5. Villa Majesterial

Friday 10 Sep

FACT: Arequipa has 25,000 taxis! (when you go there, you can believe it.) they are mostly small, yellow tin boxes on wheels, in various stages of destruction. Not many taxis have escaped several dents or scrapes. But they are a good way to get around. The trip from home to the centre of town costs 3 to 4 soles (75pence to 1 Pound) depending on how much like a tourist you look! Ant needed to be in town to finalise some legal stuff. I changed some money into dollars, and got some anti altitude sickness tablets for our trip to the calca valley on monday and tuesday, God willing.

We got home and thankfully, after a delicious lamb stew with rice and potatoes, there was no sign of Señor Montezuma. He must be away troubling somebody else now. Thanks to all who prayed.

At 2.30 we drove out along the road by the railway, past the airport, towards Villa Majesterial. This is a new "barrio" (district) that is slowly being built, extending its way up the slopes of the hills around Arequipa. Only parts of the area had tarmac on the roads, most of the tracks criss crossing the rough built houses were dust roads.

The area has not developed yet, and most of the dwellings would be a single room, with a small walled area (no garden!). The walls are often round stones piled to about 3 feet in height. Here and there, stray dogs "mooch about." We turn off the tarmac onto the dust road, leading up towards "area 3" This is where Lucretia lives, with her husband, Joachin. She is a believer, but he has only been coming to the church recently.

We could not get quite to the house, due to several large ditches dug along the length of the road. The drainage is being put in even as we were having the kid's meeting! We had to jump across, and then wade through a fine white dust, which clings to your shoes.

We chat for a time with Lucretia, before the children start drifting in. I chat with a few. They like to ask questions like, "Where do you live, how old are you, how many children do you have, etc." All basic stuff, which is good!!

Soon all are gathered, and away we go. Singing about 7 or 8 different choruses in spanish, which the kids enjoy. Anthony and Roxy both lead the singing. After that, Roxy quietens them down and Anthony begins talking to them about Abraham, Lot and the story there. He links this with loving the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. The kids listen really well.

Then we hear a car horn. The builders want to dig a trench underneath Anthony´s car!! So we have to move. This causes some distraction, but Roxy handles them well, while Anthony moves it. Then the children have to colour in a picture of ABraham and Lot, and also there is a memory verse to memorise for next time. There are prizes for all who do the sheets: a small packet of sweets. Then we close in prayer and the kids drift away, "Ciao!"

There is dust in the air, and it makes you want to cough. It is not good for Anthony´s asthma, so after the kids are gone, we pack away and try to get home asap.

At home, Melissa is still not well, so Roxy feels she should take her to the GP. Her lingering cough and sore throat have not got any better, so they head out together. I know they will appreciate your prayers.

During the day, Gladys has been very busy. She comes and does the washing, ironing and some of the cooking and cleaning too. She has made a brilliant job of my shirts! (although not as good as Jules, of course!!) This is one way that Anthony and Roxy can help local people by paying them to do jobs like this. Gladys will probably help out at several homes through the week.

As I write, the evening is here. It´s still light, but everywhere is the red orange glow of the sun. The mountains that tower over one half of the city have snow on the peaks, although they are not clear as the sky is hazy with dust.

Hasta Luego

A