Lindstroms in Lima

It seems that April has come and gone. You have probably heard of the saying that the days may go by slow, but the weeks go by fast! The end of our quarantine has come and gone and the world is still in quarantine. We still practice social distancing and don't venture out too much. We have watched spring slowly came awake and have rejoiced in Easter.

April 12, 2020 Easter Day 13 of New Quarantine

When we first arrived in Lima, it was winter. The skies were always gray and we didn't even know that we were surrounded by mountains. On a walk one day we looked up and there He was, a statue of Jesus. He had always been there, waiting for us to notice Him. His arms were outstretched, beckoning us to come unto Him. At this Easter time I testify that Jesus Christ is....

"Risen

To set the captives free

Risen to ransom you and me

To bind up every broken heart

To conquer death and sin.

Risen

To bring us home again."

From the song "Risen" by Shawna Edwards (check out the song on YouTube)

April 13, 2020 Day 14 of New Quarantine

We lived in a very nice neighborhood in Lima. Most of the buildings were apartments. There were very few single family dwellings. Plants were valued and there would be trees, flowers, grass, and shrubs in front of every building. We visited areas that were not that way. The roads were dirt. There was no glass in the windows. And dividing walls in houses might be cardboard. The water would be trucked in and put in large containers by or on top of the houses. They would have to purchase their drinking water. Two very different worlds so very close together!

Our apartment, we live on the 2nd floor

View of our neighborhood

Estrellitas in Cieneguilla

Rio Seco

April 14, 2020 The New Quarantine is Over

Whenever you are stopped in traffic in Lima, someone will try to sell you something. It could be a drink, snack, or even a steering wheel cover. Everyday when we would walk to the office we would come across the sweetest lady. She was dressed just like this.(Except she didn't carry a duck!) She would sell snacks to anyone who would buy one. Thor would buy a treat from her once or twice a week. In all probability this is how she made her living. With the quarantine in Peru we hope she has food to eat, because her livelihood is gone.

April 21, 2020 Released

Today we were officially released from being missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. We were released by our wonderful stake president, President Martin Clark, over the phone. Things are just not the same with the virus around.

We are hoping to return to a mission and a mission in Peru when the time is right. We have loved our time in Peru. We have loved all the wonderful people that we have met along the way! What a blessing to be able to serve a mission.

Plants of Peru

We loved all the varieties of plants in Peru. Many seem to bloom all year long. Smelling the Jasmine and honeysuckle was heavenly. You could find something you had never seen before just around the next corner. Just a little beauty to brighten your day!

Random Photo of the Week

Being quarantined again for 2 weeks have given me the opportunity to think about Peru. We met so many wonderful people and had so many good experiences. I have been sharing through Instagram a snapshot of Peru. Just little bits and pieces of our life there.

April 5, 2020 Day 6 of New Quarantine

Every Sunday in Peru we would travel to Cieneguilla to go to church. We would call for an Uber and be on our way around 8 am. It would take us about 45 minutes to get there. It was nice to greet all the members of the Ward with a kiss on the cheek or a handshake. (Thor would only greet with a handshake.) Some of them would check up on my Spanish! After church we would catch a bus or a colectivo (a colectivo is like a taxi; it fills up all the seats and drops you off at certain places) to get back home.

Our favorite sacrament program was the primary program. The parents all took pictures of the children after church. It was really sweet.

The Obregon Family

Tatiana and Kirstin

The Guevara Family

The Primary Program in Cieneguilla

April 6, 2020 Day 7 of New Quarantine

Monday nights in Peru means Family Home Evening Senior Missionaries style. We had a fun group of senior missionaries! Three times a month we would cram into someone's apartment (byoc--bring your own chairs) to discuss the latest Come Follow Me lesson. Once a month we would meet at the church area offices for a potluck dinner and something special. We learned how to do the salsa on the roof of the building! We built balloon towers, learned about earthquakes, and found out about different humanitarian projects in the area. We even went Christmas caroling in our neighborhood. It was so much fun to see the people look out their open windows and clap at our singing. Plus the added bonus of it being nice and warm at Christmas time. It was always a good time with our friends!

Learning how to salsa on the Area Office roof

Pot luck dinner on the roof

Family Home Evening on Leadership styles

Family Home Evening at our apartment

Christmas caroling in the neighborhood

April 7, 2020 Day 8 of New Quarantine

Today I was thinking about all of our office elders. These young men are all wonderful. It was so much fun working with them. Elder Pardo would take Thor out to do apartment checks and preach the gospel to every driver they had. Elder Tenney would always have a huge smile. Elder White always looked very serious-- maybe because he was the finance secretary. Elder Recalde tried to help me with my Spanish and I would help him with his English. Elder Wilcox and Elder Davis helped me so much with the English program. Elders Napier, Leite, and Kimball would get a hard time from me just because they were the assistants to the President. (I was trying to keep them humble.) Our health secretary, Elder Armstrong would give me flaming hot chips, just so he could see my reaction. They all loved french toast and scrambled eggs. We would feed them every once in a while and boy could they all eat!

Armstrong, Wilcox, Tenney, White, and Pardo

Armstrong, Wilcox, Pardo, White

Napier and Leite

White, Recalde, Armstrong, Pardo, Colton

White, Wilcox, Davis

April 8, 2020 Day 9 of New Quarantine

A big shout out to all the sister missionaries! These young women are so amazing and filled with so much faith. Every day they would put on their biggest smiles and go to work for the Lord. They experienced many miracles. When we saw each other we would exchange big hugs. Elder Lindstrom always felt bad that he could only shake their hands. We are so grateful that we could serve with them 💗

Mayta and Stephan

Niziato, Morales, Cuellar, Black

Hansen and Lester

Suarez and Morales

Santana, Copa, Pacheco

Royal, Estevez, Hansen

Pozo and Santana

April 9, 2020 Day 10 of New Quarantine

Mototaxis are quite the adventure to ride in. You can describe them as a tricycle motorbike. The driver sits in front of you. (See 2nd picture and top left corner.) This is your view out. You sit in the back. Make sure you brace yourself, because if you go over any bump you will experience it. Big time! In some areas they are very prevalent. They scurry around like cockroaches. Thor and the grandkids were able to squish in the back of one. One day we saw a parade with mototaxis. It made me happy!

Mototaxi

Thor with the grandkids in a mototaxi in Cieneguilla

Mototaxi parade in the Sacred Valley

April 10, 2020 Day 11 of New Quarantine

The Peruvian people love their folk dances. Each region of Peru has a dance that is specific for that area. The dances generally tell a story. The costumes are all colorful, different for each region, and even the hats are unique. We saw folk dances in many different venues. One of our favorites was the primary children of the Mayorazgo Stake. Each Ward preformed a different folk dance.

We were first introduced to the folk dances in their big Independence Day parade. We saw dances at a graduation and at a Christmas luncheon. They have national contests for folk dancing!

April 11, 2020 Day 12 of New Quarantine

The Peruvian people believe in God. There are many that are religious and will talk to you about God. They have religious processionals. I suppose they would have had some this Easter, but they are all in quarantine. This processional went through our neighborhood last October. It was for the God of Miracles. They would stop at different houses where a shrine had been erected. Several days before there was a children's processional. Many of the children were dressed as angels. Thank heaven for a God of Miracles!