Matthew's 13th birthday!

Matthew's birthday was on October 5th but he wanted to celebrate his birthday with his Grandma and Grandpa who arrived in Peru on October 12th. We went to "Jockey Plaza" which is one of the largest malls in Peru.

Here Matthew is waiting for his Starbuck's coffee to be made.

Peru's form of Chuck-E--Cheese is "Happy Land".

Nisha doing her best to win tickets by shooting targets with the water gun.

Of course, Matthew's favorite was the basketball shooting game.

Grandpa even got involved with the bumper cars. What a bang of time that turned out to be.

Back at the apartment, the family had some cake and ice cream with some games.

Just having some family fun!

Matthew racing with the three man skis in the youth group.

Photo with a pringle mascot in the grocery store.

Becca enjoying making sculptures with clay.

Twins wearing their new dresses given as gifts from the States.

Enjoying good fellowship with the Greenwood Family.

Play time in the dirt near the animals.

Becca's two favorite classes in school are Bible and Art.

The children combine their M&M's to design different things before eating them (getting to play with their food).

9-11 remembrance service at the American Embassy in Peru

On 9/11 Jon went to the American Embassy here in Peru for a memorial service.

A tree was planted in the courtyard with a plaque in memory of the attacks on U.S. soil by terrorists.

I was able to hold the emblem from the pulpit for a picture.

This is Jon with the American Ambassador in Peru, Rose M. Likins.

Jon with the Ex-President of Peru, Alan Garcia

The Marines marching in the Flag for the National Anthem and pledge.

A Peruvian children's choir who performed songs for the ceremony.

School - School - and more School

We were asked by our children when will we ever be done with school?!

What would make them think that there is an end to schooling? We, the parents, are in Spanish school while our children have started another year of homeschooling. I mentioned to them that elementary years prepare you for junior high and junior high prepares you for high school and high school prepares you for college and college prepares you for seminary and seminary prepares you for the school of life and you will be in that school until you die. So, "Buck up buttercup and deal with it!" (one of Nisha's mother's favorite sayings!) School is a place of learning.

Spanish Class

Nathan in 6th Grade

Becca and Katie in 4th Grade

Matthew in 7th Grade

Sermon illustration of "Holding the rope"

Pastor Joe Kotvas called our son Matthew up to illustrate "holding the ropes" during his sermon on Sunday. Matthew put his foot in the loop hole and held on with his hands while men in the church hoisted him up to the ceiling. It was a good reminder of the blessing of having supporting churches holding the ropes for us and also a good reminder that we need to be holding the ropes of others in need as well. Acts 9:25 says "Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket."

Celebrating our birthdays with our Adult Sunday School Class

Our adult Sunday School class celebrates birthdays every three months and since Nisha and Jon had their birthdays in June, we were able to celebrate them at the end of August.

Cory Ricker and his wife Melissa brought a cake for all to enjoy.

The final approval of our childrens visa's

Traveling to the immigration building for our final approval with our children's visa'. We are getting used to cramming into one car.

The children needed to be finger-printed and photographed for their identification cards (carnet).

After being finger-printed and photographed, their paper work was submitted for printing. Of course I noticed one of their filing rooms (pictured below) while waiting and became worried that it could be a long wait.

It ended up being one of our quickest trips to immigration. We walked out with our carnet cards in hand within an hour and a half. Praise the Lord!

Street Preaching in Peru

On Saturday, September 3rd, the church (Efata Baptist) gathered together near city hall for an evangelistic push. We walked the streets passing out tracts as a family before the meeting. There were two preaching times along with the church choir singing and other special music. What a blessing to read through tracts with some Peruvians. Many members of the church had the privilege of leading their first soul to the Lord. There were at least twelve decisions for salvation.

Nathan joined others passing out tracts to people in vehicles when they stopped for the red light.