Thursday Trujillo, PE

We got a sofa cama bus to Trujillo. Arrived at 4.30 AM. Matt was having throat and sinus problems so we walked to a 24 hour farmacia in centro. By 5 we realized that it was 3 hours until a cafe opened and cold and misty. We taxied to Las Delicias on the outskirts of Trujillo and visited Julio and Yolanda Olgien around 5.15. Yolanda was our maid in Trujillo and probably saved us more problems than we will ever know. My hope was that they loved us enough to not shoot at us. They did (not shoot at us) and we had a great time with them for a few hours. Saw them and two of their daughters, Deysi and Seydi.

As will surprise nobody, we had breakfast at Café Oviedo. The cooks and waiters remember us well, as they should (after all, we probably paid for their kids to go to college!) They told us the sad news that the Café´s owner, Theodoro, passed away six months ago. Theodoro was a great guy who had moved to Perú from Oviedo, Spain many years ago and had really treated his employees well.

When leaving Oviedo, we saw a guy at Janos burgers who I could not place. He asked about our kids and Julie and I thought he was a taxista who had worked on the corner near our house. I found out later that I was wrong.

After breakfast, we went to Matt´s old stomping grounds. At Elliot Christian school, we saw Pablo. He and Sarah have 3 girls now! He took us to Twinems and had a great visit. Matt´s friend, Mario, lives on same block and Matt left message.

Went to the Baptist Bookstore and saw Maria Elena. She and José invited us to stay at their apartment, which we did. Saw people at seminary, Julio y Rosio Montalvo, Sofia and baby, Elvis, Miguel from Piura who would ask me 20 minute questions in my missions class. I told Sofia for Pavel to meet me in my ¨office¨ at 8 in the morning. Somebody said Tito had a group in so I left message at Hotel Mercedes to call me at the Santos place and he called later that night.

Having a great time. Matt is realizing that being a missionary kid is a great thing. Very obvious that God has allowed us a big and lasting impact in people’s lives. José Colchado invited me to preach on Sunday, Father’s day. Matt and I are going to preach together, as a team.

Big day planned for today and heading to Huaraz at 9 pm. Will return Saturday at 9 pm on buscama.

Wednesday Morning Tumbes,PE

We left for our vacation on Tuesday night from Quito. This vacation is really Matt’s. It is his present for his 16th birthday, which was in September! We had planned on going during his spring break, but my appendectomy sort of put the kibosh on that. The bus was uncomfortable for Matt and unbearable for me. They just weren’t thinking about 6'2'' guys when they put those seats in. We got to the border station at 8am. Our bus did not wait for us so we walked on into town (about 6 kilometers). Waited an hour for bus to cross the border and were told that the driver was having his lunch and we would get there eventually. So, we walked across the border and took a mototaxi to the Peruvian border station. Then we got a collectivo to Tumbes. The guards at the border station remembered me...or at least remembered Julie's treats she made for them!

We got dropped off near Marta's house and was she ever surprised to see us. She was our maid in Tumbes and became a believer and a friend. Her son, Oscar, is now 5 and while we were there, Marta’s daughter Sandi came home and was very happy to have us visit. We left there and went to see the Sedano family. They were not home so Matt went to find his soccer buddies and I went to see if I could find Raul and Gladys who had moved up to the Sedano's neighborhood. Instead, I found Luis who I had baptized before we left Tumbes. We visited a while and went back down to the Sedano house. Their son, David was there and we were just about to get into a moto when Beti and Nimrod showed up. We spent some time and then Beti's boys wanted to see Matt. We found him near our old house and went to Miguel Grau. Saw everyone there, just about and had a good time.

Matt and I had lunch at Classic and wow was that good! Fish, rice and beans. For supper, he wanted chifa (Chinese Food). Our bus left at 6.30 pm and the chifa did not open till 6 (which means 6.45 at the earliest) so we went to Costa del Sol. There, we saw Joanna and got the typical greeting. Everywhere we go, 'y Juli? como está?' One cool thing at Costa...we came in and there was a lady who waved at us and then spoke up, 'do you remember me?' I confessed that she looked familiar, but… She is married to the owner of the Chifa that we TRIED to eat at. She was at Costa for her son's birthday. Had tons of spiritual questions based on earlier conversations...earlier meaning two years ago! When we had been witnessing to her, she was very close to knowing Christ. My guess is, that she is in fact now a Christian, and was asking the questions as a way to witness to her mother and sister who were with her at the table. I may never know until heaven.

Left CdS and got to bus station. Raul and Gladys were waiting on us! They had seen Luis who told them when and where we were leaving from. Only spent 5 minutes but very nice surprise. We got on bus and it was sofacama! first class seats. We slept great to Trujillo. Got off at 4.30 am. Matt has s sore throat and we went to a 24hr farmacia for meds. Now 5 Am and wondering what to do. Woke up Julio and Yolanda about 5.30. Good thing they love us! Missed Deysis birthday by 5 hours.

The Prodigal and Shaved Son Comes Home

The guy in the picture above is who we picked up at the airport. We were not quite sure who he was, but figured that someone who looked so rough, just needed a hot meal and a warm place to sleep. Low and behold, he went and invested $3.50 (actually we gave it to him) and when he returned we realized that it was our son, Bryan! Wow.

Dancing With The Stars

Matthew is performing in "Anne of Green Gables" as Moody. Moody is a boy who spends his time working on his times tables (is this called type casting?) and has a crush on Anne. Matt's character is kind of a comic relief. Famed theater critics (his Mom and Dad and Grandmother) say, "Three Thumbs Up!"

Answered Prayer for Scholarships

A few weeks ago, we asked prayer about scholarships for Bryan. Wednesday morning we got word that Bryan has been awarded grants that well meet his need for tuition, fees and books at Arizona State West for the 2007-2008 school year! Now the rest of the story... The following Monday, I checked in on his account to see if he was able to get the classes he had hoped for. There was a note on his financial aid account, as well. Bryan was awarded a Maroon and Gold Scholarship. This is a full tuition scholarship for academics. That means that the grants he was already awarded can be applied to his dorm, expenses, etc.

Seven years ago, we left the United States to go be missionaries. One of the questions we were asked most often and the one we asked ourselves was, "what will this mean to our kids?" Part of that question was about their education. Would they get a quality education in a third world setting? I think the answer is "Yes!" Now, let me be the first to tell you, we give Bryan a rough time about his academics. Our favorite was in his first semester when he took the History of Rock and Roll. BUT, he passed it with an "A" and had fun doing it. To anyone contemplating a missionary life, we want you to know that the almost universal rule is that your children will be the richer for it.


We are awfully proud of Bryan, awfully grateful for Arizona State and awfully thankful for your prayers.

Crazy Easter Egg Hunt

It started in Trujillo. We had hard boiled brown eggs (not the prettiest to color) and 4 Reeses Peanut Butter Eggs. To make it more challenging, we made the children wait until dark. The younger two had flashlights and the older two had candles.

This year, Matt hid the eggs and Thomas and Katie searched with candles. The game ended with Katie having 4 eggs and Thomas 3, out of 10. The came had to be called when Thomas crawled under the gas tank of my truck looking for eggs. No harm / no foul. The truck is in place, but this will require a new rule for next year. No hiding eggs in flamable areas.

Needing-Scholarships Prayer

You have seen the bumper sticker or one that is similar, at least: My Kid and All My Money Go To Arizona State! In our case, that is not exactly true. Yes, my kid goes to Arizona State, but up until now, all has been paid by scholarships. The financial aid deadline passed on Friday the 30th of March. Now, the various committees are meeting to decide who should get financial aid. We would ask you to pray with us about this need.

Bryan has a scholarship that will pay for his apartment next year. He is currently doing a work/study and will have to find a new one in the fall, as he is changing campuses. He is applying for a full tuition scholarship called "Maroon and Gold" for the ASU colors. Go Arizona State!!!