Magrath Days

Summer wouldn't be summer with out going to little town parades. We've had to miss out on Magrath Days and the parade for the last 3 years so it was really fun to be with family and not miss out on these fun moments.

Peru Trip Part I - Lima, Peru

July 8th- 23rd

Brett served in the Peru, Lima North mission 10 years ago and has wanted to go back to his mission for a long time. After graduation we finally found the perfect time to travel. It was such a great experience. An eye opening experience at that. It's just kind of crazy to think that Brett lived there for 2 whole years. In every place that we traveled in Peru we found families that Brett met on his mission and we even meet up with 3 of his Peruvian companions.

We traveled a lot on the trip but I'm so grateful we did it. It was an experience that I will never forget.

So we flew from Calgary, Canada --> Los Angeles --> Costa Rica --> Lima, Peru(stayed for 4 days) --> Iquitos, Peru(stayed for 4 days) --> Lima,Peru --> Tarapoto, Peru(stayed for 3 days) --> Lima, Peru(stayed for 1 day) --> Cusco, Peru/ Machu Picchu(stayed for 4 days) --> Lima, Peru(one night) --> El Salvador --> Los Angeles(one night) --> Back to Calgary. whew!!

Tired from all the travelling

The 2nd day in Lima we wanted to go to the temple but once we got there we found out our recommends had expired. I guess from graduation to the big move we didn't realize that they'd expired. I was really sad that we couldn't go in.

but we really enjoyed talking to the temple president and walking around the temple grounds. It is such a beautiful temple and it's so peaceful.

We walked down a few streets to a resturant and I noticed this wall with broken bottles on top. I guess they do that to keep people from jumping the wall.

We went to the Peru MTC (missionary training center) where it all began for Brett. It has changed quite a bit in 10 tears, especially the trees.

the cafeteria

Driving around Lima. It's kind of sad to see how people live.

Our loot from the Lima market

Our Hotel El Gran Bolivar

This is an area where Brett lived on his mission.

Wenceslao and Brett - Brett baptized him

Vasquez Family- fed Brett everyday in this area
They even feed us when we stopped to visit them

Segura Family-fed Brett everyday

Marcos Family- Brett lived and ate at their house

Montes Family- Brett taught this family the discussions and baptized one of his sons
When we found them David told us that he got baptized 2 months ago

Our wonderful taxi driver who helped us find all those families. He was so patient with us.

A restaurant right on the beach. They asked us what country we were from and brought over a Canadian flag to our table. Then we ate the food and nearly died! Just about ruined our trip. We were lucky to have some medication handy and were okay the next day.
They had a few of these containers at all the airports that were filled with nail files, scissors, knives, guns, blow darts, butcher knives and more. It was just kind of funny to think that the officers would find all those things on people.

Peru Part II - Iquitos, Peru

We thought it was awesome that there was a bidet in our bathroom.

Belen (the floating city)

The Market in Belen- I have never seen anything like this before. It was very stinky. They eat so many different things. Can you see the turtles in the bucket (above) ready to be prepared.

All of that stuff on the ground is mud, garbage and crap

The houses on stilts- it's low season. Take one step to the right or left and your ankle deep in muddy raw sewage and trash. Smelt great!

We went on a jungle tour on the Amazon river. Everytime we went on a different river the water changed different colors from brown to black.

We went to Monkey Island to visit an animal rescue and feed the monkeys

We tried to fish for Piranha's but caught some other small fish instead.

Went on a hike in the Amazon. Can you see the water levels on the tree. That's how high the water gets during the rainy season

I had to try swinging on the vines

We went to a Native Village and tried out a blow gun.

Hermana Zoila -She fed Brett and his companions and they lived next door in rooms she rented to missionaries as apartments.

Brett's apartment

The nice church buildings. Probably one of the nicer buildings in Iquitos.

I tried this fruit called "aguaje" It's kind of a joke in Peru that if you eat a lot of this fruit you can turn a little "fruity". It tasted disgusting!

Ernesto-He went on splits with Brett and his companion 10 years ago


We found Dr Jack Mendoza King's house/dental office- This family fed Brett on his mission. Jack was pretty excited to find out Brett was a dentist now. They had quite a bit to talk about

The Mendoza King and Barcia Family

Ivonne Barcia- We visited with her mom the day before with the Mendoza King Family. Her mom told us that we would be able to see her at the airport before we flew out