Time just continues to march on and it amazes me that although it feels like I just updated the blog, it has been since June. July was a busy month for us in the fact that Chris, along with 4 of the Peruvian pastors and one of the pastors wives went to the States for the Mennonite World Conference in Lancaster, PA. Chris was gone for 20 days which was the longest time we have been apart as a couple. It was difficult, but I was thankful that two of the English teachers at Promesa, Brook and Eleanor helped me with the girls. My friend Gloria also came on Tuesdays while Chris was gone to help out. I had many fellow missionary friends offering to help if I needed anything as well.
But before Chris left, we got to celebrate the fourth with other missionaries in a nearby town called Pisac. It was a dreary, unusual day with rain most of the morning but it turned out to be a fun time of fellowship despite the weather. (And I say unusual because it is dry season here so normally it doesn't rain.) Here are a few pictures of our day.....
We made cupcakes and our sweet friend Shawna O'Kelley sent us these cute little flag toothpicks.
Our four little fire crackers. They were all dressed in red, white and blue for the special day!
Below is just a small part of the group that gathered to celebrate our Independence Day. We prayed and said the Pledge of Allegiance followed by singing the National Anthem. It is wild to think our children might know the Peruvian national anthem better than their own. For that reason especially, we felt it was important to celebrate our home country's holiday. To top off the day we had some really good cookout food that we miss like potato salad and grilled hot dogs along with watermelon and other yummy desserts.
Fast forward to the Friday before vacation time. The girls all had programs at school the last Friday before the two week vacation. Here they are:
Katie and Hannah, along with their classmates both explained how to solve math problems.
Danica did a jungle dance again. Thankfully she was the only one that needed to rent a costume this year. And God blessed me tremendously when my friend Sandy was able to rent the same costume for Danica that her daughter that goes to a different preschool needed as well. She picked it up and returned it for me. Just another reminder of how the Lord takes care of our needs!
Right after the program Katie left for a Christian camp for the weekend with some Peruvian friends.
Finally July 28th came and we dropped Hannah off for the youth camp and went to the airport to get Chris! The girls made a welcome home sign and a fruit pizza for him. Oh and BDE stands for
"Best Daddy Ever!"
We are thankful that Chris could take the pastors to the States, but we are even more thankful to have him back home with us!
