Surreal and sublime; now it really feels like we really never left.

cowering puppy

Keeping the dust down

Cotton candy anyone???

Peruvian smokers

Elder Johnson's Fair Photos

We had a great conference in Urubamba last week and hit the  ground running Monday morning. It was actually nice to get back to work and we made some good progress. Rich stood in a long line to pay the electric bill and did some other running around in the morning. Monday evening we returned to Urubamba for the district meeting with the two sets of missionaries assigned there. We never get tired of the drive because the mountains are so spectacular, especially in the early evening. We were pretty exhausted by the time we got home.

Rich had a meeting with Señor Farfan Tuesday morning about the fair that the archives participated in. We were in the states for the whole thing and missed it, but it was a huge success. In the end there was a list of 1,152 referrals for the missionaries from people who wanted to know more about Family History and Family Search. We did all of the pre-fair work before we went home. It was quite the project to get organized and set up. We left it in the most capable hands of the Johnsons and some great young missionaries. We are thankful that it had such a great outcome. The missionaries came a way with very high quality referrals since the missionaries were so busy, that they had the contacts write down their own contact info. They are all seriously interested people, at least in family history work.

We had a productive work day on Wednesday and enjoyed lunch with the Johnson’s. On Thursday Rich worked in the morning while Julie did some necessary things at home and we left at 1:30pm for a multi-zone meeting with Elder Juan Uceda, the area president. 

It is always fun to see missionaries that are serving in other areas and we had an incredible meeting with Elder Uceda. He has been on a mission tour all week with the Harbertson’s and   he has been having five hour training meetings in the different zones in the mission. His energy is unbelievable. We were worn out after the one, five-hour-long meeting we attended. The Lord is certainly watching over him. The marvelous thing is that he is a Peruvian who really gets what it is all about and has done so much in the church. It is impossible for Peruvians to dismiss him as, coming from the other culture.

We were starving afterwards and went up the street a bit from the church to eat at one of our favorite meat places, The Abrasador. We had a good chuckle feeling a bit guilty eating our delicious steak, because Elder Uceda is a complete and devoted vegan. 

There have been lots of flags, pins, red and white streamers and other paraphernalia on sale in preparation for Fiestas Patrias, Peru’s version of the 4th of July. Most government offices closed on Friday afternoon and will take Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday off for the celebrations. We thought the holiday was Wednesday and Thursday, but it’s Tuesday and Wednesday with Monday being the bridge, because government work here is so exhausting.  (said with some sarcasm)

We had a relaxing Saturday and Sunday and we will try to get some work in over the holiday.