Interpol

Something Interesting

Interpol

We started the week with Sister Pia Huayamis from the area offices. She is over visas and immigration. We arrived at Interpol (National Crime Bureau). It really sounds like we should be in a James Bond movie! Then we started our long waits in long lines.

We met up with a sweet sister missionary from Ecuador, Hermana Camacho. She and her two companions and district leaders had gotten up very early (4 am) to make it to Interpol by 9 am. It was fun to talk with them as we waited outside in the line. Finally they waved the three of us inside.

More lines and more time to talk with Hermana Camacho. She recently returned to the mission after having been home for surgery and recovery. Her brother is on a mission to Chile and her father had died several years ago.  It was really hard for her to leave home the second time and really hard for her mother. She is grateful to be serving the Lord.

Hermana Camacho

We waited in line to fill out papers on our height (in centimeters), our weight (in kilograms), and the color of our skin and eyes. We waited in line to get fingerprinted, twice because we are from USA and they send them to the FBI. We waited in line to have them create a dental record on us. Open your mouth for a cute dental technician who records something on a paper. Then we waited in line for them to give us back our passports and another paper that said we could be in the country (I think that's what it said. It was in Spanish and looked very official.) Then we were done with Interpol. We found our way back to the outside and the people still waiting in very long lines.  We said goodbye to our new friends and continued our journey to immigration.

Immigration

Then we traveled to the immigration offices. They are in another part of Lima. More lines. More fingerprinting--this time is was electronic instead of ink. Then more waiting! I can really feel for any immigrants that have to wait in lines and don't understand the language. It is really difficult. While we were waiting, we took Pia to lunch. Traditional food--chicken, potatoes, and rice. Then back to wait some more. Finally we got our Peruvian identification cards. They are called carnets, pronounced like carne --the meat, but not to be confused with the meat.

Something Unusual

For a short P-day afternoon activity we went for a 15 minute walk to the Huaca Melgarejo Archaeological site. It was constructed between 300 to 600 AD. The ruins pertain to the pre-Inca Lima culture and was part of a ceremonial site.

When we first started to look around the security guard motioned for us to come join him at the top. We went up and started talking with him.  We found out that he is a member of the church.  He has been in Peru for two years.  He is a refugee from Venezuela. We asked what barrio (ward) he belong to and found out that it is the same one that we go to.

Something Spiritual

On Tuesday our mission welcomed 12 missionaries that will be joining us from the Lima Central Mission. It is a big change for them to leave what they know in the Central mission and learn what happens in the East mission.

At one point we were talking about the miracles that we have seen while being on mission. The miracle that I have seen is that these young men and young women give up part of their lives to come and do the Lord's work. If they "come unto Christ" and are converted and then return home and live it, that is the real miracle.

It is the same for each of us.  As we "come unto Christ" and realize the important part He plays in our lives, we then need to act on it. We need to yoke ourselves to Him. He will help us in whatever way is best for us.  I am reminded of the scripture found in Matthew 11:28-30

"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

Lima Peru Temple

Sunshine in Lima

Something Amazing

We started the week at Self Reliance Training in the Church Office building in Salt Lake City, Utah. We were in a group with four other great couples: The Hilton's (from our MTC district) heading to Taiwan, the Evans' heading to Tahiti, the Sheffield's heading to Little Rock, Arkansas and the Ormsby's heading to Vanuatu Port Vila (they were told the best snorkeling gear to get!). We had a great two days learning (not enough) about Self Reliance, the Pathways program, a little about English Connect and How to Thrive as a Missionary Couple (they don't want us to kill each other, since we never get a new companion!). Some of our trainers were Elder and Sister Bohman and Dwayne Saviano.

The Something Amazing happened on the second day.  We went down to lunch at the cafeteria and low and below there was our nephew, Elder Taylor Keeley!  What a surprise.  He is serving in the Family History department and it is his last week. It was so fun to see him for a few minutes.

Wednesday, June 19th was the day that we left the Salt Lake International airport for Lima, Peru via a layover in Atlanta Georgia. Thanks for the picture and the early morning ride to the airport,  Mari!

 This is our apartment at 193 Calle Montevideo in La Molina.  We live on the second floor, so you can see our windows just above the cars.  Katie and Mark would be happy to know that we have old lady curtains in our apartment! It is really nice--2 bedrooms, a study, 2 bathrooms, a kitchen, and a large living/dining area. No central heating and the building is made of cement and it is winter here! The only place to get really warm is the shower.

 These beautiful flowers greeted us as we came into our apartment. They are a gift from the OyM group. They are the ones that set up and take care of the apartments.
A big Thank you our mentor couple, Elder Brian and Hermana Pam Ames! They have been wonderful to take us to places we need to go, shopping, and just helping us settle in.

Something Funny

This is my something funny picture.  We went to the market and found these chickens hanging up!

The something funny that happened is that we walked to the grocery store and got an Uber to bring us home. There are several streets with the name of Montivideo. We went to the wrong one first. It was in a different section of Lima. We had quite the ride and saw lots of new things.

Something Spiritual 

 Today, Sunday, June 23 we took a walk because the SUN was shining! It doesn't happen here in the winter very much. We went to a park and found a group of youth doing a HEFY(Humanitarian Especially for Youth) program. They are here helping to build a school in another part of the city. Today they were enjoying the sun and writing notes to their parents. They had been to church earlier in the day. It was a lot of fun to visit with them.

Seeing the sun and blue skies reminded me that we all need to focus on the "Son" especially when it is gray and dreary.  When we remember Him we can feel of His warmth and His Love.  It is always there for us. I have this written twice in the margin of my scriptures--the prescription for darkness in us is always light. I love President Hinckley's favorite scripture found in D&C 50:24:
"That which is of God is light; and he that receiveth light, and continueth in God, receiveth more light; and that light groweth brighter until the perfect day."

You can actually see mountains! and blue skies! and feel the warmth of the sun!

Week 1. Provo Missionary Training Center

We spent an enjoyable and busy week at the Provo Missionary Training Center.  There we were given some intensive training in some of our basic responsibilities as full-time missionaries.  Although our teachers were both young, they did an excellent job in both teaching and inspiring us.

 Here we are at the world map, pointing to Lima, Peru; where we'll be serving as Self Reliance Service Missionaries.

 It was exciting to run into our neighbor Riley Whitesides.  She left Wednesday June 12th for her service in San Diego, California. 

 The Begays (from Castle Dale, Utah) were one of so many couples we met during the week. 

 We got to know the Smiths from South Ogden, Utah quite well during the week.  And we practiced teaching to each other. 

 The views in Provo are impressive.

 We met up with Santiago Blanco, our Spanish tutor.  We've had weekly video chat/trainings since November, so it was like meeting up with an old friend. 

 Here is our 'district', along with one of our instructors Caleb Roberts.  Lisa and I in the back middle, and Elder and Sister Hilton in the back right, with Elder and Sister Bishop in front.  The Hiltons are heading to Taiwan as Self-Reliance Service Missionaries; and the Bishops to the Family Search Center in Los Angeles, California.  

Again our district with our other instructor Ashlee Farnsworth.

 We got to visit with many young missionaries from throughout the world.  Sister Morales on the left is from Mexico, and Sister De Peralta is from Australia.  They are both assigned to serve in the Montreal, Canada Mission; French Speaking. 

Contact Us

We have received an assignment from leaders of our faith, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  We’ve been called to serve in Lima, Peru.  Our specific work will be teaching and providing tools and services to help individuals and families to be more self-sufficient or self-reliant. Our missionary service begins on Monday June 10, 2019. 

You can follow us or contact us in the following ways:

Our mission blog:  https://lindstromsinlima.blogspot.com/

Email:
thor.lindstrom@missionary.org
lisa.lindstrom@missionary.org

Regards,
Thor and Lisa Lindstrom