The Chapmans in Peru

Trip to Ecuador

Some of you heard we went to Quito, Ecuador. We needed to leave the country to get the Visa's of the kids. So we thought we would visit our friends in Quito. After all the work to plan the trip, the visas weren't ready. So we went on the trip (tickets were so cheap they couldn't be changed).

We had a VERY relaxing and fun time. This is the Gonzales family, Benny, Patty, Ashley and Trinity. We met them in Colorado at our missionary training. It was so fun, and we were all loved on, especially the kids. Josiah learned how to bark like a dog while we were there. He barks everytime he sees a dog now.

Heather and I visited the "Center of the World"

We stopped by a park on our layover in Guayaquil, Ecuador. Yes it is a Iguana park with them wondering all over. We just observed, there was no touching by the chapmans.

Father's Day - Father of THREE!

This Father's Day John is a father of three! This week we had the chance to catch a few peeks of the new little one, who is 12 weeks and due on December 20.

Since John's favorite thing in the world is a hearty breakfast (picked up by his own Dad,) we treated John to a restaurant breakfast of Eggs Benedict, coffee and waffles at an awesome place by the beach.

Afterwards the kids played together at a nearby park so happily and peacefully as John and I sat back and took stock of our great family and remembered how great it is to be a parent!

Father's Day Highlight:
At breakfast I interviewed Eliana (3 1/2). Here are some of her responses.
What are you really, really good at?
- Painting
What is Daddy really, really good at?
- Holding me
How tall is Daddy?
- (Excitedly) As BIG as those things!!!! (umbrellas above us. John stood and she was exactly right.)
What did Daddy like to do before he was a Daddy?
- He just waited for God to make me. (Very true, we both thought.)

Trip to the Zoo

Yesterday my new friend Emico invited us to the zoo. Her son Jesus is in Ellie's class and they are becoming great friends. The zoo is beautiful, arranged by the three regions of Peru: mountains, jungle and coast (plus an international section) and showed vegetation and animal life from each region. Because the conditions are poor it makes for an experience both sad and incredible because you are very close to the animals.

I was physically awed by the panthers - how regal, beautiful and powerful they were, just 20 feet away.

After taking this picture, this lion got up and roared at me (startled by the flash, maybe?) John and I jumped back and Josiah cried. Who wouldn't, given how close we were? (See next picture)

Turtles "just like Mimi's!"

Sleepy Bears

Peruvian leopards. They had three or four different species!

Josiah's growing up

Two months ago Josiah took steps that would finally convert him into a walker. Since then he's started signing some baby signs, consistently communicating yes and no and the words that he knows, and this morning said, "Apple, More" and then smiled his, "Im so proud of myself" smile. He is thriving on the stability we've had, finally being in our own home with a regular schedule with no major travel plans. Its so fun to get to know more of this joyful little toddler!

- In his house that he loves. Made just for him out of a box by his Daddy.

- You know you hand-mop the floor a lot when your 1 1/2 year old does it too!

- All he wants to do is read (point to objects and have us name them)

Mother's Day

Eliana and Heather had a special event on Saturday morning at Eliana's preschool, complete with a performance and gifts just for Mom.

Eliana now has Ballet class on Tuesdays at her school. They performed for the mother's day party.

Eliana presented a load of gifts to her mom at the party, all made in class (admittedly mostly by her teachers!).

Eliana's friend Jesus lives a block from our house, we see him a lot and Eliana always wants to hold his hand.

Longer Version of trip to the US

March 23 - April 23 we were in the US.

What a trip! We were so grateful to meet with many of you and are sorry to those we didn't connect with. It was a very busy and rewarding time.
- We stayed in 5 different houses, had 7 different moves, borrowed 6 different cars and used 9 different carseats.
- We had Easter with family.
- We spent a week with the EGM US staff in the office having meetings, meals and great conversations with different staff members, living with our great friends Baley and Pedro.
- We had a week of living at the Matossians (john's sister). We had five kids in carseats and still managed to meet with some of you too!
- We had an open house, and we were blessed to see many of you. We had Peruvian Empanandas, Chicha (Peruvian purple corn drink), ceviche and Inka Cola (Peruvian soda).
- We brought 1.5 bags of stuff to the US from Peru and returned with 6 bags full to the brim. We bought shoes for John (hard to find in Peru), received kid hand-me-downs from friends, brought down winter clothes, and who knows what else..

- Here's some more pictures:

Cousins had a blast together.

One group of the six groups of kids we got to share with at Coast Hills Church.

One of my (John's) most memorable moments, hanging with former children's ministry kids from Mountain View church who are now teenagers!... they were teaching me the language of texting.