Sabancaya Volcano, Living in the Dumps, Cars of Peru, and Cieneguilla

3 September 2017

Protection from Volcanic Ash

The Sabancaya Volcano in southern Peru started erupting again, and volcanic ash is now falling over a large swath of Southern Peru, making it very dangerous for people who live in the area.

News photo of Alpacas trotting through the volcanic ash from the Sabancaya Volcano.

The regional government of Arequipa asked for an emergency donation of 5000 breathing masks and 5000 goggles for eye protection. We were able to get this emergency donation ready in just days and send it to Arequipa this past week by means of the Peruvian Air Force. 

Goggles and breathing masks - part of our emergency aid to the volcano victims to keep them safe from all the ash.

It is good to know that we can help out in emergencies like this when the people need it the most. It seems there is always some disaster unfolding here in Peru.

Life in the Dumps

We live in a nice area of Lima, but not everyone is so lucky. This week we drove by a garbage dump, complete with residents. Notice all the poor homes (actually, shacks) built at the edge of the dump on land no one else would live on. Can you imagine the stench?

Living in the garbage dump - not a pretty picture

Look closely to see all the people who make their living combing through trash for things that they can sell just to feed their families. What a tough life! There are far more poor people than rich people here in Peru.

Life in the garbage dump - sorting through trash to make a living. 

Until you see this, you have no idea how many of the world's population live in tough circumstances. You count your blessings when you consider that your house is not sitting on top of a garbage dump.

We are serving the poor here in Peru who live and suffer at the bottom of the heap. Sometimes it is good to remember that not everyone lives the lives we got handed.  

Almost Peruvians

We were handicapped here in Peru for the first 5-1/2 months because we did not have our Peruvian visa ID cards, only our passports. We finally received the ID cards, called 'Carné de Extranjería', which now allow us to use our credit cards and do a host of other things without having to show our passports.

Carné de Extranjería - we are legally in the country with the Peruvian version of our 'green card'.

Having the Carné de Extranjería makes us feel almost Peruvian.

Everyday Traffic Nightmares

Lima has some of the worst traffic in the world. Getting any where in this city of 10 million people takes a lot of time. My memories of Lima will include the many, many hours we have sat at a standstill in traffic.

Typical traffic jam on Avenida Javier Prado - six lanes wide of stopped cars.

One day it took us an hour to get the three miles from our apartment to the mall. We could have walked faster than taking the taxi to get there.

Trip to Cieneguilla

On our day off this week, we went with another senior missionary couple (the Jones from Portland) to Cieneguilla, a resort town about 15 miles away. We went to a place called Mesa de Piedra (table of stone) for a traditional lunch and entertainment - a nice and beautiful escape from Lima for a day.

Beautiful Mesa de Piedra resort in Cieneguilla. Notice the stone tables, hence the name of the place.

Lunch under the thatched roof at Mesa de Piedra with our friends, Elder and Sister Jones

Live entertainment at Mesa de Piedra - a fusion of modern and traditional Peruvian music.

Museo de Automoviles (Car Museum)

On the way to Cieneguilla on our day off, we stopped at the Museo de Automoviles in La Molina. The owner, Jorge Nicolini, came from a very wealthy family and has spent a fortune restoring cars that he found around Peru. What an amazing collection of more than 100 cars!

A fortune spent restoring cars found throughout the country - most were imported into Peru years ago.

1935 Pierce Arrow - it takes a year or more to restore each of these cars.

Pierce Arrow hood ornament

Collectors and car enthusiasts come from around the world to see this collection (which is still in progress). The owner, Jorge Nicolini, is 72 and is still buying more cars to restore, which he finds throughout Peru. We met his 18-year-old son who will take charge of the collection when his dad is gone.

All the cars are in working condition. The owner routinely takes the cars out on the road.

This is how most of the cars arrive for restoration - straight from the junk yard.

Happy Birthday in Peru

Sandy's birthday was Saturday, so we went to Jockey Plaza mall to celebrate. We have been eating Peruvian food for 7 months now, but the only thing Sandy wanted for her birthday was to eat a taste from home - Pizza Hut!

Dinner at the food court at Jockey Plaza, the largest mall in Peru.

Pizza Hut at the mall - a taste of home for a birthday dinner. Sandy, you're not getting older, you're getting better!

Back in the area office, several people found out that it had been Sandy's birthday, so they chipped in and bought a cake, and everyone sang Happy Birthday, but in a Peruvian Spanish version. What a treat!

Birthday party in the Humanitarian Office: (L to R) Michael Trejo, Marshall, Sandy, Lily Davalos, Oscar Sanchez, and Alex Principe.

So we head back to our Humanitarian office for another week of intense service to the poor and needy throughout Peru. We miss our friends and family, but we are glad for the work we are able to do to help those in need.