The field is white...

I have had the sense for a couple of weeks now that the work here is a ticking time bomb just waiting to explode.  Or another way to put it, to quote scripture, "the field is white, all ready to harvest"  We are seeing more and more signs of the truth of that statement.

Our English program, Daily Dose, is now being taught not only by us here in Cusco, but also by the missionaries in Puno, & Puerto Maldonado and we have left materials in a few other locations hoping to get it up and going there as well.  This week we learned that some of the missionaries that are coming to our classes are going to start their own classes in their sectors using the materials we have been giving them.  Wow.

My piano lessons have been an example of the mushrooming effect as well.  This week because we were traveling back from Quillabamba I had Sister Hasler, another senior missionary here, substitute for me so I could keep the ball rolling.  I have two to three groups of beginning students and a couple of intermediate level students.  They are so grateful and excited to be able to take lessons.

Anywhere we go to talk about the new self-reliance workshops and programs we see so much interest  and excitement from the members.  Sunday, Feb. 22nd, we were invited by the bishop & leaders of the Chaski ward to give a 30 minute presentation.  We lucked out and also spoke with the Tihuantinsuyo ward as well as they were meeting with the Chaski ward due to the chapel they meet in was holding the Cusco stake conference during their meeting hours.  It was a combined RS & Priesthood meeting and we had a full large chapel that we got to address, which is great since it helps us get the word out to many people at one shot.  Afterwards, I had many inquires and members saying they will come see us at the center.  Dave had many come up to him as well.

We can see how down the road there will be so many self-reliance groups going that all we will have time to do is supervise the work.  We will need to have many other members doing the facilitating of the groups.  That 30 minute Sunday presentation got us two offers for volunteers.

Dave´s idea of teaching a sheet rocking class or how to install drywall is taking off like wildfire.  We have noticed in the last month that drywall is now making an appearance here in Cusco.  We read that a sheet rock factory opened up recently in Peru making it more affordable to purchase and the Peru version of Home Depot and Lowe´s is now stocking a lot of those materials.

Dave has also found insulation now in stock at this home improvement stores.

  Dave came up with the idea of teaching a class after he talked with the supervisor at ProMart and found out that no one there had any idea how to use the stuff.  They begged him to come teach them.  Instead, he spoke to the area manager of facilities for the church to see if they needed any small storage sheds built at any of the chapels.  He told them if they would provide the material, he would supply free labor.  They were all for it.  In fact, he wants Dave to teach his employees in Puno who need to know NOW how to work with it.  He is even willing to bring them all in to Cusco for a number of days for Dave to teach them. Dave envisions teaching a group of members a series of classes on the techniques of working and installing drywall and building the storage sheds will be their practical application.  But even better, we are going to couple it with attending the business workshop.  They will have to attend and complete the first four lessons in order to participate in the first class and then every few classes, Dave will do another drywall class.  Since this is a new product, Dave is hoping to help the members be able to develop construction businesses that will prosper as they take advantage of this new wave in construction.  Hard to believe that sheet rock is only now coming to Cusco, Peru.

We´ve had some great weather and a break from constant rain lately.  It has actually felt like summer.

Photo from Quillabamba, but sunflowers make me think of summer.

On a different note, I am excited because I have gotten my hands on a cookbook called "Pie in the Sky" that has recipes for high altitude baking, something that has been extremely challenging at 11,200 feet.  I tried my first recipe out of it this week, cornbread, and was SO excited when it turned out beautifully the very first time.

I tried biscuits today and they came out ok, but not as good as the cornbread.  We scarfed both down pretty quickly.

We also tried a new fruit recently.  For a number of weeks as we´ve walked the streets we have seen vendors with wheelbarrows full of fruit from cactus called "tuna".  They come in different colors, red, orange, yellow, green.  They have been everywhere.  We finally decided we needed to try it.  It was unique.  It had a good flavor, but you eat the seeds and all so it was crunchy at the same time.

This isn't the best photo as you can't see the fruit much, but it shows how they just fill a wheelbarrow up, use a bucket for a seat and hope that people as they pass by will want to purchase from them.  Below is a better photo showing the fruit.

Spiritual Thought for the Week:  From Carlos A Godoy's October 2014 talk "The Lord Has a Plan for Us"  We are constantly telling the members this phrase and encouraging them to pray and receive inspiration as to what the Lord wants them to do in their lives.  Here are some great excerpts from his talk.

"Understanding who we are, why we are here, and what the Lord expects from us in this life will help give us the broader vision we need."
"The best paths in life are rarely the easiest.  Often, it is exactly the opposite."  "Are we willing to pay the price for our decisions?  Are we prepared to leave our comfort zones to reach a better place?"

"We are children of Almighty God.  He is our Father, He loves us, and He has a plan for us.  We are not here in this life just to waste our time, grow old, and die.  God wants us to grow and achieve our potential."
"I know that the Lord has a plan for us in this life.  He knows us.  He knows what is best for us.  Just because things are going well does not mean that we should not from time to time consider whether there might be something better.  If we continue to live as we are living, will the promised blessings be fulfilled?"