We are settling into a
little routine here in Arequipa. We are
renting an apartment above a very nice missionary couple from Canada. They have been very good to us and aren’t
opposed to our little socialites running in and out of their home and
garden. Of course their little furry
socialite Daisy sometimes pays us a visit too!
Outside our bedroom window is a view of the beautiful Chachani volcano
which we don’t mind waking up to every morning.
Life in the city is
different for us country bumpkins but we are adjusting. Arequipa es
muy tranquila as every native Arequipeño will tell you and that helps. Our day begins with a long walk to the kids’
daycare. The teacher there speaks in
Spanish but there are several other expat children as well. The kids do different play and learning
activities there while Mike and I go to language school. We both have un clase de gramatica y un clase de
practicar. I think I did better last week when I was still
naïve and didn’t realize just how much Spanish I don’t know! But our teachers are patient with us, even
when we can’t think in English let alone Spanish!
Around noon Mike and I
finish and work on homework before picking up the kids. We then hail a taxi for our uphill climb
back. It’s not horribly bad but I’ve
begun calling Liam “little legs” because it takes him longer to make the
trek. After we eat together we begin
homeschool for both kids to keep them caught up. Ella’s nickname is Pokey because this can
take several hours and since the sun sets around 5:30, evening is usually upon
us before we know it. After some
playtime the kids observe enforced quiet time while mommy and daddy study
vocabulary and a mountain of verbs. The
days are busy but good!
We have been extremely
blessed to have an awesome community here.
Other missionaries who have been at the school for a while have been
extremely good to us. It helps to have
friends here…with our internet being available sporadically I sometimes feel
very disconnected from home. The kids
have had a few rough days but have had awesome moments too. Tonight at dinner I heard them saying “Ok,
pretend you don’t know English. Escuchan! (Listen!)” They are beginning to learn, although Liam
will, I think, continue to play the “I speak English” card as long as it
benefits him. We were at a restaurant
with some friends after church Sunday and Liam ran ahead to play in a fountain
which was off limits. Before I could get
there the guard said something like “No!
Esperar tu Mama!” To which Liam replied “I don’t speak Spanish.” I told him “Nice try buddy…No and Mama work the same in both languages.”
Sometimes I get a
little overwhelmed with our new life here.
I miss my nieces and nephews and cheddar cheese and my yard and being
able to speak above the level of a two year old…but God gave me this verse from
the Message on one of my first days here: “You’re blessed when you’re content
with just who you are- no more, no less.
That’s the moment you find yourself proud owners of everything that
can’t be bought. You’re blessed when
you’ve worked up a good appetite for God.
He’s food and drink in the best meal you’ll ever eat. Matthew 5:5-6”
So I pray that I may
be content and “Tengo hambre…solamente para mi Dios.”
Liam and Ella at church on Sunday
We needed hats for the kids to wear while out. Liam especially gets burnt in the strong sun. This was the one he chose. We compromised...this one is for at home only:)
Our morning walk
We have arrived...at the daycare.
