Our 45th Anniversary

We celebrated our 45th wedding anniversary today. When we got to the office Elder W. came over to my desk and kissed my cheek and said, "I'm sorry, I didn't get you much for our anniversary..." to which I said, "what do you mean, you have taken me to far away exotic places," he thought and said "you mean Machu Picchu" I said, "no Lima, Peru and Ecuador before that." We celebrated this evening at our favorite restaurant "Pardo's." They serve great chicken, salads and a tasty tenderloin steak all for a really good price too!

It has been a bumpy road much of the time but, I would not change my life for anything. If I

were to begin to recount all of the trials we as a family, but especially we as a couple have been

through, I would be blogging until next Sunday. So, I will only say that we will be eternally grateful for those trials, for they have made us who we are. We are very grateful to have been

blessed with seven children, now with their six spouses and our 21 grandchildren, it is

remarkable to see them grow to be independent people, raising their own children; some are going through trials as we did.

I would have loved to have had Becky here for a longer time, but Father had other ideas and He is in charge; so I will be patient and see her later, I know she is fine and I know where she is. That is the blessing of being an eternal family.

There are really no guarantees in life, just hard work, lots of prayer, more prayer; then maybe it turns out the way you would like.

I want my family especially to know how much I love and I miss them all.

Until I write again,

Mom

More Of Our First December In Lima

Here is more about our first December in Lima.

I am still talking about our great trip with our family. This was taken in the Sacred Valley on our way from Cuzco to Lake Titicaca. Our grandsons really liked this part of the trip. We all had our pictures taken with this family.
Elder W. and I are with the mother and her one of her children. They sit on the side of the road, when cars or busses stop, they get their children ready, fetch the animals and the photo session begins. We spent about 20 minutes here. I was so afraid of being "soiled" or stepped on, I was giddy, thus the strange face.

Since the Christmas tree in our apartment consisted of a fake ficus tree with one strand of twinkling lights, (pathetic) I loved entering the office building each day during the holidays. There was a beautifully decorated tree in the corner and a Nativity set up right in the center of the foyer.

When we returned to our office the Monday after Christmas there was quite a bit of work that had piled up, so we dug in and completed the month end report. We have so pleased to see the Priesthood and the participants respond so well to our emails, phone calls and interaction with them.

One day we decided to give all our volunteers a Pizza Party for the great job they do. We had pizza, soda, and a chocolate cake. Boy do they love pizza!

I have written before in other entries about our "driver" Jack. He was blessed to get a full time job driving construction trucks. Regina was a volunteer in the call center in our office. They are going to have their first baby in February, that's about 3 weeks from now. On the same day we had our pizza party, several of the sisters in the office building who have known and worked with Regina for some time, gave her a baby shower. It was a TOTAL surprise. They were given most of the large items needed for a new baby. They are sooooo cute!
The next week was Regina's last week with us in the office. We miss Jack, but our new driver, Eric is working out very well. We miss Regina's sweet spirit in the office; she may come back after the baby, at least for a few hours each week.

So that is how our year ended, very busy and with great success. We are very happy to be in Lima at this time.

We had a wonderful Christmas and pray you did too; let's have a great New Year!

Until I write again,

Hermana W.

More About Our Travels

Going back to the visit with Shannyn, Greg and the boys; we were able to have our driver on Friday, December 18, take us to central Lima. The Governor's palace is there. We were lucky to catch the noon "changing of the guard."
It was very interesting, but let's just say it is not like London Palace. They don't have it quite together like that. But it was very ceremonial. To the right, out of this picture with their backs to the crowd, is a small band playing, I assume the National Song of Peru. We were all gathered across the street from the Palace.


I took this picture of Elder W. (aka Dad) and Greg in Cuzco. It was, I thought, rather good of them both. They do real well together, they are actually very much alike. They are used to being alone and sometimes they prefer it. They are both very organized men, knowledgeable in gospel matters and many other subjects too. Greg is a "goer," he does not sit a lot. All of our sons-in-law love to ride trail bikes, hike, climb and vacation. Greg does all of those things in one trip if he can. Unlike some men, MINE, Greg loves to shop. He loves to look for antiques and good deals from all the countries he is able to travel in. He brings home treasures all the time. They mentioned to us that they would like to return and stay with us again next summer. Greg wants to hike the "Inca Trail." It is an ancient trail that takes 4 days and 3 nights to hike to Maccu Picchu. We shall see about that!

Mentioning how much we all love to shop, this is a market-place we stopped at when we had a little extra time. It is just an example of how many things are available in one location. This is just one small section of many, many shops. There are ponchos, hats, shawls, tee-shirts, blankets and much more.
It truly is amazing how much the artisans can put in these spaces. Sometimes there is very little space to walk in between the items for sale. There are things hanging, folded on tables and sitting on paper on the floor.
I wish you were able to "catch a whiff" of the smell too. In other spaces they are selling food, so you get the total effect. When Elder W. and I are in places like this, we always say to one another, "now we are in South America." It's not like going to the mall. Greg finds these types of shoping places in whatever country he is in; so he says it is not just South America. For our experience, we have only been outside the United States in Ecuador and Peru.

This is a picture of Lake Titicaca as we were returning to our hotel after our wonderful day on the lake. The sun was setting and the clouds were gathering. It was just beautiful. Shannyn was asleep in the cabin of the boat and we were all pretty tired that day. I think we all ate dinner and at least Elder W. and I were in bed quite early. There is something about the water that is very calming and tiring at the same time. Greg and Elder W. got really sunburned. Shannyn put sunblock on the boys, so they were not too bad.

Things have pretty much gone back to normal for us. We are very blessed to have secured another driver. Jack, our first driver was able to get a good job as a truck driver for a construction company. We are very happy for he and Regina. They have the baby coming next month, and this is a permanent job for him. Our new driver Eric, has a brand new car and lives about 2 miles from our apartment. It is very convenient for us and a huge help for he and his family. We are always happy to be able to help someone out financially. The Lord has been very good to us throughout our 4 months in Lima. We live far from our office so taxi rides every day can get costly so a driver is the best way to go. Elder W. asked one of the employees at the office building (he is also a Bishop) if he knew of anyone who was looking for a job as a driver, someone who had his own car. Bishop Canar suggested talking to Eric. It works great.
That is about all for now. We pray this year will be a good one for each and every one of you. We pray for our family and friends at home who support us, and understand why we continue to serve the Lord. It is so our family will be blessed. We love them and want so much for them, including to have their testimonies strenghened. As we pray for them daily to be "watched over and angels to attend," we know this will happen and as we serve, the Lord will answer our prayers.
Until I write again,
Hermana W.

More Of Our Wonderful Trip With Our Family

Well, we are alone again. Our apartment seems quiet and empty. Shannyn, Greg and the boys flew home Thursday night. While we went to work on that last day, Shan went to the Temple here in Lima. Greg and the boys just did their own thing waiting for her. About noon they came to our office and met several of our co-workers and friends. Then it was off to do their final shopping. We met up with them late in the afternoon and had our last dinner together at our favorite chicken place.
Greg had used a travel company that provided a van to and from the airport. Leo (the driver) arrived about 10:15 that night. They packed up the van (and I mean PACKED) and drove to the airport. We are usually in bed no later that ten pm, so after we said our goodbyes and hugged and hugged, we were pretty tired. It was time for bed about 11 pm. They had quite a wait at the airport. Their flight was at 1:15 am, but because it was in international flight they had to be there 2 to 3 hours ahead.
In my last writing, I forgot a very interesting, funny (at least to me) part of our trip. When we were in Quito, Ecuador both of our previous missions, we had friends and co-workers tell us we needed to go to the Galapagos Islands. We really had no time and without grandchildren with us, we had no interest either. So, when we boarded our boat for our trip on Lake Titicaca, I looked at the name of the boat and it said “The Galapagos”. How excited was I? I could now tell everyone I had been on the Galapagos, and it was not a lie! It's hard to read, but it really does say "Galapagos".

Speaking of Lake Titicaca, I am showing you one of the best things we saw on that part of our trip. We visited the floating island of “Santa Maria”, they have a metal shed that they use as a schoolhouse. It was such a delight to see that the children go to school. Apparently, all the children from all the surrounding floating islands come to this island for school. The English alphabet is on the wall. They had Elder W’s. favorite book, “The Cat In The Hat”. He read that book to our children years ago. Many other books had been donated to them in English and Spanish; their native language is Quechua and Amara.
I want to tell you a little more about the people and sights of Peru. We have been blessed in all three of our assignments to have a few places to visit and shop that are safe, fun and yet very “South America”. With Shannyn and Greg it was the same. We shopped in many little squares, “tiendas”, out of the way, and in the mainstream of things too. They love to shop for unique items and antiques. We were able to help them find some of these places. It was fun. Nate was able to get an “Andean flute”, which you can see he has, and Nick wanted to buy this great mask, he did not buy it, but it looked great on him. Jake wanted a knife; he eventually found one.

Shannyn and Greg found many things to purchase.

Elder W. bought me a very nice necklace and earring set, symbolizing the eternities.

In Lima the surrounding mountains are just plain dirty brown. As we traveled and got on the roads outside of Lima and it becomes more like the green quilt-like mountainsides we have missed. Again we saw the plots of green cultivated ground where there are sections of crops growing, giving the mountain the look of a patchwork quilt with the different colors of green.
On our way to Lake Titicaca we had an extra 45 minutes so we stopped in an area with a very large Andean marketplace. I had an interesting and very unexpected emotional experience. As I stepped out of our van the music of the Andes was playing. I looked at the mountains nearby and I began to cry. I squeezed the hand of Elder W. and told him I had not realized how much I missed Quito. Even as I write this I have the same emotions again. It is not that we do not enjoy Lima, it is just very different!
We are back at work now, the month and year has ended (I still can’t believe that). Elder W. is compiling his month-end report. I keep the records of payments throughout the month and he adds it to his report. I have made it a practice to email or text each student and thank them for their faithfulness in making their payments. It is not only an acknowledgement to them that we are keeping track, but it is wonderful to get emails in return from them, thanking me for thinking of them. It is a very rewarding part of what I do.
Today is Saturday; our “P” day. That’s mission talk for the day of "preparation" for the coming week. We went to the grocery store and did our usual shopping for food and home supplies. We came home put the food away and left again for our weekly walk to another much smaller center.

We like this walk it is just far enough to be comfortable to walk there and back. We are excited, we found and bought a puzzle of Machu Picchu; it will take us quite awhile, but we have time. Of course I will take a picture and post it when we finish putting it together.

So until I write again,
Hermana W.

One Of The Wonders Of The World

On December 17th, our daughter Shannyn her husband Greg and their boys, Jake, Nate and Nick came to Lima for Christmas and some traveling. We took a tour of central Lima on Friday. On Saurday the 19th we flew to Cusco. What a beautiful city, very colonial. While in Cusco we visited many Cathedrals, monuments, and saw much of the culture of Peru. The people of Peru are wonderful. The next day we drove to Puno. It was a long drive through many towns and beautiful landscapes. Among other places we were able to pass through Aquas Calientes, the Sacred Valley, Pisac, Ollantaytambo and Puno.

"PeruRail" is the train to take to see the most amazing sight I have ever seen in my life. Machu Picchu! The train is a "vistadome" train. It has windows in the roof so you can see all around as you ascend the mountainside. It took about one and a half hours.

What a astonishing place. Reverent in its magistry. The clouds and rain covered the mountain tops when we arrived, but soon they were gone and we could see all the beauty of the green terraced mountainside and wonderfully built rock walls and buildings. It is beyond description.
Greg had done a great job making all our accommadations, it was a

comfortable trip. Besides all the climbing; which by the way, I did really well. I was pretty scared about my knees, but it was not too bad; well worth any discomfort I had. My Orthopedic Dr., Dr. Tait, will love to hear that. He just happens to be the Bishop of our home Ward in Henderson. The vastness of the area is too incredible to try to describe. So here are Elder W. and I as the clouds and rain begin to lift. It was wonderful to be in such a sacred place. It has

stood from about the 1430's, Hiram Bingham discovered it in 1911.

The surprising fact that I learned, was that when the Spanish arrived to conquer the Inca people of Peru, they abandoned their fortress. So sacred was Macchu Picchu to the Inca people; of such great worth to them, they did not want others to find it. So they just left it and the jungle covered it.

I wanted to give some idea of the scale of this great place. Those are people climbing up the side of one of the terraces. I know I have used the word amazing before in this commentary, but it truly is breathtaking in it's enormous size and engineering marvel. Without mortar, each stone fit perfectly next to and one atop another. In one section are terraces for agriculture, other terraces were built for the urban, or living section. During our driving we were able to see countless alpaca, llamas, sheep horses and cows along with their keepers, usually women.

Our next adventure was to visit Lake Titicaca, or "Lago Titicaca". This lake is the highest navigable lake in the world. It is so large you think you are looking at the ocean. You cannot see accross to the opposite side; which happens to be Bolivia. There are "floating islands" on this lake. The residents live and exist on these islands made of reeds. It is a very ingenious and again an engeneering marvel the way they are constructed. They are wonderful happy people who live on fish and three types of potatoes they grow in a special soil they make themselves.

These are places Elder W. and I studied when we were in school, oh so many years ago. Who would ever have thought we would be visiting and living in there far distant places. I certainly feel grateful to have been able to have spent a short time there.

Greg, Shannyn and the boys have left today for the "Nazca Lines" which are in the southern area on the coast. They will return to their home in California on New Years eve. We have enjoyed them and their generosity in taking us along on their adventure, it was a special Christmas present. I hope someday soon the boys will appreciate all that they have been able to experience. It has been hard for them during the Christmas holidays to be away from their friends and home.

We are so blessed to be able to see for ourselves the "beauties of the earth" as the hymn says. Our Father in Heaven has truly given us what can be called a heaven on earth. It certainly is to some, and it should be appreciated more.

I pray everyone has had a wonderful Christmas season, this is one I will not forget.

Until I write again,

Hermana W.

We Were Able To See The Amazon River

Several weeks ago we were able to do some traveling to the Amazon River area where Elder W. did some training to members of the Priesthood. We had to fly to the town of Iquitos. There are only two ways to travel to this area; plane or boat. It is an isolated area. Our meeting was scheduled in the evening on Saturday, it had been planned by our traveling companion, Elder Loli (Lowly), who is our Area Authority Seventy. While he was tied up during the early afternoon, he arranged for us to travel by "mototaxi" around the area. It was a wonderful escursion. We visited a small somewhat pathetic zoo, a reserve where they are trying to breed manatee in captivity. It was very interesting; there are babies and adults. All the workers are volunteers who are trying very hard to save these gentle mammals.

We drove around for several hours in our motortaxi; the weather was sunny and warm, it had rained the day before so it was very humid. This area is usually very hot. It is in an area close to the Columbian border. So all around the area of Iquitos, it is jungle, very dense jungle.

We traveled in our church clothing, (not being told we would have this great tour). After about an hour driving in this open air taxi, our driver Jimmy, asked if we would like to ride in a boat on the Amazon River. We of course were very excited and said yes!

He drove us to the waterfront where all these boats of different sizes were tethered, some smaller than others. We walked on a very shakey dock and climbed aboard a small motorboat. It was just Jimmy (our taxi driver), the owner of the boat and his son along with two gringos dressed for church. As we motored along, they explained to us that we were in an intersection of three rivers. It was interesting, because the water is actually different colors. One of the rivers is named the Maronon, another the Ucayali and the great Amazon. After guiding his boat down one of the tributaries they asked if we would like to visit a tribe of indians. Of course we would! This is the first tribe we visited that day. We climed a very steep muddy side of a mountain with steps carved out. As you can see, Elder Whitaker made a new friend that day. They are the Bora Indians. They live in very primitive conditions with a mud floor, wooden poles that hold up a roof made of thatched palm leaves. As we entered, they asked us for a donation and they would entertain us. They performed five dances; each one represented a part of their culture. During the fifth dance we were each chosen by one of the young people to join their dance. I took many more pictures but I am having a terrible time uploading photos to my blog, so you will have to settle for this one.

We continued our day, visiting another village where one of the young men interestingly told us he was the "elder" of his tribe and the spiritual leader. He blessed us before we left and he thanked us for bringing a good spirit to their village. We then returned to dry land.

After several more rides around in the taxi, we were done!! Take us back to the hotel please. We needed to get cleaned up for our meeting which was wonderful. The chapel was three blocks from our hotel; which by the way was a four star hotel in the middle of the jungle. We walked to the meeting and returned to our hotel about 9 pm. What a long day, it was terrific.

Early the next afternoon we had a flight to another small town "Pulcallpa" about one hour by small plane. We had another meeting scheduled there. It went well, then another flight back to Lima, we arrived at midnight. Two very full days, I will never forget our trip to the jungle.

We are excited our daughter Shannyn, her husband Greg and their three sons Jake, Nick and Nate will be here this next Thursday, Dec. 17th. We will be traveling with them to Machu Picchu. One of the Wonders of the World. We have heard from some of the other senior missionaries, you cannot come to Peru and not see Machu Picchu at some point. We are really glad it will be with our family.

I am researching why it is so hard to post these photos, I have taken so many that I would love to share. Maybe I'll get some answers from the "tech guys" at the office. Not only are they savvy young men, but they get paid to know this stuff!

Christmas is a very special time. We love and miss our family and friends and pray that we all remember the "reason for the season" as is said. Our Savior Jesus Christ is the reason we are here in Lima. I am grateful to be here helping the people of Peru the way Jesus would if he were here. Because of our love for Him and His love for us, we will have the opportunity to be together forever with our family; that is what I pray for each day, to be worthy of that blessing.

We send our love and hope for a wonderful Christmas and a healthy, happy New Year to all!

Until I write again,
Hermana W.

Thank You To All Who Serve

As this is Veteran’s Day in the United States, we reflect somberly on stories seen on the Internet and the television. We, with our family members and our friends are very blessed to live in a country with our freedoms won at the sacrifice of many, many others lives. We are grateful for our great country and the freedoms which really do not come free. In life we have to fight for our rights and freedoms or we may not have them.

I have been thinking quite a bit about the similarities of the living of our life in the mission field as compared to being at home. As we continue to be busy here in Lima each day, we go to the office, complete assignments, attend meetings and maybe even visit with new friends a little. At home (our apartment) the things we do are the same also. There is cooking and cleaning to do, washing and ironing. We study our scriptures, read our lessons, do puzzles, work and write on the computer, we have to do the shopping we even go out for a nice meal now and then, all of the same things we do in Henderson when we are not on a Mission, we are just in a different place in the world.

We are going to be traveling this week and next also. We will be able to see a little more of Peru. Elder W. will be making presentations to 16 Stake Presidents and Bishops in one meeting about how to better help their participants in the PEF program. At this time, many of them feel like the Church expects them to be “bill collectors”. This is not the case at all. We need to change there understanding of their role in this PEF program. There role is one of spiritual guidance. I will have to wait until after the trip to be able to tell you what my role was, as at this point I don’t have a clue.

I will take some photos to share with you about our trip.

We love being in Lima and serving the people of Latin America. We love the Gospel and can feel the hand of the Lord in this wonderful work. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is true. We know as we continue to serve, our testimonies and those of our children and grandchildren will be strengthened.

So, until I write again,
Hermana W.