One day more

It is amazing as the days have passed so fast, and is so special to think that soon will be Saturday 10 November, the day that Tim and I have been waiting for, and that that day will come soon.

I´m very pleased to write to our blog, I do not write much lately, and that is that a lot of things have been going on that had no words to write, but it is good that today I write a little message to our blog, and thank you for your prayers and we always want to know and the things that happen in our lives, Tim and I are very happy for the help that God has been giving our lives, not really imagine that to prepare for a marriage was so difficult and complicated, and now I understand that my sisters had their marriage and how difficult it was for them to prepare for their wedding. Actually I often come to feel with frustration and joy in not having to prepare for our marriage, but thank God that put people at my side and had words of encourage you to be able to rely even more on God and move forward, really appreciate very much for all the help that I have received and especially the support of my husband Tim, because he always had good words for me, and told me that God was in our midst and that he would help us at all, and until he today we have seen the help of our loved God and how to use it to help people.

Now, I´m very calm expecting him great day, and I know that Tim is in the same way that I, we are very excited and happy, and we have a peace that makes us be quiet and not be concerned and it is really very special. :)

Thanks to Rhonda for the work she did in our blog, including the new header. Eliana and I really like it!!

Chili with Cornbread, and Strawberries and Cream.

Eliana and I made lunch today, but not just any lunch. We made my Grandma Essies ¨best ever chili¨and also corn bread. My mom sent me the recipes, and so it was all in english. So all that needed to be translated into spanish. Nobody knew what was corn meal, and really I did not know what that all was in corn meal either. But they did not think we could buy it here, and so Elianas father took some corn, and ground it up into powder. I was impressed at how fine he was able to grind that up. I think he may have used a coffee grinder. We got a lot of the ingredients at a super market, which is similar to any large super market in the U.S. But some stuff we were not able to get there, and also some that we did not want to buy there, because we could buy it at the market near the house for much less. The market is walking distance, and people sell all sorts of food on the sides of the street, and also a lot of small indoor markets there. We bought more than 4 lbs. of hamburger for the chili soup. By the way, one thing that made it difficult is that american recipes are in measurements of ounces, cups, tablespoons, teaspoons, etc. And it is different here. To measure cups, I got a coffee cup that I thought was close to a measuring cup, and used that. Here when they cook, really they do not measure anything. But I tried to measure everything, because I am not very good at guessing. Eliana was able to taste the chili, and say whether it needed more of an ingredient. I am not good at that. Anyways, back to the hamburger. We got all that hamburger at a market, and its not like in the U.S., where everything is prepackaged and ready to sell. We told them what we wanted, and I saw a lady take an ax to a big piece of meat, and cut off a big chunk. And the next thing I knew, we had ground beef. We bought baking powder for the bread, but here it is not really a powder, but reminded me more of play dough. But Eliana said that it is the same stuff, and will work. The kidney beans for the chili we had to buy dry, and so they soaked in cold water all night, and then her sister cook them in the morning while we were at the market. You can buy white sugar here, but really what everyone uses is brown sugar. They use that in their coffee, and to cook with, and everything. But it is a lighter brown and I think has less molasis. Also the grains of sugar are much larger, but they quickly dissolve in water. I was not sure if everyone would like chili soup, because it is something they have never eaten. They have also never eaten corn bread. And when I saw the corn bread in the oven, it looked much different, and I thought maybe something was wrong. But I was wrong, everything was so delicious!!! I worried if everyone would like the meal, but most everyone wanted seconds. I do not know how many compliments we got, but they were many. We were planning on cooking for 10 or 12 people, but when I was making the chili, I realized that I was making a ton, and I thought it was too much, and we would be eating chili for days. But a lot of family and friends showed up, and we fed between 17 to 20. And by the time that everyone was full, we had eaten it all, except for a little chili and bread that we are saving for some people that was not able to be here for lunch. Bread here is very cheap, and Elianas family always buys their bread everyday from a nearby bakery. Elianas mother asked if I would be able to make some more corn bread tomorrow, and I said yes. Really it is easy. All I need is Elianas dad to grind up some corn. I also had all the ingredients for peanut butter cookies, but was not able to buy peanut butter. I think that is hard to find in Peru, and they must not eat much of it here. But Elianas mother said that if I need peanut butter, she can make it for me.
After the chili and corn bread, we had a delicious desert. Eliana and some other woman made a strawberry cream, and then that was served in a cup with whole strawberries and whipped cream. It was so good, I ate 3 cups of it. Elianas dad asked us how much we were charging everyone for this, because it was so good. It was really a very special time. We had a lot of fun making this. And I want to give God credit, because we asked for his help with all of this, and he helped us with everything. Any ideas for what we could make next time?

Eliana and I went to a store a few weeks ago, and had them make this stuff for us. Everything was put together by hand, and really is so beautiful. It is the bouquet that Eliana will have in her hand, the small one is what I will have on my suit. The medium sized bouquet is what Eliana will throw. The two other smaller ones I am not sure what they are for. There is the thing that Eliana will be wearing in her hair (I am sure by now you wish that Eliana was writing this, because she could tell you what everything is called. But she is taking a nap). Also the knives for cutting and serving the cake, and the glasses for Eliana and I.

our civil marriage

This is where we had the ceremony, but is now over, and I am holding our marriage certificate.

Picture after the ceremony.

Eliana and I with her parents. Our ceremony was done inside through those doors.

Us at the house before our ceremony.

Well, Eliana and I are now legally married according to the Peruvian Government. I imagine it is difficult for a lot of people to understand having a civil marriage and then a wedding. It was new to me. I think in the United States, really it is easy to get married. But here it is more difficult, especially if you are a foreigner marrying a Peruvian. In Peru, first there is the civil marriage process. It took us about 3 weeks to complete everything that we needed to do. We had a lot of problems, but nothing that God did not help us with. I must say that God helped us so much with everything. Our civil ceremony was really special, and more than I expected. It lasted about 20 minutes, with pictures and everything. Someone read us the vows, and we said yes, and then signed our names, and we were then legally married. Two women from the church had cooked us all a delicious lunch, and we really enjoyed that. Eliana was so beautiful in her dress. I imagine a lot of people just have the civil ceremony, and not a wedding. But November 10 is our wedding, and we will go on our honeymoon after that.

Elianas oldest sister took Eliana and I to a place to order our wedding cake. I thought we would be going to a bakery, and so I was surprised when we were knocking on the front door of a home. The home is a grandmothers home (not elianas) who makes cakes for a living. And I know she makes a lot of cakes, because she had a planner that looked full. She had a stack of magazines, and had us look through them, and I think she could make about any cake we wanted. So we got our cake picked out, and she will be making it for us. After the honeymoon, we will be posting pictures. And if my mom wants, she can send out pictures to everyone before that, since she will also be taking pictures with her camera.
Eliana and I both say that we are glad that we have only one wedding. November 10 will be a special day, and I think we will have a lot of fun, but the preparations are so much work. I think preparing for a wedding is about the same here as in the United States. Although Eliana just told me that tomorrow we need to go see about having some security at our reception. If you ever visit Peru, you will see bars on windows and doors, and also there is police and security everywhere. I am glad that we will have security there. Eliana said they do it free of charge. I think that the local municipality provides security free of charge for like receptions, and other events.
Changing of subject, Eliana and I cut up some potatoes and made some french fries. I was able to buy a little container of ketchup too. And so for supper we had some steak, french fries, rice, a vegetable that I don´t know the name of, and coffee. There are a lot of fruits and vegetables here that I had never seen before. They have corn that is black, and they boil it, and then add sugar, and it makes a good drink. My dad also drank that while he was here, and was surprised by how it was made. Everyday about 1/2 mile from the house, there is a market in the street, and people selling all sorts of food, and other stuff. It is neat to see.
Well its time to get some sleep. Good night!

It can be so difficult to not worry about money. I think that is something that everyone knows about. We can have a lot of money saved up in the bank, but still we worry, and wonder what will happen if someday that is gone. And that makes us hold onto it, and guard it. I think that really there is only one way to have peace with this, and that is to have the peace that comes from knowing that God will provide for you. I am not talking about what a person may want, like a new car, or lots of other different things a person might want. But God knows what we need, and that is what He provides. I think a good prayer is to ask God to help us to release our grip on money, and to trust Him.

Matthew 6:24-34
24 No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.
25 Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?
26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?
27 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
28 And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin.
29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.
30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
31 So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'
32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.
33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

A few things

1) Thanks to a lot of prayers, and Gods help, Eliana and I have made so much progress with our civil marriage stuff. Really the paperwork is finished, although we have to turn in a few things. Soon we will be ready for our civil marriage ceremony.
2) Eliana and I washed most of my clothes by hand. They have a small washing machine, but most clothes are washed by hand. I think that most homes here do not have a washing machine at all. So Grandma, you can be proud, I am learning to wash clothes by hand. Everyone here was surprised to know that I had never washed clothes by hand.
3) In front of all of Elianas family, I spilled a whole bowl of hot soup into my lap. I was sitting at the table, and reaching for something, and I think my jacket hooked around the bowl, and when I leaned back, it pulled the bowl onto my lap. It really scared everyone, especially Eliana and her father. I was a little red on one spot of my leg, but that was all.
4) Elianas family and people from the church gave us a wedding shower last night. We really had a good time, and ate some delicious food. A lot of people are coming together to help us with our wedding, and that was such a relief to the both of us.
5) My spanish is getting better, and I am able to understand more of what people are saying, and people are able to understand me better.
6) People have asked me what I miss in the United States (other than family). Well I love ketchup, and people don´t eat much ketchup here. French fries are usually served with 3 different sauces, and none of them are ketchup. There is a little restaurant near the house, and they serve some really delicious sandwiches, hamburgers, and pizza.
7) Elianas nieces and nephews now call me uncle. Tio is spanish for uncle, so I am ¨Tio Tim¨. I now have 9 brothers and sisters, and 10 nieces and nephews.

We have been able to get a lot of paperwork done for your civil marriage. I think if it were 2 peruvians getting married, it would be so much easier. Its just more difficult and complicated since I am not from Peru. My birth certificate is now legalized for Peru, and a spanish translated copy is being made right now. We went the U.S. embassy, and that is quite a facility. The people there were very helpful. I had a marriage certificate from Iowa that basicly just said they could not find my name in their computer, and I was hoping that would do for a document that said I was single. But the woman at the embassy told us that she could get us a document that said I was single in the United States, and the document would be in Spanish and would be legal in Peru. And so we got that, and were really glad. We also had to get our blood taken, and tested for like STD´s and other stuff. We also both had to get a chest xray done, but not real sure what they were looking for. Everyone is required to do that when getting married. A wedding is expensive, but also the civil marriage is not cheap, and I imagine a lot of people in Peru wish to get married, but they just can´t afford it.
I am happy about the progress, and today we were able to make an appointment for our civil marriage ceremony, which is October 25. I really don´t know what that will be like, but I know we dress up for it. After that the country of Peru considers us married, although really it is not until our wedding that we consider ourselves married. Eliana reminded me to thank everyone for your prayers.
Things are going well here. I am not a big eater, and I know Elianas mother wishes that I ate more. She gave me a pat on the back at supper tonight when we were eating spaghetti and I asked for seconds.
It really is a different world here. I think that really you would just have to experience it to know what I am talking about. I imagine it is a shock to go from the United States to a lot of countries, and probably the same for a lot of people that visit the United States. It is just so different. I am hoping that my Spanish continues to be better, because it really is difficult to communicate. It even still gets difficult for Eliana and I talking to each other. But I hope that in a year that is different, and that communication is really not an issue anymore.

Not too much happening, but wanted to write another post. I got sick for a few days, but now am feeling better. The other times I was here, I had stomach problems. I am not sure why, but might have been the water, or just food that I am not used to eating. But this time I haven´t had any stomach trouble, and I am glad.
Today is a holiday in Peru, and so there is no work or classes. But tonight I think that Eliana and I are eating out with Elianas sister and her fiance.

Nuestra Boda Invitaciones

Tonight Eliana and I went, and got our wedding invitations. We got a bunch, and took the both of us to carry it all. But one of the pictures shows a small box, and that is for the reception. Tradition here is that everyone is given some cake to take home, and we got those boxes to put everyones cake in. The invitations are really pretty. The napkins that my parents got us for our reception have those two hearts on it, and we wanted the same for our invitations. We will be sending these out soon.

Day 3

Thanks for all your comments. Eliana and I went to the place to start the process for our civil marriage. We need to do that before our wedding. I had to bring some documents to Peru with me, and there was some problems with them, but I know that everything will be ok, and God will help us with that.
Yesterday I went to the university with Eliana, and will go today also. I read a book, and right now am reading, ¨for men only¨, which seems to be a good book to help prepare for marriage. Elianas professor was glad I was there, and speaks some English.
I am so glad to be here in Peru. I need to take some pictures, and put them on the blog, and hope to do that soon. Mom and Dad will be here soon, and mom now has a digital camera, so I think you will soon be seeing lots of photos from her also. Have a good day!

Day 2

I think that my Spanish has gotten better since the last time I was here. I don´t know how much better, but I know its better. But Elianas nephew David is here to my side, and I don´t understand much of what he is saying to me. Last time he was here, he thought that Dad and I had trouble hearing, and he would speak loud into our ears. But to his disappointment it didn´t help much.
It really is so wonderful to be here. Everyone is speaking about our marriage, and is very excited. We still have preparations to do, but soon they will be finished, and our wedding day will be here.
Mom sent fudge and cookies with me, and they have been a big hit. I think they are all gone now. Tonight I am going to the university with Eliana, and it will be neat to see where Eliana is going to school. This is a wonderful blessing for us to now be together. We have waited a long time to be together.
mom & dad, everyone is glad that you will soon be here.

Our first day together in 7 months.

Well I made it to Peru without any trouble. Thanks for your prayers. We have had a really good day together. We picked out our wedding cards, and did some other preparations for our wedding today. Last night I was tired, and when I met up with Eliana, it felt like I was having a good dream. We have waited so long for this, and it is so wonderful that it is here. Well it is late, and we need to get some sleep, but will post more later.