We started out the week, visiting San Jeronimo ward in an effort to get some self-reliance groups started there as we have had some members from that ward visit us in the center asking to join a self-reliance group. We were pleasantly surprised when the bishop told us that he has already asked two of his members to spearhead that up and they are both people we know! Two of our Pathway students, Carlos & Delfin Valencia, brothers. We quickly set up a time to train them this week.
We invited a young single adult, Emma Faris, to dinner Sunday afternoon. So many of the members in their 20's and 30's are single adults. There are way more women then men that are active members. Emma is a return missionary from Ecuador that served her mission here in Cusco. Her family is not members and they did not support her going on a mission. She developed some health problems while on her mission as a result of some immunizations she received and now can't tolerate living in warm climates, where her family is from in Ecuador. So she now resides here in Cusco and doesn't have much contact with her family who doesn't know about her health problems as they would blame the church and her mission for it and she doesn't want that. She rents a small room and works as a nurse. She is very sweet, but never really has had a love interest in her life. She serves as an institute supervisor and goes to the YSA activities and is well liked by the members, but I still think it must get lonely for her at times.
We feed her BBQ chicken and it was tasty! The nice thing was the left over chicken made great BBQ chicken sandwiches during the week.
We also had the start of our new business workshop formed after last week's Mi Camino. It was cool for a couple of reasons. One, we had two business groups meeting at the same time in the same chapel, both facilitated by members. This new group ended up being so big that it was decided they would split into two groups from now on. Way cool!
Above shows our faithful group that is well into the workshop.
These show our new group that was so large we needed to split them into two.
This week we had a returning missionary training on Tuesday, Nov. 3rd. It was a group of 15 and by far the most we have known in one group. There were only 2 or 3 we had never met. It is also our last group to send off and we stay. The next group we will be going home with them! Yikes.
Front row L-R: Hna. Gonzalez from Mexico, Hna. Rodriguez from Trujillo. She was in Cusco and attended our English classes for quite some time. The next sister we really didn't know much, Hna. Tango. Next is Hna. Hollingshead. She served in Cusco for a long time and so we got to know her quite well. She worked as a Disney princess (Pocahontas & Jasmine) before the mission at Disneyland, Japan. That was how she earned her money for the mission. She was great! Then comes Hna. Mendez from Argentina. She was so afraid to speak English when she attended our classes but she is a sweetie. Last, Hna. Holland whom we really didn't get to know much in the mission.
It was the best group we've had as far as their preparation of their "Yo en 30 segundos" or "Me in 30 seconds". Way to go guys! All the best to you all.
November 4th was Empe Dolmo's birthday. We've become good friends with her and her family, so we took over some flowers and chocolate to her tailor shop and sang happy birthday. We kept it low key as the next day we were going out to lunch with her and planned to give her presents, but we didn't want her to feel like she needed to respond in kind for Sister Rhoades' birthday because that is how the latinos think.
Wednesday evening we trained the Valencia boys about facilitating the self-reliance groups and asked them to let us know when they scheduled a Mi Camino with their ward council.
We also watched a webcast from BYU-Idaho's new university President, Clark Gilbert on Pathway. He outlined the history (started only 6 years ago in 2009), purpose and future plans for the program. BYU-Idaho now has more students that study online with the university than on campus and they know that will only grow. How exciting to be part of this fulfillment of prophesy and vision by the leaders of the church! And how exciting to know that the Lord is mindful of all his saints wherever they might be and wants to bless all of them with opportunities to grow and progress.
President Clark Gilbert of BYU-Idaho
The following day, November 5th, was Sister Rhoades' birthday. It started out with a mounds candy bar and serenade from Dave. Once we got to our English classes and other activities the members were so sweet. They don't have a lot of financial means to give gifts but they make sure to extended wishes and compliments to the birthday girl or boy.
Here is what one member, one of her piano students, Yeni Montanez gave her. A very sweet note and her son, Dallin, who is in to origami, made her a flower.
We did go out to lunch with Empe and her two children. We forgot our cameras so no photos. We took her to the meeting place at San Blas and introduced them to waffles and some great milkshakes. We had a good time but left very full! We gave her the presents we had picked out for her. She is the recipient of the Yahtzee game, Merlyn brought down for us and I picked out two of my clothing items, my winter hat (which I love and was hard to part with) and a scarf (which she put on and looked great in). She was overwhelmed. She kept saying it was too much. She gave me some jewelry (necklace, earrings & bracelet), which I thought was too much for her to give.
That evening was Pathway and luckily I escaped without them knowing it was my birthday. I was so afraid Elder Rhoades would spill the beans, but he took pity on me. I did find out that one of our students, Angel Alvarez, the one that really was the impetus for getting Pathway in Cusco, has the same birthday as me! I knew there was a good reason I like that kid!
I got to skype with Alyssa & her girls that night. It was a nice ending for the day.
Friday we continued the birthday celebration, hooking up with the other two missionary couples, Hasler & Johnson, for a luncheon that we didn't have time for the day before. I was wanting to eat tacu tacu (a rice & bean dish here in Peru) so we ate at the Abrasador. We ended up having food coming out of our ears (not literally but we walked away so full, it felt like it)
Here is my plate. The tacu tacu is under the beefsteak a lo pobre (that means a fried egg on top of it) and the fried bananas on the side.
Here is a sample of some of the other dishes enjoyed. Above is Elder Rhoades lunch which is tacu tacu topped with lomo saltado. He said it was delicious. Below are the Haslers' lunch. Brother Hasler is pretty adventurous with his food choices. part of his meal are intestines from a cow.
The Johnsons had brought individual pieces of cake and candles to light and they sang me happy birthday. We each tried a small piece of each of the 3 different flavors. Then if that wasn't enough the restaurant brought out a dessert made especially for me and it was on the house!
Crepes with peaches and chocolate sauce spelling out Happy Day, Hna. Rhoades
They were delicious despite being already stuffed.
Friday evening was one of our Education workshops. This group is nearing the end of the lessons. Our Saturday evening Education workshop, which just started last week, was cancelled due to the Cusco stake's Couples Convention being held over the weekend. That is one of the challenges of these workshops is to find a day and time when members can attend that doesn't interfere with other church activities during a span of 6 to 12 weeks. Almost nigh impossible!
Saturday morning, I met with a Pathway student, Helen Melissa Bravo Rodriguez. She is one of the youngest participants, only 17 years old, but she is very sharp. She has been asked to be the lead student on November 19th and she is scared to death. She will be the first female student to lead the group and the group is mostly male with a lot of return missionaries and other church leaders, so a bit intimidating. Her English is good, but her speaking ability is not as fluid as others so it will be a challenge for her. She asked for some tutoring to help her understand her presentation and prepare how to give it in English.
Helen and I looking over the presentation outline and planning what she will say and do.
Saturday afternoon we had some free time so we decided to see if we could get some more souvenirs and gifts bought. We tried to find purses for Dave's sister, per her request. She must have liquidated their supply because the stall where she bought them no longer had them and it was like looking for a needle in a haystack to find more. Our mantra in Cusco for American items has been "when you find it, buy it" because you never know if you will find that item again. It looks like it may apply to these purses.
A red version of the brown purses Carol bought while here.
Dave headed over to Barriottio, the Saturday flea market he loves to visit. He took some photos I want to include.
This is SOOO typical.
And so is this...
although usually the baby isn't so far out of the blanket.
I think this market is going to be one of the things Dave misses the most. He loves to go treasure hunting there.
Spiritual Thought for the Week: Luke 6:45
A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh..
Also a great self-reliance scripture using the word treasure - Proverbs 8:21
That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.
Also a great self-reliance scripture using the word treasure - Proverbs 8:21
That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.
Another Great Week. Remember to always to take your camera with you.
ReplyDeleteKeep Smiling. Packing up is going to be hard to do, i suppose. You will be fine.