Did You Say Quidditch?

Something Magical

Last night I saw something truly magical! We were on our way to a training in Las Flores. I am looking out the window and there are a lot of people in a group. I look closer and they have colored sticks between they legs that they are holding on to. They are playing some kind of game. At each end of the playing area there are three large rings up on stands. There are different sizes of balls that they are using. I realize that they are playing Quidditch. "Look they're playing quidditch!" Our driver asks what? And we explain that it is the game in the Harry Potter books.

I wish I had gotten a picture. It's nice to know that Harry Potter is alive and well in Peru.

PS I had to look up how they do the snitch. Here is the information from Wikipedia. "The ultimate goal is to have more points than the other team by the time the snitch, a tennis ball inside a long sock hanging from the shorts of an impartial official dressed in yellow, is caught."

These are not the brooms they used. These are used by the workers who clean the sidewalks.

Something Comical

I was out in Campoy. The missionaries out there actually call it Campolvo, because of all the dust. (Polvo is dust in Spanish.) They were all so very nervous to come and talk with me. It was pretty comical. I tried having them do yoga breathing as we walked down the hall to my room. The other funny thing is that they made sure that everyone of them talked with me. One of the zone leaders, Elder Paez had been there and then had left to an appointment. When he returned there was a group of elders that escorted him down the hall to my room. They all try so hard!

Hermanas Pozo and Royal showing off their clean room to Elders Lindstrom and Pardo

Something Spiritual

I had several sweet experiences as I have been interviewing the missionaries.  This week I had two missionaries ask if they could share their testimony with me in English.  What a priviledge it was for me to listen to Elder Vazques and Hermana Suarez testify of truths in English.

I just loved this experience that Hermana Black shared with me. In our mission we look for the escogidos or the elect. In Doctrine and Covenants 29:7 it states: "And ye are called to bring to pass the gathering of mine elect; for mine elect hear my voice and harden not their hearts." The missionaries are taught some questions that they may ask to see if the people will hear the Savior's voice.  She and her companion decided that they would fast and prayer that the people would recognize them as representatives of our Savior, Jesus Christ. She related that one lady that they meet, recognized something different about them. They were then able to teach her.

What a powerful idea! To be recognized as representatives of Jesus Christ. Isn't that what we try to do as we love our neighbors and minister to those around us. As we treat others with the love and compassion that the Savior had for everyone, we too will be recognized as His disciples.

One last thought, I would encourage you to read this article. It is about a young man that lives in our mission. He and his twin brother were baptized 6 months ago and are now planning on going on missions.  https://www.thechurchnews.com/members/2019-08-14/peru-paulo-gallardo-soccer-mission-157321

Plants of Peru

This one smells divine!

Random Photos of the Week

Thor went for a ride in a mototaxi with Elders Pardo, Binford and Moreno.
I don't know how they got four elders in one!

The first course at lunch! 

Is This Real Missionary Work?

Something about English

This was a week of learning about English. All Latino missionaries are strongly encouraged to learn English while they are on their mission. This will help them when they return home. They can earn more money in jobs, if they can speak English. They can do the Pathways program and then move on to BYU-I if they can speak English. It gives them a way up in the world.

On Monday I traveled into the downtown Lima to the Lima Central Mission. Sister Strong (mission president's wife of Lima Central) had invited me and Sister Packard and Sister Glazier (two new mission president's wives) to learn about the program that she does in her mission. She was very kind and fixed a lunch for us and had a lot of materials ready. It's a great program and we will be doing it in our mission. I will also be in charge of it.

The view from Sister Strong's 19th floor apartment in downtown Lima

We travel with the mission president to zone interviews and while the missionaries wait for their interview with the president they get to talk with me! We talk about where they are in their English learning. I ask them some pretty basic English questions, such as: where they are from, what's their favorite food, how many brothers and sisters in their family, etc.  

I know just how they feel when they can't understand a question or when they can't find the words to answer it. I'm the same way with my Spanish.

On Wednesday I had four cute hermanas sitting on the couch in the mission office teaching them basic English. They want to learn, but they have no American in their apartment. It makes it very difficult.

Elder Garcia--one of my English victims

Something Clean or is it Dirty?

Thor has been busy checking out missionary apartments. Apparently there are a lot of back problems in the mission, so the mattresses need to be checked. When he and Elder Pardo go out, they are also looking for safety issues and how clean the place is.  Nothing like a surprise check up!

A study area

A kitchen

The inside of the Sisters fridge

The inside of the Elders fridge--Yes there is a difference!

Something Shared

We surprised our zone on Thursday. We have never gone to a zone meeting before. We walked in and had them put us on the agenda. We then related the story of the lady that felt impressed to make President Kimball a new tie. When she arrived at the door with the tie in hand, she wondered why she was there. Sister Kimball opened the door and stopped her from going and said, "Never suppress a generous thought."

We then shared rolls, jam, cheese, and oranges with them. We have found that many of them don't take time to eat breakfast.

Here's the link to the story:  https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/bonnie-d-parkin/personal-ministry-sacred-precious/

Our zone

Something Spiritual

Thor had the opportunity to do a training at Fundet this week. These are his thoughts on it.

Time for my presentation at the Fundet trade school.  So 87 present, 86 men and 1 lady. All of them starting this week a 4-8 week training program that will guarantee them a job in a trade when they complete the training.  The current classes are: Refrigeration, Motor Repair, Accounting Assistant and Micro Finance). I had them show by a raise of hands how many were converts (about a third of them); and how many of them were returned missionaries (about ⅔ of them).  

    The presentation on Self Reliance went very well.  They are an incredible audience. And I felt very blessed and sustained during the presentation.  Judging by their response to the question at the beginning: “What is Self Reliance?”, I knew we were starting from the ground level.  I’ve learned that principle from listening to Elder David A. Bednar speak to groups of missionaries. (ask questions and listen carefully to the answers to determine what the group is ready to receive)  At one point in the presentation, it was so clear to me the message: STOP, let them write down what the spirit is telling them. So I gave them 2-3 minutes to write down the thoughts that had come to their minds.  And many of them were deep in thought and writing many things down. It felt like and the content was that of a church meeting. Their participation critical. I felt a little awkward receiving a loud round of applause when we finished.   And many wanted their picture taken with me. And no, I did not let this get to my head. At times during my presentation specific things came to my mind that were then shared. I did appreciate the several who shared that they had felt the spirit throughout the presentation, and that they learned so much.  As did I-we were all edified, and the Holy Ghost was the teacher. If Fundet will have me back, this will be something I cherish the opportunity to do. Teach them the basics of Self Reliance. Encourage them and share with them my love and my confidence that they will be successful. There are three older men (late 40s or early 50s) in the group, and they shared some incredible stories. I was blessed through the enabling power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ to do things this morning that I could not do without His sustaining power and influence.

Plants of Peru

Random Photo of the Week

These are the moto taxis waiting outside of a school to take kids home.
They are 3 wheeled vehicles.

Earthquake!

Something Unsettling

We are woken up from a deep sleep. The windows and cupboards are rattling. "Hey is this an earthquake? Do you think we need to go outside?" It is 2:48 am. We do have emergency backpacks, provided by the mission, resting by our front door. It finally stops and we are still in bed. We stay in bed and then we don't sleep very well the rest of the night. In the morning we found out that is was 4.5 on the Richter scale. The center of it was 60 miles away. One earthquake down--and how many more to go?

This is Puruchuco, an ancient dwelling of a nobleman. It was not damaged in the quake.

Puruchuco, one of the rooms. Also not damaged in the quake.

Something Educational

We were able to go on a tour of Fundet this past week.
Fundet is a non-profit agency formed by residents of the USA. They function in Peru, Bolivia, the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Columbia and Ecuador. They have a training school in each of these countries. They work with local business to determine a small handful of technical skills in high demand, such as air conditioning & refrigeration, accounting, micro finance, and auto repair. Then they train individuals from 2-4 months in that specialty to fill those positions.

Fundet--having a class on values.

They have thought of everything. Every week they have 90 minutes of institute, there is 15 minutes of Book of Mormon study daily, and a monthly temple visit. They do service projects in the community each Saturday. Training is about 12 hours a day. They provide lodging and meals and a small travel allowance. 15 hours of community service is required before being admitted (that is their ‘pay’ for the training). Ages range from 20-45 years old. The average entry position after the 2-4 months of training is 1000-1500 Peruvian soles per month, between $300 and $450 US. That is a decent wage for here. For young people from homes where the family was depending on their income, a small budget is provided monthly to the family to help cover their expenses that the child would otherwise pay. This program is mainly for returned missionaries. When their training is complete there is a 95% placement in a job. They ask for an endorsement from the individual’s bishop; and for a workplace commitment of 1 year. If they fulfill their workplace commitment, there is no cost for their training.

Fundet--the students

It was inspiring to see the young men and women. We were able to be introduced to them in the middle of their values class. (They also learn about certain values and try to live them.) They are trying to make a better future for themselves.

Something Yummy

The Spanish speaking elders and hermanas that are learning English on their mission get to go to a special luncheon at Presidente and Hermana Amato's when they finish Book 3 of their companionship language study. Friday was the big day for the feast. Hermana Amato prepared a Brazilian dish called feijoada. It is a black bean stew, very delicious. They also had root beer floats! Which some of them loved and the others thought the root beer tasted like medicine.

Hermana Amato stirring the feijoada & Elder Pedrozo speaking Portuguese

It was suppose to be an English speaking only fiesta. It was so much fun because in the kitchen they were speaking Portuguese. In the living room there was a lot of Spanish to be heard and then occasionally I heard English being spoken!

Elder Wily after eating several plates of food! He said he was receiving revelation.

Something Spiritual

On Sunday, August 11, they created the 110 stake in Peru. It is in our mission and is called the Santa Clara Stake. We were able to go to the stake conference. The building was filled to capacity with beautiful Peruvian saints.

We were greeted at the door by a line of our missionaries shaking each person's hand as they came to stake conference.

I was really touched by the testimony of the President of the Campoy Stake. Many of the people that he knew, loved, and served with would be moving to the new stake. Tears ran down his face as he tried to express his love for them.

I was also reminded of how music can bring the spirit of the Lord into our lives. The closing number was sung by the choir. They sang "Consider the Lilies". It was truly wonderful and just what I needed.

Just a few of the lyrics--"Consider the sweet tender children, who must suffer on this earth. The pains of all of them He carried, from the day of His birth. He clothes the lilies of the field, He feeds the lambs in His fold and He will heal those who trust Him, and make their hearts as gold."

Plants of Peru

It's winter, but this tree is trying to say spring!

Can You Really Have 2 P-Days in One Week?

Something Patriotic

Sunday, July 28th was Peru's Independence Day.  We sang the National Anthem in church, which was very neat! (So glad that I didn't have to play the piano for it--they had a recording.)

On Monday was the big military parade in downtown Lima. We ventured to it with Elder & Hermana Pratt, who live on the floor above us.

Guess what! They do not throw candy during the parade. 

Guess what! The President of the country, President Martin Vizcarra rode in a jeep and waved to all the people. He drove right by us. That was really amazing. Sorry we only have a video of him driving by--so no picture.
The best part of the parade was the cultural part.  Different areas of the country came by doing traditional dances.

Then came all the different branches of the military and their different sub-groups. At the very end were the tanks!

These are the Secret Service Agents

We called these guys the Wookies for all you Star War fans

Something Like a Pyramid

For our real p-day we went to 2 different Huacas. These are religous buildings or temples of the Lima people.

Huaca Huallamarca

Huaca Huallamarca--showing the flat top of the pyramid

Here's a run down: The Lima people constructed their sites using small handmade bricks made of unfired earth (adobes), which were arranged in vertical rows like books on a shelf. No mortar inbetween so they could withstand earthquakes. Using this technique, the Lima built rooms, patios, corridors, ramps and staircases. These rooms were used for a period of time, (until they got a new high priest) and then buried with stones, sand, and earth. This became the new base for the building.

They had rituals. The sacrificing of young women, because of their fertility, to aid the fertility of the soil. They would also sacrifice young babies to be the spirit guides of people who had died. The babies had just recently come from the great beyond and would know the way back, while the elders would have forgotten the way.

The Huacas look like flat topped pyramids.

Huaca Pucllana--Showing the vertical bricks that look like books

A burial area--the white bundles are the baby spirit guides while the brown bundles are older people that have died

Huaca Pucllana

We were also able to visit the Olive Grove Park. Some of the trees are 400 years old! Our friend, Hermana Rosario showed us the very old olive press.

Olive trees in the park

The Olive Press

Something Spiritual

We took a ride out to sunny Cienguilla to do visits.  We were meet by Hermanas Mayta and Estevez and the wonderful Relief Society President of the Cienguilla Ward.

The RS president, Sister Flores, had prayed about who we should visit. She is such an inspired lady and an inspiration to me. 

We were able to visit and minister to five sisters, each of whom was dealing with serious challenges in their lives. The missionaries would give a scripture and a thought, sometimes Thor would chime in. Sister Flores would have a message tailored to each individual and their circumstances. My job was to give hugs and love the people.

Hermana Estevez, RS President--Sister Flores, Hermana Mayta, Hermana Lindstrom in sunny Cienguilla

One of the people we visited had just lost her husband. She is now the matriarch of a large family--children, grandchildren--and wants them to understand the importance of the gospel. She asked the Hermanas and the RS president to come to the memorial for her husband and hopefully touch the hearts of her children.

Guess what! You don't have to be a Relief Society president or a missionary to minister. You do have to be aware of others and their needs. Can the clerk at the store use a smile today--smile and you will be ministering. Have you checked on your assigned families lately? Maybe a kind word or a spiritual thought is just what they need. Maybe it will be a listening ear to someone who needs to talk. Follow the example of our Savior. He ministered to the one.

Plants of Peru

Monster Cactus

Monster Cactus

Animals of Peru

Llamas and Alpacas