Happy Halloween!

Hike up Mt. Si

Dad thought that Mom needed to get on a mountain (perhaps she was grumpy) so we all went hiking up Mt. Si.  We hiked most of the way with our new friend, Ben, and his mom.

 We could see Seattle, Bellevue, and Lake Washington from the top.

Ready for Halloween

Hat Tricks

Last game of the season, and Evan and Nathan both got hat tricks.  These brothers scored all the goals for their games today.  Three each for Evan and Nathan; one each for Tavis and Bryker.  The Chargers went undefeated and the Ghost Sharks only lost one game this season.  These guys were great teammates and showed a lot of heart.  Tavis and Evan are going to miss each other in basketball - the first time in 9 sports seasons that they won't be on the same team because Tavis won't turn 9 until January.  But they'll be back together for spring soccer!

Happy Birthday, Grandpa!

Pictures from Peru

I have a better internet connection and can post pictures from my trip.  I was not allowed to take pictures at the sites where I volunteered.  Understandably, this was to preserve the dignity and privacy of very vulnerable individuals. 

 

This historic district of Lima

 

Main cathedral in the plaza



 

 

The presidential palace, which is next to the cathedral on the plaza.  Imagine the next three pictures right beside each other like a panoramic picture.

If you look closely you can see the guards of the palace.

San Francisco Cathedral - home of the catacombs

Views of Villa El Salvador, the neighborhood in Lima where El Martincitos is located.

 

 

I see so many things on motorcycles in countries that I visit.  Pigs and coffins in Vietnam; families of six cruising in Guatemala; a lawnmower in Peru.

 

 El Martincitos.  Everyone is inside eating breakfast.

I took this from in front of the car where we parked to visit a young man (really, a kid), who is paralyzed from a construction accident.  We could not drive any further because he lives on such a steep hill that you have to walk up steps to get to the houses.  The most marginalized people live at the top of the hills in most neighborhoods.  For obvious reasons, a person with a disability that results in limitations in mobility such as a spinal cord injury, stroke, or other neurologic disorder, is essentially homebound.

 

I forgot to mention the park and zoo!  In the middle of our home visit morning, Tony, the director of El Martincitos, took us to a park and zoo!  He shared a lot about the history of the neighborhood of Villa El Salvador.  Tony grew up here, which is why he has such a heart for los abuelitos.  He recalled the time when one of his teachers brought his class to the desert area a few blocks from the school.  They each planted a tree.  The teacher told them that the trees would grow and good things would come of it.  The rest of the year they carried water jugs to the trees to water them.  Tony says that the kids thought the teacher was crazy.  Later, more trees were planted, and the spot in the desert became a park with a small zoo, a lake, small amusement rides, a tent camping area, and an ampitheater.  The teacher actually founded the park, which is an oasis for this district in Lima.  These are the exact trees that Tony and his classmates planted.

 

 

 

I spent my last evening contemplating my trip at the Pacific Ocean.  I actually spent most of my time down on the beach, but didn't take any pictures from there.  I just enjoyed the sounds of the ocean.

Old time surfing mural on the way down to the beach

 

Peru - Day 4

Dear Evan and Nathan,

The drive to the airport was not the most harrowing I've been on in Peru, but it was close!  The fun part about the drive, though, was that my driver, Javier, asked if I spoke Spanish.  I told him I spoke a little, but needed practice, so he told me that he would practice with me.  We visited the whole trip, which was about 1 1/2 hours.  First, he told me about his trip to Cuzco last month, and even showed me pictures on his phone.  He also decided that I should learn to appreciate Peruvian music, which he knew a whole lot about.  He switched through at least 50 songs, telling me what type of music each one was and what region of the country it was from, and what social or political impact the type music had on society.  We'd listen to about a minute of each song and then he'd switch to the next one.  It was fascinating.  It was fun to spend my last hours in the country with someone who was so interesting and who was intent on sharing his language and his culture.

I'm looking forward to seeing you!
Mom