Peru comes to US

There's a double meaning to the title of this post: I was going to write Peru comes to Chicago, but the events didn't all happen in Chicago. Then I thought Michigan, but not all in michigan either. So I just decided to say that Peru comes to us (as in the plural pronoun) and realized (hee hee) is can capitalize that and give it double meaning!

Last weekend, our roommate in Peru (and veteran missionary teacher that really really helped us survive) Katie Brink arrived at O'Hare with her fiance, Jose Manuel (who is Peruvian). Cindy and I had so much fun meeting them at the airport and shuttling them around city until her parents got into town SUnday afternoon. We stayed the night in the apartmnet of friends of ours from church who were out of town, went to our chicago church on sunday, took them down to the HAncock center adn then sent them UP to the observation deck as a wedding surprise gift. We ran out of time, but KAtie's parents arrived (driving on their way from Colorado) to pick them up nad take them to Grand Rapids, where the wedding was to be held.

So, yesterday, Cindy, me, Mom and Dad, and Heidi (our other roommate from PEru who came down to Indiana from Chicago to drive to the wedding with us) drove a nice 2 hours to the church where KAtie's long-distance wedding came together in wonderful style! Our head principal, NAncy Miller, was also there, up from Ohio where she's spending the last of her furlough time. It was a little of our Peru life here in the States, and what a pleasure to share some of those people with our parents! And what an honor to be there to support Katie, and even MORE importantly, Jose Manuel, whose family will not celebrate with him until the wedding celebration in Peru on January 24. I was so thankful that NAncy and the rest of us could provide at least four familiar faces from his life in Peru.

I will try posting some pictures tomorrow- it's not letting me tonight!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!

Happy Thanksgiving to you all.

Yesterday I (Cindy) had my Thanksgiving day festivities in part with Kindergarten. Here are a few pictures....

....The first is of the entire group. We started in the morning cutting up apples (all 40 kids) with plastic knives. They did a FANTASTIC job! Then we did our own thing as seperate classes and came together again near the end of the day. We had decided that Kinder would be Indians and that P-4 would be the Pilgrims. So we wanted a group shot of our little Indians and Pilgrims coming together in peace...well mostly...they ARE 5 and 6 year olds so there can never be total peace. Grin. The second picture is at the end of the apple cobbler making time. I had a "cooking class" to make the crumb part of the cobbler. They had fun (I hope.) I did even if they didn't. At the end of the day we ate the apple cobbler, then we went into the Kindergarten room to read The Very Hungry Catipillar. This is a picture from Katy Mejia's (the kinder teacher) point of view as she read the book. We had a great time and they did a great job throughout the day, but MAN and I glad it is over. 40 small children in one room with knives (even if they are plastic) is reather stress inducing. Emily is having her feista on Friday I will make sure we get some pictures of her class on here as well. (Even if mine are cuter!)

I promise we will post a blog soon about our trip to Paracas. We need to upload the pictures onto the computer first.

Have a great Thanksgiving!

Cindy and Emily Leinbach

update, long overdue...

Hello all! Today I will be sharing with you some pictures from the last couple of semesters and telling you about them.

This first picture is of my (Cindy's) classroom. We did Noah's Ark for Bible time. We started by putting up the ark part. Then the next day we talked about and added the 'water'. Then on Wednesday we talked about the dove being sent out, and we made our own doves and added them. Then on Thursday we colored and added the rainbow and talked about what the rainbow means. In the States when you see a rainbow flag it is a symbol of the Gay and Lesbian movement, here in Peru when you see it, it is the flag of the Inca Empire. But we Christians know what it REALLY means! God is faithful and merciful.

The next several pictures are from Family Day at MCS. We had a lot of fun. There were games, prizes, inflatables, a trampoline, bowling, and lots of yummy food. We had a great time. The idea behind Family Day is that the parents take control of the event and plan and execute it. All the teachers were given jobs to do throughout out the day but that was it. I had three hours of supervisory duty at the trampoline. It was actualy a lot of fun. Here is a picture from the trampoline on Family Day...this group happens to all be my P-4's. From left to right we have: Daniela in the pink, Ximena (Pronouned He-mana) in yellow, Luciana in white and blue, and Samara in Pink facing the camera. I think that head in the foreground is Carla. They had such fun jumping together. Most of the time we had a mix of grades in together but it just happened that the next seven people (that was my limit 7 in at a time) were all P-4's so they were happy to be jumping with their friends.

While at Family Day I finally found a clown that I am not afraid of! His name is Caleb and he is the youngest child of Kristie and Ivan Ashby. Ivan is the Elemetary Principal, and has four kids, three gilrs and then Caleb (no he isn't doted upon at all). Not only that but he is also the cute little blonde haired blue eyed fair skinned baby that is so revered and loved here in Peru. Sometimes the poor kid can't even walk across the patio without being accosted by a mob of students wanting to fawn over him. He was so cute that day that both Emily and I posed with him. Here is Emilys... Aren't they cute????

Okay so here are just some other pictures of the day for you to enjoy I am not going to detail these so just enjoy as is...

Hello from kinda sunny Lima...

Hello from Lima.

With just a little over a month left of out first year here life is going fairly well.

I am feeling pretty good. I have my good days and my bad days, I am having more good days than bad days so that is good. I continue to work through finding the right meds in the right dosages with my doctor (Dr. Harrison) but I feel good about things. I am able to teach my class and do most of what I plan. Whereas three months ago I had so much I wanted to do but was unable to physically move enough to do those things. I also feel that I need to receive some positive affirmation that I have less than 30 days of school left and ALL my children are alive and I have not even maimed any of them! (Some days this is a major miracle...sigh)

We are gearing up for the Christmas program...here in Peru there are two big things each school year that have to be BIG. They are: Mother's Day, and Christmas. It should be fun.

Well I need to go and cash a check so I can go replenish my meds for the next month.

Hope all of those who read this are well and that God blesses you.

Fiestas Patrias (aka Independence Day Festival!)

The last day of first semester was Friday, July 18. We then have our Winter Break for two weeks, not returning to school until August 4. BUT, Peruvian Independence Day is on July 28. So, Monterrico Christian School put on a Independence Day Program on the last day before break.

so, all afternoon on the 18th, we had our Fiestas Patrias, and what an event it was! All of Peru seems to start decorating for 28 de julio as soon as julio (July) starts, and the red and white satin decorations, banners, bunting, and flags go up EVERYWHERE. The people in the grocery stores have special outfits, red and white and more traditional, and everywhere you see 'Vive el Peru' and red and white and red and white and red and white!

We had no idea what this program was going to be; we knew that each class was a different part or group of people in Peru's history, but we didn't truly know hwat to expect. We were told that all of our kids would dress up as the people their class was assigned. Okay, great. What I didn't realize until about a week before, is that dressing up means going and renting costumes. This is just expected by the parents and children. After seeing all of the costumes, I've gotta say, I would have loved to get dressed up this way!

The program was a success and exactly what all the Peruvian parents were expecting and wanting; I was glad when it was over! It was a long afternoon with lots of waiting as each class walked to the program site only when it was their turn to perform. So, until it was our turn, everyone was waiting in the Temple (church sanctuary) until we were called out into the bright sunshine (unusual for this time of year) to walk about fifty yards across two patios to the lower patio where the awnings and seating were set up. It was interesting. Especially for Cindy, who was in a wheelchair and without her wonderful Peruvian assistant, Carmen. (Carmen's father was admitted to hospital that morning.) But we survived, and have 200 pictures to show it!

Here is a link to some of them. (Just the best ones)

Fiestas Patrias: Independence Day Celebration!

Here are some more pictures!

Emily here: Please see my blog for a brief written update on the weather here in Lima.
www.leinbacker.com

here is a link to some recent pics:

Hello all this is Cindy

Hello all!

This is Cindy as you prolly figured by the title...you guys are SO smart! Good Job! Good English words! Er...sorry. For a minute I thought I was in my P-4 Class.

I have been having a lot of pain. From head to toe my muscles have been on fire, my joints ache, and my foot has been so painfully I can hardly walk. Thursday I broke down in morning devotions and just cried telling everyone how much pain I have been living in over the past three weeks especially. I was gently sent home to rest. That evening Ivan called and asked if I wanted to go to the Chiropractor. I said "heck yeah when!" So we went that night, Emily came along as well to get a massage. I got a massage, it hurt really badly, but I knew that it was needed. Same with the adjustment, it hurt and he hardly did much because it hurt me so badly. Friday was NOT fun. I hurt so much I didn't even want to get out of bed. I got up and took a muscle relaxer and went back to bed (after calling Nancy and telling her I could not come in.) Moving hurt so intensely. So I slept a LOT because of the meds.

This morning I woke up and glory be it didn't hurt to open my eyes! I could get up and walk to the bathroom and not want to cry!!!! It was amazing! I could raise my hands up over my head and not cry out in pain. I could bend down and touch my toes and not want to crumple into a ball and cry. It has been wonderful to feel like myself for the first time in weeks! So I am going back to the Chiropractor on Monday and I know that it will be little steps forward but I again have hope that I will be able to live my life with out constant pain, and being on constant meds everyday all day.

So I am very relieved. I am very happy that I have a faithful God. I will try to writ emore later this week.

Cindy