Ok, I might be beating a dead horse, but here we go….

Top 10 things we love about Peru

1) Willy

Santa doesn’t just drive a sleigh, he also drives a taxi in Trujillo. Yes, his name is somehow Willy, and he must easily be the happiest man in the city. Willy is relatively tall for Peruvian standards at about 5’7”, and he must weigh in at a minimum of 250. He picks the kids and me up at 6:50 every morning. There are of course no seat belts so the kids lean up and poke on Willy most of the way. They exchange giggles the entire bumpy, chaotic drive until we reach the school. The kids giggle further when Willy bends over to get out of the taxi, simultaneously exposing both belly and crack. We drop the kids off, and then Willy takes me to SALI. Willy is patient with my broken Dixie- Spanish accent and wants to talk the entire time. Needless to say, I have finally found a kindred Peruvian soul who knows how to scratch. Well, his happy mood seems to be infectious to all of us and gets the day started off in good fashion!

2) Other Peruvians

The people seem to be very hard working, pleasant, family-oriented, and not as plagued by angst, stress, and cynicism. Also, they all seem to love their city. I must have asked least 50 taxi drivers, “Do you like Trujillo?” Every one, without exception, has quickly responded, “Si, Si”. These guys all spend 72 hours a week (12 hours/day, 6 days/week) behind the wheel driving the roughest roads you’ve ever seen in the most worn out tiny taxis ever. Crime is such a factor that homes in even the nicest neighborhoods have 10’ concrete walls at the sidewalk which are capped with glass or an electric fence- before you get to a 3” thick wood door at the house. As I’ve said before, much of the city (and country) looks like it’s been heavily bombed. Yet, they all like their job and city. I find this both convicting and encouraging.

3) Peruvian food

Goat, Guinea Pig, Seviche, Papa Relleno, and Lomo Saltado are some of our favorites.

4) KFC

Yes- this good, greasy, artery-clogging American chicken has been a nice haven every week or so. The Pepsi of course doesn’t have ice but IS cold, which is heavenly.

5) Trujillo

We love the downtown, the markets, the history (300 years is new to them), etc. Trujillo is a city of about a million people. The large downtown area is the life of the city and bustles with people, markets, cafes, etc. We also love Huanchaco, a nearby fishing village.

6) Drugs

Dot Dot, don’t have a heart attack! Columbia is nearby, but I haven’t gone off to South America and become a druggie just yet. But cash is king, and prescriptions are not- which all worked out quite well during my back and stomach clusters. It’s basically as simple as walking up to one of the many street-side pharmacies, pointing to the bodily area in need, and muttering, “Necisito algo muy fuerte”- I need something very strong. A few pills of “who knows what” are then exchanged for a few bucks and I go merrily on my way.

7) Gringo Community

As we’ve said before, the missionary team here has welcomed us into their community. They’ve been a lot of fun and support.

8) SALI (Saint Augustine Language Institute)

I’ve very much enjoyed teaching at SALI. Learning English can of course provide more economic/job opportunities for the Peruvians. It’s also a great avenue to build relationships and teach the Bible/Gospel, of which I’ve found the students to be very open. Though a nominally religious culture, the students seem to be hearing about Jesus and the Gospel for the first time. Please pray that God is using this time to plant seeds and change hearts. SALI has also been a fun place for Amy and the kids to study Spanish and hang out.

9) Walking

Our fellow Gringos, a park, and kids’ sports/activities are all within easy walking distance. We haven’t driven a car in Peru. Unless you’re in a taxi, life is more of a walking culture, and it’s just not as fragmented. Not spending hours each week hurrying across town from one event to another is a huge blessing to family life, community life, stress, etc

10) Family Time

It probably goes without saying that we’ve spent a lot of quality time together. Our apartment is maybe 1,000 s.f., with no TV. We walk everywhere together, need each other more, and just lead a simpler life.

I guess it goes without saying that your prayer and support have made all this possible for us. Thank you again!

Jeffersonian