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.