From Peru with Love,

Hola!

I'm pretty sure Patrick blogged this morning and, if I know Patrick, I know he probably did a great job updating you all on the in's and out's of everything that happened prior to lunch.

After lunch we loaded up the bus for VBS and began another treacherous trip down the steep inclines of the Peruvian dirt roads that had all of us American's covering our eyes and gasping in horror at what would surely be our last moments. We made it, of course, as we always do, arriving to a park full of eager children. Patrick and I immediately picked up the jump rope and began twirling for the children who would line up nose-to-ponytail in fours and fives to jump all at once. Some of our college kids participated as well - Gordon and Michael both took their turns jumping. After rec time it was Bible story time and Bible song time which was welcomed warmly by both the children and the exhausted jump-roped-out youth. During the Bible story skit,  Colby, once again, played the crucial role of "farm animal" and left us all chuckling. Today's VBS craft involved paper plates, glue, beans, and stickers - just the right combination for chaos - leaving each child with a huge smile on his or her face. For what more could we ask?

After VBS and dinner, we packed it up and headed to the Inca market where we were able to test our bartering techniques. My personal best was talking a girl down from 20 soles to 15 (not much to brag about, honestly). After the Inca Market, we headed to the City Square - an enormous area surrounded by massive (and very beautiful) churches. We enjoyed coffee in a small cafe and had the chance to walk around some, taking pictures.

And all the while, there are the most impressive mountains surrounding us - so impressive they almost look fake, like some photographer's backdrop for those portraits your parents make you take when you're five - these mountains that keep us all in check, reminding us constantly of our size and of our God who is able to do this and so, so much more.

I love you, Mom. I wish you were here. You are just what Peru needs.

Keep us in your prayers!

Jessica Phillips