Wheelchairs and More of Lima

5 March 2017

Wheelchair Donations & Training Course

We are donating 1,100 wheelchairs to the needy throughout Peru this month. Along with this, we are training our partners here in Peru to evaluate and fit the chairs, as well as repair them. The week-long training starts in about two weeks out in the Amazon jungle (in Iquitos), followed by a course high in the Andes (Cusco). We are part of that training.

One of our many, many jobs has been coordinating the courses, obtaining 45 sets of tools for the evaluators and technicians, and then building the kits ourselves this week. Once the tool kits and wheelchairs are shipped, we will be traveling to these remote locations to assist with the training. Wish us well.

Building up 45 tool kits for the wheelchair evaluator and repair technician courses.  We ordered each of the individual special tools, then filled the boxes manually before shipping them to Iquitos (in the Amazon jungle) and Cusco (high in the Andes mountains) 

Journey to the Other Side of Lima

We live in a fairly nice and safe part of Lima. However, we made an adventure journey into an interesting (and somewhat rough) part of town this past Saturday (our preparation day). We made a trip to visit an enormous cross high on a peak in central Lima called Cerro de San Cristobal (Hill of Saint Cristopher). The journey involved a 3-hour bus ride through some rather rough neighborhoods to finally get reach the summit.  

At one point, we were stuck in a traffic jam for about half an hour. I wanted to get off this open-air bus and just walk, but all of the local Peruvians (with fear in their eyes) told me not to get off in the neighborhoods due to unpredictable dangers, even during the day.

View of Cerro de San Cristobal with giant cross on the summit. Note the houses rising on the steep slopes.

Ascending to the summit brought us through much steeper terrain and increasingly tough-looking neighborhoods. I just prayed the engine would keep us going and the brakes wouldn't fail!

How any of these houses cling to the side of these steep hills is amazing.  Most people living up here walk up steep stairs that can be up to a mile in distance from the bottom.

I had wanted to get off the bus in one of these tough neighborhoods when we got stuck for half an hour in a traffic jam, but the other local Peruvians on the bus told me to stay put because of the danger in this area.

New Peruvian friends we met on the bus - Enrique and his wife and son. They helped convince me to stay on the bus when I wanted to get off! They were fun companions for this adventure.

View from the top with a city spreading in all directions as far as the eye could see. The train line seen here was recently opened and is the first of several planned metro lines in Lima.

The view from the top - plus a welcome breeze - made the journey worth the effort. Note the ocean barely visible in the haze. The stairs behind us go straight down the mountain for more than a mile.

View of Lima from the Summit. Lima, with 11 million residents, is home to one out of every three Peruvians. We live about 15 miles away on the other side of the tall buildings.

Historic Lima - Spanish Balconies and Fountains

Part of our Saturday journey took us into central Lima, an area filled with incredible Spanish colonial palaces, government offices, and magnificent churches, all part of a UNESCO World Heritage zone. My favorite part of the central city are the Spanish balconies - designed to let fresh air in while hiding the occupants. These balconies seem more Spanish than what we have seen even in Spain!

Spanish balconies in central Lima - designed to let the breezes cool down the palaces while hiding the occupants inside.

A carriage ride takes you past buildings dating from the 16th century

Lush fountains and incredible architecture make central Lima feel more Spanish than many places in Spain itself.

Chinatown Lima!

Hundreds of thousands of Chinese emigrated to Peru over the past century (hence, all the Chinese Chifa restaurants here). Our journeys on Saturday took us into the heart of Lima's Chinatown district, a hot, steamy, and crowded place this weekend, but part of the adventure nonetheless.

Entry gate given to Lima by Taiwan to celebrate Chinese heritage.

Crowded pedestrian streets in Chinatown, Lima. A hot and sweaty day - we were glad we brought our own umbrella.

Marshall, born in the year of the horse, Chinatown, Lima

Sandy, born in the year of the dog

It's not a real Chinatown without Peking Duck hanging in the windows!

The streets of Chinatown are paved with individual bricks purchased by the locals to commemorate their Chinese heritage. 

Plaque in Chinatown, Lima, commemorating 150 years of Chinese immigration.

Family Home Evening with other Senior Missionaries

About 20 other volunteer senior missionary couples work along side us in the Lima Area Office (most are Americans, Canadians, and Australians). Many work in areas of legal, medical, family history, and member support (we are the only ones working in humanitarian services). Here is a shot of us last week gathered at the home of Elder Enrique Falabella, a General Authority of the church who works in our office and who invited us all to his home for a 'family home evening'.

We don't feel isolated when we hang out with this great group of retired doctors, lawyers, former business leaders, and others who are serving here with us.

Senior missionaries from the Lima Area Office gathered in the home of Elder Enrique Falabella. He is on the step directly in front of us. (Sandy is wearing the black blouse in the middle).

And so this mission to Peru has given us many opportunities to serve, while at the same time letting us experience a rich culture, great food, and very friendly people. Who could ask for more?