Consternation, Wrath, and Conflict...Clash at the Bus Stop!

Our group of line respecters

Onlookers

Onlookers

Spray painted van

Nefarious spray paint lady... Red handed

Faded Adobe

Discovered Ruins

More ruins

Aerial filming of the ruins

More ruins

More ruins

And More ruins

Ice Cream girl

Dinner with the other couples

Promising dance career

Gratuitous dog for Pauline

Political Shenanigans in the plaza

Political Shenanigans in the plaza

Political Shenanigans in the plaza

Political Shenanigans in the plaza

Sling shot boy with his mom

School marchers

The band

Derelict

Political Shenanigans outside our apartment window

Political Shenanigans outside our apartment window

On Sunday morning we arrived at “Manzana Pata” where we get the cars/combis to Izcuchaca. It surprised us to find so many people waiting for rides. The “official” taxis leave from one side of the street where there was an orderly line of twenty-five or so people. Across the street is the “unofficial” or “Pirate” taxi stop. Those fill up with anyone willing to run, push and shove to get into the cars. We usually only have to wait about 10-15 minutes before we can get a ride. This time we had to wait for about 45 minutes. 

Part of the problem, we found out, was that there was a police check going up the road a ways. Naturally all the unlicensed and unregistered cars were not running, so that caused problems. Across the street a big group was gathering and when a van pulled up to pick up people there was a lot of shouting, pushing and shoving. The people on the “unofficial” side got really worked up and two women began spray painting the van and screaming and yelling at the driver. 

From what we could make out they were mad that the vans weren’t stopping at another stop up the street. This of course prompted the people in the orderly line to start yelling at the abusive people. The screaming and shouting alternated between the two groups across the street from each other. They were using some pretty strong language for Peru; calling each other savages, animals, bad people, delinquents, scoundrels etc. it is akin to some of our really strong language we use in the states.  

At one point we were sure that all this was going to come to some blows. The women in front of us shouting across the street at the “horrible people” said what a bad example they were for the foreigners (us) visiting. They were all pretty bad examples, but we also understand the frustration of a barely functioning infrastructure and how difficult it is to live in this country at times.

A car finally arrived and we managed to get in without trouble. These station wagon taxis usually put people in the back too, but because of the police check most were avoiding this. Our driver however, was undaunted and put a man in the back of the car. When we approached the police check, the driver politely asked the man to please lie down, which he willingly did and we drove through without a problem. When we arrived safely away from the police, the driver told the man that he could sit up again. It’s always an adventure when we have to travel!

We worked hard all week making up for our poor numbers while Leah and Kayla were here. Monday night we had dinner with the other couple missionaries, the Rhoades, and the Sandburg’s came up from Abancay and were taking a week of vacation to see the sites around Cusco. We laughed a lot and had a great time.

Julie taught English to Orlando on Tuesday and Rich taught his Isaiah class. Miraculously, the internet is back on in our work office, so we’re back in communication with the world again. What a relief, we were blessed to not have any computer problems while it was down as we would have been unable to get in touch with Salt Lake City to get in our computer and help us fix any difficult issues. We hope it lasts awhile.

Wednesday the Jones’ from Huancayo came to town so we met with them and had a nice relaxing dinner. They are doing the same records preservation that we are, in Huancayo which is eight hours southeast of Lima. They are also taking a week and seeing the sites. Since we live in Cusco we have become the designated travel advisors for many of the couple missionaries, family and friends. We are becoming quite expert at it!

Julie taught Marvid and Yahir English on Thursday afternoon and had a great time. Little children pick up languages so easily, it makes Julie jealous. Rich had a great Book of Mormon class that evening. The local elections are coming up so there are political posters everywhere and parades several times a day. Walking home from institute Thursday evening we passed a room where they were having a political meeting. We thought it looked very much like Russia or Germany must have back in the day, with a single light bulb hanging from the ceiling, a large black and white poster of the political aspirant, red and white banners (Peru’s colors) and lots of shouting and rhetoric being thrown around. We are coming up on regional elections and al the falderal and shenanigans related to that sort of activity.

Rich’s Quechua teacher told him about a congresswoman from Cusco. She is self-taught since she grew up when it was still taboo for girls to attend school. She is apparently quite a fireball. When she was sworn in, she brought along a copy of the Peruvian constitution. She read to the gathered congress where it declares that the official languages of Peru are Spanish, Quechua and Aymara. She insisted upon being sworn in in Quechua. This caused the whole proceeding to slow down while they found translators and so forth… 

By the end of the week we were pleased to see that we had taken 15,000 images and maybe redeemed ourselves a little. We had a fun dinner Friday night with President and Sister Harbertson. We went to our favorite hamburger place “Papachos” and enjoyed the evening with them. Some of their children are coming to visit next week and we had a good laugh over the things we ask people to bring us from the states. Tragically, we are seeing our supply of black licorice Leah brought us deplete though we eat it very slowly. 

We had a busy, fun week and love our mission and the opportunity to travel and visit the sweet, humble members in the family groups we see. We love this gospel and the opportunity to live and serve in Peru.