Day 2: Race Day
time and there were so many things we did. We were in Lima
and that is where our race started. To start with they dropped us off in a a
square in the center of Lima and
there were about a dozen tasks we had to do and then get to our destination in
Chincha. When they dropped my team and the four others off they gave us sheets
with all of what we had to get completed on it. There was so much excitement
that we were all running around, but let me back up.
It was Saturday night so there was a loudspeaker outside blaring Spanish music
and a guy on a megaphone saying things. This went on until about five or six in
the morning and so I got only about an hour of sleep because I got up at seven.
We had breakfast at a little restaurant next door which was very basic. I ate
three rolls with butter on them and had some pineapple juice. This is very
normal in Latin culture I guess, so I will need to get used to eating smaller
breakfasts.
Well to catch up our team found out about the statue of the
general in the square who defeated Spain
around 1820 and won independence for Peru.
From there we raced to China Town
and then to a Franciscan cathedral that had been converted to a museum. It is a
huge cathedral made of stone and marble that was built in 1646. It dwarfs the
construction and haphazardness of the construction of about every other house
and building in this country. It must have taken years to build. We toured the
catacombs too in that museum and it was really sobering. The catacombs were
built under and to the side of the cathedral because the town did not have a
graveyard at that time. The Franciscans made it to resemble the catacombs in Rome.
There were about 25,000 people whose bones were there and there bones were all
visible. The bones were laid meticulously in order and separated by being an
arm bone, leg bone, skull, etc. We saw a “well” that was about twenty meters
deep that was just full of bones and skulls and it was one of the most sobering
things I have seen. It just goes to show that life is so short and few things
that really matter. When we die all that will matter will be our relationship
with God and if we have accepted Jesus as our Savior and lived for Him.
After the cathedral we went to a restaurant where we had to
try a food called Sabache which turned out to be octopus. It was so spicy and
really gross. I hope I never have to eat it again, but it was cool to try.
After that we went to Dominos and got a pizza because our whole team was
hungry.
Just a word about transportation – it is crazy! We had to
barter rides with taxis in the local currency which is a Sol. A dollar is about
2.95 Sols. The taxis we got from place to place were about 8 to 15 Soles and we
also had to get a minivan and bus. The taxis are really old and the drivers
will drive fast. Everything here is bartered so you have to see how much a taxi
costs. Our team finance person is really good at it so we have been able to get
good deals on it.
The next cool thing that we got to do on our race day is go
white water rafting! It was so awesome and I have not done anything like that
before. The ride was about 45 minutes long and part of the rapids were category
three. We got soaked with water and I was so cool on the rest of the three
hours to the finish of our race in chincha.
Love you all and I will be updating you soon on the ministry
we will be doing. There are great options we have here in Peru
and I know what we will be doing will be making a direct impact in some
families lives here in Peru.
Love you all in Christ!
