Reflections upon Return

OK...the computer is being ridiculous.



So I am going to go ahead and put these photos the blog just deleted back in to share with you. One of the things we learned this year in Peru and Bolivia is that things do not have to be perfect.....and flexibility is essential to sanity and peace.



We are thrilled that Debbie and Jeff above, will be coming early spring of 2011 to live as Individual Volunteers in Mission in Copacabana. We could not be happier with our replacements. They have many strengths and experiences, including construction, economic development, connections with public health institutions....the locals are also very excited they are coming. They came to visit the mission the last two weeks, and all four of us had a great time getting to know each other and planning with the local communities and church leadership. We will get together again with Debbie, Jeff....and Cammeo in Chicago before they leave the states.



By the way, this is a greenhouse near completion....and built totally by women!
















Yes, it was a little bittersweet and hard to leave some of our extended family behind. Especially so for this little guy, Christian, the son of Venancio and Yessica. As his godparents, we participated in his baptism the week before we left.
















The Puno Church, almost completed. It was a big project to oversee, which Scott did well.
















We have returned to Idaho, and are in the midst of reconnecting our ties with friends, family, home....and technology. Prior to our departure we spent a few days in Lima with Liz and Lucho, and with our replacements Debbie and Jeff. It was a helpful transition time. One evening we visited the new outstanding water park in Lima with: (left to right) Liz, Lucho, Juan Carlos, Frine, and you know who. For anyone going to Lima, an evening visit to the water park in Jesus Maria is a must.....first class!
















This fountain is a favorite of families and kids of all ages. Like most of the fountains, it is set to music but this one changes its formations randomly and is designed for people to enter to try to stay dry. Most end up quite wet!

















Some glimpses of projects and activities in our final days. Much hope and momentum has been left behind that will prompt our return.




We have submitted a Rotary Grant for a literacy/agricultural development project in two rural communities outside of Puno. Fifty adults will learn literacy skills they will apply to a greenhouse agricultural and educational project to increase their ability to grow and market vegetables and flowers at 12,500 ft. above sea level. The greenhouses will be made by the communities out of adobe, with plastic roofs.

Proof that apples and fruits can be grown at this altitude!

One last training and clinic up north. Isidro was one of 11 Promotores de Buena Salud to be certified in our Basic Course, with 10 more who are in the process of studying. Using the Healthwise Handbook as their guide, they assist their communities and health outposts. Focus is on education and prevention, so when the promotores decided they wanted to implement dental health programs in their local schools we were thrilled. They are awesome!

Venancio and Scott are working on Venancio's father who has a corneal ulcer, probably a result of their house fire in September that destroyed everything. This happened the day before we left, and watching Venancio, also a Promotore de Buena Salud, respond to his father's emergency appropriately was very validating to us all.

An appropriate farewell to Lake Titicaca.....but we know we will be returning annually to continue our support of the Peru-Bolivia Lake Titicaca Border Mission.

Amigos Rotarios and a tough trek!

Welcome to Puno, Bob and John! We spent about a week investigating Rotary projects.....and shopping and walking through the hills. Bev and "the guys" had a super time in both Puno and Cusco.















One of the participating families in the Pacha Mama Raymi project, which uses competitions to motivate and encourage changes of certain criteria to improve standard of living.




















And people now-a-days think they have invented swaddling! This Quechua mother was proud to show us all of the improvements in her "healthy" house since she started in Pacha Mama Raymi project out of Cusco.















Loading up for the trek. Don't let him see how much stuff the Pressmans are bringing! 13 year old David, on the left, was our guide and mulester. We were in great hands!















David was absolutely fascinated by his first experiences with peanut butter, our Peru Bird Book, and binoculars. We were so impressed with his knowledge, confidence, manners, thoughtfulness and sense of humor. A truly great kid!















Choquequirao is 3 times the size of Machu Picchu, but only 30% uncovered. It is perched on top of a mountain, at this time only accessible by trekking. They have big plans though to build a tram.




















High and dry. Severely steep terrain; much like "rim to rim" hiking of the Grand Canyon.















The Andes. What rugged and spectacular country! We went to bed shortly after this sunset to get up at 3:30 a.m. to hike in the cool.....and the dark!

Celebrations with Family, Friends & Finishing our Year

Andy and Katie surprised us with a July 3 wedding ceremony in Donnelly. We were thrilled. It was a very special time shared with the two of them, Bill Basham, Scott and Bev. It will hopefully facilitate Andy's transfer to University of Utah School of Medicine, where Katie is working on her PhD. They want to share their vows again with family and friends and celebrate with a wedding in Donnelly in June 2011.




















I was pleased my informal shot caught the happiness glowing from Peter and Heather at their August wedding in Portland's Chinese Gardens. It was an absolutely gorgeous setting, and a fun and memorable time was shared by all. They are doing well in Chicago....Peter in neurology, Heather working on her master's in History, and the dog and cat holding down the fort during the day.





















Of course we can't resist a photo of fun Oma/Opa time in Portland. Ben and Nicki flew down twice in August for weddings(Ben's brother and Peter/Heather)....with Leo (3 1/2) and Kaya (6 mos.) in tow.















I admit it.....leaving family to return to Peru and Bolivia was very very hard. Having Bob and Sara Harder return with us helped tremendously with re-entry. We combined a little work with a lot of touring with them. Here we are bundled up for hiking the length of Isla del Sol in Lake Titicaca outside of Copacabana. They did awesome!













Back to work full time! Last week-end in Huacuyo, Bolivia, they had a large regional church celebration. We presented 3 of our Promotores de Buena Salud with their certifications of the Basic Course.....5 more from this group are close behind. Upon certification they also receive a small backpack with first aid supplies, stethoscope, thermometer, and room for their Healthwise Handbook. We had kept it as a surprise, and they were very excited and touched. The rest are now very motivated to receive the same.















Local musicians outside the little rural church of Huacuyo. They played and danced until midnight! They thrive on these special times shared.















Take good dirt; add a little water, straw, and animal hair; press into bricks and you have adobe, their main construction material down here.



















We have really enjoyed having Kary LaFors (in black jacket)from Living Waters for the World here with us this week. We traveled with local Rotarians to test the well water at their proposed project site. (Literacy/Agricultural Development Project) We have been helping him meet with leaders from the Uros Islands to troubleshoot problems with their water system.















Yuck!!!! This is one of the wells, coated with oil and slime. Enjoy and appreciate that clean water coming out of your taps at home!!!

Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu

At the end of their mission trip, the team of youth and adults from Boise First United Methodist Church hiked to Machu Picchu on two different Inca Trails; most of them on the traditional 4 day Inca Trail, with Scott, Bev, Mary and Jacqueline on the Salkantay Trail. For those who have not hiked or seen the Salkantay, I wanted to blog a few photos. It was a totally different hike than what we had hiked on the traditional trail.....you are up among the peaks, then drop through more tropical terrain with orchids, wild begonias, fruits. Highly recommended.

The girls trying not to blow away on the top of a pass, 15,200 ft.

Salkantay Mountain as we began to drop down below it. There are thousands of Inca Trail that pass through Chile, Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, to Columbia. We did not know before that there are 8 different routes and trails that arrive at Machu Picchu. It is such an inspirational setting. A highlight for us at Machu Picchu was being able to climb Waynu Picchu. We got the last two tickets available for that day!

Boise Construction Team Camping in Calahuyo!

Our thanks to all youth and adults who joined us for 5 days in Calahuyo, a small rural community in the northern region of Lake Titicaca. What an outstanding group of tough volunteers who went with us to "Construction Camp" out in the campo. We did church construction and repairs. We also had one day of Vacation Bible School, an eye clinic, and many memorable rich experiences with the locals.
And......many evening card games!















The playground across the road became a hang out for exciting games of soccer, American football, hoola hoops and baseball.

Vacation Bible School theme of "Caring for God's Creation" meant learning about caring for ourselves and caring for the environment.

Here's the VBS showing off their new toothbrushes. Only one of the 20 kids in attendance had owned their own toothbrush.

Our local choir doing an outstanding job leading songs in both Spanish and English.

Then it was time to pick up community trash to care for the environment!

Before snacks we learned when, how, and why we wash our hands!

Learning to brush teeth was a new experience for both the adults and the kids. Our promotores will follow up with more instruction and toothbrushes in the schools.

There was plenty of work both inside and out...grounds, stucco, windows, ceiling, doors. Thanks to all who worked with the two maestros from the community, and we will be sending photos of the church when the few last touches are finished.

Preston coaching baseball...a totally new and exciting game for the locals. Fun to share! It was also fun to watch the kids communicate through sign language, Spanglish and laughter.

The locals were also eager to share their lives with us....

And some of us caught on!

They were very eager to learn English.....just as we were eager to learn Spanish.

Presentation of a banner from the children of Boise FUMC to the children of Calahuyo Iglesia Metodista and Pastor Narciso.

The work crew!

Note the beautiful tiles from the Kelly family which are being mounted on 3 churches in this region.

We were the first Gringo group to have come here and the team made a lasting impression and boost to this church and its community. Our thanks to each and every one of you!

Northeast Lake Titicaca....Tilali Eye Clinic

Our friends Teri and Monica Lee (nurse and nursing student) piled into our car for the 5 hour drive to Tilali. Tilali is up and around Lake Titicaca, nearly to the Bolivia border.

We worked with two of our promotores and the medical staff of the Puesto de Salud of Tilali.








Our accomodations.....
camping in Dr. Johnny's office, complete with cardboard under our sleeping pads for more warmth. Johnny and his staff took good care of us, providing us with a large, scrumptious "almuerzo" the next day.

Earplugs please!!!







We saw 70-80 patients, fitting many for glasses. They were thrilled!

We also screened for cataracts, to refer to a free cataract eye clinic coming to nearby Huancane.









Monica and clinic nurse checking vision at near. Thank you, Monica for your Spanish!













Job well done!
Left to right: Monica Lee, Yessica (Promotore de Buena Salud),
Venancio (Pastor and Promotore de Buena Salud), Johnny, Teri and Scott.

Back in Peru

Back to winter of Peru! We brought David and Susan Hazleton back with us, and enjoyed travel and exploration with them of Cuzco, Puno, and the Manu Reserve. Our thanks to Dave and Susan for these photos.....our camera did not survive the rain and humidity of the rain forest and jungle. We will be borrowing photos from visitors and volunteers for awhile!










Hiking on a stretch of the Inca Trail that leaves from Cuzco. Many think of "hiking the Inca Trail" as just the 4 day hike into Machu Picchu. Not so.....there are thousands of miles that stretch from Chile to Columbia. Cuzco was the capital of the Inca Empire, so has Inca trails that lead in all directions from the historic Inca hub.










While enroute back to Cuzco from Manu, we stopped to see the beginning of the huge festival in the small town of Paucartambo. Here the locals are gutting and preparing the pigs for the BBQ. Makes you want to swim downstream, right?






We loved the birding. Between David Hazleton and our guide, we learned so much. We saw nearly 100 species of birds and animals. This little guy was photographed through a spotting scope by Susan.









Many kinds of monkeys, wild pigs, peccaries, caimens, turtles....and a jaguar were enjoyed in their natural habitat.

















Proof to all that I am taking it easy after my small stroke. Really.....I am doing very well.


















Bev, Susan and Scott preparing to paddleboat to our next town and lodging. Great fun had by all.













OOps! After intense rains, part of the bank slid, smashing the stern of our boat. Our crew had to go upstream for another. The rains are definitely severe and make for frequent changes in the terrain of this rainforest. Roads get interesting!











A farewell to all of the wonderful plants and animals of Manu and the Amazon basin.