People - Places - Things - End of Year 2012

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.  

Then with the spring comes all the new flowers and foliage in trees.  One week all is bare and wintery the next its all out and green.  We have beautiful trees and shrubs all around this Temple that are cared for so well by all the gardeners.  There are 4.5 acres here and its all in either lawn buildings or parking.  They care for every inch of it by hand, except for power mowers.   The flower beds are planted with seasonal plants for the cooler seasons versus the hotter.  Each bed is tilled by hand and each particle of matter is combed for vegetation and removed... then its fertilized and let to rest for a week or two.  Bedding plants are then hand planted carefully in perfect spacing, fields of color seems to be what the gardeners are designing.

The seasons also bring out the personalities of those who attend the Temple.  Many come from such distances that their travel is over several days.  Now with the Temple Housing... Albergue del Templo, visits are up sharply.  Travel times are in the 20-24 hour range for many.  Those who travel receive assistance because the Temple is such a distance from them so we see caravans and buses almost weekly.  The Temple is a refuge to these weary travelers.  They are almost always families because they don't hire baby sitters in this country, children come too.  Pictures will help to explain that.  The children of this beautiful country reflect the love of their parents for them.  More about that soon.

Peru is located in the equatorial area of South America, but its climate does not correspond to its geographical location.  Two fundamental factors lie at the reason for the disconnect.  The Andean Mountain Range BS and the cold marine current of Humboldt, also called Peruvian current.  

The Peruvian current and the geographical relief of Peru condition the climate characteristics in three big areas (from west to east), the coast, and the Andean area or mountain, and the Amazon area or jungle, corresponding for each one of the particular climate characteristics.  The coast presents a tempered climate, warm in the north and a little colder to the center and south.  The rains are almost nonexistent.  There is one exception that being the north area where strong rains are presented in the months of summer.    In some areas of the central and south coast, as the cities of Lima and Arequipa, in the months of winter is common the presence of very delicate rains called garúa or chachani.  

The Andean area or mountain has in general a cold and dry climate, but in the north area the rains are intense.  The Amazon area or jungle has a tropical, hot and humid climate, with torrential rains that increase during the summer months. 

Climate seasons, south hemisphere (Peru):

• Summer: December 22nd.  to March 21st.
• Autumn: March 22nd. to June 21st.
• Winter: June 22nd. to September 22nd.
• Spring: September 23rd. to December 21st.

Today in the Temple:

We assist members with various things as Obreros (workers) in the Temple..  We greet people when then arrive since they are usually a little bit lost and needing directions for what to do next.  We talk to them and welcome them as warmly as possible where the women usually hug each other and exchange air kisses to the cheek while the men shake hands and talk to them.  The other things we do are to assist them participate in the sacred ordinances i.e. preliminaries, endowments, or sealings.  The people come in all shapes, ages and sizes… from real short to very short. Most Peruvians are small due to diet deficiencies of iodine.  Many who come are older,,, but not most.   The older people are numerous with mainly women who come.  the really short one are often quite elderly,, some are from the provinces and wear their black hair in long braids down their back..many wear long stockings even though the temperature is summer like.  the shortest woman are about  4 feet tall a lot like a  child.   and their skin is very weathered.  They don't have much,, most of their clothes are old and tattered a bit.  the youth also come but they are such a contrast from those i described above... just like kids in theUSA   happy and electrified to the teeth… even braces on them.   this morning,, as the big front doors opened about 10:00 a man with someone holding on to his arm entered.  that someone was a blind boy,, very good looking.  The boy had no hands… they were both gone…I was so stunned but I greeted him and spoke as though mymind was normal… he raised his stump of an arm for me to shake,, even though he could not see me.. He was friendly and bright  ... I couldn't help but turn afterwards .. I was overcome with emotion.   I wanted to find what had happened to him but those I ask didn't know the story.  Its likely the result of an accident such as fireworks or similar thing.  Blind and no hands but doing for others in the Temple!

Its easy to be partial to children of any culture.  These two were visiting the beach with their parents on Christmas Eve day so I asked them if they would let me take their photo.   Their names are Carlos and Alejandra ages 3 and 9.  We had a nice chat.  I make sure their parents are nearby when I speak to them or someone else is with me.   I worry that this kids are so friendly and open.   The risk factor with strangers seems nonexistent.     Youth relaxing next to a beach artist painting a landscape of the beach rock formations.  Cool kids.  Their visit to the beach comes as they relax for the 'summer'.  Vacation has begun and will last until late March.  The lad in the front is 20 years old the others are 18 and 16.  Good amigos !  More children playing near the water where their parents were fishing in the shallows.  The fish didn't look attractive to me but the must be useful for some food.  There is some concern for the mercury content.  Research says that fish found in the commercial markets is safer than if taken from the ocean. A fiesta for the families whose parents are employed by the Temple came to the Albergue del Templo on Monday night, a week before Christmas where we enjoyed their talents then had refreshments of Panetone and hot chocolate.  The chocolate was so tasty but later we found it contained lots of butter.  Panetone is Italian fruit bread.  It is widely enjoyed throughout the Latino community as well as Europe where it was first made. The Temple Engineer's family.    This little princess was part of a family group of dancers including Mom and two sisters.  The dark eyes and soft sweet disposition is so striking.  All the children will talk to us and then give us kisses on the cheek.  These people are filled with love and natural affection.  The children are so strong in their Primary activities and singing.  On primary Sunday all the kids sing in both English and Spanish a few songs each language.   The speak it so naturally on both sides.   The English kids here all speak very good Spanish.  The don't seem to clique up in an ethnic fashion either.   Group activities are endless for them.  All the children are eager to learn.  Their grooming is attentively cared for with clean haircuts and plenty of soap and water.  In the markets and side streets the children can be far less clean.  Many street kids pan handle for spare change by selling cookie packets, candy or other treat... or they do juggling in the traffic lanes while the lights stop them.  At night the kids juggle batons lite on fire in the midst of the stopped traffic.  Their acts are 20-30 seconds long stopping just in time to pass by the cars asking for money.  Many children are out on their own.  At one stop, the young man was pandering with no right arm in hopes the sympathy factor would pay off.  A future missionary for certain.  Each of the boys dress in suits for meetings and outings at the Temple or Chapel.  These little guys sing well.  They are typical young kids with mischief on their minds a little, just right for the age.  Many of them know some English and they will talk to us easily and readily. Twins with girly curls.    Most of the pictures or portraits I've taken show no smiles.  The sober look seems consistent for all ages.  Early in November I did the portraits of the Temple Presidency and their group Christmas Card photo.  One of the presidency wives won't smile while the other two readily do.  So with a little trickery I was able to take a first photo of the non-smiling wife for her husband.  He was overjoyed to see a picture of her smiling for the first time.  This young man didn't flinch a bit when I took this photo.  Following the picture taking I retrieved the email addresses of those parents whose children I'd photographed and sent them the images for Christmas.  I really did get some nice communicating with all of them, young and old. When I see these young boys I think of our own boys at this age.  What a path of development they are on with strong loving parents, good friends and a completely supportable leadership base.  Peru lacks for nothing as they look to become a solid Priesthood base upon which to grow even more.   The 40 stakes in Lima make up a large portion of the 95 total stakes and 23 districts in the  country.  These are in reality in line to be the leaders of the future.  They are groomed as leaders throughout the world are.. in love and patience by loving parents whose love will shine the way for them.  You can see the light of Christ in their eyes.  The parents here devote complete attention to these youth throughout their formative years and then these well prepared youth will assume the mantle of responsibility for doing good.  They will do as they have been schooled and as the good examples have demonstrated.   Strong families don't just fall into place.  Just ask any parent how much they were willing to sacrifice for their youth.   Heaven smiles here.