Something I have observed about most of the workers I have seen in Peru: they work! When I see a group of workers in the U.S., I’m sorry to say that I often see one or two working, with the other standing around and watching. I have seen very little of that here!

Faye told you about our trip to the old cemetery in Lima Monday, which was Labor Day for them. After the “field trip,” we went to a very nice mall, where Faye and another senior missionary lady helped me pick out some casual shirts to wear after regular missionary hours. I’m glad they like doing that; I confess that I don’t. I joked with the clerk there that I’m so much trouble that it takes two women to dress me!

On Tuesday morning, we attended a devotional with the area presidency, Carlos Godoy, Enrique Falabella and Hugo Montoya.[i] Later that day, they met with us to get to know us and welcome us to the mission. Among other things, we talked about ways that Faye can serve outside of the medical things she is helping me with. I felt loved by the Lord through them; that was a sweet and tender experience.

On Thursday, several people helped Faye feel special for her birthday. After work, we went with two other couples to a restaurant[ii] that served hamburgers, french fries and onion rings. It was quite good, especially with the Peruvian aji and rocotto sauces on them!

On Friday, I had a mild case of “Montezuma’s Revenge” that I’m not sure how I got; I thought I was being very careful. Things slowed down with some Imodium…thankfully…because the next day I had to fly to Cali, Colombia, for a one-day mission visit before returning to Lima. The cab picked me up at 7:30 AM for a 10:25 flight. The Peru women’s volleyball team was going through security at the same time as me; they were going to Costa Rica; several of them were taller than me! The flight to Cali lasted 3 hours. I watched “Puss in Boots” during the flight…a whimsical, fun movie[iii]. Cali is in a huge valley where they raise a lot of sugar cane…and harvest it by hand using machetes! There are a lot of African descendants there, from previous slavery. When I flew home, the Cali soccer team was also on the flight; many of the players were of African descent. They must be locally famous; some passengers were taking videos and pictures of them on the plane! While in Cali, I thought of my sister, Michelle, who served her mission there in about 1986.

Cali Mission President and Sister Pricoli (from Uruguay) picked me up at the airport and took me to lunch at a Crepes and Waffles[iv] restaurant, where I had a Thai crepe and a drink with mango, pineapple and passion fruit. Yummy!

I almost was not allowed to board the plane to return home from Cali: they wanted some proof that I had a residence in Lima or that I was a missionary. I didn’t have anything for the former, but have a card signed by Pres. Monson certifying that I am a missionary. I gave that to the ticket agent and she went somewhere to see if that would work. After 5-10 minutes, she came back and said that qualified! Whew! I’m thankful that I decided to put that in my wallet last week! I had no idea I would need it for this! It’s interesting to see how the Lord guides people in seemingly insignificant (at the time) actions…that turn out to be significant later!

Missionary Certificate

One glitch as I returned to the Lima airport: the immigrations official asked how long I would stay in Peru. I said “18 months.” They said, “We don’t grant 18-month visas.” We went back and forth. I told them that I had gone to immigration last week and they said my Peruvian visa would be here this week. She asked why I didn’t say that earlier. I didn’t say this, but she didn’t ask me. I need to find out what they are looking for so I say the right thing without a bunch of hassle.

My taxi ride got me back home at 10:15 and I finally got to bed at about 10:45 AP (“after pumpkin”…Faye teases me that I turn into a pumpkin after 9 pm!). It was a whirlwind day!

I was very impressed with Fast[v] and Testimony[vi] Meeting today: I thought several times, “These people know what a testimony is! ‘A brief, heartfelt expression of belief and conviction.'” Sunday School lesson was on Tithing.[vii] Priesthood[viii] lesson was on President Gordon B. Hinckley’s[ix] teachings on “We Look to Christ.”[x]

Granadilla

I had a nice nap this afternoon. In the evening, we had Stake Priesthood Meeting. The stake presidency gave some excellent talks on Family History,[xi] Temple Work[xii] and exercising our priesthood. Pres. John Boswell[xiii] gave a talk about “Feed My Sheep,”[xiv] or taking care of the new converts. He asked me to stand up and share what it was like for me to be new in Peru. I shared that (as one example) another senior missionary couple met us outside our house on Sunday, walked with us to church meetings, sat with us, showed us where the restrooms were and where the classes were. They also introduced us to how to open and eat granadilla (a type of passion fruit), where to shop, etc. He compared that to new and recently activated members: they need someone to show them the way, “feed” them, “shepherd” them.  All were excellent messages.

Written by Carter

[i] https://www.lds.org/church/news/new-leadership-announced-for-south-america-northwest-area?lang=eng

[ii] http://papachos.com/

[iii] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puss_in_Boots_(2011_film)

[iv] http://crepesywaffles.com.co/pos/result/colombia/cali

[v] https://www.lds.org/topics/fasting-and-fast-offerings?lang=eng

[vi] https://www.lds.org/topics/testimony?lang=eng

[vii] https://www.lds.org/topics/tithing?lang=eng

[viii] https://www.lds.org/topics/priesthood?lang=eng

[ix] https://history.lds.org/exhibit/prophets-of-the-restoration-gordon-b-hinckley?lang=eng

[x] https://www.lds.org/manual/teachings-of-presidents-of-the-church-gordon-b-hinckley/chapter-8-we-look-to-christ?lang=eng

[xi] https://www.lds.org/topics/family-history-alt?lang=eng&_r=1&old=true

[xii] https://www.lds.org/topics/temples?lang=eng

[xiii] http://ashtonslegacy.com/it-was-great-to-be-with-venezolanos-again/

[xiv] https://www.lds.org/scriptures/nt/john/21?lang=eng