District Conference, ect.

For District Conference we had an attendance of around 250, not including all the children running around that no one could count.  The most before was 180, so attendance is improving and the goal of making a Stake is getting closer.  Some of the people say we were sent here just to help them in particular and we think this is so.  There are a lot of people to help. 

We have added  marriage counseling to our charlas(lessons).  The couples are now to have a "date" night and not to go to sleep with out saying "Te amo".  Elder Jones offers this advice from  past experience.  I think our "date" nights were all in a gym somewhere!

We had an uninvited guest at church Sunday in the casa capilla or house made into a chapel.  A mangy black dog wandered in, walked up to the front, looked around and decided not to stay. 

Things are going well with us, we have met lots of wonderful people and are enjoying our stay here.

Chacra

We saw an old tractor in this field across from our casa working for a couple of days and into the nights.  Then the planters arrived.  So now we have a farm across the street instead of all garbage.

Can you see the three horses pulling plows? They followed the planters.  We don't know what was planted yet.  It will be interesting to watch it grow.  The dust clouds are the seed left over at the end.  They just dumped it all out. 

Corrida de Toros

They brought in a portable arena and bleachers for a bullfight which was held on Sunday, of course.  Needless to say we did not attend.  Since it was only a block from us we walked by on our way to a meeting, but they had pretty well blocked off the view.  We hoped the bulls were small ones since the arena didn't look too strong.  Notice the people on the playground equipment and backs of trucks? 

Harvesting a crop

The workers cut out the heart of the cactus.  It is a fruit called tuna.  When we first arrived all we ate was tuna fish which is called atun.  Not knowing the language very well, I told people we ate a lot of tuna and they thought that a very strange meal. 

Ancient Inca Aqueducts of Huancaino

A lot of work went into this ancient water system that is still used today.  Throughout the valley there are several of these systems used to irrigate the chacras.

The rock lined tunnels the water travels in from well to well are held up by an ancient hardwood that has been there since the time of the Incas.

There are 24 different wells like this in this particular system. Each well is a little higher than the last one as it gradually brings the ground water up to the surface.

All of the water is now stored in reservoirs and sent out in rock lined ditches to irrigate crops.  This system has been used since the ancient Incas.

Los Elderes

Well, the strike was postponed and we have been out working to make up for lost time.  The people all call us the Elders.  They haven't had a missionary couple before.  When we first got here they said we were gorditos.  I had to get a new blouse because I spilled clorox on 3 of my others and when I asked for mas grande, they say "Ya ya, gordita."   All of our friends say we were gorditos when we first arrived, but no mas.  When they call people a little fat, it is not considered rude.

El Paro

We got to the bridge on our way to the church and ran into the miners marching. We kept zig zagging but they were going the same way we were.  This is the bridge we cross the river on.  People throw garbage here and the garbage truck unloads here also sometimes.  There is some water here now and people set up small wooden bridges and charge you to cross. 

We had a meeting at the church this morning and ran into the miners marching around the plaza.  The tank was not here but went past our house later today.  We have been somewhat house bound since Sunday. Church was cancelled and there are 2000 miners here protesting. 

Market Day

There are two big market days here, Thursday and Sunday, Sunday being the biggest.  This market takes up two full blocks with farmers from all over bringing in produce.  This week the Sunday Market was held Saturday because of a big miner's strike here on Sunday.  No market, stores, carts, or taxis can operate.  Last year there were 100 police and one person was killed, so this year there are 1000 police with tanks.  Sorry no pics available as we are to stay in our casa.