Royal Family Times: Piura: Day Three (July 21, 2010)

We got a late start today due to an email received from Star Peru which essentially advised that our 6:00 a.m. flight from Chiclayo to Lima for Friday had been changed from 6:00 a.m. to 10:50 p.m. The company noted that this was not considered a flight cancellation, but merely a change of departure. That kind of time change would ruin our plans to visit the Lima Temple on Friday. So, we went to work - first using David to respond to the email in Spanish, then calling Visa to see about getting a refund. We called the VISA 866 number and were advised that international rates would apply. So, we called VISA and advised we were calling from outside the country, in Peru, and that we needed to cancel a charge from Star Peru. Guess what happened then? We were put on hold. Wonderful - especially at $2.50/minute (Tick, tick, tick. . . .) Twelve minutes into the call, we spoke with another customer service person who gave us a free number to call. Again - wonderful! Well, all that mess became an intermittent challenge all day long. We ended up making reservations with LAN Airlines to leave at the appointed time, which saved our schedule. Of course, it cost more - not only because we had to get it at the last minute, but because we are not Peruvians (who enjoy a 60-70 percent discount). At first I was bugged by it all, but decided it just is not worth it to get upset. Things happen. We are in Peru, we will probably not be here again for a long time (if ever), and just need to roll with the punches. (And that, my friends, shows tremendous personal growth. You have no idea.) After wringing our hands for a couple hours in the morning, we got it mostly figured out by about 8:00 p.m. That was not fun. But, no one said our trip to Peru would be easy.

David helping us navigate through the Spanish website of Star Peru

David and Maralea in Piura en route to the post office to pick up a package . . . which cost $10 (a package sent in May)

Our first stop today was San Pedro. We took a taxi to the home of the Uceda family, comprised of Fidel and Ynes, and their two children: Aaron (18) and Staci (16). Ynes served as David’s pensionistta and he became part of the family. We visited with Ynes and Staci for about 30 minutes, then took a taxi to a restaurant downtown where Fidel and Aaron were waiting. We sat down at a great Peruvian restaurant with the family, and Fidel ordered the works, beginning with ceviche (which was awesome), and then some beef/rice dish that followed (also good). Fidel served a mission in Lima about 20 years ago. He speaks no English, but we had a great time trying to communicate. He and Ynes have such a wonderful, fun sense of humor. We were constantly laughing about one thing or another. Aaron said he is planning to serve a mission next year. We offered to help pay for the big lunch, but Fidel said: “You can buy our lunch when we visit the United States.” (They are planning a trip to Salt Lake City and Ynes joked that they planned to stay with us the whole two weeks they are there. I do not think they quite understand that Las Vegas is 500 miles south.) We returned to the Uceda home to visit after lunch. They walked us into their kitchen to show us graffiti all over the place, mostly written by Elder Royal. Fidel said he told David they were going to paint the interior walls and so David asked if he could write something. Fidel gave his permission, and things just took off from there. Now, the family is not so anxious to paint it, leaving it as a kind of monument of their friendship. There were some pretty strange, funny writings on the wall. Fidel and David laughed as he explained some history behind each one. We joked about how David and the missionaries always have to flash some kind of peace sign when they pose for pictures - and then I could not get Fidel to pose without doing that. We had a great time with the Uceda family, who clearly love David very much.

David walking with Staci and Yness Ucenda on the dusty streets of San Pedro

Yness loved her autographed apron from David

Fidel liked it, too!

At dinner here with Aaron, David and Staci

David here with Yness and Fidel at dinner

Dining out Peruvian style with the Uceda family in Pura, Peru


David and the Uceda Missionary Hall of Fame (his not so sacred writings still remain)

We joked a lot about the obligatory hand signs in all pics, so Fidel and I posed for posterity's sake

David with Fidel and Yness, just prior to our departure

We said our goodbyes to the Uceda family and David took us on a walk through the residential areas of San Pedro, warning me to leave my camera and other valuables out of sight. (That same warning was issued by the Uceda family, who offered to have us keep most of our things in their home . . . just in case we got jumped.) That made us a tad nervous (but just a tad). We walked the poverty stricken dirt streets of the area while being stared at by people along the way on both sides of the street like we were part of a Clint Eastwood western as the stranger first rides into town like say the introduction to High Plains Drifter. It was a rather strange and unsettling feeling, especially because Maralea was with us. (I figured David and me could fight off the bad guys like Batman (me, of course) and Robin (David, my sidekick), but I was not sure how Maralea would do as Batgirl. Oh she can hold her own, without a doubt. Quite honestly, Maralea might be the most lethal among the three of us.) We visited Yohan and then Silivana, both whom David had taught and baptized. We did not enter either of their homes, so David would not let me take any photographs, being in public view. Tossing caution to the wind, I started to take out my i-Phone as David was talking with Silivana at her door to sneak a picture rather inconspicuously and as David was speaking to Silivana in Spanish, without turning his head or skipping a beat, he quickly said in English: “Dad, put that away now” then continued his conversation in Spanish. I was startled and frustrated, but I obediently complied to our experienced, wise missionary guide. Interestingly, despite all the warnings of keeping valuables out of sight, and acting like we were in a semi war zone, David insisted that we were safe walking the streets at late afternoon/dusk. You see, LDS missionaries view the world much differently than the rest of us. David walked these streets with confidence for two years, and repeatedly assured us as we walked with our heads constantly rotating left, right, forward, backward: “everything’s chill.” Then why freak out over one little picture taken in the public area? Yeah, I was more than a bit paranoid. (David did not ease my concern when he told related as part of the tour: “It’s a little worse that way (further south within the neighborhood). That’s where I had a guy pull a knife on me when I first got here.” Excellent. Good to know. I felt much better then. I think Dad will be a bit upset to read this because, honestly, it felt like we were pretty vulnerable, putting ourselves out there like sitting ducks with big targets on our backs, chests, etc. When we went to the Philippines five years ago with Brad at the conclusion of his mission, we were not walking streets at night, so this was definitely a new experience for us, and gave us a great sense of David’s life over the past two years. Fortunately, we all survived.) (I understand David’s level of confidence. I was like that as a missionary. I had no fear for my own personal safety. I was young and had that whole invincible feeling, of course, but more importantly, I was on the Lord’s errand, and knew He was with me, so I really did not give into fear for my own safety. That did not mean I was dumb about safety. I knew I still had a responsibility to be smart. It just meant that I was not so apprehensive, having the calling and familiarity with my surroundings. I was even like that last summer when we went to visit the apartment where I resided in Vidalia, GA, my first area, 29 years later. I had no fear then, and was not at all concerned about stepping out of the car for a picture. Maralea, on the other hand, was not so confident and would not even exit the car. Instead, she locked the doors and wished me luck as I stepped out to take a picture.)

David with Hermana Mariela in San Pedro, Peru

We stopped to see Hermana Mariela, who also served briefly as David’s pensionistta, in her home. David delivered gifts to all his pensionisttas, including an apron that he signed and left them pens to have future missionaries sign. She was very gracious and sweet.

This was our only ride in a moto bike transport thingy during our trip

A back seat view of the moto bike transport with another one just ahead

David with Elder Fillmore (middle) and his companion

I was more than a little relieved when David announced that we would be leaving San Pedro before sundown so we could return to the hotel. (I was not looking forward to walking around that area at night.) After a brief stop at the hotel, we left for another area where David served: Los Ficus. It was not much different from San Pedro, except it had some paved streets. We visited the Mondragon family, where Vicki served as David’s pension. Her husband has been bishop of their ward for eight years. On the way there, we ran into two missionaries. I was hoping one would be Elder Kevin Foutz (from Las Vegas), who we have wanted to see. But, alas, it was not to be. (We were in, around and through Elder Foutz’s area a few times and looked around with the hope of seeing him walking down the street with his companion, but we had to be content with delivering the box sent with us by his family and leaving a note. At least he and David got to see each other once after Elder Foutz’s arrival.) David was excited to introduce us to one of the missionaries, Elder Fillmore. We met, got a couple pictures, and went onto the Mondragon home, where Hermana Vicki related stories of how David would make lots of noise at the dinner table and terrorize her cat. That was pretty funny. I showed her pre-mission pictures of David on my i-Phone. She did not like his longer hair.

Hermana Vicki tries on her apron

David here demonstrating why there is no reason for us to worry while walking the Piura streets at night with him to protect us

We left the Mondragon home at about 9:30 p.m. and it was just plain scary to be walking outside. David did not find it a problem. He was used to this. We are not. I kept asking him if all this was wise, and he continued to reassure me that everything was fine as we walked down dark streets alone. I felt quite vulnerable to the local criminals and imagined how I might pull off some Chuck Norris legend hurt wuppin’ on some bad guys if given the chance. (Thankfully, that did not happen.) We visited the Ramos family, where we met Harold, Carmen and children Harold, Melena and Sebastian. David had baptized Harold and his son. We had a nice visit, provided some gifts, and tender sentiments were exchanged. As we were exiting their home, Hermana Carmen took a statute of a man riding a horse that was sitting on a table by the door and said: “Elder Royal, we would like you to have this. We named the horse Tornado.” It is pretty big, about 15" in height. David thanked the family and tried to give it back, but they insisted. So, we now have a traveling companion: Tornado. (“High-O Tornado - AWAY!”)

David with the Ramos family

David with "Tornado"

At this point, I am so glad we are alive, not mugged, and cannot believe we have not lost a lot of money, credit cards or passports. So far, so good. Oh, and other than a nagging cough that has plagued all of us, we have been in good health. We cannot complain - even though Star Peru gave us good reason to complain today. Well, I forgot that David paid 20 soles to add minutes to his cell phone and later as he was using it he discovered that . . . the minutes he paid for were not added. None. Nada. (And the hits just keep on comin’.) We settled into our room late, as David read a long letter in a package he received just today from Brad and Whitney (one that was mailed in early May - and we had to pay 30 soles ($10.00) for the privilege of taking possession of the package). David fell asleep on my bed as he was relaying the summary of the meeting in the home of Luz Martina in Chachapoyas. He and Maralea and asleep, and I am still up typing. Life is good!