Happy Halloween! We’re told that Halloween is celebrated here in Peru, but we haven’t seen a lot of decor or trick-or-treaters like you see in the US. However, November 1 (All Saints Day – which is a Catholic holy day) is celebrated here country-wide and government agencies are closed.
Things seem to
be moving forward for us with regard to getting our VISA status changed and on
Friday we went to Migraciones (the office of migrations) to submit our “biometrics”
(fingerprints, picture, and signature). Hopefully we’ll be official soon!
This week Lane
had the opportunity of giving a blessing in Spanish to one of our CCM
missionaries (the missionaries doing their MTC training). One of the President’s
assistants also participated. She was experiencing a very common health issue
(but she’s never had this before) and asked Lane for a blessing. I loved
hearing Lane exercise his priesthood on behalf of this sweet sister missionary
(even though I couldn’t understand everything that he said!). The “interesting”
thing about her situation was that I had experienced this very same issue a few
years ago and was able to share my experience (and coping tips) with her and assure
her that she wasn’t having a health crisis. Between her limited English and my
limited Spanish and Lane translating back-and-forth we had a great conversation.
And at that moment, I felt truly grateful that I’d had this same condition
(even though it was scary, miserable, and frustrating at the time), which now
allowed me to empathize with her. It reminded me of what the Lord told Joseph
Smith in Liberty Jail when he was suffering:
“…know thou, my
son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy
good.” (D&C 122:7)
¡Ten algunas experiencias esta semana! (Have some experiences this week!)
Love,
Lane & LeAnn
Colorful tiled front walk areas of multiple small stores along one street of our mission office. Although it's hard to see in the picture, the downside of this is that none of these patchwork walk areas seem to line up height-wise with each other ... making them tripping hazards!
Fun to see all the different small shops along the streets, with many selling ready-to-go hanging chickens.
Many sidewalk vendors everywhere.
Another sidewalk vendor selling fresh fish.
We made it to the Peru Migrations office to continue processing our visa status.
Long wait inside the Migrations office.
Love our treats and granola that we get to make on the weekends while doing laundry at the Packards (we don't have a working oven or washer & dryer in our apartment)!