Posts From Perú

The first presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints, solemly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator's plan.

One of the struggles missionaries face while serving in Peru is many couples are not married. Getting married here is a very expensive and complicated process. One way to reduce the cost of a marriage is for people to participate in community marriages.

This is a group of six couples that were recently married in Pucallpa Peru.

These elders were excited to attend this marriage ceremony because many of these couples will be baptized. God's plan of happiness is all about families. Every child needs the opportunity to be raised by both a mother and a father.After the marriages a special dinner was provided for all those who were married. Each couple was presented with a picture of the Lima Peru Temple. It is in the temple that families are sealed together for time and all eternity. These missionaries shared a special song with all who attended.
This couple has four children ages 19, 15, 10 and 1, they have never been married. This community wedding allowed them the opportunity to get married. These missionaries are serving in Pucallpa, Peru, Elder Hughes and Elder Uribe. After he completes his mission Elder Hughes would like to play football for Oregon State University. Elder Uribe is new to the mission from Columbia.

Hermana Lubomirsky is from Argentina and Hermana Miranda is from Columbia.

Hermana Grow is new to the mission, she is from the US. She is working hard to learn Spanish. Hermana Arias is her trainer. Each new missionary is put with an experienced missionary. The light of Christ radiates from Hermana Arias

This little guy attended the dinner with his mom and dad.

When we arrived at the airport the next morning for an 8:30 am flight. At the counter we were told our flight would not be departing until 3:00pm. The president loosened his tie took it off and told the assistents the weather was just right for a preparation day. So off we went to a village outside of Pucallpa called San Fransisco. The people there are known for their pottery and bead work. All these necklaces are made from seeds they have gathered. Some are hand painted and others are the natural color.

The tradition of making jewelry from seeds is pasted down from generation to generation.

The tool of choice in the jungle is the machette. Using a machette this man hand carved a canoe oar in one hour. He was so proud of his work when we asked if we could buy one.

Here he is making sure there are no slivers.

Look how big these pots are! Each has been hand made and is drying in the sun. The technique and skill these native people have developed is amazing. Also notice the palms that are used as roofing material. Amazingly they shed water up to five years before having to be replaced. This hand made oven is what the pottery is fired in.

Freshly made pots drying in the sun before they are all hand painted. The clay for the pots is gathered from a nearby river bank. All the paint is from plant material and the final glaze is melted sap from a tree that when fired hardens.

These pottery making skills have been pasted down from generation to generation.
It was a great preparation day!