Adios Winnipeg!

WOW time has flown by!  We're less than 3 days away from our flight to Peru and I think (maybe) we're ready (nearly).  Chaos reigns supreme here, with little piles of stuff everywhere:  to take, store away or to make a final decision on.  The new tenants are nearly in, and our suitcases stand ready for packing.  And if the washer holds out, a final load of laundry awaits.

We had a wonderful evening last weekend doing a car rally fundraiser.  It was great to visit and talk about our upcoming adventure, and the rally itself was fun too, once we managed to find our way out of the driveway.  Of the four in our car, two had never done a rally and the other two hadn't done one for at least 25 years.  There were two navigators, one grumpy one in the back seat who couldn't figure out ANY of the clues, and one in the front who was cheerful and clever but whose Spanish accent got thicker the more excited she became.  We very nearly needed a translator, and had to "phone home" for clarification three times in the first 1/2 block.  Eventually we did get into it though, and managed to do reasonably well.  A significant bonus to skipping one-third of the clue list was that we arrived back early and were the first to taste the great food.  The best part of the whole event though, was being surrounded by friends who care about what we're doing and wish us all the best.  Thanks guys!  We are so grateful for you all.

This last week has been a series of little challenges.  Doesn't that always happen when you're getting ready to do something important, or you are pressed for time? 
~My brain decides that it is not going to absorb even one more word of Spanish.  No sir-ee. 
~The credit card gets hacked and has to be cancelled, less than a week from departure and right before the long weekend. 
~There's suddenly an unpleasant and unidentifiable odor in the basement and the source cannot be found or eliminated. 
~I lean on the stove as I'm talking to my son and scorch my hand on an element I didn't know was on.  (I'm typing this with pinky and thumb on one hand as the rest is now medium-rare). 
~The washing machine begins to do the rumba across the floor and the elderly dryer develops a ear-splitting squeal as we're starting the umpty-seventh load of laundry.  Then the one light in the laundry room decides to quit altogether and laundry has to be done in the dark.  It's like being in a scene from Poltergeist in there.  
And through it all it continues to pour rain.  Pour.  On the chair cushions I forgot to bring inside. 
Hmmm.  These are small but penetrating annoyances. 

But we are not defeated.  If these things are enough to discourage us, then my friends, we'd shouldn't otta be going to Peru.  Instead, I see them as signs that we MUST go.  We have important things to do.  And go we shall.  We have been so encouraged by the phone calls, texts and emails from friends as well as the boatload of generous donations to our fundraising goal.  We're now at just over 70% of our goal thanks to YOU.  You have blessed us and supported the work of CUSO.  We thank you from the bottom of our hearts! 
Also on the bright side:  we've managed to deal with all but the light and the squeal in the laundry room and those are supposed to be fixed tomorrow.  (Maybe.)

So... hasta luego mis amigos!  I hope to pen my next message to you from la gran ciudad de Lima, Peru.  Stay cool and stay tuned.