My Dear Husband :)

Here are a few pictures of Gordon! Since he is often taking the photos and posting them here, you all don't often get a chance to see him in daily life. The children and I, (Betsie) are so grateful for the time and effort that he puts into blessing us each day. In fact, as I type, he is tickling the children and keeping all three of them in giggles so I have some time to type! Spring is here in the Andes Mountains! On a recent hike through the mountains, which are slowly greening up again after an unusually long dry season, Gordon gathered a bouquet of wildflowers to bring home for me. What a blessing! In years past I have enjoyed wandering the hills, bringing home flowers, but at 7 months pregnant, I'm not doing much hiking right now. :) A Happy Couple! Here we are during our trip to Cusco last month - enjoying the sunshine and flowers . . . and each other! Doughnut making day! On Serenity Martin's 21st birthday last week, we enjoyed her choice of doughnuts as a birthday treat. Here Gordon is showing Elisabeth how to use a water bottle to pop out the doughnut holes. Charo, who has fond memories of making doughnuts with the Peachey family when they lived here, came bright and early to help Anna and Serenity. She is also 7 months pregnant in this picture. Please keep praying for her salvation!

Cultivating potatoes by hand, using traditional "foot plows," is back breaking work. But we had fun working together with the Swansons and "the girls" when we took them out to our "chacra" (field). Here are Gordon, Joey Swanson, and Serenity Martin working in a typical two man, one woman "set."

And last of all, when the days work is ended, and time allows, which is really only once in a great while, Gordon gets out his "sampon-ya" (very traditional Quechua musical instrument) [panflute] and plays a few hymns for us.

Swanson visit

We were very blessed to have the Jeff and Deana Swanson family visit us for a week last week. They were in Arequipa for 1 1/2 weeks to help with a construction project at a christian school there, and then came up to Velille to see us. They are from our sending church back in NC, and Jeff and Gordon worked together for 6 months, a year and a half ago.

Our house is in the background A belated Thanksgiving dinner Here we are with them, Anna, Serenity, and a native friend, as they were leaving. Another friend (S. H.) was on the work project with them and also came up to Velille for 5 days, but due to personal secuity asked not to appear on our web site. We were blessed to have him back in Velille for a visit.

Roofing at Gabino's

Gabino, Olinda and Children Christian, Ruth and Hector

Gabino and Gordon fineshing up the new metal roof on their kitchen, which had it's thatch roof burn off reciently.

Velille Friends

Here are a few glimpses into life with our friends and neighbors here in Velille. Having Serenity and Anna here has been a blessing in many ways. . . including the fact that they have often had a camera on hand for those "normal" everyday parts of life that we are usually too busy to document in pictures! Enjoy! On Tuesday evenings, we have begun a discipleship class with Daniel and Maria and Nelly, the three young believers here in town. Please PRAY for the three of them to desire the pure milk of the Word, and to grow thereby! Here we are a little before the class started, with Betsie helping Nelly finish up studying for the class. Nelly's son Fran sits next to her, and on the left hand side, Serenity Martin sits visiting with Nadia. Nadia has long been a visitor at our house. . . and we have asked you to pray for her in the past. Please do continue to pray for her, as she is very aimless right now, but has been telling us that she wants to draw near to God. She has been coming almost daily to spend time with Serenity and Anna. Pray that God will soften her heart, open her eyes, and show her that He is the Answer!

Left to Right, Susanna 3, Fran (a boy) 4, Elisabeth 5, and Roseli (also called Nena) 8.

Nelly's two children are our children's closest friends, as well as our closest neighbors. How happy we are that Nelly has become a Christian and now, in addition to the caring mother she has always been, teaches her children about Jesus Christ! Our children love to color together, play together, and go to church together. Praise God with us for the blessing that these children are to our children - and pray for the salvation of their father, Cedrillo.

Weaving a blanket! Nelly is sitting in the right front, watching two women work on their weaving next door to us.

Thanks for your prayers!

Thank you for your prayers for us while we traveled, we had a safe and healthy time! Our bus rides went really well - no major break downs, etc. . . We praise the Lord for that. We also had a couple days of special family time. We found treats for the children - cotton candy at 15 cents apiece and ice cream cones at the same price! It's hard to tell who had more fun - the children enjoying their treats, or Papa and Mama watching their pleasure!

Yum! Yum! Dad and Mom Howe - we enjoyed wearing our matching outfits. Thank you!

Dad and Mom Wenger, the puppy that you sent for Samuel's first birthday is his very favorite! He sleeps with it every night, and grins and says "Pu-ppy! Pu-ppy!" when it is time for him to go to bed! Thank you!

Three snug little darlings all cuddled up under Aunt Lydia's blanket after bath time. Time to warm up! It is summer here right now, but it still gets chilly every evening.