Remote Mission Week 22 - August 1, 2021

¡Hola a Todos! (Hello All!)

 

We are not alone! This week we discovered – thanks to my sister, Annette, who is always friendly and outgoing – several more couples who are somehow connected to Lima, Peru. Annette recently moved into a new ward (in Highland, Utah…just down the road from where we live in Lehi), and at church she saw a sister who was wearing a missionary name tag. Long story short – this sister is also serving a mission with her husband in Lima! They serve in the Lima Tambo Mission (which is located in the downtown Lima area), and they were able to serve in Peru for 5 weeks before they were evacuated due to Covid. Now they serve remotely just like us. Anyway, through this connection, we found out about a group of current and former missionaries who stay connected through WhatsApp and other events. As luck would have it, they were holding a picnic in an Orem park celebrating Peru’s Bicentennial…July 28 and 29 are independence holidays in Peru. Although most of the couples at the picnic have completed their missions, we were able to meet face-to-face with two other couples who are doing what we are doing.

 

Aside from the regular mission work and the fun evening picnic, it’s been a bit of a rough week for me (LeAnn). Let’s just say that I received some love and chastening from the Lord. There are many “chastening” verses sprinkled throughout the scriptures and in several of these verses, the Lord emphasizes that whom He loves, He chastens. For example:

 

“Verily, thus saith the Lord unto you whom I love, and whom I love I also chasten that their sins may be forgiven, for with the chastisement I prepare a way for their deliverance in all things out of temptation, …” (D&C 95:1)

 

It’s so hard (at least for me) to own-up to mistakes/errors/sins and take the necessary steps to correct my actions, but when I do, the Spirit, through Christ’s Atonement, brings complete peace. Repentance and forgiveness are such blessings! Even from a secular perspective, I recently heard the phrase: “Get it off your chest, then give it your best.”

 

On a final note, today is our wedding anniversary … hard to believe, but it’s been a great 35 years! And we’re looking forward to another 35!

 

¡Que tengan una semana súper fantástica! (Have a super fantastic week!)

 

Love,

 

Lane & LeAnn

Peru celebrated its 200th year of independence on July 28-29.

Interesting how near their independence year is to the year of the First Vision.

Evening picnic to recognize Peru's independence with some new senior missionary acquaintances that are either currently serving in the Lima area or served there in the past.

We still don't feel like we are "senior missionaries," but it was amazing to see how many connections we had.  Of course several knew or worked with 

our mission president, Meredith and Corinne Packard.  

Several were attorneys that worked in the Area office in Lima.  

One was a nephew of Lane's mission president from Boliva (that was a throw-back).  

Another was a doctor from Idaho that knew some of our friends.

We were introduced to the group of senior missionaries by a couple that is in LeAnn's sister's ward. The couple was in Peru for 5 weeks before they had to return home for Covid, 

and they are now serving remotely like us.

The picnic group sent us home with a bottle of "Inca Cola" soda.

Celebrated our 35th anniversary by attending the Provo City Center Temple, and then going out to eat in Salt Lake City!

After dinner we toured Temple Square.  Interesting to see how much is not there anymore with the temple under renovation, one visitor center completely gone, and the other closed and in the process of being torn down it looks like.

After dinner and Temple Square we visited the Conservation Garden Park in West Jordan.

Lane wanted to play, and LeAnn just likes to look at the garden exhibits!

LeAnn loved the Conservation Garden Park.  Lane poops out fast.