Sunday, October 19, 2008

Carnet

This week we were busy but didn't do anything out of the ordinary. The mission was running out of money. I am not to let the cash box get below 3,000 soles, but because I didn't have my carnet I couldn't go the bank and get any money. Finally on Friday I got my carnet and received 5,000 soles. On Thursday we locked the safe and couln't find the combination to get in. Usually I only have to use my key to get in but I must have turned the combination and it locked. Almost a day later I found the combination in an old binder on top of a bookcase.
Thursday we met with Fernando and talked to him. He was to come to the office on Friday evening with his novia but they did not show up. We will have to check that out.
When we got our carnet we were at the Immagration office for 5 hours standing in line. I received my carnet but Karen never did get hers. It seems that their computers went down between me getting mine and she hers.
We are anxiously awaiting this week. On Wednesday Elder Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve will be here in Lima and will talk to all the missionaries in all the missions at the MTC.
We have been going to the office before 9:00 and coming home some time after 7:00. In the morning after breakfast we read in the Book of Mormon and study Spanish before heading out. It is an exhausting schedule some times. We are learning Spanish ever so slowly. Karen gets frustrated that she isn't learning faster than she is, but she is progressing every day.
We know that the Gospel is true. We love to give the Joseph Smith story and know that it is true. We know that there is a value in us being here. Already we have freed up two of the better missionaries in the mission. One became an assistant to the president and the other a Zone leader.

Monday, October 13, 2008

On our own

We had a very busy and exhausting week. Elder Vaca left for Cuzco and so Elder Cleverly is flying solo. Sister Cleverly and Elder Barry are on their own also but Elder Worsham who is now the Assistant to the President is in the office frequently so they can ask him questions.
Last Monday the missionaries that are going home started to arrive. We had 19 missionaries going home and there was luggage and missionaries everywhere which made it difficult to do much working. They kept coming in so that President Elmer could interview them. We left the office early to go to the other side of the city, to the Area Offices, to the monthly Home Evening with the other American couples that are serving down here. It took us a good hour to get over there by bus. Soon we will take a picture of the busses that we ride on. We can go from our apartment to the Area Office, MTC and Temple for about .30 cents. Transportation is quite reasonable here. When we got to the Area office the home evening was already in progress. We were to take about 5 minutes and tell something about General Conference that had a special meaning to us. Just as we finished we felt our first earthquake. It lasted for just under a minute and was fairly strong though I don´t think there was any damage anywhere in the city or country.
On Tuesday the Elders went to the temple with the President and Sister Elmer in the morning and then had lunch with the president. In the afternoon we went to the Magadalena chapel where we had a testimony meeting for the 19 departing missionaries and the chapel was full of all the members that came to bid them farewell. In the evening the elders left for home and a few with their families went to Cuzco and Machu Pichu. We didn´t get home until quite late.
On Wednesday the new missionaries arrived from the MTC here in Lima. There were 19 of them and we were included with this batch of new missionaries making 21 in total. Also we received new missionaries that were called to go to Bolivia but are unable to because of the unrest in the country. The president brings all of the missionaries together in Lima at the time of changes. He has the new missionaries sit up on the stand and the other missionaries down in the chapel. After he introduces each new missionary and tells something about them he then announces the new companships.
Thursday happen to be a holiday in Peru. All banks closed, no correo, etc. We finally were on our own. The President and Sister Elmer left for the Providences. President Elmer interviews every single missionary every month and we have exchanges every six weeks. We know that the changes for when it is time for us to go home will be June 29, 2010.
Friday was the day to teach brother Fernando. He came by the office and told us that his novia couldn´t attend and so we rescheduled for next week and they will both come. We also met a single woman that has never been married that said she would like to have the discussions. There is a Chineese restaurant right across the street from the office. It was very crowded and she said that we could sit with her. She had heard of our church and would like to know more. She said that if we had any problems whatsoever or needed to go any place she would go with us. She gave us her telephone number and address.
Saturday we went to the temple. There were 100´s of people outside the temple waiting to go in and inside it had all that it could hold. Five or six busses came in from up north, Trujillo and Piura. After our session we ate in the cafeteria. We then caught a bus and went directly to the grocery store. We took a taxi home with all of our groceries.
Yesterday we went to our meetings and after we had been home for about an hour sister Swan came to our place from Cuzco with her mother and another friend to hang out until it was time to go to the airport to head home to Lehi.

Sunday, October 5, 2008

Park with Fernando







On Saturday night we went to a park that had all of these colored lights. It was very impressive. We took Frenando with us.














Karen has sent out an e-mail to everyone. This weekend was General Conference. We watched the Saturday session on our computers. In between the two sessions the elders from the office came for dinner along with the assistants to the president. Karen had made stew, a salad, rolls and about 7 dozen cookies. Of course the elders ate about everything. In the evening I went to General Priesthood meeting at the Magdalena Stake Center. It was very much like at home. The chapel was completely full.
Today we went to the MTC in the Area Office complex to watch conference. All the North American couples here go together to watch conference in English. Between the two sessions we ate at the MTC Cafeteria.

Inka Shops

Inka Shops
There are hundreds and hundreds of little vendors selling their wares from clothing, dolls, purses, jewelry etc. We didn't buy anything but got a good idea of some of the things that they have.

Highway

Highway
One of many highways in Lima. This is Avenida Arequipa that runs north and south. Maybe 9-10 blocks from our apartment. During rush hour this road will be packed.

Highway

Highway
Another highway running thru Lima.

Tall buildings

Tall buildings
This is a look of San Isidro where we live and the mission office.

Miraflores from the air

Miraflores from the air
On our P-day we went to Miraflores and ate at a fantastic restaurant just above the cliff. The tall building in the background is the Marriott hotel. The name of the restaurant was Mangos. It was buffet.

Pacific Ocean

Pacific Ocean
Looking down about 500-600 feet from the Mangos restaurant to the ocean