Our Temple Mission: Halloween, Family Search, Juan Alva & Church

Yesterday was Halloween. We and the Hawes left the temple after 5:30 PM so we could grab a bite to eat before going to the Palermo Stake Center. They were having a Family History Fair all day and that evening they were also honoring Juan Alva, the oldest member of the church in Trujillo. He joined in 1961. Wayne Haws lived with him and his wife when he was here on his mission 40 years ago.

We got there in time to view some of the Family History exhibits. At 8:00 they showed a film that some of the young people had put together depicting the life of Juan Alba, how he joined the church, met his wife, etc. It was like an actual movie, with actors, singing etc. They did a great job. And we were also impressed with the quality of the displays for the Family History fair. The Peruvian Saints never cease to amaze us.

Eating at Don Belisario's at the mall. Good chicken place.

The mall was full of little trick or treaters. Here are some that came into the restaurant while we were eating.

Bill with the Stake President, Josua Valdivia & his wife Maria at the Family History Fair.

Hermana Petersen served in Trujillo at the same time Bill was serving in
La Esperanza. It was fun for him to see her picture on the board.

Wayne & Bill with President Valdivia.

The Vega Family display.

The Tirado Leon family display. He is in the Stake Presidency.

Part of the Meza Family display.

Me with Jan Haws, Cecelia Quintanilla, her mother and sister, Hermana Averca.

Luciana Alva Gonzales & her daughter Mariana with Juan Alva before the movie started.
He is 94 years old.

Bill & Wayne with Paulo Averca.

Bill with Josua Valdivia, the Stake President's son. He played Juan Alva in the
film and did such a great job. He is 20 and a returned missionary from Chile. He
also works in the temple. Such a cute guy.

Jan & Wayne with us and Sister Malca. Her husband passed away a year ago.
He was the Stake Patriarch.

Home again. We ran into President and Sister Coacalla at the event. Hermano Daniel
Salazar gave us all a ride home in his van. On the ride home we asked him where his family was.
He had his wife and 4 children at the event. He said he sent them home in a Taxi. We couldn't believe it.
We tried to pay him since we were planning on taking a taxi home but he wouldn't hear of it. He said he
wanted the blessings.

Today we went to church at the El Bosque Ward in the Palermo Stake. Since it was fast Sunday we had two baby blessings. It turned out they were both from Patriarch Meza's family. Two baby boys. One was 2 days old and one was 5 days old. Most of the Meza family bore their testimonies. We took lots of pictures afterwards and sent them to the the family by email.

Houses across the street from the church.

The Primary in the previous ward, Barrio La Noria, were practicing for their primary
Program when we arrived at the building.

Bill with the Bishop of the El Bosque Ward, Bruno Paredes Valverde.

We ran into Sister Vilma Aquino. She is one of my favorites at the temple.

These next pictures are of the Meza family. It was such a happy and special day for them.
Notice all the green hymn books in their hands. Each ward only has about 10 hymn books down here so people own their own, and carry them to church each week. Bill and I each have our own hymn book because I often have to use mine to play the piano. I also played the piano today.

A Meza aunt holding baby Alejandro.

The whole Meza family.
Patriarch Meza and his four brothers originally joined the Church in La Esperanza. He and his wife have eight children and 20 grandchildren. They are all active in the church.

This is baby Diego. The two will grow
up like brothers since they are only 3 days apart.

Today is All Saints Day (Dia de Todos los Santos Vivos) and Day of the Dead (Dia de los Difuntos). It is a National Holiday. They celebrate by picnicking with the deceased and decorating the graves. The belief is that souls visit the earth on this day and it inspires families to to bring offerings and share meals with departed family members. Large cemeteries throughout the country suddenly fill with color, vendors, street musicians, flowers, families and food. The holiday begins on the evening of 31 October and ends at the close of 1 November.

It is so crowded and busy at the cemetery adjacent to the temple today that they have added more security and policemen on the streets. It is interesting to watch from our balcony.

As I write this I can hear music blaring from the cemetery. They even played the Hallelujah Chorus from the Messiah.