We moved to Hawai!

Mahalo! And no, I did not spell Hawai wrong:)

For those of you who have been praying for us as we have transitioned this year, we just want to say thank you. As many of you know, we were in need of moving from a mold free environment into a home where we could be healthy. The hurdles in front of us seemed daunting as rent has increased 35-45% in the last 6 months, options were extremely limited for this area. About 50% of the adds said “no foreigners” right on the add! (Yeah, fair housing is not a thing here) And God totally provided! A unique opportunity on a street named Hawai… with only one “i”.

Its a fixer upper type of home, but no mold:) Since arriving, we have been busy fixing it up, little by little, as money and time allow. Our new landlord is so kind and is giving us a lower-than-normal rent rate so long as we tackle projects at our own cost. And we are thankful! Our container was finally released so having my tools has been a big help! Some of the contents were stolen, which totally stinks, but hey, its just stuff.

Who needs a sink? :)

Yeah had to replace that one!

We are so thankful to have been able to stay right here in this community as we are only four blocks away from where we previously lived. We are super thankful for our old neighbor who helped connect us to the landlord. Truly a God thing, and our relationship has continued since. Pasqual is a kind friend that needs the Lord. Please pray with us for His salvation.

As we have settled here, we also were able to get our visa process started. Unfortunately, the Lima Interpol office would not allow us an appointment, so we had to travel up the coast to a smaller city called Trujillo. After 4 days, 4 hours in the Interpol office, 2 rounds of fingerprints, and 20 hours of driving, all with four kids in tow, we can say that we are legally in the country! We of course took advantage of a morning for some beach time while on the coast so the kids could get their wiggles out. Pray with us, that the processing of our visas goes well. Our hope is that our temporary status with be made more permanent in the near future.

As we have settled in, Debbie has been able to return to language school! That is huge as the language is a vital piece of being here. Cliff note: Debbie LOVES snail mail! So feel free to shoot her a letter.

I have begun meeting with Steve (the senior missionary here) on strategies for growth and identifying ways to serve, not only as an individual missionary family, but as a church. On Sunday, Debbie and I became official members of the Vida Nueva Church in Sol de la Molina. We are excited to be serving alongside this group for this time, and are hoping to help set groundwork for what will become future church plants and mission works in this region and surrounding areas. Next week is the kick off of a Bible study I have been trying to start with 3 business men in the area. Two out of three do not know Christ. Pray for open hearts and wisdom in the study, as well as the Lord saving these men.

More than anything, pray with us. That we as a family grow in humility and love for this community. As we are adjusting from the US to here, it has been hard. We have been sick, and the medicine has not been great. The drivers are terrible and don’t obey traffic laws. Vendors will hose us, just because we are foreign. Every process has so much red tape you could wrap all of your Christmas gifts in it for the next 20 years. Frustrating! And in the midst of it, my own heart wants to set things right and demand justice. When that’s where I am as a man, I am not operating in humility. I am not growing in love for this community. But God sent us here with a purpose, and we must embrace the weirdness. We must embrace the red tape, terrible drivers and unfair treatment. Why? Because we have been called to a greater purpose that God intends for us. He intends us to serve in this place under these circumstances for our good and for His glory. So to that end, pray with us. We love you guys back home and are praying for you, that God make you a light in the place He has led you.

Blessings,

Cole

NEW ADDRESS:

Jr. Hawai Mz 3B - Lte 25 Casa 385

Urb. Sol de La Molina, Lima, Peru, South America