P-day with Pres. and sister Elmer

At the office we decided to move things around. At the same time the Area office came in and painted all the walls.

Karen and I exchanged desks. She now has a window to look out. In the afternoon the office elders, the assistants, and sister Cleverly and I went with the Elmers to Jockey Plaza to two games of bowling. We had a lot of fun. Here is a picture of the president getting up after falling on his very first try. Between the Elmers and the Cleverlys, President had the highest score, I was second, sister Elmer was third and sister Cleverly fourth. But the second game we got warmed up. I was first and sister Cleverly second.

Olive grove park

Our very good friends the Ramirez came to visit.

Not far from our apartment is this beautiful park that stretches for at least 3/4 of a mile full of Olive trees that are at least 500 years old. A fenced area shows how the olives were pressed into oil. In my minds eye I can easily see the Savior in the Garden of Gethsemene by Olive trees. After walking thru part of the park and sitting by a bench to visit next to a large pond with several different fountains, we went to the restaurant Valvadi's to eat. After eating we went back to our apartment and just visited and played the card game golf that my brother Dale had taught us.

Stake Presidents Council

Sister Elmer put us in charge of getting the food to the Stake Presidents Council that went from 10 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Sat
It was held at the church's Institute of Religion

Building. We had purchased all kinds of fruit and Karen made a fruit salad for them along with Muffins she had made Friday.

Karen was worried about how we were going to get everything over to the IRU. A small miracle happened on Friday afternoon. A young woman came into the office by the name of Marianeta Alejandria. She ask if we needed someone to transport missionaries. She said that her husband Jorge Alejandria was just starting a new company called "Class A Tours". We explained what we needed and she said she would fax us a price sheet. About a half hour later I received the fax and called her back saying we would accept. So on Saturday Jorge picked us up, took us to the IRU. We dropped off the Fruit salad, Muffins and drinks and Jorge took us back home. Then at 11:30 he came and picked us up again along with the office elders where we stopped at KFC and bought chicken, cole slaw and potatoes. It didn't take as long as we thought to get the chicken so we arrived at the IRU sooner than we expected so we played some games in their rec room. Karen actually beat me at ping pong.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.