Back To Normal?

After returning from our recent Perú mission trip, most of us are already planning and counting the days until our 2012 trip.

Life here has returned to normal.  The grass that was knee high in our yard has been mowed several times and the idea of us purchasing a goat to deal with the grass and weeds has dwindled.  (I couldn't figure out how to hide a goat from the neighbourhood association anyway and I just didn't have the heart to paint it like a dog).  The natural areas of the yard that look like a botanical experiment of weeds of the southeastern U.S. will have to remain for awhile.

Each of the participants have memories of our recent trip that we will glady share (upon request):

• Brad Clayton preaching (with just 5 minutes notice) to the Light & Life Church...  about the Tumbling Monkeys game?
• The mental snapshot of Brenda Paredes' face when she realized she had to translate the phrase "Tumbling Monkeys" in Spanish.
• Sleeping in the New York airport.
• Rob Wolf and John Magee serving communion at Cristo Rey church in Huanta.
• Kay DuMond flying first class...  ugh
• Delta holding our plane from Atlanta to Lima for 2 hours!  Our luggage was left on the tarmac and the paperwork had to be sorted out.
• Visiting the new Amen church in Lima.
• Visting the Church of The Good Shepherd in Huaycán, Perú of which Adrian Fernandez is pastor.
• Celebrating John Magee's birthday...  5 times!
• Shea Chambers playing soccer.
• Sharing this year's trip with the Paredes and Laura family.
• Missing Sara Armstrong.
• Spending much too little time with Samuel Montes.
• Walking with Rob Wolf down the road from the BWJ.
• Early morning walks around Huanta.
• Kay DuMond not suffering in the airport with us.
• Repaying old debts.
• Meeting a local woman in the market (with a butcher knife in her hand) shouting Gringos, Gringas... have a good day!
• Reconnecting with all the kids of Huanta. 
• Giving glass crosses to new churches.
• The unending questions about how Theresa Wolf, Hunter Garbee, DeAnna Booth and previous mission members are doing.
• Reconnecting with old friends in Huanta and Lima.
• Church members being baptised at the Cristo Rey church.
• Watching our luggage being loaded on our plane in New York.
• Seeing our luggage on the tarmack in Atlanta...  not on our plane!
• Rob Wolf attempting to drive Gamaliel Berrocal's motorcar taxi.
• The joy of Brenda Paredes returning to the U.S. with us.
• Rose Boelke fitting reading glasses that she brought to Huanta.
• Being folded into a taxi for the trip to the Ayacucho airport.

These are just a few of the memories that will remain with me for a long...  long time.

wvd