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.