more pictures

I actually did have this for lunch. Not this actual squid, but something like it. Ruben, who is new, learning how to throw a football.

Pictures

Mimi who is available for adoption along with her sister A girl in the city who Lisa gave a ball to.
Dinner?

Fruit stand

Jumping rope with the kids

Pictures! and update

Today my parents are driving to Paijan, which is halfway to Trujillo, with Avis and Ashley to give away some medical equipment. People have brought a lot of medical equipment down over the last couple years for Avis that she has no idea how to use... like heart cathoders and IV's so we decided that while we are here we will load it all up in the van and drive it to a town that has a small hospital and lacks supplies. We also had a bunch of walkers that we have already disperesed around the town. I think everyone I've met has a 95 year old grandma, haha. After they drop off the medical equipment they are going to Trujillo to do some grocery shopping. While they were busy doing that I went with Maribel to another city to look at some computers that someone wants to sell to us. It is a very good deal. 4 computers, with 3 tables for 1200 dollars, so we have decided to buy them, seeing that the school needs them and so does the office.

I spent some time with the new kids yesterday and today. They are still a little shy but they are starting to warm up. One of the new boys Ruben got up and spoke during the open mic night at church and said that he was thankful that he was here because he has everything he needs here. Him and his brother arrived a week and a half ago. The officials said that they would only be here for a couple days while they were investigating thier mother. But I have a feeling they might be here for longer than that. Another new one named Heiser is a handful, he's 4 years old and won't stop laughing. It's so good to see kids coming from the situations that they do and just be able to be kids here. I tried to feed the new baby Maria today but she wouldn't let me, I don't know why, my niece Bella always eats great for me haha.

As of right now I'm just trying to write this post... I've already had to rewrite it about 3 times because I keep accedently writing in spanish because I can't concentrate to save my life right now. I have three kids behind me playing mario on my old gameboy that I brought down, so I keep turning around and talking to them turn around and start writing again and realize its in spanish. haha.

Here are a few pictures that I have taken over the past couple days.

Finally some pictures for you all.

First the great haircut of 2008

Before

After the haircutLisa and Kelly playing with 10 of the kids in the river New Year's day Buring the doll for the New Year
Lisa preparing the bags to give out around the town with some other ladies from the church

I will post some more pictures after I reformat some more.

Happy New Year

Last night and today was awesome.

For new years we participated in the Peruvian custom. People make dolls and stuff them with hay and burn them at 12:00. We had a church service that started at 9:00 and went until midnight. After the worship and a quick sermon we had an open mic. Anyone who wanted to could come up and talk. The subject was, "what were you thankful for last year." At this church when there's an open mic, everyone talks so it easily lasted until it was time to light the human size doll on fire. Overall it was a great New Year celebration and honestly the first one I can remember having in a Church. It's really great to see how great the Church community here is when they want to celebrate everything together.

New Year's day was excellent as well. I woke up at about 9:00 and my father and I switched some car batteries around so we could get the van running, then installed a shower curtain rod, towel rod, and clothes hanger rod in my room. Then at 1:00 I went over to the orphanage to make sure the kids were ready to go swim in the river, and got to eat my favorite peruvian dish for lunch, lomo saltado. At 2:00 16 kids from the orphanage, 10 from the church, and my parents and I went to swim in the river. It was a blast. All the kids had a lot of fun.

After that we had "Missionary Night" where all the gringos get together and eat dinner made by one of the other gringos every thursday. After that we played some Bible trivia. We did guys vs. girls... Avis pretty much just wiped the floor with us.

Ok once again the pictures aren't working, I think I figured out what's causing it. I will reformat the images tomorrow and try and post them. Happy new year!