The Week Before Christmas & Barrio Razuri

These last two weeks have been the busiest weeks at the temple since we opened on June 22nd. The Albergue rooms were all full with groups coming from the jungle,18 hours by bus as well as all the missionaries of the Trujillo North Mission and other temple patrons. They filled the sessions, baptistry and sealing rooms.  It was wonderful to see the temple bustling during the Christmas season.

This past week we had four special 7am sessions for the missionaries.  All of the temple missionaries were able to officiate one of them.  Some of the missionary moms in the states worked long and hard to make this a special experience for them.  All of the missionaries have their own temple clothing now.  As President and Sister Marler took each missionary to the temple last week, they were given all the clothing they needed.

There are 180 missionaries in President Marler's mission with about 70 from the states.  The Trujillo South mission is under the direction of President Rios.  He has 141 missionaries with about 60 from the states.  It is amazing that there are 321 missionaries serving in this area.

This is what it looks like when the missionaries start arriving at the temple.

The week culminated with all the missionaries from the Trujillo North Mission presenting a Christmas Concert at the Plaza de Armas on Friday & Saturday night.  They have so much talent in the mission and everyone did a wonderful job pulling it off  The Marlers really go the extra mile, providing lifelong memories for their missionaries.

Elder Ben Haacke finished his mission in September but returned this past week
with his parents.  Sister Marler asked him to play his violin at the concert.
He is from Bountiful, Utah and was an assistant to the President before he went home.
 He was another great missionary.

It was beautiful at the Plaza at night. There were lots of people out and about,
including this sweet puppy.

The Catholic church on the Plaza was all lit up.

We ran into lots of our friends from the temple.
This is Hermana Tapia and her granddaughter.

Elders Craft, Olsen, Romero & Marshall with President & Sister Marler.

A hoe-down with Elder Heward singing, "Have a Holly Jolly Christmas" with his band and line dancers.

Sister South, in pink, playing violin accompaniment along with guitars and Peruvian pipes.
I don't know all the missionaries names since they are from all the whole mission. They didn't all perform but they all provided help & support.

Elder Olsen playing a Piano guys version of "Oh Come Oh Come Emmanuel" on the cello, 
with Elder Drescher on the piano.

Elder Terry did a fabulous job playing "O Tannenbaum" on the saxophone.
He also plays the piano. President Marler's father hand carried this saxophone
from California earlier this year.  

Elder Haacke playing the violin with Elder Bishop on the harmonica.
They played "Once in Royal David's City".

Sister Tonga dancing the hula to "Silent Night", Peruvian style, 
along with guitars and pipes.

The Catholic Church added to the entertainment by providing fireworks.
They love fireworks here in Peru and find many occasions to fire them off.
We can often see them in the sky from our balcony.

We went to church in Provenir at Barrio Razuri. Bill and I were asked to share our testimonies.  I gave mine in English with Bill translating for me.  I also played the piano and Bill helped pass the Sacrament.  We found several temple workers there as well as my little friend Karla who works in the Family History Center in the Albergue.  She led the music in Sacrament meeting. She speaks very good English and is coming to the temple next week and wants me to be her escort (accompanante).  Her mother is not able to go.

These sisters all work in the temple.
Back row - me and Mixsi Yaquelin.
Front row - Hermanas Pardo, Peasantes, Buenano, & Regaldo.

Segundo Rodriguez, on the left, served a mission in Guatemala with Mel Markham
as his mission president. The Markhams were a family that lived in Bill's home
ward when he was growing up.

This little lady in the middle is Rosa.  The other sister is her daughter.
Rosa has only been a member for 4 years.

Alex & Gladys Saul.  He is in the Bishopric and they both work in the temple.

This is Karla Chavez Romero.

On Sunday night, Daniel Salazar invited the choir members to his home for a party.  We ate sandwiches, cake and hot chocolate and sang Christmas carols.  Daniel has an old upright piano he bought from the Catholic Church in Chocope.  It is in perfect condition and in tune.  One of the best I have played in Peru. 

Daniel & their youngest son, Obed, by the piano.

Jennifer Salazar with Obed.

Amy, Angela & Marco Becerra.

The Casos's. 

Jennifer made this cute little choir out of toilet paper rolls.
Notice they singing out of the green hymn book.

Sunday was also a special day for our family.  Our 6th grandchild, Brigham, celebrated his 9th birthday in Missouri.  We were able to talk to him on Skype.  This is the year he should be singing, "All I Want For Christmas is My Two Front Teeth."  He was the first boy for this family of three girls, so he was a welcome Christmas present in 2006. I always called him "Little B" but he is not so little anymore.  He is a happy, fun boy.

Happy Birthday, Brigham.  We love you.