Rats

This week started off with a rat coming up into the toilet while I was using it.  I don't share well! 

Curt to the rescue and he really hates mice so I am doubly appreciative.

Do you see a reoccurring theme with Curt and brooms this week?  Here he's trying to keep up with the water coming into the house from the rains.  The washroom, which doesn't have any type of roof slopes so that all water runs into our kitchen and hall.  We're glad it doesn't rain too often. Although, this year they've gotten much more rainfall than normal. Most of the houses here are not equipped to deal with rain.

On the bus heading to Pisco again. We should buy stock in motion sickness pills .

Elders Arcos and Tejerina hanging the banner as we prepare for Las Americas Capilla Abierta.

Then when it started they took care of the reference table throughout the evening.

Elders Chura and Matthews came from their area of San Andres to help out and shared their testimonies of baptism with those that came through.  We will have next week's Capilla Abierta in their area.

I know this is a bad picture but I wanted to remember the story.  Elders Johnson and Morris were out on the streets inviting people to come in and see the church building.  A lady told E' Morris that she didn't want to come to the activity but that here was her daughter and they were looking for a boyfriend for her and a Mormon boy would make a good choice.  Oh my. 

I love to see the different displays that the organizations come up with.  Here is the Relief Society's.

The Young Men weren't too sure they really wanted their picture taken but they were nice to the old gringo lady and let me have my way.

The table display in the Young Women's room.

When we were here 2 weeks ago, these 3 young women helped us get a motocab to take us to the right place so we could catch a taxi back to our hotel.  We'd been standing outside the building unsuccessfully trying to catch a taxi knowing a moto wouldn't go as far as our hotel.  We appreciated their sweet help - it's not always easy to know how to get around.  There are often certain places that you need to go so you can catch a taxi heading to a specific area and it takes us awhile to learn where those places are.

So thankful for these missionaries and their hard work!  E' Matthews, Chura, Tejerina, Morris, Arcos, Johnson, Curt, myself, Hna Saucedo and Staheli.

Hermano Jeronimo is the high councilman that we work with in this stake.  He does so much to make this program a success.  I asked him this week if he'd just go to all the other stakes with us too - he just laughed.

Sunday we went out to San Clemente Branch to present a training.  The branch president is putting dark plastic on the windows for us since we would be showing a slide presentation. 

Here is the San Clemente Branch Presidency posed for a picture after they finished covering the windows.

On the way to church we saw dozens of police officers in full riot gear but I didn't get a picture as we drove by.  This is after our 3 hours of meetings and it looks like they are almost finished. 

This field had been full of homes that morning.  The police were here to keep the people out while the homes were taken down and or burned.  We saw lots of people gathering the remaining poles and mats to be used again somewhere else.

We have a friend that this is happening to right now.  She's been squatting on a piece of property for 10 years.  The lady that owned the land died and divided the property among her children.  Some of the children are evicting the people from the land.  The residents are given notice and then the police come and provide security while the homes are taken down.  Our friend is not sure what the person that inherited the property she lives on will decide to do yet.

Yes, we've had another visitor.  I had hoped that one experience like this was enough.