Sunday, May 31, 2009

Out for a walk


Last week as we were walking to the grocery store Vivanda, we saw the following. I remembered when I was a young elder that we had a Poinsetta tree by our branch in Mariategui. We saw a Poinsetta tree, though not very healthy on our walk.



There was this girl selling Artichokes. We stopped and Karen bought a couple of them and had them for dinner the next day.

The weather is starting to get cooler. Today is equivalent to November 30th back home. The high is in the middle 60's. The difference between summer and winter is the sun doesn't shine in the winter. It is always overcast and foggy in the morning.



Childrens barbershop


While at the Jockey Plaza we walked by this childrens barbershop. A far cry from the way my father cut my hair when I was a small lad.

Picture of Christ in the Americas


While at the Area office we saw this picture on the wall that we liked.

Sunday, May 17, 2009

New apartment





Our lease is up on our apartment July 24th. We are going to move upstairs into this larger apartment. We went up and visited Adria and she let me take some pictures even though she has been sick this week and is in the middle of doing some serious cleaning. The apartment is a 2/3 bedroom with 2 1/2 baths. Very much larger than what we have now. This is looking from the front door into the living room
There is a room that she is using as a study that could also be used as a third bedroom.




This is the living room.






Looking into the kitchen from the living room.














Another view on the kitchen looking from the laundry room,





This is the bathroom just off the Laundry room.











This is the Laundry room with a washer and dryer.








This is the Master bedroom . She was cleaning in this room








Another view of the Master bedroom.









This is the spare bedroom.












P day at Jockey Plaza



Yesterday for our P day we went to Jockey Plaza. A large mall with hundreds of shops. We primarily went to Ace Hardware to buy paint to touch up under our cabinet in the kitchen that had some minor water damage. Karen was also able to buy some make up at Saga Falabella. She also bought a pair of Sketchers shoes. We also ate lunch at a Chineese Buffet which is part of Bennihanas.



As we were crossing over the road to catch the bus on the other side, notice that the trees still have blossoms and we are getting very close to winter.

Starting the day


Each day at the office, we start with scripture study, a spiritual thought and then we kneel in prayer. This was last Friday around the desk of elder Neuenschwander.

Friday, May 15, 2009

Mothers day


On Mothers Day Karen was able to talk to both of her sons and their families and to actually see all the grandkids via Skype. The yellow flowers she received from our Family Home Evening group. The roses came from her son Scott. He called me a couple of days before Mothers Day and I had the office elders go pick out some flowers for him and while he was talking to her by way of Skype the elders brought the flowers to her. It was a very enjoyable day for her to get to see and talk to each of her 8 grandkids and to actually see her newest granddaughter, Chalyss for the very first time.






Karen had made a chocalate chip cake earlier in the day and elders Tito, Neuenschwander, Briggs and Gurr quickly took care of it.

Sunday, May 10, 2009

Change week May 6, 2009


On Tuesday we had 11 misionaries go home from their mission and 10 missionaries go back to Bolivia. So we lost 21 missionaries and received 9 new ones. On Tuesday of the change the missionaries going home go to the temple with president and sister Elmer. Then they go to his house for dinner. At 7:00 in the evening we have a testimony meeting with each missionary going

home. Then they all leave that night.


On Wednesday the new missionaries arrive at 8:00 am from the MTC. They have an orientation that last all the morning. While that is going on the president interviews each new missionary. Then at noon we all walk over to the presidents house. Sister Cleverly and I get to go to this luncheon. At 3:00 we go to the Magdallena chapel where all the missionaries come from all of Lima to receive their new assignments and meet their new companions. It is a very fun meeting. The president introduces each new missionary to all the rest of the mission.

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Museo del Automovil



These are our favorite pictures. We were not allowed to touch any cars but this yellow pickup.



Saturday the 2nd of May was our P-day. We joined up with the office elders, Elder Gurr and elder Neuendschwander and elder Celiz that is going to Cuzco this change and elder Denker recovering from surgery. Also the presidents two assistants elder Tito and elder Briggs.




The fun part is that sister Elmer joined us. We decided to go to the Antique Car museum. Some of the elders took a taxi and we rode with sister Elmer. We had the address but none of us actually knew where the museum was located. The first taxi driver said he would take them
for about 25 soles. That was way too much money. They finally found a taxi driver for 13 soles. The trouble is he didn´t know where it was located either. The taxi driver followed us. Sister Elmer thought she knew where it was located. We were only about 20 miles off. After several telephone calls we arrived at


the location. Way on the outskirts of Lima at the base of the Andes Mountains. We paid 20 soles a person to enter. After going through the gate there was this large courtyard that had about a half dozen old rusted out 1960´s cars with the tires flat. I thought what a dissapointment. We paid good money to see this.
But down at the end of the walk way we could go into this large building. We were told that it contained over 170 antique autos. They were some of the most beautiful antique autos we have ever seen, several of them are one of a kind or the only one in the world. Many of the cars are from Europe.




I only saw one Thunderbird and it was a 1964 that is waiting to be refinished. There were no Corvettes but many Mustangs. I saw a 1967 Dodge which I used to own one of. I was hoping to see a 1957 Dodge similar to what I drove when I was in high school but the closest to this was a 1958 DeSoto. The elders here are with the owner of the cars.




There were several model T´s and Model A´s







Karen remembers her family having a car like this.









There was another large building That housed antique cars that were waiting to be refurbished. There were 20 to 30 cars, pickups etc.






A guy working there told me it takes at least 6 months to finish a car. Some times even up to a year.






We all had a very enjoyable time and were glad that we went.







Trip home



After going through the car museum we decided to all get in sister Elmers SUV. We had 3 elders in the very back, 4 including myself in the middle and sister Elmer and sister Cleverly in the front. Of course the elders wanted something to eat so we stopped at Papa Johns for pizza.
We then went to the museo de oro. Karen and I had been there before. Maybe that explains why I didn't take any pictures.
The elders seem to enjoy it but we wondered as we looked at all the gold how much was real and what was fake. We had seen on TV just a week ago that that people that worked at the gold museum had stolen several pieces of gold and replaced it with fake.

Water


About once a month this fellow comes to our apartment and delivers to. us 3 bidons of water or 3 large bottles of about 5 gallons each. We don't dare drink water from the tap. Each of these large bottles cost about $4.00. This same fellow delivers to the mission office. Notice his mode of transportation.

Inka Shops

Inka Shops
There are hundreds and hundreds of little vendors selling their wares from clothing, dolls, purses, jewelry etc. We didn't buy anything but got a good idea of some of the things that they have.

Highway

Highway
One of many highways in Lima. This is Avenida Arequipa that runs north and south. Maybe 9-10 blocks from our apartment. During rush hour this road will be packed.

Highway

Highway
Another highway running thru Lima.

Tall buildings

Tall buildings
This is a look of San Isidro where we live and the mission office.

Miraflores from the air

Miraflores from the air
On our P-day we went to Miraflores and ate at a fantastic restaurant just above the cliff. The tall building in the background is the Marriott hotel. The name of the restaurant was Mangos. It was buffet.

Pacific Ocean

Pacific Ocean
Looking down about 500-600 feet from the Mangos restaurant to the ocean