Gold Extraction

My legs got tired just watching the grinders.

These rocks are put in the grinders to be smashed into dust.

The gold dust and mineral are bagged and taken to be separated and refined with a mercury solution.

Getting to Youth Conference

They forgot to tell us we had to climb down a 10 foot wall and cross the river to get to the conference.  We were glad the sun had come up so we could see.

The rocks really killed our feet.  We made sure to take sandals the next day to wear crossing. 

Youth Conference Campamento

We finally found the tents and youth  about half a mile after crossing the river.

"Grandpa" lives here.  We cooked and served the  meals from his kitchen.

We had the best oatmeal for breakfast - cooked with evaporated milk and some cinnamon.

We really didn't get left this far behind.  We just had a slow start!

 We could see the kids uncovering a treasure. 

They discoverd an unopened tomb.

Grandpa donated two roosters for soup the first day and these two ducks for a duck and rice dish today.

The youth each had to bring their own dish to eat on and clean their own.  Everyone pitched  in to help.  There were still a few  pinfeathers on the ducks.

Granpa needed a partial wall built around his well, so we helped him.  The boys carried rocks from a field below.

Will and Cesar needed a bit of a rest.

There was even a straight line made for a guide.  Grandpa was so happy to have company he kept donated his animals for us to eat.

                    

The hole was dug to make the mud caulking in.

The kids were great to pitch in and work wherever needed.

Winner of the ugliest rooster contest - the other two contestants went  in the soup! 

It wasn't all work - a little water fight always cools you off.

Youth Conference Campamento 2

There were workers in the fields all around us, some weeding onions starts, some spraying, some irrigating.

A real first - Elder Jones got skunked - the fish weren't very hungry.  The people here use hand lines and tie the end to a stick so they don't lose it.

Well, there was one hungry fish. 

Grandpa donated a goat for lunch today.

Besides hiking, fishing, working, and water fights, you could also "bathe" in the river as they call it.

There were 3 channels we had to cross going and coming.  The water had increased the second day and the currents were stronger, but we made it!

Again, a land of contrasts - the old and the new.

These people sell water to the miners.  There are copper, silver, gold and mineral mines about 4 hours or more up the canyons.

The truck driver stopped for a soda pop.  Many of these trucks travel back and forth to the mines hauling water all day.

Dairy farm?

The grapes are in season now, really sweet and juicy.

We were REALLY sorry we had to leave before lunch was ready.... so we stopped and had chicharrones.  Ingenio is famous for its chicharrones, or fried pork. 

The road to Nazca is probably 20 miles from here - Ica 2 hours.  We were happy to head for home and a rest from all the fun. 

Marcona

The chapel is on the second floor and the members carry Cesar up so he can attend sacrament meeting.  He passes the sacrament in his wheel chair and is hoping to walk some day so he can serve a mission.

Lima Temple

"Preach the Gospel to all the World" 

Glen and Bianca were married "civil" the day before in Lima, traveled 8 hours to be sealed at 10 the next day and returned to Nazca for a reception that night.

Cinderella and Prince Charming?

Antiquites

Our neighbor was proud of his ironwork for these antiquities.  A hotel is going to display them.

John Deere?

  Here it is possible to see the adobe or mud bricks,  the new brick bricks, and the straw mats

all used for constructing houses.

Nuevo miembro

Frank was baptized last Saturday.  There was no water at the church the day before and we kidded Frank he would have to be baptized in the river.  He is a very enthusiastic new member!

Rio Tierras Blancas

Looking upriver the reinforcements are ready on the right side.  The channel has entirely wiped out the roadway.

Romina and her mom live alongside the river and are hoping to not be flooded.

Looking downriver the reinforcements are on the right side also.  The walkway owner is having to raise the boards because to the raising water.  The water got to the top of the banks the other night.

Rio Aja

The river on the other side of town, about 2 blocks from our house, is clearer and the people all go to "banarse" or enjoy the water relax.

They also are happy to be able to wash their clothes.

Language of love

Hermana Fermandina's mother only speaks Quechua, but her smile is easy to understand.

Manpower

The manpower really slows down the horsepower.  Lots of horns are honked!