Adapting Again

I arrived to Lima this week, and am in the process of settling in. Since I have been in Arequipa for the majority of my time here in Peru, I am now needing to learn Lima, and the way of life here. Some may ask, "But you have been in Peru, why are you adapting yet again?" My best description for those who have not been to Peru, is if you compare Arequipa, Peru to Birmingham, Alabama (for example) then my new move to Lima, Peru would be about equivalent to moving from Birmingham to New York City, or Los Angeles. Lima is the capital of Peru, and is the largest city in Peru.

But my adjustment again is not only in learning my way around a big city, I may never accomplish that, but I have been living with a host family while in language school, so in that, the food shopping was taken care of, the proper preparation of fruits and vegetables was taken care of, etc.

There are grocery stores here, but I have learned that produce is a lot better from either the market place, or the people who walk the streets with their buggies full of fruit, announcing with their loudspeaker what they are selling. Typically it is cheaper too. For example, yesterday I bought 7 beautiful, ripe, yellow bananas for the price of 1 sol (which is around 29 cents).

Another different thing here, that I didn't have in Arequipa (I think due to how my home there was set in the neighborhood), is the black film that settles on everything here, and how fast it settles in. One reason is that our air conditioner is the system of open windows and fans. It can make cleaning frustrating as one can clean/dust items in the morning, and in the afternoon there is yet more black film/dust that has settled. If you walk around barefooted, your feet will be black after a few minutes, if you walk around in your white socks, you'll have a cheap and easy change of your socks to the color gray. If you walk around in shoes will little traction, the combination of the film on the hardwood floors will take you for a fly (or at least your legs over your head) if you aren't careful.

I was also used to Arequipa and their mild temperatures and dry air. Here in Lima, in their summer, it is quite hot and humid. There are also many different bugs of many different sizes, flying or crawling through my home, making themselves at home wherever they please.

Another adaptation, is that where I lived in Arequipa, it was quite a quiet place, our house was tucked back in a neighborhood, and we didn't get a lot of outside noise. Here, street vendors are walking by at all hours of the daytime, starting early some days, selling ice cream, fruits, buying broken items from homes, etc. There is also the nightly trash pickup that comes between 8-10:30 at night, and their announcement of arrival is that of a guy clanging on a metal object quite loudly. There is also the loud parrot, living somewhere behind me, who loves squawking at any time of the day. Construction noises, random and different sounding whistles, each one indicating the items that they are selling (I haven't learned that whistle system quite yet).

So those are just some of the differences to my life in Arequipa and my new life here in Lima. It was easier too, in my life of just learning the language, to focus on that. Now I am beginning to get started in ministry, and am definitely still in the language learning process too. It will be neat to see what God does here!

What do you miss most?

I have been asked that question several times. I have come to different conclusions at different times, of course the most constant answer being "family and friends". Sometimes if I am hungry or having a craving for something back home, my answer might be: "Family, friends, Arby's Jamocha shakes, Chick-fil-A's Waffle fries, or Jim N Nick's cornbread rolls."

However, yesterday on the bus ride back from Chile, I came to another answer. I was listening to my iPod trying to drown out the dubbed-over version of Disney's Hercules. I truly believe that God works through the random setting of music programs. In a random selection about 3000 songs, almost back to back I worshiped to 4 songs from the worship album of my church back home in Birmingham, Oak Mountain Presbyterian. If I imagined hard enough I could picure myself back there, worshiping with everyone. People say that you don't really know what you have until it is gone. For me, it was a beautiful time of worship, and it made me realize that I also miss my church back home: the community, the worship services, the feasts of the word, and I can truly say that the church is filled with the Holy Spirit.

One thing that the Lord has brought to mind is that yes, at times I do miss things from back home, but when I am back home I will miss things from here. I will probably miss worshipping in Spanish, I will probably miss the different cheeses they have here, and more I am sure. Yet, then I remember again that this really isn't my home, neither here in Peru nor in the states. So I am "learning to be content in whatever the circumstances."

Fun Toby Stories

I had no idea when I got a little puppy that the neighborhood would be changed! He has become quite popular with the kids in our neighborhood, especially since they are on their summer vacations from school.

When translated, the kids come over and ask "Is Toby home? Can he come out and play?" It is quite humorous. I like to go along with Toby since many kids don't treat their pets well, and I don't know the kids well enough. It cracks me up though how they ask if he can play as if he were another kid like them!

The other day I was outside playing with the kids and Toby, and one little boy asked me if Toby talked English or Spanish! How cute! My response was that he didn't talk either, but that we do talk to him in both languages!

Also right now is the "carnival" time, when for a few weeks a lot of water pranks are played. Typically the guys try to get the girls wet and vis versa, whether by water balloons or pails of water. It is random. If you are walking in the street, you are a target. The kids in the neighborhood have been playing these pranks with each other too. Since Toby is in the stage of learning the world by his mouth, he has already discovered several busted balloons. Now some of these kids are cleaning up areas with balloons when Toby comes out to play (whereas they probably wouldn't have otherwise).

He's a cutie!

Laura's here!!!

Ok, so this post is a few weeks old, however, my teammate Laura Hoyt arrived last month to Peru. She is in language school right now in Arequipa. I have had fun showing my friend and teammate the fun places of Arequipa. It is so good to have her here with me.

This past weekend we went to Arica, Chile for her visa. Like many things here, it wasn't without drama, but we made it back with her visa in hand, which is the most important!

Here is a picture of us together here!