Earthquake!

Something Unsettling

We are woken up from a deep sleep. The windows and cupboards are rattling. "Hey is this an earthquake? Do you think we need to go outside?" It is 2:48 am. We do have emergency backpacks, provided by the mission, resting by our front door. It finally stops and we are still in bed. We stay in bed and then we don't sleep very well the rest of the night. In the morning we found out that is was 4.5 on the Richter scale. The center of it was 60 miles away. One earthquake down--and how many more to go?

This is Puruchuco, an ancient dwelling of a nobleman. It was not damaged in the quake.

Puruchuco, one of the rooms. Also not damaged in the quake.

Something Educational

We were able to go on a tour of Fundet this past week.
Fundet is a non-profit agency formed by residents of the USA. They function in Peru, Bolivia, the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Columbia and Ecuador. They have a training school in each of these countries. They work with local business to determine a small handful of technical skills in high demand, such as air conditioning & refrigeration, accounting, micro finance, and auto repair. Then they train individuals from 2-4 months in that specialty to fill those positions.

Fundet--having a class on values.

They have thought of everything. Every week they have 90 minutes of institute, there is 15 minutes of Book of Mormon study daily, and a monthly temple visit. They do service projects in the community each Saturday. Training is about 12 hours a day. They provide lodging and meals and a small travel allowance. 15 hours of community service is required before being admitted (that is their ‘pay’ for the training). Ages range from 20-45 years old. The average entry position after the 2-4 months of training is 1000-1500 Peruvian soles per month, between $300 and $450 US. That is a decent wage for here. For young people from homes where the family was depending on their income, a small budget is provided monthly to the family to help cover their expenses that the child would otherwise pay. This program is mainly for returned missionaries. When their training is complete there is a 95% placement in a job. They ask for an endorsement from the individual’s bishop; and for a workplace commitment of 1 year. If they fulfill their workplace commitment, there is no cost for their training.

Fundet--the students

It was inspiring to see the young men and women. We were able to be introduced to them in the middle of their values class. (They also learn about certain values and try to live them.) They are trying to make a better future for themselves.

Something Yummy

The Spanish speaking elders and hermanas that are learning English on their mission get to go to a special luncheon at Presidente and Hermana Amato's when they finish Book 3 of their companionship language study. Friday was the big day for the feast. Hermana Amato prepared a Brazilian dish called feijoada. It is a black bean stew, very delicious. They also had root beer floats! Which some of them loved and the others thought the root beer tasted like medicine.

Hermana Amato stirring the feijoada & Elder Pedrozo speaking Portuguese

It was suppose to be an English speaking only fiesta. It was so much fun because in the kitchen they were speaking Portuguese. In the living room there was a lot of Spanish to be heard and then occasionally I heard English being spoken!

Elder Wily after eating several plates of food! He said he was receiving revelation.

Something Spiritual

On Sunday, August 11, they created the 110 stake in Peru. It is in our mission and is called the Santa Clara Stake. We were able to go to the stake conference. The building was filled to capacity with beautiful Peruvian saints.

We were greeted at the door by a line of our missionaries shaking each person's hand as they came to stake conference.

I was really touched by the testimony of the President of the Campoy Stake. Many of the people that he knew, loved, and served with would be moving to the new stake. Tears ran down his face as he tried to express his love for them.

I was also reminded of how music can bring the spirit of the Lord into our lives. The closing number was sung by the choir. They sang "Consider the Lilies". It was truly wonderful and just what I needed.

Just a few of the lyrics--"Consider the sweet tender children, who must suffer on this earth. The pains of all of them He carried, from the day of His birth. He clothes the lilies of the field, He feeds the lambs in His fold and He will heal those who trust Him, and make their hearts as gold."

Plants of Peru

It's winter, but this tree is trying to say spring!