Search high and low...
I can't tell you how often this week the words to this song have been in my head. Huaraz 2, has the highest altitude of all the mission. Aside from a little bit of dizziness the morning of the first day, I've been okay. It's really exhilarating to climb up the hills. :) we live just below the boundery of our area in the area of the other hermanas (all four of us are in barrio Huaraz) because there aren't rooms to rent in our area.
Follow every byway, every path you know...
The streets are insanely complicated, it includes little "pueblos" or villages, and many of the people speak more Quechua than Spanish. Just when I was getting the hang of Castillano. Ay. We visited the other day the village of Unchus, which may or may not actually be in our area... Many of the women wear traditional peruvian clothing, with leggins and wide skirts and hats. And their babies slung over their backs.
Climb every mountain, ford every stream...
The water here is insanely cold. Happily, we have to have hot water for showers. And it works! Although our bathroom is literally a hole in the wall. underneath the stairs. Ugh.
Follow every rainbow...
Huaraz is beautiful It's kind of like Utah, except that in the summer it rains almost every afternoon. Mornings are sunny and the sun is really strong here because of the altitude. Don't worry--I wear sunblock. But my hair is getting blonder and blonder on top. And I have a lot of freckles. Yesterday we had a little bit of hail, which is also common here. I am going to purchase boots today, or I will seriously be ill. Our feet were soaked yesterday.
'Till you find your dream...
Our numbers here triple and cuadruple the numbers that we had in primavera. The people here are very humble and very willing to listen. I have to say that I have a lot to work on in that regard. I am not a very humble person, nor a very loving person. My dream is to be more Christ-like and to be able to really love the people here and my companion and the other missionaries. Hermana Mendoza is very loving and very sensitive. I have to be careful in how I express myself, because I'm very impatient. I know, however, that the Atonement of Jesus Christ is real (even when we don't really feel it operating in our lives), and it operates through his Gospel, which has been restored in these latter days. And I have the privildge to live it and teach it.
It really is,
''A dream that will need all the love you can give, every day of your life, for as long as you live''
I love you all! Take care of yourselves. Thanks for your prayers and constant love and support. Give each other hugs for me. :)
Hna. Jackson
