Another Week and a New Different Quarantine!

It's amazing what a new week can bring. We didn't think we would be leaving so early! There were Senior missionaries that were older and that had health problems that we thought would go before us. But here we are all packed up and ready to head to the United States. We will head to Miami and fortunately stay the night there. Then our flight will take us to Atlanta and then on to Salt Lake. We were able to travel with missionaries from the Lima South Mission. They were a blessing to us as we traveled homeward.

March 29, 2020 Day 14 of Quarantine

All our bags are packed. We are not ready to go. Our friends were standing outside our door (to help us take our bags down to the taxi.) Already we're so sad to leave we could cry.

But first to the embassy to stand in a long line. Then on to a bus to spend some time. Where do you think that Taruka Tours really goes? We don't know. But it's heading today to the Air Force Base. Because we're leaving on a jet plane. Don't know when we'll be back again. Don't know when we'll be back again…

Leaving our apartment at 193 Montevideo #201

Other people trying to get to the United States.

The line at the Embassy.

Waiting in line at the Embassy

On the bus!

The Air Force Base

March 29, 2020 Day 14 of Quarantine continued

Event:  On Sunday, March 29, 530 Americans departed Peru, bringing the total number of repatriations to approximately 2,830.

We were part of that 530 Americans.

We were processed in a hanger. Since they didn't have the regular scanners, they had two different dogs come through and smell the bags. Then finally off to the American Airlines plane to fly to Miami. It is hard to leave Lima. Many of the passengers cheered as we ascended into the sky. But Elder Fristrup (from Lima South) is shedding a few tears (as was Elder Lindstrom) as Lima receded from our view. We reached Miami about 7:30 pm. The airport was a ghost town and so many cancelled flights... We got to our hotel and then blessed sleep.

Elder Romney and Elder Jones in the airplane hanger

One of the dogs checking the luggage

Thor boarding the plane 

Elder Fristrup watching as Lima departs in the distance

The terminal in Miami--it looks like a ghost town

Cancelled flights in Miami

March 30, 2020 Transitional Day

We officially weren't in quarantine today. Unless you can say we were in quarantine because we were in two different planes with a lot of people and no social distancing! I don't think that counts though.

We started in Miami. We flew to Atlanta and then the last leg to Salt Lake City. We spent the day with the cute sisters and elders that were flying home from the Lima South Mission. They reminded us of our missionaries from the Lima East who are still stuck in Peru.

After landing we were picked up by our beautiful chauffeur. Thanks Mari! She drove us to 700 east in Kaysville where Ward members lined the street and welcomed us home. Thanks Kaysville 4th Ward! We feel so loved.

Miami Airport

A smiling Elder Fristrup

On a plane again

Atlanta Airport--they have good chocolate shakes!

With the Lima South Elders

With the Lima South Hermanas

Salt Lake Airport

March 31 & April 1, 2020 Day 1 & 2 of New Quarantine

Hard to believe that we are still in quarantine! We do have the blessing to be able to take walks here.

In Peru, it is sunny and warm (no snow on the ground, like this morning). One of the things that I love about Peru is the bougainvillea. It is a beautiful flowering shrub. It comes in many colors. People have it growing up and over their walls. It seems to bloom all year. Every morning I could look out my window and see the one growing across the street.

Kaysville snow in April

bougainvillea

April 2, 2020 Day 3 of New Quarantine

The blessing of technology is wonderful. We were able to meet with our Pathway students this evening. 7:30pm Lima time through Zoom. We are just finishing up the second semester with this group of great people that we love. We have watched them grow so much from last fall. When the quarantine happened we all had a steep learning curve with going online. (In person gatherings are more interactive.) All of us did pretty well this evening!

The students took this picture one night when we weren't there and our sub didn't show up. They said it was the best night ever!

Our Pathway students

April 3 & 4, 2020 Day 4 & 5 of New Quarantine

Meet our upstairs neighbors in Peru, Elder and Hermana Pratt! We had great times with them. We would usually be together on Monday nights for Family Home Evening with all the seniors. I was able to teach English Connect with Hermana Pratt on Friday mornings. When we both had a free evening (it wasn't too often) we would get together and play games. Our standard game was Five Crowns. Elder Pratt made a spreadsheet of who won and lost. Just want you to know that I was the consistent loser.

Julia and Emron Pratt, our Five Crown buddies

Plants of Peru

These are the flowers that bloom on this pokey tree.

Pokey tree bark

Random Photo of the Week

Bones from the catacombs

Quarantine Week #2

I have been a real slacker in posting on the blog! I will now repent of all those quarantine weeks that you missed. I know how exciting they are to your well being. These are once again taken from Instagram.

March 22, 2020 Day 7 of Quarantine

We started the morning with our upstairs neighbors, the Pratts. What a wonderful way to start a day in quarantine! We sang together, prayed together, and shared thoughts of our Savior. We were privileged to partake of the sacrament and renew our covenants with God. Maybe all quarantine days should be Sundays!

March 22, 2020 Day 7 of Quarantine part 2

Last night (March 22) we had a conference call with the senior missionaries and our mission president. President Amato informed us that all missionaries (young and old) would be returning to their own home countries. We should have seen that one coming as we have watched missionaries in other parts of the world being sent back to their homes. We just hoped that we would be staying in Peru to help ride out the storm. Plus the virus has really ramped up in the USA. We don't know when we will be returning home or when we will be returning to the mission. The Peru Lima East Mission will be reduced to 14 Peruvian missionaries when we are all gone.

March 23, 2020 Day 8 of Quarantine

Today we ventured out with our shopping bag disguises and our face masks. We made it to our supermarket, Tottus, without any problems. Once there we had to stand in line to get our temperature checked. (In the first picture you can see his arm outstretched to take the person's temperature.) Once inside we waited in another line to thoroughly wash our hands. After shopping, there was hand sanitizer to use. The workers are also cleaning each shopping cart handle after it is used. We then enjoyed a nice, humid 20 minute walk back to our apartment.

March 24, 2020 Day 9 of Quarantine

We have decided that we need to get a dog. This is a big step in our marriage, because I am a firm believer that all dog duties would fall on me! And I don't want most of those duties. (Those of you who have dogs know what I'm talking about.)

The advantage of having a dog would be that no one questions why you are out walking. Dogs need to be walked. You could even go out several times a day and walk your dog! You could get exercise and sunshine with your dog. What a wonderful idea! Yes, I think we need to get a dog.

Maybe we will get a Peruvian hairless dog. It is a cute little dog with a tuft of hair on it's head and a little on its tail. Seen in the second picture with two boys that would love a dog!

March 25, 2020 Day 10 of Quarantine

Today I thought you'd like to know about the garbage practices in Peru. There are no big black, blue, or green garbage cans. Garbage is collected every day, including Sunday. This has continued even with the quarantine. In the morning you put out your garbage. You either set it out in front of your house or you put in a cute metal holder that is in front of your house. (See the examples in the picture.) You hope that the dogs don't get into it. During normal times the people that make their living by recycling come and look through the garbage for plastic and other recyclables. When the garbage truck starts down the street they hit the truck with a metal bar. It sounds like a bell and if you haven't gotten your garbage out you still might make it. We are grateful for these men that are keeping our neighborhoods clean!

March 26, 2020 Day 11 of Quarantine

We have a lovely park at the end of our street. In the morning it is full of ladies doing exercises. During the day different groups of children and youth can be found on the soccer field and basketball court. Always there are mamas with strollers and small children. You can find chess players under the pavilion. Older people come to sit and enjoy the trees and the grass. Nighttime, especially in the summer, families make their way to the park to cool off. They watch the impromptu soccer game or the volleyball players. Now the park is closed off to all that would visit. The gates are locked and the coolness and green of the park are shuttered.

March 27, 2020 Day 12 of Quarantine

Today we escaped our apartment for the mission office! We had many items that we needed to return. Thor flagged down a taxi that was able to take us. We put on our face masks, got in the taxi and we were off. We had to look for an opening into the neighborhood, because many of the streets are gated off. We made it without any problems. I gave our driver some extra soles and a candy bar. He looked very surprised! We unloaded all our items and put them away. While Thor was trying to get the printer to work, I cleaned up after the boys at the office. Apparently they thought that no one was picking up garbage. All the cans were overflowing with trash and flies. (They were fruit flies.) I filled 4 large bags. At the end we left our keys on Elder Davis's desk. No way to get in now. Just a little sad as we went out the door for the last time.

March 28, 2020 Day 13 of Quarantine

This is what has been driving me crazy from day 1. Can you see that drip coming out of the faucet? It does that continually all through the day. It is like slow water torture all day and it's worse in the night. Drip, drip, drip. I don't mean to complain, but I am. We had called just before the quarantine to get it fixed. It's not happening now.

The lovely brown water that you see is from moping my floors. The mountains around Lima have NO vegetation on them. The wind blows and we get dust, lots and lots of dust every day.

You can see that the dripping water is really getting to me.

Plants of Peru

Random Picture of the Week

This is some kind of fruit we saw in the store. 

Quarantine Week #1

I have been posting on Instagram all week and thought I would just share the thoughts and pictures from there (with a few added items). We hope this finds you all well and healthy! We are doing fine. We have plenty of food, air conditioning, and company! Our upstairs neighbors are also senior missionaries. We are blessed!

Quarantine Day #1

The whole country has been put in quarantine. We can only go out to buy groceries, go to the doctor, the bank or get fuel.

The last flights out of the country left before midnight today. (March 16)

All the little stores have closed. So have all the restaurants. We don't know what will happen to all the little businesses. We don't know how they will get money to support their families during this quarantine.

This is the last remaining store open in a line of little tiendas.
It is only opened because it has groceries.

Quarantine Day #2

We ventured out to get groceries from the supermarket. There was plenty of toilet paper! If you need some you could come and visit. Oh sorry no planes flying into Peru. What was missing on the shelves was all the rice and dried beans.

Get all the toilet paper you want, within reason!

All rice and dried beans are missing from the shelves!

Quarantine Day #3
These pictures were taken during our rush hour traffic! This is a major road, normally it would be completely full and backed up during rush hour. No one is on the roads. Only authorized taxis can drive. Thor read an article that said that the particulate matter in the air has dropped by 30%, just because no one is out driving. We have cleaner air to breath! What a blessing--because some days it was really bad.

This is the major road, Javier Prado, that many of the cars, buses, and trucks travel on daily.

At the ovalo (round about) on Javier Prado.

One senior missionary reported this about his trip to the doctor. ( Plus the doctor wasn't even there!) "We were stopped by police/army 3 times on the way there and once on the way back. The taxi driver had to show a paper authorizing him to be on the road, and I had to show the email confirming my appointment."

Quarantine Day #4

Besides being in quarantine, we also have a curfew. The curfew goes from 8 pm to 5 am. 462 were arrested last night for violating curfew.
Since we have a curfew and are in quarantine our Pathway group met by Zoom conferencing. Our first night was a bit of a disaster to get everyone on. Some of the students internet would go on or off and not enough WiFi 😡. Our student who was leading the discussion was finally able to get on with 20 minutes left!

This is our Pathway group before corona virus!

You have to go out in disguise if you just want to go for a walk. You have to carry a shopping bag so if you're stopped you can say you're going shopping!

Hermana Ames going out in disguise!

Quarantine Day #5

We received a new fashion directive today. The government would like all those who go out of their homes to wear face masks. We have two different styles to choose from depending on what you are wearing that day.

The choice in face masks!

Our Area medical doctors are showing the proper wearing of the latest fashion.

Our area medical doctors, Elder and Hermana Hixson.

You can see that it has caught on rapidly because of all the people wearing them in the grocery store! Remember don't go out without one and you will be properly dressed for any occasion.

Our local grocery store with the latest fashion.

Quarantine Day #6

Planning a vacation while you're in quarantine! Where in the house could you go? Maybe outside? Nope can't go outside, not even for a walk. Maybe we could go camping inside! A tent is always a good diversion.

You can do all sorts of things in a tent! Like call the grandkids. Three of the grandkids are out riding bikes and practicing their social distancing. The other has a tent of her own, so she understands Grandpa.

Plants of Peru

Random Picture of the Week

Lima Peru Temple

This picture remains me of who is in charge! It reminds me of whom we need to put our trust in. As we rely on our Heavenly Father he will bless us with the peace that we need in a troubled world.