Saturday, January 19, 2013
Peruvian Dream
Peruvian Dream by Roger
While visiting Peru I was greatly impressed by the craftsmanship and the industiousness of the Inca who built Fortaleza at Ollantaytambo and also the terraces and temple at Machu Picchu. I was still thinking about this after we had returned to Cusco. On the streets of Cusco we saw many people celebrating Epiphany by purchasing beautiful dolls that they would take to their homes and place in a special altar in honor of Christ.
That night I had a dream that proved to be the most memorable of my life. Jane and I were searching around Cusco for a spot that gives out tablets which contain the wisdom of our fathers. We located the place and viewed hundreds and hundreds of tablets stacked high against a stone wall. As we were gven a tablet for Jane's Dad the rest of Jane's family suddenly showed up in Cusco to share in the seach and discovery. Attached to the front of the tablet were many tiny booklets which were difficult to detach as they were wired on to the tablet (Thanks, John!) We finally managed to remove one booklet from the tablet and opened it. The pages of the booklet immediately crumbled to dust as did all of the remaining booklets. We should have been greatly disappointed, however, it was clear that his wisdom had already been passed to us through the example he provided by the way he lived his life. He was a quiet man who worked hard and long. He was persistent and managed to start a business which supported his large family. He was a loving father and grandfather who delighted in his family. We can only hope that this wisdom is passed on to generation after generation.
If he had been a modern Catholic Peruvian he would have been purchasing baby dolls to place in a family altar.
If Inca he would have been a tireless worker who contributed more than his share of the work required by the King.
Guest house
Food by Roger
We had green banana for dinner last night. It wasn't green and it tasted like potato. In fact it was very much like mashed potatoes mixed with cheese and onion then formed into a patty and fried like a potato pancake about the size of a large burger. We also get large glasses of juice for all meals... pineapple, raspberry or strawberry. One night for dinner we had a huge bowl of fruit--watermelon , cantaloupe, banana, guava, kiwi...too much to finish! Also bread and butter, jam, coffee,tea and more! Another meal was pork fried with a sauce of marciano cherries and honey served with cold mashed potatoes & as always, rice. Alexandra does much of the food prep and Sonnia does all the cooking.
Add to the juices ...Lemonade, watermelon,papaya, all very good and sweet. Lunch today was Spaghetti and chicken legs served with Parmesan cheese and white rice. We have had a lot of white cheese that is very mild in both Peru and Ecuador. I suppose that all this talk of food is making you hungry (hambre) Tengo hambre means, " I have hunger". Not to be confused with hombre which means "man". Fortunately they say spaghetti very much the way we do.
Competition between Roger and Rodrigo
It seems Roger has met his match! The father, Rodrigo loves to eat as much as Roger and each night they politely tell the other they can have what's left in the serving dishes...but usually they just split it. Both seem to love each bite they take and refuse nothing.
Our Guest Home
We have been graciously treated by our host here. They have opened their home to us where we are free to grab a banana, use their computer, wash our clothes, help with dishes, keep a Diet Coke in the frig...or take an afternoon shower & nap in our room. We are served 3 meals a day...all generous and in the dining room and always followed by relaxing conversation. What more can you ask? The home is surrounded by a tall wall and then a moat like area filled with huge plants. We have done most our cutting out there. The first one you enter is the living room...their centerpiece...nice furniture covered with plastic, huge gold trimmed mirror, many ornamental glass knick knacks sitting on elegant tables with lacy cloths and a chandelier lighting reflecting off the white marble floor. (Can you picture Roger in this room!!) Dining room is similar with several large cabinets filled with fancy glass dishes. The rest of the house...quite a bit more basic with lots of rough edges. Kitchen cupboard plywood & not built in, small gas stove, pots & pans used for many years, two big frigs...one cold and one just to store food (pesky ants). All windows and doors on main floor are have bars and locks. They have several TV's but haven't seen anyone watch them...we turned the one on in our room for a short time just to check out what's showing. Not much. It's quite noisy outside...we're on the corner with one road yielding to the other which means they beep every time they see another car....and lots of dogs barking...but we've gotten use to it and sleep well. A maid comes about 3 times a week...mostly when we've been gone. It truly is a great opportunity to become part of an Ecuadorian family.
Lost Sheep
99 cute little sheep to cut out, 99 cute little sheep. Cut one out, stack it up, 98 cute little sheep to cut out...1 cute little sheep to cut out, 1 cute little sheep. Cut it out, stack it up....NO MORE CUTE LITTLE SHEEP TO CUT OUT!!! After cutting our 225 sheep mask...it was exciting to finish. It is also a warm feeling knowing that when we leave here, we leave a flock of 225 kids who have heard that if they ever get lost...bad decisions, mean behavior, drugs or alcohol, loneliness, poor...they can find comfort and strength in their Good Sheperd who will always find them and care for them tenderly. This flock will also know that people from USA care about them too. And since most of them have also heard the story Mary had a Little Lamb and told to like the lamb in the story that followed Mary...they should follow Jesus.
We had green banana for dinner last night. It wasn't green and it tasted like potato. In fact it was very much like mashed potatoes mixed with cheese and onion then formed into a patty and fried like a potato pancake about the size of a large burger. We also get large glasses of juice for all meals... pineapple, raspberry or strawberry. One night for dinner we had a huge bowl of fruit--watermelon , cantaloupe, banana, guava, kiwi...too much to finish! Also bread and butter, jam, coffee,tea and more! Another meal was pork fried with a sauce of marciano cherries and honey served with cold mashed potatoes & as always, rice. Alexandra does much of the food prep and Sonnia does all the cooking.
Add to the juices ...Lemonade, watermelon,papaya, all very good and sweet. Lunch today was Spaghetti and chicken legs served with Parmesan cheese and white rice. We have had a lot of white cheese that is very mild in both Peru and Ecuador. I suppose that all this talk of food is making you hungry (hambre) Tengo hambre means, " I have hunger". Not to be confused with hombre which means "man". Fortunately they say spaghetti very much the way we do.
Competition between Roger and Rodrigo
It seems Roger has met his match! The father, Rodrigo loves to eat as much as Roger and each night they politely tell the other they can have what's left in the serving dishes...but usually they just split it. Both seem to love each bite they take and refuse nothing.
Our Guest Home
We have been graciously treated by our host here. They have opened their home to us where we are free to grab a banana, use their computer, wash our clothes, help with dishes, keep a Diet Coke in the frig...or take an afternoon shower & nap in our room. We are served 3 meals a day...all generous and in the dining room and always followed by relaxing conversation. What more can you ask? The home is surrounded by a tall wall and then a moat like area filled with huge plants. We have done most our cutting out there. The first one you enter is the living room...their centerpiece...nice furniture covered with plastic, huge gold trimmed mirror, many ornamental glass knick knacks sitting on elegant tables with lacy cloths and a chandelier lighting reflecting off the white marble floor. (Can you picture Roger in this room!!) Dining room is similar with several large cabinets filled with fancy glass dishes. The rest of the house...quite a bit more basic with lots of rough edges. Kitchen cupboard plywood & not built in, small gas stove, pots & pans used for many years, two big frigs...one cold and one just to store food (pesky ants). All windows and doors on main floor are have bars and locks. They have several TV's but haven't seen anyone watch them...we turned the one on in our room for a short time just to check out what's showing. Not much. It's quite noisy outside...we're on the corner with one road yielding to the other which means they beep every time they see another car....and lots of dogs barking...but we've gotten use to it and sleep well. A maid comes about 3 times a week...mostly when we've been gone. It truly is a great opportunity to become part of an Ecuadorian family.
Lost Sheep
99 cute little sheep to cut out, 99 cute little sheep. Cut one out, stack it up, 98 cute little sheep to cut out...1 cute little sheep to cut out, 1 cute little sheep. Cut it out, stack it up....NO MORE CUTE LITTLE SHEEP TO CUT OUT!!! After cutting our 225 sheep mask...it was exciting to finish. It is also a warm feeling knowing that when we leave here, we leave a flock of 225 kids who have heard that if they ever get lost...bad decisions, mean behavior, drugs or alcohol, loneliness, poor...they can find comfort and strength in their Good Sheperd who will always find them and care for them tenderly. This flock will also know that people from USA care about them too. And since most of them have also heard the story Mary had a Little Lamb and told to like the lamb in the story that followed Mary...they should follow Jesus.
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