Two weeks in Tarma

On this trip we had the delightful experience of staying with  the Crouses: JR, Becky, Marissa (10) and Alena (5) Free Methodist missionaries in Tarma, Peru http://www.fmwm.org/missionary/index/crouse.php.  The Crouses were wonderfully hospitable and we were eager to learn more about the culture, people, and ministries in the area.  Also, after being on the road for a long time it was great to settle into a more typical pace of life and we throughly enjoyed the extra bonus of having delicious homemade meals.

Our days were spent getting to know Tarma city, attending area church services (and doing a little more speaking than we're used to), playing with and doing a little home-school with the Marissa and Alena, sorting coffee beans preparing them for roasting, having good conversations with JR and Becky, helping with the youth leaders conference, going to the selva (jungle) to roast and package the coffee (we're bringing a bit back to the states), visiting a beautiful rock forest and enjoying time spent with all the people we met.

We are both grateful for the experience and very thankful for the abundant hospitality of the Crouses.  The more I experience of this region it seems that my 4th grade curiosity and infatuation with South America may be budding into a lifelong affection.

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