Christmas Time Approaches

Whats up everyone?!  Well tomorrow will be one month since I have arrived in Peru and so much has happened.  Its amazing to just sit back and watch how things unfold every day.  Nothing is like you expect and then what comes is so much cooler than you could have planned it to be.  We have been making a lot of progress on our house building.  Everything is almost in place to pour the concrete for the floor and we will begin construction on the walls sometime late tomorrow or Wednesday.  The 2 Swedish guys, Brent and I will have PLENTY of room in this place and I think I mentioned that we have this HUGE pole that will stick out about 10 feet above our house that we are going to place a flag at the top of for Andres' restaurant.  We are also going to build a crows nest to be able to see all of Chorrillos from... and the surf of course!!! haha.  Andres' is so excited.  He and his family will be able to use this place for a lot.  He and his family of about 10 live live here and share the space of a house and the restaurant for their living quarters.  It can be a bit hectic when everyone is around but they have been so welcoming to us and make us food all the time so it has been a great experience so far. 

As Christmas time is right around the corner we have all been trying to think of things to do for the kids but were unsure of what we could do for 60 to 70 kids that we could all afford and couldnt really come up with anything other than buying a bunch of skateboards and giving it to them.  We were out yesterday after church and were just walking around one of the local places in a market and Andres gets a call from a friend that says hey come back to the restaurant... there was a local toy drive today that we had people donate to and we had a bit too much and we want you to have what is left over...  We jumped in the car and drove back to the restaurant expecting a pickup with a bed half full of toys and left over goodie bags and to our surprise we found a big u-haul sized truck with about 6 guys unloading HUGE plastic bags full of toys and clothes into the front door of the restaurant.  We were all so excited to see this amazing surprise.  We jumped out to help and continued to unload these bags along with water, juice, chocolate milk, cokes, bread, and sandwiches.  It was amazing.  Just really makes stop and think... how could there not be a God.  We didnt "need" to give the kids or the families anything and yet now we have something to give everyone.  It blows my mind.

So Christmas Eve is Friday and I couldnt be more excited.  They call Santa here... Papa Noel.  So cool!  The kids along with everyone else will stay up until 12 midnight on Friday night and its a huge celebration much like our New Years Eve with fireworks and everything... except they get to open presents and everything that night.  Then Christmas Day is an extended celebration that lasts all day.  I am really starting to miss the family time that I have back home for the holidays but I am excited to see how another country celebrates such a special time of year. 

I hope that this post finds everyone back in the states or wherever you are in an awesome Christmas spirit!  If there is snow where you are... eat some for me! 

Love you all and will post again soon!
Chris

Long time guys!!!

hey everyone!!!  Sorry it has been so long since my last post but things here have seemed to take a turn of events...  The guy Andres that we are staying with that began TPC in Chorrillos has been so kind to offer us a place to stay there is only one catch.... We are going to BUILD that place!!! haha we are so excited though.  He owns a restaurant that is right beside his house and there is a place over the bathrooms that will support another room and we will build there.  It is quite the view also!  There are two guys who came here from Sweden that we have met up with and they were just going to pass through but after they had been here 3 days they felt like this is a place that they should stay for the rest of their time here!! Its so cool to see what is going on... and by the way, one of the guys is a carpenter!!! So cool how God worked that out.

We will buy the wood today and begin taking the roof off of the bathrooms to begin work as soon as possible.  There have also been a few of the older boys who have offered to help out so this place should be up in no time!  We are going to make it into a really rustic looking surf shack.  so pumped!!!

We have been hanging out with the kids almost every day and on the weekends we have helped out in the kitchen at the resaurant.  We are slowly learning Spanish but most of the older Peruvians know English so well.  We got to take some of the younger kids out last night to go surfing before the sun went down and it was awesome.  All these kids are so good at surfing and snowboarding... its rediculous!  I have made a couple of friends so far that are really cool guys. 

Well I guess that is all for now.  Just wanted to update you all really quick.  Much love and thanks to everyone for all the prayers and thoughts!  I will post pictures of the new place as soon as construction begins!

Chris

Week 2 coming to a Close

Whats up guys?!  I was going to post a little video clip but it is not loading for some reason.  I think its too big so I will shrink it and post as soon as I do.

Brent and I got to surf again today and then went to Chorrillos tonight to meet with the group again.  There is such an awesome feeling going there because there are many younger kids who just look at us and laugh but when I speak a little spanish its like they switch gears a bit and start to be like oh man he speaks a little bit of our language.  So we talk a little bit and I ask them about surfing and what they like to do and then before you know it there are a bunch of little kids circling you and whispering and giggling.  Its awesome though.  Oh for the day when I can speak fluent Espanol and talk to them better... haha for now body language, hand motions and broken spanish will have to do.  It is still fun just to interact with them.  We will be joining the group of Christian Surfers in Chorrillos for in two weeks to head south to San Bartolo and serve the kids who live there for Christmas.  The kids are going to put on a play and sing and someone will preach about Christmas.  Luckily I was listening intently tonight when Zelmar, the leader, called me out and asked if I understood what he was talking about.  I said yes and told him in English what I could understand from what he was saying and all the kids started to clap for me... haha it was funny.  I could feel my face turn red though.  Its quite different being in a place where you are helpless without words.  Makes me have more compassion for people in the states that dont know English.  The night ended well though and we had a blast.

Tomorrow we wake up around 7 and meet Andres down at the beach to hang out with him and the kids.  They are all having their picture taken for their surfing lessons so we get to go and hang out with them all morning.  Andres will be taking us around Chorrillos on Tuesday morning.  We are really excited to hang out with him one on one.  The difference between where we are staying right now and Chorrillos are night and day.  Chorrillos is very run down and streets with dirt and trash.  We are staying in the "Buckhead" of  Lima if you will.  Lots of middle class and upper class with a mix of lower class.  Im really excited to get closer to the kids though.  I will post some pictures very soon.  I know you guys are chomping at the bit to see what it looks like down here... I would be too!  Will post again soon!

Chris

Week 1 in Peru

HOLA from Peru!

Well week one is down the hatch and Brent and I are still alive and loving it!  We have had the chance to meet most everyone we will be working with and we are beginning to have things added to the schedule.  We have been just getting acclimated so far to the culture and the fact that cars on the street WILL NOT stop for you when crossing the street... haha Brent found that out first hand a couple of days ago when an SUV rounded the corner and about took out his knees.  Luckily his cat-like reflexes saved him from what could have been certain disaster. 

The first trip south about 3 miles to Chorrillos was Saturday night.  It was amazing to meet everyone there.  The pictures on the blog from the videos are very true to what we saw there.  Many kids came to sing, dance, and hear what was said that night and the leader, Zelmar, said that it was a miracle that they were there much less the fact that they were able to keep all the kids quiet and still for that long.  The kids were awesome.  Hardly any speak English which makes me want to continue to learn Spanish even more.  Brent and I are both looking forward to what we are able to do with the kids as summer approaches and we begin to spend more time with them.

We have been able to see a good bit of Mira Flores and Chorrillos over the past few days with our new friend and tour guide Tonito.  He was actually a part of the first group that began TPC in Mira Flores and he has been very nice to take us around and has even bought us dinner a couple of times.  Last night we met him and 5 time national champion and local hero surfer Roberto "Mueles" (stands for molars... like teeth) Maz for a movie and some ice cream.  He owns and runs one of the best surf camps here in Mira Flores.  His company even partners with a private school here in town to give surfing as a class during the school year. Sounds like my kind of recess. 

Everyone so far has been very nice and have gone out of their way to make us feel welcome.  We go to the Mira Flores TPC meeting tonight to watch a movie that was actually made by some guys who are from North Carolina.  It's going to be a good night.  Brent learns to surf we think tomorrow so wish us luck as we brave the cold waters of Lima!  Waves should be pretty good though and we cant wait.  Thanks to everyone who is following, I will continue to post!  Pictures to come!

Chris

We made it!!!

HOLA everyone!!!  We made it to Peru!

The flight over wasnt bad at all.  I mean I can pretty much sleep wherever I just pay for it in soreness when I wake up... haha.  But I literally slept the entire flight except for the food part. haha..  I read a little and that ended quick because I couldnt hold my eyes open.  We landed around 520am and walked out of customs at 615am... wow!!! it was crazy long getting through but we finally made it out.  Plus Brent got red lighted and had to get a cavity search... ok maybe it wasnt THAT thorough, but he did mention the man with the rubber glove being surprisingly gentle... haha JUST KIDDING!!!

  We got out and looked around... NO ONE!  haha there were only peruvians everywhere I looked... no Naomi and no Kiera anywhere in sight.  So my mind started reeling... what do we do?  I kind of was like oh man how is this going to pan out. I went looking for a place in the airport to get wifi to possibly skype them and finally found a place and sat down.  I didnt realize that they were already on there way and that they just got lost.   It was good though.  We waited around in the food court for a bit and then I heard my name being called and was like yessssss!  haha I ate a mcdonalds sandwich and then we left and they took us to a hostel because aparently they lost the keys to their house and are staying with Kiera's boyfriend right now.  So I am writing this update from..... STARBUCKS... drinking a peppermint mocha and listening to christmas music really trying to remind myself that I am in Lima, Peru!!! 

Anyways so after we got to our place we checked in and PASSED out for like 3 hours and then went to eat at this place.... it was like one of the highest places in Lima overlooking the water.... Im talking one of the most beautiful views I have ever seen!!! Oh man SO amazing.  Its like mtns right beside the ocean! best of both worlds!!!  As I look out over the road and into the water about 200 meters, I see the waves lining up some pretty good looking lefts and got a really giddy feeling in my stomach!

After dinner we went home and went right back to sleep... the beds we had in the hostel were likened to stacked cardboard that really was not that comfortable... but never the less I slept through the night.  We stayed another night at the hostel and now are at Kiera and Naomi's place which just a bit inland from the coast and south of Mira Flores.  Its going to take some getting used to as we are like the ONLY Americans around.  I stand out like a sore thumb being like 8 inches taller than anyone and long light colored hair.  Its cool though.  I look forward to learning the culture and the language... its going to be a must!!!

We go to Chorrillos on Saturday to meet everyone.  Keep us in your prayers that everything goes well and I find some place that sells food in large portions for very cheap.. Im not kidding... I dont think Ive been full yet... haha. 

Next update coming soon from Peru!

Much love,
Chris

Coming Soon

Hey guys.  New to this whole blogging thing and will get pictures and info posted soon!  For information about the upcoming trip to Peru check out Brent's page at http://brentgreene.blogspot.com.

Thanks!
Chris