As you enjoy these pictures from our first few months in Peru, may our smiles speak of the thankfulness in our hearts for your friendship and encouragement as you have joined with us in this journey. Even more, may we all reflect the countenance of Christmas in gratitude for our Lord and Savior – the firstborn of the New Creation – Jesus.
On this eve of Thanksgiving, from the conversation around our dinner table to once again hearing Linus’ reflections at Charlie Brown’s table of friends, I (Mark) found my thoughts trailing back to the realities of the first Thanksgiving feast. In taking a break from peeling a big pile of one of the 500+ varieties of potatoes in Peru, I would like to share some of these thoughts in this space with the hope that we all might be “moved.” Read More
Favorite food and drink?“Inca Cola and those noodles at that restaurant in Lima. I love the noodles at El Pilon.”
“Playing with my friends and loving all the people in Peru and loving the policemans .” Read More
Favorite food and drink in Arequipa?“My favorite food and drink are whipped cream and Guarana.”
“My favorite thing to do is play soccer with Peruvian kids.” Read More
Favorite food and drink in Arequipa?“My favorite food and drink are pizza and Guarana.”
“A very good memory is visiting another family. They are our friends. I like playing on their swing set.” Read More
Seven years ago this morning, our day began in Isaiah 41:8-10 (click here and scroll down to read). Little did we know how this particular Servant Song in Isaiah would characterize our own lives going forward–chosen as His servant and helped, strengthened, and upheld by “His righteous right hand,” or in Spanish, “mi diestra victoriosa.” Within hours after reading this passage, we sat in an ultrasound room as a doctor of man turned to us and declared our baby to have a terminal defect that was incompatible with life. Yet God had already spoken over this child–“His beautiful servant.” How? Read More
A couple weeks ago, I (Mark) called Kristin to see something I was watching from one of our fourth floor apartment windows. When Kristin walked up to the window and looked out, she simply responded, “Wow.” Read More
Today was our children’s first day attending Rey De Reyes, a Peruvian Christian school here in Arequipa. We are so grateful for the ongoing prayer for our children and our family as God prepares us for His purposes. God’s help and peace are as evident as daily bread. Here is a recap of the day in our kids’ own words… Read More
Greetings from Arequipa, Peru! We arrived in Lima on September 8 after a great week of visiting friends and family on the way to and in Florida. Once in Lima we had an opportunity to meet friends from Kids Alive as well as begin the process for our visas. After a few very productive and peaceful days in Lima, we traveled on September 11 to Arequipa, where we will attend language school and the children a Peruvian Christian school. Read More
Our final post in this series features some of the insights received through the Second Language Acquisition course at the Center for Intercultural Training. Our whole family went through this course for two weeks following our four weeks of equipping for intercultural life and ministry (see previous posts). Consider these reflections as you “go” with us in your prayers and into the ministry that God has for your family. Read More