartment for us to stay in. In the morning we will pick up some of our paperwork across town before heading back to the airport for our final flight to Arequipa. Tomorrow we should get to see our new apartment that will be our home for the next 2 years, but it is without furniture so we will be staying in a hotel for a few nights.

The girls are doing well. Alexis is out playing with one of the little girls who's father works here at the office. And Becky is in heaven the neighbors are ordering pizza and have invited us to join them for dinner.

More updates coming soon as we continue our journey to our new home.

Set for departure!

Just last week we received final approval and were able to set a date for departure. We will be flying out of Columbus Monday morning March 14th. That night we will arrive in Lima, Peru, There we will stay for two nights so that we can begin our residency paper work. Wednesday afternoon we will then be on our way to our final destination in Arequipa, Peru. At  this point we are not to 100% of our goal needed to cover expenses for a family of 4 for 2 years. We are ready to go do God's work and we have faith that God will provide. He has already shown His mighty power. In just 2 short months we have received over $50,000.00 in pledges to be given over the next 2 years. Without these pledges our involvement in the Extreme Peru Project would not be possible. Thank you very much to those who have given. Please be in prayer for the remainder of what is needed.

Living Extreme