Reality Everyday (Day 4)

I can't believe we're finally here!
So after 3 days of traveling, Charis and I finally arrived here in the mountain city of Tarma, Peru on wednesday night. It is phenomenally gorgeous here...the view in every direction simply covered in God's glory. We've spent a few days now meeting people and starting to build relationships, which is both delightful and challenging for me. My spanish is coming back slowly but it takes much focus to really understand all of what is being said. That is completely okay:) Its such a blessing to be stepping into a different culture through their language and the people here are so encouraging as I stumble along.

So a few things that have happened since I left New York...
-Monday my Dad and I took a roadtrip from home to Pittsburg, where we spent the night at Charis' cousin's house. Such a delightful night :)
-Tuesday morning we drove to the airport and flew out>> Ft. Lauderdale then Lima.
-J.R. picked us up at the airport Tuesday night in Lima and we spent the night in a lovely little missionary guest house. It was wonderful to talk late into the night with J.R., eating "platas" and being able to hear about his world and passions as well as his huge heart for Peru. Its hard not to love a place when you are introduced to it like that:)
-Wednesday, Charis, J.R. and I traveled from Lima across the Andes mountain peaks to Tarma. Goodness gracious...at 16,000 feet above sea level God's glory was overwhelming. Snow capped mountains overlooking thousands of miles in every direction...incredible.

Something struck me however as we journeyed up and over the peaks. I realized that as incredible as these sights were- marvelous village colors, stunning panoramas and new things to see in every direction, they are not the highlight or purpose of being here. I want to remember this journey isn't about the sights and sounds and tastes. Its about the lives we are welcomed into, the precious families who have invited us in and have so very much to teach us :) As we drove up that mountain road, we were not simply passing villages, houses, fields...we were passing peoples lives. As Charis put it, "These are people's worlds. This is their reality everyday." It put a different spin on the rest of our journey and I'm grateful for that. Now we are settled for a handful of days in Tarma, living and tasting real life here. And its beautiful :)
Saturday we will head from here to live for 2 weeks in Huaricolca, a village up even higher than this. The couple there speaks only spanish so we are terribly excited for that!

My head is exhausted but I am full to the brim with God's joy. I can't wait to begin the small list of things our friends have shown us we can do to be helpful as we learn. Exhausted or not, we are so blessed here, and loved beyond measure.
Gracias Dios. Gracias :)