Back to the Temple & Barrio El Tumi

We went back to the temple this week after our two week break.  It was slower than we would have anticipated after a two week closing but we are in the middle of the Peruvian summer.  

On Friday, 1/5,2016, we were invited to a sealing the the Smith family, Jauan Carlos and Deysi.  They were inactive for many yeas.  They received a VIP invitation to the temple open house because Juan Carlos works for the government.  they didn't think much about going and just left the invitation on the table.

When the Elders came to visit them they noticed the invitation and that it was a VIP invitation, which made it special.  The missionaries talked them into going.

When they went inside the temple they couldn't believe how beautiful and magnificent it was.  They felt a special spirit there and decided they wanted to come back and be sealed as a family.  They became active and worked on their goal.  They received their own endowments several weeks before they were sealed.  They also have a little three year boy who was sealed to them.

Juan Carlos & Deysi Smith with their missionaries and friend Amy Becerra.

On Sunday we went to Florencia de Mora and attended the El Tumi ward at 10:00 AM.  Bill bore his testimony and I played the piano.  There were lots of people we know from the temple in this ward.  One is Luz Bastos.  She led the singing.  She is one of our favorites. She is always happy and comes several days a week, serving as one of our coordinators.  She has a daughter on a mission in Arequipa, Peru right now and two sons.  The Florencia de Mora ward meets in the same building at 8:00.  We know people from both wards.

The Bastos Family


These are President and Sister Tapia's daughters, Adriel and Adely.
They had blessed Adely's baby in the Florencia de Mora ward at 8:00.
We ran into them in the breezeway as we were coming to church. The baby's name is Amaris and he is 1 month old.

Hermano Rodriguez and his daughter.
They are both temple workers.  He calls Bill his Maestro (teacher)
because he helped train him when the temple first opened.

These elders serve in the El Tumi Ward.

These two elders serve in the Florencia de Mora Ward.

The Baitas from the Florencia de Mora Ward.

Sunday night was the Super Bowl.  Bill was grateful for modern technology so he could watch in on the Sling Box from Providence, Utah as the Denver Broncos beat the Carolina Panthers.

Lady Gaga sang a beautiful rendition of the "Star Spangled Banner".

On Monday we met the Marlers and the Senior Missionaries at TGI Fridays for lunch.  It is always fun to get together.

The Lunch Bunch.
Hawses from Hooper, UT; Hartmans from Logan, UT; Sister Angell from Rexburg, ID; Sister Vaughan from
St. Gorge, UT; Marlers from San Diego, CA; Nields from Snowflake, AZ; Gomez's from Arequipa, Peru and
Fackrells from Bountiful, UT

The Nields, Gomez's & Fackrells

Me & Bill with Sister Angell & Sister Marler.

President Marler always has his camera ready to capture
that kodak moment.

Jan and I - deep in conversation.

Real Plaza Mall

We ran into Franco Figgini at the mall.  He went on a mission to Chile
and works in the temple.

We stopped and bought a watermelon on the way home.  We share it with the Hawses.
Since Wayne was in the front seat he got to hold it.  The trunk was full of groceries
we had bought at PlazaVea after lunch.

We came home and found them washing the fence around the temple.  It actually
rained the next day but the rain is never strong enough to clean the fence.

The fridge is getting full.  Bill bought the map and I tend to pick up magnets as we travel.

Today was our granddaughter Bekah's 6th birthday. She is a precious little girl with such a sweet little spirit.  We were able to talk to her on Skype.  She was going to have birthday pie.  She was born during a snow storm in Kentucky but told us there is just a tiny bit of snow today.  We love you and miss you Rebekah Christine Hartman.

This is Bekah with her high brother, Brigham.  She is
about 2 months old. 

And here are a couple of more recent pictures of Bekah, around 3 and 5 years old.
I don't have one of her today but will add it later if I get one.

February 1st was our little Max's 5th birthday.  He was also born during a snow storm.  
He has been a fun addition to our home and is living with our daughter's family in Utah while he patiently waits for our return.

  

After Vacation & Two Porvenir Wards

When we returned from our vacation on Wednesday night, there was lots of activity still going on around the temple.  Big crews worked morning til night to complete the maintenance and cleaning of the Temple, Albergue and grounds, in preparation for the re-opening of the temple on Tuesday. While we were gone they thoroughly cleaned our apartments including the walls, furniture, rugs and drapes. The entire temple was cleaned both inside and out as well as the grounds receiving a complete overhaul. The church really takes good care of their temples.  

Re-laying the stone in front of the temple.

Scaffolding around temple spire & equipment used to wash the buildings. Even Moroni got a bath.

It is hard to see in this picture, but when they were up on Angel Moroni, they strung 
a wire from the top of Moroni's head to the tip of his horn to keep the birds from 
sitting up there and taking care of business.  Well, now they just sit on the wire instead.  Smart birds.
They didn't want to lose their domain.

Today we went to church in the Porvenir Stake, visiting parts of two wards, Gran Chimu and El Porvenir that meet in the same building. This is a very poor section of Trujillo.  In fact our taxi driver didn't want to leave us there.  He said it was peligroso (dangerous).  We assured him we would be fine (we always feel safe among the members at church) but he insisted on waiting for us to take us home.  We really appreciated his thoughtfulness and Bill paid him extra for his kindness.

We like visiting the different wards and seeing the members and workers that come to the temple. They are always excited to see us. We saw several of our favorites today.

This is one of the smallest buildings we have been to.

Martha Rocha Castro comes to the temple 2-3 times a week.
She often gives me these crocheted roses that she makes.
She says they are friendship roses.

Bill with several warm welcomers.  Segundo Rodriquez, on the right, served his mission
in Guatemala.  His mission president was Mel Markham, a friend of Bill and his
brothers when they were growing up in Long Beach, CA. Segundo works in the temple.

The sister in the middle is Aymana Luna.  She works in the temple and
gives the biggest hugs.  She has been wanting us to visit her ward.
She works in the primary.

This is the chapel.  The picture makes it look bigger than it is.  It is a narrow
room and there is no piano in the whole building. 

The Bishopric of the El Porvenir ward.  The Bishop, Jose Anticona, is the
2nd from the right, no coat, light blue tie. 

These two sisters have worked at the temple since day one,
Juana Rodriguez & Elaine Valverde.
In fact we first met Elaine at the Temple dedication.

Of course we always find dedicated missionaries.
These two work in the El Porvenir Ward.
Elder Andrade from Arequipa & Elder Reyes from Lima
Elder Reyes gave a talk about trials and tribulations.  He told the
story of the ugly duckling.  I even understood most of it.

Elder Zanafria from Ecuador & Elder Paredes from Puno
work in the Gran Chimu ward.

This little girl sat in front of us in Sacrament Meeting.  Bill gave her a piece
of candy and she became an instant friend.

Rosa & Carmen Armas.  Carmen is one of my favorite people.  She
served a mission in Arizona and speaks good English.  She is one of our
coordinators at the temple.  She is not in either of these wards but was
visiting as a member of the Stake Young Women.  Her sister (in pink)
came with her.

Across the street from the church.

Bill paying the taxi driver after returning us safely home.


We are in the middle of summer here and the weather is quite hot.  However, back home in Utah they received their biggest snow of the season yesterday, 11 inches.  Here are Micah and Ellie, knee deep in snow in their back yard in Providence, Utah.

Micah celebrated his 13th birthday on January 17th.  He was our 3rd grandchild and 1st grandson. I was able to be there when he was born.  He has always been our cute and funny little boy.  He is sweet natured and a good big brother to his sister Ellie.  He is a good student, takes karate and plays the drums in the middle school band. We love you, Micah.  Hope you had a great birthday.

Wearing his Trujillo, Peru Temple tie.

We also want to wish Brent & Amanda a Happy Anniversary.  They were married 18 years ago today, 1/31/1998.  Amanda was a great addition to our family and they have given us 9 wonderful grandchildren.  We sure do love their family.

And last but not least, I have to admit that we added to the herd while we were on our vacation.  Notice the cute little hats on some of them that I bought from the little chola lady in Cajamarca.