¡Hola!
As
we were leaving the mission office late one afternoon, we were surprised to see
a man slumped right outside the door. He looked to be completely asleep. We
walked passed, then paused, and wondered what we should do. Should we wake him
up? Was he OK? There were lots of people hustling around and no one seemed to
be worried. I hated to leave the man, but just wasn’t sure what to do. And I
remembered what had happened back in downtown Salt Lake City, Utah when I tried
to help a woman who seemed to be in distress. She became very angry and began
swearing and yelling at me. It was frightening. So…we walked on. But it’s
bothered me all week. We’re here on earth to learn, grow, and become something
better than what we started out as. I need to remember and apply these words
from Jesus Christ:
“ … I
am the light; I have set an example for you … Therefore, hold up your light
that it may shine unto the world. Behold I am the light which ye shall hold
up—that which ye have seen me do … ”
~3
Nephi 18: 16, 24
¡Que tengan una semana
súper fantástica! (Have a super fantastic week!)
Love,
Lane & LeAnn
Today we attended church at the Tahuantinsuyo Ward, which is located about 1 1/2 miles away from our apartment. But it is up, up, up the mountain. We took an Uber to get to church (because someone didn't want to go to church all hot and sweaty!) and then we walked home after. The people were very friendly.
Here's where sacrament meeting was held. We were told that our ward meets at 11:00am, but often doesn't really "start" until about 11:20am. We're not sure what the actual start time is supposed to be, but we ended up being pretty early!
Here's the water filter system that is hooked up to our sink. All the missionary houses have this filter system which is comprised of 3 different filters - one in each "tower."
Lane has been keeping track of when each filter needs to be replaced for all the missionary apartments and when they are to be sent out from the office to each apartment in the "weekly packet." This week filter 1 and filter 2 needed to be changed out, so we bagged them up for each missionary house.
Here are the bagged filters waiting to be delivered to the missionary houses.
On Monday we came home to an apartment full of dust! AARGH! There's a lot of construction going on around us, and on this particular day, the workers were drilling in the concrete wall outside our apartment. Because of the way apartments are built here, our apartment essentially became a wind tunnel, sucking the dusty air from the hall right into our home. What a MESS! We literally were stunned when we got home, and did not know where or how to even start cleaning up, because the dust was just everywhere... not only on the floor but the sofa, desks, shelving, food, etc.! But slowly tackled it.
More dust...It took us a couple of days to finish all the clean-up. Thankfully, we've got most of our kitchen things stored in big, clear, storage containers. But we had to wipe down everything else and mop the floor a couple of times before it felt clean. And Lane created "under the door" sweeps that we stuff under the door (even when we leave the apartment).
We crumpled up tons of wrapping-plastic (the same type of plastic we wrapped the sofa to the top of the car when we moved it!) and stuff it under the front door from the inside while we are inside the apartment, then we move it and stuff it under the door from the outside when we leave the apartment. As much as it seems like the tight, stuffed, fit, would stop all the dust from coming in, it's amazing how much dust still gets into the apartment from everywhere else. Just part of living in Lima!
Our one housing success this week: we caught the mouse! They don't sell traditional mouse traps here - at least we couldn't find any - instead, they sell this sticky card that you place on the floor. We added a few tortilla chips as an enticement. It's a little gruesome, but gets the job done.
On Saturday we went site-seeing in historic Lima. Although this central Lima location is only about 6 miles from our apartment, it took us about an hour ride in an Uber to get there. Traffic is usually very bad in Lima, and especially on Saturdays! The Presidential Palace is directly behind us at the Plaza de Armas.
Outside the Cathedral of Lima, also at the Plaza de Armas. This was an amazing building with so much detailed artisan work. It also houses the bones of Francisco Pizarro.
In front of the main chapel area. This cathedral is still in use...church is held at 11:00am every Sunday. Also, the wood on either side of the pulpit area is carved into likenesses of the various saints, martyrs, friars, etc. that are recognized by the church. These carvings are amazing.
We tipped a tour guide to give us a personal tour in English, but couldn't understand half of what he was saying in English!
In front of Francisco Pizarro's tomb.
One of the many rooms in the Cathedral...
View of the Plaza de Armas with the Archbishop's Palace and the Cathedral of Lima in the background.
Outside the Franciscan Monastery. We toured this building as well, which contains many super interesting artifacts, paintings, and culture from the 1500s. It also holds catacombs in its basement. I (LeAnn) was a little worried that this might be too freaky for me, but it wasn't too bad. It felt like the Halloween thing to do. Also, we ate our peanut-butter-sandwich lunch in the outside courtyard after the tour and felt like we were in the Mary Poppin's movie...tons of birds flying around.
A view of the Rimac River...which doesn't really look like a river at this time of year. This photo was taken from a foot bridge that we crossed as we walked from the Plaza de Armas to catch a taxi home.
And some fun grandkid pics! Notice the eyelashes made from tree bark on this "snowgirl!"
Can't believe there's already snow in Idaho!
If you look close you can see the hot chocolate moustache!
We're so happy that Liz and her mom were able to drive to Oklahoma to attend Jaron's Basic Training graduation. Love the smiles in this picture! And the "star of Bethlehem" above our grand-daughter!
Taylia and Alair got together with their cousin, Noelle...fun to see their smiling faces, too!
