The Hollands in Lima Peru!

Elder Holland visits Lima

We had the privilege of being able to meet with Elder Jeffrey R. Holland and his wife, Patricia Holland. They came to Lima to talk with the 6 missions, the Peru MTC (mission training center), and 4 different devotionals.

Elder Jeffrey R. and Patricia Holland
(This picture was not taken in Lima--from the web)

Our missionaries were very excited. They arrived early. I had one elder that told me that they had gotten up at 3 am to get ready to come. We provided a breakfast bag for each of our missionaries, because most did not have breakfast.

Peru Lima East Mission getting their breakfast bags

We were able to meet with the Hollands and Elder and Sister Mathias Held of the Seventy on Tuesday, January 21st. Elder Held and Elder Holland shook each missionary's hand. (That's a lot of hands to shake about 500.)

Matching Outfits! Hermanas Royal, Estevez, and Hansen

We listened to talks by Elder and Sister Held. Then we were able to hear Sister Holland. She said:  "The most powerful thing I can leave with you is how much God loves you and how much he wants you to be happy and successful. Be all that you want in righteousness."

Elder Holland talked to the missionaries. I think the following can apply to all of us. "You are God’s investigators. He would like you to listen a lot more than you do. He wants you to repent--there’s something to improve--do some soul searching and repent--sometimes it’s the little things that get us. God wants you to study more--a little better than you do. You may have to change habits--change friends--leave family. There is only one direction in this church--forward and up. Stay firm and fast and devoted."

Missionaries after Elder Holland's talk

Mission Tour

This week was also our mission tour. That means that a general authority comes and visits the mission. We met with Elder and Sister Gavarret of the Seventy on Wednesday and Thursday. What kind loving people they are. We were honored to be taught by them. Sister Gavarret told us her conversion story. She said, "The Book of Mormon spoke to me from the dust." That is the book that brought about her conversion.

Sister Gavarret

Elder Gavarret teaching the missionaries.

Half of the mission came on Wednesday and the rest came on Thursday. It was interesting to notice that Elder Gavarret taught something unique on each day. The rest of the talks and training was similar, but what he shared was different each day.

Practicing what they learned.

We had a catered lunch with real plates and silverware.
Not our normal plastic fork and styrofoam box.

More Elder Holland

Elder Holland held a special fireside for the women on Wednesday night. Since it was at the church a whole block away I went to it. One side note, the fireside started at 7 pm. There were sisters that came at 3 pm to get a seat so they could see and hear an apostle of the Lord. I didn't go until 6:30 and had to sit in a room with a TV.

This is just one of the messages he gave that night. Probably my favorite.

"Trust in God’s goodness when you don’t know the answers."

"God LOVES Broken things. There are broken clouds to nourish the earth. Broken ground to plant seeds. Broken grain to make bread. Broken bread to feed us...

"What God loves most of all about us is a broken heart and a contrite spirit. The sacrament is symbolism to remind us why things are broken. Whatever is broken is fixed in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Our only hope is in the atonement of the Savior of the world. He fixes everything."

Group of returned missionaries that Thor did a vocational training for on Saturday.

Plants of Peru

Random Picture of the Week

Sunset! We don't see too many of these.