Well, I am sitting at 21 days to marriage and have a huge praise! I HAVE MY DOCUMENTS!! I actually had everything in my hand Thursday, but no time to report it.
Thanks for all your prayers! THIS IS HAPPENING!!
In other news, it was not my best day ever today. Last night my dear roommates, Kelsey and Lydia (a.k.a. room 223) called me and it meant the world to me! Only one problem, it reminded me how much I miss them, Moody, room 223 life, dishcrew, classes, everything about school! I am so thankful that they called, it meant the world to me.
This morning I woke up and realized at 9:45 am that the first "Monday Morning Meeting" would be underway in Food Service and I missed everyone so much. I put in my "circle the wagons" song (a dishcrew tribute by Jon Hunter) and let out some missing everyone tears.
H2-- another place I miss. Just the thought of everyone moving in, messes everywhere (although I think the new rule still stands that nothing is allowed in the hall, what a shame), and people pumped to see each other. Not to mention those first floor meetings being posted for next week and anticipation of what room 223 would pull off!
Long live tradition.
Love you all and miss you like crazy!!!
Bbax out-
Monday, August 24, 2009
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
"God is able to do just what He said He would do"
When I arrived in Lima early Monday morning, I really had no idea where I was going to stay. I had contacted the SIM mission house, but had not yet heard back from them.
Glory to God, Nelton's good friend Aulo, who lives in Lima and knows the city very well, was able to meet me at the airport and help me to find my way around town.
I got in at 9 am and wanted to get to the embassy by 10 am, because the internet said that was when the notarizing closed. We went to Aulo's office to drop off my suitcase on the way to the embassy. However, we hit a small rush hour that prevented us from getting there on time. We decided to go in and see what we would need to do the following day.
The embassy is a very impressing place. Because I am a citizen, I didn't have to wait in the long line of those seeking visas, I was able to get right it. It turns out it was a really good thing that we left my suitcase, because we had to go through security and leave all our technology at the entrance, which included my laptop.
When we got inside the Citizens Services Office, we took our number and sat down. It was so interesting to see who and why the different people were there. One man was there with his Peruvian wife and their daughter. He was much older and didn't speak much Spanish. When he would explain things to his wife, it would be a couple Spanish words, but mostly English, and she didn't look like she understood. It was kinda sad, because he was getting so frustrated with her. Their daughter of about five years old appeared to be bilingual. They were there for quite a while, and it was evident that they were very frustrated.
Another ladies passport had expired, that situation looked like fun.
As I watched the multiple episodes unfold, I only prayed that mine would go smoothly. I was prepared for a difficult road to getting all the paperwork settled as I have heard or read many painful stories of how tedious the task can be. Most reported that less than 6 months would be a dream for the whole process of obtaining documents. I have two weeks before heading back to the jungle, so 6 months is out of the question.
After maybe half an hour of sitting, watching, and waiting, my number was called. I whispered a final prayer and approached the front and asked about the document of singleness. I expected him to say I would have to come back the next to, but instead the man just smiled and said, "Ok. Are you single?"
"Yes." I said with a huge smile, never being so happy to say that word to that question (not that I was unhappy or unsatisfied as a single person, just that this time it meant that I could marry the one I love).
He explained that there is really nothing they do to check it, it's only on our word. I could be sworn in before an affidavit and notarize the document. Good enough for me.
After filling out the single piece of paper and paying $30, I signed the sheet and got the stamp and signature of approval and United States legalization. I walked out of that embassy one happy girl.
Next, we popped into a McDonalds for a double cheese burger and fries. Boy, was that a treat! In addition, they had free wifi. So I was able to check e-mail and found a message from the SIM mission house saying they had a room for me from Monday-Friday! Praise Jesus. Another gift from God, a place to stay for $8 a night. After we finished lunch, we would call for directions.
During lunch, Aulo and I were talking about airline tickets, because I wanted to know where I could buy one to go home (to Iquitos) and he needed to check prices for coming to the wedding. As he was checking his e-mail, I was looking around the square and right across the street was a LAN office to buy tickets! Praise Jesus, I needed to find a place, because I wasn't sure how to buy them in Lima. Another gift from God. In addition, the bank to pay for the tickets is right across the street from the LAN office. Now when I can go home, I know where to get tickets.
The next adventure was to find the house I would stay at. We called from a pay phone and to our delight the house was only a few blocks away. We walked down to drop off the technology and check into the house. To my absolute amazement, this place is wonderful. There is a completely furnished kitchen (with a stove, refrigerator, microwave, and filtered water!!), a living room with COUCHES! and a tv, the entire place has wifi- high speed internet!, my room has three beds (even though I don't need them all, it's a spacey, homey place), fully furnished with blankets and towels. The biggest treat is- THEY HAVE HOT WATER!!! It had been 44 days since I had had a hot shower and when I finally was able to take one, I praised Jesus through the whole thing! Top it all off with the temperature of 65-70 degrees here in Lima and I have one priceless gift from God.
The woman here, Wendy Williams, who is in charge of the mission house is so filled with the Spirit, you feel Him just by being around here. She is a prayer warrior and as she showed me my room, she stopped and chatted with me for a couple minutes. She asked why I was here and I told her about getting documents for marriage. She jokingly touched my forehead to see if I was ill. When I asked her why, she laughed and said she was kidding, she knows the most beautiful cross-cultural couple.
I told her that I wouldn't be surprised if she told me I was out of my mind, I have heard it so much.
Then she looked right into my eyes and said, "Do you know it's from God?"
I said, "yes."
"Does he know it's from God?"
"Yes."
Then she said something like, "Then don't let anyone else change or even play with your mind. When you are pregnant with any vision from God, link with people who are pregnant with the same vision and see it to birth. There are so many people who are walking around without any vision or purpose from God, not really because they can't, they just aren't willing. Associate with them, by all means, but don't let them suck the vision and passion from you which God has placed in you. I just feel like you need to hear that."
Another gift from God, it touched me profoundly. It was such affirmation, like someone saying, "Hey! You're doing a good job. You are on the right path. Keep going with God!"
She told me about how she is going to Ecuador in a week, because God has called her there for one week to a specific area just to pray and listen to what God is doing in the churches. She said after that she will know what God wants her to do next, but she knows that is what He wants her to do now. That woman is in tune with the Holy Spirit. "You have to bind the strong man before plundering his goods. That's why I wrestle in the heavenlies before even attempting to do the work on earth."
After leaving there, very encouraged, Aulo and I decided to head downtown to find out what needed to be done at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It can be hard to decided which is the best next step to take. We got there and found that the legalization department was closed. We decided to look up official translators, yeah, we seriously wasted no time. We found that a lot of them were in places that Aulo wasn't familiar with. Then a man on the street gave us a business card with a map of a place 2 blocks away. A little sketch, but we decided to check it out.
We walked into a little office, and I was in a joking mood. I asked how much it costs to translate documents, and he said, "depends on what you need." I said, "a book." He looked surprised and asked if I was an editor.
Aulo laughed, but covered for me that I really just needed my birth certificate translated. We pulled out the document and he explained that in order to get it translated "officially" it needed to first be legalized at the embassy, then legalized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, both closed by that time. He said it would cost about 50 soles to translate and added up how much he though everything would cost. Then said if we get it legalized at the Embassy, we could bring it back to him and he would do the rest at the ministry of foreign affairs and translating work by the next day.
I looked at him and excitedly said, "Good! Because I want to get married tomorrow." He jaw dropped, eyes popped, and leaned forward. I busted out laughing and told him he really needs to learn when gringas are joking. He realized I was joking and laughed too.
Side trail:
Peruvians are soo easy to mess with, too easy. It's like I have a whole new country of victims who have no idea about my sense of humor and I take advantage of it! For example, the other day Nelton and I were finishing painting the bathroom and we ran out of paint. So he sent me and his nephew to the store to get another small can of paint. When I was paying, the man looked at me and saw the specks of paint all over my arms, face, hair, everywhere and asked in a tone that conveyed his wonder, "Are you doing the painting yourself?"
"No," I replied with a straight face and without skipping a beat, "I'm just watching." In my head I thought, "Here's your sign."
His face wrinkled in thought as he was a little confused and who knows what he was thinking. I never told him I was joking, I didn't think it deserved the joking line, it was that obvious. (There you go, Marty! The art of sarcasm reaches Peru).
And back again...
He gave us his card and we decided to go back and see if his name was on the Ministries list of "official translators," but it was closed. So we called it a day and planned our strategy for the following day (Tuesday). I was more than satisfied with the progress we made.
So yesterday, we got up early and went back to the embassy. Surprisingly, there is a whole list of States that do not permit the embassy to make "true copies" of birth certificates, which is what I needed. It's a copy with a notarized stamp that declares it is a legal document. If this was the case that my state was on the list which prohibits the embassy from acting, I would have to take care of these steps in the United States.
I checked the list, praying through every second with a heart that couldn't stop pounding. My hands shot up in the air when I found that Iowa wasn't on the list!! But almost as instantly as I celebrated my victory, my hands fell down as though I met defeat when I realized that I was born in Minnesota. I braced myself again and searched the list over. VICTORY AGAIN!! Minnesota wasn't on the list either! Yeah for simple country life!!! -Another gift from God.
As soon as I entered the Citizens Service Office again, I was able to be helped right away. It was the same guy. He checked the list (as though I wouldn't have done my research, lol), and told me they could do it.
I was out of there, documents secure in my hands, in a manner of minutes. We made the long trek back to the heart of Lima (seriously, it takes about 1 1/2- 2 hours by bus). We were both so tired, Aulo fell asleep and I was in and out of sleep. I decided to stay awake, and it was a good thing, because I recognized where we needed to get off.
We headed to the MInistry to check the list and the man was not on the list. But another office, an official office, was in the same building. Awkward, but fortunate. We snuck past the other office, which was comical and fun, up the the fifth floor where we found the official office.
We found out that we needed to go get the documents legalized and paid for. They would be ready the next day, but there is a voucher we get when we pay. If we brought it to the office, they could pick it up and have it translated and ready by 11 am the next day (Wednesday, today).
This was the most suspenseful part. Would the Ministry accept the certified true copy of my birth certificate? Would they accept the certified document of singleness? We waited in a long line, the whole time I was filled with anticipation, excitement, and suspension, praying the entire time, as I had no idea what they would say. We reached the front of the line and I took a breath and slid my papers under the glass. He looked at them and in 2 seconds slid them back to me and said, "You need to be in line 5."
I couldn't be frustrated, I was just relieved it wasn't a no!! So we got in line 5 and the same feelings bubbled right back up. Praying out loud almost the entire time. Aulo was frustrated as he hated waiting. She he went and found a guy to bring to me to see if the documents could even be legalized. The man came and looked at them and said yes to the birth certificate, because it was legalized in Lima. But no to the document of singleness, my heart sank, but I would not take no for an answer. I asked why and he said that it has to be certified at the embassy. I don't know how he didn't see the stamp, but I showed him the stamp and he said, "Oh, yeah, your fine." I sighed a sigh of relief, but decided we wouldn't get too excited until we really talked to the man with the power behind the glass.
Well, without dragging it out further, it was a yes!
Another long line to pay, but it didn't matter, I was just so excited!!
Back to the translator to drop off the voucher, and we called it another day. We went out for lunch, then he brought me home by 3 pm, and we parted ways because we were both so tired.
Now he is waiting for the call from the translator, and I am waiting for a call from him saying we can go pick everything up! Then I'll probably be headed home tomorrow! I didn't want to buy a ticket until the documents were all safe in my hand.
The anticipation isn't over. Next we will have to see what they say back in Iquitos!
Thank you all for your prayers! Lets keep praying.
There is one song that is in my head about this whole thing, "He's Able."
Here are the lyrics, but you should youtube it. It's powerful.
"He's Able" by Deitrick Haddon
Leader:
Exceedingly
Abundantly
Above all, all you can ask from him
According to, the power
That worketh in you
God is able to do just what he said he would do
He's gonna fullfill every promise to you
Don't give up on God, cause he won't give up on you
He's Able
Chorus (2x):
God is able to do just what he said he would do
He's gonna fullfill every promise to you
Don't give up on God, cause he won't give up on you
He's Able (2x)
Leader;
Oh, oh oh oh, oh oh oh
He's Able
Bridge (3x):
Oh, oh oh oh, oh oh oh
He's Able
Vamp:
He's Able
Leader:
Don't give up on God (2x)
Anybody ever wanted to give up
Has anybody ever wanted to throw in the towel
Anybody know God to be able
Don't give up on God, cause he won't give up on you
He's Able
Ending:
Oh, oh oh oh, oh oh oh, He's Able
He's Able (til fade)
Glory to God, Nelton's good friend Aulo, who lives in Lima and knows the city very well, was able to meet me at the airport and help me to find my way around town.
I got in at 9 am and wanted to get to the embassy by 10 am, because the internet said that was when the notarizing closed. We went to Aulo's office to drop off my suitcase on the way to the embassy. However, we hit a small rush hour that prevented us from getting there on time. We decided to go in and see what we would need to do the following day.
The embassy is a very impressing place. Because I am a citizen, I didn't have to wait in the long line of those seeking visas, I was able to get right it. It turns out it was a really good thing that we left my suitcase, because we had to go through security and leave all our technology at the entrance, which included my laptop.
When we got inside the Citizens Services Office, we took our number and sat down. It was so interesting to see who and why the different people were there. One man was there with his Peruvian wife and their daughter. He was much older and didn't speak much Spanish. When he would explain things to his wife, it would be a couple Spanish words, but mostly English, and she didn't look like she understood. It was kinda sad, because he was getting so frustrated with her. Their daughter of about five years old appeared to be bilingual. They were there for quite a while, and it was evident that they were very frustrated.
Another ladies passport had expired, that situation looked like fun.
As I watched the multiple episodes unfold, I only prayed that mine would go smoothly. I was prepared for a difficult road to getting all the paperwork settled as I have heard or read many painful stories of how tedious the task can be. Most reported that less than 6 months would be a dream for the whole process of obtaining documents. I have two weeks before heading back to the jungle, so 6 months is out of the question.
After maybe half an hour of sitting, watching, and waiting, my number was called. I whispered a final prayer and approached the front and asked about the document of singleness. I expected him to say I would have to come back the next to, but instead the man just smiled and said, "Ok. Are you single?"
"Yes." I said with a huge smile, never being so happy to say that word to that question (not that I was unhappy or unsatisfied as a single person, just that this time it meant that I could marry the one I love).
He explained that there is really nothing they do to check it, it's only on our word. I could be sworn in before an affidavit and notarize the document. Good enough for me.
After filling out the single piece of paper and paying $30, I signed the sheet and got the stamp and signature of approval and United States legalization. I walked out of that embassy one happy girl.
Next, we popped into a McDonalds for a double cheese burger and fries. Boy, was that a treat! In addition, they had free wifi. So I was able to check e-mail and found a message from the SIM mission house saying they had a room for me from Monday-Friday! Praise Jesus. Another gift from God, a place to stay for $8 a night. After we finished lunch, we would call for directions.
During lunch, Aulo and I were talking about airline tickets, because I wanted to know where I could buy one to go home (to Iquitos) and he needed to check prices for coming to the wedding. As he was checking his e-mail, I was looking around the square and right across the street was a LAN office to buy tickets! Praise Jesus, I needed to find a place, because I wasn't sure how to buy them in Lima. Another gift from God. In addition, the bank to pay for the tickets is right across the street from the LAN office. Now when I can go home, I know where to get tickets.
The next adventure was to find the house I would stay at. We called from a pay phone and to our delight the house was only a few blocks away. We walked down to drop off the technology and check into the house. To my absolute amazement, this place is wonderful. There is a completely furnished kitchen (with a stove, refrigerator, microwave, and filtered water!!), a living room with COUCHES! and a tv, the entire place has wifi- high speed internet!, my room has three beds (even though I don't need them all, it's a spacey, homey place), fully furnished with blankets and towels. The biggest treat is- THEY HAVE HOT WATER!!! It had been 44 days since I had had a hot shower and when I finally was able to take one, I praised Jesus through the whole thing! Top it all off with the temperature of 65-70 degrees here in Lima and I have one priceless gift from God.
The woman here, Wendy Williams, who is in charge of the mission house is so filled with the Spirit, you feel Him just by being around here. She is a prayer warrior and as she showed me my room, she stopped and chatted with me for a couple minutes. She asked why I was here and I told her about getting documents for marriage. She jokingly touched my forehead to see if I was ill. When I asked her why, she laughed and said she was kidding, she knows the most beautiful cross-cultural couple.
I told her that I wouldn't be surprised if she told me I was out of my mind, I have heard it so much.
Then she looked right into my eyes and said, "Do you know it's from God?"
I said, "yes."
"Does he know it's from God?"
"Yes."
Then she said something like, "Then don't let anyone else change or even play with your mind. When you are pregnant with any vision from God, link with people who are pregnant with the same vision and see it to birth. There are so many people who are walking around without any vision or purpose from God, not really because they can't, they just aren't willing. Associate with them, by all means, but don't let them suck the vision and passion from you which God has placed in you. I just feel like you need to hear that."
Another gift from God, it touched me profoundly. It was such affirmation, like someone saying, "Hey! You're doing a good job. You are on the right path. Keep going with God!"
She told me about how she is going to Ecuador in a week, because God has called her there for one week to a specific area just to pray and listen to what God is doing in the churches. She said after that she will know what God wants her to do next, but she knows that is what He wants her to do now. That woman is in tune with the Holy Spirit. "You have to bind the strong man before plundering his goods. That's why I wrestle in the heavenlies before even attempting to do the work on earth."
After leaving there, very encouraged, Aulo and I decided to head downtown to find out what needed to be done at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It can be hard to decided which is the best next step to take. We got there and found that the legalization department was closed. We decided to look up official translators, yeah, we seriously wasted no time. We found that a lot of them were in places that Aulo wasn't familiar with. Then a man on the street gave us a business card with a map of a place 2 blocks away. A little sketch, but we decided to check it out.
We walked into a little office, and I was in a joking mood. I asked how much it costs to translate documents, and he said, "depends on what you need." I said, "a book." He looked surprised and asked if I was an editor.
Aulo laughed, but covered for me that I really just needed my birth certificate translated. We pulled out the document and he explained that in order to get it translated "officially" it needed to first be legalized at the embassy, then legalized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, both closed by that time. He said it would cost about 50 soles to translate and added up how much he though everything would cost. Then said if we get it legalized at the Embassy, we could bring it back to him and he would do the rest at the ministry of foreign affairs and translating work by the next day.
I looked at him and excitedly said, "Good! Because I want to get married tomorrow." He jaw dropped, eyes popped, and leaned forward. I busted out laughing and told him he really needs to learn when gringas are joking. He realized I was joking and laughed too.
Side trail:
Peruvians are soo easy to mess with, too easy. It's like I have a whole new country of victims who have no idea about my sense of humor and I take advantage of it! For example, the other day Nelton and I were finishing painting the bathroom and we ran out of paint. So he sent me and his nephew to the store to get another small can of paint. When I was paying, the man looked at me and saw the specks of paint all over my arms, face, hair, everywhere and asked in a tone that conveyed his wonder, "Are you doing the painting yourself?"
"No," I replied with a straight face and without skipping a beat, "I'm just watching." In my head I thought, "Here's your sign."
His face wrinkled in thought as he was a little confused and who knows what he was thinking. I never told him I was joking, I didn't think it deserved the joking line, it was that obvious. (There you go, Marty! The art of sarcasm reaches Peru).
And back again...
He gave us his card and we decided to go back and see if his name was on the Ministries list of "official translators," but it was closed. So we called it a day and planned our strategy for the following day (Tuesday). I was more than satisfied with the progress we made.
So yesterday, we got up early and went back to the embassy. Surprisingly, there is a whole list of States that do not permit the embassy to make "true copies" of birth certificates, which is what I needed. It's a copy with a notarized stamp that declares it is a legal document. If this was the case that my state was on the list which prohibits the embassy from acting, I would have to take care of these steps in the United States.
I checked the list, praying through every second with a heart that couldn't stop pounding. My hands shot up in the air when I found that Iowa wasn't on the list!! But almost as instantly as I celebrated my victory, my hands fell down as though I met defeat when I realized that I was born in Minnesota. I braced myself again and searched the list over. VICTORY AGAIN!! Minnesota wasn't on the list either! Yeah for simple country life!!! -Another gift from God.
As soon as I entered the Citizens Service Office again, I was able to be helped right away. It was the same guy. He checked the list (as though I wouldn't have done my research, lol), and told me they could do it.
I was out of there, documents secure in my hands, in a manner of minutes. We made the long trek back to the heart of Lima (seriously, it takes about 1 1/2- 2 hours by bus). We were both so tired, Aulo fell asleep and I was in and out of sleep. I decided to stay awake, and it was a good thing, because I recognized where we needed to get off.
We headed to the MInistry to check the list and the man was not on the list. But another office, an official office, was in the same building. Awkward, but fortunate. We snuck past the other office, which was comical and fun, up the the fifth floor where we found the official office.
We found out that we needed to go get the documents legalized and paid for. They would be ready the next day, but there is a voucher we get when we pay. If we brought it to the office, they could pick it up and have it translated and ready by 11 am the next day (Wednesday, today).
This was the most suspenseful part. Would the Ministry accept the certified true copy of my birth certificate? Would they accept the certified document of singleness? We waited in a long line, the whole time I was filled with anticipation, excitement, and suspension, praying the entire time, as I had no idea what they would say. We reached the front of the line and I took a breath and slid my papers under the glass. He looked at them and in 2 seconds slid them back to me and said, "You need to be in line 5."
I couldn't be frustrated, I was just relieved it wasn't a no!! So we got in line 5 and the same feelings bubbled right back up. Praying out loud almost the entire time. Aulo was frustrated as he hated waiting. She he went and found a guy to bring to me to see if the documents could even be legalized. The man came and looked at them and said yes to the birth certificate, because it was legalized in Lima. But no to the document of singleness, my heart sank, but I would not take no for an answer. I asked why and he said that it has to be certified at the embassy. I don't know how he didn't see the stamp, but I showed him the stamp and he said, "Oh, yeah, your fine." I sighed a sigh of relief, but decided we wouldn't get too excited until we really talked to the man with the power behind the glass.
Well, without dragging it out further, it was a yes!
Another long line to pay, but it didn't matter, I was just so excited!!
Back to the translator to drop off the voucher, and we called it another day. We went out for lunch, then he brought me home by 3 pm, and we parted ways because we were both so tired.
Now he is waiting for the call from the translator, and I am waiting for a call from him saying we can go pick everything up! Then I'll probably be headed home tomorrow! I didn't want to buy a ticket until the documents were all safe in my hand.
The anticipation isn't over. Next we will have to see what they say back in Iquitos!
Thank you all for your prayers! Lets keep praying.
There is one song that is in my head about this whole thing, "He's Able."
Here are the lyrics, but you should youtube it. It's powerful.
"He's Able" by Deitrick Haddon
Leader:
Exceedingly
Abundantly
Above all, all you can ask from him
According to, the power
That worketh in you
God is able to do just what he said he would do
He's gonna fullfill every promise to you
Don't give up on God, cause he won't give up on you
He's Able
Chorus (2x):
God is able to do just what he said he would do
He's gonna fullfill every promise to you
Don't give up on God, cause he won't give up on you
He's Able (2x)
Leader;
Oh, oh oh oh, oh oh oh
He's Able
Bridge (3x):
Oh, oh oh oh, oh oh oh
He's Able
Vamp:
He's Able
Leader:
Don't give up on God (2x)
Anybody ever wanted to give up
Has anybody ever wanted to throw in the towel
Anybody know God to be able
Don't give up on God, cause he won't give up on you
He's Able
Ending:
Oh, oh oh oh, oh oh oh, He's Able
He's Able (til fade)
Monday, August 17, 2009
In Lima
I arrived in Lima early this morning at 9 am, and wasted no time in going to the Embassy of the United States of America. Wow, how impressing is that place! I was able to get my certificate of singleness with no problems! Only waiting a little time.
Now we are at the internet, Aulo and I, and we will head to the Ministry of Foreign affairs for translation of my birth certificate and to get the documents legalized. Still not sure if I just need my translation legalized or both that and the original legalized and notarized. It's $30 per notarization and not sure how much for each legalization.
So far, I am encouraged to have one document in hand and translated, now I just need to finnish my birth certificate translated and both legalized.
Please keep praying for a speedy process.
Thanks!
Now we are at the internet, Aulo and I, and we will head to the Ministry of Foreign affairs for translation of my birth certificate and to get the documents legalized. Still not sure if I just need my translation legalized or both that and the original legalized and notarized. It's $30 per notarization and not sure how much for each legalization.
So far, I am encouraged to have one document in hand and translated, now I just need to finnish my birth certificate translated and both legalized.
Please keep praying for a speedy process.
Thanks!
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Pictures of the room before we started painting
So here are the pictures from before our great painting project. More to come as we are still not done with the project.
Iquitos Again
Well, Nelton and I have been back in Iquitos now for a few days, working like crazy on wedding stuff. It's been crazy as we are still uncertain as to what we are to really be doing.
We are getting along great, but see cultural misunderstanding regularly, which really just makes us laugh. For example, we decided we would get matching wedding rings here in Peru, as that is the custom of the land. So we popped into a jeweler to check out the options. I found the perfect rings in all of 5 minutes, Nelton liked them too.
After we decided on them and to my confusion, we left the store. We walked like five steps and I was like, "dude! We are only in the city for two more weeks and we get married in a month. We should get the rings ordered today." Thinking they would take a couple weeks at the least before they came in, as that is how it is in the States. We had changed money that day, but had other plans of how to use it. He said something about that, but I insisted it wasn't a big deal as I thought we would pay for the rings when we picked them up.
We went back to the store, the sweet man named Nelton, complying to my desire. But to my surprise after the lady sized us for the rings, she wrote up a slip, and Nelton had to pay for it all same day we ordered. Opps, my bad, so much for the other (and probably more important plan) Then I was absolutely shocked when the woman said they would be ready the next day!! I laughed so hard when we left, talk about totally not the cultural norm. It was quite funny. Here I thought we needed time for the rings, as we need time for everything else in Peru, but this is the one thing that only takes a day. We both had a laugh about it as he thought I knew it would be that quick.
Wedding Planning? Oh yeah, we should probably start thinking about that? Aug. 7, 2009
Aug. 7, 2009
If it wasn’t obvious before, it’s becoming crystal clear that I am not a typical bride. We are closing in on a month from the wedding, and the only thing we really have nailed down is that we are getting married and what we are wearing. All other details that most brides have neatly spelled out in elaborate wedding planners, carefully guarded by their own personal planner, are still for us specifics to be pinned down.
The plan was to be in Iquitos from the end of July to the arrival of the next team at the end of August to plan a wedding. Well, here we are, closing out the first week of August, and have not made it back to the city. We are looking at tomorrow evening to start that venture. Then we will have 15 days to plan the event. I am so at peace and okay with everything. I figure, the day will arrive and what’s going to happen is going to happen anyway, so why worry? The most important thing to me is that I marry the man I love in a way that brings glory to God, the rest are just details. Sure, it would be nice to have some decorations and whatnot, but I’m not going to stress about it.
I think the thing that cracks me up the most about it is how much goes into weddings in the United States. I was laughing with Paulette today about the craziness of it all. I was at the doctor right before moving the Peru. The receptionist was asking questions about my last check up, and realized I was moving out of the country and getting married. She started telling me all about her daughters wedding plans and how much of a job it is, all the details, flowers, oh the expense of the flowers alone. She couldn’t believe it. On the way out I wished her luck with her upcoming wedding, assuming it was in a month or two. She said something to the effect of, “Oh, thanks. We still have a year, but we need it.” A year? And the flowers are already ordered.
I am sure I have apologized to Nelton at least 4 times that I will not be the hott, breath-taking, or sexy bride I always imagined I’d be. While most brides are tanning, doing skin treatments, and this, that, and the other, I’m anything be beautifying my body. I am learning to battle off the mosquitos, horseflies, nats, and chiggers without repellant. My legs are covered with little red spots and dots, and I’ve developed a daily ritual of squeezing out any unwanted contents. I am anything but tan, because I wear pants and often long sleeves to keep the bugs away. I have been getting more pimples than usual, I’m sure it has something to do with the water, or the dirt that flies in the city. By the end of each day, my fingernails have collected dirt. My hair is becoming more and more coarse daily due to more than a month of bathing in the river or with its water.
I don’t say any of this by way of complaining or for you to feel sorry for me. I wouldn’t have it any other way! If nothing else, I hope to gain as many laughs as I myself have gained by the comparison of what I myself always dreamed of and the way reality is actually being lived out. Which, by the way is far better than my dreams ever painted.
And I don’t mean to be down on American weddings, I love weddings. I think it’s wonderful. If nothing else it’s something I remember Dr. Park always saying “Don’t focus so much on the wedding that you forget about the marriage.” I think that happens way too much in the States, and hopefully this can be a good reminder of what’s the most important when it comes to the marital covenant.
If it wasn’t obvious before, it’s becoming crystal clear that I am not a typical bride. We are closing in on a month from the wedding, and the only thing we really have nailed down is that we are getting married and what we are wearing. All other details that most brides have neatly spelled out in elaborate wedding planners, carefully guarded by their own personal planner, are still for us specifics to be pinned down.
The plan was to be in Iquitos from the end of July to the arrival of the next team at the end of August to plan a wedding. Well, here we are, closing out the first week of August, and have not made it back to the city. We are looking at tomorrow evening to start that venture. Then we will have 15 days to plan the event. I am so at peace and okay with everything. I figure, the day will arrive and what’s going to happen is going to happen anyway, so why worry? The most important thing to me is that I marry the man I love in a way that brings glory to God, the rest are just details. Sure, it would be nice to have some decorations and whatnot, but I’m not going to stress about it.
I think the thing that cracks me up the most about it is how much goes into weddings in the United States. I was laughing with Paulette today about the craziness of it all. I was at the doctor right before moving the Peru. The receptionist was asking questions about my last check up, and realized I was moving out of the country and getting married. She started telling me all about her daughters wedding plans and how much of a job it is, all the details, flowers, oh the expense of the flowers alone. She couldn’t believe it. On the way out I wished her luck with her upcoming wedding, assuming it was in a month or two. She said something to the effect of, “Oh, thanks. We still have a year, but we need it.” A year? And the flowers are already ordered.
I am sure I have apologized to Nelton at least 4 times that I will not be the hott, breath-taking, or sexy bride I always imagined I’d be. While most brides are tanning, doing skin treatments, and this, that, and the other, I’m anything be beautifying my body. I am learning to battle off the mosquitos, horseflies, nats, and chiggers without repellant. My legs are covered with little red spots and dots, and I’ve developed a daily ritual of squeezing out any unwanted contents. I am anything but tan, because I wear pants and often long sleeves to keep the bugs away. I have been getting more pimples than usual, I’m sure it has something to do with the water, or the dirt that flies in the city. By the end of each day, my fingernails have collected dirt. My hair is becoming more and more coarse daily due to more than a month of bathing in the river or with its water.
I don’t say any of this by way of complaining or for you to feel sorry for me. I wouldn’t have it any other way! If nothing else, I hope to gain as many laughs as I myself have gained by the comparison of what I myself always dreamed of and the way reality is actually being lived out. Which, by the way is far better than my dreams ever painted.
And I don’t mean to be down on American weddings, I love weddings. I think it’s wonderful. If nothing else it’s something I remember Dr. Park always saying “Don’t focus so much on the wedding that you forget about the marriage.” I think that happens way too much in the States, and hopefully this can be a good reminder of what’s the most important when it comes to the marital covenant.
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