Beautiful morning

Good morning. I went for my walk and when I got back I noticed how beautiful the sun was coming through the garden gate. My flowers are in full bloom and so pretty. I did a few self photos (Beth said, Maggie May is my song, "and the morning sun in your face" ....) so I thought this was appropriate.

It was so pretty in the yard that I had to take the pictures.

It is also so nice to be home after our fast trip to Peru. Our trip home was good although very bumpy nearly the entire 16 hours. The trip was successful and many great things happened. We love meeting with our friends down there, the Joo's and Elder and Sister Nelson who are all serving as Humanitarian Missionaries. Brother Jose Aleson is the Area Welfare Manager. We had a good visit with him and then he
took us to a fabulous Italian restaurant just before dashing to the airport to come home.





























Our next NRT project will be to Argentina and Paraguay. We started working on that trip this morning with a preliminary e-mail to the new Humanitarian Missionaries in Buenos Aires. There is always something new and challenging. We have been used to working with missionaries that know the program, but in the last couple of months they have all been released so we are now going to be training new people.

We feel very blessed to be able to work with the people of South America. They are all so humble and nice. On Wednesday we were able to visit a course being taught by one of the Doctors who helps us train. It was in a very poor part of town and they were doing a wonderful job. While there they stopped the course to introduce us. Then the area Director stopped and asked us to eat with them. They wanted to eat in the little hospital lunch room which was actually a little shack. We get very nervous about this kind of food as we try really hard to not get sick. I got deathly ill once eating hospital food in Peru. So we really had no choice and went in to the room. We told them that a bowl of soup would be enough, they brought a bowl of chicken soup which was actually very good. It was boiling hot and tasty. So it all worked out OK. I am home with out getting sick. Hooray.

Here are some pictures from Peru. The little lunch at the Hospital, Jeff and kids in the market, one of the cathedrals in Cajamarca and the place that the Spaniards ended the Inca rule.

Here are some pictures that we took at the orphanage yesterday. The girls loved having their pictures taken. Then they wanted to see them on the digital camera. The little bed on the kitchen counter is where the new baby sleeps during the day. All the girls love taking care of her. The picture taken outside the main door are elderly people begging for money. All of this is next door to the Inca ruins where the Inca leader was killed and ended the Inca reign in Peru. We will be home tomorrow. We are sitting in the airport waiting for our flight home.

Cajamarca Peru

This picture was taken at an orpanage that we visited. They are all girls from 1 month to 17. They were so excited to have company and loved Jeff. They all wanted their pictures taken. I have a bunch of adorable pictures that I will add later. It was pretty sad to be here. The girls were very sweet and desperate for our attention.

I am having trouble with the internet, so will try to post what I have downloaded. Will do the rest tomorrow.

We spent the morning seeing the Hospital here in Cajamarca. It was pretty nice as far as Hospitals here go. The baby below was born with a cleft palate. Our meetings here went very well. A TV station showed up and interviewed Jeff and Dr. Joo.

This lady was sitting outside of the Hospital. This is the hat that everyone wears here. We went shopping for one which we bought and will bring home to add to the tacky wall. That is the wall I put all of my travel treasures on. Then you get home and wonder what the heck you are going to do with them. So the tacky wall was born which is covered with tacky things.

Chiclayo to Cajamarca Peru

Meeting with the governor of the state about the NRT course (that is not him in the picture).



The day started early in Chiclayo which is on the northern coast of Peru. We arrived last night by plane. The first stop was at the Maternity Hospital which is 150 years old. The babies are delivered in a separate building and have to be carried outside to get to the nursery. We met with the Hospital Directors. They showed us their goals and plan for the coming year which included teaching the NRT course but not sure how to make it happen. So we will go back in October and help them teach the course.















This is the chapel at the hospital. Check out the floor. It reminds me of the that David Bowie movie. It was weird walking on it because it looks 3-D.
















We drove over massive mountains thinking it would take 4 hours. It was 6 1/2. Stunningly beautiful but awful roads. Very nerve wracking with lots of big trucks. It got dark the last two hours. The stars were so bright. We finally arrived and found our Hotel which is a resort. There are thermal pools and we were feeling bad that we did not bring our swim suits. We got to our room and it has it's own thermal tub...4 feet deep. Cool. We cannot wait to see this place in the morning. We are in a valley like Jackson Hole. This is the city that the Inca's lost to the Spaniards long ago. Sad to read about. Will send more tomorrow.

VOA News - New 7 Wonders of the World Announced

Taj Mahal

Mary & Barb at Taj Mahal

Mary at Machu Pichu

Jeff & Mary at Machu Pichu

VOA News - New 7 Wonders of the World Announced

So cool. Anyone use my link two weeks ago to vote on the new 7 wonders of the world? Well they announced them yesterday and I am soooooo excited about the choices. We are in Peru and everyone here is so excited...big celebration because Machu Pichu made the list. I have always said that it is the coolest place on earth. There is a special feeling there. I have been to three of the spots chosen. The Taj Mahal which is divine. Chichenitza in Mexico which is amazing. Machu Pichu which gets my vote for number one. That leaves 5 trips around the world to see the rest. (Egypts pyramids were grandfathered in also). Our trip to Chichenitza was pre digital cameras so no pics.
Our trip down to Lima was good. We were upgraded to first class which was so nice. It is in the 60's here (sorry folks sweltering in the west). I did not bring enough warm clothes so may have to pick up another Peruvian sweater or poncho...oh darn. Our flight to Chiclayo Peru is this evening. http://www.destination360.com/peru/northern-peru-cm.php
We will go for a walk today and just relax which we are in need of, before we head to the airport. Just the two of us for a few hours. Maybe plan our next wonder of the world trip.
Check in for updates on the trip.