So last week we went in to check on the paperwork necessary for me to obtain my residency. It was daunting and depressing to see the pile of work that we have ahead of us just for my residency, and that’s nothing compared to what we have to do for his visa home too.
We just arrived at the end of one project (legal marriage filing) it was a great victory and celebration, but now we turn around to find another task. The thing that makes it so difficult is not that there are so many papers (even though that is challenging), but the simple fact that Peru sends you on scavenger hunts (minus the great fun) to get the paperwork. For example, we needed a copy of our marriage certificate legalized (or something). We thought we had it, so we went to the place to get it legalized, after waiting in line we found out that, well, no we had a proof of the act or something, but not actually the certificate. So we had to go back to the courthouse and get that requested, one line to pay, a ticket brought to this counter, confirmation at that, and then it would be ready the next day. After picking it up we had to go across town to pay for the legalization stamp at the national bank, then bring the receipt back to whatever office to prove we had done it. Then we found out it would be ready in..... fifteen days. hahaha.
It reminds me of college, when you finish one huge project, but don’t have enough time to really enjoy the completion, because you have three more huge papers waiting. Only this time it’s legal stuff. Basically, I can legally be in this country until Dec. 6th.
Oh yeah, failed to mention that this process involves five steps, each step estimated to take at least a month. So I’ll have to do more paperwork and running around just to extend my stay. God bless ‘em. More news soon...
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Saturday, October 17, 2009
A New Noriega is on the Way
Well, I have been feeling VERY tired since like a week after the wedding. Nelton thought I was pregnant, so we went in for a blood test at the hospital. It came out negative, so we just thought we weren´t prenant.
One week ago, Nelton wanted me to retake a home pregnancy test and I was all like, No´, I just don´t want to get my hopes up again for nothing. I´m perfectly fine with waiting.
It´s one of those things that we had decided to wait on, but when you think you´re pregnant, you can´t help but get excited. So when I found out I wasn´t I was sad.
I told him that I would do it in the morning, since that´s the best time to do it anyway. I was really hoping he would just forget about it.
Well, no. 6 am rolls around and Nelton is poking me like a little kid at Christmas cheering ¨Let´s take the test! Let´s Take the Test!!¨ I tired to tell him to go back to sleep. I was sooo tired. But he wouldn´t quit, so I got up and took it.
Nelton was actually the first to know, because I thought it was negative. The one line was a dark red and the other a lighter, pinker cooler. So I didn´t think it was right. He had his nephew come over who confirmed it (he works in the labs at the hospital). And we took another one, and sure enough, positive, both!!
So we have been in and out of doctor´s visits.
I am doing well. But still very tired. That´s starting to get better too.
We think the due date is June 17th, and we would like to have the baby in the States. However, there is no telling.
Nelton heads back to the jungle on Monday for a short trip. He won´t let me go yet, because malaria is very dangerous for a pregnant woman and her baby. It could kill one or both, or the baby can have major complications. SOOO I´m waiting for a while before I go back. Plus we have paperwork and stuff to do that we have been working on.
Please be in prayer for all this!
We are both very excited!
One week ago, Nelton wanted me to retake a home pregnancy test and I was all like, No´, I just don´t want to get my hopes up again for nothing. I´m perfectly fine with waiting.
It´s one of those things that we had decided to wait on, but when you think you´re pregnant, you can´t help but get excited. So when I found out I wasn´t I was sad.
I told him that I would do it in the morning, since that´s the best time to do it anyway. I was really hoping he would just forget about it.
Well, no. 6 am rolls around and Nelton is poking me like a little kid at Christmas cheering ¨Let´s take the test! Let´s Take the Test!!¨ I tired to tell him to go back to sleep. I was sooo tired. But he wouldn´t quit, so I got up and took it.
Nelton was actually the first to know, because I thought it was negative. The one line was a dark red and the other a lighter, pinker cooler. So I didn´t think it was right. He had his nephew come over who confirmed it (he works in the labs at the hospital). And we took another one, and sure enough, positive, both!!
So we have been in and out of doctor´s visits.
I am doing well. But still very tired. That´s starting to get better too.
We think the due date is June 17th, and we would like to have the baby in the States. However, there is no telling.
Nelton heads back to the jungle on Monday for a short trip. He won´t let me go yet, because malaria is very dangerous for a pregnant woman and her baby. It could kill one or both, or the baby can have major complications. SOOO I´m waiting for a while before I go back. Plus we have paperwork and stuff to do that we have been working on.
Please be in prayer for all this!
We are both very excited!
Monday, October 5, 2009
Friday, October 2, 2009
MARRIAGE PAPERWORK ACCEPTED!!!
First of all, thank you Alli McV for encouraging me to keep this up by letting me know you read it!
The next big news is that Nelton and I got married today!!! I know, weird, but I´ll explain. We had a slight holdup on paperwork and the earliest we could get in for our civil marriage was today (it´s been processing since I got here in June, Welcome to Peru).
It was really wild because you sit behind this big table in beautiful chairs and the justice of peace (or something like that) basically does the whole wedding ceremony. Only instead of the Word of God, she read to us all the laws of Peru and what we are committing to by getting married, which was really awesome. Basically, the law holds us to be bound to each other. At least that´s what I understood.
She ran us through the vows again and the whole works. BUT I CAN´T BELIEVE THE LEGAL SCAVENGER HUNT IS OVER!!!!
It was funny, because Nelton decided to start remodeling, like two hours before we got the paperwork finalized. I wanted to dress up for the event, because it´s not everyday you get married. LOL.
So I left like an hour before to go to the sister-in-laws to get ready. I came back to a diaster of a room. We went to get married and came back to the same big mess. I´t was rather comical. This random get married in the middle of the day.
I had fun with it too. The man working on our paperwork told us the 11th of Sept we could marry. Then Monday after the wedding, then the next tuesday, then a week later, and so on. Finally, we just ended up doing it ourselves. Anyway... we would be out to eat or in a motorcar or somewhere with other people around and I would casually say ¨SO, we are getting married tomorrow then¨? It was funny just thinking about what they were thinking. And we would just have a cas convo about it. Or today, on the way to 5 am prayer meeting, we stopped to buy coffee for everyone, and when we were checking out, I was just like -OH Yeah... we are getting married today.- He was like -yeah... we are. cool.- it was hilarious.
I´ll have to post pics of that wedding.
Well, time to go help my husband remodel our room. = )
Love you all! (ALLI! You´re amazing! HUG OVER BLOG!!)
The next big news is that Nelton and I got married today!!! I know, weird, but I´ll explain. We had a slight holdup on paperwork and the earliest we could get in for our civil marriage was today (it´s been processing since I got here in June, Welcome to Peru).
It was really wild because you sit behind this big table in beautiful chairs and the justice of peace (or something like that) basically does the whole wedding ceremony. Only instead of the Word of God, she read to us all the laws of Peru and what we are committing to by getting married, which was really awesome. Basically, the law holds us to be bound to each other. At least that´s what I understood.
She ran us through the vows again and the whole works. BUT I CAN´T BELIEVE THE LEGAL SCAVENGER HUNT IS OVER!!!!
It was funny, because Nelton decided to start remodeling, like two hours before we got the paperwork finalized. I wanted to dress up for the event, because it´s not everyday you get married. LOL.
So I left like an hour before to go to the sister-in-laws to get ready. I came back to a diaster of a room. We went to get married and came back to the same big mess. I´t was rather comical. This random get married in the middle of the day.
I had fun with it too. The man working on our paperwork told us the 11th of Sept we could marry. Then Monday after the wedding, then the next tuesday, then a week later, and so on. Finally, we just ended up doing it ourselves. Anyway... we would be out to eat or in a motorcar or somewhere with other people around and I would casually say ¨SO, we are getting married tomorrow then¨? It was funny just thinking about what they were thinking. And we would just have a cas convo about it. Or today, on the way to 5 am prayer meeting, we stopped to buy coffee for everyone, and when we were checking out, I was just like -OH Yeah... we are getting married today.- He was like -yeah... we are. cool.- it was hilarious.
I´ll have to post pics of that wedding.
Well, time to go help my husband remodel our room. = )
Love you all! (ALLI! You´re amazing! HUG OVER BLOG!!)
Monday, September 28, 2009
Two Weeks Married
Well, yesterday Nelton and I rolled into two weeks of marriage and got the best present ever!
One of the biggest desires for our wedding was to honor God and be a testimony for others. Well, last night at church, Kety, Nelton´s sister, pulled us aside to introduce us to a woman who had been at the wedding. Kety had invited her. She is an older woman who is not married and works all the time. At our wedding, she said she felt the presence of God in a very real way as she listened to my dad preach. She said the joy on my face filled her with warmth and she wanted whatever it was that we had. She concluded that it was our faith and came to church to learn more. At church that night, she found what she wanted, Jesus. She thanked us and told us our wedding is an event she will remember for the rest of her life!! It was such a gift to Nelton and I!
Since the wedding, Nelton and I have been taking care of various things here in the city. It seems like something is always popping up that needs to be taken care of. We still need to finalize my visa and then we can head back to the jungle. We miss it so much and can´t wait to get back there.
Until we go back, I have been busy getting somethings rolling here. Nelton has a large family, and most of them live close by, however, many of them are still not saved. I have been spending time with them and trying to get to know them. One of the things I´ve started is one-on-one English classes with his niece. We meet daily or every other day and they have been a blast. Today, she started opening up to me more than she ever has, and it was a blast. She was a pretty shy girl when we first started classes, but she´s opening up.
It´s been good, but Peru is A LOT slower paced than the States. So I think that at times I get frustrated that more isn´t happening. It´s hard though, not knowing when we will travel and all. But I´m doing what I can.
Like my neighborhood kids-- I host regular spontaneous game times in my little room, where we call home. It´s great, and I totally want to start like a backyard club. The only problem is, there is no backyard, and that little room gets so crowded when there are five kids in it. So, we are working on getting a location established for me.
Nelton´s been great too, helping me think of places and ways to going about it. One idea was to move to an apartment that has a bedroom, livingroom, and bathroom, but then we lose our place in the neigborhood. we are going to check it out Wednesday, so there´s no telling.
But the good news is, things are happening. Like the testimony with the woman at our wedding. Those things pop up at just the right time to keep me going.
As far as marriage and the wedding. I will try to get some pictures posted soon. If nothing else, checkout my facebook, i have like 4 or 5 albums on there! just add me.
I need to get going. We are going to look for some kitchen supplies. We have nothing. We are checking into a dorm fridge and a microwave. Ha, I know!
One of the biggest desires for our wedding was to honor God and be a testimony for others. Well, last night at church, Kety, Nelton´s sister, pulled us aside to introduce us to a woman who had been at the wedding. Kety had invited her. She is an older woman who is not married and works all the time. At our wedding, she said she felt the presence of God in a very real way as she listened to my dad preach. She said the joy on my face filled her with warmth and she wanted whatever it was that we had. She concluded that it was our faith and came to church to learn more. At church that night, she found what she wanted, Jesus. She thanked us and told us our wedding is an event she will remember for the rest of her life!! It was such a gift to Nelton and I!
Since the wedding, Nelton and I have been taking care of various things here in the city. It seems like something is always popping up that needs to be taken care of. We still need to finalize my visa and then we can head back to the jungle. We miss it so much and can´t wait to get back there.
Until we go back, I have been busy getting somethings rolling here. Nelton has a large family, and most of them live close by, however, many of them are still not saved. I have been spending time with them and trying to get to know them. One of the things I´ve started is one-on-one English classes with his niece. We meet daily or every other day and they have been a blast. Today, she started opening up to me more than she ever has, and it was a blast. She was a pretty shy girl when we first started classes, but she´s opening up.
It´s been good, but Peru is A LOT slower paced than the States. So I think that at times I get frustrated that more isn´t happening. It´s hard though, not knowing when we will travel and all. But I´m doing what I can.
Like my neighborhood kids-- I host regular spontaneous game times in my little room, where we call home. It´s great, and I totally want to start like a backyard club. The only problem is, there is no backyard, and that little room gets so crowded when there are five kids in it. So, we are working on getting a location established for me.
Nelton´s been great too, helping me think of places and ways to going about it. One idea was to move to an apartment that has a bedroom, livingroom, and bathroom, but then we lose our place in the neigborhood. we are going to check it out Wednesday, so there´s no telling.
But the good news is, things are happening. Like the testimony with the woman at our wedding. Those things pop up at just the right time to keep me going.
As far as marriage and the wedding. I will try to get some pictures posted soon. If nothing else, checkout my facebook, i have like 4 or 5 albums on there! just add me.
I need to get going. We are going to look for some kitchen supplies. We have nothing. We are checking into a dorm fridge and a microwave. Ha, I know!
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Marriage Starts Sunday!
Life here in Peru has been the greatest. I have not been getting much sleep, but that's okay, because I am loving life.
We got back from the jungle Saturday and my dear friend Lydia got here on Sunday. We have been having so much fun. It's great to just be together again.
Yesterday consisted of hotel hunting with mom and Lydia. It was quite comical, but so much fun. We decided not to go online, but went hotel to hotel in person and asked to see rooms. It was great.
We found were we will stay, which is such a huge blessing to us. Thanks John and Robin! When I told Nelton that I found were we would staying (and for two nights), he looked so happy, shocked, and absolutely overwhelmed at the blessing. We didn't think we would even be able to afford anything, so we are extremely thankful and excited. It was a joy to share that with him.
I can't describe the joy of anticipating life together with the man I love.
More soon.
We got back from the jungle Saturday and my dear friend Lydia got here on Sunday. We have been having so much fun. It's great to just be together again.
Yesterday consisted of hotel hunting with mom and Lydia. It was quite comical, but so much fun. We decided not to go online, but went hotel to hotel in person and asked to see rooms. It was great.
We found were we will stay, which is such a huge blessing to us. Thanks John and Robin! When I told Nelton that I found were we would staying (and for two nights), he looked so happy, shocked, and absolutely overwhelmed at the blessing. We didn't think we would even be able to afford anything, so we are extremely thankful and excited. It was a joy to share that with him.
I can't describe the joy of anticipating life together with the man I love.
More soon.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Next two weeks? BUSY!
The rollercoaster of life has made it to the top and we are about to drop full speed ahead as far as busyness is concerned.
Tomorrow the team from Ohio arrives! Nelton has been busy preparing everything for their arrival. I have been busy getting wedding plans rolling as we are down to 19 days.
We will spend one day in Iquitos beforing heading out for the jungle. We, Nelton, mom, and I, will spend one week in the jungle, visiting all the villages at the mouth of the river with the team. Then we catch a launcha Sept. 4th to make our way back to Iquitos. It will be mom´s first experience on the launcha, so that should keep life interesting. haha.
My dear friend, Lydia, arrives Sunday and then starts the crazy wedding stuff. At this point I can´t imagine what we will have to do, but I´m sure it will be piled up. Can´t wait. ha.
Dad, Kevin and Sherri Kubly, Sarah Hoobyar, and Rebecca Williamson all come in on various days of that week. I am pumped to see all of them!!
Sept. 13th will be here before I can blink and I´ll be Mrs. Noriega. That´s just weird.
Then a couple days after that, we´re off to jungle to start life as a married couple. Promises to be full of..........surprises?
Tomorrow the team from Ohio arrives! Nelton has been busy preparing everything for their arrival. I have been busy getting wedding plans rolling as we are down to 19 days.
We will spend one day in Iquitos beforing heading out for the jungle. We, Nelton, mom, and I, will spend one week in the jungle, visiting all the villages at the mouth of the river with the team. Then we catch a launcha Sept. 4th to make our way back to Iquitos. It will be mom´s first experience on the launcha, so that should keep life interesting. haha.
My dear friend, Lydia, arrives Sunday and then starts the crazy wedding stuff. At this point I can´t imagine what we will have to do, but I´m sure it will be piled up. Can´t wait. ha.
Dad, Kevin and Sherri Kubly, Sarah Hoobyar, and Rebecca Williamson all come in on various days of that week. I am pumped to see all of them!!
Sept. 13th will be here before I can blink and I´ll be Mrs. Noriega. That´s just weird.
Then a couple days after that, we´re off to jungle to start life as a married couple. Promises to be full of..........surprises?
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