Primary Program & a Fireside

Yesterday we went to the California Ward for church with the Hawses.  They were having their Primary Program. The children did a wonderful job.  Every child had his part memorized and they sang out and knew all the words.  After being a Primary President three times, I know how hard it is to pull off a successful Primary Program.  They could rival any ward in the states. We all sang the closing hymn, "I Love to See the Temple".

This Picture was taken while they were practicing before Sacrament Meeting.
Not all of the children were there.

A cute Primary class with their teacher.

Diego Palma with his wife and little girl.
Diego is one of the engineers at the Temple. 

After Sacrament Meeting, members lined up at the library to pick up their Liahona (Ensign).
They don't deliver much mail down here since there is only on Post Office and they are always on strike.
So all the Liahonas come to the ward and are passed out at church.

The Sister Sisters are in this ward.  They knew we were coming so they prepared a Sunday School class
in English for us.  Unfortunately we all started talking and the time was gone before they we able to teach their
lesson.  We told them to save it and we would be back.  We did enjoy a good visit.

Wayne & Jan Haws

Bill with Juan & Juan Leyva.  This father and son work at the temple. The younger Juan is
a returned missionary and is planning to go to BYU.  His father has been a Stake President and
a Mission President.  His roots come from La Esperanza, Bill's old stomping ground.  

That evening we went to a Charla Fogonera (fireside) at the California building.  It was put on by the Trujillo, Peru Central Stake and the Trujillo North Mission.

There was a choir of missionaries, as well as soloists and instrumentalists by the missionaries. They performed hymns as well as Christmas Music. The Rabanals, Casos's and President Marler spoke as well as three converts to the church. They also showed some short videos.  It was a wonderful and inspiring evening.

A group of Elders before the program. 

This is Sister Pineda.  She has the voice of an angel. She is from New York
but goes to BYU-I, majoring in voice. She came to the Albergue one evening and 
I got to play for her while she sang for some of us in our Commons area.

Cute Elder Olsen.  He is the President's Secretary and was the choir director.  He is from Smithfield, Utah
and went to Sky View High School. You can see the Nields and me behind him.

President & Sister Rabanal, the Stake President.

The Missionaries all walked in from the back of the chapel singing, "Called to Serve".  It brought
a smile and a tear to many eyes.  There are some very talented missionaries in this mission. 

Elder Olsen leading the choir.

On the way to the fireside it started raining.  This is the first rain we have since we arrived five months ago.  They say it is a prequel to El Nino.  The Taxi even had to turn on his windshield wipers.  

We even got wet hailing the Taxi.

Rain Drops!

Today for P-day we took three office elders out for lunch at Pardo's chicken.  Elder Bond's parents arrive next Monday to take him home.  He has been an Assistant to the President. Elder Marshall has been his companion and Elder Craft will be taking over for Elder Bond.

Elder Bond from Layton, UT, Elder Craft from Linden, UT and Elder Marshall from Hyde Park, UT.
We had a fun lunch with these great missionaries.  

Another picture of the three amigos taken at the Charla.

Monday evening we had a meeting with President and Sister Casos and all the temple missionaries.  We were discussing what was going to happen when the temple is closed in January and what our options were for travel plans, etc.  They also celebrated my birthday coming up on Wednesday with cake, ice cream and a gift of two cute necklaces.  Thanks to all of you for remembering me.

A busy week in Trujillo

We worked the morning shift all week, opening the temple Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday with Bill covering the Recommend desk for the first 2 hours.  We had the afternoons off so we did lots of running in the afternoons.

The Post Office is still on strike so we went to Western Union. They don't send letters or envelopes. They sent us to the DHL office.  They wanted 200 soles to mail a large envelope. That is about $60. We have decided it is not worth trying to send anything to the USA.  So family, take note, you will not be receiving anything from us until we return home.

We didn't know they even had DHL. The sisters in the mission office say they even have Fed Ex.  I said, "I haven't seen any Fed Ex trucks."  They laughed and said, "that's because a little man delivers them on a bicycle with a basket."  Only in Peru!

This is the sign on the Post Office.  It says, "Long Live the Strike".

Western Union is ready for Christmas.  What a "beautiful" tree!

When I fell at the Plaza de Armas a few months ago I messed up my spare pair of glasses.  Since I am blind without them, we decided I needed a new pair so I would have a backup.  There are so many optical shops down here but as we were walking from the Western Union we found a nice large one.  When we went inside there was this cute girl, Ingrid, who spoke perfect English.  She was very helpful and we ordered me a new pair of glasses.  

Bill actually picked these out.  I wanted more color but Bill liked these gold rimmed ones with reversal temples from gray to aqua.  He says they match my hair.  Since he has to look at me, I ordered the ones he liked best.  He told me I could get another pair in a year before we go home - my choice.

Ingrid and me with my new glasses.

Another picture in the new glasses.

Glasses are really reasonable here.  These glasses cost 900 soles or $267.  That included the eye exam, frames with no line bifocal, antireflective lenses and photochromic lenses that turn dark outside.  They are also the thinest lenses for my prescription.  

We picked up my glasses four days after we ordered them.  They actually called the temple to tell me they were in.  When I went in the the office the Assistant Recorder told me my "lentes" were ready.  You never know what to expect down here.  I guess they called our apartment and since we weren't home it rang in the temple office.

That same day we went to the mission offices to talk with them about travel arrangements for us in January when the temple is closed for cleaning.

Here I am with Sister Marler, Sister Angell & Sister Vaughan.

The members really love their temple here. You can always see people walking, sitting or even laying down around the grounds.  Here are a few pictures we captured this week.

Coca Cola is a big item down here.  Coca Cola also owns Inca Kola which is the other main soft drink you see in the stores.  Bill tried to see how many Coca Cola signs he could find this week.

This is a Grandilla, a fruit that is native to the Andes Mountains.  You eat the slimy insides and black seeds.  I didn't like it when I first tried it.  I think it was a texture thing.  But it is starting to grow on me and I have actually bought several.  Bill still doesn't like them.

Scenes from the streets this week.

You've all heard of Purina Dog Chow, well, this is advertising Cuyina chow.  A cuy is a little guinea pig.  They raise cuy here for food, not pets.  We haven't tried eating cuy yet but it is on our list of things to try.  The Peruanos love it.

This little stand outside the catholic church sells candles, etc. to light inside.

Bill paying the Taxi driver.

Pedestrian Crossing Here
Men Working

And back home in the states - Brent and Amanda sold Kettle Corn at the Christmas Around the Square in Gallatin, Missouri.

Our granddaughters, Sadie and Hannah made snowmen with their mother.  Amanda's looks like he might have a major headache.  I thought they were cute and wanted to save them to my blog.  The snow will soon be flying in Missouri and Utah where our children and grandchildren live, while we head into summer in the Southern Hemisphere.

And since this Thursday is Thanksgiving, we want to wish all our family and friends who view this blog a very Happy Thanksgiving.  We are grateful to have you all in our lives and count our many blessings at this special time of year.  The temple missionaries have been invited the the Marlers for Thanksgiving dinner.  I will post more on that next time.