La Playa

We were invited by the owner of our house to her beach house for the weekend. We went having no idea what to expect, nor much about her because here in Arequipa she works 10 hours a day and we have never really gotten to know each other. We soon found out that she and her husband own the biggest rice company in the South of Peru. Here people live very simply and the only companies with big enough profit margins to afford things like commercials and billboards are those who sell milk or rice. Needless to say, we experienced a life in Peru very different from what we have come to know so far.

We stayed in her beachfront house. 67 houses were lined on the sand on a private beach, replete with security, lifeguards and beach-front bar. We spent three days lounging under the 10x10 bamboo canopy, coming inside for meals that her 2 full-time maids prepared for us. In the afternoons we sat with she and her friends on the second-floor patio while they drank and talked, being waited on hand and foot. Their 16 year old daughter loaned us her cuad to drive up and down the miles of sand under the sunset. What an experience!

Eliana-Spanish Speaker!

Today Eliana spent a few hours with our friend Carol and her 7 year old daughter Luana. When I got home I heard the following report:

The amount of Spanish that I hear Eliana speak is not a fraction of what she will speak when alone with Spanish speakers. She passed the day without saying one word in English nor lacking in things to talk about. She even said one word that shocked Carol because it was quite a sophisticated word. The highlight was when Luana went up the stairs and Ellie, wanting her to continue playing, said in Spanish (with correct grammar), "Don't go upstairs, Luana...Don't go upstairs...HEY! I told you not to go upstairs!!!" To which she was responded with a reproachful look; and she corrected herself saying, "Okay, it's okay that you go up."

That may not sound like much, but to our language-learning ears we recognize that she used imperative, indicative and subjunctive forms CORRECTLY! Go Eliana!

Face Your Fears!

I've never been the most outgoing of personalities. Although I see myself as a strong person on the inside, there are so many insecurities that dominate the exterior. I'm discovering that living in a different culture will cause me to confront them. Here's one example:

I'm an observer. I love learning cultures, evaluating, discerning. One of the most uncomfortable things for me is to walk into a room and immediately call attention to myself without having time to take everything in and figure out my place in the environment. I realize now that my primary goal when entering a new situation was to become invisible as quickly as possible and scope it out so that I could join into what was happening without disrupting it. Here, that instinctual urge is impossible. In the US we focus on greeting people, welcoming newcomers and integrating them into the whole. Here it is the responsibility of the person who arrived to immediately greet with a kiss each and every person in the room, whether you know them or not.

I know that this is one of millions of changes to my life, but it is a perfect example of the way God uses change (cultural or what-not) to cause me to know myself, face myself and hopefully in doing so change little by little into His likeness.

-heather

Rough week to be 16 months

It has been a rough week to be 16 months old, and if I could talk this is what I would say:

Well first things first, on my 16 month birthday I am very content crawling. I walk a lot holding two or just one hand of my mom, dad and friends, but when they put their hands under my shoulders to help me I don't buy it - I know they are going to try to make me do it on my own. My favorite thing to do is climb stairs. I like to do it alone on my hands and knees. You would think that this is where my first problem happened this week, but no.


The family was bustling around in the kitchen, I was enjoying an apple, sitting on a chair when my sister came by and wanted me to come and play, so she took my hands and pulled. Well before I could catch myself I was diving into the tile floor headfirst from the chair.... I cried. Mom picked me up and cared for me, but not until 5 minutes later when dad (after dealing with my sister - she was crying) came to see where I hit my head did they notice the bump... a large golf ball on my forehead. Mom and Dad began to scramble to find my friends mom's number - she is a pediatrician. They couldn't reach her and decided to just drop by her house. We jumped in a taxi for the short trip and arrived at my friend Constantino's house; (he is 7 months old and we crawl all over the place together). Well after a few minutes of lights in my eyes and them watching me play they sent me home and said I would be fine. They said I was lucky, no passing out or vomiting. Since then the bump has gone down and turned into a funny-colored bruise.

A fun stage of development for me is that I am beginning to communicate. People say that because I spend most of my time in two languages my speech will develop slower; I seem to like to listen more than talk. But these last couple weeks I spent a lot of time with my family and I am pointing more and making noises like questions instead of crying for things.

Well now comes the next big one this week... Just to make everything clear... I am fine, no problems and I have been seen and talked about by many Doctors who are giving my mom and dad great advice... back to the story... Since I don't walk alone yet, lots of people like to help me when I ask, especially my parents and teachers at "school". On Monday I went back to school for the first time in a couple weeks; it was great to see my teachers and some of my friends. I had a good day being held, "cruising" from table to table and playing with kids. Snack is always a highlight... well the next thing I know I am in pain and don't know why. I sat in the arms of my teacher for the rest of the time until Mom and Dad came to get me. When they arrived I just cried. It was strange, because I never feel this way and Mom and Dad were shocked with wonder. My teacher said my stomach was upset because of gas... Well when we got home my mom and dad noticed my arm wasn't moving. Dad threw a ball to me and though I played with one arm, I sure refused move the other - it hurt! I didn't want to eat so mom and dad let me take my nap. After my nap I still didn't want to move my arm. Mom and Dad took me to Constantino's house again and his mom and dad knew exactly what was wrong. I had dislocated my elbow. Constantino's mom came over, moved my arm... I cried... and then after a few minutes of them working hard to get me to use it on my own (I wasn't going to because I thought it would hurt to move) all of a sudden I moved it and it didn't hurt anymore!.. all was back to normal. Amazing... I like doctors! - except when they come at me with those sharp pointing things.

Well that is how I spent the first week of my life as a 16 month old. My auntie is looking into how my mom and dad could help me strengthen my muscles to help me to walk, but I think: I will walk when I want! :) thanks for praying for me. God is here, and He's keeping me safe.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

Last night we had the best New Year's Eve in years, mainly because we stayed up (a big deal for parents of babies!) and played with lots of kids and their parents. Eliana lit her first sparkler at midnight! We have to say, fireworks must be the best part of Peruvian holidays - in your front yard, like it was years ago in the States.

Peruvian New Years traditions include fireworks, wearing yellow for good luck, burning old things as a sign of starting over, and playing a lot of good-luck games, wishing for fortune and a better life.

Personally our wishes for the New Year are not for a better life, but more appreciation of the life we have. Our resolutions are not resolutions to do more, be better and fix things, but to do less, enjoy more, and rest in the mighty hands of God.

December Photos and Videos

Here are some Photos and Videos from December.

Beach Photos

Beach Videos

December 2007 Photos

Ill be home for Christmas

This might be a little sad; skip it if your are not in the mood! :)

I'll be home for Christmas
You can count on me
Please have snow and mistletoe
And presents under the tree
Christmas Eve will find me
Where the love light beams
I'll be home for Christmas
If only in my dreams

This song never meant anything to me.... until this Christmas. I recall sitting in 95degree heat on the patio of a beautiful little cottage in a remote beach city of Peru. In hearing this song, the last line rang more true then i could ever imagine. We spent Christmas with good friends from the language school. Their daughter Anna and Eliana are the same age, communicate in Spanish and fight most of the time, but are best friends. We also joined three other German families totaling 13 kids and 10 adults. Having a crowd might have been the only familiar thing this Christmas, but all the changes left us to focus on Emmanuel, the meaning of Christmas.

I got some iTunes credit for Christmas and bought the new David Crowder Album "Remedy"

These lyrics ring true-

Here, you are now
With us here
We are found
In You

And this makes all the difference
This changes everything
Making our whole life existence
Worth something...


Although we, our parents, brothers and sisters all experienced something very different this year for Christmas, we are extremely blessed to be were we are are doing what we are doing. We received an abundance of love from our family and from our friends (new and old) this Christmas.

No matter where you are in the world, the day is the same... a celebration of the Birth of God on earth. We are blessed to be able to celebrate and experience Emmanuel, God with us, in Peru.