RESTRICTED TO QUARTERS

(Update Sunday, February 17, 2013 - We can now leave our apartments but we can not be out at night)

Over the past decades Peru has had its political struggles. During the 1990s terrorists controlled much of Northern Peru. Last year Peru jumped to the world’s largest Coca producer and the Northern jungles are not safe for North Americans. 

Thursday (Feb, 14) we received a phone call from the Cusco Mission office and were advised, along with all North American Missionaries in Cusco, to remain in our apartments for the next few days.  Apparently there has been some sort of major threat directed toward North Americans in the Cusco Machu Picchu area.  So, Valentine’s Day was spent inside.  For the past few weeks Kris has been housebound because the archives relocation is all heavy dirty work. Hopefully things will change soon.  The event of the past two days is when Kris runs out to the Fruit Cart and buys some fresh fruit.  

We are sitting in our apartment and waiting to hear if the Church is going to Move the 16 missionaries living in Cusco. Today the US State Department issued this warning to Americans:

Security Message for U.S. Citizens – Potential Kidnapping Threat in Cusco

Security Message for U.S. Citizens – Potential Kidnapping Threat in Cusco

U.S. Embassy Lima, Peru

February 13, 2013

The U.S. Embassy warns U.S. citizens of a potential kidnapping threat in the Cusco area.  The Embassy has received information that members of a criminal organization may be planning to kidnap U.S. citizen tourists in the Cusco and Machu Picchu area.  Possible targets and methods are not known and the threat is credible at least through the end of February 2013. For the moment, personal travel by U.S. Embassy personnel to the Cusco region, including Machu Picchu, has been prohibited and official travel is severely restricted as a result of this threat.

Review your personal security plans; remain aware of your surroundings, including local events; and monitor local news stations for updates.  Maintain a high level of vigilance and take appropriate steps to enhance your personal security and follow instructions of local authorities.

Thousands of U.S. citizens routinely travel to the Cusco region without undue incident.  The U.S. Embassy remains confident of the Peruvian government’s efforts to ensure the safety of all tourists in the region. 

We are fine and waiting for word of what is going to happen.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/16/world/americas/peru-objects-to-us-embassys-warning-to-tourists.html?_r=0

This is an article in the New York Times.