I’ve never watched a Letterman show, and this might be overused and/or outdated, but I thought I would give it a try anyway. So, here is my first “Top 10” list.

Top 10 things I miss about Home

1) Toilet Paper

a) there is some

b) it actually goes in the toilet

2) The Water

- P.S. Both 1&2 above are strongly connected if you pick up a 7 day case of Montezuma from improperly washed grapes

3) Water pressure greater than a dripping faucet

4) Space

5) A cozy, scratching chair

6) Annabelle

- the endless supply of stray dogs just doesn’t cut it

7) Craterless streets that don’t continually readjust one’s spine

8) Cars that don’t require one’s knees to lodge between one’s eyes

- see taxi pics if needed

9) Ability to make a phone call, order pizza, scratch in native tongue, etc

10) YOU!

P.S. We do love Peru and our experience here and will soon share some of those things as well.

Loveyabye

Ok, I've been meaning to get to this story for a while. It's about wood and huts.

And, for any of you pastors out there (especially two of you who know who you are) who might be reading this, I would like to ask you to not use any of this story during any of your building campaigns, etc. It's just too dangerous to us vulnerable layfolks.

You'll need to look at the two pictures above to better appreciate the following. Recently, we attended the Wichenzao church. In the top picture, you'll see some very nice wooden benches. I noticed that the benches seemed a bit "out of place" and somehow struck up a conversation about them after the service. I assumed that Peru Mission had funded them but was surprised to find that the members of the church paid for them- at a cost of about $2,000. And, it's worth noting that $2,000 goes a long way here (for example a movie ticket costs $2).

This might not seem like much to you and me, but now take another look at the second picture. This picture contains 5 huts made mostly of straw, lacking a roof, with nothing but a dirt floor. Yes, 5 homes- I would guess about ten feet by ten feet in size. We drove and walked through this area after the service. The people were very welcoming, and as many as 8 people came out of one home to greet us.

These are some of the people who attend this church, located a long "stone's throw" away (the others live in a slightly "move up" block adjoining the church). And, this is what makes the $2,000 so interesting to me. Over a period of time, these believers saved their very precious and scarce money to buy benches to worship the living God.

This story isn't meant to be put a guilt trip on "us Americans". I just found it very encouraging to find a people across the world who so passionately worship the same risen Savior we worship at home. The circumstances couldn't be more different, but our God is the same.

Loveyoubye,

Jeff

we're still here!!!!

Yes, we are still in Peru but on our 4-day excursion to the city of Arequipa. This is our last day, and we leave on a plane @ 6:30 this evening for Trujillo. Wow, this has been a big adventure filled w/ long, bumpy bus rides, car sickness w/ subsequent throw-ups(by Ellie and Hall-outside of the bus-YEA!!!!), hanging out w/ a famous Peruvian actor/director, some Montezuma's revenge for lucky Jeff, freezing cold weather @ night and gorgeous,sunny days(sorry all you family and friends in the sweltering south), European breakfasts, very charming and homey accomodations in both locations, petting llamas and alpacas, Ellie getting knocked over by an overzealous alpaca, seeing the deepest canyon in the world, conder-watching, being @ 16,000+ ft. and Kate getting a bad case of altitude sickness, and more I am sure. We are just hanging out @ our great hotel this am and the peeps are playing each other in ping-pong and maybe swimming. The names of our 2 hotels are La Casa de mi Abuela in Arequipa and Mamayachi in Colca Canyon if you'd like to see where we have been staying. I highly recommend both places to any who are planning trips to Peru. It is amazing to meet all the many people from around the globe who are traveling in South America/Peru for multiple weeks. Most are w/o small children. But we've loved having them w/ us-most of the time!!!! I can not emphasize enough the response Ellie receives from locals here-they LOVE her- and she loves the attention, too! Much Love dear ones, Amy

Ok, sorry it's been so long since I've (Jeff) touched base. It's amazing we've been here almost a month now. If I had to very briefly and generally summarize our trip so far it would be this: the first 10 days were a blissful, idealistic blur; the next 2 weeks were very difficult (mainly because of my poor health and accompanying attitude); and the past few days have been "normal" for the first time. We're settled into our apartment, healthy for the time being, and into somewhat of a routine.

The English classes have been a real blessing. I've enjoyed building relationships with and teaching the students. The telling of stories seems to be a very effective means of teaching them English and sharing the Bible/Gospel. Of course that's not a new concept. Jesus did it almost continually, and most preachers do as well. But, it's been a joy to be able to spend hours each day with a group of people who are very open and eager to hear these stories, usually for the first time. They really do seem to be receptive to hearing the Gospel, and a few in particular particularly so. So, please be praying that God would use this time.

I've got a few stories I hope to tell, but first I'd like to go over a few "basics". First, what is Peru like? From my still very novice viewpoint, I would say it's a very beautiful but broken place. The mountains (foothills of the Andes) are visible from our apartment rooftop, as is the Pacific Ocean- a pretty combination to say the least. The Centro (downtown) area is very historic and lively. The food is very rich and good (lots of fish, chicken, potatoes, fresh fruits and vegetables).

Our city of Trujillo is one on the 2 most economically thriving cities of Peru. Yet, while some of the city shows these signs of growth, much of the city reminds me of post WWII pictures of Europe I've seen. It literally looks like the place has been heavily bombed (some pictures of earlier blogs show this a little).

Peruvians seem to be very pleasant and hard-working. I had frankly expected to find somewhat of a scratching culture down here, but they basically work 10-12 hours a week, 6-7 days a week. Though they work hard and are very industrious, they don't seem to have the hurried, stressful sense of angst we Americans seem to frequently master. Peruvians are also very family-oriented, kind of in an "Italian" sense. About 85-90% of the population is considered Catholic, with the vast majority being very nominal.

I can't go any further without mentioning the taxis. Basically, the taxis somewhat dominate the city life here. Very few people have cars, so everyone takes buses and taxis. Any adult (without a bad back) or a group of 2-3 adolescent children could easily topple one over. They are all very old, creaky, and dented yet somehow still running. We all still fit loads of unbuckled (there are no seatbelts, much less carseats) children and adults into each one.

But, without exception, every taxi has a very well-functioning horn. The honking culture here just blows me away. The streets are basically one continuous, loud "symphony" of tiny but very loudly honking taxis. In America, when we honk at someone, it "means business". We're seriously p-d off, and something (a bullet, knife, fist, verbal insult, finger, or at least an angry glance) is going to be exchanged.

Here, I've probably been in 100 taxi rides. There are very few traffic lights or signs so each driver roars into an intersection, bluffs his way as far as possible (it's basically the game of "chicken"), then firmly hits the brakes and starts honking. He honks his way through the entire gridlock and then floors the poor vehicle to the next intersection when it all happens again. You basically don't want to be looking anywhere except straight ahead, because each intersection gives the impression of a certain high-impact collision. But, here's the crazy thing, I've yet to see a single driver appear angry, rushed, or stressed in any way. I just don't get it.

Ok, I still very much want to tell you a story about "huts and pews" but I've got to go.

Thank you all so much for your thoughts and prayers and we love and miss you.

Jeff

waiting for inspiration

Yes, that is MY excuse for waiting a whole week to make a journal entry-not sure a/b Jeff's deal. I do believe that he promised one a while back and never delivered. So, I do hope to write every day in order to avoid this situation- feeling overwhelmed with what to type about.

First of all, thank you for prayers and concern for my fever virus and Jeff's back. I have been well for while and Jeff's back is doing much better. The mattress was crucial, along with daily P.T. and a hot tub all last week. He is actually getting a massage right now.

Kate, Hall, and Ellie seem to be enjoying themselves. Though they would choose to never return to their school here, they seem to have fun while there. They are somewhat famous -being the only white, blonde-hair and blue- eyed children there. Ellie is the star of the town. Everywhere we go women and children look @ her and smile @ her and just reach out and hug her. Others enjoy Kate and Hall a lot, too!

Jeff is enjoying his job as English Professor. His classes were so fond of him that they requested him for next semester(this first semester ends Wed. and the 2nd one begins next Monday). He uses stories from the Bible as a tool to teach English and to teach the Gospel. He has had a very captive audience in one class in particular. I attend SALI for tutoring on M-W-F and the little peeps start tutoring together T-TH this week.

We have continued getting to know and enjoy the different families living here. They have been so supportive and helpful and kind toward us. There are 3 churches we can choose from each Sun. a.m. It is difficult for me and the children b/c the whole service is in Spanish. Jeff can comprehend quite a bit during the liturgy and songs, but the sermon is tricky. We sang Is. 43 and Create in Me a Clean Heart and I was able to engage some in the worship. I really enjoyed last night @ the Eby's house. They have the interns over every Sun. pm for a great dinner and Bible study. Josh taught on Jonah ch. 1 and I learned new lessons from a story we've all heard hundreds of times-I love when that happens.

Because Jeff is done on Wed. until Mon. we planned our summer excursion to visit a city called Arequipa. We had to purchase plane tickets on Sat. but we still have yet to book hotels. The highlight of the trip should be our 2-night stay in Colca canyon-near Arequipa. It is the deepest canyon in the world, I believe, and has a lot of greenery(which we don't see much of here)

We were supposed to visit the orphanage on Sun. w/ 2 other families, but were not allowed to b/c someone had to be there to supervise us-the visitors-and they weren't there. Hopefully we can go the next weekend, though.

Do you mind praying for us on our big trip w/ no other support people traveling w/ us. It's just the Barry family setting out on a big adventure. That we would be healthy and safe and take in the experience and worship God in each vista, each meal, each person we see and talk w/.......

Much Love and appreciation from each of us, Amy

my cover-up blog

No longer do I want to see this picture of me whenever our blog comes up-therefore the COVER-UP-this entry will now be the latest and most visible. By the way, those last pix were taken in huan chaco last Sat. It is a neat little beach village w/ a lot of personality. We did very little this weekend due to health issues. I've had some kind of fever virus since Sat. and hope and pray that it has run its course. Jeff is improving though not 100% quite yet. We have made plans w/ a family,  who've been here since Dec., to visit the orphanage on Sunday-this will be our first time to go.o.k., so I think that this will be long enough to serve its original purpose. We have really been missing you all a lot!!!!!!!  Amy

Pictures

these are some pictures from kate