Our P-Day usually means that we get all our extra chores done in preparation for the next week's work. At the end of the day, we're usually too tired to cook, and there's not a lot of stuff in our refrigerator or shelves that makes an easy meal, so today we decide to to to Chili's in the mall next to us. We find Hna Paez celebrating her birthday with her companera Hna. Robinson. That's worth a dessert with candle, a rendition of "Feliz Cumpleanos" by the staff, and a photo.
Wherever we go, we are impressed by the variety and quality of local produce. Mangos grown in the Quillabamba area are now in season. I calculate the price to be about $0.60 per lb, so we select a few that look extra-delicious. Most food items are very reasonably priced (some are downright cheap), we seem to pay about the same price in Soles as we would in $$ back home.
Most apartments for the young missionaries do not have any facilities for cooking, especially baking. When Elders Lundell and Henderson needed to bake some brownies for an event with one of their new member families, they asked to borrow our kitchen and oven. The results look pretty tasty, but they dashed off to the meeting, and we didn't get to sample them.
We were invited by Elders Talavera and Henderson to visit Hna. Juana. She is sweet and so pleasant. We were able to get her family tree complete through 3 generations, but will need a 2nd appointment to come back and finish. We look forward to seeing her again.
Yes, it is the Christmas season, even in Peru. The Mission Office gets some nice decorations.
In addition to Auto-Sufficiencia, english lessons, Pathways, and training for missionaries who are finishing their service, somehow Hna Rhoades finds time to teach piano lessons. She held a recital for her students. They each have different levels of skills and talents, but all are enthusiastic and progressing. Elder Rhoades made sure everyone got a pretty flower, even the boys.
We were asked to go to barrio San Jeronimo to see Hnos. Aderlin and Jenny. When we arrived, we thought they looked familiar, but couldn't place them til Hno Addy showed us a photo we had taken of them way back in February, when we met them at their friend's home. We now have an opportunity to build their family trees, and get temple ordinances approved and printed for their upcoming temple trip next month. Hnas Hansen and Celan help us out with translating while Hna Jenny gets some more photos for us to copy and add to her familysearch page.
Time for a follow-up visit to familia Ortiz. Hna Gregoria is sorting out all the ordinance cards from the youth temple trip she organized for barrio Vista Allegre last month. She is a get-it-done type person, and asked us to come over and verify that all temple ordinances that were printed were actually completed by the youth who made the trip. Hnas Robinson and Paez help with the sorting while we verify everything is properly recorded.
During our last trip to Lima, Hna J found some children's versions (with photos) of the scriptures in the temple bookstore. She got several copies, and we found just the place for one of them, with Claudia and her madre Vilma. The text is in basic Espanol, and the pictures illustrate the story. I enjoy reading them as well, I can pretty much follow along with my basic Spanish.
Somehow, Elder Rhoades knows that Fuego's has 2-for-1 specials on the first Thursday of each month, so we make sure that's on our calendar. The servings are fairly generous, so we always have plenty to take home - so we can save room for a postre to share.
Market day again. The latest magical cure-all seems to be made from caiman heads, snake parts, and turtle innards, all turned into a yellow paste. They claim it will cure everything. When I asked if it would cure hangnails, the guy looked puzzled, so I decided not to buy any - this time.
Market day (and every) day, means things get moved. Here's some lumber moving through the market.
Fresh-cut flowers bundled up in a manta (blanket), and on their way to the funererias (funeral parlors)
Don't know what's in this colorful manta. Could be most anything.
Here's how you move a heavy load. First, get it in a poly bag, then kneel down and have your friend put a rope around it.
Next, get your friends to help you up. Adjust the rope so the load is snug. Hold the rope with one hand and wiggle to get the load settled comfortably.
And off you go. With your free hand, you can also carry a folding bed frame. Don't bump into the jugo and choclo vendor coming the other direction.
We can usually find interesting things to see, eat, and buy in Plaza San Blas. Here, our new friend Paulina spins raw wool by hand onto a "pushka", or hand spindle. In accordance with my fascination of the weaving process, I just had to buy this pushka and hank of wool. Probably the best sale Paulina made all day. If I'd stayed any longer, I probably would have made her an offer on her hat.
We spend a lot of time together, but don't get many opportunities for a picture together, so when the Elders offered, we gladly posed. Hello to everyone. We'll get to see you in person before too long.
Have a wonderful Christmas. I hope this 2 feet of snow melts before you come home. We have several trees down or broken in our back. We are looking forward to the St. George Sunshine.
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