Scottish Baptist Assembly 2010

Jess and Sam waiting to board yet another aeroplane

wonderful worship at the assembly

being interviewed on the stage at the assembly


Getting a taxi to East Midlands airport at 0500 on our 3rd day in the UK was quite a crazy thing to do however despite the jetlag it was good to be there.
We enjoyed representing BMS World Mission at the Scottish Baptist assembly, it was wonderful to be there to join in wonderful worship in an auditorium with 500 people in English and to hear great talks as well as the joy of meeting folk we don't even know who told us they pray for us regularly. Jess and Sam had great fun being spoilt by their grandparents (Scott's parents) whilst we were at the conference and one of the highlights of our trip to Scotland was eating good old british fish and chips!

Back in the UK

It is so good to be back in the UK despite the long journey ,jetlag,culture shock and cold wet weather. It is wonderful to see the family again ,Jess and Sam are having a lot of fun with their cousins and the autumnal colours are absolutely beautiful .Tomorrow we are off to Edinburgh where we will have a reunion with Scott's parents as well as take part in Scottish Baptist Assembly .We will keep you posted about our adventures...

Despedidas

church prayer meeting

La Fuente staff and families

In spanish despedir means to say farewell/ take your leave and it is cultural practice when somebody is moving away or leaving in Peru to have a special farewell meal or speech and a chance to be together and wish them well
So this week has been full of meeting (and eating!) saying goodbye to folk. We had a farewell lunch with all the nurses and docs who work at the La Fuente clinic along with our families and we had a church lunch with all our church family before our last church service last week then tonight we had a prayer meeting and communion service at our home where some church folk came to pray with us before we leave, most of them will also come to the airport to wave us off for our final despedida! The way God has worked in our lives and those around us this last 2 years has been amazing and we are ready for a bit of a rest and some time to assess our work and our projects and to recharge the batteries and plan for the next episode! We have attended numerous despedidas here in Peru in the last years and it is exciting to think that this time we are the ones travelling we are all very excited............

10 days and counting ........

In 10 days time we will be flying to Lima ready to head for the UK (via the USA) . We leave Cusco on Sunday 24th Oct and will arrive in London on Tuesday morning 26th Oct.We will be in the UK for 4 months , this will be our first home assignment since we came to Peru in August 2008
We are all getting very excited about our trip , but there's still lots to do

- normal school and work continues until Friday 22nd
-packing
- lots of admin
-planning our presentations and talks for the UK
-farewell lunches
- church leaders meetings
-special church events
- Scott's stitches to come out
-getting the house organised for people who will be staying here while we are away

and the list goes on ......

Our friend Lynne visits Cusco

When we lived in Carshalton Beeches (2001-2004) where Scott was the youth pastor at the baptist church a lady called Lynne Lewry was part of the congregation there. Lynne and her husband David have since retired and moved to the coast, but for a few weeks she is visiting Cusco helping with a childrens' project set up by latin link. What a joy it was to meet up with her again today after all these years! Always nice to see an old friend especially when they bring a large bar of galaxy chocolate with them , thanks Lynne!

Poor old Scott!

Yesterday Scott was training some chefs during a tasting session for a new restaurant that some friends of ours are soon to open here in Cusco. He really enjoys the chance to dabble in some cooking and it is relaxing and very therapeutic for him unfortunately yesterday was not as relaxing as usual, at the end of a great afternoon he was cutting a biscuit base with a very sharp knife and as the knife slipped he cut the palm of his left hand badly needing to have stitches and now his arm is immobilised in a sling.Poor old Scott he is feeling sorry for himself today and is in a lot of pain!

Cusco hail storm

This morning Jess and Sam had on sunhats and sunscreen and enjoyed a water fight in the garden.
This afternoon there was a thunder and hail storm , they played in the hail , ate it and went skating on their trampoline, then we saw a beautiful rainbow!

School holidays

Jess and Sam have this week off school, as well as using it to start getting the house and ourselves organised for our trip back to the UK in 3 weeks time!!! We are also having some fun too. Last night we had a sleep over and all slept in the lounge and watched a movie and ate pizza it was very exciting!

Local Elections

Like in the UK there has been a large song and dance about the recent Peruvian local elections with lots of people canvassing and advertising their chosen candidate for mayor.

Unlike in the UK
- The elections are held on a Sunday

- During the voting time (until later this afternoon) and for a few hours afterwards you are not allowed to have public meetings, so our church service is being changed today to a 6pm start time

- There is a fine for not voting ( one which poor folk could certainly not afford) hence everybody votes!

- For the few days leading up to and one day after the elections shops stop selling alcohol.

I can't help wondering if we had such measures in the UK if the results of the elections would be different!