Lima, Peru

What a trip! Recently, Drew and I spent 8 days in Lima, Peru. We visited our friends Alison and Justin Thompson and their precious kiddos Cailyn (3 years old) and Corban (10 months old). They are missionaries there and we wanted to get some time in with them as well as join them in what they do day-to-day. What a blessing! While it is overwhelming to try to figure out a way to tell every wonderful detail about our trip, there are so many highlights that should not go unshared. Here are some of those highlights:

Alison had a welcome basket waiting for us on our bed at their house when we arrived including all sorts of local treats. Our favorites were definitely the Zoologico animal crackers (we became addicted!) and the Inca Cola! The first day we walked to a beautiful park to let the kids play and have lots of time to catch up.

We visited a poor area called Paraiso which ironically means paradise in English. Justin and some of the other missionary guys built a couple of houses (shacks) for families that really needed a good roof over their heads. We spent the day at a place called Senegia. It was a great relaxing day spent with the Thompson family and the Yoakum family (another missionary family on their team). The place had stone tables and a wonderful wooden playground for the kids as well as soccer fields to play on and traditional dancers and live music for entertainment. The food was traditional as well and Drew and I shared a meal that was cooked in a clay pot underground!

One afternoon, we enjoyed throwing stones into the ocean. Later that evening we went on a double date with Alison and Justin to a fancy restaurant called La Rosa Nautica that took up an entire pier. It was so much fun with all the fanciness and eating over the ocean!

Another treat was getting to go back to Paraiso to teach English to some 5th grade students. The public schools in Peru are very lacking and many do not get a very good education there. It was a blessing to meet these kids and to join with Justin and Alison in teaching them the words in English for various emotions. I have to say, Alison has such a gift for teaching!!

Several nights included movie night with Alison and Justin after the kids were put to bed. One even included a game of Bocce Ball before our movie! Drew and I put forth a good effort but we were not match for Team Thompson!
We enjoyed teaching English to college aged students at the Fletchers house, having youth night with Christians that go to their church, attending their church service at the Fletchers house, eating tradtional meals (Drew's fave was Pollo Saltado)

...spending time with the other missionaries on their team, Drew attended a men's Bible study with some other Peruvian men at the Davidson's house, OH! and how can I forget the AWESOME step-aerobics classes with Alison at her gym (think major salsa moves, combined with step, combined with mortal combat noises embedded in the music for kick-boxing moves!). I even got to go to a yoga class at the Fletchers house that was taught by one of the Fletcher's visitors. Yoga with Peruvian women...can't beat it! I had a blast on "girls' night" with Alison, Stephanie, and Stacy--I will never forget the HUGEST calzone that came out for Stacy (think bigger than the size of your head!) haha! Getting to witness precious Corban's first steps, watching Cailyn fall asleep on Alison's lap in the car coming back from Senegia with an animal cracker halfway in her mouth, watching Alison kick BUTT being a mom, and falling more and more in love with my sweet husband...all blessings!

Thank you Alison and Justin for letting us invade your space for 8 wonderful days and for the work that you do daily there in Lima. God is using you in ways you don't even see or comprehend. We are so proud of you, honored to call you our friends, and better for the time we spent with you. We love y'all!