Joanna's Journal: Peru is a beautiful place!

With all the company that has been coming and going, we have been very busy, and have done some fun things!

Tuesday morning while Rachel was teaching Bethany, Ariel and I headed out to get supplies for our picnic later that day. All the stores were on the same street, and Rachel gave us very specific instructions of what to get where. :-) She said mainly, just to come back with enough stuff for sandwiches. First we walked to one store (down from one restaurant, and across from this other building) to get glue. I thought I didn’t end up getting the right store, but it was closed. One stop done. Next we went to Franks, the “you can get anything on earth there only if you can find it” store. We were supposed to get bread, chips, and cheese there. Rachel wrote “craft singles” on our paper, but couldn’t find them anywhere in the cheese section. We thought that, even though it wasn’t craft, we should get the Peru Gloria brand. I didn’t know if it would be ok, but she said to get stuff for sandwiches. Next we went to the meat place to get lunch meat. It was surprisingly good lunchmeat, and we found the right one! Some stuff there looks kinda scary! Next we went to the gas station. Gas here means carbonation, which is very different from what you put in the car! We got a bag of ice, then jumped in a moto, and went back to the seminary. Rachel was glad with everything we bought, and was surprised that we got back so quickly! We peeled carrots and cucumber, and put everything in the cooler for our picnic.

Ariel and I went to chapel, and I was really really glad to go! I hadn’t been since my class finished, and I kinda missed it! I enjoy getting to play ping pong before, talk to everyone, sing, and hear the message. I really enjoyed this one because it was in English too. :-) Mr. Lounsbrough taught again and Eric translated. Eric has been one busy guy since all these people came in who needed a translator! :-) After chapel, we played a bit more ping pong, and then went to get ready for the picnic. I got to talk to Roxana a bit after chapel, and I really try to make it a point to go up to her, because she is still sad that I’m not taking the class with her this time. :( She tried to get me to come, and showed me her empty 2 person desk. Before her class started, she gave me some saltine type crackers, and it was so sweet! At the beginning when I first got here, I was afraid that she didn’t like me, because she seemed to herself and really quiet, but by the end, she really did miss me! I keep reminding her that we will have 10 day on the Gira with just Ariel, me, Elena, and Roxana. :-) Her birthday is Sunday, so I’m going to make her a card, and give her a picture. (Raquel’s is Monday too)

We headed out on our picnic, and drove to these salt mines that are about ½ an hour away. Before we got there, we stopped at a breath taking spot for lunch. The snow covered mountains with the wheat fields over the hills were exquisite! Wow! Peru is a beautiful place! That picnic spot was the most beautiful place I have ever seen. God created one beautiful place right there! We enjoyed leisurely lunch, and then kept going to the salt mines. The end of the ride there was pretty nerve wracking… at least for me! This huge jeep on this teeny road gave me a few jitters. ;-)

We walked down to the mines, which is a salt water spring that comes from the mountains and flows into pools. The water then evaporates, and the salt is harvested. I tasted the water, because I was like, “I know what salt water tastes like… I’m from florida!” But it tasted different, and way saltier! It was really interesting to see, and then we headed out. There are all these gift shops along the walk down, and Daniel ran back up to the car to get a Quechua tract for this one lady and ran it all the way back down. We could see her reading it as she walked, and that was really neat! We took back a man to a town between the mines and Urubamba. We got to talk to him on the ride, and left him with some tracts and a New Testament. :-)

Ariel and I made 2 hershey pies when we got back for dinner. Oreo, whipped cream, and chocolate, is all it is, but it’s good stuff! I answered some emails when we finished, and then headed out to Wendy’s for an amazing dinner. She made spaghetti and garlic bread for everyone! I enjoyed 3 helpings, because I LOVE spaghetti, and this was some pretty awesome stuff. (Absence makes the heart grow fonder, huh?) We talked late past dinner, and everyone really enjoyed. It’s neat to hear from those people with that much experience in missions and evangelism. They are all really easy to talk to, and we had a great time! After dinner, we helped Wendy with the dishes, and got that done for her. :-) Hey, she made the great meal, so I’ll do the dishes in an instant!

Wednesday was one packed day! We headed out at 8am for Cusco. The Lounsbroughs were headed back to Lima, and then the states that afternoon. I really enjoyed them here, and we had a great time with them. So we could kill many visits with one stone, we got to go by the llama habitation and then kinda like a Peruvian wildlife refuge. It was pretty awesome! You could feed them these plants that someone cut, and they would walk, very close to you, and take it out of your hand. :-) There were all different varieties, some with long hair, and others with short. The llamas don’t have extra hair on their faces, and the alpaca does. There were also some Peruvians in traditional dress weaving or doing/showing different things. Their costume might not have been authentic, but their weaving was amazing! So intricate! I still like the pictures I got of that!

Next we went to the wildlife refuge. We got to see llamas, condors, pumas, baby wild cats, parrots, kinda like a jungle raccoon thing, guinea pigs, and other animals that I can’t think of off top of my head. Everyone that donated S/. 10 got this whistle, and the music in me has to figure out the different notes etc. But I don’t want to make the noise to figure it out. :-) that place was pretty neat, and the condors were my favorite! They were huge!!!

On the way to Cusco from there, we picked up this tourist that got separated from his group, and started walking to Cusco. It would have been a long walk! (It was still at least an hour by car) He was from Chile, and visiting Peru for 8 days. It was funny to think about all the countries and languages represented in that car! US, Brazil, Chile, and Peru, speaking Spanish, English, and Portuguese. He didn’t really seem too open to the Bible, but we left him with a New Testament and some tracts, and dropped him off at his corner. He ended up getting in a taxi stuck behind us, and we could see him reading those tracts. God’s Word won’t return void, and God put him in our path for a reason.

We next headed off to lunch. It was a pretty awesome place! I didn’t feel so great after bouncing along in a car for a long time, so I walked with Rachel to get pop for everyone (I know, her northern ways are rubbing off…jk :) For lunch, I got a ¼ chicken, fries, cake, and a very Peruvian drink that I don’t care for as much, so I give to Rachel. :-) I wasn’t hungry when I started, but when I got going, it was really delicious! They chose the cake that went with the meal (probably whatever they had the most of that day). I was hoping for the tres leches cake, and that is what they ended up bringing out! :-) It was very delicious, and really would be hard to top!

Next we headed out to the Artisian Market…aka a shopping place for tourists, because the Lounsbroughs wanted to get a few things while they were here. I have been there a few times, and I like it because there isn’t any pressure, and if you don’t like that price or design, go to the next shop. I got this beautiful aqua and white alpaca blanket that is soft and flexible and Peruvian like, but not quite as bright and patterned as some of them. I like it a lot, and am wrapped up in it as I write my late night post. :-)

We dropped them off at the airport and said good-bye. It was a fun 5 days with them! We dropped the car off to stay in Cusco because it needed to get fixed before we go on the Gira. (12 hour drive) We did a few more errands, which included a run to McDonalds for a buy one get one Mcflurry. :-) I have a weakness for icecream… :-)

We got back just in time to come home, change, get our things, and head out for Oansa. Ariel didn’t feel up to it, but I wasn’t going to let anything (within reason) keep me from Oansa. It is a high light of my week! I didn’t lug around my bookbag, so I don’t have any more pictures, but it went about as other weeks. The girl I was helping didn’t bring her book, so I couldn’t sign her off, but she said 4 sections! She was on the red team, so I went with her. The girl Ruth from last week, and her special needs cousin were also on red. Ruth came up and gave me a hug when she saw me. :-) I need to get a picture with her next week. :-) Red did pretty well in game time, and we had fun doing the different games!

Raquel taught the lesson, and right now we are going through the early childhood of Christ. She taught on the wise men coming. I sat with the special needs girl, and she did really well, even better than last week. I think only once or twice she said something loudly. It went really well! Praise God! I walked back with Milka and Raquel, and then went to dinner.

Whatever it was was pretty good, and I really enjoyed my dinner company and conversation. I talked the whole time in Spanish!!! YAY!!! Praise God! It was great. It might not have been good Spanish, but I understood their questions, and gave I think an understandable answer. :-) fun, fun! After dinner, Milka wanted to get my pictures from our class, so I went over to their library to get them to her. I got a few for Raquel too. Milka is so sweet! I really enjoy her company! That sums up Wednesday.

Today, Thursday, was really good. For the last few days, we have been going full speed in every which direction! Ariel wasn’t feeling so great the whole day, so just Rachel ended up going to Cusco, and not the rest of us. I was good with that! It’s an hour and a half in one direction, and it always ends up being an all day thing.

I got my first TEACHING homeschooling experience today… Since Rachel wasn’t here, I got to teach Bethany! She can’t get behind, and I know all the 5^th grade material, so I got to teach it to her! We really get along, and I enjoy her company. I checked her English, and gave her a test, called spelling words, explained the metric system, and learned about skin in health. We got done rather quickly, and I got her started on homework. She didn’t get a good grade on a math test, so her math homework was a few days behind. We did some in class, and the assignment was easy, so I really hope that it will be done by tomorrow! She helped me stuff some gift prize bags for the kids in Puno that memorize all their verses. Got 35 of those done, and Ariel stamped 100 Bibles with church information on it. :-)

Before lunch, Techis came over to make these cake in a cup concoctions for the birthdays this weekend. Roxana’s birthday is Sunday, Zacharias’ birthday was today, and Raquel’s birthday is Monday. I need to write out some cards, and get a few pictures printed for them. 2 sweet girls. :-) I got to help Techis , and I could pretty much read the recipe in Spanish. I got it for later too. :-) we quickly made the cakes for lunch, and hurried them over. I got to eat the extra teeny bit, so I stuck in a candle for Lauren’s birthday so I could send her a picture of her Peruvian birthday cake. :-) Tasty stuff!

I ate lunch with the seminary students again today. Sometimes I do miss my class with them and chapel. Today was fish day, and it was really good! I threw my tail fin to the dog (after I got the meat off) and Raquel was like, “I wanted that” so I said that I would let her have my fish’ head…. But then I noticed I didn’t have one. (disappointment) I talked with the girls and ate my fish, potato, and rice. It was a good lunch.

I needed to get a shower, wash some laundry, and work on this way overdue post in the afternoon. And I got most everything done, except I worked on finishing this after church. Church here is Thursday nights, and tonight Mr. Randy taught and Eric translated. It was a really really good message using different analogies with being fishers of men. Looking for opportunities (receiving power after the Holy Ghost is come upon you and being witnesses), holes in your net, trash in your net, and being willing to launch out into the deep and get out of your comfort zone. I thought it was the best one I heard him preach.

2 mins before…yes, I know you know where this is headed… Raul motioned to Raquel and me and wanted us to play the piano. So we start… I have NO idea what songs we are going to play, how many, or when the offering is or anything. Wow. So the first song, I had never ever heard, so Raquel played that one. The next I knew really well, Jesus Saves. I played the left hand chords down lower, and Raquel played the right hand up higher. That worked really well if I didn’t know the song at all or very little, because I could follow the notes in the right hand, and she when to change my left hand. She knew the melody and how fast it was supposed to go, so she could do the hard part. We complimented each other nicely, and she thought her part was better and was glad I was doing my part, and I thought the same about mine. It was a very unique way of playing the piano, but it all worked out. It’s amazing what you can throw together when you have to. :-) Raul plays the violin, so afterwards I played a song, part with melody, and part extras to compliment the violin, and it sounded really good! I haven’t really played with someone who plays violin, but it was fun. I love to play, and could play for hours! :-)

WOW! Here is basically a week packed into 2 posts. I have another picture, but it will have to be for another time. Thanks for your thoughts and prayers! I’m loving it here! Talk to you soon!

John 4:35

"Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already unto harvest."