Planes, Trains and automobiles

Good morning from Tacna! Travel update and praise for answered prayers; 1) Four flights and only one delay (30 mins in Lima)2) 10 Gringo’s and no bag checks! Customs in Lima is a very interesting affair! It seems that the officials in Peru are into “random chance”. To clear customs, you walk through a series of gates. At the door at the end of a gate there is a button. When it is your turn, you push the button; above the button are a red light and a green light. If the light blinks green, you take your bags and walk past all the intimidating looking customs inspectors. If the light turns red, you guessed it; you are immediately contacted by two agents who walk you to an inspection area where you and your bags are searched. Now I have to say that I tried very hard to find a pattern to the red/green dilemma. After all, we were carrying four bags of medications that the officials may or may not confiscate. As I watched, trying not to look like I was watching, I tried counting the intervals of red lights… no pattern. I tried counting the red lights in both button stations, thinking that they alternate… no pattern. While I was trying to figure it all out, slowly but surely, we all passed with green lights, all 10 of us and we were through. Prayers answered. After 3 flights and not much sleep, the team met up with Ian, who was already in Peru. We had a 13 hour layover and decided a tour of Lima was better than staying in the airport. I must say that the team seemed genuinely excited at the prospect of seeing the city for eight hours, but by the end of six hours, most just wanted to crawl back into the air conditioned mini vans and sleep. About the only thing that kept us awake were the traffic and the drivers in Lima! Forget whatever you may think is the capitol of "bad drivers" because Lima has the title! Not many of us cared to sleep. We kept awake for no other reason that we were all sure any moment could be our last, so why waste it sleeping!

Finally, at the end of the 4th flight, the team was met in Tacna by Brian Ridnauer and Chad Courtney, two American missionaries with Ibero American. We drove to the church and Pastor Tito's house and were down for the count!

More to follow...