MARCH HAPPENINGS

ASUNCION

We stayed in Asuncion 11 days.  Austin - our intern - flew back home, we had a baby reveal, Joshua took the SAT, at the American Embassy we signed power of attorney over to Jeff’s parents to sign on the house, three kids had orthodontic appointments, we signed appropriate papers at the Justice of the Peace office for Ginny and Joshua to travel with me to Peru, we had a three day garage sale and we did a lot of visiting with team mates. 

 A BABY REVEAL!

March 1, 2018

Our team mate, Martha, planned a wonderfully fun baby gender reveal party for us. We divided into two teams depending on your predicted sex of the baby (Jeff thought it was a girl and I was sure it was a boy).  We played a series of games – a scavenger hunt to nursery rhymes, diaper toss, baby jeopardy, and a baby name game.  At the end, Martha handed us silly string and we let it fly.  Pink string. IT’S A GIRL!  

 Boy team: Me, Ginny, Joshua, Micah, Julia, Josiah

Girl team: Jeff, Tyler, Claire, Makayla

In February our SIM team welcomed three new families to Paraguay.  They are all in Asuncion currently learning Spanish.  It’s been wonderful to get to know them. One new family is particularly special to us.   Kate and Samuel – an Australian couple - did a month medical internship with us 6 years ago.  When they left our place, they said that could see themselves living in a rural community doing medical missions full time in their future.  And now – 6 years later – they have joined our Paraguay team! And they now have three precious children.

Our three-day yard sale went well, although we still have so much stuff to sort through.

 We love hanging out with our mission family.

Ginny, Joshua and I had the incredible opportunity to travel to Peru!  We spent two days traveling on either end and stayed three full days in Peru.  One day we took a tour from Cuzco to Machu Picchu (a 4-hour bus/train/bus ride there and back).  Machu Picchu was incredible.  Written words just cannot express the grandeur, the history, and the complexity that went into the building of such a site.

The second full day, we took a day tour of ruins in and around Cuzco (the Sacred Valley).  That was incredible too. 

The third full day we walked around the plaza in Cuzco and visited museums and cathedrals.

I could share 1000 pictures, but I will choose just a few instead.

 And we are off!  What a privilege to travel with just my two teens!

 Trying Inca Cola on our 7 hour Lima lay-over.  It got mixed reviews from us.

The train station at Ollantaytambo....catching the train heading to Machu Picchu.

In Machu Picchu town about to head up the windy mountainous road via bus to the ruins. 

 And here we are!

These ruins were on our Sacred Valley tour.

 Massive rocks.

 Ginny loved the llamas.

 Guinea pig, anyone?

Yes, please!  When in Peru....eat what the Peruvians do...eat guinea pig!

 Walking around the plaza in Cuzco.

 In the market place.  Say, "CHEESE!"

 Look at all the bright wonderful colors.

Finishing our day and our time in Peru with alpaca burgers.

Heading home again.  Another 7 hour layover in Lima.  Bringing home Donuts for Josiah's birthday breakfast!