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