Five Multi-Zone Conferences

The month of February was nearly as busy as January, with us going to 5 Multi-Zone Conferences with the Lima South Mission . We taught health principles chosen by Sister Manning, the Presidents wife, so they were more applicable to her missionaries.  We answered their questions, then went to a room to see missionaries on an individual basis.  One time there were 15 who wanted to see us!  Twice we packed up to leave but were told there were more, and there were.  But that was what we were there for, so we didn´t mind.

Two of the Conferences were in Lima, the next was in Cañete, a town 2 hours south.  Graciela, our Driver & her husband took us and we had a meal together before returning to Lima 

Dining with our driver, Graciela & her husband "Papi"

We often see donkeys pulling carts with big loads when we are out of Lima, & I was thrilled Brian was able to take this photo in Cañete to show you what they are like. 

A heavy load needs four donkeys

The journey to the south was beside the sea (ocean to you Americans!) which looked lovely.  We also saw fields of sugar beets and other crops.

Sugar Beet drying in the sun

The staple diet in Peru is rice, potatoes & chicken. Since there are 12 million people living in Lima, they get through  an awful lot of chickens.  For this reason, there are numerous chicken battery farms, under long narrow tents alongside the road. 

Home for a thousand chickens

The fourth Conference was in Ica.  The  4 hour drive south with the Mannings & their daughter Natalie & her friend went very quickly.  We booked into this lovely hotel they use often; it was easy to see why they like it.  

Las Dunas Hotel at Ica

Origami swans made from towels

We really enjoyed our early morning walk with the Mannings , around the circumference of the hotel, & saw a variety of animals & some crops.

The Hotel's Lake

President Manning "shooting" a llama

Smaller animals in the hotel grounds

Mangoes do grow on trees

We visited a Clinic in Ica and found it was an excellent facility with a very high standard of services offered.  We have recommended it to the Insurance Company that will cover the payment for our missionaries visits there.

President & Sister Manning stayed in Ica for the Stake Conference that weekend, so we returned to Lima on a bus, supposedly air conditioned, along with some young missionaries.  The return journey took 4 and a half hours, we couldn´t avoid watching the films shown.  They were loud & right in front of us, but at least it helped pass the time.

The last Conference was on Sat. 25th Feb.  Having stayed at the Lima South Mission Home with the Mannings overnight, we got up at 3am for our flight at 5.30am to Ayacucho, a little town in the mountains, ¾ hour away from Lima. 

Arriving with the Mannings at Ayacucho

The chapel was high up a hill, with mountains in the background.  After our presentation we left to inspect a Clinic, and saw some ladies opposite setting up their lunch stall.

Our chapel near the top of a steep hill

Setting up their stall for lunch

Potted flowers on the roof

In the afternoon, President Manning had arranged for a member to take us to La Pampa de la Quinua, where the last battle for Pruvian independence from the Spaniards took place in 1824.  On the way there we saw rain clouds, and a rainbow which is very unusual for us as it doesn´t rain in Lima. 

The monument at La Pampa de la Quinua

A scene from the battle

This is where Peru won its independence

We were grateful  the clouds departed & we enjoyed sun for our little trip. There was a large monument to honour the men who fought the battle, and listed the countries who were represented.  We climbed up inside it to take photos & were rewarded with a great view.  Our guide took us to some little shops where we bought a few recuerdos (souveniers).  One I particularly liked was the ceramic moto taxi, which is a representation of a motorbike, with a carriage attached for passengers.  We went in one in Ica, and were glad it wasn´t a long journey!  They are everywhere, except the part of Lima where we live. The young men who drive them often rent a car so they can provide taxi rides for part of the day.  

We love this ceramic moto taxi

Fun, but you feel every bump in the road

In the evening the Mannings were busy with another Stake Conference, so we ate dinner with Natalie & then bumped into the Assistants to the President in the Plaza de Armas. 

Five youngsters in the cool of the evening

On Sunday, we all got up at 5am to catch our return flight back to Lima.  Needless to say , we felt very weary all of Sunday!

Since walking around the Temple in Cochabamba  with the Dyers in January, we made the decision that we should be exercising more.  So, we found a nearby park that is 5 mins from our apartment.  It takes 5 mins to walk around, so we usually do 3 or 4 laps walking round on 4 week days.  There are usually 15 – 22 other people also walking round.  This is what I anticipated doing before we even started our mission.  But with walking 25 mins to the Office & back most days, we never started our power walking. 

30 minutes exercise in the morning

On our way to “our park” we pass a small park behind our apartment.  There is some very uneven pavement (sidewalk for you Americans!) which is a remnant from a minor earthquake.

Earthquake damage

Is it a tree or a bicycle rack?

We also pass a tree with beautiful flowers on. Does anyone know the name of the tree?

More exotic flowers 

One day each week, Graciela takes me to a swimming pool a little distance away, where I swim for ½ an hour, it´s great, & is my kind of exercise.  I didn´t know before our Mission that senior missionaries are allowed to swim, I´m very grateful we are.

Last month we had Stake Conference and after the Sat. Evening session, I was interested by what I saw.  There was a policeman holding up traffic so cars could drive out of the car park, and when we got on the bus home, it was half full of members – great!  That's all for now, more next month.