Saturday, January 26, 2019

Kid Interview

I asked the kids some questions about our upcoming move to Peru.  Here's what they said...

1. What are you most excited about in moving to Peru?
       Alaina (5 yo): “It's warm a whole bunch!”

       Annabelle (6 yo): “Going to the beach and wearing our new clothes.” (I reminded her,
      “But we're not going to live near a beach.” She replied, “I know, but when we visit one.”)

       Michael (4 yo): “Getting new shoes.”

       John Paul (8 yo): “New things to see.”

       Merrilee (2 yo): “Jesus. Mommy. Daddy.”

       Robert (11 yo): “Just getting there and that it'll be warm.”

2. What are you nervous about?
       Michael: “Talking.” (in Spanish)

       John Paul: “Mosquitoes”

       Robert: “Getting a bad sickness.”

       Merrillee: “Two!”

       Annabelle: “Mosquitoes and getting a bad sickness.”

       Alaina: “Mosquitoes and getting sick.”


3. What do you think is going to be hard about moving to Peru?
       Annabelle: “Not seeing my friends.”

       Alaina: “Not getting treats on the ride because they're too sticky.”

       Robert: “Not seeing Zack and no warm water.”

       John Paul: “No warm water.”

       Michael: “Not getting treats.”

       Merrilee: “Not getting treats.” (repeating what she heard last.)


4. What do you think is going to be fun about moving to Peru?
       John Paul: “The bugs! Playing with them.”

       Robert: “Our free times are going to be awesome and bonding with Augustine is going to be
       awesome too!”

       Michael: “Eat bugs!” (Who knew that a kid who turns his nose up at enchiladas would think to
       say that eating bugs is going to be fun. Also note that it is unknown where he got the idea that
       bugs are a popular protein source in a Peruvian diet.)

       Annabelle: “The pretty beach at sunset.” (This girl can't get her mind off the beach.)

       Alaina: “Going hiking in the jungle and going to the beach.”
 

5. How do you feel about learning Spanish?
       Alaina: “Happy!”

       John Paul: “Happy.”

       Robert: “Nothing. Not excited but not bummed about it either.”

       Michael: “Happy.”

       Annabelle: “Happy.”

       Merrilee: “Learning Spanish!”


6. What's something you already know how to say in Spanish?
       Michael: “Uno, dos, tres” (one, two three)

       Robert: “Hola! Me llamo Roberto.” (Hi! My name is Robert.)

       John Paul: “Hola! Cómo estás? (Hi! How are you?)

       Alaina: “Buenos días! Alabare a mi Señor Jesus!” (Good morning! Praise my Lord Jesus!” <---
       part of a song they learned while in Mexico)

       Merrilee: “Buenos dias!” (Good morning!)

       Annabelle: “Baja al rio.” (Go down to the river <--- part of another song we learned in Mexico)

 

Sunday, January 13, 2019

Recap of the Past Two Months

 

 
It's been almost two months since our last blog post so I'll give a quick recap of what has happened since. We ended our time in Mexico with another group of Americans that came down for a week-long mission trip. This was over the week of Thanksgiving. It was a busy week of work projects during the day and visits to the neighboring ranchos in the evening. One of the traditions at the mission house in General Cepeda is to invite the townspeople for a traditional Thanksgiving feast on Thanksgiving Day. It was estimated that more than 200 people showed up to eat turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, stuffing, cranberries, and more. One older lady said on her way out the door, “Here, I never go hungry.”

Serving guests at the mission house on Thanksgiving.
Once we got back to Big Woods (FMC's home base in Louisiana), we had time to learn a little more about our new mission post in Peru. We were also given the opportunity to meet most of the missionaries who have been serving in Peru for the past year or longer as they were back for a “Year in Review” retreat. The group in Peru will consist of a women's team of four, a men's team of four, and three families, after all of us newbies get there.

Some of the Peru missionaries.  Missing 1 family, 1 single guy, 1 single girl, and a bunch of kids.
On December 5th, our family along with all of the people we've been going through Intake with, were formally commissioned as foreign missionaries. The next day started our month-long break. We went back to Florida to stay with Robert's parents during that time. It was a busy month full of finalizing our packing, continued fundraising, getting necessary documents for the visas we'll need, and even a week-long visit from some friends. 
 
Getting some time at the beach with friends.
 
The boys helping Robert load up our car with all our suitcases to head back to Louisiana.
We came back to Louisiana this past week to finish the last two weeks of our training. During this time we're getting talks that are pertinent to the transition period that we'll go through after moving to our mission post.
 
The kids were excited to come back and see their friends.
Although our training ends on the 19th, we likely won't be flying out to Peru until late February or early March due to the long processing time for one of the documents that we need in order to get our visas. We were disappointed about this to begin with but have come to accept it as part of God's plan, and that He must have some reason to keep us back for a little while longer.
 
Some things we still have to figure out (which may not happen until we get there) are: when and where we'll go to language school, if we'll have a house ready for us to move into or if we'll have to find one ourselves, how soon we'll be able to get a vehicle, and making a preliminary daily, weekly, and monthly schedule.
 
We welcome any and all prayers for a smooth transition to Peru, for the spiritual and physical needs of the people we will meet, and for our spiritual protection as we attempt to claim the area we live in for Christ!