Church in Banos

Just like at home, our family went to church every Sunday. It took us about 20 minutes to get there if we caught a bus right away. We took a bus from our town, Puyllucana, to Banos del Inca. From there we walked a few blocks to the church. I wish I had better Sunday shoes!

Church was very confusing for me at first because I couldn't understand Spanish. At least I knew what was happening, because our church is the same all over the world, except for the language.  After Liz, another American, became my teacher, I could understand a lot more in my class. She talked a lot slower. 

Church was fun, sometimes, too. Sometimes we had fun activities. Our family helped out a lot. Kai played piano, and I played it (along with my mom) for the kids meeting (Primary). We were asked to do all kinds of things.

These are the kids that helped with a service project one Saturday. We were cleaning the church. We were going to mop the floors but there wasn't any water that day so we couldn't!

This is how we listened to General Conference. General Conference is when everyone in the world can listen to the modern prophet speak. Since at the church it was in Spanish, we stayed home and watched it on the computer in English. Renen and I are doing origami.

This is playing with one of my friends, Valentina at our All Saints Day party at the church. It's a national holiday right after halloween. She also barely moved in when I came. We're jump roping.

This is the lunch they gave us at the party. Lunch is the biggest meal of the day. We had rice, beans, and a piece of meat.

Since the only piano close to us at all is at the church, that's where I practice. NO PERUVIAN knows how to play, only us movistar gringos. (That's what they call white people.)

This is the Stake President's house and his family. They invited us over for family home evening. Family home evening is a weekly Monday night family gathering in our church when we talk about the gospel. In Peru, people have chicken and fries for dessert. (It's actually dinner. THEY MISSED DESSERT!)

We had a talent show for a ward activity. Valentina's family did a three little pigs play.

We taught the Honkey Tonk Stomp to anyone who wanted to learn. The bishop's counselor did pretty good.

This is the Primary Program practice. That's when the primary children come in Sacrament Meeting (the main meeting) and speak about what we've learned about in church that year and sing songs that we've learned. I knew all the songs, because I learned them in the U.S. before we left, but now I had to learn them in Spanish!  It was really hard, but I did it! Lily did too! EN ESPANOL!

We are so hard to organize.

This is my friend, Miguel. He's married to another gringa. She helped us out a lot, and Miguel is really funny.

This is the whole ward at the good bye party. See if you can find all 10 gringos! They don't have black hair. I miss these people.