Good morning, from Trujillo!...

...or should I be saying, ¨Bueonos dias¨!



We´ve arrived in Trujillo, and what a day.



We left our home 0600 on Friday. Then a flight to Dallas, and on to Miami. We were scheduled to leave Miami at midnight, but the plane was ¨over weight¨ as we sat at the gate. They had apparently put too much fuel on board, so we spent nearly 20 hours dealing with that by burning off fuel on the ground. We arrived in Lima 0800 Saturday, and then spent the day touring the city, leaving Lima for Trujillo after dark. We were able to get to bed at 2330.



As we walked toward the gate in Dallas, I heard someone calling ¨Dr. Doug¨. I was amazed to meet several of the people who I had worked with nearly ten years ago. It is so wonderful to have this fellowship, made possible by the gift of our Lord. Wendi and I were so warmly greeted, and Wendi heard stories of my work in 1998. I´m not so sure I deserved the praise that I got for that work. The team wants me to give a short class on what diseases we might encounter... I´m sure I don´t deserve to teach these missionaries, some of whom have traveled with the Mac Med team once or twice a year for 10 or more years to places like Vanuatu, Mongolia, and three trips to Peru.

Wendi and I were able to sit with Leon Jasper for a few minutes. Brother Leon is the heart of Mac Med ... he´s traveled as a missionary to 102 countries, and was on all seven continents withi the last year. It was such a joy to sit with him, so speak with him about his work and his family.



And I met a woman from Bremerton! After Wendi and I stood to introduce ourselves to the team at breakfast in Lima, she stood to tell us that she was a missionary from Uruguay, where she worked with her Mexican husband, a family physician, and that she had grown up in Bremerton. She met Alejandro, the man who was to become her husband, after Trinity Baptist Church sent her on a mission to Mexico. He was hung up in immigration overnight Friday, and most of the day Saturday, but was ultimately released to join us. It´s easy to credit our prayer for that ... we weren´t able to contact the Mexican consulate on Saturday, so I don´t know why else they decided to let him into Peru.



Today is census day in Peru. Every citizen is to remain in their homes from 0800 to 1800, so that university students hired by the government can travel door to door counting the census. So, no stores are open, no church service until evening. We were told that ¨today is not a good day¨to take photos in the front of the hotel ... they were afraid that the hotel would somehow get in trouble for doing so. I can´t imagine that we could get away with this in the EEUU (the Latin American abbreviation for the US). So, were able to sleep in, and will have an afternoon meal and devotions as a team with Carlos and Juan at the family home. (Carlos and Juan Angulo are the pastors here in Peru that are hosting our trip. I was able to greet Juan last night as we checked into the hotel, but haven´t spoken with Carlos yet.



Thank you all for your prayers and thoughts during this time away. As I read through the plan for trip that Phill posted, there certainly are some challenges ahead for us. I pray that our work will be met with open hearts, and that the actions of our team will always bring glory and praise to our Lord. We need to be sensitive to the people who are welcoming us.