December 2013

 

We were In Talara for Interviews and finished early enough for us to take a little break.  We have always wanted to go out to the lighthouse in Negritos so off we went.  We discovered that there is not a road that you can drive directly to the light house so we had to be content with looking at it from a distance and enjoyed people watching on the beach.

 Bringing in the fresh catch of the day.  Nets full of fish.

 It was breezy and just a little chilly.  You can see the light house in the distance with the sunset.

 There was a group of young men who were doing a little surfing.  We had a good time watching them.

 Sunset in Negritos.  Someday we will make it to the light house.

 Elder Dodson of Oregon -- Returning With Honor

Here is our group of new missionaries, 4 weeks later, at their training meeting with us. We took a new group picture because Elder Cruz was not in our photo in November.  So here is the group of Samuel el Laminita otra vez con todos.

November 2013, Return With Honor, Chiclayo Trip

With a trip to Tumbes, Mission President's Seminar, Missionaries leaving and coming and a mission trip to Chiclayo to hear Elder & Sister Russell M. Nelson - it was a crazy month!  Here are our fine missionaries Returning Home With Honor!  They will be greatly missed as we have come to love each one of them.

 Elder Muralles - Guatemala

 Elder Naranjo - Colombia

 Elder Lescano - Argentina

 Elder Aylas - Peru

 Elder Martinez - Argentina

 Elder Bricca - Argentina

 Elder Yañez - Argentina

 Hermana Panozo - Argentina

 Hermana Rebello - Argentina

 

 Elder Muralles, Chad, Elder Barreno -- Assistants

 Our new group of Missionaries!

 Here are all of our missionaries, we could not get everyone in one shot.  I think we needed a professional photographer!  But while we were waiting for Elder Nelson and group to arrive we got a mission picture (pictures!)  We had a great day and really learned alot from Elder & Sister Nelson, Elder & Sister Waddell, President & Hermana Rizzo (of the Chiclayo Mission).  Elder and Sister Nelson both spoke quite a bit about Family History and its importance in missionary work. 

 You can see our silver Nissan in the backround!  The church building was sparkling clean.  The FM group went all out.  There were specially cleaned bathrooms for us that the missionaries couldn't use, they had air freshner, flowers, drinks- VIP treatment.  The thing that made me laugh was every time we walked out a little FM man was running ahead of us spraying air freshner, it was a little over the top, but a sweet effort.

 After the Conference the missionaries loaded into buses and headed back to Piura.  I had prepared sack lunches for them that they could eat on the bus.  We went back to the Rizzos mission apartment and had a special lunch with the Nelsons, Waddells, Rizzos and us.  We had a delicious lunch and a good time visiting.  When we left Hermana Rizzo sent us home with this beautiful flower arrangement.

Hermanas Harrison, Huanca and me

Hermana Huanca has been serving in our mission for 8 months or so waiting for her visa to Mexico.  I had hoped that it had been so long that she would just stay here with us.  But no, her visa came thru and she's off to Mexico.  We stopped by their apartment the night before she left to tell her goodbye.  Just as we got there the power in all of Piura went out.  I am amazed that this picture turned out.  We left them with our flashlight so Hermana Huanca could get packed.  Hermana Huanca is such a good young woman, we will miss her!

November 2013

November was a busy month!  Here are some pictures of our trip to Tumbes for Zone Conference with the Zones of Talara, Tumbes and Puyango.  We also participated in a Missionary night with the Tumbes Stake and a Stake Activity in Sullana on the way home.

 

 Talara Zone

 Hermana Gomez of Guatamala

 Hermana Rebello of Argentina

 In back of the Tumbes Stake Center there are these turkeys.  With Christmas approaching I believe that their days numbered.

 I always expect this house to be laying in the parking lot, everytime we drive into Tumbes I am amazed that it's still hanging in there.

 Just outside of Talara there is a wind farm being put in.  The wind machines are slowly being put together.  I am not sure how this picture got so out of order!

 One of the nights we were in Tumbes they held a stake wide missionary night at the stake center.  The JAS (YSA) put on a dramatization of the story of Korihor from the Book of Mormon.  They did a pretty good job.

 Daniel Pereyra as Korihor

 The missionaries were also a part of the program.  Their talent was singing a hymn with Elder Alarcon leading them.

 Back to Zone Conference - Tumbes Zone

Puyango Zone

 We try to have a luncheon with the "Northern Sisters" because they miss our sisters training in Piura.  So we have our own meeting and lunch at the hotel, Costa del Sol.  Hna. Guachalla -Bolivia, Hna. Hood-Utah, Hna. Child-Utah, Hna. Rios-Bolivia.

 On our way to Tumbes this is the first place where you can see the ocean from the highway.  It is our photo spot.  Here is Chad with his assistants, Elder Muralles -Guatemala and Elder Barreno - Guatemala

 The city of Sullana was having a city celebration and as part of this the Sullana Stake put on a talent show.  Here the Young Women are performing a traditional dance.  Behind them you can see where the different wards have set up tables with their crafts and food items.

 The Relief Society sisters also performed a traditional dance.

The missionaries were a part of the celebration handing out folletos and Books of Mormon

Elders Sosa, Gonzalez, Arboleda, Ynoñan, Mejia and Hernandez

 In our ward in Piura, this good sister, Hna. Blanca and her daughter Antoinet were baptized.

In front of our ward building

Chad, Lisa, Elder Bradley, Jorge Diaz, Antoinet, Blanca, a friend, Obispo Silva, Ward Mission Leader

Hnas. Eames & Callizaya and Elder Arroyo

Final days of Seminar in Cusco - November 2013

Some final pictures of Aguas Calientes as we waited for the train to take us back to the hotel

 

 The raging river

 I love this bird of paradise.  We see it in so many floral arrangements here.

 

 Our hotel in Urubamba

 Our church, right across the street from the hotel.  There is a branch here in Urubamba.

 Hills above the hotel, remind me a little of southern Utah with the red rocks.

 One morning we went running7walking and took some pictures of the beautiful grounds.

 Our room on the second floor, second window from the left.

 

 Another shot of the hills above the hotel.

 As we were leaving Urubamba we saw this cute little lady out and about.

 A view of the hotel, the goup of buildings with the green grass.  Good bye Urubamba.

 The city of Urubamba.

 A little corn field

 President Zobrist, a really nice person-sharing his m&m's with us on the bus!

 A patchwork quilt of farms.

Little lady walking to who knows where.

 It's kind of hard to see and it was hard to get a picture, but every house had a cross and bull on their roof.  It is some type of tradition but I didn't ever get a really straight explanation.

 Love the braids, hat and full skirts.

 Cusco

Driving into the Cusco airport, a little fieldtrip of cute kids all holding hands.

 Now we are back at the hotel again, a beautiful place.

 We loved these BIG pots in the front entry way.

 Inside the lobby area

 Pretty, big baskets in the main hallway.

Last day of the Seminar.