It's been awhile since I've written so lots has happened, but I will try to keep it brief.

 

I went back to the States in February for seven weeks because I had to renew my driver's license. I tried to miss as much of the cold weather in Minnesota as possible, but still get back here for the prime tourist season. I kind of struck out on both counts; it was cold the whole time I was in Minnesota, including a couple of snow storms. I also missed a couple of tourists that wanted to visit Cotahuasi before I got back here, and now there aren't any.

 

I had a great time visiting my family though, in spite of the weather, and saw a number of friends as well. I also got in some great hiking and camping, including four days in Canyonlands N.P., which was the first time I had ever been there. I spent one day in Zion N.P. and a day at Fisher Towers area, which is near Canyonlands. Fabulous scenery and so much to see, I will definitely will have to go back again and spend longer. It was also great to take my time driving back and forth to California, rather than rushing it like I have done most of the times in the past.

 

I got back to Minnesota just in time to see the first showing of my sister Jane's and her husband Clayton's restored Russell steam engine. Clayton did most of the work on it, along with help from Jane, his brothers and friends. It is a first class restoration and everyone was very impressed with the quality and detail of the work - great job Clayton and all.

 

I guess I had too good of a time back in the U.S., I kind of had the feeling like I was out of place when I got back to Peru, especially in Lima, but even in Arequipa. I suppose part of it was that while I was in the States, I had been talking about retirement and wondering where to spent it. I also had to spend longer in Arequipa than I wanted to, getting various things done on my car. However after I had crossed the high plain and arrived at the rim of the Cotahuasi Canyon, it all changed. It was so beautiful and green from the recent rainy season, and I felt so at home that I almost cried. It was a good confirmation that my time here in Peru is not over yet, and I'm looking forward to a number of more years here, Lord willing.

 

A few good hikes helped as well, enjoying the beautiful warm and sunny fall days, and seeing my friends and co-workers here. There is lots happening, the radio station work is nearing an end, it was great to see the progress there. The church in Huiliac is celebrating the 1st anniversary of their new building, and six years since the gospel was first presented in their village. I need to get together with Alberto and plan a trip to Cushpa soon, hopefully we can make it there this month. There are two short term workers here, both named Aaron, who are keeping busy. There are a number of teams from U.S. churches that are coming in the next few months, I will be providing transportation for them. Then right after the last team, I have two couples from Austria coming for a trekking adventure.

 

This week has been Cotahuasi's anniversary fiesta, part of which is also an adventure festival. However this year the adventure part was less than in past years, with more of the traditional festival activities - which is spelled ALCOHOL and IDOLS. I had heard that one of the activities was climbing Huinao, the mountain right across the street from my house. I was thinking of doing that and then had second thoughts when I saw they were starting at 6:00am. The final factor in not doing it was when I read the program and saw that they were climbing 'Apu Huinao', or the God Huinao, according to the religious beliefs of the Incas.

 

The town is full of people for the festival, many of them drunk, and I have heard of one person getting beaten up. I had an uninvited guest drop in last night, which woke me with a start. Sometime in the middle of the night, I woke up to a crashing noise and something rolling down the corrugated roof of my house. It didn't sound like the rocks that the kids sometimes throw down from the park up on the hill above my house, and there was lots of shouting. I heard my landlord get up so I tried to ignore it and go back to sleep, which took a long time. This morning I found out that a drunk had fallen onto the roof from up above, and almost went through the roof before rolling off into a tree alongside the house. I still am not sure if he ended up in the tree or fell down to the road. Miraculously he survived, but I haven't heard how badly he was injured.

 

Things seem to have quieted down for now, but the evening is still young, and there is another day and a half of the fiesta to go yet. Thankfully it only comes once a year!

 

God bless,

 

Vic