Our Temple Mission: June 2015

Sunday, June 28, 2015

First Week at the Temple

We worked in the Temple every day this past week. Monday was by invitation only and regular patrons started coming on Tuesday. We moved into our apartments on Tuesday as well. They are beautiful. We hardly feel like we are living in Peru.

We have filtered water and an ice maker in our refrigerator. There is a little bacony off the living room and a washer and dryer in all the apartments.

One of the best things is the underground tunnel going from our apartment to the temple so we can dress in whites and go straight to the temple and back home again.

The view from our dining room window.

View from our balcony.

Our first bride and groom getting pictures, outside our apartment.

We were told it didn't matter where we went to church and we have been encouraged to try several wards in order to get to know more people. This week, Miguel, who works in the temple laundry, wanted to take us to his ward. He attends the Chimu Ward. He said he would pick us up. We wanted to pay him but he said he would only take chocolate, no money. He has been married 6 years and has a very cute family; wife Susy, son, Samir, age 4, and James, age 2.

Sandy, Miguel, Samir, James, Susy and Bill

Some ward members outside the chapel.

Bill and I decided to attend a primary class since we thought we could understand the children better than the adults.

There is no air conditioning in the churches so all the windows have to be opened.
There is too much light in this picture but we wanted to show the kids.

Sunday, June 21, 2015

First Days in Trujillo - Cultural Celebration & Dedication

We left Salt Lake City on Thursday June 18th at 9:50 AM, arriving in Trujillo, Peru at 7:00 AM on Friday, June 19th. It was a long and tedious journey but we were happy to finally get here to start our mission.

At the Salt Lake City Airport - ready to board.

We were taken to a very nice Hotel, Casa Andina, for four nights because the General Authorities are staying in our apartments.

Our room.

View from our room on the 8th floor.

We had lunch with our Temple President and his wife, Romulo & Marlene Casos, on Saturday and were set apart as Ordinance Workers.

President & Sister Casos, We love them already.

Saturday evening we were given VIP seating at the Cultural Celebration. The youth did a fantastic job. We met President and Sister Marler, president of the Trujillo Peru North Mission. We are also under his direction.

President & Sister Marler, President Casos, and, of course, us.

President Uchtdorf was here with his wife and daughter as well as Elder & Sister Bednar, the Area Presidency and several from the Seventy.

President & Sister Uchtdorf were right above us........

as well as Elder and Sister Bednar.

One of many great numbers

We had tickets to the 1st temple dedication at 9:00 AM. We had seats in the chapel area inside the temple. It felt so good to walk inside the temple for the 1st time. It is truly beautiful.

Waiting in line. It was a little overcast. The sun came out after the dedication.

The "Albergue" where we will live for the next 18 months.
We move in on Tuesday.

We met this lovely couple at our hotel. President and Sister Chipman,
the new Temple President of the Indianapolis, Indiana Temple. He served as Mission
President in Piura, Peru three years ago. It is part of the Trujillo Temple District.

The Peruvian people are so warm and loving. I can't tell you how many hugs and kisses we got today just because they saw our name tags. These two young women wanted to take our pictures.

Elder and Sister Nield from ShowLow, AZ, on each end, another Temple Missionary Couple.

We start work tomorrow at 6:30 AM. We will just have 2 special sessions, by invitation only. Starting Tuesday, the temple is open for everyone else.

Wednesday, June 17, 2015

Temple Mission Training

Heather drove us to Salt Lake City with our six suitcases on Saturday June13th. The church put us up in Little America. We started our training on Monday June 15th at 8:00 AM with 32 other missionaries besides ourselves called to serve in temples around the world. We had missionaries going to Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Samoa, Philippines, Hong Kong, London, Hawaii and Washington DC.

We liked eating on the patio at Little America looking at the Grand America Hotel across the street.

We took the Trax every day to Temple Square.

We didn't have to go to the MTC but were trained in the Salt Lake Temple by Richard and Kathleen Walker. President Walker was the President of the Salt Lake Temple from 2005 through 2008. His wife, Kathleen, is the daughter of President Hinckley. They were the best trainers and we had three wonderful days that we will never forget.

We had the privilege of getting to do a "walk about" through parts of the Salt Lake temple. We were on the other side of these doors where Brides and Grooms like to have their pictures taken. This was the original entrance to the temple. We caught this pretty couple on the steps.

We finished our last day on the 5th floor of the temple in the Solemn Assembly room. Here is our whole group with President and Sister Walker.

A close up of the Walkers with Elder and Sister Chan who are heading to the Hong Kong Temple.

Tuesday, June 9, 2015

It's Official

Tonight at 8:00 PM we went to the Stake President's office to be set apart as Missionaries. President King set me apart first so I guess that makes me the Senior Companion.

President Bryan King, Me, Bill, President Troy Christensen

Pointing to Trujillo, Peru on the Stake Map

Friday, June 5, 2015

Our Missionary Farewell

On May 24, 2014 we spoke in our home ward. More than 50 family and friends came to hear us speak. We were overwhelmed with the love and support we felt. I was also a little intimidated when the Presiding Bishop of the Church, Gary Stevenson, walked into the chapel. His mother lives in our ward. I tried to forget he was sitting on the stand behind me as I spoke. He was very kind and complimentary about our talks. Heather and Ellie sang "If the Savior Stood Beside Me". They did a beautiful job. Robert accompanied them on the piano.

After the meeting we served a light lunch in our clubhouse. We served Papa Jay's roast beef with BBQ sauce for sandwiches, chips, Hawaiian salad, pea/cauliflower salad, melons, jello jigglers, cookies and bundt cake. Everyone enjoyed visiting and we even had enough food.

Our nephew David took these wonderful pictures. So glad he was there to capture the moment.