Manos que Ayudan

Manos que Ayudan, Helping Hands, is a church program focused on service. Saturday morning we donned the official aprons and went to work sweeping and cleaning the main street of Virú. Fifteen young missionaries pitched in with district members. We accomplished much and had a fun time besides!
We spent most of this week in Trujillo with missionaries in meetings and interviews. It's fun to see their growth as they progress in their missions. We often picture our grandkids on a mission here. Next week we move on to zones Chimbote, Casma, and Huarmey.
We stayed two nights in the mission home with the Rios family. President Rios has been obsessed with asking us to make pancakes for quite some time, so we planned on Friday morning. First we had to figure out what ingredients to get. They didn't have flour, baking powder or milk. Oil was no problem because they do lots of frying. So after our meetings Thursday we headed to PlazaVea, a big super store that often stocks imported foods. To our surprise we found some Betty Crocker complete pancake mix, a bit pricey but well worth the convenience, especially for the next time Sister Rios wants to make pancakes. When we arrived back at the mission home they couldn't wait for morning, so we cooked up a small batch of pancakes before bed. Everyone liked them except President Rios. When he saw the pancake mix he said, "Oh, no, that's not the kind of pancakes I like. I do not like them from a box... I only like the kind made from scratch, from basic ingredients like flour and eggs and milk. No I do not like them from a box!" With a fox? I guess you can't please all the people all the time.
We celebrated President Rios's birthday last week with an Argentine barbecue. Elder Benitez from Argentina and Elder Sanchez from Paraguay took charge of grilling up 5 kinds of fancy meats and also bananas. For dessert: the infamous tres leche cake, lucuma filled. Everything was delicious.

Manos que Ayudan right here in Virú!

You can read about us on the backs of their aprons.

Elders Rokovitz and Sanchez drive the bicycle style municipal trash cart with Renzo Blas.

Two sweet Blas brothers working together

Elders Rokovitz and Greer from UT and Elder Portillo from TX

Elder Ricse from Lima taking a breather from dusty sweeping.

Elders Collazos and Pacheco from Bolivia and Raul from Viru. Raul, center, served in Bolivia.

They're having a good time.

Elders Cruz, TX; Hernandez, Lima; Rodriguez, Bolivia; Rokovitz, UT; Harper, MO; Sanchez & Ortiz, Ecuador; plus the two Blas boys, Virú

Elder Torres, Peru, sweeps up leaves in the grassy irrigation ditch.

We finally have our childhood dream fulfilled, we're garbage men!

Elder Ramos, Arequipa sweeps loose dust and leaves off the dirt.

Elder Ricse sweeps the sidewalk to the dusty end.

While the band marched through our path...

Show us trash. We're ready!

The two district leaders: Elder Harper, MO; and Elder Hart, UT

Elder Ortega, Cuzco and Elder Velasques, NJ serve up KFC to Sister Leaders Herrera, Peru; Flake, AZ; Merchan, Bogota; Espinola, Argentina; and Vidal, Ecuador.

That's Sister leaders Ashton, UT; Herrera, Peru; Flake, AZ; and Merchan, Colombia pampered by Elder Velasquez, NJ, yes New Jersey.

Elders Ortega and Velasquez serve up Inca Kola to Elders Ramos, Arequipa; Pacheco, Bolivia and Fernandez, Peru.

Elder Ortega moves down the line to Elders Pacherres, Peru; Miller, MT; Arretea, Lima; and McMillan, UT.

Hooray for Hermanas, yogurt, and photo bombing Elders.

Hooray!

Los tres chiflados

Selfie by Elder Arévalo from Pucallpa with Elder Juárez

You can tell it's party time when Elder Sanchez brings out the glasses for Inca Kola.

Happy Birthday, President Rios with Elders Morales, Peru; Alcazar, Mexico; Benitez, Argentina; Millett, UT; Sanchez, Paraguay.

Elders Benitez and Ortega get ready for the Argentine barbeque.

And the meat goes on the grill!