Arrived in Ilo

We arrived in Ilo on Friday evening and have since had some time to relax just a little after a hectic week in Lima standing in queues, signing forms, and getting finger prints taken. We have had the chance to look at a house here in Ilo that may be a possibility for when we finish language study. It looked very suitable but we will look at a few other properties.

We plan to start language study on 12th Febuary but will move up there perhaps at the end of this week to adjust. Initially we will move into an apartment owned by Latin Link but on 19th Feb we will be able to move into another place that is available more long term. The 19th will be a nice day when we can begin to settle a little more and stop living out of suitcases!

Yesterday we went to the morning service at the La Pampa church and had a small welcome there and had to bring greetings and then in the evening we were at the church plant in Ite. They had a welcome meal for us and a time of praise and worship which was lovely. Everyone is so welcoming - it is so encouraging how they have welcomed foreigners into their land with open arms.

We will be able to update this blog as we need to until the weekend and then after that we are not sure how things will work out in Arequipa. We may not have such free access to internet intially anyway but please be patient with us and we will try to get more news to you as soon as we can.

Just to update you all. Yesterday we asked for prayer that processing our residency card could be completed before Monday (which was when we were told it would be done at the earliest.) Trevor called and was told that I was completed (in record time). We will have a busy day tomorrow as we will have to pick it up and fill in some forms (yes more forms) at immigration. Our flight is at 5pm to Tacna so it will be touch and go but we have no reason to believe that God will not help us through this as he has most certainly been with us all along.

God willing the next time I write will be from Ilo. God bless to all.

This has been our first chance since arriving in Peru to sit do and add to our blog. It is hard to believe that we have only been here a couple of days as so much has happened! The flight (which seems so long ago) went well and we made our connections and Sarah behaved (as did her mum and dad!)

Obviously the time difference took its toll on us all but Sarah easpecially, although she is still coping well. She has woken up in the middle of the night the last two nights and wants to play (mum and dad were just not quite as keen to join her!)

We have managed to get quite a bit done here so far. Trevor and I (Dave) went yesterday and got our freight cleared with nothing to pay. The inspector just happened to be an evangelical Christian on a hurry to get her lunch break - God is good. I think Trevor is still trying to pick his chin off the floor that there was no charge and we were not made to take everything out of the containers!

We have spent some time trying to get our residency card which like everything here is a comp´licated process with much paperwork. We have flights booked to Tacna for Friday and are hoping that we wont have to change them or come back another time, but the people dealing with this have told us it will likely be Monday before it is ready. Pray that we may have the card prior to Monday.

Otherwise everthing is going well, enjoying the 30 degree plus temperatures and lots on INca Cola to cool us down. Talk to you all again soon. hasta luego.

Farewell Service 14/01/05

Last night we had our farewell service from our church Ballymena Baptist (in our new premises of Slemish College). We had requested that the youth band oversee worship for the evening due to Alicia's invovlement with the youth band over the past while. we were really glad that both fathers were able to take part with Alicia's dad reading Psalm 126 and Dave's dad closing in prayer after Val spoke. The evening was a real encouragement to us particularly as so many people can to show their support, including friends from other churches. After a lovely supper there were a few nice surprises in store for us as firstly some of the youth were interviewed and commented on the encouragement we had been to them over the past couple of years - what an encouragement to us!! The BWF then presented Alicia with a lovely gift. Although the evening ended with many emotional goodbyes it was such a blessing to us to have such a send off from such a supportive church.

The Murphys in Peru

Yesterday we sent off our barrells with most of our luggage for Peru. It is a busy and exciting time for us. This Sunday we have our farewell service with our church. Ballymena Baptist Church have been so supportive of us. It will be a difficult service as it is never easy to say goodbye. Next week will be spent tying up all the lose ends and saying goodbyes to friends and family. We would appreciate prayers as we do this. We fly out of Dublin on Sunday week at around 7pm, we stopover in Madrid and then leave the next day at noon for Lima. We are not sure how Sarah will manage this second flight which will be 12 hours as she has never flown before.