The Huanchaco Branch

As I listened today to the testimonies given by the people here in the Huanchaco Branch I was overwhelmed by the Savior’s love for them. This is not the first time I have felt this, I have sat in wards and branches in South Dakota, Tonga, Ghana, St. Louis and many other places and have felt strongly the Savior's love for the people. It is not just during church or only for members that I have felt this. The feeling has also come when riding on the bus, while teaching a biology lab, in the home of a good friend of another faith, and many other places. I am grateful for the knowledge that we are all indeed children of God and His love extends to everyone throughout the world.

Totora

The people of Peru and Bolivia have had a long history of making boats from Schoenoplectus californicus ssp. tatora, locally called totora. In my opinion totora is Huanchaco’s cultural keystone species. You can find some kind of image of the totora boat everywhere here, including on the buses. I especially love to watch the totora boats out on the ocean early in the morning. For a small fee, one can also be given a short ride on the boats during the day. I have not tried this yet…but maybe before I leave I will attempt it.

Huanchaco Peru

Above: Hostal Huanchaco...my home for a month.

Below: The back courtyard to the hostal.

Below: The gazebo in the plaza. This is what
you see from the hostal balcony.

Below: The pier in Huanchaco
You have to pay .50 soles to walk
on the pier. I was too cheap last time around,
but decided to splurge this year.

Below: View of the beach from the pier.

Below: What I learned from walking on the pier...
it is a great place for fishing, just like home.

Back in Peru

I have returned to Peru for some fun loving plant collecting. I am "fresh off the boat" and staying in Miraflores for the night before heading to Trujillo tomorrow. Above is a picture of the coastline just a couple blocks away from my hostal.