Chocope

On Monday, we were invited to go to Chocope where the Fackrells live.  It is about 1 hour 15 minutes or 45 km by bus.  Chocope is a small town of about 3000 people. The last census we could find was in 1940 and there were 1300 people so it is hard to know for sure.  They have a small branch there where 30-40 people attend.  The Fackrells invited their zone to come for Thanksgiving dinner and they included us and the Hawses.  It was fun to see where they live & serve and spend the afternoon with so many great missionaries.  We won't post their names because we didn't get all of them, but they have such energy and excitement to share.  

The bus we took from Trujillo to Chocope. It cost 3 1/2 soles a piece which is $1.03.
It looks a lot nicer on the outside than on the inside.

The Pan American Highway where the bus dropped us off.

One of the vendors.

  

We ran into some missionaries on our bus.  It took about 10 minutes to walk from the bus to the Fackrells house.  It was a very cute little town.

The Fackrells were very hospitable and had set up little tables and desks around their apartment for everyone to eat at. They even had two elders eating at the ironing board.  They served 24 people in their small apartment.  The food and company was excellent. 

Jim & Patti Fackrell.  You can see Patti's wonderful pies on the washer and dryer.
They were supposed to go home in January but Jim has been called to be the 2nd Counselor
in the Mission Presidency so they have been asked to extend until June.  They will stay until
President and Sister Marler are released.


Bill, Wayne & two Elders went to the church to pick up 14 chairs.  They brought them back on a Moto-taxi.

Jim carving the turkey.

Jan pouring water.

Everyone except Wayne & Jim.

After lunch, Bill, Jan & I walked with some elders & the chairs back to the branch house. It was about 6 or 8 blocks from their apartment. We had more help taking them back.

Outside the Fackrell's apartment.

Outside the Branch House.

This little man is weaving a basket.  There was a chicken running loose
but I couldn't get him in the picture.

We decided to take a moto-taxi (tuk-tuk) since there isn't a lot of traffic in Chicope.
It would be scary to ride one in Trujillo and we wanted to cross this off our bucket list.

The bus ride back was very crowded.  There is no limit to how many people can ride a bus and people had to stand in the aisle all the way to Trujillo.  We were glad we got on early and could claim a seat. Here are two highway pictures.

Sugar cane.

We got off the bus at Av. Larco and walked to Wong's before going home.  We all needed some groceries.  We passed these interesting spots along the way.

Sheet rock and water tanks.

A very nice home with a beautiful courtyard.

You don't see any outside Christmas lights or decorations here in Trujillo but we know they put trees and decorations in their homes and stores.  I miss all the pretty outside lights and decorations. Here are my two favorite places to visit to see the Christmas lights.

The Plaza lights in Kansas City, MO.

Temple Square in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Barrio Buenos Aires

On Sunday we went to the Buenos Aires ward.  This is the ward that the mission office missionaries are assigned to.  Usually, there are four missionaries attending, but this Sunday we had six.  Elder Heward was back from Guadelupe, to pick up a new companion and Elder Bond was there for his last Sunday before being released this week.  His parents are coming to pick him up.  The other missionaries are Elders Olsen, Romero, Marshall and Caldwell.  They are all such cute guys.  We love seeing them.  

Pedro Miranda, President Casades, & Bill.
Pedro is our temple recorder and Hermano Casades attends the temple regularly.
Pedro was here on stake assignment and Hermano Casades is a counselor in the Stake Presidency.

Elder Bond, President Casades, and Elder Heward

Sunday School class.

5th Sunday Lesson.
The Bishop, in the suit, taught the class on Eternal Families.
He asked Bill and me to come up and talk about the temple. I didn't say
much, but stood by him for moral support and smiled when necessary.

I couldn't resist taking a picture of this little cutie.
Both of her parents are returned missionaries.

It doesn't matter where we go, we can always find interesting things to take pictures of. 

This little lady lives next to the church.  She has a little "tienda" or shop in her living room where
she sells various items.  Every house and shop down here has bars.  They have to unlock it
to let you in.  We just visited with her for a few minutes.

A closer picture of her little "gato" and a neighbor dog.

How many Peruvians can you put in the back of a small pickup truck.

This is a wall mural.  We were surprised to see Winnie the Pooh fishing in Peru.

A vacant lot: a convenient place to dump your junk.

They hardly ever finish their buildings, just live in the floors below.
That way you do not have to pay taxes on them.

A nursery.  This Peruvian must have borrowed Bill's pants.
He has a pair just like them but they look more like shorts when he wears them.