Sunday 12-20-09 (Chincheros)

The President recently opened up the city of Chincheros high up in Valle Sagrado or the Sacred Valley. He sent Elder Tito who was his assistant and Elder Smith to open it. The elevation is close to 13,000 feet so it gets cold at night. The picture on the left is a group of people going by on their way home from selling at the open market during the day. They said they would come to church next week.
These three girls attended Sacrament meeting. There were sixteen present with fifteen being investigators. This is the largest attendance so far for this new branch.

After Sacrament meeting we went outside and met these people.

12-19-09 Trip from Cusco to Urubamba

When we first arrived to Cusco, we were met at the airport by Javier Since and he took us to the Sacred Valley and the town of Urubamba. Notice the city of Cusco and the numerous houses built up on the hillside. Double click on the picture and see the long stairs that goes up the hill.

The beautiful Sacred Valley. From November to March is the rainy season and everything is beautifully green

We stayed at the Recoleta Hotel in Urubamba

It was beautiful and a nice room

A view of Urubamba looking down on the city.

We left Cusco and headed to Urubamba. These are pictures of the city where we have a branch and two elders working here.

Pictures don't do justice to the beauty of the country side.

These are pictures of some of the streets and the people

Moto taxi that we caught from hotel to down town and town square.

We went from our hotel to the town square.

While sitting on a bench at the town square we saw this funeral procession going by.

While we were down town in Urubamba we went to this open air market. Notice the pile of different colors of peppers

Sacks loaded with beans, lentils, rice etc.

Our hotel was once part of a monestary. They adjoin one another. These statues are inside the church

The entry way into the church

Notice the rockway floor.

This depicts the beliefs of the Peruvian people. In the Provinces most of the houses has the two oxen up on the roof signifying that the couple are equally yoked or pulling their weight equally to raise their family. Also on his left sholder he is wearing a pouch like the old pony express pouch that the rider would have on his horse. In the front the husband would carry the burdens of his family and in the back the community. It being braided and knotted at the top as the strenght of the husband and wife for family and community.

While we were in Ollantaytambo we stopped at this shop and bought 16 dolls for our granddaughters. We actually went to Ollantaytambo to see the ruins and eat at a favorite restaurant of the Tylers. Unfortunatly
it got dark to see the ruins and the restaurant was closed. But we did have a good meal at another across and down the street.

Hawkins

Bill and Ilene Hawkins left for home in Parker, Co. on the 14th. He was the second counselor in the Temple Presidency. Earlier they had served as Mission president of the Chiclayo Mission.

P day 12-12-09

Charo our mission foot doctor invited us to dinner today. We had a fun visit and a very fun time. Charo is not a member of the church but she has the Book of Mormon and has attended our meetings. I am trying to talk her in to letting us teach her the lessons. She is Catholic but is such a nice person she might as well be a member. Her sister is a member and lives in our Magdalena ward.

This is Charo's Christmas tree. Charo has such a nice two bedroom apartment. She has been divorced now for at least 20+ years. Her son that is 34 lives with her.

We saw this Christmas tree down the street from Charo's in Miraflora.

Zone Conferences

We had Zone conference at the office this past week. This is the Callao ZoneThis is the Zone El Olivar

This is the Palao Zone and other elders.

Christmas tree 2009

We put up the office Christmas tree yesterday. I assembled the tree and put on the lights. The elders put the decorations on and Sister Cleverly put the ribbon.

Elder Hales, Elder Huamani, Elder Malale, Elder Jenkins and Elder Cleverly. Sister Cleverly took the picture.

New missionaries/change meeting 12/02/09

This month we received twelve new missionaries and have five going home. Each change when the new missionaries come in on a Wednesday we have Dunkin Dounuts for the break of their training.

After the change meeting the missionaries leave to their new areas with their new companions.

Missionaries going home 12-01-09

Another change has come and gone. Just as we get close to these guys, they up and go home on us.Elder Bray is from North Carolina. His parents came down to pick him up and we want to thank them for bringing us a Honey baked ham that we will use for Christmas to feed the office staff, Tylers and the assistants.

Elder Cooke is from Layton, Utah and one of the presidents Assistants.

Elder Guerra is from Trujillo, Peru.

Elder Dencker is from Bolivia. He was the missionary that we stayed with at the Elmers when he had surgery.

Elder Luis Espinoza is from Lima that was a good missionary.