We sometimes complain about government bureaucracy in the United States but I have only good things to say about the process for replacing a passport overseas. We never heard from the thief again, and he didn't answer the phone after the first contact, so I had to go to Lima last week to replace my passport. I had planned on going on Sunday afternoon but Saturday found out that I couldn't file the needed police report that afternoon as I had planned on doing. There is a fee (about $1.20) that has to be paid at the Banco de la Nacion, the National Bank here, which of course wouldn't be open until Monday. So I got that done on Monday morning, and then took a 5:30 pm bus to Lima, arriving there 15 hours later.

I first went to the R.E.A.P. (Southern Baptist) Mission office, where Mike Weaver had graciously offered me a place to stay while in Lima, and got directions to the embassy as well as left my bag. I had also planned on getting two passport photos but in my rush, forgot to do that. I was trying to get to the U.S. embassy as soon as possible because their website said it was best to arrive by 10:00 am to avoid long lines. I arrived about 10:30 and didn't have to wait at all, which was great, but when I got the forms to fill out, remembered that I had forgotten to get the needed photos. There was a place to get them right across the street from the embassy, so I went there and got the photos. Trying to get back into the embassy, I had to wait in a long line, and when I got to the passport office, it was full of people.

Thankfully, because I had already been there earlier, I was able to go right back to the window and drop off the application, without having to take a number and wait in line. A few minutes later they called my name and told me to go to the cashier to pay. They also take credit cards, which was very nice. I was afraid that they would want to see a copy of my passport, which I didn't have, but no problem. I showed my driver's license and a few moments later the woman came back with a faxed copy of my old passport from the U.S. After I answered a few questions, she said my new passport would be ready in two weeks. She assured me that the delays in getting passports in the U.S. would not affect it here; I guess replacing lost or stolen passports gets priority. I had also been concerned that I would have to wait in Lima, or return in two weeks, to pick it up, but she said anyone could pick it up for me with the receipt. Claudia, a friend who works in the mission office, said that she would pick it up and send it to me, so all worked out great. The only detail remaining is to get a new visa, which she said someone in the mission would take care of for me as well.

Lima is not my favorite place, and with the cold, damp and cloudy winter weather, I was happy not to have to spend much time there. That evening I spent about 45 minutes trying to find a place to eat pollo ala brasa (roast chicken), my favorite food here, as the only reasonably priced place I know of in Mira Flores was not open. The next evening I met a friend and we walked around the center of Lima a bit, among the throngs of people celebrating Peru's independence day. We stopped at a chicken place and paid 25 soles for roast chicken and lemonade for two, twice the cost of what we pay in Arequipa or Cotahuasi. I was very happy to be on the bus the next afternoon, heading back to Arequipa! Even running out of fuel just as we were on the outskirts of Arequipa, and having to wait for it for about 45 minutes, didn't bother me – I was happy to be back in sunny Arequipa.

I need to get some work done on my van, the sliding door has decided not to open for some reason, as well as try to get the air conditioner fixed, so will do that before heading back to Cotahuasi. There is also the chance to guide a couple of missionary friends on a mountain climb or two, for their vacation.

Vic