Chapter 7: A New Home and Goodbye to the Lindgrens
AS TOLD BY JOHN AND GRO AGERSTEN
A new home (Told by Gro)
As it turned out, we were not going to be able to take over the apartment after the Lindgren's left, as we had been led to believe. One day at the end of that first month in Tarma, John went with Lennart to the owner to talk to him about the possibility of painting the apartment. A new paint job was really needed on the walls of both the kitchen and the other rooms. But instead of getting the expected permission to renovate, they were told that we could not stay there any longer! The owner had not mentioned anything about this before! He now told them that his son had finished his medical education and was coming back to Tarma to start a medical practice there. He would be needing the apartment. We were surprised, to say the least!
Now, with Lennart’s help, we had to search for a suitable place to live. There were not many houses to rent in Tarma, and the ones we found were very bad. But after a few days of searching, we found a townhouse that was fairly new. It was a bit outside of the town center, but within walking distance to most of the places we needed to go, and also to the church. The house had two bedrooms, a bathroom, a living room, a kitchen, and even a garage. None of the rooms were large, but it still looked very good to us. From the hallway between the garage and the kitchen, there were stairs up to the flat roof that had a brick half-wall around it. There were also two small rooms and a toilet up there. Outside the rooms, there was running water in a sink. This house was quite a bit more expensive than the apartment the Lindgrens had been renting, but the only alternative was a house with walls made of sun-dried clay without a bathroom and kitchen. We prayed over it and felt peace about renting the house, although the rent would be a large part of our support. After going over all the rooms with some paint, we moved in in early February. We had quite a bit of
furniture and equipment with us from Norway since the ticket price for the ship had included the transport of a lot of baggage. A local carpenter made some other pieces, and some we were able to borrow from Lennart and Boyan.
furniture and equipment with us from Norway since the ticket price for the ship had included the transport of a lot of baggage. A local carpenter made some other pieces, and some we were able to borrow from Lennart and Boyan.
John made a sandbox for Maino on the roof where she could play safely out in the sun. We also put a small folding table and a couple of wooden chairs up there. It was so lovely to sit up there whenever we had a chance. At this altitude the nights were cold and it stayed cool in the shade, so the house always seemed cold. But the sunshine made a huge difference wherever it touched. At this altitude, the sun was strong and warm. Now, during the summer months (winter months in Norway), we had summer temperatures even at this altitude, at least in the sun. In the winter, there was sometimes ice on the puddles, but the sun would melt them quickly.
We used one of the rooms on the roof as a laundry room. We had brought a washing machine with us from Norway. We ended up doing a lot of running up and down the stairs to the roof, and that was a good thing because it helped our bodies adapt to the “thin” air.
Three weeks before the Lindgrens were to leave, they moved in with us in the townhouse. This made it easier for them to empty the apartment and pack their things and storing them here with us. There was plenty of storage space in our garage. At this point, it was looking like that they would not come back to Tarma after their year in Sweden. They were considering staying for a while in Huancayo first, but they were also thinking about starting a ministry in Lima after coming back from Sweden.
We used one of the rooms on the roof as a laundry room. We had brought a washing machine with us from Norway. We ended up doing a lot of running up and down the stairs to the roof, and that was a good thing because it helped our bodies adapt to the “thin” air.
Three weeks before the Lindgrens were to leave, they moved in with us in the townhouse. This made it easier for them to empty the apartment and pack their things and storing them here with us. There was plenty of storage space in our garage. At this point, it was looking like that they would not come back to Tarma after their year in Sweden. They were considering staying for a while in Huancayo first, but they were also thinking about starting a ministry in Lima after coming back from Sweden.
The days were running quickly toward the Lindgren’s departure. The congregation arranged a nice party at the home of one of the church members. He lived on a small farm just outside Tarma in La Florida. We were served Pachamanca, which is a traditional way of cooking mutton among the Quechua people in the Andes.
Lennart and Boyan sold their Volvo duet to have money to buy a new Volvo in Sweden. As a mission, we did not have to pay duty for the car here in Peru. In addition, they would be able to buy the car without customs duties in Sweden. This way, they would have an affordable car while they were in Sweden and a new car to bring with them back out to Peru. We could have bought the Volvo cheaper from them than on the open market. A car would be very useful in our work, however, we did not have money to buy a car just then. So they sold the car to a missionary from Scotland working in another evangelical church in Tarma.
Lennart and Boyan sold their Volvo duet to have money to buy a new Volvo in Sweden. As a mission, we did not have to pay duty for the car here in Peru. In addition, they would be able to buy the car without customs duties in Sweden. This way, they would have an affordable car while they were in Sweden and a new car to bring with them back out to Peru. We could have bought the Volvo cheaper from them than on the open market. A car would be very useful in our work, however, we did not have money to buy a car just then. So they sold the car to a missionary from Scotland working in another evangelical church in Tarma.
Goodbye to the Lindgrens (Told by John)
March 10th was the date of the Lindgrens’ departure to Sweden. In Tarma, we had lived with them now for two months and received a lot of help and guidance from them. We had truly needed this at the beginning of our time here. I have to admit that we dreaded the day we would be "alone" in Tarma! These days together were full of chores and new things to learn, not the least of which was Spanish. So seemingly very quickly, it was time for the trip to Lima to say goodbye to Lindgren at the airport there.
Both this time and the last time we were in Lima, we stayed at a resort called Huampani. It is located approx. at a half-hour drive from Lima on the way to Tarma, at around 2300 ft. above sea level. The weather there is nice and sunny all year round. Down by the coast, a fog hovers over the city most of the winter, but in Huampani, we were above this fog. There was a nice, small town next to Huampani on the other side of the river Rimac which flows into Lima. The nicest houses there were used as holiday homes by the rich people in Lima. The Peruvian government built Huampani and the resort included beautiful parks, swimming pools, and motels. It was quite affordable to stay there, and lovely with green areas all around. While Lennart and I ran around the offices in Lima, Boyan and Gro enjoyed themselves with the children at Huampani. Maino and the Lindgren boys, David and Samuel, had a great time in the pool and playing in the park. Previously, when we had stayed in the cramped apartment in Lima with the Lindgrens, there had been nowhere for the children to play outside. It was common to meet other missionary families on vacation here in Huanpani. For those of us who lived in Tarma where it was quite cool, it was nice to get down to the warmer weather in this green area by the river for a few days.
Both this time and the last time we were in Lima, we stayed at a resort called Huampani. It is located approx. at a half-hour drive from Lima on the way to Tarma, at around 2300 ft. above sea level. The weather there is nice and sunny all year round. Down by the coast, a fog hovers over the city most of the winter, but in Huampani, we were above this fog. There was a nice, small town next to Huampani on the other side of the river Rimac which flows into Lima. The nicest houses there were used as holiday homes by the rich people in Lima. The Peruvian government built Huampani and the resort included beautiful parks, swimming pools, and motels. It was quite affordable to stay there, and lovely with green areas all around. While Lennart and I ran around the offices in Lima, Boyan and Gro enjoyed themselves with the children at Huampani. Maino and the Lindgren boys, David and Samuel, had a great time in the pool and playing in the park. Previously, when we had stayed in the cramped apartment in Lima with the Lindgrens, there had been nowhere for the children to play outside. It was common to meet other missionary families on vacation here in Huanpani. For those of us who lived in Tarma where it was quite cool, it was nice to get down to the warmer weather in this green area by the river for a few days.
In a letter home, we wrote: “But the few days here ended quickly. The time has come for our friends Boyan and Lennart to return home, and we must return to work in Tarma. After a prayer time together, we received new courage to take on the tasks that awaited. God's Word has many promises of strength in weakness and of His presence in all kinds of days. We are grateful that the missionaries Anderås will support us and the work in Tarma. But after all, they live several miles away in the city of Huancayo. ”
Brita Anderås was also in Lima the day the Lindgrens left. In the photo below, she and Gro are holding on tightly to the Lingren boys on the way into the airport.
As we stood at the airport, our thoughts went home to Norway. We sent many greetings along with the Lindgrens. Lennart was going to Norway to the South America conference a little later in the spring. He would then meet many of our friends and family and give them direct greetings from us. Maino had had good playmates in David and Samuel so she would probably miss them. But she would soon make new friends in Tarma. So would we, and this was our consolation as we waved goodbye to the plane that disappeared onto the runway.
For us, the road went back home into the Andes Mountains to Tarma, the "Pearl of the Andes". New challenges awaited us. But we rested in His promise: "Behold, I am with you always."
For us, the road went back home into the Andes Mountains to Tarma, the "Pearl of the Andes". New challenges awaited us. But we rested in His promise: "Behold, I am with you always."