A few things we will miss about Peru (in no particular order):

The beauty of the Andes Mountains and for high altitude (which makes your lungs “stronger”; David at 14,500 feet at the village of Siusa)

Our neighbor’s dog, Paco. He was the perfect “pet, without having to own a pet.” He basically hung-out with us to say “hola” and that’s all we wanted.

Our missionary friends! (pictured with Eric, Jen, Carrie and the Allens). It was so nice to converse in English and practice our Spanglish with friends.

The best polleria in town: Los Toldos…1/4 roasted chicken + fries + salad + choice of drink = 13.50 Peruvian soles = approximately $3.75 USD

Our Peruvian family. Jesus, Amauta and their families (pictured here with Papito Claudio y Mami Janett, a study abroad student and Alejandra)

Our precious church family at Iglesia La Unción

Meeting our DTS students, seeing them grow for 5 months and sending them out as official YWAMers. We love you and know you will do great things: Bailey, Nico, Logan and Maddie!

Exploring up the Amazon River en route to Leticia, Colombia for a YWAM Conference

Seeing a wonder of the world: Machu Picchu (and being able to share that experience with David’s parents), who were gifted tickets by their precious church family (Thank you First Baptist of Swansea (SC) for giving us/them that gift!)

Getting to partner with friends, Eric Lovin and Jen Smith and their ministry, Spirit-Led Expeditions, while working with the Quechua in Chinchero and in Pucamarca. The village started their own community feeding program, a ladies knitting co-op and a discipleship class in a neighboring village in a little over a year!

I’ve had the privilege to buy turkey for Thanksgiving and cook it ourselves, TWICE…I’ve conquered my fear of basting and dressing the turkey, since this year the face and feet came inside the bird in addition to the bag of giblets….for the record, oven bags make a very succulent turkey.

Fresh bread, empanadas and pastries at every panaderia, for cheap! 1-2 soles each = 0.28 to 0.55 USD

Learning Spanish with Jimmy

one of our tutors at Mundo Antiguo Spanish School who brought us along to meet his beautiful family and that one time we went up to tour Senor de la Huaca (a Catholic pilgrimage/blessing site to christen his mom’s bus and having a picnic in the mountains.

All of the prayer and worship nights with DTS Staff: The Allens, Saulo and Edgar

Beautiful friends from Charleston stayed with us in our first apartment in Cusco before they hiked the Salkantay Trail to Macchu Picchu and it was wonderful to hang out with the Strauss family!

The best landlord in all of Larapa, Cusco: Senor Roque Milton-Medrano (and friend David, thank you for making us feel so welcomed to Peru).

Our mentors and friends: Clark and Beth Barnard. Thank you for connecting us to Peru and her people and for this tasty fish dinner in Iquitos! Thank you for being a dad and mom (I know to so many), but especially to us homesick Americans! We will feed you pancakes Clark, anytime!

Thank you, Peru for all of the memories! We hope to bring our kids to visit you someday!