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Location Date South America 
1371769200 Europe 1343430000 - Peru
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Location Date Lima
1371769200 Huaraz 1371596400 Tarica 1370818800 Yungay 1370818800 Arequipa 1368140400 Máncora 1361577600 Casma District 1360281600 La Tablada 1351555200 -
Location Date Fri, 21 June 2013 1371793804 Tue, 05 February 2013 1360098680 Mon, 24 December 2012 1356362921 Sat, 17 November 2012 1353174544 Fri, 16 November 2012 1353087248 Wed, 17 October 2012 1350492875 Tue, 16 October 2012 1350398384 Sat, 29 September 2012
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From Lima With Love
Hola from Peru!
Greetings from Lima, the centre of Spanish dominance over South America 400 years ago. Our apologies that this entry has taken its time to arrive, we've been moving about quite a bit over the last month and only beginning to feel more settled.
So what's been happening in this part of the world? Following a busy and emotional schedule of goodbyes back in N.Ireland, we eventually set off for Peru, stopping in Brazil en route for a few days of rest. We really valued having this time to focus on what was around the corner. As nice as Rio de Janeiro was, we were both definitely ready to hit Peru.
Our flight with TACA (not taco!) airlines was a bumpy ride over high mountain peaks and arid dessert below. On arrival in Lima, we were met by Latin Link long-termer Paul Turner, who took us to spend the first week with him, his wife Ruth, and another Swiss 'Strider' Susanne, in a flat in Miraflores; a more touristy part of the capital.
So what is Lima like? 8 million people, horns blaring, crazy traffic, skidding cars, alarms blasting, dogs barking, constant noise, grey, overcast, misty, a desert capital by the Pacific coast, a clash of Hispanic and indigenous cultures, dirty, polluted, bustling, massive wealth contrasts, all set amidst high mountains. Lima is a large sprawling metropolis that has rapidly developed in the past 10-15 years, thanks largely to Peru's growing economy. And one of its main exports? Bird poo (actually). Lima is an attack on the senses.
During our first week here, we were given a great orientation on life in Peru: the culture, the people, the customs, the church - basically an introduction to surviving as a 'gringo'. This included a mandatory trip to Interpol (yes, of Bourne fame) where they took all 10 finger prints and even counted our teeth...! The Latin Link team in Lima are a great bunch, very welcoming and supportive and introduced us to the Peruvian cuisine, which is a healthy carb-based diet of potato, rice, sugar and fat, normally accompanied by chicken!
After a few visits to projects and churches, we finally moved into our own flat in Monterrico, a nice area of Lima where our landlady has rented out a 3rd floor apt to us. It's small but suits our needs, and she's been lovely. Since then, Karen has begun her stint at language school and has completed her first week, while Mark has begun a discipleship course with a group of 8 guys aged 14-33 in one of the shantytown churches known as La Tablada. This church, although recently planted, is a lively and friendly group of about 60 people.
The first few weeks have had their difficult moments as we have had to get used to things that seem so simple at home - how to get a bus, crossing the road, communicating, food shopping, greeting people...to name a few! Starting language school for Karen was like stepping back in time to her first day at school 23 years ago with all the similar feelings! We have also been fighting homesickness at various times. But, we are so comforted knowing that people at home are supporting and praying for us and encouraged by those who have been in touch - thank-you! It makes us more determined to try harder - please keep it up! We would also like to thank those who have donated anonymously - unfortunately we don't know who you are but thank-you for your generosity. God has been good to us - safety, health, our flat & landlady and a wonderful Latin Link team in Peru. As our weaknesses have been so obvious to us on a daily basis, God has been reminding us of our need of him, something we often forgot at home where it is so easy to be self-reliant and self-sufficient.
"But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me." 2 Cor 12:9
Will try and get some more photos up in the next few days...
Ten cuidado y amor,
Los Robbos xo
- comments
Roisin Thinking of u both! great to hear about your adventure with God! Praying for patience &enthusiasm to continue to glorify Him and continue His exciting journey!
Phil Murray Hi Mr Robinson. Good to hear from you. Phil Murray
Annie lovely to hear some news... keep going...God Bless you lots xxx
Sam Wolfenden Good to hear what's going on. Sounds like a lot to take in! Praying for you both.
Pamela Kirkwood Really excited for you both and looking forward to hearing all about the challenges that lie ahead and want you to know you are very much in our thoughts and prayers
Karen Quinn Glad you arrived safe and sound and are in your own flat. It sounds so exciting , your description of Lima is perfect! Looking forward to the pictures. Have you tried the pisco sour?
Cheryl D Thanks for the update guys. The ladies here at Rose Cottage are reading on with interest and praying for you both. Sounds like a mixed bag first few weeks - massive change of culture, life and learning, combined with meeting a new welcoming team who will be so grateful to have you both share your lives with and help them in the work. God will be blessing you and moulding you as you work for Him there, be encouraged as you strive for His kingdom. Lots and lots of love xxoo
Jess Hi, Great to hear your experiences so far. Hope it starts to feel more familiar soon, and that school and discipleship course go well. It sounds like a world away from the UK but much more exciting! Have a good week, Jess (Cheryl's flatmate)
Michelle Great to hear that you guys are safe and well! missing you around the office Karen :) Can't wait for further blogs and will be thinking of you through-out all your journey! lots of love x
carolyn So glad to hear from you both. We have been thinking and praying for you! Nice to hear what life is like there and what we can pray for. Can't wait to hear more of what God is going to do through you. All our love and prayers. Stay safe cousins!!xxx
Robert Stevenson Interesting to read all this from los Robbos. I can but wonder what sort of pudding "dry dessert is"... hmmm, let me see - maybe apple crumble and custard with lots of crumbs and not much custard or overdone rice pudding maybe? Enough of my sarcasm - will be praying for your settling in and the gradual receding of the homesickness. Poor Karen - trying to fight off withdrawal symptoms from the Emerald Isle and experiencing the trauma of a school start on top of it all. I do pray that she is keeping well and the headaches etc which plagued her at home are less severe now. Sorry Mark to mention the horrible subject of Gryphon, but did you leave a copy of the report for your hockey team last year. If so, I've forgotten where I've saved it; if not, could you either dash me off a few paragraphs or recommend someone on the team who might do it. Well, look after yourselves and enjoy the adventure.
em&yannic So good to read you're both ok, thinking of you lots xx
Ian Robinson "Arid dessert"... doesn't sound too tasty. An excellent update! I shall have to ensure that the family have read this at the weekly visit to Nana and Papa's! Miss you both. I've had to play Fifa 11 by myself recently... I think I have found better competition in Toluca than Cruz Azul. Anyway, stay safe and enjoy yourselves!
Noel Purdy Glad to hear you are both settling in we'll. Lima doesn't sound that different to the Wodstock Road on a busy Saturday! Greetings from Willowfield.
Sally Anderson Hey guys great to read your blog!!! Sounds hectic but I am sure it is totally fulfilling and you are so right about how we take things for granted here. Mark, when I read the bit about your teeth being counted at Interpol it took me back to the day when you whacked off half your front tooth!!! Hope they counted correctly!!!!! Karen how brave you are 'going back to school' - I experience this most days and know how scary it feels (especially in History eh Mark!!! - did someone mention the Cold War!!!) We are counting down the weeks to the move and as you can imagine there are mixed emotions but a new capture is ahead of us. I am thinking and praying for you both in your work. Remember the learning is 2 way. You will learn so much from these children and people but they will learn from you guys and as you will not forget nor will they. The Lord has chosen you both wisely. I look forward to hearing the next installment. Take care and God Bless - Sally