Peru- July 24, 2022

 

We saw the sun and blue sky today and it felt glorious! Here in Lima we are in the “dead of winter” which still seems so strange to us. It’s not that the temperature is so unbearably cold (57° - 66° F), but because none of the buildings/apartments have central heat it just feels chilly all day… and there’s no easy way to warm up. Even the office elders often keep their jackets/coats on while they work. Lane is the only person who seems to appreciate this weather. He’s often out running around buying missionary supplies which means a lot of walking, loading, and unloading.

 

 

This past week was our actual “Transfer” week and we received 8 new missionaries – 5 Peruvians and 3 Americans. The travel here in South America is opening up more and we are hoping to be able to send our “temporary” missionaries (Peruvian missionaries who were originally called to other countries but couldn’t travel due to closed borders and Covid restrictions) to their originally-assigned missions.

 

 

Love this thought:

 

 

“Some mistakenly receive the message that repentance and change are unnecessary. God’s message is that they are essential. But doesn’t God love us despite our shortcomings? Of course! He loves us perfectly. I love my grandchildren, imperfections and all, but that does not mean I don’t want them to improve and become all they can become. God loves us as we are, but He also loves us too much to leave us this way. Growing up unto the Lord is what mortality is all about. Change is what Christ’s Atonement is all about. Not only can Christ resurrect, cleanse, console, and heal us, but through it all, He can transform us to become more like Him.” (Bradley R. Wilcox)

 

 

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

 

Love,

 

Lane & LeAnn

It's been a long-standing tradition to take the missionaries who have finished their missions to the Faro de la Marina (the lighthouse) and to see the ocean. This transfer we only had 1 missionary leaving. The Manly's invited us to tag along.

We also enjoyed seeing the beautiful ocean from the Lima cliffs, although the consistently hazy, low-hanging clouds around Lima rarely allow for a good, clear view.

She chose TGI Fridays as the place for dinner!

The departing sister shared her testimony with all the missionaries on a Zoom call.

Our departing sister (Sister M ... wearing pink) showed us this picture that she had in a little photo album...it was recently taken at a mission event. The sister on the right (Sister L) was her Young Women's leader back in their hometown (They're about 6 years different in age.). When Sister M found out that her former YW leader was putting in her papers to serve a mission, Sister M prayed and prayed that Sister L would also be called to the Peru Lima North Mission ... and she was! Sister L arrived in our mission last August. With over 400 missions in the church that Sister L could have been called to, it was an answer to Sister M's  prayers that she was called here! 

Our new arrivals with President and Sister Manly. Can you pick out the 3 Americans?

Sister C (on the left) is in great hands with Sister L!

Working out taxi rides for the new missionaries and their companions.

The office, like all the missionary apartments, has no heating. So it stays quite chilly in the office throughout the day in the winter time, and this office elder's solution is to wrap up in the traditional Peruvian outer clothing.

This senior fellow is always at his "spot" on the sidewalk playing recorded traditional music through a loud speaker, and singing along with it using his microphone, and seeking any donations he can get.  When I passed by this day he happen to be taking a little snooze in between all the hard work.

A puppeteer with his skeleton puppet entertaining those of us waiting at a stoplight. He was blasting "You Ain't Nothin' but a Hound Dog" from a boombox.

And then there's this again ... one of the "Pop-Up" rooms blocking our entire street last night. Thankfully it was a quiet party ... we didn't hear any loud music or other noise ... and it was gone this morning.