Lindstroms in Lima: What Is Your Medical Training?

Something Medical

Thursday we traveled to Cieneguilla with Sister Lilly Rosario (a senior missionary sister) and Elder Hixson (Area Medical Doctor). We went to Hogar Cima. This is a place for the rehabilitation of boys and young men who have had significant emotional/behavioral issues in their homes. When their rehabilitation is complete they return to their families. The founder lives there. They go to school, either on site or in the town. They also teach them different skills so they will be able to work when they leave. It is an NGO that is funded by Europeans and others. They also have volunteers that come from Europe and live at the facility and help out. We met a young man from Germany. One of his duties was to teach basic English to the boys.

We went out with Elder Hixson to see any of the boys that had health problems. Since Elder Hixson doesn't speak a lot of Spanish, Elder Lindstrom became his translator and medical transcriber. They were able to see about 20 boys in the 2 hours that we were there. Most of the complaints were not too serious, which was a blessing. Sister Rosario and I were the receptionists, asking their names and getting their files out. Thor (Elder Lindstrom) was quite touched as he interviewed each of these boys; realizing the trauma that each one had likely experienced. He mentioned also that more often than not, Elder (Dr.) Hixon wanted Elder Lindstrom to reassure each young man that they would be fine.

I was able to go on a short tour of the farm that they have there. They raise pigs, ducks, chickens, rabbits, and guinea pigs. They also have some milk cows. Their latest project is turning dung into natural gas. They are able to fuel their kitchen for 2 hours a day with the fuel they make.

I didn't get a picture of the boys, but I did get a picture of the goat!

Something From the Office

Elder Pardo (one of the office elders) lost his keys to the office this week. Unfortuately the key to the mail box was on the key ring. We have been waiting for a letter from our cute grandchildren. We saw letters in the box and thought "their letter must be in the box". Elder Pardo tried some other keys to see if he had a spare--no luck. He did the next best thing. He took a hammer and screw driver and broke into the mailbox! Our letter was not in the box, but there were a lot of other letters.

"The Office Elders" Armstrong, Wilcox, Tenney, White, and Pardo

Elder Armstrong and Elder Wilcox (other office elders) decided that they wanted to burn the old baptism registries. They had personal information on them and are not needed any longer and shredding them didn't sound like much fun. They asked me if they could burn them on the roof. Our roof is made of cement, but I told them they could not do that. We have a fireplace in the back, so I suggested that instead. They started the fire and then piled a whole lot of rolled up papers on the fire. (These elders are both Eagle Scouts.) It didn't burn very well. Then we heard a whole bunch of knocking--it was the neighbor wondering if the building was on fire! It took a long time that night to get the papers all burned and the fire out. They told me that they burned some more papers the next day--the right way this time, adding only a few at a time. Another neighbor came and complained about it. So the burning has ended and the shredding has begun.

Baptism (records) by fire!

Something Spiritual

We had a really nice training for the missionaries that have been in the mission for 12 weeks. It started with a spaghetti lunch at President Amato's home. (Where the elders all got sauce on their white shirts.) Then we moved to the church. We only had two sisters, one elder and their companions. It was a very small group.

Hermanas Gordon and Mayta, The Amatos, Elder Carvalho

We listened to part of a talk by Elder Holland where he says: "What I need, Peter, are disciples—and I need them forever. I need someone to feed my sheep and save my lambs. I need someone to preach my gospel and defend my faith. I need someone who loves me, truly, truly loves me."

And then I think of sweet Hermana Gordon from Australia. She was not planning on serving a mission. She is 27 years old, had finished her degree and was working professionally. Then last October she got a really strong impression that she should go on a mission. She put in her papers and here she is. She is feeding our Father's sheep and saving His lambs. She truly, truly loves her Savior.

May we all feed our Father's sheep and save His lambs where ever we are in the world.