It's a hot one

This summer seems especially warm to us. Generally we don't use fans because of the strong ocean breeze that keeps us cooled off,but during the last few days we have used the fans all night. There are times when the air is still and almost eerie. We are also having some "rain" almost everyht which really makes for humid weather. "Rain" here is really a sprinkle but since we get less than 1 inch of precipitation a year any type of rain seems great. It is nice to see the leaves of the plants all cleaned off and shiny. Again since we don't get real rain everything is very dusty including our plants. A few nights ago we actually had enough rain to leave puddles on our patio floors.

I have been busy this week getting things ready for our ladies retreat that begins on Monday. I am the program director in charge of the activites for the ladies. I am planning games, quiz times, etc. It is fun and I am looking forward to the time of learning and visiting with the ladies next week. Rebekah and Abigail along with their cousin Sarah will also be going to ladies camp but as dishwashers. We like to have someone wash the ladies trays to free them from this daily activity. The girls, while they don't enjoy washing so many trays, love the times in between where they can be in the pool or playing games together.

Also next week, two men from The Wilds christian camp camps abroad program will be arriving to conduct a program to prepare counselors and others for camping ministries. They also will stay and help David run our youth retreat. We are excited about having this opportunity to improve our camp program. This youth camp usually has over 100 campers and is our best attended retreat. Please pray for us as we finish the camping season with these last 2 retreats, being teaching our seminary classes and school at home, as well as set up our furlough meetings and begin the packing process. Whew, the months are going to fly by.

Benjamin's new pet

Benjamin received this new pet from a friend of ours who found him in his fields. He currently lives in the fig tree here on the seminary campus. He is about 3 feet long. While he looks fierce, he is harmless.

Baptist Mid-Missions Field Conference

We played games, swam in the pool, played table games and had lots of fun!

We visited the snack shop and visited with each other.

We had great music and enjoyed singing many hymns, in English! This mother daughter team sang for us for their last time as the daughter will be graduating from high school and heading to college in the states. We will miss their duos.



We said good bye. Bob and Betty Whatley will be retiring from missions in Peru. They have served here for 50 years! May we be so faithful. When Bob read their annual report he cried, we cried with him. It is hard for them to leave the field with so much yet to be done. Betty's health isn't the greatest and it is time to take her home to the USA. They will be missed.


We worshipped. Maynard Belt and his wife Ann were our speakers. Pastor Maynard refreshed our souls and was a great encouragement to us. He has written a lot of poems on different passages of scriptures, fantastic work. He challenged us from the book of Philemon.

BMM Peru 2008. Three families are missing, 2 on furlough and one was sick. This pic includes the ARRIBA students and Fetzer teachers.

We took family pictures. Here is the link to our picassa web site http://picasaweb.google.com/perumom/BMMPeruMissionaries

We had VBS, well actually the missionary kids did. The theme was Rescue Zone. They had a great time. The children have VBS while their parents are in the business sessions. Where would you rather be? :)

Step of Obedience

Yesterday, Jacob and 8 others took a step of obedience and were baptized. They later joined the church along with one other young lady. It was an exciting time in our family as well as in our church. Some have been saved only a few weeks, other for more than 10 years. We held the service at a sister church, there was barely enough water to immerse the people. They had to sit down and then David put them under the water. Someday our church will have its own place to baptize.

The children who were baptized.

The whole group.

Jacob getting baptized by his daddy.

On another note, the truck is very sick. We are hoping to have it looked at this morning and maybe leave this afternoon. We won't go until we are sure it will get us there. That may be yet tomorrow. Either way we are packed and ready to go.

Finished Product

Here are some pics of the truck out of the shop. Unfortunately they didn't do the job 100% so David today is doing some additional things. He is also unsure of the axle situation. He is working on that issue too. Please pray for wisdom as we are to travel on Monday to Lima, 8 hours away.

And Their Off!

Jacob and Abigail left for camp yesterday afternoon. Abigail was counting the days she was so excited. Jacob too but he wasn't excited, he doesn't care to be away from home. After many tears and being talked too he got on the bus fairly content. I do miss them. Benjamin went as the snack shop worker so Rebekah is here at home with me. We are enjoying our times together. She is helping me with the crafts for the pastor's camp children next week.

Pass me a Brick

Here is Peru construction is VERY different. The work in very manual and labor is cheap. Here is a picture of Benjamin helping out with the moving of about 2,000 bricks in one day. The bricks are literally tossed from one worker to the next. These bricks were tossed from the second floor to the fourth floor. His arms have quite a few scratches and he was very tired at the end of each day. He was a big help with the group that was here especially with the translation between the Peruvian workers and the North American workers. He also enjoyed the fellowship with the young men in the group. What happens if the brick gets dropped, you ask? Yep, you guessed it, it shatters to pieces.