FIRST DAYS IN PERU

We are greeted by John and Susan Park

upon our arrival at the Lima airport. They

are such gracious hosts as we spend our

first couple of days in Peru with them.

Filling out our preliminary residency papers

Visiting the newly built
Diocesan Center in Lima

The day after we arrive in Arequipa, January 18, 2009

(Gloria's 57th birthday), at our first service at Cristo Redentor

Church, Bishop Godfrey is visiting and blesses the new missionaries.

With Bishop Godfrey after the service

We share newcomer status with this wonderful family,

Padre Salvador with wife Denise, and daughter Macarena

who moved to Arequipa just shortly before we did. He is

the new pastor at Arequipa's other Anglican Church, San Lucas.

We have been blessed with the assistance of the

Robertson's empleadas, Cornelia (above) and

Naty (below) to ease us into living in Arequipa.

Not only have they helped tremendously with

cooking, laundry, etc., but they have also been

very patient language helpers for Gloria!

Gloria and Naty out to a nice lunch

Padre Juan Carlos and wife Maria

whom we will be working with

at Cristo Redentor Church

we eat at a great restaurant near the church

our new friend, Juan Ayala,
a most welcoming brother in the Lord

Juan's Hotel, where most of the

visiting short-term mission teams stay

ROOFDOGS!

We see these all over, protecting their owner's homes

Yep, dogs everywhere!

These two don't look too vigilant, however!

What an adventure, finding furniture for our new place!
We made several trips to an area of Arequipa with Naty
that has row upon row of shopsthat just sell all kinds of beds,
sofas, desks, etc. Many people just strap their furniture on
top of a taxi and off they go! We did have one mishap with

some wooden shelves that went flying when our taxi turned

a sharp corner! The desk fell halfway down the side of the taxi,

but thankfully they were not significantly damaged! For the rest

of our purchases, we were fortunate to find a small truck with

two very accomodating drivers. Everything was hauled over to

the Robertsons, where we were temporarily staying, awaiting

the date we can finally move into our own apartment.