A short update and PICTURES!!!

Last night the group spent the evening walking around a local market downtown where the Peruvians would actually shop, not just tourists. It was quite fun and an interesting experience. It reminded us some of the central markets in Lancaster and York. The three Kreider children are serving as tour guides for the week and are doing a great job. We really appreciate having them go along with us on excursions and to the work site! We are learning a lot about Peru and the culture from them, and it´s nice to have some more translators!! After walking around the market we all split up and took several taxis back to the restaurant below our hotel for dinner. It is a Polleria (Chicken place) and the only menu item is chicken (you can choose 1/4 chicken, 1/8, 1/2, 1 whole) and it comes with french fries and salad. Oh, and chicken feet soup. Yes, I did say chicken feet soup. Some were quite surprised to actually find chicken feet in their soup, and had thought the term wasn´t actually literal.

Well, now onto today.... the second day of work has come and gone. Today the group headed back to the same house and laid some more stones for foundation and surrounding walls. Eric and Lindsay started building a cage for guinea pigs... but we have yet to see them, or eat them! Lorie is feeling much better and was able to join us for devotions and breakfast this morning. She still needed to rest some more and the hot sun would not have been ideal so she stayed back while we worked. We had a shorter work day today because once the foundation and walls are laid the mortar (mud and straw) has to dry for a week. Tomorrow we will be at the same house again but moving clay bricks this time for them to start laying once the mortar dries.

This afternoon the 25+ age group (with the exception of two of the Kreider children, Kiersten and Destiny) are visiting some Incan Ruins. Should be a fun experience and us young ones are anxious to see pictures. We chose to stay back and rest and play some cards games. Right now Zach and Brandon are exploring some local hardware stores. :-)

As promised, you´ll find some pictures of our trip so far below! This post is a little bit shorter as a result. But know that the food is good so far, all continue to be in good health and we are having a good time. We continue to appreciate your prayers for our team as well as the Peruvian people in general, especially the ones we are interacting with on a regular basis.

Lindsey, for the group

All smiles before boarding the planes in Newark, New Jersey!

View of the Andes Mountains coming in the Peru (from the plane).

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Some nerd we found in the airport. :-) Just kidding! Also, Scott willingly posed for this.

Zach and Brandon walking to the church for supper the first night.

View of San Jeronimo, Cusco from our Hotel.

Waiting for the bus to pick us up at Promesa school (where Jesse and Jess taught) to take us to the work site!

At the work site!!! Forming a bucket brigade to pass mudd to those laying stones.

Destiny Kreider is pictured at the far right.

A view of the countryside near Lucre on the way back to the hotel from the work site.