Invasions

This invasion is on the outskirts of Vista Allegre, kind of a suburb of Nazca.  It was explained to us that when young people are old enough to leave home they go claim a piece of ground and live there.  When enough people are there electricity and schools can be put in.  Some invasions are encouraged by the government and like homesteading.  Some are just illegal and on someone else's property.  We are still trying to find out about this one. 

More of the Neighborhood

Today we stepped outside to catch a taxi and didn't have to worry about getting run over.  Traffic was stopped from both sides of the street.  One of the little schools was celebrating something.  Children start school at age 2 here.

Whenever we leave the house we pray for protection - if walking, that we won't be run over - if riding in a taxi, that we won't be run into.  There are no traffic rules.  At intersections they honk the horn to let people know they are going through.  We just climb in and hang on!

Weekly Chores

We have an addition for our washing machine!  It works great to put in the boiling water we use to wash our clothes.  Elder Jones thought he was enough of an agitator, but the plunger works better. 

We have yardwork to keep the mango tree, picaye tree, and grape vine watered, the leaves raked and and the dirt watered.  We were told to throw water on the dirt in the yard so it isn't so dusty in the house.  The rose bushes are still somewhat surviving as you can see.

Oh, and we got new chairs for our patio in back.  We had to carry them four blocks from the store to our house.  There is no delivery system here.  We bought a frig and had to put it in the back of a station wagon taxi to get it home.

Notice the grass inside the fence at the Nazca Chapel.  They mow this grass with a regular lawn mower.  Today we saw a second lawn mower in Nazca.  A man was mowing a square of grass in front of a house.  Usually you see the grass(what there is of it) being cut with scizzors.

Hope the Gospel Brings - Marcona

We were able to visit with one of our friends again on this trip and were amazed at his progress.  He was injured in a diving accident and left paralyzed from the neck down.  With faith and hard work he now has feeling in all his limbs.  He is working hard to walk again so he can go on a mission.  The visits of the missionaries and attendance at church give him strength and hope.

On a lighter note, the Sunday School teacher quoted Deut 11:18-21, and explained how they had a poster of the Articles of Faith posted on their bathroom door for all to study as they "sittest in thine house".

Notice the pelican looking for his "catch of the day". 

This seaside views gives a glimpse of the naval base and copper mine in the background.  In the forefront you see part of a home.  This woman sees the glass half full.  Three of her children and their families live here with her and six  other grandchildren she is raising.  The house is made of straw and lined with paper on the inside to keep out the sea breeze. It is built on a rocky ledge above the sea and she says the president of Peru doesn't have a condo on the beach like she does.  This dear woman is not well, but lives on the hope the gospel brings. 

The Ovalo

For our monthly trip to Marcona we caught a ride in the van with the man holding his hand up shouting for passengers. We were the last two so we didn't have to wait long to leave.  The blue car in front is like the car we came back in on Sunday.  The highway you can see is the Pan American that goes from Mexico all the way down through Chile.

Work in Progress

Did I mention we had two gardners?  We now have three  who stop by and want to add to our garden.  The last one brought 12 plants from his own garden plus 12 rose bushes.  They were branches he had cut from his plants.  He planted those in the back.  We will see how they do.  We added the fence to keep the dogs from breaking off the plants.  The other night a pack of twenty kept coming by and fighting in the middle of our flowers.

We just happened to glance out the window and saw this traveler passing by. . . not sure where he came from or where he is headed, but he will have to pass through down town.

Our night watch dog.  He barks every time other dogs, cars, or people pass by.

More work in progress

This house across the street from us has been under construction for the past 3 months.  When I look at the width of their walls here I am glad we don't live on the third floor.  They don't look very earthquake proof.

We were glad to see the street work did not all have to be done by hand.

The construction going on here includes the streets.  This is main street and is torn up for 5 or 6 blocks so far.  It is hard on the businesses but life goes on and you walk carefully.  The supermercado, Raolito's, luckily has an entrance on the other street also.  It is the yellow building and the red and blue sign is where we get our dinero from the automatic teller machine.

The presence of the Police National is so common you don't even notice them most of the time.  This is the    Plaza De Armas in the city center.  During the day the people find the shade benches to sit on and at night the place is packed. 

New Elders from Nazca

Two Elders received their calls today.  They will both serve in the Bolivia Santa Cruz Mission.  The Zone leader brought the calls to church,  the District President handed the first young man his packet, which he opened at the pulpit anad read, then bore his testimony.  His family was all there because his brother and sister were getting confirmed.  Then we went to the other branch and the second young man received his packet at the pulpit.  His brother and sister were there, but not the parents, who are not members.  He read his letter from the prophet and bore his testimony, also.  He has one brother already serving in the Peru Trujillo Mission.  What an experience to be able to share in! 

Cumplianos

The Elders threw a suprise party for me, also.  The Marcona Elders and the Sister Missionaries were not here.  We had changes and the Sisters had to go to Ica to switch companions.  The custom here is for the birthday person to take the first bite and they put your face in the cake.  Either that or splatter eggs on your head.  Thank goodness I didn't get to experience that part of the culture.

One down - one to go

This is one of the three groups dropping by for a surprise fiesta.  I attempted a cake and everyone had to help with the frosting.   My cake was not as big as the normal torta they make here.   They said we only needed a little frosting as it was pequena.  The frosting is a powder mix with frozen evaporated milk chipped out with a knife, added and beaten for about 10 minutes.  One lady went home for the frozen milk, which they had because her daughter was going to make me a cake but got sick.

This dog and his friend hiding on the other side of the third story peak always make me think they are going to take a flying leap and land on us when we pass by.   Almost every house has a watchdog that lives on their roof.