We busted out of the house...three times!!!

Proof that we escaped!

Two days in a row! Can you believe that we broke out of the house three times in two days? It's different here without a car. You don't have the same kind of independence like you do in the states. You don't just come and go as you please. Most of that is conditional to our situation, with no car and no desire to learn how to fight traffic. Really I think its a total set up! I have been set up and I'm OK with it! I think the Lord has set me up. I knew before leaving what one of my biggest struggles would be and now I'm facing it head on. The struggle to lose my independence in world where the Lord is calling us to communal and missional living. You want a confession fine here it is: the truth is yes I miss my Target runs by myself and doing whatever I want, whenever I want BUT this life is better. On Wednesday afternoon after a time of family prayer we sat around discussing what day care to put our children into (they need to be submersed in this culture as much as we do) and how we will divide the chores, pre-determined date nights and shared household duties. It was then I realized more then ever before, why do I want to do my own laundry, dishes or cooking? Why do I want to have meals by myself? This life is awesome. Yes, it comes with its own set up difficulties but when the Lord calls He will direct and bring peace. He shared his life with 12 disciples and I am so excited to find out who the Lord is bringing into our lives here in Peru! I can't wait to meet them and share meals with them. Maybe I'll even let them do my laundry!!!

Mom T. & Jenn picking out produce

So back to my story...we broke out of the house two days in a row. So thrilling. Yesterday we went to the grocery store. My second grocery store trip since we arrived in Peru. It is completely overwhelming! With 15 varieties of potatoes to chose from and 25 different fruits I have never even heard of I don't even know where to start. I love coupons and a good deal and unfortunately there is no Extreme couponing here in Peru. Stink! Where will I find toothpaste for $.25??? I have to find a new way to shop in stores I am not familiar with. Grocery shopping was so much fun to me in the states and right now it simply overwhelms me...having to figure out a new type of cuisine as well as fit in our own style into a world that isn't the same (stay tuned for future blogs on cuisine). Have no fear though...it will be fun again. I...ahem, I mean, WE will figure it out!

Eli checking out all the potatoes!

Checking out!

And then we busted out again! Last night after we tucked those sweet little boys into bed and had a great "Facetime" session with Misty and Sean, the four of us busted out of the house again! We left the kiddos tucked away and escaped into a couple of hours of adult sanity time! On our quest to find the best pisco sours in the city and the Peruvian Paloma Blanca (our old hang out and happy hour spot) we set out to a near by restaurant. While the place was just so so and the pisco sour was not that great we overlooked the mediocrity of the environment and enjoyed our first couple hours of adult peace and relaxation. Beautiful. It was beautiful.

Hanging out with Dad T. @ Cafe El Ekeko

Walking to get chocolate

Today after a full day of cooking, for me, laundry, for the guys, and playing, for the boys we decided after lunch to get out again! Wahhooo, We are busting out again!!! I think I'm beginning to feel human! Mom T. stayed home and the rest of us ventured down to Dad T's office in downtown Arequipa. We talked dad T. into walking around the square with us as we searched for decaffeinated coffee, which is apparently a difficult request for this pregnant chickie since no one sells it and then continued to search for the best Pisco Sour. We landed ourselves at Cafe El Ekeko, a place we have been to before and enjoyed hanging out with dad. Afterwards we grabbed some chocolate at the amazing La Iberica, which by the way if your not going to come to visit us you need to come for a visit with the chocolate...so worth it! Way more fun and tastier then us!  As we began our walk back to our car and head home we walked thru the plaza. As Virgil and I walked together he reminded me of where I began when I started to write today. Community. Those conquering Spaniards had the right idea. They knew what they were doing. Hang with me for a moment, I'm going somewhere. In Puerto Rico (where I am from) they have small squares in every little city. Small squares called Plaza's where are the "top" of the square sits the Catholic church. The plaza is where everyone went. They went to shop, spend time together, worshipped the Lord together. It was and still is, community. It was always my favorite place to go when we went to PR to visit. Something about it just drew me there. I loved being in the plaza. Maybe its because they had the BEST coconut ice cream in the plaza...but probably not. The Spaniards conquered Peru as well and the cities here have the same set up.  Since I have gotten to Peru I have longed to go to the Plaza. It draws me. Virgil mentioned the same feeling. Walking thru the plaza solidified that feeling. That we were now home. That the Spaniards knew what they were doing and were setting up an example for years to come. A vision of community. A vision of sharing our lives. A vision of sharing and worshipping the Lord as one.

A corner of the plaza

Opposite side of the plaza

V & Jenn in front of the church

We busted out! The city may not be the same letting these two crazy's (Jenn and I out) multiple time in two days, but they better get use to it! We are here to stay. To conquer the grocery shopping! To have great chocolate and most importantly to share the Lord. To meet and share a life with others. One that's not about us but about Him.