Funeral

Saturday night I got a call from the branch president in Talavera and he told me his father had died and he was in Cusco to bury him. He was very shook up so we went to support him. President Huarancca is a very humble and sincere man. He doesn't know much about church organization but he is willing to learn. I explained to him about dedicating graves and he wanted to do it.They are in the poorest cemetery in town in huancaro. They kind of just dig a hole and then the family covers it. Anyway I kind of expected him to come back and dedicate the grave but right in the middle of all the catholic stuff he stepped forward took charge and dedicated the grave. Afterwards he sang Mas Cerca Dios a Ti. It was a very spiritual moment. It brought tears to my eyes. I felt then that Talavera is in good hands. By the way we will be changing Presidente Duque in the San Jeronimo branch in the next week of two. He is a good man but he has been in a long time and is tired.

Road to Quillabamba

The road to Quillabamba was so beautiful last week I had to put a few photos. There was water in every gully and wash with waterfalls everywhere.

Juliaca

I just wondered if anyone remembered the streets of Juliana. Well they haven't changed

Quique

Quique finally did it! He saw Iryna while talking to his daughter on Skype.  She was helping take care of his daughter in Spain. The irony of all ironies is she is from Ukraine and speaks Russian. She is doing very well learning Spanish. Anyway after talking she ended up here and the rest is history. She is very beautiful and comes from a very strong LDS family. There wedding  was very nice and they both had big smiles all over their faces. They hope to come to US and get sealed by President Harberson.

P Day

We have been having Grand P days with the elders in all the zones. The first is a p day in Cusco. These are some neat ruins just in the valley next to the city. The second and third pictures are p days in Puno. we were right on the shores of lake Titicaca. Bolivia is just over the horizon. They release the balloons with a not attached. We have done Pdays in all the zones now.

bus ride

This is how we look after an eight hour bus ride to Andahuaylas or Puno. When we go to Quillabamba or Abancay I have started offering the drivers 100 soles for the whole back seat and they usually take it. That trip with a perfect stranger sleeping on your shoulder is no good. One little guy never made a peep until he threw up all over. In the past two weeks we have been to Sicuani, Juliaca, Puno, Puerto, and Quillabamba. We are getting to know the road but I love to travel.

The closest we came to snow. A big hail storm after we came home from a bus trip.

Family history

Brother Tuny and his wife are recent converts of a couple of months. He has been so concerned about his parents and what is happening with them. We went over with the sister missionaries and set up an account with lds.org and sent his parents name to the temple. When that little green temple floated up to the temple section he had a huge grin on his face. We had to do a lot of estimating on the dates but I think the Lord knows who they are. It was a fantastic experience. We need to go back because he has all his brothers names that have passed on.

Macchu Pichu.

Macchu Pichu with Bev, Joe, Marsha and Richard. They are all kind of crippled up so we couldn't see much. I could do the tour myself by now. Besides that you can make up anything you want because nobody really knows for sure what happened. Our guide said that is my story and I am sticking with it.

 Another picture of all the missionaries at thanksgiving dinner at the mission home. Turkey and all the trimming.  Susan helped make it like a Thanksgiving in United States.  Stuffing, pumpkin pie made from left over Jack o lanterns, they even liked the sweet potatoes.

Luana's baptism December 16, 2017

It was also her birthday.  The Condori's are an amazing family.