Update April 12, 2010

Greetings to all......we are all safe and sound, and the danger has left.

After spending 2 lonely, boring days in the dorms, we have decided to return to our home. We had supper at the house last evening, hosted by "aunt Ana" and family. When Mercedes and Tony came home, they came down to see us and it was very emotional......they missed us so much, and we miss them too!

They told us that the assassin's family totally moved out Sunday morning, before the funeral. They are no longer in the city, and so the neighborhood has been very quiet......

Our friend Ted from Colorado attended the funeral yesterday morning with Fr. Jack. It's custom here that the funeral is in the home of the deceased.......now this is gross----Ted said that the body was smelling horrible and his face was all bloating up, nearly breaking the sunglasses that were on him. No embalming here. So it's been like 80's, hot and humid........you do the math. Following the funeral was the usual procession where his friends/family carry the casket above their heads through the streets. When they came past our house, Ted said that they were making the "revenge" signal to our neighbors. Fr. Jack said, "I am just so glad they are out of there now...(meaning us).......at that point, the family was gone, but nobody knew it yet.

SOOOOO.......this morning I had a heart to heart with Fr. Jack and Sr. Peggy, and we will be moving back into our host family's house......everyone is very excited. We will leave most of our belongings in the dorms and go back and forth as needed. But for now, I sit here in our house feeling safe and sound.

We will saying "goodbye" to Chimbote and friends on Sunday, and we leave Monday morning for Lima. We will spend one night in Lima, and our return flight is at 11pm on Tuesday evening. We hope to be in Minneapolis around 10:30am on the 21st.....

So our very heart-felt thanks to all who have been sending their prayers for us.....we will be home soon!!

Love to all,
Collette and kids.