End of Summer

Well, the summer has come to a close for our summer missionaries here in Peru. We just recently went to a camp about an hour from the house to have our end of summer debriefing with all my new daughters and sons who have already begun heading back to the US. It was a great time of sharing what the Lord has done in the lives of the Peruvian people and in the hearts of our summer missionaries. Each group gave inspiring testimony during some really special worship services. It was a special weekend.
Maw Maw and Paw Paw were able to go with us and spend some time seeing what some of the stuff is that we do. They were a big hit. Everyone loved spending time with them. (I even got a phone call last night from Lane aka "Tooty frog" saying that she misses PawPaw.)
The kids are ending their summer here. In the next few days, I will have Ben and Alisha both post some stories from their trips. They both had a fabulous time!
When Alisha returned home, she had no idea that PawPaw was here. When she saw him, she screamed, ran to him and they both cried. It was a special reunion. I was not here when she returned but when I arrived home, she wasn't here, she was in the park with a couple of her team mates witnessing. How cool!
Ok, we have alot to tell but I have to go. We love you all lots and miss you!

His,
Susie

PawPaw's coming!

Tomorrow afternoon, PawPaw Austin will make his way from Baton Rouge, Louisiana to Lima Peru to come visit his grandkids! (And to make sure his wife comes back home!) He will stay here about 2 weeks and will go with us to our end of summer debriefing with our summer missionaries. We are trying to set up a few things to go see and do while he is here.
Patrick is so excited to see him as well as all of us, but Patrick really wants to go fishing with his PawPaw. It also looks like PawPaw will lead the Bible study at our little church week after next.
Please be praying for him as he travels for his health, his safety and his visit.
Welcome to Peru PawPaw!
His,
Susie

S'more Spiderman???

No, this isn't Spiderman, this is Claudia, one of our Peruvian friends. Night before last, her and Heather spent the night after going to the airport really late. During our back to the 80's sing song fest, we found out that Claudia had NEVER had a s'more before. So, even though we really didn't have the correct ingredients, we made due with what we had. Peru does not have graham crackers, nor Hershey bars so we improvised! Arnold and I surprised her and Heather in bed with a 3am s'more party! I think she enjoyed it. (She even got up and brushed her teeth afterward!!!)

Where's Patrick???

Well, you know a little bit about Alisha and Ben's time this past few weeks, but WHERE IN THE WORLD IS PATRICK AUSTIN???

Well, you will be happy to know that Patrick is safe and sound here in Lima Peru with us. He and MawMaw have found many things in common that they enjoy doing. One thing is going to the Inca Market. It is an outdoor market with tons of colorful trinkets and gadgets to purchase. They call each other "shopping buddies". He and maw maw also had a slumber party one night and watched movies and ordered pizza. They have even found a way to make Arnold's favorite popcorn cake....even though Arnold never got a bite...did he Patrick??? ha!

They have also begun venturing out on their own while Arnold and I have been busy with volunteer groups. Monday (with the help of our taxi driver friend) they went to the National Museum (but it was closed so they had to come back home but it was a nice ride through town), Today, they went and spent the morning at the Lima Zoo.

I think he has really enjoyed maw maw's visit, and it anxiously awaiting the arrival of PawPaw. He is scheduled to arrive on Tuesday! We are so excited!!!

School begins soon (The first week of August) so it won't be long until we back into the swing of things. Until then, Patrick is just hanging out! Here is a picture of what he is doing at this moment!

Update on Alisha and Ben

We have heard several times via phone and email from Alisha. She is having a phenomenal time and has been a part of seeing many accept Christ as their personal Lord and Savior. I wish you could hear the excitement in her voice as she recounts translating as a young woman accepts Christ. What a wonderful thing that she has been allowed to be a part of!!!! Please keep her in your prayers. She will be traveling back via public transportation on the 26th.

We have heard from Ben only once, and it was a brief call. We know he made it to Marcabamba safely because we recieved an email from a friend in that area saying they had arrived. Their group is expected to return in the next few days. Please pray for the health of the whole group because the higher elevations are rough on short timers. Please pray that Ben is well and having a wonderful experience. Please pray that he has seen the Lord at work in the very VERY high mountains in the Andes.

This next week, all of our Summer missions teams will be saying thier good-byes to their areas that they have served in for the summer. They will be traveling back to Lima for end of summer debriefing and preparing to head back to the states. Please keep these summer missionaries in your prayers for their health, safety and re-entry into the US.

God bless you all and know that we love you and appreciate your prayers!

Welcome Sandy Bridges!

Tomorrow night about this time, our team along with some of our IMB gang, will head to the airport to pick-up our newest IMB addition. Journey Girl (2 Year term), Sandy Bridges, will arrive. We are so excited to see her and can not wait to make her a new part of our family. Sandy will be working with the English Fellowship and Translator ministries. What a blessing it will be to have her as a part of our team.

Please pray for her as she travels tomorrow and arrives on a day that has been considered a heightened security travel day in Peru. Pray for her health, her safety and that she adjusts quickly.

Welcome Sandy! We are so glad you are almost here!

His,
Susie

Update on Prayer for Peru!!!

We recieved this from our Peru Prayer Advocate, Judy Hughes;

Dear Prayer Partners,

We want to ask you to please pray specifically for peace in Peru. Over the last few weeks there have been many protests and demonstrations throughout Peru. The areas that have been effected the most are in the provinces outside of Lima and in Downtown Lima. Many groups have joined in the protests. The regional leaders in the provinces have been protesting against the national leaders; the teachers union has been protesting the government over recently passed rules requiring teachers to pass proficiency tests in an effort to improve the education of children in the national school system; and now other workers like construction workers, etc. have joined the others protesting in the streets.

All of this makes it difficult to travel around Lima and throughout the provinces of Peru--which makes our work more difficult. There have been news stories in the papers about tourists being stranded throughout Peru as they have traveled to Machu Picchu and other tourist areas here. It also causes the children who go to national schools to be even further behind in their studies.

All of the missionaries and stateside volunteers are safe. Thankfully the government has put MANY national police in the streets to help keep things under control. It might seem scary to visitors to see armed police on every major street corner, but this extra police presence makes us feel safer.

We just received a notice from the U.S. Embassy here in Lima announcing another MAJOR strike scheduled for the week of July 16. Please pray that the demonstrations will be peaceful and that things will be resolved and calm down.

All of this goes to prove that we need to be bolder as we share the Gospel Message with all the Peoples of Peru. They need to know the peace and joy that can only come through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Please continue to pray that there will be a revival throughout Peru like nothing that we have ever seen in the past.

Blessings,

Jeff and Judy Hughes

Peru Prayer Advocates

www.ReachPeru.org

Ben on Mission

Late yesterday afternoon I recieved a phone call (as a joke kinda) if Ben could go translate for another mission trip. We had problems getting a replacement translator for a youth trip. So as we talked, we actually started thinking seriously about it. After giving Ben an translators interview, we realized that he could be a pretty good translator. So within 20 minutes, he went from hanging around the house, to heading a place very high up called Marca Bamba in Ayacucho (It is over 12,000 feet above sea level)
We quickly packed him up and sent him with a group of teens on a youth trip. Lucky guy, he will be able to go sand boarding and dune buggy riding so he is really excited about that extra bonus. He is so excited but really nervous. Please pray for him as this is his first mission trip without us and his first time as a translator. Pray that he will have a great experience and make some great friendships. Also please pray that the Lord shows Himself mighty through the life and voice of Ben.
Love you all. Thanks for your prayers!
His,
Susie

Alisha on Mission

Please be in prayer for Alisha as she leaves on Friday on a mission trip. The cool thing is, she is going to be one of their translators. She will ride with a church from Memphis and they will meet up with one of the Summer Missions Teams (SMT). She will then become a part of the SMT and will be one of thier translators for the remainder of thier time here. This means she will live and eat and work in the villages just like the college students have been for the past month. How neat is that!?! Please pray for her as she uses her newly learned spanish to share the love of Jesus with the people of Peru.
She will be up in the mountains so she will be real cold and have to do alot of hiking. Please pray for her health, her safety and above all that she will see God's hand every day as she serves on the mission field.

His,
Susie

Prayer for Peru

Just in the past week since we have been back from Nazca, the country of Peru has been in the midst of a time of many strikes and protests. These strikes and protests have impacted some of our summer missionaries (not harmed just halted or delayed trips etc) I have heard that the people are protesting against several things but one being the newly elected president.

We need your prayers for the country of Peru during these next few days. We recieved word from the embassy that there is a protest scheduled in the city of Lima, where we live, tomorrow. It is scheduled to be downtown, (and we live far away from downtown) but all Americans are advised to stay in their homes and away from crowds that may escalate into something more. Also, the city of Arequipa where we were suppose to be and where our dear friends, Micheal and Kristi Rains are, are having protests and strikes as well. Please pray for them too as well as all of our summer missionaries living in the areas where there are problems.

Also be praying for Arnold and Mike as they are traveling on a mission trip. They should not be affected, just maybe delayed in their travels if anything.

I have been assured that all of this is normal third world country Peruvian life and that we are very safe. Please do not worry or call, just pray. Pray that all is calm during these protests and that the grievences are handled in a civilized, peaceful and uneventful manner.

God bless you all! We love you all and appreciate your prayers.

His.
Susie

Aji verde to you!

Since Arnold is traveling on his birthday today, we had a small get together to celebrate this special man. We had invited over some of our American friends as well as one of our closest Peruvian families.
Arnold and I had a meeting in the morning and then I had to run to the store and buy the fixins for his special dinner. We had Shrimp and Crab Fettuccine, rolls and a coconut cake. IT was yummmy!
When our Peruvian Friends arrived, Arnold was serenaded with several special songs that they had prepared special just for him. It was so special and a real treat. They also came bearing gifts, a tasty pound cake, a Peruvian hat, a Christian cd and 2 lapel pins (one is a map of peru and the other is a traditional ribbon worn during this month to celebrate the Peruvian Independence).
Then we sat around the table during dinner and all said special words to Arnold. He says that it was the most meaningful and memorable birthday ever and that it will always be one of his favorites.
After all was said and done, we got into bed and was saying goodnight when it became midnight and it was actually his real birthday. So I kissed him and thanked God for him and asked Him to bless my husband.
OHHH! And what is Aji verde? An aji in spanish is a type of pepper and verde is green, so it is green pepper....the funny thing is, it is pronounced "Ah-He Ver-Day" So at one point, our Peruvian friends begin singing, "Ah-he Ver-Day to you" And it sounded just like a spanish speaker singing happy birthday to you! We laughed and laughed.
Oh, we also learned what to say when you have a (in a whispery voice) when you have a case of the runs... you say "estoy con el bicicleta" (or I am with the bicycle) and when it is really bad, you say 'with the motorcross"
Thanks to all of you who helped to make Arnold's day special and if you haven't sent your well wishes, then you still have time. He will be back in town on the 14th. Let him know what a great guy he is!
Love you all and saving you a piece of cake!
His,
Susie

Happy Birthday Arnold!

Today we celebrate the birthday of my sweetie Arnold. Please send him a greeting and let him know how special he is to you!
He is traveling today on a vision trip with a new church. Please pray for him as he travels for safety and health.

Happy Birthday Arnold!
Susie

Trip to the Desert

Ok, so it has been a few days since we returned and I haven't posted yet. I have all kinds of excuses but you probably do not want to hear any of them.
We (The whole family plus MawMaw) left last week on Tuesday following the Weavers & their Granddaughter , Madison to Nazca. It was a very long 7 hour journey. We saw miles and miles AND MILES AND MILES AND MILES.....you get the point, of sand. We had our meeting in a city called Nazca and Nazca is in the middle of the desert!!! Who can tell me what Nazca is famous for??? Well, if you can't quite think of it, it is ok because before we were called to Peru, I had no idea where Peru was, much less what Nazca was famous for.
Ok, then, I will cut the suspense and just tell you....Nazca is famous for the Nazca Lines. What is that you ask? Well, they are huge ancient drawings on the ground that are sometimes as large as a football field. No one knows where they came from or why they were made, but there are many theories from extra-terrestrial landing strips to mapping where water is found.
There are many shapes from Monkeys, lizards, trees, hands, straight lines for miles, etc.
We climbed a tower to view 3 of the lines, but most of the lines are visible only from a plane (so then and there I wonder again, how did they do that,but most importantly WHY did they do it?)
Even MawMaw climbed the tower! We were so proud! We were able to see 3 of the many Nazca lines. We weren't highly impressed but now we can say that we have been there, done that! (And Patrick got the t-shirt! Ha!)
Now you know what Nazca is famous for! AND you can say, "Hey, I know somebody who has been there, done that and got a t-shirt for 10 soles ($3)"
Love you all!
Susie

Back Home!

Well, we arrived home safe and sound a few hours ago from our trip to Nazca for our mid-summer debriefing with our Summer Missionaries. We had a great trip but I am exhausted! In the coming days we will tell you of our adventures and post some pics. MawMaw Elaine and the kids had a great time of sun and fun and shopping! Like I said, I will tell you all about it in the coming days.

Please be in prayer for my oldest brother, Johnny. When I returned home, I found out that he had a heart attack and had to have a stint put in. He seems to be doing better and will be getting out of the hospital in the next few days. So please pray for him.

Well, I am going to go to bed soon, so night night!

His.
Susie