The last month we have been all over the place. We have been on four bus trips and on three of them the bus has broke down. On one we had to just find a car because we didn't want to wait five hours for another bus. the other two they were able to get them going after a couple of hours. I was pretty doubtful when the drug out the epoxy and fixed one. there was oil and water pouring out but with epoxy we got going.  President Caceres and I went to Puerto and took this picture of the bridge crossing Madre De Dios River. It wasn't too hot that day. I might mention that the Huerto building is under construction to put on another floor. We went there and I wonder if they fudge their numbers a bit. They can be a little creative there. They all think they are close to a stake there but it inset going to happen for awhile. We kind of need some leadership changes.

 Some sweet hermanas in puno. Susan and I went to have english interviews and do an english presentation. These Hermanas want to learn english so bad their teeth ache. When we do english presentations we speak english and have a latin translate for us. Three of these girls want to translate. It is kind of fun.

 I thought everybody would appreciate this picture of the Profeta Jose Smit. It was on the bulletin board in the patibamba chapel in Abancay. Thanks Marlow By the way the Intipas branch has about 100 to 120 attending every week. Patibamba is down from that but they really want to put another floor on their church.

 We visited Talavera branch and got invited to eat with Hermano Juan and Hermana Ruth. They are wonderful people. This is their kitchen with the Sister missionaries helping cook over a fire. It was good.

After a tough night on the streets of Andahuaylas these dogs have had it. I can only imagine what goes on out there all night long. So Raul Quispe is the new District president there. Walter Mamani, one of the old district counselors Is the president of the Andahuaylas branch, and Richard Huarancca is the new president of the Talavera Branch. They are both starting off very strong. They want to add another floor to their church but have plenty of work to do. Talavera has a new casa capilla which is very nice. They have gone in and fixed it up very nice. It is on a dirt road and they have a problem with the dust. President Quispe is starting to work on a change in the San Jeronimo branch. They are suffering but have some good men that can take over. Sometimes we leave the presidents in too long and they just wear out.

 I still think this is the best view of MachuPicchu. It was raining but the sun peeked through and gave us this incredible picture. Yes there is a trail to the top of that mountain behind and it is incredible.

 The guide looses track but he thinks there are around 1300 steps.

 We have been doing stairs in Cusco so Susan was in shape for the hike.

 MachuPicchu from HuaynaPicchu

Susan brothers came to visit a few weeks ago so we all went to MachuPicchu for a visit. When I went with my brothers we saw the trail to HuaynaPicchu and I have wanted to do it ever since. We got tickets and went up. Wow, what a view. We were all afraid of the trail but it is worse then it looks. Not that you would want to trip or anything. Anyway it is incredible.

Pikillaqta

So the other day we went to Pikillaqta. I can only imagine Captain standing on these walls directing the battle. The whole city is a fortress. I was amazed. This site is located on the way to Urcos. You can't really see it from the road.

On another note, We went to Ayaviri and Choquehuanca over the weekend. It was time for their branch conference. We got notice that Ayaviri is going to the sicuani stake and Choquehuanca is going to the Juliana stake. We had double scheduled on the conferences so president Herrera was going to abancay to do their district conference and president Caceres and I were going to the two branches to make the change. It turned out that a seventy, (Elder Aguero) was planning on coming. The people couldn't believe a seventy was actually coming. We actually had 86 members at church in Choquehuanca. So anyway they are in a stake now. We have grown to love the folks there and will probably go back a few times so the kids can continue their piano lessons. They love it and so does sister Johnson

Piano

Hermana Johnson has quite a little following of piano students in Choquehuanca. She has some simple lessons and simple hymns. In one or two lessons they can be playing a hymn. The chapel has a real piano so they can come here and practice. Liz Ccama has had two lessons and played a hymn clear through. Susan loves doing it and they love her so much. After they put the branch in a stake we really don't have any need to go there any more but me and my big mouth I told them we would try and come one day each month so they can continue with their lessons. So I guess Susan will keep cleaning the hotel room. They charge thirty soles we should get a discount. Oh by the way a Seventy is going to visit when they put them in a stake. Everybody can't believe a Seventy is actually coming to their town. We did put Choquehuanca into The JUliaca stake. I hope they get more help from them than they got from the mission. Ayaviri went into the Siquani stake.

Cleaning Hotel

So we went to Choquehuanca to watch conference last weekend. They haven't had the ability to watch it for some time and supposedly everything was fixed. Anyway the hotel we stay in is in Pucara and it is getting worse and worse. Sister Johnson has finally resorted to taking cleaning supplies and cleaning. I still wonder but there are only a few choices and they are worse. Anyway we thought it might be our last time because in three weeks we are going out to put them in a stake. They have decided to put them in the Juliaca stake and Ayaviri in Sicuani stake.

 When we got there Saturday the conference wasn't working and their internet and they had told the people to go to Ayaviri or Julica. Nobody was going to go. I have purchased a modem from bitel for my internet in the house and I always take it with me so I have internet wherever I go. Bitel has a good signal in Choquehuanca  so i hooked up my phone to the the TV and was able to stream conference in the chapel. I thought I was stupid for buying internet like that because it is kind of slow but now I realize why I have it. The people all came and were so happy to see conference. It really was a miracle. It is so hard to believe that the little branch there has four full time missionaries and another ready to send his papers. We can't even find a Branch president that will do his job.

 Well it finally happened. We changed the district president in Andahuaylas. Here we are with President Huayapa, President Mamani, and President Cardenas. They have all worked very hard but it was time for a change. I have grown to love them very much and it was hard to release them.

 I couldn't resist this picture. This is the daughter of President Cardenas. The picture does not do her justice. She could be one of the dolls in It's a small world in Disneyland. I asked her if she wanted to come and live with me and she said she would like to.

Couldn't keep the missionaries out of the photo. This is the new president with one counselor. Probably everybody remembers Raul Quispe, he is the new president. His counselor is Charles Pena, and Ricardo Martinez.(Not in photo. Brother Pena has a little beard and I asked him if he would shave it and his wife was so happy. I went about four months back to interview people and find a new president. While I was there the missionaries had a baptism and President Quispe was helping out. I was watching the baptism and the spirit was so strong telling me that he was the next president. One problem, he didn't have a phone. How could we communicate if he didn't have a phone? We went out to take pictures like they always do and he pulled out a brand new phone to take pictures. I knew then he was the man! He has a lot of work now because he has to replace himself and needs to change the other branch presidents too. There are people there and I know he can find them.

We have had a busy past few months.  Elder Christensen came and Elder Uceda there wasn't time for regular zone meetings and English interviews so this month we finally celebrated the last 6 months of birthdays.  These are the May birthdays at Cusco, Intri Ryami, and Sicuani Zones.

Just one more Denes with his care that Paylen sent.

In August with brothers

Here are the three Ranchers on the way to Ollantaytambo with some alpaca.

Here are the three brick masons at the famous rock wall.  They really appreciate these big rocks.

Quique

So this is really weird but Quique asked us to go on a field trip with him and his girlfriend. He really is divorced and this girl was tending his daughter in spain. When he would scype his daughter he would talk to this girl too. She is from Ukraine and speaks Russian. I think she actually came here to meet him and has stayed for about six or eight months. She is learning spanish.I think they really like each other and I really think Quique is making plans. She is very nice and sweet and I think they really like each other. We stopped at this little zoo on the way to tipon ruins and the lady hooked me for ten soles to take this picture with this parrot and this little bear or sloth or whatever it is. It ended up biting my finger. Our calling is member leader support and I figured this fit into that category.

 Here are our sexy women in Saqseywaman

All I can say is "INCREDIBLE" Our visit to Machu Picchu with my brothers and their wives.

My Brothers came to visit and brought some little dolls from my grandkids. One of the funnest things we have done is give these little girls a doll. They can't believe we are actually giving them a doll. I wish I had a hundred of them

Hermana Valdebenito

One of our favorite sisters going home. We love Hermana Valdebenito. Everybody keeps asking her if she needs help with spanish but she is really from Chile.

Hermana Wagner
This is really an old post but I had my purse stolen right after Hna. Wagner  went home and I never put in this picture and thanked her for taking a package home for us.  She took Bevin's hearing aids and stuff to the grandkids and then a couple of weeks later some friends from our ward at home came to visit Machu Picchu and brought the hearing aids back fixed and all the stuff that had been taken from my purse including a new phone.  What would we do without such wonderful friends.
Wishing Hna. Wagner all the best.
 

For "kindness is Contagious Day"  this year, Our children and grandchildren gathered good shoes for the girls at an orphanage here and sent them down with Dale and Cheri and Tina and Russ when they came to visit last week.  We were a little disappointed when the man wouldn't let us in to give them to the girls but here is the picture of delivering them.

The very most fun we have had is handing out the dolls and   cars Mandee and  Palen sent down.

Alicia

This is our little friend Alicia Gutierrez Bustamonte. She lives in Marcavalle. She is in our ward and when we heard about her we went over to see her. She can't get out to church because she had an operation and now has a bag. She lost her leg when a train ran over her when she was twelve. She has a remarkable spirit and wants to do everything by herself. We go by every month and take her a message and just visit. We love her very much. She is so concerned that sister Johnson isn't learning Spanish fast enough so she always wants to help. We also have another sister in the ward that can't get out of bed named Junita. We visit her all the time and we helped her get her parents names into the temple to do their work done. She has been so worried about them and now is so relaxed about it. We have about a dozen people around Cusco that we try to visit every month. Most can't get out and love so much to have us come to their home and leave a message. One little sister just lost her mom who was a member but had never gone to the temple. We are going to help her get her moms name ready for the temple. Her mom was ninety five. All are converts and so miss having the missionaries in their home. I don't think it matters much to the young families but the older folks who were converted so long ago and the missionaries have moved on and never pass by, want a visit so much. They want to tell us how they were converted and who converted them. They want to tell us about their families and about their lives. I love to see the looks on their face when they open the door and see two gringo missionaries standing there. I leave feeling so blessed to have been there.
Another noteworthy item. I went to Choquehuanca last week and Told the people that if they would get their recommends back the branch would start prospering again. I signed five recommends that day and have two more that will be ready in three weeks. We need a new branch president there because the President Gutierrez has almost quit functioning. His first councilor is a very good man but works in Puno Monday through Saturday. He told me last Sunday He was going to take a leap of faith and quit his job in Puno and try to find work in Choquehuanca. It would be such a blessing there.
We are still looking for our investigator family. Rosanna from the garage in our old apt is attending with her boys sometimes. She is a wonderful mother and wants the best for her boys. Sister Johnson is going over Monday to cook with Rosa the member that lives in our old building and they have Invited Rosanna to cook with them. Two Hermanas are coming to learn some dishes and then the whole district is coming over to eat it. By the way Rosa is not a member but goes every week. Not married. We met a nice family on the street and have been by and kind of had a lesson with them. We took cookies of course and the invited us to come back.

Marras and Moray

I'm here to tell you words or pictures just don't do these places justice. We decided to run over to Marras and Moray. when We got to the edge to look over the ruins I just about fell over. The driver said we won't need much time because they are just small ruins.  Holy cow I don't know what he considers big ruins. I thought the salineras we almost as impressive. One small stream about the size of an eight inch pipe feeds all this. Most pools have different owners. When they get enough salt buildup in their pool they scrape it out and sell it.