rainy day in Cusco

our love for aji verde

i have a confession to make. i traveled internationally with seeds. chili seeds. and i do not regret it, because they are beginning to sprout! you see, in Chile there is an amazing light green/yellow mild chili pepper. I crave this pepper. It so good chopped up on a fresh tomato salad. Or you can make Chancho en Piedra (Pig in Stone), which is chopped fresh tomato, garlic and this chili pepper. We also like to just eat it by itself with a little salt. It has a fresh cool entrance, quickly followed by a hot burning sensation at the tip of the tongue. Depending on the maturity of the pepper, the burning may last longer or shorter. I love it! Ricky's parents have a chili plant that is giving so many chili's that you can pull at least two or three a day and it seems like 3 or 4 take its place immediately. I saved and dried a few precious seeds and put them in the pocket of my jeans. And that's where they stayed until we arrived to Cusco. We don't have this pepper here. We have other types of aji and rocoto, but they aren't the same. So I'm hoping my little plant will grow in this weather. I have a home-made mini greenhouse all ready for this little guy!

more retreat

all of us...

meal time..

playing futbol...

classtime...

childrens music presentation...

all the Peru workers being prayed for...

retreat in chile

the trees in picarquin are whimsical yet elegant, circling their way around the property like a ring of friends holding hands. it was absolutely quiet except for those trees rustling in the wind. though not a natural forest, they were carefully planted one by one. the were standing firm yet bent against the steady wind.

this week and last

we just arrived back home to Cusco this afternoon, after being in Santiago, Chile (again) for 10 days for a retreat. we had a great time seeing other workers from all over the world...some missionaries and some not (due to the sensitive location where they are working). we reunited with old friends, made new ones, and met many children that have been born over the years, whom we had never met. it was refreshing. there were youth from the churches in Chile who came to work with the children. so there was a "tia" that was with Isabella the whole time. It was the first time we've had a babysitter for real! Also, there was worship and Bible study, lessons and lots of free time to play, swim and do other things.

The bad part, is that Isa caught a cold while she was there, which turned into an ear infection. We have been dealing with a fever for 4 days. temperatures have risen to above 104.5. being a new mom, I pretty much flipped out. it was scary. the ibuprophen and tylenol did the job at first but the following day the fever came back and for several hours did not respond to the medication. we almost cancelled our flight this morning, but the fever came down on its own to a manegable 100. we decided to travel. God answered our prayers and she slept the entire time. The pressure in the plane didn't seem to bother her ear. i suppose the antibiotics are beginning to do the trick. She is still super sleepy and clingy. Since I've been home she's been on my leg the whole time! But i think we are through the worst of it.

Being home, again, to cusco. Gosh i can't believe it's already March. The air here is so fresh. i love being back (even though its cold and rainy still). Our newsletter is long over due. We have some really cool projects planned for this year. In time, we will be able to share these with you. Take care, thanks for praying for Isa, those of you who knew about her fever.

love, tracie