Sorry this is late - Hope you all HAD a Merry Christmas!

Peru Update, December, 2008

Well, we've already gone from the Thanks to the Giving season, or too often the Getting season. From the economic news of the last months, there will probably be less of all of those this year. I would like to give thanks for all the blessings I've received from God and others this year. Adventure Cotahuasi Tours is slowly getting more business. It has not grown as fast I had hoped for, but there has been more business this year than last and I am thankful for that. It has been a blessing to share the natural wonders of Peru with people from around the world, and they have enriched my life as well. Most recently was a couple of busy weeks, spent mountain climbing and on a five day hike to Choquequirao and Machu Picchu in the Cusco area. If you are interested in reading about it, and seeing lots of photos, you can do so at the following link:

http://www.summitpost.org/trip-report/469499/choquequirao-machu-picchu-in-five-days.html

In addition to the trip report, you can read more about the trek route by going to “parents” on the left hand side and clicking on “Choquequirao – Machu Picchu Trek”.

When not busy climbing and hiking with clients, I spend a lot of time hiking to keep in shape, which seems to get harder every year. I suppose that has something to do with turning 60 this year. I'm thankful to be healthy and still be able to hike and climb regularly, as well as to have a job doing what I enjoy so much. However I decided this year that I want to be able to enjoy an active retirement as well, so Lord willing I am planning on retiring at age 62, and drawing partial Social Security, rather than waiting until 66. That way I can hopefully continue to enjoy hiking, climbing and traveling full time, instead of just reading about others doing it, or watching them on TV.

A missions project that I have spent a lot of time on has been designing and building solar cookers. Many people here still cook with wood over an open fire. Much time is spent gathering wood, and the houses are filled with smoke from the cooking. We get a lot of sun in Cotahuasi and we want to be able to provide a low cost and easy to make solar cooker that can be used to help make life easier and healthier for the people here. We have a promising design, just need a local source for the materials.

I have mentioned my friend Maribel in numerous past updates, she has also been a partner in adventures, missions trips and my business. We have been wanting to climb El Misti, the volcano towering over Arequipa, for many years. We finally got the opportunity to do so for her birthday a couple of months ago, along with Claudia, another like minded friend. That will be our last adventure together for some time, as she has embarked on a grander adventure, a return to full-time missionary service. She had received an invitation to work at a Christian Institute in Spain over a year ago, and felt it was God's leading for her life. She applied for a visa to Spain the beginning of this year, but the answer was always “wait until you hear from us” or “you need to submit some more paperwork”. I didn't think it would ever happen but she continued to believe that God would do the impossible. She finally received her visa in November. I missed her commissioning service while on the Machu Picchu hike, and she left for Spain before I returned to Arequipa. She is happy and excited to be there; and not having to learn a foreign language, is already fully immersed in the work. Please pray for God's blessing in her life and ministry, and His continued provision for her financial needs.

I have plans to return to the U.S. for two months, leaving here on January 28^th and returning the beginning of April. Besides spending time with family in Minnesota, I will be driving to California and back, hoping to see as many friends as possible, and enjoying as much hiking and adventure along the way as time and weather permits. I'm also thankful the price of gas has gone down!

God bless and have a Christ filled Christmas, Vic