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| Everyone except Mike Sanders. Saw him later |
This entry is long overdue.
We've been home to the United States for medical updates then on to Montana for some much needed time with our children. We can't possible tell you everything that happened in between the last update and now. So we've a little to catch up on. The summer in North America is full of fun and travel. In the Southern Hemisphere its winter time, more in the way south and less closer to the Equator. Here in Peru, winter has been unusual compared to normal winters. In the past month, the skies have become cloudy, humidity high and comfort range is narrow. We're wearing light jackets when out of doors. During the maintenance breaks we are free to travel anywhere in the Temple District. With special permission we returned to our home to renew prescriptions and have annual check-ups. Both dental and physical exams revealed no problems. We visited with our family in Montana as well as Utah where we spent a week each. On the 12th of August we flew back to Peru. Great visit with grandchildren and their parents.
While we were away we saw some completion to the building project at the Temple.
Service in the Temple is always such a regular event that it would be easy to think the events are also ordinary. As a result we sometimes operate with the feeling there's not all that much new to tell. But, the experiences we have in the Temple as well as outside on the grounds or mingling with the people of this great country are definitely unique as well as inspiring. Ours is a constant work requiring daily contact with conviction. Members arrive in various forms of preparation. Those visitors from the Provinces can seldom make the long costly journey. Even those living closer experience formidable obstacles.
Attendance at the Temple requires planning and sacrifice. People throughout the world face the same issues as those in Peru, yet our empathies are with those we see and hear and touch as we shake their hands and receive their generous warmth. They come with a vision of life that is a little better, a life promised if they live Heavenly Fathers plan for happiness. All people everywhere desire to be happy. Happiness begins when we are peaceful. Temples are a place of peace.
Attending the temple gives us a clearer perspective and a sense of purpose and peace. President Thomas S. Monson described temple blessings as follows:
“As we go to the holy house, as we remember the covenants we make therein, we will be able to bear every trial and overcome each temptation. The temple provides purpose for our lives. It brings peace to our souls—not the peace provided by men but the peace promised by the Son of God when He said, ‘Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.’”
President Boyd K. Packer, President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, described additional blessings of attending the temple:
“When members of the Church are troubled or when crucial decisions weigh heavily upon their minds, it is a common thing for them to go to the temple. It is a good place to take our cares. In the temple we can receive spiritual perspective. There, during the time of the temple service, we are ‘out of the world.’
“Sometimes our minds are so beset with problems, and there are so many things clamoring for attention at once that we just cannot think or see things clearly. At the temple the dust of distraction seems to settle out, the fog and the haze seem to lift, and we can ‘see’ things that we were not able to see before and find a way through our troubles that we had not previously known.
“The Lord will bless us as we attend to the sacred ordinance work of the temples. Blessings there will not be limited to our temple service. We will be blessed in all of our affairs”
Endowment
One ordinance we receive in the temple is the endowment. The wordendowment means “gift” or “bestowal.” As part of this ordinance, we are taught about the purpose of life, the mission and Atonement of Jesus Christ, and Heavenly Father’s plan for His children. We gain a glimpse of what it will be like to live in His presence as we feel the peaceful atmosphere of the temple.
Sealing
Another temple ordinance is the sealing ordinance, in which husbands and wives are sealed to each other and children are sealed to their parents in eternal families. This means that if we are faithful to our covenants, our family relationships will continue for eternity. People sometimes also refer to this ordinance as “temple marriage” or “eternal marriage.”
Ordinances for the Deceased
In addition to receiving these ordinances for ourselves, we can receive them for our deceased ancestors. In this way, people who died without receiving essential ordinances such as baptism and confirmation, the endowment, and sealing have the opportunity to accept these ordinances.
Regular Temple Operation
After being dedicated, temples are open for use by Church members Monday through Saturday. In order to enter the temple, Church members must (1) be at least 12 years of age, (2) be a member for at least one year, and (3) have a current temple recommend. To obtain a recommend, a Church member has a special interview with his or her bishop or branch president and stake or district president before going to the temple. These Church leaders will ask questions to determine if the member has a testimony of the Church, keeps the commandments, supports Church leaders, obeys the Word of Wisdom, pays tithing, and is honest.
Structure
The temple is a peaceful, sacred place, set apart from the cares and turmoil of the world. All areas of the temple are beautifully and carefully maintained to preserve a spirit of reverence. The temple has many rooms to accomplish the ordinances performed there.
Manner of Dress
Those who attend the temple go to a dressing room to change from their street clothes into white clothing. This change of clothing serves as a reminder that visitors are temporarily leaving the world behind and entering a holy place. White clothing symbolizes purity, and the fact that all are dressed alike in the temple creates a sense of unity and equality.
“At the temple the dust of distraction seems to settle out, the fog and the haze seem to lift, and we can ‘see’ things that we were not able to see before and find a way through our troubles that we had not previously known.”
—President Boyd K. Packer
Within the walls of the Temple we greet the members five days a week. Many come from a closer proximity but lots come from farther away, so very far away. Remember that Peru is almost as large as Alaska in square miles so the time needed to cover the distance to the Temple can take days. Lima is geographically in the center of the country. The distance to the edge of the Temple District is about 650 miles in any direction. Since most of the population lives near the coast, travel is more commonly north or south to Lima from the greater populations centers. Travel to the Temple is never by airplane instead buses wind their way over switchback roads. These people make the most meager of earnings. Consequently an Albergue de Templo, was constructed adjacent to the Temple capable of housing up to 59 people. In addition, food is available in this same facility for all who attend. Temple missionary apartments (seven - 7) are located on the third floor.
The Temple grounds are encircled by an enclosure. Security monitors inside and outside around the clock. Patrons feel complete security. Parents often arrive with their children enjoy many wonderful hours together. The Temple in Lima is truly a place of Peace for them.
The World Bank (2005) estimates that the poverty rate is 80 percent among people employed in
the agricultural sector in Peru, and 60 percent among those employed in the RNA sector. Wage
workers in agriculture are those who are most likely to be poor, followed by farmers. This is confirmed by the distribution of individual earnings among wage
labor and self employed in agriculture and non-agriculture. When not controlling for other
factors, there is a statistically significant difference in average earnings between the agricultural
and non-agricultural sectors, with earnings being higher in the latter. The monthly income from principal employment, shows that this difference is driven mainly by
different average wages in the wage labor market. Average earnings for the self-employed are
not different between the two sectors. 3 Neither is there any difference in average earnings
between the self-employed and wage laborers within the non-agricultural sector.
Here is a sample of take home pay for Pervian workers:
| Average Salary in
Peru - Job Comparison. |
|
| Job |
Net Monthly Income |
|
|
| Airline Pilot |
PPP $ 4,801 |
| Accountant |
PPP $ 3,741 |
| Flight Attendant |
PPP $ 2,673 |
| Engineer |
PPP $ 2,560 |
| Professor |
PPP $ 1,599 |
| Computer Programmer |
PPP $ 1,204 |
| Professional Nurse |
PPP $ 1,149 |
| Office Clerk |
PPP $ 1,102 |
| Teacher |
PPP $ 1,097 |
| Salesperson |
PPP $ 871 |
| Carpenter |
PPP $ 714 |
| Auxiliary Nurse |
PPP $ 613 |
| Miner average |
PPP $ 531 |
| Car Mechanic |
PPP $ 458 |
| Baker |
PPP $ 412 |
| Wood Grinder |
PPP $ 398 |
| Garment Cutter |
PPP $ 391 |
| Postman |
PPP $ 386 |
| Hotel Receptionist |
PPP $ 360 |
| Chambermaid |
PPP $ 347 |
| Furniture Finisher |
PPP $ 338 |
| Bus Driver |
PPP $ 325 |
|
|
Now that you have a picture of income in mind, factor in the poverty percentages above and you'll see the lack of income. Travel to the Temple is costly in both time and money. Members lose valuable work time along with the out of pocket costs. Travel time by bus can range up to several days because they come over roads not fit for speed.
With the announcements of two more Temples, one in Tucson, AZ and the other in Arequipa, Peru, the members in Peru are more than excited. Every time I see someone from Arequipa we talk about their new Temple. Not certain of the timeline I caution them it will take time for planning and site improvements before construction. With the construction well under way in Trujillo and completion expected within three years, the travel time will drop allowing more members to attend a Temple nearer to their homes.
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| Luke Simmons, only 17 years until his mission. |
In addition to the new Temples, the announcement allowing missionaries to serve at younger ages creates excitement for the sister missionaries especially. Our experiences with the other missionaries especially the youth is doubly fulfilling. Their enthusiasm is contagious and helps everyone around them to do better. Each Tuesday and Wednesday we have missionaries attending the Temple. Tuesdays is generally the day for missions near to the Temple while Wednesday is for the Mission Training Center missionaries. These young people come from Latin American countries as well as North America. Those coming from outside Latin America require additional time to train in language skills. Their experience in the Temple is somewhat limited overall so we spend time each week helping them experience the ultimate purpose of the Gospel. All roads lead to the Temple because it enables so much. Our potential is truly unlocked when we listen completely.
Other than working in the Temple we teach occasionally in the La Molina Ward or support members in helpful ways. Our other time includes some exercise and maintaining our health plus we are free to travel anywhere within the Temple District (all of Peru). Within Lima we venture into the city. We always travel in groups. Monday being our preparation day we usually have a few extra hours. We visited Gamarra this Monday an area of Lima where we found an intense concentration of shops stacked on top of one another each selling their wares. Gamarra is akin to the garment district in NYC. Racks and loaded dolly's rumble up and down the streets where cars are seldom driven.
Example: Several stories filled with nooks and crannies jammed with fabric, buttons, snaps, zippers, thread and all manner of sewing supplies; upper floors where workers hunch over machines assembling clothing of every kind shape and color. Merchants sell meters of fabric at prices so reasonable that Peruvians are generally well dressed. To those who have international experience these qualities these variations in quality are astounding. Tailors in every part of this sprawling metropolis will travel to your home, bring samples of endless variety, measure and help you select details of the finished product. Then within a few days deliver the product for a fitting, make needed alterations and return with the finished goods. The cost is unusually attractive to us. A complete man's custom made suit will cost about $120. Women's cloths abound in their style and availability. This is truly a shoppers mecca.
Claudia needs a new skirt similar to one she has worn for years. Selecting the fabric is fun with so many to choose from along with practicing her language and negotiation skills. You all know she's a skilled negotiator. On this day trip to Gamarra she purchased a select wool blend material for the skirt along with a leopard pattern for a vest. The skirt is pleated so she purchased 3 metre's of the wool blend. Cost was S/. 30 per meter. ( S/. = sol - Peruvian currency) Conversion rate is .3872 per $1. So do the math and the material is about $37. Cost to tailor the skirt will be about $25.
Gamarra streets are filled from early morning to late in the day. We arrived about 10:00am by electric train and connected to the train from our apartment by bus. Our total trip was about $1 each person. On this day, eight of us traveled together.
Venders are stacked in kiosks in these multi-storied buildings wall to wall. Exactly how much they sell is unknown to us but they are good business people with friendly smiles and careful attention to customer service. Cash is the general method of payment but everyone has a Visa credit card reader to settle the transactions as well.
As in garment districts through the world, goods are moved by man power from source of supply to manufacturer to retailer. Deliveries continue all day. Vendors eat on the run working all hours and never stopping.
Many of these taller building have stacks of assemblers stalls from the 3rd floor to the top where workers spend endless hours sewing and assembling the goods we see in the shops below or for sale throughout the rest of the city. Goods and services are available in every conceivable part of Lima. Food too. Shoe shine stands are within a block of where ever you are. Some hustle work right on the street, shining shoes or hawking tee shirts or food. Fresh baked goods, fruits and vegetables are sold right on the streets. Quail eggs are devoured for protein along with domestic eggs from chickens. Churros or carmel filled dry bread is also nearby.
Many shops sit side by side similar shops both selling exactly the same items. This shop catered to womens clothing, tops, skirts or fancy stockings. Mannequins stand on display inside stores and on the curb. Many sales are initiated on the street where barkers approach people on the move, show them samples and invite them back to the shop.
With all this buying everyone needs to call a friend or family member. No cell phone? No problem. For a small fee, use this vendors phone to make the call and avoid the hassle of paying monthly fees. Cost is about a nickel. The length of the call is 3 minutes.
Goods are on display from floor to ceiling. Prices are displayed prominently for most goods. Attendants are usually young but are sheparded by a supervisor of a group who roams from clerk to clerk often in multiple stores / kiosks.
Streets seldom see motorized vehicles. People roam freely in a parade atmosphere.
Mothers carry their children from birth for many months often past two years or more old. The cloth wraps serve as warmth and carrier for the children. Many of the mothers nurse their mothers as they shop. There is an openness and protection afforded the young that is so wonderful and genuine. Children are seldom seen without hats for protection from the sun.
Typical directory of a building showing the floors with their shop contents. Note the restaurant on the top floor. Calzado = footwear, moda damas = ladies fashion, calcetines = socks and most of the others are self explanatory. This unit is one of a hundred such buildings.
Currency conversion exchange is a constant transaction everywhere in the city. Any conversion seems possible from Sol to dollar to Euro and likely others. How these folks make their money is simple. The make a margin on the conversion. Current conversion rates fluctuate daily yet this folks are right on top of things. I've talked to them on occasion to learn their rate and already know the daily conversion rate. They do well. Todays conversion rate is 1 Peruvian nuevo sol = 0.386997 U.S. dollars.
Be it scissors, tape measures, bobbins, batteries, tins, thimbles thread, razors,,,on and on, this vendor entrepreneur makes a living in 10 square feet. I'm guessing he works every day of the week. These kiosk type shops exist throughout the city. If you can't find something, you're just not looking or asking enough questions. These people know how to find anything, literally. If you want something a little higher quality just ask and they'll come up with it for you.
Bulk raw materials for the cocina (kitchen) are plentiful everywhere. Nuts, flavorings, spices, rice, fruits or vegetables are sold by the kilo at prices so low we can barely feel good about paying that little. Some vendors have the very best and freshest products. Some have inferior goods. It's best to sample the goods before you buy. This is very acceptable. Purchases are usually in kilos or parts of kilos. Half a kilo is about a pound. Try to decipher the signs of these goods.
If you feel like skipping the cooking duties today just go to the street and enjoy a quick meal any day of the week. Vendors through all of Peru in every city, town or village sell meals in the open. Everything from soups to simple protein of unnamed style exists for sale. Women are the predominant vendors but some men are seen selling food.
Fruits and vegetable for take home are openly displayed and sold. I've taken a picture of a snake meat vendor but decided to warn you before I post it. Claudia was dying to try that one.
From Gamarra to the bus you can take the electric train or light rail just recently completed and now in service. It runs north to south for about 25 miles currently with plans for extending it further. Buses extend the transportation options from here and throughout the rest of Lima. Pedicabs or ordinary taxis roam the city depending on the economic climate of that area. Pedicabs or motorized rickshaws populate the poorer districts. We seldome see any where we live.
Buses are always packed. Here you see a few of our group (gringos always stand out) returning from the train electrico to our apartments.
Bus drivers do only the driving. Each has a barker or loader whose voices echo on every corner the direction of the vehicle. Inside they collect the fare and bark out the stops. To listen to them is more like a chant or sing-song that a bark. They run every day of the week often very late and very early as they contribute to the hum of the city. Every large city is filled with this.
Need a shoe lace or three? Every color, style or length plus a nice warm coat. The list of entrepreneurs Scratching out a living is possible for almost anyone with the energy and drive. Not knowing how much profit they earn its hard to tell if its worth their time. If its not good they sell its services like shoe shining or phone time or tailoring.
Peruvians of every age visit Gamarra. This woman is likely from the provinces as she retains the trappings of those people. The average age of shoppers is similar to the USA shopper yet the youth aren't found in abundance here as in North America. Parents never leave their children in the care of a non family member especially those under 5. Parents either carry these young folks or they walk beside their folks. The children of the workers play with their toys on the floor of the kiosk beside the parent who is working. Children are plentiful and well behaved.
Layers of shops, no windows because it never rains, merchandise out in the open air always. Within the buildings are ventilating stair cases reaching through the roof. During the warm season these shafts are the only air conditioning available. The heat will begin to build over the next few months reaching its peak by February then slowly receding back. The total disparity in temperature is about 15 degrees with humidity always hovering at 85% or higher. Each degree is more significant here than any place we've lived.
I warned you earlier. Here is the table from which to select your favorite piece of protein. Where this comes from I can only imagine the jungle to the east. Variety wasn't my concern. This very large snake measuring is at least 10 feet long now partially skinned, carved and sold. Resting comfortable about the vegetables below so they can catch any drippings thereby enhancing their flavor. Yummy !
Since October we have seen a change in the weather as well as all the greenery in Peru. Barren trees have given way to full foliage. The inner city is unique from so many others we've visited or lived in. Lima is totally constructed with concrete and tile. Houses are without side yards. Front yards often double as parking spots behind outer walls with a garage door opening in the wall. That area behind the wall is usually grass planted in the holes of cinder or partition blocks laid on their sides giving support to the weight of the car and allowing the grass to survive. 
