Moray- experimental farming

Marc and Frances

Moray is the name of the Incan agricultural laboratory that was likely used to cultivate resistant and hearty varieties of plants high in the Andes.  Seeds were sent all around to grow the best crops and as a peace offering by the Incans.

Janae and Frances in the bottom

we are pretty tall compared to the locals and these were huge steps for us to climb out of each terrace

Salt harvesting in Maras

Many years BC the locals were harvesting salt.  For some unknown  reason a salty small spring runs through the valley, the locals built salt beds and harvested salt. They are doing it the same way as always.  Pretty cool  .they have lots of channels feeding all the ponds.  

 We had to buy a bit of salt. The word salary comes from the word salt.

local market in Urubamba Sacred Valley

cow tongue

Frances buying a .40 avacado

Not exactly the tourist market but an adventure going to the local bi-weekly market.  We wandered around with our guide Hector and he explained things to us.  We bought some items to try.  Kay kept saying he wanted a Duck, we all laughed and as we were getting on the bus, he came up missing.  Henry went to look for him.  I told Hector he was probably buying a duck.. and he was.

Our bus mates named the duck Crackers, he was hungry and thirsty and wandered the bus freely.

prickly pear being fixed for us.  Pretty good!

Frances and Marc

Our first stop was the salt ponds and Kay gave the duck to the bathroom attendant who had a sign 1 sol which is .40, she said the two of us could use the restroom for free and an hour later she was still petting it on her lap!  She told her guide she saw Kay's name tag which said Que on one side and renamed the duck Que.

A funny exchange at the hotel reception desk in Lima Peru.
Janae:  (handing over passports and knowing there is no sound to say Janae in Spanish): Can you say my name?
Receptionist: Janae (in quite good English)
Kay: Can you say my name?
Receptionist:  What is your name?
Kay: Que
Recptionist:  What is your name?
Kay: Que
Receptionist: Que?
Kay: Si, Que.
Receptionist: Que.
Janae: like Por Que.
Frances: I think this is the Spanish version of Who's on First.

                                                                KAYS NAMETAG

Branch Art Activity (Art walk)

The primary was in charge of a branch activity.  We called it a Branch Brunch.
When everyone arrived we had them sit at the tables and draw a picture of Jesus, a teaching of Jesus or a parable.  Pencils and white paper were provided and we went around inviting  young and old to draw their creations.  Any really good ones we would get permission to put on the ward bulletin.

RS room

 We had other pictures of Jesus around the room.  After 20 minutes, we sang a song together (hymn books) and separated into 6 groups stationed around the building.  Each group was given a map to follow... for 6 segments.     6 art presenters were given an instruction sheet with 2 paintings (photographs) they were to be familiar with.  Read the scriptures related to the paintings and talk about it asking questions to each group for 5 minutes until the bell rang.  I added some symbolism and some questions to ask... why is his hand pointing that way, where is he looking etc.  We skipped the paintings that were not of Jesus.  We included the branch President with the art in his office.   Because it was Easter we gave  each person a treat bag and a small treat at each station. .

President in his office

Missionaries 

Kay's station is the hallway

Foyer

Foyer

 We ended with a brunch serving mountain man casserole (egg, potato and sausage) cinnamon rolls, oranges, bananas (cheap this week) and milk.  It was really nice and well received.

Sam is baptized

I got an email the other day saying our friend Sam was being baptized   Sam is a single student in his early 20's and was taught by the missionaries. Several Sundays ago,  I thought we had a threesome and planned for 3 for Sunday dinner, it turned out we only had 2 Missionaries but they were sitting by Sam.  I thought he was the new student in the branch and asked him but no he said  he wasn't a member... yet... cool.   I asked him if he would like to come to dinner after church.   He said he wasn't sure but accepted and we had a great visit.

Kay and I were impressed at his deep thoughts and his questions.  He loved talking to Kay and told the missionaries later he felt honored to be able to talk to Kay. He thought Kay was a general authority or something.... he is.... an authority on all general subjects... I like to say.  The next week Sam wasn't at church but had been "handed off " to the singles ward where he was doing well and we were invited to his baptism a few weeks later.

In the baptism email it asked if anyone would be willing to pick his mom up in Lincoln one hour away so she can attend.  I knew we couldn't attend (Temple shift) but there are several temple workers from Lincoln who maybe could help out.  I called 2 supervisors, got several phone numbers and figured it all out.  I started by calling his mom to confirm she wanted to come and was able to talk to her about Sam and how much we enjoyed him and how deeply thought-ful he was.  She was very nice.  Then I called 3 people to arrange a ride and gave each the phone numbers and had my temple supervisor calling people.   I figured if all else failed, I could drive her home.

About an hour later I got a call from the couple who were driving her that said she cancelled and said she would drive herself..... WHAT? after all that work and effort on my part... I thought maybe she didn't have a car.   At first I was a little miffed but I thought about it and thought about the conversation I had with his mom and how positive that was.... This was the only way I would have spoken to his mom and I think she needed to hear my words about her son.... also the people on the other shift came and introduced themselves to me, so all that was good!  Sam was baptized and I was able to see him at Stake Conference last week.  All is well.

Read the Book.

Kay home teaches a woman who is about our age and had a stroke at church.  Kay is her home teacher and has been helping her.  Three of her four children came  to be with her and have been nearby. None have embraced the church. We have observed her children and their love and concern for their mother. We went home teaching and Kay spoke to her children about her love for them and her love for the church and the Book of Mormon.

The youngest daughter was leaving today so we went over to the house and Kay spoke with her and explained to her, her mother's love for the Book of Mormon. Tiffany is a librarian and appreciates books.  Kay showed her one of his collectible Books of Mormon and then, explaining what the book is, and how important it is to him and her mom, gave her and her brother copies of the Book of Mormon with a charge to read it, he also gave her $100. if she promised to read it. She promised. He didn't tell her mom as he didn't want her to get in trouble with her kids.