*An old car at la Kucina (the restaurant where we ate) near Pachacamac.
*The Inca Trail (or road) along the coast. This through the ruins in Pachacamac.
We feel like summer has arrived in Lima. While temps are not all that high, about 80-81 degrees Fahrenheit, the humidity is usually around 90% so the heat and the direct tropical sun can be intense. Last Sunday my face got sunburnt walking to and from church, so today I put on sunscreen before leaving for church.
We spent our preparation day Saturday with four other senior missionary couples at Pachacamac, a very large collection of ruins south of Lima. It was primarily a religious and administrative center founded about 200 A.D. and inhabited successively by four major cultures until 1533 when Pizarro conquered Peru. During the last 60 years of its habitation it was an Inca city. It was abandoned after the Spanish conquest. Fascinating history and archeology!
After exploring the ruins we went for a nice meal at a place that had been recommended to us. Good thing the driver knew where we were headed--it was out in the middle of nowhere behind tall concrete walls. There was a small zoological park as well as a show of Peruvian cultural dances during the meal. Food was good and we tried some typical foods we'd heard about but not eaten yet. Some to be repeated, some not to be repeated. Experience is a good instructor.
As we may have mentioned before, a significant part of our responsibility here in Peru is an administrative responsibility with the humanitarian projects. That may come as a shock to some of you who may think from reading this blog that all we do is cross the Andes, fly to the Amazon, and work with wheelchairs.
This week was pretty much only administrative work. We began the process of collecting impact information for projects from prior years, some as far back as 2008. Mary also began the requisition process for the supplies for 12 wells in communities around a northern city to provide clean, safe drinking water for about 25,000 people. We had to order some additional pipe for a project with 50 wells in another part of the country. We continue this same process with a number of food production and health clinic and school projects as well. We also are working to complete contracts with various regions for water projects and vision projects.
We are beginning the process of vetting requests from partners to assist them with projects in 2016 and that will occupy a lot of time over the first few months of this year. We have to determine which potential projects can be done with our assigned budget, which comes from donations of individuals to LDS Charities. We try to assess those projects which can have the greatest impact and can be sustainable.
For all these projects to actually happen takes a lot of logistical work and while it may not be too exciting to read about, it is an indispensable component of a successful project. We will continue to update you with the projects we are participating in as they come along. We love Lima and love the people among whom we serve. The year is off to a great start and we look forward to lots of adventures this year.
As we may have mentioned before, a significant part of our responsibility here in Peru is an administrative responsibility with the humanitarian projects. That may come as a shock to some of you who may think from reading this blog that all we do is cross the Andes, fly to the Amazon, and work with wheelchairs.
This week was pretty much only administrative work. We began the process of collecting impact information for projects from prior years, some as far back as 2008. Mary also began the requisition process for the supplies for 12 wells in communities around a northern city to provide clean, safe drinking water for about 25,000 people. We had to order some additional pipe for a project with 50 wells in another part of the country. We continue this same process with a number of food production and health clinic and school projects as well. We also are working to complete contracts with various regions for water projects and vision projects.
We are beginning the process of vetting requests from partners to assist them with projects in 2016 and that will occupy a lot of time over the first few months of this year. We have to determine which potential projects can be done with our assigned budget, which comes from donations of individuals to LDS Charities. We try to assess those projects which can have the greatest impact and can be sustainable.
For all these projects to actually happen takes a lot of logistical work and while it may not be too exciting to read about, it is an indispensable component of a successful project. We will continue to update you with the projects we are participating in as they come along. We love Lima and love the people among whom we serve. The year is off to a great start and we look forward to lots of adventures this year.
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