Lake Titicaca

We had a four night Break recently, so thought we’d write an extra posting for our Blog this month, to prevent December's Blog being too long for you to read!

On Thursday 17th November, Graciela picked us up at 4am, along with two other couples & took us to the Airport.  We flew to Arequipa. That was where  I’d served for 7 months on my first Mission in 1976, & met Marvin Harper, (Ruth’s Dad).  While the other couples went on a tour round the City, Hermana Fernandez (wife of Arequipa Mission President) & two Assistants came to take us to a meeting of their Zone Leaders.  We gave them our Presentation, teaching about five Health Principles.  The Mission Nurse & her companion were also there, & helped us with translation where necessary.  After our Presentation, a missionary came & told us his friend was a missionary serving in Grays Ward where Sarah's husband is the Bishop.  It's a small world, considering there are over 50,000 missionaries currently serving throughout the world.  Visiting the Arequipa Mission was one of the hightlights of our break.

Hermana Fernandez, Mission Nurse & Translator

Some Diners at a Restaurant in Arequipa

The whole five days & four nights had been set up by Moroni Tours, a company run by a church member, & of course the accommodation wasn’t the same quality as when we are on our Mission Health Visits.  It made us realise anew, how spoilt we are sometimes!

We had a journey of about 4 hours to Chivay, with frequent stops along the way to take photos of the alpacas & llamas or look at the goods being sold by the roadside.  

"Does This Look Good on Me?"

Watching Mummy Sell Her Goods

Jane With a Two Week Old Llama

Brian bought a lovely cardigan made of alpaca wool, which is very warm.  He needed it because we went up to 12,000 feet at the highest point & it was very cold.  However, it was great to get away from the clouds of Lima & enjoy the sunshine & blue sky every day. 

A Dance Show in Chivay

Watching the Dancing While We Ate

Our hotel was right at the foot of the mountains, with clouds swirling around.  We were very grateful for the electric fire!  

Our Eco Hotel in Chivay

It was planned for us to go & see the condors, for which the Colca Canyon is famous, & we actually got up & had breakfast at 5.30am.  However, one of our group had been unwell all night, so we decided we’d forego the 90 min journey each way, plus time to look for the condors, & all went back to bed.  We were feeling our age, plus the effect of getting up so early two mornings running!!

The next journey took 6 hours to get to Puno.  Those of you who know Brian well will know that he suffers from travel sickness.  We were delighted that his Travel Sick pills, plus his Wrist bands, and sitting behind the driver so he could look straight ahead all the time, meant he had a problem free journey.  It had snowed overnight, which made everywhere look wonderful.  

Pausing on our Six Hour Journey to Puno

As we arrived in Puno it began raining, which meant we had no internet access.  The roads became torrents of water & the locals & tourists looked at us as if we were crazy to venture out in the rain & sleet, even tho’ we had plastic ponchos on.  Truth to tell, we enjoyed it, being the first rain we’ve had on our Mission. 

At last - Puno & Lake Titicaca

Is This a Road or a River?

 On Sunday we were picked up at 7am & taken to the harbour on the shores of Lake Titicaca.  A boat took us to the first of the Uros Islands, where we were shown how they make the base of an island with roots of totora reeds, with layers of reeds on top.  They have to be replenished every 10 - 15 days.

How to Make a Floating Island

Wash Day on One of the Floating Islands

The Islanders go to Puno for goods they need & barter fish, eggs, & reeds.  No money exchanges hands.

Typical Hair Adornment

These Members Include a Recently Returned Missionary

Their Chicken is Welcome in Their Home

Selling Their Artwork Earns Precious Money

A Reed Boat Taxi to Church on the Neighbouring Island

We were particularly excited to come & visit these islands having read an article in the July edition of the Ensign, our Church Magazine, about the members on the Uros Islands.  

http://lds.org/liahona/2011/07/islands-of-faith-a-story-of-diligence/gallery?lang=eng

Then we went by reed boat to Utama, where the Chapel is built.  It was a most unusual, fun way to travel to Church, & the ladies amongst us were all grateful we wore trousers (pants to the Americans reading this!!).  We were impressed to see familiar posters on the reed walls of the building, i.e. Seminary, Mission Prepartion Classes etc.  There were 53 in the congregation, which included the Stake Presidency (leaders of an area like a Diocese), us 6 Senior Missionaries & the two young missionaries who actually lived on the island!!!   

Welcome to Church

Some of the Growing Congregation

Mums Are Always Proud of Their Children

We met the young boy Joseph who was featured in another article
http://lds.org/friend/2011/07/surrounded-by-water?lang=eng

Raised on a Small Island, Yet I Was Afraid of Water

After talking with the members, we headed to the Island of Taquile, which is a proper island. Our boat was powered by an old car engine and took over 2 hours. In 2008, Brian & I had stayed a night on the island.  4,500 people live on the island, along with many animals.  Some of our group would have had problems walking up to the Town Centre, so our Guide thoughtfully ordered the food to be brought down from the restaurant for us to eat near the harbour.

Sunday Lunch at the Quayside Cafe

We saw some people, carrying very heavy loads on their backs from the harbour up to their homes, or maybe shops.  It was the only way to get them up there.  

The Only Way To Get Things to The Top

We had wonderful weather for our day on the lake, but it started raining as we reached Puno.  We returned to the same La Casona Restaurant, we’d eaten in the night before. When we were half way through, our Guide, Javier appeared, & showed 3 people over to our table.   It was an Elder who had just finished his Mission plus his parents who had come to travel with him for a few days.  We’d met this Elder Rogers in Chiclayo in the North of Peru, during our first Mission Health Visit in May.  We remembered each other.  He’d written to his parents about us, so they were happy to meet us.  What a small world it is!!

The following morning, Monday 21st November, we were taken to Sillustani to see the Funeral Towers, which pre-dated the Incas.  We saw some lovely sights there - a little girl sitting quietly outside her front door, an adobe brick-making business. 

A Truckload of Adobe Bricks

Typical Adobe Homes

Happiness is a Child With Their Teddy Bear

En route for the airport we stopped & I had my photo taken with a new friend - a huanuco, which is related to the alpaca & llama.

Jane is the One With the Shorter Ears

It was a wonderful few days break, half way through our Mission - yes, we’ve already completed 9 months, doesn’t time fly?!  It was great to be back in our own apartment, & to get stuck in to our work in the office again.