28 de Octubre (You dance over me while I am unaware)

Since our classes weren’t going to start this week until Tuesday, Elizabeth and I decided that it would be the perfect week to go to the 9:00 a.m. Spanish service at FRC. Although it was a challenge to get up a bit earlier than usual on a Sunday, we did it! We were very proud of ourselves and thoroughly enjoyed hearing the service en español. Usually the way the Spanish service is run, is that they have live music and then the service is broadcast in from Florida. It is then translated and appears on the big screen as such! This week, though, our local pastor preached, and we enjoyed that, too.

So, we got to hear the service twice! We heard it once for what we THOUGHT it was and heard it again in English for confirmation. :) I think we actually understood most of it in Spanish, so that was encouraging. The lesson was about “Keeping it Real” or “Mantenlo Real.” Often times we find ourselves going through life trying to live as the “best Christian,” trying to prove to others, and maybe even to ourselves, just how “holy” we are. The funny thing about this is that God always knows our true motives. There’s no sense in trying to hide things from Him because He knows us better than we even know ourselves. “Lord, you have examined me and you know me. You know everything I do; from far away you understand all my thoughts. . . . Your knowledge of me is too deep; it is beyond my understanding.”—Psalm 139:1-2, 6. There are times that we may not even know just how fake we are being. It’s important for me that I pray constantly for God to reveal my shortcomings and struggles so that we can work on them together. Especially at this time in my life, I really need God to remind me that He is in control; He is big; He is above everything. “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.”—Jeremiah 33:3.

After church, Junior, Liz and I went over to Pasquale’s for lunch! Liz and I were having some mega cravings for our favorite “Peruvian” restaurant. :) While in the restaurant, we were even lucky enough to hear some of our old favorite songs. . . “Truly, Madly, Deeply” and “Where is the Love?” Haha. It was great. :) When we got done eating, we went to Baranco which is another district in Lima. We hadn’t been to this part of town yet, so being the wonderful tour guide that he is, Junior offered to show us around.

*Liz and I posing with a statue in Barranco. We felt right at home seeing as how all Texans have horses and live on farms. :)

Barranco was beautiful and quaint. When we first got there, we saw a man on the street who had a trained monkey who was doing little tricks! It was so funny! I have to say that I WANTED to shake the monkey’s hand, but in the end my fear got the best of me. Oh, well. :) There were also people selling jewelry and such, and we bought a few more things. I’m working on my Christmas shopping. . . Haha. After a little stroll, we went over to a place where they were selling food outside. Here Junior and Liz got some dessert. I opted not to on the off chance that I would get sick. Eeek. I’m just not in the mood for that. They seem to be fine, though. :)

Also, while we were walking around, we learned that Barranco was having an anniversary celebration complete with a parade! Walking down the street, we saw everyone lined up in the parade procession line and watched for a bit! There were men on stilts and kids of all ages dressed up in costumes. A couple of the groups even did dances! I was so excited and joined in a little bit. Haha. The scariest marchers were the soldiers and the police! The soldiers marched with actual guns pointing out towards the crowd! Geez. I think we could’ve had a good enough parade without that fear. There were some guns I’d never even seen before. Yikesy. And then the police came through and had these HUGE dogs on the back of their trucks. Granted, they were muzzled, but I was frightened! Then a neighborhood dog, who wasn’t on a leash, came out to use the bathroom or something and started a ruckus with the police dogs JUST as we were walking by. I almost had an attack. I promise, 5 more seconds of that and I would’ve been in tears. Turns out that Liz is a better bodyguard that Junior. :) I think the police noticed that we looked a bit TERRIFIED and got a hold of their dogs. I don’t know what the owner of the neighborhood dog was thinking! People here just don’t put their dogs on a leash. It’s insane.

*this is a video of some of the parade participants doing a Peruvian dance! (notice that they aren't wearing shoes!)



click here for more pics!

Anyway, it was a great day in Lima! My only question is. . . Where is that sun I keep hearing so much about?

“What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived—these things God has prepared for those who love Him.”—1 Corinthians 2:9

Katrina

You dance over me
While I am unaware
You sing all around
But I never hear the sound
Lord I’m amazed by You
How You love me