Taking the dogs to the vet

Our dogs needed to be taken to the vet for their shots. This is the second trip for them and I think they remembered the first trip. I can only imagine their thoughts from the pictures below would be something like this...

Do I have to get another shot from this guy? I promise to obey right away if ...

(Jon says "oh stop it and just take your medicine")

Okay but that doesn't mean that I have to like it.

Getting time off of the Mountains

The first week of October presented an opportunity for us to take our son, Matthew, with us to Lima. 

We needed to complete some paperwork with our lawyer concerning our residency as well as get some wanted supplies. It also happened to be our son's 14th birthday on October 5th which gave us a reason to celebrate in a special way.

Matthew loves it when he is able to go to starbuck's for some coffee which isn't often since his parents don't drink coffee at all.

I had to take a picture of the things that my wife was checking out with at the grocery store. Notice all the candy bars and than a toothbrush and toothpaste.

Nisha makes good home-made pizza but that doesn't stop us from finding a Pizza-Hut stuffed crust when we come into the city (which is 22 hours by car off the mountains).

Matthew asked for the opportunity to spend time with his friends at the ministry EFATA where we received tutoring in our Spanish.

How far can you stretch your cheese stick before it breaks?

Cake and ice-cream on his birthday accompanied by waitresses singing to him.

A Peruvian food wrapped in bananna tree leaves that is cooked in the ground with hot rocks is called "Pachamanca". We enjoyed our meal with chicken, potatoes, and variety of other vegetables cooked for us from the spot pictured below.

Notice that upon returning to the mountains, Matthew picks up some Dunkin Donuts and McDonald's food to take back with us.

One of the traditions in Peru for teenage birthdays is to crack eggs over their heads and throw flour on them. Another tradition is for that person to eat a bite of his cake without using his hands which many times results in another person pushing his face into the cake.  Of course Matthew's brother and sisters didn't want him to miss out on these traditions. Matthew took it all with a good spirit. 

Motorcycle racing in Andahuaylas, Peru

Just a couple of blocks behind our house is a race track. Each year the town hosts races with drivers from other countries coming to face each other. We were able to witness the races this year up close. They had four wheelers and motorcycles all throughout the day competing in all different ages and experience. The girls even enjoyed it for a short while. They are pictured below watching the races from a tree and talking with new Peruvian friends. 

 Nathan is by far the most interested in racing of all our family and was not shy about getting up close to the action.

 The more experienced riders entertained the crowd with tricks.

Overall a good time with my children. Taking advantage of the few events throughout the year that come into our area. The Valley here can make you feel secluded from the outside areas after awhile.

Baptisms at the lake in September

We rejoice in hearing of 21 salvation professions within the last three months. Some of them were college students who went back home or others who were just visiting the area. Nine of them were baptized at the lake in September after sharing their salvation testimonies with those from the church who came out to witness the baptisms. 

 It's always an enjoyable time at the lake especially with other Christians to fellowship with games, food, singing, and baptisms. The picture below is of Katie using her paint to paint rocks and shells with other Peruvian children.

Fun past times with the church family

We weekly have activities at our house and it has helped in building relationships with the church teens and neighbors.

We have recently put up a boxing bag for those who need to let off a little steam or just have some fun

 Outside patio lights allow us to play volleyball for our evening activities now!

 For those few who don't like to play sports, there is always the dogs who enjoy the attention.

Jon and Matthew play some foosball at a park and gather attention.

Holidays celebrated

While living in a nation with a deep history of Catholicism, many follow the traditions that have been passed down over the years without understanding what they are truly representing. On the mountain just behind our house is a white Catholic church that I have been told is opened two times each year for special occasions. When it is opened on these holidays, it is revealing how many from the valley go up to participate in the ceremonies of mass, confessions, burning of candles, bands, venders, fireworks, etc...

The picture below is an area of venders on the grounds. Our "gringo" girls get a lot of looks for being white and having a different color of hair. The white sign in the back of the picture with red letters caught my eye because it is quoting the Bible from John 2:16 which states "And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise"; but there were venders everywhere. 

Many bought candles and used the rocks to make shrines to burn their candles.

 A couple of tents with bands singing, parade floats of statues, and mass taking place on the grounds.