Peru- December 26, 2021

This was our busiest and probably most stressful week yet. It was transfer week and 7 missionaries completed their missions and returned to their homes, 5 of which were “extranjeros” or foreigners (4 Americans and 1 Ecuadorian). The vast majority of stress came from the extra processes required by the Peruvian government when extranjeros leave the country and the changing and very confusing airline travel requirements (due to Covid). Anyway…sparing you all the details…6 of the 7 missionaries made it out on their first try. But President and Sister Packard got an early morning phone call from Sister E (our Ecuadorian) informing them that she was denied entry onto the plane because she hadn’t taken the right Covid test (Antigen vs. RT-PCR). AARGG! I (LeAnn) had read so much fine print from the airlines, the Area travel office, and the various governments with regard to which tests would work for which situations…and I still got it wrong! Oh well…things worked out for the best after all, and she is safely home now.

 

In addition to the mission transfers, this week we moved into a new apartment…YAY! Since this will be a mission couple apartment, the Area office takes steps to fix it up (new paint, termas/instant hot water devices, furniture, fumigating, and cleaning). We love having a working oven, a washer and dryer, and furniture (including an actual kitchen table and a bed frame)! So, we spent most of our Christmas Eve and Christmas Day getting settled in.

 

On Monday night we had 2 of the “leaving” sisters stay with us (since we live near the mission office and driver who takes the missionaries to the airport) and it was one of these sisters who ended up not being able to fly out as scheduled (she left for the airport at 3:30am and returned to our house around 7am). Anyway, she was able to get the correct Covid test and then sleep/rest for most of the day. Tuesday evening, before leaving for her flight at 10:30pm, we were able to visit with her, and she told us, “I’m glad that I was able to stay this extra day. Yesterday, I wasn’t ready to go home. I was dreading it, but now I am ready. I needed this time to prepare and think.” Her remarks remind me of a great truth: We don’t always know what is “good luck” or “bad luck.” Sometimes things that seem really horrible in the moment, end up working out for our great good down the road.  

 

“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.” (Proverbs 3:5)

 

¡Feliz año nuevo! (Happy New Year (almost)!)

 

Love,

Lane & LeAnn 

Two of the sister missionaries stayed with us overnight so they didn't have to travel so far to the airport early in the morning to catch their flights as they finish their mission and travel home! Here's Sister E as she left our apartment at 3:30am. She wasn't able to board her flight and had to return to take a new Covid test.

Sister E was happy to receive her negative Covid test results so she could actually fly home.

Shipping her off again late at night!

This sister also stayed with us and left early in the morning to the airport.  We don't put on our missionary attire that early!

Sister M heading to the airport and Sister E heading to her 2nd Covid test!

Purchased Little Caesar's pizza lunch for missionary training (those missionaries that have completed 6 and 12 weeks in the mission).

New missionaries being sent off with their new companions to their assigned areas.

New missionaries trying to catch taxis to travel to their assigned areas.

Moved out of our apartment in Tahuantinsuyo this week after all the busy changes of leaving missionaries, new missionaries, and re-assignments of missionaries.  We moved a little closer to our mission office in the Contisuyo area.

Christmas Eve line of people trying to get into the super market.  Everyone has to show their Peruvian identification card, proof of Covid vaccination card, and wear double face masks!

Good grief.

We actually have a working oven in our new apartment, so made biscuits Christmas morning!

Already have unwanted cockroach visitors in our new place.  Welcome home.
LeAnn was not happy after she just mopped the floor, then came out of the bedroom to find the first little friend.  Then the next morning, as she got out of bed, the next little friend was waiting for her right as she stepped on the floor out of bed.  Fun!  Fun!

One of the sister missionaries that stayed with us gave us a new fruit to try, which she called "pepino."  It was not a cucumber, which is one translation for pepino. But was delicious and reminded us of  a cross between a kiwi flavor and maybe a little cucumber flavor.

This young family does the weekly laundry for half of our mission.  They also serve as service missionaries in the area where they live.

So happy for Taylia (on the right) who graduated from UVU in December!
Her cousin Noelle (on the left) also graduated from BYU!

Congratulations to both of them (and their supportive husbands).

Fun to see Jaron taking a polar bear plunge in Monterey, CA, where he is stationed with his family.

Heart wrenching expression on our grand daughter!  Elizabeth said she was not happy when Jaron ran off to do the plunge!