International Driving Permits

So Travis and I spent about 5 hours at the Department of Public Safety getting my name changed on my driver's license last week. We spent about 5 minutes at AAA getting International Driving Permits yesterday. Apparently it is super easy to get driving privileges overseas. Unfortunately, I have no clue how to drive standard, and automatics are not at all common in Peru. We'll add that to the list of things to learn upon arrival.

My Compassion Kid

When I first became a believer, I felt like God put two things on my heart. 1) Learn Spanish. 2) Love India. As a teenager, I did not really know how to respond to, "Love India," but God gave me a way.

A good friend and I started sponsoring a child from India through Compassion International. We were about 16 years old. A few months ago I received a phone call from Compassion International. The caller informed me that Christuraj, my Compassion kid, had been in a video that was shown to a class Holland. The kids wanted to send him something, but they needed my permission first since I was his sponsor. I agreed instantly, but I was really impressed by Compassion's effort in calling and even telling me about this video. I wanted to share it. Meet Christuraj.

Hem of His Garment

Of all the Ransom Notes I've done, The Hem of His Garment, is probably the closest to my heart. I think I've made about 10 of these for different people. It speaks of healing, specifically, I'm referencing the story in Matthew of the woman who had bled for 12 years. She believed that if she just touched Jesus' robe she would be healed. Travis and I pray for gifts of healing all the time. My counselor, Jan, said that we will never be fully healed until we see the face of Jesus. I agree, and I think that Jesus offers us glimpses of Himself all the time. And in the wake of these glimpses, restoration comes.

Priorities

I think that sometimes the way we prioritize things gives insight into who we are at our core.  Here is an example of Emily prioritizing on a Sunday afternoon.

We had a wonderful morning sharing with our International Missions Community Group about Peru and were driving back from lunch.  I asked Emily if she would like to look online at refurbished Mac Books when we arrived home.  (*note* this is something that we really need to take care of, Emily's 5 year old laptop is at the stage where it randomly decides when it's done being a computer and shuts down.  Also, the desktop disappears every once in awhile)

Emily told me she just wanted to watch an episode of the TV show Fringe.  I really couldn't argue with that since I love the show.

About 5 minutes later she said, "You know, if Chris Brown, Kanye West, Jay Z, TI, and Wiz Kalifa were all standing in front of me, I don't think I could tell you who's who."

I proceeded to explain to her the visual differences between the rappers.  Not that I'm any kind of hip-hop expert (although I do know some Dead Prez and Tupac rhymes by heart thanks to my time spent in my buddy Drew's Toyota in high school, blasting gangsta rap as loud as it would go.  Oh, and I was in a rap group in college for a bit.  All of our songs were about dorm life.  Thank you liberal arts education for giving me free time to pursue my dreams).

Another pause.  Then Emily asks, "Do you think you could make me a document where you line up all their pictures and I try to pick out which rapper is which?"

I tell her of course and ask when she wants me to complete it.

The answer:  "Before we watch Fringe."

So if our priorities offer a glimpse into our hearts, my beloved chooses hip-hop cred over technological necessities.  I love being married to this woman!

Wedding or Dance Party of Awesomeness 2k11?

You decide!

Highlights:


Emily & Travis Wedding Highlights from Ben Wyman on Vimeo.



Dancing!



Emily & Travis Wedding Reception from Ben Wyman on Vimeo.


Be on the lookout for my mistake during the ceremony, a High School Musical Shout-out, crazy kids dancing like they've just ingested a half-ton of sugar (which they have), and a very unimpressed Emma watching Matz's crazy dance!

We are incredibly grateful to be surrounded and supported by such amazingly fun people!

Our Wedding Pictures

Kimberly Chau is a wonderful photographer. I loved how much she paid attention to details. She is creative and extremely talented. If you need a photographer, hire Kim ;-)

Here is a link to some of our pictures:
http://kimberlychauphotography.com/blog

A glimpse of our next step

Travis and Mattt on our scouting trip last March. They are buddies.

A farm.

A river.

A view of the city.

Just thought I'd give you a glimpse of the city where we will be living.