Together in Lima

I am in Lima for three days now and enjoying the temperature here as I was looking forward to that like I wrote in my last blog. Friday, June 3rd, just before midnight I arrived at the airport. I thank God for a good and smooth trip. I didn’t have problems with the luggage and carry-on baggage. Actually, according to the website of AeroMéxico, I had to pay $140 for my third suitcase, but they only charged me for some overweight.

It had been my own fault if I was not in Peru by now… In the airplane from San Antonio to Mexico City I needed to go to the bathroom, but we were almost there and I had a window seat. I decided to use the bathroom at the airport, but first I wanted to pass customs and all checks, because I had only 1,5 hrs. I was glad the lines were short and the process went smooth. When I entered the terminal I saw a bathroom and took advantage of it. With my passport and ticket in one hand and my carry-on and backpack in the other I entered the bathroom. I put my passport on the wall behind the toilet and was able to put my carry-on with backpack on top against the wall. When I finished I rode my carry-on out, washed my hands and was ready for the next flight. After a walk through the whole terminal I arrived at the gate and wanted to ask for a seat at the emergence exit, but… where was my passport??? I checked my backpack, nothing. I checked my pockets, nothing. Wait a minute… the bathroom!!! I got my stuff together and ran through the whole terminal back to the bathroom. When I entered, a cleaning guy looked at me; he probably recognized that I my emergence was from another level than the regular visitor of his bathroom. When I checked the room my passport wasn’t there anymore. Then I walked up to the guy and said: “pasaporte?” He said: “Willem?” “Si,” I replied. He opened a little closet with cleaning supplies and handed me my passport and ticket. “Muchos gracias, señor!” That’s for sure going to be the happiest moment of the month!

I got in the plane tired and thirsty, but I made it! The good thing was that I had the whole row of three seats for myself and was able to rest some. As I wrote, I arrived close before midnight at Lima airport and after a green light at customs I walked through the door where a bright smiling Elizabett was waiting for me.

Today, we had our first meetings with the short term mission coordinators of Latin Link Peru and another organization here in Lima. The whole meeting was in Spanish, so I tried my best to follow the conversation. I got the overall picture and afterwards Elizabett shared the details with me. The organization seems to fit our ideas and ministries we have in mind—of which can be read more in the page ministries. After the meeting we had lunch with the missionaries from the UK. Then we spoke English. We had a good lunch and know more about Latin Link and the work they do in Peru. Again, we were amazed in what a small world we live. Also, we thank God for the many people He puts on our path. We left ‘family’ in San Antonio behind, but we knew He was going to provide new ‘family’ in Peru. Today, we already met some brothers and sisters!

Tomorrow we have a meeting with the team leader of Latin Link in the office here in Lima.

Please, pray for Gods guidance and direction during these meetings and the days ahead.

Elizabett in Lima, Kees in SA

For the coming two weeks Elizabett will be preparing the home of her mother for Kees’ arrival and Kees is trying to clean the apartment in SA. It’s amazing how much paperwork (school work, magazines, postcards, etc.) we have collected over the last three years. It was a joy to read the cards again, but unfortunately we can’t take them with us, so they went through the shredder and are part of history now. We look forward to receive mail in Peru though; yes, we know that we try to make good use of social media, email, and internet, but a postcard or letter is still nice to receive.

Elizabett and her mom arrived safe and sound in Lima Wednesday night and all their luggage arrived unharmed as well. They had some issues with their carry-on baggage, but with their smiling faces they were able to keep it with them at all time.

Kees booked his ticket to Lima this morning. On Friday, June 3, he will fly with AeroMexico from San Antonio via Mexico-City to Lima, where he will arrive a little bit after 11 pm. On the following Monday, we will have meetings with the short term coordinators of Latin Link. With them we will visit and meet with the director of an other organization and visit one of the possible places where we can serve. Exciting times.

-

Please pray for:

• Kees, who is finishing up in San Antonio
• the last weeks with friends in San Antonio
• Elizabett, as she prepares for Kees’ arrival
• Preparations of Latin Link for the meetings with us