What the heck are we doing???

Its been on my heart for the last couple weeks to share with everyone where we are at in life. As each days passes it becomes more and more evident that I have to update and share how are lives are forming here. Here we go...

Where we were.....

When we came to Peru 3 years ago we had a huge focus on developing the dental business and learning the language. Since we arrived we have bought and sold and dental clinic, given rights to import dental supplies, opened a dental laboratory, John teaches a Pharmaceutical class, learned a language, "taught" English to little kids, collaborate with a jeweler to sell amazing Peruvian jewelry worldwide and we make bacon. It is painfully obvious to see how all of those things go together. Teeth, pharmaciticals, jewelry and bacon are a perfect match and hardly keep us busy....Ha!

Where we are going....

One thing that we have always felt important is that we need to allow the Lord to constantly speak to us and allow Him to evolve us, our ministry and work here. The moment we start to take over ourselves is the moment we fail...or maybe we succeed but in the shallowest way possible. Either way is a step in the wrong direction. So, we continue to take things the Lords way. I'm going to be honest it has been one stinkin' LONG way. Three years ago not one of us imagined we would still be struggling financially, emotionally and mentally. Don't even get me started on our pride which as been burst so many times I don't even want to think about it! All this to say that we are turning into some pretty awesome people who get to do some pretty cool stuff. So what exactly do we do?? My favorite way to answer that question is more like, what don't we do?

The guys....
The guys, Virgil and John, work hard for their families. They currently run a dental laboratory which makes the best zirconia pieces in Peru, they have a dental importing company, they make time to take their kids to soccer practice and are home for lunch every (almost) day.

The girls...
The girls, Yahaira and Jenn, take care of the kiddos, roast coffee for Pork & Bean (more on that later), "teach" English (if you can call it teaching), sell jewelry, adore our families and so much more :)

The families....
We make. We all whole heartily support the dental businesses and the time we have all, especially the guys, have invested into it. We all, whole heartily, feel we need to continue down that road. Our real passion, though, is making. It's collaborating. It's dreaming. It's supporting. It's sharing. It is where our newest venture Pork & Bean comes into play.

A few years ago and expat asked a question on Facebook. One that has changed our lives. The question was simple...What is something you miss from your home country. One expat answered very simply...Bacon.

Bacon, the food that dreams are made of!

When we moved to Arequipa one of the first things we came to grips with was that the bacon here is terrible. I mean its gross. As we talked about what items we would put in the Tovar's container we decided on a grill and through some dreaming we decided on adding a Texas Smoker. I mean, that was an obvious choice. We had never used one before and of course now that we moved out of the country it was a necessary need in our lives. Of course we needed it (insert sarcastic tone RIGHT HERE). So, we bought the Smoker and added it to the container. Once our smoker arrived we set out to make bacon as we know it....delicious, fatty, smokey perfect bacon. When the expat said they missed bacon I let her know that we make our own. She then did the unimaginable. She asked to try it. So we shared. Then she went and opened her mouth on Facebook and spilled the beans....it was the best bacon she had tasted here in Arequipa. After that it was all over. We started selling bacon. It has come a long way in the last 3 years. Evolved into a much better bacon and a true passion in our lives. She literally assisted in changing our path.

Our newest baby...our
tiny coffee roaster :)

One of the beautiful rings
available thru Peru Contigo

Jenn and I have always had a passion for coffee and providing great freshly roasted coffee to a city that, otherwise, only drinks instant coffee crap! About a year ago, through a friend, we met a jeweler. We decided to connect with him to sell this amazing beautiful jewelry. We honestly did a pretty cruddy job at it till about 6 months ago when his shop got robbed. Then the Lord spoke to me. We have been connected to him for so many reasons and we should take seriously helping supporting him and his family. By collaborating and selling this beautiful jewelry we can help support our families and more importantly DIRECTLY support a wonderful Peruvian family. Not only did we realize the joy it is to be able to help support him we realized his family grows coffee in the north of Peru. He was and has become, thus far, our only resource for green coffee beans in this county.  Through several different paths, ventures, connections and countless stories was birth Pork and Bean and Peru Contigo.

Pork and Bean is our passion. It's our love. It is what keeps us in this country. As we have learned more about smoking and creating our hearts have raced with excitement. Oh the potential this has! The potential to share amazing food. The potential to share a table with so many. We love to make and we are learning to make bacon better, produce sausage in a country that doesn't have great breakfast sausage. We make brisket, ribs, great pulled pork....oh the possibilities are endless!!!! Jenn and I are learning more and more about coffee roasting and building close relationships in the very small coffee world of Peru. We also are praying and realizing the potential ministry opportunities it all holds. Sharing a table with people. Sharing love with others. That is our passion. We are so excited about Pork & Bean that sometimes feel we could burst.

I love Peru Contigo as well. I LOVE the idea of directly supporting a family. I love the idea of having a way to help support my own family. I love the idea of sharing this amazing Peruvian jewelry around the world.

Alejandro working on a ring

This is where we are. In a constant, ever changing, ever evolving cycle of life. Making and sharing in different ways. It is one crazy roller coaster but we love the thrill of not being in control and allowing Jesus to guide us.

Working in the kitchen making sausage and roasting coffee!

Pray with us. Pray we can hear His voice in the middle of our passions and joys. Pray we can share the joy of His love in the middle of a growing passion and love. Pray that we always find a way to minister as we pursue something we love to do.

Thank you for praying for us. Thank you for supporting us. Thank you for continually encouraging. Thank you for believing in us and the work that He can do through us.

Now come down and visit and share a table with us. :)

You can follow us on a day to day basis by following our Facebook page: Pork and Bean and Peru Contigo. You can also follow us on instagram at Porkandbeanaqp.

The Unforeseen Scar

Four hours before the year ends, doing what I love - cooking for friends , I cut myself. Badly. Deeply. I had the drawer of the kitchen propped open and as hard as I could manage I ran my leg across the sharpest handles I have ever seen. Seriously, who puts knife like handles on a drawer??? Rental problems. My husband gently, kindly and empathetically cleans my wound, bandages me up and I move on. When John and Jenn arrive I show the wound to John to make sure I don’t need stitches. Its deep folks, really deep and I don’t like to come across as a baby but it hurt. Actually, I HATE talking about things that hurt me, especially physically, but hang tight I have a point bigger than the whining rant it appears I am going on. John looks at the cut and says I probably don’t need stitches but I better find a butterfly band-aid or else I will have a scar. A SCAR. I don’t want a scar! Virgil doesn’t want me to have a scar, if I don’t, so we run upstairs to find a band-aid. No butterflies. Scarred. Forever I’ll be scarred by those dumb handles. Dumb knife like handles.

Today I realize how grateful I am for that cut and the scar I will have. Okay, I realize I sound like a bi-polar maniac but it's true. Wait, not that I’m a bi-polar maniac (in my opinion, in which others may argue), but the first part…the grateful part. That scar will remind of that last night and more so, of 2015. 2015 was a rough, but, beautiful year and it ended with beautiful people laughing, eating, dancing and  sharing in our wonderful, unfurnished home.

One of the great views from our apartment

Liam and Sofi playing on a floating
island...Puno, Peru

The boys heading out to the
floating islands Puno, Peru

2015…It was a year where we moved into that home on more faith than I can even express. It was a year that we welcomed a beautiful addition to the family, Kira Elizabeth Tovar. It was a year my youngest son learned how to speak, in TWO language (maybe 3 languages if you include the jibberish he blurts out).  It was a year that my oldest son started school and is succeeding.  It was a year my husband and I learned to communicate better. It was a year where we closed one business and opened another. It was a year that we struggled in business, a lot…except for that one month…That was a good month! It was a year where we learned how to make awesome ribs and brisket. It was a year we got our first Pork & Bean shirt (coming in 2016). It was the year my oldest son asked Jesus into his heart. Jesus. In his heart. Spectacular!!

I have a scar that remind me of all the junk we went through and all the awesomeness that made me who I am. Not one detail would I change. Not one.

Now we face 2016. For so many reasons I want it to be different. I don’t want to re-live some of that junk and I want the awesomeness to continue. I mean, let’s be honest, who doesn’t feel that way? I know I’m not alone and if I am, that’s fine. I stand alone. Well, alone in person but never alone entirely because I have Jesus. Jesus.

Please keep the Ruvars (Ruiz’s and Tovar’s) in your prayers this year. Seriously. I don’t ask for anything more than that. It’s a make or break year for us and I’ll be honest we NEED to start making. Desperately. But we have Jesus. Jesus. And we have no doubts, regrets, fears or worries about this year. We have Jesus. Jesus. Whatever comes out of 2016 we face it head on. Praying, trusting and looking forward it all.

2016 the year I blog again. The year of more bacon. The year we make more fresh roasted coffee. The year we love our kids more. Smile more. Share more love. The year I, we, grow no matter what. 

-Yahaira

My 100 mile challange

I have to admit, I've become complacent. It happens a lot. I start with a dream, a vision and then I start to live it. I mix together a little dream, a little crying child, a little laundry and more and suddenly I..my life...starts to become a little mundane, a little lifeless and a little complacent.

I am in Peru for a reason. I have been called. I have been given a vision. Part of that call, vision and dream includes community. Living missionally. Living a life of community. Living continually with Him in mind. Sometimes I forget, though. Sometimes I forget what community is or how to be constantly challenged in it. How to constantly be missional and intentional rather then mundane. How to continually be writing a story to share with others. I have recently been challenged to be intentional in my story. So here it is:

I went to college with some pretty incredible people. I was able to be a part of a pretty incredible leadership team. A group of people who would, without a doubt, affect the world around them. Out of that leadership team were a few guys that started Venture Expeditions. An amazing organization that takes time out of their lives to change lives. Its a community that knows how to be a community. Its a community that sees beyond telling people what we can do to help one another through the love of Christ but actually goes out and DOES something to change lives through Christ.

Venture Expeditions is an organization that gives the adventurer a chance to be a to use their talents, hobby and sense of adventure as a way to evangelize and change the lives of others through biking across the country, hiking huge mountains and running hundreds of miles. It takes commitment mentally, spiritually and physically.

Running and walking are one of my FAVORITE things to do. It challenges me. It clears my mind and now I am able to do it while helping others. As I have always admired Venture and praying often for its endeavors from afar, but now, finally, I get to be a part of it! They are currently hosting the 100 mile challenge and after really praying about it, I'm taking the challenge. Taking the challenge to stop being so stagnant, mundane and boring. Taking the challenge to accept the call of living in community in ways I wouldn't have thought of outside of my walls. I am THRILLED, that all the way in Peru, I get to be a part of this. That I get to be a part of this community, running/walking side by side with others to make a small change!

So here is the challenge. I will walk or run 100 miles in 100 days. I will be one of 100 raising $100 to go towards human trafficking prevention in SE Asia. I will be a small part of helping supply 100,000 meals for refugees in along the Thai/Burma border. Will you join me? Will you run with me? Will you be a part of this community?

On my first run! 3.5 miles down, 96.5 to go!

$100 to me, today is like a million. my situation is complicated. Although I am called I still choose to believe and run/walk in faith that $100 will be raised in support of this. Every dollar literally makes a difference. Can you help support this with me?

My uphill climb!

Will you pray for me and for Venture? Pray that as I run, I can spend my time prayerfully. I have found it to be a great chance to pray for the people of Thailand and Peru. A chance to pray for those in modern day slavery and for freedom for them, freedom in life and in Lord! Pray for Venture as they continue to work and help others and that the Lord will bring amazing opportunities to those who are involved and to the lives be ministered to.

Everyday I learn something new. Community means more then just living in the same home as others.  As I start this new "venture" it means running/walking to help others. It means that for the next (less then) 100 days I'll be extending my community around the world with others with the same goal. Christ. Real life people.

Will you please pray and consider joining with me in this community?

https://ventureexpeditions.dntly.com/fundraiser/3589

The World Cup in the Ruvar home

Tumble weeds and dust roll across empty streets and in my mind I can almost hear the old wild west song "da na na na na" as all I see is empty streets....everyone's inside...waiting  in anticipation for...The world cup! Really its not that extreme but almost. The world cup in South America is nothing like the US. People care, I mean really care. Its a months worth of soccer, soccer and more soccer. Soccer is probably one of Jenn's least favorite activities, but as for the rest of the house, ahem, world...its fantastic.

The giant screens at all the malls
showing games on rotation.

The day before the first world cup game, the boys had their "Father's day show" (every mothers day, fathers day and Christmas all schools put on shows for their parents). Traditionally, these shows contain our kiddos dancing up in tradition Peruvian attire or cool grease themed costumes, but this Fathers day was different. The boys' school, in all of its awesomeness, but on a "World Cup" themed show. A little dancing, sports playing, FIFA mascott and mock world cup trophey summed up the event. The boys were given soccer jerseys with each child adorning a different teams jersey, representing one of the teams in the in World Cup. Eli was given Germany and Ro was given Argentina. Perfect prediction. Perfectly fun.

Ro wearing Argentina & Eli wearing Germany

Opening day our kids were out of school and it sort of felt like Thanksgiving was upon us. Food was cooking all day in the kitchen, kids out of school in sheer glee and the anticipation of friends coming over hung in the air.

This is how we watch!

They won!!!

Although, we stayed busy the month of soccer was fun. Our boys wore the final two teams jerseys, brackets were created and bets were made. Ultimately the Ruiz family prevailed and won and lots time spent with friends made for a pretty incredible month.

They may be opposing teams but they are best of friends!!!

Legals

Finally, after a super strenuous process Virgil, Eli and I are finally allowed to stay in the country, Its a long story but I'll keep it short...

our residency cards

What should have taken Virgil 30-60 days to complete took 6 months! 6 months for him to get his Carne Extranjeria (residency cards).  I shouldn't be surprised, and admittedly so, 4 months into waiting to hear a response from the immigrations office, I wasn't really surprised at all. Eventually Virgil found out that one of the immigration offices lost his papers and he "basically" had to start over again. That was in January of this year. No problem. He resubmitted his paperwork with any and all corrections and was told that he would find out in about 30 days. Of course in the process of all of this we had our tickets bought and were heading out to the USA in February...for 31 days. Virgil had to get permission from immigrations to leave the country...they only let you leave for 30 days. Dilemma. There was no going back now though. We were filling his papers and leaving the country. We will figure it out eventually. Sure enough, after 6 months of waiting, the immigrations office finally approved Virgil's paperwork and he was to come get his residency card. That was exciting. Fantastic. We have waited 6 months for this! Except now Virgil had to leave the USA early. One less Paloma trip for him, one less day visiting and one peaceful flight back. For me, it was a different story. One more Paloma trip, one more day visiting and one VERY long flight home with my ever so sweet no sleeping 7 month old. Awesome. We all survived though. Virgil's residency approval meant that Eli and I could finally apply for our residency. So we did just that, and rather seamlessly and two trips to Lima later Eli and I no longer have to make border runs. 9 months later we can finally relax and stay put.

Its official. We are here. We are here to stay for a while Peru! :)

Watching a movie together while we wait for our flight

Market Days

One of the enjoyable parts of living in a new place is discovering new foods, recipes and ingredients. A regular part of life here is shopping at the markets. In the States, that phenomenon is called “the farmers market” but here in Peru that phenomenon is called everyday life.  It is also one of my favorite parts of life here. Yes there a mega grocery stores creeping in all over the place and sure they sell fruits, veggies, diapers, shoes and clothes but just because they sell it there does it make it better? Nah. Sure it is more convenient but it doesn’t foster relationships. The mega store doesn’t tell me how to use that weird orange fruit I have never seen before. It also doesn’t give me a “yapa” (a free item with purchase).

Jenn and I love going to the market. The market, here, consists of many vendors all selling about the same thing. You go to the market and you pick your person/stand. The person you pick is the person you stick with and you always, I mean ALWAYS, go back to the same person. You are now connected to them. I may as well tattoo my market ladies name on my arm because we are bound together F.O.R.E.V.E.R. You don’t switch or if you do you basically committed market place adultery and, well, that would just be horrifying! Seriously, though, Peruvians stick with the same person. Peruvians get it don’t they. They are doing what we strain so hard to do…they build relationships! It is so easy, so second nature to them. They don’t even think about it. This last week Jenn and I went to the market and picked out our fruit with Eli and Sofi. Our fruit lady was busy so we started off picking our own fruit at first till she was able to get to us. When she was Jenn was able to ask her questions about the Pomegranites…what is called in Spanish, costs, etc. By the time we were done she asked us what we wanted as a yapa (it is normal for you to get a yapa everytime you shop at the market fruit or veggie stands.) I picked a fruit that was orange and smooth and completely strange to me. I thought “the only way to know what this is like is to try it” she looked at me…completely knowing that I had NO CLUE as to what I was doing and told me, “that is for juicing, you don’t want that…you won’t get much of anything out of one piece of fruit” Thank you! I NEVER would have known that if I had gone to Metro (my mega store) and picked it up. Instead, she gave us a giant, juicy, delicious pomegranate…which we later learned is pretty unheard of to get for free. J Slowly we can build a relationship with her. One papaya at a time.

Right along the lines of the market place, last Friday Jenn and I went with our dear friend Trufa to a class on how to use local ingredients. It was SO much fun. We learned quite about bit about healthy things like Quinoa, Kiwicha, Chia, fruits and veggies. Peru has about 9 kazillion varieties of potatos, so to learn what 2 or 3 different varieties were was awesome! We had a lot of fun with our babes and friends and hope to do more things like that soon!!!

Coming Home

As many of you know we were very fortunate to get to spend the month of February back in the States.  It was a wonderful time.  We were able to see family and friends in a number of different states and got a lot done (like our clothes and misc shopping for the year!).  The time just flew by.  Each place we stopped I felt desperate to have just a few more days before moving on to the next...to get to capture a few more quality time moments with those we love.  With 4 kids, limited connectivity, borrowed vehicles and cell phone...there are some people and things we weren't able to connect with or get done.  I would often have to remind myself how thankful and blessed we were with the time we did have and that it would just have to be enough for this trip.  I can't say Thanks enough to those of you who shared your homes, time, and resources to make this trip an enjoyable one.  I also have resolved to try to get better about staying in better touch...and I'll be doing by best to try to do so this coming year.

While we were in the Sates I was struck by how much time had passed since we were there.  How much felt the same and yet how much we (and others) were changing.  Some of the change I found had occurred in me over the last year led to a few funny moments I thought I would share.

Wiper Confusion

It's amazing how quickly we form habits and routine that become second nature.  Things that are awkward at first but eventually (with time and repetition) we just do without thinking.  There were two rather peculiar new habits that kept tripping me up upon our return to the States.

The first was while driving, and for that you'll need a little Peruvian back story.  Mom and Dad Tovar have graciously shared their vehicles with us in Peru for the last year.  Both vehicles are 'timon cambiado' meaning they were originally manufactured for left lane (right seat) driving, but after being imported to Peru the steering wheel, break and gas pedals were moved over to the left side we are used to.  The essential components have been placed 'correctly' in the car, but there are a few more subtle things that are still backwards and you wouldn't notice them till you start driving.   For instance...the driver's window buttons are where you would expect in the driver's side door...however the order of the buttons are reversed (L to R).  Meaning whenever you go to roll down your window, you end up rolling down the passenger window instead...until you get used to the it.  Another goofy thing is that the windshield wipers are swapped with the turning signal, on the opposite sides of your steering wheel than what you might expect.  For months after moving and learning to drive in Peru...the result was a terribly confusing scenario:

The traffic is thick, there are 3 or even 4 lanes being made on a street where only 2 are actually marked.  Combis and tikos (Mini buses and taxis) are all around and either stopping mid lane and without warning to pick up a passenger...or cutting left around everyone so they can immediately make a right hand turn (across all 4 'lanes' of straight traffic!).  All I want to do is get over one lane so that I can make a left hand turn from what is currently the left most lane in the intersection half a a block ahead (how American of me, I know). I am hoping I can accomplish this in time and unscathed.  It is clear that the surrounding vehicles who have now crept to with in an inch or less (literally) of my side mirrors, proceeding to aggressively squeeze their way thru do not share my concern or hesitancy.  But I'm driving in Peru now and here comes a small opening so I work up the courage and decide to go for it...Left turn signal, except WHOOPS those are my wipers!...and now I can't figure out how to get them off. Ugh, never-mind my turning signal, Peruvians don't respond to those anyway (they seem to be more of an indicator for the car behind you to hurry up and close whatever gap of space was available begin with).  Quick Roll down my window, if I can just stick my hand out in time (the Peruvian signal for 'I'm coming over like it or not so let me in')...except darn-it, I rolled down the passenger window instead.  Roll down passenger window (finally my drivers window starts to come down) about half way...RRR...before I can get my hand out the opening is gone and 2 more cars are squeezing by. I'm still in my lane and my intersection is approaching.  Finally there it is again...1/4 car opening, window is down, hand goes out, car let's me in (AMAZING!) just in time, start left turn across first 'open' lane of oncoming traffic..spot a moment of clear path through the next 3 lanes,zip my way through and...made it!  Whew, miraculously I have completed my left turn unharmed (and without holding up too much angry traffic)! Turn off wipers (those were stressing me out). 

 LOL, my heart starts racing a bit just recounting the story with you.  Believe it or not eventually this scenario became second nature...I learned what to do when and could do most of it with a car full of kids and music without a second though (on a good day anyhow :-).  Trouble is, just when I get comfortable...just when I think I've got it figured out...things change again.  We were finally able to get a car of our own...which arrived in Arequipa just 3 days before we headed off the the States!  Such a blessing and we are loving it...but it is not a 'timon cambiado'...just a regular car made for right lane (left seat) driving.  Which means I start the process of relearning the correct order of signals and buttons as I navigate crazy traffic once again.  What's more, I'm pretty sure I looked like a crazy person (and made our friends in the States question why they let us borrow their car) when I repeated wiped the perfectly clean windshield every time I wanted to turn or change lanes. Thanks for bearing with and trusting me anyway :-).

The second wiper confusion I was faced with is the Toilet Paper Conundrum.  I'll apologize up front if this is just TMI for some of you but I couldn't help but laugh and learn about this one so I had to share.  I think the contrast is probably best described by these two signs:

posted in a Target bathroom in TX

posted at my language school in Peru

The first is a sign posted in the bathroom of my language school here in Arequipa.  Note that it's written in English so yes, it's meant for all us gringos out there.  You don't flush toilet paper in Peru. For years I visited Peru and was kindly reminded not to flush my paper.  But my North American mind was convinced that they couldn't possibly be referring to ALL my used toilet paper...maybe just the less 'dirty' pieces.  Nope, turns out they did in fact mean it.  There is a waste can near the pot and everyone (here) knows that's where your used toilet paper goes..all of it.  While working on an engineering infrastructure project a few years ago I came across an article written by some ex-patriots living Mexico....it really helped me understand that it's not actually Rude to use the waste can but in fact the opposite could be true (You can read the article HERE if this TP conundrum has ever bothered you as well).  Anyhow, when we moved here I'd been all straightened out this cultural norm...BUT it required a very forced conscious effort to get over my personal reservations and eventually form the habit.  I don't know if I'm proud (or embarrassed) to announce that I have been officially Peru toilet trained.  I suppose I didn't realize how much so until I returned to the states.  Don't worry, I didn't actually put dirty paper into any of your waste baskets...but I was surprised by just how often I had to consciously stop myself from doing so.  For a good two weeks after returning the the U.S. I found myself frustrated with the choice or placement of U.S. bathroom trash cans and then 'Finally a can with a lid and foot pedal...but why the heck did they put it way over there!'...only to stop. and remind myself...they put it over there because it's not for your toilet paper! I literately cracked up (and took a picture, shown right above) of the sign I found posted in a Target bathroom in New Braunfels TX...because I actually needed the reminder at that moment.  Seems ridiculous (and probably a little gross to many of you) but it was one small way I was constantly reminded of the little ways I had begun to assimilate and function in this new land and culture over the last year.

A Familiar View 

We absolutely loved the time we were able to have with friends and family back in the states.  It all went too quick and as it came to an end I found it very hard to say good byes.  At the same time, there was something very exciting about returning home...to Peru.  It felt and little backwards actually...to be preparing to head to South America to 'finally sleep in my own bed again' rather than for another short visit.  But I honestly reveled in the fact that it really felt like we were returning home....that Peru is home now.  I say 'home' not because it is just a place I reside and lay my head at night...but because of the love, the people, and even the sense of presence and purpose we have.  We are all truly blessed to have 'homes' to return to in the hearts (and houses) of those we love in the States (like TX, MI, GA, FL, WY, IL...).  But God has made (and continues to make) a home for us here in Peru now and I genuinely rejoiced in that thought!  There was something refreshing about coming back to a familiar view...about looking out the windows of my in-laws house, our house, and it not being some exotic or foreign unknown...those are streets I know now, places I've been or will go, containing people I know...or may get to know.  There's a community the Lord is building here...hearts and lives He is changing and shaping us for...and those He will enable us to help change and shape.  I'm excited about what the year(s) ahead will hold.  I'm excited about living out Life and the Love of Christ with those around me.  I'm excited to be able to call Peru home.  

View from our house in Arequipa

Hebrews 13:14-21

For this world is not our home; we are looking forward to our city in heaven, which is yet to come. With Jesus' help, let us continually offer our sacrifice of praise to God by proclaiming the glory of his name. Don't forget to do good and to share what you have with those in need, for such sacrifices are very pleasing to God...I especially need your prayers right now so that I can come back to you soon. And now, may the God of peace, who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, equip you with all you need for doing his will. May he produce in you, through the power of Jesus Christ, all that is pleasing to him. Jesus is the great Shepherd of the sheep by an everlasting covenant, signed with his blood. To him be glory forever and ever. Amen.