cusco - la ciudad bonita

Que linda!  y...que espiritu de aventura en los estudiantes!  How many of you could fly all night, have two delayed departures (but an on-time arrival in our final destination, Cusco!), enter a country during its election day when security changes everything at the airport where we were attempting to hand off luggage for the mission portion of our trip...catch a few winks in transit, and then be ready to hit the ground running for an afternoon of amazing sightseeing of Incan ruins outside of Cusco????  We told the students that this was an adventure trip - heading off to climb, hike, ponder among the ruins and "la sierra" of Peru, and so far it has been incredible!  Our itinerary changed a bit due to the election - hiked up and down through Incan shrines and temples, stood in awe of the Palestinian Christian's gift to Cusco of a 30 foot statue of Jesus towering over Cusco (floating in eerie light by night), made friends with the natives and their llamas (pronounced yama...) and stepped inside a cathedral which took our breath away with its sheer size, its gilded and silver altars, and the diversity of representations of the crucifix.  Our food has been delightful and interesting - we've tried alpaca and an assortment of other comida indigena - we've sipped strong coffee and sugared up on steaming hot chocolate.  We've gazed at the massive cathedral while eating tasty omelettes and listened to Andean music as we finished off smoked trout and quenoa sopa.  All in all, we should all be dropping into bed, satisfied but exhausted, praying for a good nights sleep, and ready to engage Cusco for yet another day.  We miss you all, prayed for you tonight, and ask God to keep our hearts bound tightly together while we are apart.