Peru- February 6, 2022

This week while studying, I remembered an experience I had many years ago. I was reading the scriptures – the Book of Mormon, specifically – and I was having a really hard time concentrating. I had read several verses, but then couldn’t remember what I’d just read. So I would re-read the verses. And it still wouldn’t sink in and make sense. I repeated this pattern a few times before I realized what the problem was. I was frustrated with a situation (and a couple of people) at the time and had some negative “vibes” in my heart. In my exasperation, I said a silent prayer to be lead to a verse that would help me, and then I flipped the pages of my BoM and randomly put my finger on the page. These are the words my finger landed on: “Behold ye are worse than they … ” (Helaman 13:26). “WHAT?! How can this be?” I tried to rationalize this away and even thought about repeating my experiment, but as I humbled myself, I realized that I was nursing a grudge and letting myself be offended. God was telling me to MOVE ON and reminding me of this important principle:

“And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?

Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?

Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.” (Matthew 7:3-5)

In mission news … This week was Cambios (transfers) and we’re happy to report that all of our departing missionaries made it onto their respective flights or busses – which is an improvement over the last transfers. We hosted one sister missionary overnight, but really didn’t get to talk with her much as she arrived to our apartment late Monday night and then left early Tuesday morning.

This week was also a training week with the 6-week and 12-week training meetings as well as the leader council meeting. So there were lots of missionaries in and out of the office and I’m kicking myself for not taking more pictures!

On Thursday, we drove to the CCM on the other side of town. A new group of English-speaking missionaries (mostly from the US) arrived at 4:30am that morning and Lane helped our branch president interview them. These interviews are very informal … just brief get-to-know-you interviews. While Lane interviewed missionaries, I was able to talk with those waiting and gather information for the CCM president’s wife about items the missionaries may still need to get (shower sandals, laundry bag, …), food sensitivities, etc. It was fun to see these fresh missionaries and feel their excitement.

In neighborhood news … Lane and I try to be friendly as we walk to and from the mission office, saying “buenos dias or buenas tardes” as we pass people. Anyway, one evening, as I was unlocking the outer door to our apartment building, a woman passed by us and Lane greeted her with the standard “Buenas tardes.” She immediately responded with, “Buenas tardes, guapo!” Once inside our building I had to ask, “Did that woman just say, ‘good afternoon, handsome!’?” Yep, that’s what she’d said! I know my hubby is handsome … and so do some of our neighbors!

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

Love,

Lane & LeAnn

Transfers this week, with 8 missionaries completing their mission and heading home. This sister stayed with us overnight and was picked up early in the morning at 6:00am to catch her bus.

When we do mission transfers every six weeks, we use two buses similar to this, or larger with big greyhound-type buses. Because our mission is divided by a mountain range, one side of the mission is considered the north side, and the other side is considered the San Juan de Lurigancho (SJL) side. One bus starts at the far end of the north side, and the other bus starts at the far end of the SJL side. They each stop at 3-4 stake centers, picking up or dropping off missionaries on their way, as they head toward the office, which is somewhat in the middle of the two sides. Then each bus continues up the opposite side from where it started, dropping off missionaries at 3-4 stake centers along the way. It takes about 4 hours for each bus to complete the trip from one end to the opposite end. The hard part is that the missionaries don't have phones with them. And neither does the bus. So the missionaries have to keep a close eye out for the bus as they wait at the stake center. And missionaries often aren't familiar with where they are going, so the missionaries at the stake center that may be waiting for a new companion have to keep an eye out to see if their companion may be on the bus and tell them to get off!

Thursday night we went to the Lima MTC to meet the bunch of new missionaries that arrived. One elder was from Meridian, Idaho! Corinne and LeAnn somewhat knew his dad and uncle in high school. Unfortunately, after this group arrived, several tested positive for covid so had to go into quarantine for five days. Nobody had symptoms, so the testing doesn't give us a lot of confidence in accuracy.

Saturday P-day walk-jog around our area. Just wanted to show the mountains in the background.

We used to live at the base of this hill, but now live a little closer to the office.

Kids playing Saturday football (soccer) in a nearby park area.

Pretty little trellis area with lots of blossoms.

This statue in a nearby park represents the alleged first Inca that settled areas of Peru, one of which is called Tahuantinsuyo where we live.

Notice the corn cob replica on top of his weapon. We've seen that on other historical markers. Must have had some significance back then.

Decided to make our own "Acai" fruit bowls after our P-day morning walk. Since we didn't have any actual acai, we blended up a smoothie of milk, frozen blueberries, strawberries, and bananas, and of course a touch of sugar, to serve as the "acai" mixture. Then we mixed in fresh fruits, granola, nuts, peanut butter, coconut, and a few little chocolate bits (for Lane). Notice the coconut flakes from Walmart! Can't find those here! Those were brought to us by U.S. visitors.

And voila!

A fun breakfast.

In the evening we went to the mall to purchase supplies for some of the missionary apartments. The mall is always very busy. They definitely aren't slowing down out here -- like seems to be happening to some malls in the U.S.