Lima

Naty arrived at 8:00 this morning to stay with the children while we tackled City Hall, once again.  When we arrived, we were pleased to see Rocio was already there with our Italian friends.  They were finally able to sign their paperwork and together, we were all waiting for the chief to leave his index print to make it official.  We were a bit nervous at first because the chief was out again.  But, Rocio whipped out her cell phone and made a call getting the approval to have the assistant make the final signature and print.  Thank you, Rocio!  We all walked together to make copies for Rocio and our file in Arequipa.  Before departing, we took photographs of one another, exchanged e-mail addresses, and tearful hugs.  Dave and I stopped to check e-mail and also to see if we could add the kids’ document numbers to our airline tickets.  We couldn’t, so we walked over to the LAN office only to be told to come back at 3:30 since the supervisor wasn’t in at the moment.  We arrived home just in time to find the kids finishing breakfast.  They bathed and then watched television while I found some remaining things to pack.  We had leftovers for lunch.  Dave left and returned with much success from the LAN office and we put the finishing touches on the luggage.  Padre Juan Carlos and his wife, Maria, came around 4:30 with his van to take us to the airport.  Once arriving to the airport, we got all eleven bags and headed to the ticket line… we were first in line!  We got our bags tagged and their document numbers and our passports approved.  We went upstairs to watch planes come in and take off.  Dave decided to go ahead and pay our airline tax, another first-in-line situation.  While still waiting closer to time to go through security, Naty arrived to sit with us and presented us with a beautiful, decorative plate from Puno and some chocolates.  Before Naty left, Lizet pulled out three Coke Zero bottles, which had been refilled with Coca-Cola and handed them to Naty.  It was like a clown car.  We had no idea she had stuffed those in her backpack.  Dave had gone through them for that very reason and we can’t figure out when she would’ve had time to do it.  We went through security – our final first-in-line situation … I think I like this airport.  Security was easy and quick.  The kids volunteered to be scanned with the wand.  This was too funny.  We sat for a while waiting to see our plane come in for landing.  After everyone had deplaned, we were called to board.  We each grabbed our carry-on and headed to the line; yes, in this situation, there was a line.  As we walked outside (this plane calls for walking up the stairs to the plane), the kids looked back and waved to Naty.  I had no idea she was still there!  I felt teary again.  We have experienced so much love in Arequipa.  Something I’ve noticed about Latin airlines of any type is this:  the flight attendants are not only beautiful people, but their uniforms are suits - some three-piece.  The women (since it’s winter) were wearing navy blue coats (dusters, actually).  The men wear red ties with their navy blue suits, which is very classy.  Xavier had a window seat with Lizet in the middle and Angela on the aisle across from me.  Dave sat behind Angela.  Xavier and Lizet were so excited to be on a plane and to see the city lights; Angela, not so much.  When the attendants came by to offer drinks and snacks, Lizet somehow ended up with three.  I remembered her asking something to the “Señora”, but didn’t catch it, until I saw her pull out an extra snack box for each of the children.  Later, a male attendant walked by and handed Lizet another box.  I never heard her ask him anything… Wow!  This was quite embarrassing!  Our luggage arrived as we loaded up two carts.  Our friend Susan, a missionary in Lima, met us with two bags of groceries and had arranged a van to take us to our condo on the beach.  Susan also arranged our living arrangements for us.  Susan and her husband have been long-term missionaries for about twenty-five years.  They have lived in Lima for six years, and Honduras for eighteen.  Our apartment is actually located in Miraflores.  This apartment is very modern with wood floors, ceramic tiles, ceiling fans, plush furniture, washer and dryer, three bedrooms, two baths, and a view of the beach from the fifth floor.  We found out we will be here for the week.  Tomorrow is our appointment with the passport office, but our appointment with the U.S. Embassy won’t be until Friday.  So, most likely, we will be traveling home over the weekend.