Merry Christmas 2009

From Bart, Cynthia, Solan & Aidan

As I sit to write this letter, there are many things I would like to share with you.
Our year began with a visit from my parents from Colorado. We enjoyed visiting a few new places with my parents as well as with Cynthia's mother in January. We visited the islands where the Humbolt penguins live, spent New Year's in Lima, visited the jungle region on the border of Bolivia, and took in some archeological sites in the north of Peru.

Above all the grandparents each had plenty of time to spend with their grandchildren.

Solan and Aidan spent the last year working their way through 3^rd grade and Kindergarten. This was an adventure in many ways as we befriended several families in the school.

While Solan and a classmate were preparing a report on an ancient Peruvian civilization known as Chavín, we decided to travel with his classmate's family to visit the archeological site.




Weeks later Aidan's ability to keep a beat with a bass drum was noticed and he was proudly perched on the class float in the annual school parade while debonair Solan escorted the "little queen" from his class on another float. These are the events forming lasting memories in our lives.

Within our neighborhood, we enjoyed a community outing to the beach, remodeled much of the building where we live and serve, and planted countless flowers, trees, and cacti. Throughout this time our aim was to gather people together to build community.

With the help of several organizations, we continued to expand the educational opportunities for our neighbors. We started a literacy campaign for the neighborhood children with volunteers from Asia, Europe, and North America.


In the afternoon we hosted an adult literacy program run by the Peruvian government, Cynthia initiated a women's knitting cooperative, and we ran a weekly religious education program for the youth and young adults. I got involved in starting a new NGO called Volunteer WindAid. Our aim to work with volunteers to construct wind generators for communities lacking electricity. Our website is www.windaid.org. Let me know if you want to get involved.

In August Amber, a family friend from Illinois, came to visit us. We got a chance to catch up, see some sites, and enjoy the beach.

In October we were visited by a mission group from our home church in Illinois.

Desiree, Cindy, and Lucy painted and furnished a classroom for our youth programs, helped oversee reading groups, and also brought a heavy dose of encouragement to all. ¡Viva la fé!

Days after this group departed, we welcomed our sister-in-love, Katie, and my nephew, Josh, from Colorado.

We spent a few days at the beach, saw the sites around Trujillo, and talked for hours. These visits made us feel especially loved and cared for by our friends and family. Thanks.

I write this letter to you on vacation in the mountains near Huaraz. It is a place where we can see snow-peaked mountains and enjoy the wonders of nature. Tomorrow we will hike a bit, play yahtzee, and maybe enjoy the sauna. We are enjoying being together in this wonderful life and wish the same goodness for you your family and those you care for.

I wish you a very Merry Christmas, a happy Hanukkah, and all the best in the coming year. We carry your life and your love in our hearts. Bart