Farewell to Huaraz - Part II

Our last week at the archives was very emotional, especially for several of the employees with whom we have worked for 18 months. They accepted us as part of the team and we had an excellent working relationship. 

Jaime (hi-may) has worked at the archives for 25 years and knows where every book and document is located. A religious man, who lost his wife about a year before we arrived, he was always jovial and supported us in every way. This made our work so much easier. We laughed a lot together and the day we left he cried as he gave each of us a big hug and thanked us for having moved forward the digitalization of the records in the archives.

Amable (ah-ma-blay), which means "lovable" in Spanish. She personified her name. She was the secretary to the director and prepared all of the correspondence that went out from the archives. Very personable, she would come by our work area from time to time to see how we were doing and to chat.  She even knitted a beautiful scarf for Marilyn.

Joli (yo-lay) worked in our area of the archives as a clerk and typist. She and Amable and the director were the only ones who knew how to use the computers that belonged to the archives. Our special computers were provided by the Church.  She was also always very friendly and helpful.

Señor Portilla, another long time employee who worked alongside Joli. His specialty was locating legal documents such as deeds, wills, land titles, and other notarized material. Some of the records in the red boxes to his left date from the 1600's.  We used to tease him about building a wall with books around his desk when actually the books contained documents that he had located for people and he was waiting for them to return and get their copies.

Mario, worked with Portilla but in a separate room. We often wondered what he really did since he would disappear often, but since he was tenured, his job was secure.  During our time in the archives we had three directors--apparently the job of director is not so secure.

Julio Pecho, a recently returned missionary who was hired by the Church as an independent contractor to take our place in the archives.  He was really excited about getting the job.  We hope he will be able to continue until the project is completed.

These two ladies, mother and daughter, provided breakfast outside the archives every morning for most of the time we were there. They would arrive about 8:00 a.m. and bring hot food for the employees. They almost always had 15 or 20 customers every morning who stood around the table and ate standing up or sat on the cement sidewalk. 

The last bundle of records, death records from Yungay, that I photographed on my last day. With books similar to these, we took approximately 285,000 images during our 18 months in Huaraz. There is probably six - eight months of work remaining to complete the digitalization of the archives.

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Meanwhile back at the apartment, we were frantically packing and giving away clothing, food, cookware and other items we did not want to bring home. Several months prior, we had purchased a harp and had a box made to bring it home with our luggage.

With Carlos, the owner of the music store where we purchased the harp.

The plywood box we had made to protect the harp in transit.  It really did look a lot like a coffin.  Marilyn joked that we could use it as her coffin if we painted it white and gave everyone magic markers to write her a message on it

The harp in its black fabric carrying case nestled in the box with other souvenirs filling in the empty spaces.

The movers pulled all the furniture outside into the parking area and wrapped every piece in cardboard and clear plastic film. The Church hired a mover to take all the furniture to Trujillo to be used by a future senior missionary couple.

Even the suitcases were wrapped since we had to ship them, together with the harp, by bus to Lima. Too much to take on the small plane to Lima.

A last look at the freshly painted building in front of our apartment building which the landlord has converted from a multi-room hostal to three 3-bedroom apartments.

We spent the last three nights at a hotel in the center of town. It included a nice breakfast on the patio.

A final look at the snow-capped peaks of the Andes Mountains to the east of town.

One last look at Huascarán peak, at 22,205 feet, the highest mountain in Peru. It is a view we never got tired of. It was snow covered the year around.

Adios Huaraz! We leave many special friends and sweet memories behind.

Farewell to Huaraz - Part I
Saying goodbye is hard. The wonderful members of the ward and stake did not make it any easier as they "wined and dined" us starting several weeks before our actual departure. Unfortunately, we did not get pictures of every event or of every person, but here are a few that were special.

Our bishopric sponsored the first farewell, about two weeks before we left. From left to right, here is our good friend Gerver Huamán, 1st counselor, Bishop Salazar, and Brother Trinidad, 2nd counselor. The event consisted of a dinner and then comments by each of the attendees. It was held at a member's home and about 40 people came.

On the left, Sister Valenzuela, one of the oldest in age and time in the stake. We were her home teachers. Sister Huamán and Sister Sélide, our previous Relief Society president.

Three of our sisters who we visited as home teachers. Sister Vega, Sister Antunez and Sister Sanchez.

This is Sister Vega's humble, adobe home and small business. She is a single mother of three, the youngest of which is studying to be a nurse. Sister Vega's husband left her some years ago and she gets by from the income from her little corner business selling snacks and with help from two daughters who work. The building, including her living area, has a tin roof and dirt floors.

Sister Sanchez's son Nilo, middle front, and her husband on the right with the white hat. Garcia family members behind.

Robert Bejarano, probably our closest friend, together with his wife Pilar and children, in Huaraz. He helped us find our apartment when we arrived in Huaraz and move in when the furniture finally became available.

Another favorite couple, the Villóns. He is the stepson of the bishop and someone we made friends with early on, even though they lived in a different ward.

Here they are with his mom, Sister Salazar, the bishop's wife.

The Huamáns had us over for dinner. From left, their daughter Linda who is studying in Lima, Sariah, Magdalena and Moroni. Brother Huamán arrived after we took the picture.

Three couples hosted this dinner at the home of the Pechos. From left, Pilar Bejarano, Julio Pecho (who took our place at the archives), Victor and Alma, Sister Pecho and Brother Pecho. It was typical Peruvian food and very tasty.

Here are the four couples.  This is definitely the nicest apartment we were in in Huaraz.  Bro. Pecho is a judge and makes a good salary. 

Another of our favorite couples, Orlando and Flor Aguilar with Alejandra. He teaches English and is also qualified as a tourist guide.

Jackie Villón, a single mother and her son Jampier.

Cielo Zavaleta, who was called to take my place as the Stake Family History Director when she came home from her mission. A vivacious, people-oriented, fun-loving and very talented young lady. Daughter of the stake president.

With three sisters at the church on our last Sunday.

The Primary children sang for us on the last Sunday.

Jackie with the Primary children.

We wanted to say goodbye to our favorite vegetable vendor in the large central market.

The cloth vendor who always greeted us with a smile as we passed by his booth in the central market, even if we didn't purchase anything.

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We flew out of Juaraz at 7:00 a.m. on Monday, August 3. We had to be at the airport at 6:00. The airport is a 30 minute taxi ride from town. Four couples and two youths came to see us off. Only one had a car so the others paid for taxis. We were impressed and humbled by their show of love and support.

Music in Huaraz -
The Piano -

When we were in Guatemala and in Mesquite, I started giving piano lessons to those who were interested. There were more candidates here than I could reasonably teach each week. It finally narrowed down to eight, some who started from the beginning last  year and several who joined more recently to replace some who dropped out.  

Unfortunately there are not many opportunities for young people to receive music lessons here and they are very expensive so people have no idea how long it takes to learn to play.  I had one primary president ask if I could come one Sunday and teach the primary children to play the piano--I said no.  The first week or two I tried giving the lessons at the church but that didn't work out at all since I was left waiting in the cold chapel when they didn't show up or no one came with a key to open the gate and the doors.  So we bought a keyboard and I gave the lessons in our apartment--much better. 

Thursday night we held a recital at the Church for the eight students that made the effort to come for lessons.  Here are a few photo highlights.

Since the chapel is being remodeled, we moved the electronic piano to this classroom and it worked very well.  (The floor is beautiful wood that is being refinished.) This is a very nice piano/organ that has pre-recorded hymns that can be used if there is no pianist, but I don't think they use it.  They just sing acapella. Hopefully a few of my students will be able to play for meetings sometime in the future.

I played the opening piece, "Flur Elise", so none of  the students would have to be first. I told them that I had much more empathy for them since I was trying to learn to play the harp and that we all had to continue practicing. They were still all very nervous since none had ever played before an audience before.

This is the program we printed with the eight participants and their songs.  All of the songs were from various levels of the John Thompson books that I had copied or various hymn books.  I hope I don't go to jail for copyright violations but there is no beginning music available here. 

Here are four nervously awaiting their turn, starting with the second from the right. Monica, Vicky, Mauricio and Carlos.  It has been amazing to see the difference in their ability.  Monica is still working to master the first song she started on a year ago and Carlos is playing out of the third grade Thompson book after less than a year, plus everything in between. 

This was a duet with Rodrigo, age 10, the youngest student. His number: "Coming Around the Mountain". It was "foot-tapping good!"  I am going to give my keyboard to him since his older brother "hogs" theirs all the time and I think he is going to continue progressing.

This is Carlos, one of two non-member students and the most advanced. He is playing hymns from the standard hymnbook after only eight months of lessons. He wants to be a professional pianist someday and this is a good beginning.

This is Joseph, one of the better students who is playing some simplified hymns. He was really nervous but is determined to get good enough to play for his ward. 

Here they are: (Back row) Carlos, Mauricio, Joseph, Vicky, Mónica, Sharon and Tracy. (Front row) Rodrigo and Marilyn.

We had our favorite bakery around the corner from our apartment make this chocolate sheet cake. The wording says: "Congratulations - Keep Practicing", which was my constant reminder to each student as they departed from their weekly lessons.  They all thought the cake was so funny. The 34 in attendance devoured the whole thing--well, plus a few extra people that always seem to appear when there is a dessert around.

The Harp -
I have been wanting to learn to play the harp for quite a few years so we decided to buy one.This is an Andean harp and is quite different from a standard classical harp like the one in the Orchestra at Temple Square. It is basically always played in the key of C since there are no levers to add sharps or flats.  But it has a very pretty tone when someone who knows how is playing it.

We had it made to order here in Huaraz with all natural wood and hand carving. With its carrying case included, the cost was about 1/3 or much less of what a comparable harp would have cost in the U.S.

Next, we had to find an instructor and we found the best. Sr. Siles Sanchez, is known throughout Peru as one of their premier musicians; he plays and teaches, harp, violin, guitar, saxophone, trumpet, percussion, and a few other native Peruvian instruments. After the first lesson at his studio, he agreed to come to the apartment each week and teach a one hour lesson for U.S. $8.35 per lesson. What a blessing! We attended a concert last week in the  city cultural center and he was one of the featured musicians, playing the harp.  It was inspiring and beautiful.  You can find him on YouTube playing the harp and the violin.

Student and master.  He is very patient and I know just how he feels when he says to "keep practicing". We have spent the last couple of lessons with me learning to tune the harp--which is one of the biggest challenges because it gets out of tune so quickly.

  The colored strings are the base notes and are much thicker than the very thin high note strings or in this case wires.  The high notes are the ones that break and then that is another whole challenge to replace a string.

Look out Carnegie Hall, here I come! Well, not really. I sound just like Monica. We have ordered a box made to bring the harp home in.  It will look like we are bringing a coffin off the plane but we don't want to take any chances on it getting damaged.