Sunday, February 12, 2012

          Missionary health is always a primary concern for us.  
 With 200 missionaries you can imagine there are a few tummy aches,
 runny noses and in-grown toe nails.
On occasion more serious things happen. When these occasions
occur we have to drop everything that is planned and
make their health our priority.   
Elder Heath had to be hospitalized for a week with
  with a very high fever.  We are glad he is much better. 


Elders love good food!
Elder Jenson and Elder Xicara enjoy a treat from Chili's.
Elder Jenson's father has been very helpful in bringing much
needed white shirts, ties, and  pants to Peru.  We can't thank him enough.
Recently we had a new missionary arrive with only 5 white shirts and ties for his
whole mission. That is all him family could afford. 

Elder Riveros, Elder Tax,  Elder Emett and Elder Lazo
at zone leader counsel.  In our mission we have 15 zones
(or areas where we have missionaries)
Two zone leaders work in each area and are responsible for
10-20 missionaries.  They are learning great leadership
skills at a very young age. 

Elder Castillo and Elder Clouse  are great missionaries.
Each missionary has a different story.  Before his mission Elder Clouse's
mother was diagnosed with ovarian cancer.  He gave up his work,
his social life and friends to take care of his mom while she
was undergoing chemotherapy.  Her only desire was for him to
serve and complete his mission.  He left on his mission not knowing
if she would survive her battle with cancer. 

Probably one of the hardest things a mission President has to
do is deliver sad news to one of his missionaries. 


The cycle of receiving new missionaries into the mission
continues.  This is the latest group to enter the mission. We
received our first missionary from Honduras and El Salvador.
Elder Ojeda and Elder Frost enjoy a ride in
a moto taxi in Tarapoto Peru.
This is the mode of transportation in all the jungle cities.
By US standards these would be declared unsafe and outlawed
The greatest danger comes when you mix motos
with autos on the same road. 
 

Our sisters are great sports about participating.
Recently in Tarapoto, to have a bit of fun we had all the
missionaries put an oreo cookie on their forehead
and try and move it to their mouth by moving their face.
Hermana Arias, Hermana Grow and Hermana Gee
give it a try.

Way to go Hermana Gee!!!


Each missionary comes to us from different countries and with
different backgrounds.  Many of them have come to the mission from
broken families. Often times my heart just cries for them when I hear of 
their circumstances.  There are times when I think no child should have ever  
been raised like that.  It is so important that we protect the family so children can be raised in a home with both a father and a mother. 
These young people come to the mission with a hope and desire to 
serve the Lord.  As they serve and learn about the atonement of Jesus Christ 
their lives begin to change.  The hurt and anger they have carried with them is swallowed up in the atonement of Jesus Christ. He takes away their pain and they have hope of having a better life for themselves through the gospel of Jesus Christ.   It is an amazing thing to see, it a a miracle! 
It is a priviledge and a blessing to see this process in
the lives of so many young people. 
It is only Christ that can lift our burdens,  take away our pains 
 and heal our hearts.    


Saturday, February 11, 2012

Elder Sandoval just completed his mission.  He
has served as one of Larry's assistants for nine
months.  He is a great missionary and
returns to Arequipa  to continue
serving the Lord.
How about a game of Simon Says for a
group of routy litte kids who just
couldn't sit still during a lesson.
Hermana Aria is from Columbia.  She always
has a great smile on her face.
Contacting people is truly a challenge
for a lot of our young missionaries.  It is all
about taking an interest in other
people and their lives 
Here Presidente Blunck takes down a name
 of a person who is interested in talking
 to the missionaries.

Once again it is the rainy season in the
jungle.  Rivers are rising and people are
using their boats to get to their homes.
All fresh water has to be carried and
tranported in each day.
In a small pueblo, Santo Tomas, Elder Essig
stopped to visit some of his recent converts.
The Maricahus family sells art work made out
of balsic wood for a living.
Here is a four foot dolphin he has
 hand carved and is preparing to paint. 
We fly a lot to meet with missionaries 
serving in la selva (the jungle). 
I just wish they wouldn't have these broken
down airplanes right by the airport, it is always
a bit unnerving.   
 Hermana Tayun and Hermana Boyer are presently
 assigned to work in Lima.  I try and work with the sister
missionaries when ever I can.  These sisters took me on my
first combie ride to get to their area.  Combies are mini vans 
that have been re vamped to cram about 15 people into. It is always 
a great experience to work with the sisters.  They are great teachers!  
     Hermana Boyer is new to the mission 
These women are working on their
geneology by visiting a local
cemetery in the jungle. 
Millions of people live in Lima and I have
seen a few very expensive cemeteries.  I have
always wondered where all the poorer people
 are buried.  Two missionaries took me to
a cemetery where the poor are buried.
It was a hillside of graves.

Sacred and simple.
This man is sharing a moment with a  loved one. 
Each day he carries water to this grave
keeping the plants green. 
Lima near our mission office.
Lima Sunset.