Day 8

Our hotel in Puno was really loud - we were on a very busy street. So it wasn't hard to get up. We took bicycle taxis to Lake Titicaca and then a boat out to the first reed island . They told us a little history of the Reed islands and how they came to be . Each island has about 6 to 8 families that live on them. We then boarded reed boats and headed off to another island that had 8 LDS families . As our boat was approaching we could hear singing. They were singing a Hymn - We Thank Thee Oh God For a Prophet. They were so welcoming! Steve started talking to one of the men on the island and met his family. They Joined the church about 5 years ago and were all sealed together. The next year his oldest son drown and they were so happy they had been able to attend the temple . They told us it takes about 24 hours to get to the closest temple. They have been 4 times and were planning another trip this next month. What incredible sacrifice! They paddle their boats into Puno for church and their teenagers paddle into seminary every morning. Their littlest boy was sick with a fever and they asked Steve and Derek to help give him a blessing. Steve looked at a couple of kids and we painted another school house. Before we left we sang "God Be With You till We Meet Again" all together in what every language you wanted and then had a prayer all together. Another very moving experience. The love that flowed from these people was indescribable. The father from that family that Steve met followed us back to our hotel and we gave him all our clothes and shoes and coats - we kept only what we needed to wear home. You wished you could have brought everything from home to give to them. Their need was so great! After we got back to Puno we took another bicycle taxi and toured the city! It was really fun. We got to see the markets and LDS church and a big slide for kids to slide down. Our kids climbed to the top and took turns with the locals coming down this HUGE slide about 3 stories high. Another full day! Getting on the bicycle Taxi

Riding in the Reed boats

This is how they get around from island to island.

The first island that we went to.

They were singing hymns as we arrived.

The sick little baby

One of the girls from the island.

Steve looking at the kids on the island.

Derek Painting the School - you had to be careful - that is water under the school - made it a little hard to paint!