Felices Fiestas Patrias Peru!

Today Peru celebrates their Fiestas Patrias, the celebration of independence from the Spanish Empire.  It is almost as famous as Christmas, and one can see flags and banners throughout the city of Piura all through the month of July.  We thought we would share a few pictures of Piura with you:

And yesterday, we had a chance to join former Peru missionaries Bob and Erika Sukkau on an adventure trip to Almirante Grau and San Antonio, two small towns south of Piura.  Here are some pictures from that journey:

Combi Trip Out to Almirante

View out east from Almirante roof

Mikaela and Otoniel

Bob, Erika, and Saul

Mikaela, Timo, and kids

Rice!

Kids in San Antonio

Beauty in the desert

Waiting to catch a combi back home

Feliz Viaje!  It was a wonderful trip, even with the breakdown on the way out when the combi motor decided to blow a radiator hose.  A half hour later, we were off after a quick repair using an old bicycle tube!

Great to see Saul again and his family.  He is still recouperating from back surgery a few weeks ago.  Our boys had a lot of fun playing in the sand/dirt, since we don't have that in our house in Piura.  Mikaela had fun with the kids in San Antonio.

I will leave you with an image of Peru's president, Ollanta Humala, as he made his way to give a State of the Country address that was broadcast on all TV channels.  Apparently a tradition here on Fiestas Patrias day:

Blessings to you all, and Felices Fiestas Patrias!

Lowell