Yes, We Like Cemeteries!

Something Different

Saturday afternoon was nice and sunny! We always cheer when it is sunny. It feels so much warmer if you have just a smidgen of sun. 

Thor decided on an adventure that would be close to us. (It is about 2 kilometers from our apartment.)

We went to the Cementerio Jardines de La Paz in La Molina. Translated that means the Gardens of Peace Cemetery. It is a really large and beautiful cemetery.

Walking into the Jardines de La Paz

We found it interesting that all of the headstones were uniform. There were many beautiful flower arrangements on the graves. In fact, about a kilometer from the cemetery is a section of little shops or tiendas that only sell flowers.
Walking around the cemetery reminded us of walking in the Kaysville Cemetery or even Hyrum Cemetery.

Jardines de La Paz

A Blessing

On Tuesday we traveled out to Chalachayo. It is an area of our mission that is 24 kilometers (15 miles) away. The traffic going there was very much stop and go with the emphasis being on the stop. It took us over an hour and a half to get there.

We had a wonderful meeting with President Ora (the counselor in the stake presidency that is over self-reliance). We also met with Sister Rosa Timon; she is the welfare specialist in the stake and a policewoman.

Presidente Ora, who is over self-reliance

Later the stake president came in, President Lorenzo. He is very kind and warm. He showed us pictures of his family. He played a video on the computer about his son, who is on a mission in Africa. It was really neat.

Stake Presidente Lorenzo

When the meeting was done, Sister Rosa came outside with us to wait for a Uber ride. Unfortunately we were unable to connect with anyone for a ride. Next step was to get an taxi to take us home. We needed smaller bills than 100 soles. The tienda (store) across from the church did not have any change. Sometime in all this trying to get a ride we met a friend of Sister Rosa. (We think it was her bishop, but don't quote us on that.) They took us out to the main street and flagged down a taxi. The friend paid for our ride and Sister Rosa questioned the driver and took his business card.

We arrived home safely and it only took 30 minutes to come back. About five minutes after we got home, Thor gets a call from Sister Rosa to see if we got home safely.  She said she had also checked in with the taxi driver.  It's nice to have angels watching over you!

Our Angel, Sister Rosa Timon

Something Spiritual

Sunday night we were able to talk at a fireside for the youth in the Musa Ward and for the American Humanitarian Especially for Youth group. That group (HEFY) has come several times this summer. They are building a school in Vitarte. 

It was interesting to talk with a translator! 

Presidente Amato was the final speaker. He had the Peruvians and the Americans get together one on one. Their goal was to find out the following: name, age, where they were from, and favorite food and music. Then the youth got to introduce each other.

Presidente mentioned how we are more alike than we are different. He then gave each of them a Book of Mormon and had them write their testimonies in it. He then challenged all of them to give their book out in the next week and a half.

The missionaries in the La Molina zone ended the meeting by singing "We'll Bring the World His Truth" in three different languages. In Portuguese for our mission president and then in English and Spanish.  In the chorus they changed the words from "We will be the Lord's missionaries" to "We are the Lord's missionaries to bring the world His truth." What a powerful song and message.

We are the Lord's missionaries. We can share the gospel in simple ways. We can reach out to our neighbors. We can smile at the people in the grocery line. We can say a kind word to someone. Go out and be a missionary today!

Plants of Peru

Same plant, but different colored blossoms!

Random Picture of the Week

A truck taking guinea pigs to market.

These little guinea pigs went to market! These little guinea pigs wished they had stayed home.