Fiestas patrias and we got to Andahuaylas without barfing...

Bassetesque, catching some rays 

How do you suppose one decides on a 28% discount???

Ironing boards...

Raw herbal teas

Coca dealer

Herbs

Bags of bile...

Detail
Eye Soup
Tongue Soup
Ear Soup
Skirt Soup
Foot Soup
Stomach Soup...

Huge open market with the painter overhead

Early morning piña

Vidal, the potato merchant

Our old street

From the church in Andahuaylas

Traffic stop on our way home

The Andes can take your breath away

Moving livestock in Andahuaylas

Sister Harbertson with Pres Huayapa and his wife

Candid shot of President Harbertson

Monday was a holiday but we were able to get into our office and get some work done. Because of the three day holiday the streets were quiet and peaceful and we didn’t hear the usual cacophony of blaring horns and didn’t risk our lives every time we crossed a street.  It was actually fun to walk around.

We traveled to Urubamba for our district meeting and we always enjoy being the missionaries there. 

We took Tuesday and Wednesday off for Fiestas Patrias because in order to go in and work we need special permission and it’s a hassle trying to find the right people to authorize all of it. We were able to get caught up on many things that had been neglected and we enjoyed our down time. We got a lot of comments about how much more efficient things run in the US because we don’t take off every time there is a reason to. This one is independence day for Peru but where we take one day, they take three. The number of legal holidays far exceeds one per month given that some are as long as a week.

Thursday was back to work as usual. Rich isn’t teaching Institute classes this semester so our evenings are a bit more free. Julie will start teaching her English students next week.

We met the Rhoades and the Reátequi’s early Friday morning to take a car to Abancay. Rich and the other men went in one car and Julie and the sisters were in another. The cars are comfortable, but no matter how many times we ask the drivers to slow down, they don’t. In general, neither do they comprehend smooth turns. As a result we all ended up pretty queasy by the time we reached Abancay. The views are spectacular but the road is so windy! We took an hour or so break from riding, had a bite of lunch and then took a taxi to where the cars leave for Andahuaylas.

We all fit in this car and the driver was excellent! We’re sure he was a nervous since it was his first time to make this drive. Also, the car was way overloaded with the six of us and he simply could not speed. We were happy, and none of us felt sick when we arrived in Andahuaylas. 

As the crow flies, the trip from Cusco to Andahuaylas is about 185 miles, but because of the hairpin turns and switchbacks it’s about a 8-9 hour trip. We were all exhausted but found a good Pollo a la Brasa place, ate dinner and went to bed.

Rich and Brother Reátequi had meetings beginning at 8am Saturday morning, the rest of us were able to rest a little and see a bit of Andahuaylas. There isn’t much to see so our walking about didn’t take long. We met at the church for a good lunch of chicken and potatoes again.

The buildings don’t have heat and we nearly froze in the church, it can get so cold. We brought “Little Hotties” hand and foot warmers with us, they have saved us and many a missionary here. We did more training in the afternoon and evening and were back in our hotel about 9:30pm. 

Sunday morning Rich and Brother Reátequi had to be to the church by 8am and President Harbertson needed to get the car out to take to the church. The little parking area for the hotel had cars stacked inside and two cars blocking the presidents exit. Rich and Brother Reátequi left in a taxi since no one could find the owners of the cars.  After a lot of running around and trying to figure out what do President Harbertson, another man who needed his car and the hotel worker were able to move the cars around with lots of pushing and shoving. Thank goodness the two cars weren’t locked. It was quite the fiasco. 

We had a wonderful conference with the members in Andahuaylas, and love visiting there when we can. After the meetings the Rhoades left in a separate car and the six of us loaded into the mission car for the 8-9 hour ride home. The drive went well and we only had one 30 minute stop for road construction. We arrived home about 8:30pm, drank about a gallon of water since the president doesn’t like to stop anywhere, not that there is anywhere to stop, ate some fruit and collapsed into bed.