Happy Thanksgiving!!

Our Dearest Friends & Family

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

I can hardly believe that it is already the end of November! This past month has been absolutely crazy – so much has happened that I am overwhelmed just trying to think where to start.

So lets see …. First - I know that the suspense is killing you – but we did make it back from our first village trip!!! I realize that it has been almost a month since we wrote and said we were leaving, but don’t worry we weren’t being held captive in the village the entire time J Although we were told we were spies and were kicked out!! Definitely NOT how we saw this first trip going!! But the important thing is that the LORD our God protected us, kept us safe & healthy & although it was a very trying experience we learned a lot about each other & our relationship with the Lord. We are still trying to figure out how to do our job which is disappointing at times, especially since the Matses don’t want our help – but we know that the Lord already knew that & we are continuing to try and be available to Him.

Second, the day after we returned from our village trip Adam went to an accountability breakfast with some other guys here in town. While he was gone our house was robbed! (While I was still in it!) It was a bit scary but I let our dog out and she scared them away while I locked myself in our bedroom. I called Adam & he was only 5 minutes away so he quickly came to my rescue. They did get away with our microwave, the propane tank for our stove and some other things like that – that they could carry out quickly --- but at least they left the food in the fridge J

Third, one of the nationals on our team got married. It was our first Peruvian wedding – since it was outside and it poured down rain the entire time it was quite interesting!! But the good news is that they got married, soaked and all, and after 5 hours we were able to go home J

Fourth, we still don’t have Internet at our house – it is really starting to get on my nerves but we are trying to remain calm. It is just so hard not being in touch with all of you – especially with Jessica being 7 months pregnant!! But I do have a meeting with the ‘Boss’ of the Internet company this coming Wednesday at 10am so if you think of it, pray hard!!!!

Lastly, things with our house are coming along  -- this next week our kitchen chairs will be ready and we will finally have all of our furniture! Now it will just be the little decorative things, etc. We are definitely staying busy with our neighbors here and just doing house/yard stuff J But we feel like we are slowly getting settled and adjusted to life here.

Below we have TONS of pictures from our village trip to the Matses, the wedding & pregnant pictures of Jess J

We love you guys – thanks for being patient as we struggle to stay in touch & for reading our blog. Your prayers & encouragement are what get us through the days!

Again, Happy Thanksgiving with

ALL of our Love!

We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance & patience you need. May you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light. For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness & transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, who purchased our freedom & forgave our sins.

Colossians 1:11-14

the float plane ... 

the "city" of Angamos

our room in Angamos - we were able to spend lots of quality time here .... 

school kids in a Matses village - 15 students were out with Maleria

Jess & Malvinas (a girl who translated for us) in a Matses Church

Adam with two Matses pastors - the older man has a tattoo of cat whiskers on his face .... it is an old Matses tradition

A guy getting baptized in the river - it was really interesting, unfortunately the guy had no idea why he was getting baptized - he just was doing what the pastor told him

Matses community birthday party - Adam was the star of the volleyball team :)

filling up our boat with gas for our long trip :)

Adam driving the boat!

this is the last community we visited - we were told here that we were spies & at this moment after not proving to their satisfaction that we were missionaries .... we were being held captive ...seriously

Jess in our boat :)

the river

the city of Angamos coming out to see the plane landing to take us home!!

this is how they pack in Peru ... anything goes & yes there in the back are EGGS .... hmmm

the wedding!!!

Jose & Zarai

Jess all dressed up for the wedding :)

Jess - just completed 28 weeks!!

Jess again - posing with the dogs :)