What's Been Going On

One afternoon we walked to the church (the church is just around the block from the house) to scrub the platform.  

I had to add this picture, for all of you who know him.  Joe took this picture on one of his workdays at the camp with Grandpa Stilwell.  

Last Thursday we spent our family night (afternoon) out at the beach.  It was the first time to go swimming in the ocean, so even though it was freezing cold, I still dove in.  It was a lot of fun, despite the shivering that went around.

We found a purple sea urchin! It was dead, but it was still cool!  You don't find any of those in Lake Michigan...

On the way home from the beach...wet, sandy and squished in the back seat... :)

This is our church building in Alto Trujillo.  This past weekend we went up to hand out invitations - there is sand everywhere!  Our first service is this Sunday, from three to five, so Sunday's will now be packed tight with services.

The Seminary and More

Most of the day on Friday is spent at the seminary.  Health class with Mrs. Stilwell is at noon, lunch is just after that and then we hang around the place playing soccer, volleyball and playing with the kids.  So now I will share some pictures that I've taken there.


One thing I love about the Stilwell's home is that everything is open. In the States, we must have screens on the doors and windows, but here, you don't. Actually, when you are in the laundry room, which is right next to the kitchen, you can look up right into the sky. It's really awesome! The other thing about their home is that they are actually staying in an two apartments...so you have to go outside to get to the next floor. 

(yes, I am standing in a chimney)

 For a little while, the drier was out and we had to hang our laundry on the roof - so ours resembled so many of the other Peruvian roofs. :)  It was fun, and one of my favorite chores is to hang up the laundry.   

Thursday evening is family night and they always make pizza. :) Jacob (in the background) is my new little brother.  He has taught me a lot about nerf guns and how to fight - yes, we've had many nerf fights! Yesterday he drew his sword across my neck...leaving a line of "blood" (red marker).  These are things that are quite foreign to me...

Abi and Sarah Stilwell at the seminary
Sarah is their cousin who lives several blocks from the seminary.  She joins us on Friday afternoons as we play volleyball.

This is the dining hall - we will be helping to paint this in July.

Ceviche (a fish dish) for lunch. You'd like it if you liked fish...

Love the different trees they have down here!

These next pictures are of some of the kids at the seminary...there is usually quite a crowd when we are there.

 I see this girl very often.  She plays volleyball with us and is amazing for being so young.

This little guy was so much fun! He had Abi, Sarah and I throwing him the ball so he could do headers. 

This girl loves looking at pictures on the camera.  After showing her all of mine I took her to the teeter-totters where we played for a while.

And I'm ending with this awesome picture!

The kids don't care if you can't talk to them.  As long as you play with them and have fun, they love you!

The First Bit of Our Trip - In Photos

Finally some pictures to share with you!! All is going well here - this afternoon we went to the church to scrub the platform and to figure out some arrangements for the group that is coming down.  Sword fighting with noodles (swimming pool noodles) and spraying each other with soap bubbles somehow got acconplished as well...

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This is the one and only picture I took, that turned out, on the plane. The clouds were big and fluffy.  They were really beautiful when I started getting my camera out, but they changed too quickly and I missed them.

This is my breakfast that was served  to us at the bed and breakfast. It was very yummy.

Thursday morning's trip to the market resulted with this - apples, beans, limes, lemons, tangerines, eggs...

The Stilwell's live in the 2nd and 3rd floors of an apartment - you have to go outside to get to the upper level. :)  I love their house. The outside is beautiful.

(I'm sitting on the stairs that lead to the 3rd floor)

This delicious looking dish is called "lomo saltado".  It consists of homemade fries, beefs strips, peppers and onions - amazing.

This is when we were up in Alto Trujillo, leveling out the sand.

This guy was such a big help for being so little.  Rebekah and I talked to him, and he shared all the English words he knew. :)

That's all for now, but more should be coming shortly...

The First Week

Hello everyone!

I'm sorry for taking so long to post an update.  We are not too busy here, but I just never got around to getting to it.  But I am writing now, and will tell you a bit about what has happened so far.

The traveling went quite smoothly.  We had a little mix up in Miami but everything ended up just fine. We arrived in Lima at about 9:30 pm and then we took a taxi to a bed & breakfast where we spent the night and ate my first Peruvian breakfast (they served bread with butter and jam, peach yogurt and coffee. I drank the coffee because it was Peruvian, not because I liked it). 

Thursday afternoon we arrived at the Stilwell's home - safe and sound. :)

Friday morning Mrs. Stilwell took Joe and I to the market where we bought our flour, sugar, and fruits and vegetables.  I loved it and was wishing I had brought my camera - Mrs. Stilwell assured us that we'd have more chances to bring our cameras to the market.  On Wednesday's and Friday's, at noon, Mrs. Stilwell teaches "Health" at the seminary, so she had me come along so I could be exposed to more Spanish. So far I am only able to pick up a few words but occasionally I can understand what is being talked about.  It is very difficult because it seems as though the Peruvians are just streaming out a long jumble of sounds.  Lord willing those sounds will soon become clear words and I will be able to understand and converse better with them.  I know I am learning a lot already - this is encouraging to me during those moments when I am sitting amongst the youth at church, wondering what was said that was so funny...

Saturday was a full day! In the morning we drove up to Alto Trujillo, where we own some church property.  The land is covered with sand and was not level so many men from the church and area came with their shovels and wheelbarrows to level it out.  I went along with Rebekah - we took many pictures and helped a bit.  I met a little boy named Luis who was telling us all the English words he knew from school.  When lunch time came around we all went home and ate dinner.  Then it was time to head off to the seminary for a little reunion of those who have been to camp.  We played soccer and volleyball (soccer is played so much down here!), looked at pictures of the camp and then listened to a message.  That evening was youth group at the church. 

The weather down here is perfect! I'm not sure what the temperature is, but we are wearing short sleeves all day (but it's not hot!).  If I am going out after the sun goes down, then I need a sweatshirt, but that is all.

On July first we are having our first service in Alto Trujillo. Please pray for all that has to be done with the property before then and pray that many new people will come. 

**Please leave a comment! I would LOVE to hear from you! Tell me how you are doing and what's going on with you!

**Pictures should be coming soon. :)