September 2013-Farewell

This month we said good bye to two missionaries,  Elder Vasquez and Hermana Vargas.  I keep telling them if I'm still here they should stay too!  What good missionaries, they will be greatly missed.

 Hermana Vargas, me, Chad, Elder Vasquez

 Elder Vasquez

 Hermana Vargas -- When Matt and Laura were here with us a couple of months ago, Laura went out to work with Hna. Vargas and her companion, Hna. Burton.  It was a good experience for Laura and Hna. Vargas just loved her.  A few weeks later I was talking to Hna. Vargas and she asked me how "Barbie" was doing.  I looked puzzled and she just started laughing and said that a few of the people they had visited that night were asking about Laura but they called her Barbie.  So now Hna. Vargas always asks me how Barbie is and we have a good laugh.  I am so going to miss her!

Oh, another Hna. Vargas memory!  One night in the Clinica Belen Chad had an appointment with one of the drs. and so did Hna. Vargas.  The Clinica is a series of lines to wait in and if you are not careful you can lose your place in line (you have to be a little pushy).  Chad was trying to be polite and getting "butted" out of place.  Hna. Vargas was also there that night and she just pushed her way thru and fought off the crowds and helped Chad stay in line.  It was pretty comical since she is about the size of a 10 year old.  Hna. Vargas has great inner strength and has faithfully endured her challenges.  She is an example to me and all that have had the opportunity to meet her.  Ok, I am really going to miss her!

September 2013

September has been Interviews month.  Each zone (all 10 of them) takes us about a day and we try to do three or four a week, so September has been filled with interviews!  I love talking and visiting with our missionaries.  I always get a quick health update, find out how their family is doing.  This time I have been focusing on Language study - English for the Latinos and Spanish for the North Americans.  The assignment was for the Latinos to share their testimony with me in English and I have been so impressed with their willingness to prepare and share their beautiful testimonies. 

 

 In Paita, I finished before Chad so I went outside to enjoy the sunshine and watch the neighbor kids play soccer on the sports court here at the church.  If there is a flat surface, it is automatically a soccer field.  Occasionally I will see missionaries play basketball but it is mostly a soccer court.

 While in Paita, one of the YSA, Angela, received her mission call.  Since Paita is a District the mission calls are sent to our mission office and Chad hands them out.  We had two to deliver Saturday.  This young woman and her mom chose to open it right here in the church, she did not want to wait.

 Angela has been called to serve in the Peru Lima Central Mission!  She and her mom were pretty excited!

 As we traveled north to do interviews in Tumbes and Talara we stopped at a little spot where you can get your first glimpse of the ocean.  We had the assistants, Elders Schofield and Muralles with us.  They are nearing the ends of their missions and it was fun to visit with them as we traveled.

 Funny story.  This is the Hotel Pacifico in Talara.  It seems like every time we come to stay they are setting up for a festivity of some sort.  It is a beautiful location and I understand why people want to celebrate here.  Bad news for us is these celebrations usually last ALL night long with VERY loud music.  The front desk will hand out earplugs (that don't help much because it is so loud the walls are vibrating) so they feel like they are doing their part.  Actually they have very kindly changed our room a couple of times so we can sleep.  This wedding was so pretty.  We watched as they set up and also had a front row seat to the festivities.  They started at noon and ended at midnight so that was nice and we enjoyed pretty music and got a good night's sleep.

August 2013 - The Exodus Continues

Missionaries were kind of leaving all month long it seems like.  With universities starting up for the fall, several had to leave a little earlier than the group to get registered and prepared for classes.

 Elder Johnson

 Elder Perero

 Elder Glines

 Elder Torrejon

 Elder Rainsdon

 Elder Stephenson

 Elder Farmer

 Elder Lanfranco

 Elder Carrion

 Elder Rodriguez

Elder Delgado

 Elder Cuba

 Elder Cabrera

 Elder Turcios

 Elder Lindsay

 Elder Garcia

 Elder Cabrera

 Elder Davis

Elder Ramirez

 Elder Nunez

 Elder Yupa

 Elder Christensen

 Elder Ramirez

 Elder Gomez

 Hermana Ruiz

 Hermana Delgado

Elder Cook

 We had lunch on the patio, we wouldn't all fit in the dining room!

 Elders Rainsdon, Lindsay,  Perero, Farmer, Stephensen, Cook

 Our wonderful chefs - couldn't have a luncheon without Hermana Jimenez, and we recruited Hermanas Rebello and Escalante to help.

 And we are ready to go to the airport!

 Hermana Ruiz, me & Hermana Delgado

And a new group is here!  The Group Anti-Nefi-Lehi.  We are excited to have a fantastic new group of missionaries in the best mission ever!

August 2013 - The Mass Exodus Begins

This month we have 33 missionaries finishing up their missions and returning to their homes.  It is so hard to tell them good-bye, I feel like they have been our trainers.  We have learned so much from each of them.  They have been good missionaries and are ready for all the Lord has in store for them. 

 Elder Frame

 Elder Woodburn

 Elder Smith

 Elder Pinegar

 Hermana Palomino

 Elder Chichia

Hna. Palomino, Elders: Chichia, Woodburn, Frame, Smith & Pinegar