Cusco, Peru

We rondezvoused with Arturo in Cusco and all stayed with our friends Eliana and Willy at their hostal/lodge. They also now run their own tourism business, and we highly recommend them to anyone wanting to explore Cusco, Sacred Valley, Machu Pichu. We took the bus to nearby Pisak to do some hiking around the spectacular valley and ruins there, and also wandered the aisles of their huge market. We luckily stumbled into the Blue Llama, a new artsy and very good restaurant in Pisak.

We are so glad we have spent this time down here before our year begins in November. We have made so many contacts thanks to Arturo, and actually have a plan of action (although at times a little overwhelming!). It is definitely a leap of faith, but we now know we have a lot of support from the church, local Rotarians and others we have met.

We flew out of Lima yesterday to Guayaquil, Ecuador and fortunately in front of us in the mob going through immigrations was the rest of our Rotary team from Idaho! Five flights had all landed at the same time, and it took us over 2 hours to work our way through the chaos. What a haven for swine flu to run rampant as we were all crammed into such hot, humid, tight quarters. We hedged our bets....six of our team were prudent and kept their surgical masks on! Part of the bottleneck was a result of the Ministry of Health insisting on using their new high-tech heat sensor cameras to individually photograph each of us to check for fevers. The only thing that got a little hot was tempers!




Willy, don´t play with your food! This small one-room house had over 25 guinea pigs running around awaiting their fate. Guinea pig, cuy, is a delicacy!

A farmer and his wife in the Sacred Valley, on their way back home to thresh their wheat. The donkeys (keep looking....you will see them) help thresh the grains by walking in a circle on the cut wheat, then they throw it in the air to separate from the chaff.

I can´t take these two anywhere.....they managed to join the protest in Cusco with the locals objecting to the privatization of water service. The whole country shut down for a day for a paro, strike, of transportation services (bus, taxi). It was great to have a walking mall for a day, but not so great to drive on the roads that had been covered with large rocks by angry protesters.

Ollantaytambo in the Sacred Valley still uses the original Inca irrigation and water delivery systems!

Catching our breath in Puno, Peru

Parades and demonstrations everywhere! They love parties and pomp! We just happened to run into this major festivity that took over the city streets this morning...kids were going in all directions.

This parade of little guys was a celebration of integating early childhood education into the school system. We could learn from Peru!





There were little ones in Aymara traditional costumes.....

And others just having so much fun!

A new job possibility for Scott and Bev in Puno!

Or...our new car?

They do love their pan!

We are not only literally catching our breath readjusting to being back at nearly 12,500 feet, we are taking a day to relax. We wandered the town in search of apartments, found a sinful pastry shop, and took in many parades of children of all ages celebrating their various education annual celebrations: anniversary of integrating early childhood education (sounds like a good progressive idea!), celebration of school sports, and an opportunity for school bands that were out in force. Parents, like parents everywhere in the world, were lining the streets of Puno waving and cheering their kids on. Tomorrow we will go to the Uros Islands and check on the status of a water purification project installed two years ago, and of course check out the big market day.

Rotary last night was an excellent connection to make, although Bev will be the first woman to participate! They have been very helpful looking for a place to live, and we were invited to attend their annual recognition of esteemed senior members of their community who have generously given years of service. It was well done, and we are learning here not to be surprised that it started an hour late.

Thank you all for your comments; we have appreciated them!

Hola de Cochabamba!

During discussions with pastor of Methodist Church of Cotani, Bolivia outside of Cochabamba, we were interrupted by a cell phone!!
It was an important phone call from her kids in Santa Cruz. We all had a good laugh at our preconceptions. We continue to work our way up the learning curve.
















A group of curious school children outside the Methodist Clinic in Cotani. The woman behind is Elisa, previously a promotore de salud who returned to school to become a nurse. She runs this clinic, which serves also as the government health clinic for the area.












Methodist Church of Cotoni, Bolivia, with their pastora (woman pastor) on their front porch. They are currently working on finishing their new church but have been waiting for two years for enough funding to complete the roof.















View from new church site in Cotani.

La Paz....Peace

We are working our way slowly up the learning curve, especially here in Bolivia, where they have been having major political changes: new constitution, additional flag, new rights for the Aymara, Quechua and the many other indigenous cultures here. It has reminded us of the changes that have come to South Africa. The Methodist Church here is in a very unusual position for it has worked well with the government for over 100 years, and still is. The church here focuses on healthcare, education, and social justice. The leadership here, as in Peru, has been very warm and genuine in its reception and very helpful in our planning. We will be working with both the church and the government healthcare system.

Arturo has been wonderful to travel with....I hope we are so blessed at 77 years old to be able to keep his pace. He thrives on it, and we work to keep up! It has been fun to watch him as he reconnects here with so many friends he shares nearly 30 years of history.

The photo is La Paz at night....built in a caldera at the base of the massive Andes.

A Peak at the Pressmans

This abuelita has a wonderful orchard growing at nearly 13,000 feet above sea level. She shared apples and pears with all of us.

What Scott and Bev will look like if all of the communities keep feeding them like they have this past week. We had just crossed via one car ferry across Lake Titicaca enroute to La Paz.

Contraray to their expressions, they wanted their picture taken with me! To my right is Marta, the president of all of the Methodist Women Associations in Bolivia.

Max, pastor from Potosi, Bolivia got such a kick at the difference in their sizes! A fun guy.

Remember this young woman´s face from Juliaca? We each remembered each other. She is now a mom!

Saludos de La Paz

We have been meeting with the church leadership and local people in the Methodist churches and communities. Yes indeed, as you have heard me say, we have hit the ground running!

We will be working in both Peru and Bolivia in the districts surrounding Lake Titicaca, helping them implement a sustainable community-based healthcare program. Most are Aymara, a few Quechua...and all churches are locally run by the indigenous. A huge deal for them to have both countries working together on this mission project....a lot of celebration, pomp, and presentations! I am already getting more comfortable speaking Spanish in front of a room full; and they are thankfully gracious, understanding, and patient with our Spanish! The warmth of their enthusiastic reception has been overwhelming.

We spent two days in Puno in a huge celebration and meeting with the bishops of both countries, Peru and Bolivia, local District Superintendents, pastors, members, musicians...A BIG DEAL! They have gotten organized (to help us get organized!) and have prioritized their own goals as a new coalition and goals for us as well. Some of them traveled 2-4 days to reach Puno; piled into trucks, cars, and busses.

We arrived safely in La Paz from Puno yesterday after a 2 day adventure with 8 of us in a 5 passenger 4 X 4. We managed to get lost twice, arriving at the Bolivian border after closing, therefore entering illegally temporarily until the border crossing opened in the morning. We got the visas easily...expensively, but easily and legally.

Thank heavens for the four wheel drive as we ventured out to the villages on the Bolivian side yesterday! What royal receptions we received at all four...blessings of flower petals on our heads, leis they had made from their flowers, a short service and presentation at each, and food, food, food!

Hola from Puno, Peru!

We have arrived safely in Puno, Peru after 2 days in Lima where we stayed with a new friend we met through a friend made in Cusco on previous trips. Those who have gone with the Methodist Church to Cusco...it was with Liz, Eliana's sister. Liz is a physician now working in Lima in a state medical position, and her husband, Lucho, is a mining engineer. They were both so hospitable and fun to be with; did we ever see the sights of Lima!

We have met this evening with a celebration and meeting of the Methodist Bishop of Peru and the Methodist Bishop of Bolivia, as well as over 30 from their indigenous churches in Bolivia, who traveled over to Puno for the event. In preparation of our coming, both countries are uniting for the first time the region surrounding Lake Titicaca for mission and interactive purposes. It was quite the celebration that rocked the rafters with their music and heartfelt speeches and welcomes to all. Tomorrow we will also meet; both Bolivianos and Peruvianos. It was moving to see them embrace the idea and run with it.

Haven't found housing yet......another year in a tent?

Ready....Set.....

Piles of clothing, paperwork, medical supplies, gear, and suitcases have taken over the living room. We scratch our heads wondering if we can make it all fit!

We leave from Portland this Sunday, May 10, with our dear friend, Arturo Fernandez, a Methodist pastor from Salem, for three weeks in Peru and Bolivia. We will be meeting with church leadership and valuable contacts in both countries in preparation for our return this coming November for a year commitment as Individual Volunteers in Mission with the Methodist Church. Arturo has been working in Peru and Bolivia for over 30 years, and we could not be taking this on without him. Our main goal is to work with the indigenous communities in the Lake Titicaca border region of Peru and Bolivia. We will be establishing a mission base that will work alongside the Peru and Bolivia Iglesia Metodista Evangelica towards more sustainable healthcare and educational programs.

Following Peru and Bolivia, we will be joining our Rotary team from District 5400 of Idaho in Ecuador for an additional two weeks. We will visit past, present and future potential projects....water purification, education, microlending. It is a great team, and we have asked them to also participate in the blog when we get to Ecuador.

For both Rotary and the Methodist Church, it is about building relationships, and all of the emails that have been flying back and forth the past few months verify that. We are excited about renewing our old friendships, and know that new friendships are waiting for us as well.

Note.....anyone traveling to Bolivia....they now require a visa for entrance. Research all requirements sooner than we did! We will let you know how it goes.