Felizes Fiestas Patrias!

A cuy (guinea pig) cookout with friends. . .


. . .and a game of volleyball. . .made today a fun and culturally rich Fiestas Patrias!

Today, July 28th, marks the day that Peru gained its independence from Spain with the help of General Jose de San Martin, known as Peru's liberator. Along with Christmas, Fiestas Patrias is one of the most important celebrations of the year for Peruvians.

The celebration Fiestas Patrias in Peru coincides with the vacation periods for the local schools as well as some businesses. So, our girls are enjoying a few weeks of vacation from school and are enjoying the extra relaxation and play.

At dawn on the 28th a 21 cannon salute traditionally begins flag-raising ceremonies as Peru remembers the anniversary of its birth. This morning at 6:30am, the Smith household was awoken by the sound of cannon-like fires which began our fun day!

IPC Memphis Senior High Brings Encouragment

Bill Johns from Independence Presbyterian Church in Memphis, TN brought down 14 of his youth group and what a blessing they have been. As they enjoyed forming relationships with Peruvians and playing lots of soccer, they also saved us money by preparing the back lot of the Larco City Church.

Bill's Senior High Team brought down a year supply of grape jelly and chocolate chips for each missionary family - two food items we all love, but can't be found in Peru! He also supplied the missionary wives with our next Bible study material and brought our family a dozen wonderful books from our Amazon wish-lists. We have been overwhelmed by their generosity and serving spirits.

Last Saturday, the team gave us a fun day. They brought down all the supplies for tie-dying and had a messy blast with the missionary kids.

Bill Johns and Allen leading the group in worship at our house before debriefing:

Our Peruvian dancer!

Today, our five year old, Adeline, had the privilege of performing the three traditional Peruvian dances at school to kick off the season of celebrating Peru's Independence Day (which is July 28th). She did a wonderful job, you would have thought she was Peruvian! I suppose in heart she is since she moved to Peru as a baby. In her current school, as they study the 3 regions of Peru, they also learn the dance of that region.

So, the first dance is the Marinera, a coastal dance of Peru, generally called the "National Dance of Peru." Marinera is a graceful and romantic couple's dance that uses handkerchiefs as props. Adeline was able to borrow a traditional Marinera dress of one of her teachers. Her dance partner was actual German, the only other international student in her class, but the two communicate in Spanish with no problem:-)


The second is the Andean (mountain) dance called the Wayno, named after a genre of popular Andean music. The dance consists of an agile and vigorous stamping of the feet during which the man follows the woman, opposite to front, touching her with his shoulders after having turned around. The movements are very happy and child like.

And the third they performed is one of many Amazon jungle dances. The girls each have a basket, mostly filled with tasty fruit, but one of the girls will have a snake in her basket. The dance begins with boys dance around the girls looking in their baskets. . .
. . .and later the girls get up and dance a fun energetic dance with the boys.

Growth at Larco City Church

God has blessed the Larco City Church with the recent addition of two new families and two young men. Pastor Jaime had the privilege to baptize four new church members into the body of Christ.

Although it was wonderful to witnesses new professions of faith, it was sad to witness neither father involved in these new families. Please pray with us that God would restore families through the power of the gospel.

Another Thing I Like About Peru

Although most Peruvians are poor, they are very creative. That is another thing I love about Peru!

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A Few of My Favorite Things

What I miss from the States
1. Family
2. Anything green, especially Pine Trees (I'm from South Arkansas)
3. Comfortable Chairs
4. BBQ Ribs
5. Wider variety of restaurants
6. Coke Icees (my in-law's favorite treat)
7. The freedom to drive anywhere (we only use taxis)
8. Orderly lines and stop signs
9. Water skiing
10. Walking in the woods


What I like in Peru
1. Daily fresh organic food
2. Slower pace of life
3. Higher emphasis on personal relationships
4. Help around the house
5. Churros: fried donut pastry filled with caramel
6. Rocoto Rellenos: stuffed peppers
7. The beautiful, jagged Andes Mountains
8. Peruvian folk music
9. The beach with its monstrous Pacific surfing waves
10. Most of all, the Peruvian people with all their hopes and challenges

One of the blessings of living in another culture is being able expand your favorite things list.