View on the street

Luis, Presidents Tarqui and President Cabana are working on the 3rd floor above the tienda to fix a place for President Alarcon and his family.

It appears the convoy is enjoying the PK2 discotek - PK2 word play is pecados or sins.  This is across the street from our church.

Work hard - rest hard

2 of our 15 Sunday dinner guests

Dinner is almost ready

We just need to get President Tarqui out of the picay tree so we can eat!

Visit to the farm

In one field they were making mud bricks or adobe

Maragaret and Juan live out on their farm.  Only one of them can leave at a time or their fruit is stolen.

Out and about

So far we haven't had a chance to ride on this bus to Marcona.

The tourist is wondering where the mothers are going with their babies.  Actually we saw them at the plaza later.  It was Tourist Week and people pay to sit on the llama for pictures.

Washing taxis is big business.  The cars have to be cleaned before they are returned to the owners everyday.

We decided we should protect our house in the back.  Our wall is 10 feet high, but easily accessible from the other side.  Elder Jones is a bueno ayudante to Presidente Alarcon.

Two hours later and we already feel more secure.

This hombre is part of an assembly line carrying PVC pipes for the new housing area across from us.  We saw them at least six blocks away and we are not sure where they started.

The farming field you can barely see is being invaded by new housing.

Noche Misonal - Show de Talentos

Baile Folkloricos - the people say you can see energy in the air

Mas de talentos

Nephi and his brothers getting the brass plates from Laban

Dia de Madres song

Imagine the table with a picture of water on it when an earthquake hits

One of our investigator friends pointed out how beautiful it was to have missionaries from all different countries and cultures come together with the people to share the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Around town

The dogs here even get in on the jigsaw puzzle action.  The puzzle is made from a ceramic floor tile.

Hess Lumber???

Hauling firewood

Rosa Guadalupe and Aleska Niyana show off their new little sister.

Birthday and Farewell Dinner

It was a good thing we took this picture first

Elder Granda is hoping he doesn't get his face in the cake.

The other tradition for birthdays is eggs over your head with flour poured on top.  Elder Torres gets in on the action because he's going home.

The Hermanas find out what goes around always seems to come back around.

Viaje de Pampas Galeras

Road above Nazca where there is a little rain runoff

Change of scenery with rocks, grass and flowers

Even bigger change of scenery - we thought we were in Island Park - but just for the one corner

The road is called serpentine. 

We about had whiplash from the switchbacks.

We passed this little Quechua man and hoped he didn't get runover.

The reserve was developed to conserve and protect the vicunas. 

It took 2 hours to get here(100km) but as the crow flies it is not that far.

The vicuna remind us of antelope-they run really fast.

The guanacos are similar to the vicuna, but a little larger with slightly darker coloring.

Nature Walk

These round rock corrals are scattered throughout the area. 

Sometimes they are used for gathering animals, sometimes protection from the wind and cold for the people.  It is quite warm inside just from the direct sun.

We found a recent kill of a puma.

This looks like his bed.  There are a lot of bones scattered around, besides the recent ones.

The people make chaccus or altars to offer thanks for the vicunas doing well, rain and grass. 

The vicunas are very particular in their habits.  They make "community litter boxes".  The bright green foliage scattered about from the special fertilizer really stands out.

Top of the mountain - about 4000 meters - we're still a little dizzy.