Trainers and Trainees

They are all tucked in with new pillows and their new trainers.

Life is good in Trujillo, Peru

We love you trainers and new missionaries!

Our Trainers are:  Elder Warren, Hermana Montes, Elder Castro,  

Elder Qualls, Elder Hannemann, 

Elder Uribe, Elder Bennett, Elder Valdivia, Elder Lopez, Elder Terry, 

Hermana Herrera, 

Elder Huntington, and Elder Castro.

Our New Missionaries are:  Elder Johnson, Hermana Montes, 

Elder Dickerson,  Elder Chun, 

Elder Brian, Elder Casanova, Elder Mamani, Hermana Apaza,

 Elder Chicche, Elder Cornejo,  

Elder Arteaga,  Elder Farfan and Elder Minaya

After the Tears... Come the Cheers!

We said our goodbyes which takes a little piece of my heart every time...

But then ...

Yes, our new group arrived.

There are 14 of them from all parts of

Chile, Utah, California, Texas, Peru, Tennessee, & Bolivia

This is a fantastic group.

Elder McGrath on the left, has been called as an Assistant and is training

in the office with Elder Nichols and Elder Chacaltana

After our new ones arrived we took them to the hotel for some dinner and a good night of sleep.

This morning bright and early we started at the Temple Site

for the beginning of a mission dedicated

to teaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ

 and helping individuals and families

set goals to go to the Temple.

Then we bowed in prayer...

devoting our time and talents to the work of the Lord.

Every day we receive way more than we give.

We can never come close to repaying our Heavenly Father.

Then to the office for some training...

Elder Márquez is the best Secretary of Suministros

Elder Barinas has the missionaries take turns on the computers to email home

about their safe arrival and their new assignments.

This is Elder Brian from Kaysville, Utah

They are also taking turns having interviews with the President.

This is Elder Mamani born in Peru but his family is now living in Chile.

We are counting our blessings every single time we receive the best missionaries ever!

And Below is Elder Chacaltana, President Turk´s Assistant

and today is his birthday.

We Love you Elder!

Bluer than Blue...

 These four missionaries are leaving on a jet plane tonight.

They all say that it has been like a dream.

Every missionary says this at the end of their mission.

At first you think time will never pass 

and then all of a sudden it's gone...

and you ask, was I really there?

Hermana Chipana  -  Lima

 Elder Maximiliano  -  Lima

 Elder Bosse  -  Arizona

Elder Pruett  -  Utah

Muchisimas Gracias Elderes y Hermana!

We Love You 

and always will!

Look at Him!

I took a nap with this little wonder yesterday afternoon...

Well, he napped and I stared at him.

Cute Walker!

A great week of Baptisms!

We had a record number of Baptisms this week...

Congratulations to all of our Missionaries.

We Love YOU!

Let's start by singing a great song with Elder Olivares!  haha

We love when we get new missionaries that play the piano.

He accompanied the special number 

which was sung by the missionaries in the Porvenir Zone.

Great Job Elders!

We had baptisms all over the mission...

I attended this service on Saturday.

Each one brings a powerful spirit

and an interesting story.

The man in the middle above is 89 years old

and so thrilled to start his new life as a member of the 

Church of Jesus Christ.

 Above are some of the Elders from Porvenir Zone.

Below is John who has been studying the Gospel

for a long time and was baptized 

by the Bishop of that ward

who went to elementary school with him.

 The Bishop, on the right in white, was called at age 27.  

Elder Qualls and Elder Zetina

below with Allen

Look at this little future missionary... the Peruvian children are so beautiful.

I always try to get them to come to me during the meetings.

Some things never change!

No More Short Cuts...

The President and the Assistants drove back on the usual paved road

on the way home from Huaraz.  

They decided that the short cut they took on the way 

was not worth it. No more short cuts.

Elder Nichols calls it the Devil´s Short Cut.

(See earlier post)

The paved road is much safer and has prettier views.

(We will put up with the longer drive)

They were happy to see these young brothers

herding sheep on their bikes.

We've never seen this.

This is so cute with the little training wheels.

It´s fun going downhill..

But going back up..  oh not so fun.  

But I guess it beats walking.

Happenings in Huaraz...

This is what's happening in Huaraz...

This is President and Hermana Zavaleta. He is the 

District President in Huaraz.

  All the paper work has been submitted 

and now they are waiting for Salt Lake to look at all the statistics to 

make sure they 

are ready to become a Stake.

 President and Hermana Zavaleta

Below are the Zone Leaders for Huaraz

Their Zone is made up of small districts of missionaries

Please don't get the two Districts confused.

One is made up of members 

and one is made up of missionaries.

We are still confused...

Never mind

Elder Glasgow and Elder Takishita

Here are the Hermanas of Huaraz

Hermana Legg, Avendaño, Sanchez and Ortiz

I miss you girls.

Here are Elders Elmer, Ramos, Fajardo, Roman

Elders Howard and Saldivia below

Elders Aquino and Ccoycca

Elders Jimenez and Vasquez

 And last but not least is some of the Leadership for the Huaraz District

Thank you for all you do for Huaraz.

The Road Less Traveled and We See Why!

Over the bridges and through the tunnels to Huaraz we go...

Plans changed at the last minute and I stayed in Trujillo and 

President Turk and the assistants went to Huaraz.

Because I wasn't going they thought they would try the short cut.

This road is supposed to save about 2 to 3 hours.

 Little did they know that even by saving 2 hours

they were all left with sore rib cages and bruised kidneys

from the rough road.

You can see why this road is not used very much.

There are rock slides, narrow roads with steep cliffs and 

a lot of pot holes and no pavement the whole way.

 I can't tell you how happy I was not to be in this car on this road.

There were over 15 narrow bridges and almost 50 tunnels

Really, you can count them below.

I had to put them into a collage or you would be scrolling down for an hour.

Thanks for the photos Elder Nichols and Elder Chacaltana.

They now call this the Devil's Short Cut.

Under the Complete Influence...

  You want to be good and to do good,

That is commendable. 

But the greatest achievement that can be reached in our lives 

is to be under the complete influence of the Holy Ghost. 

Then He will teach us what is really good and necessary to do. 

                                                                                                                                                  F. Enzio Busche

      Here is a sweet experience from an Elder... 
Names have been changed!

Well, this week I had a spiritual experience that I´d like to share with with you. 

Last Sunday, me and my companion baptized a woman, an elect... (Beatrice). 

Before we began teaching her, she was an active member in

another church. This church is really strong here 

and the members are usually hard-hearted people. 

Anyway, on Saturday, the day before we baptized her, 

we passed by her house to fill out the baptismal form 

and while we were filling it out with her, 

there came a knock at her door. 

It was the pastor of this church. When he came in, he immediately

started to yell at us and went off. 

Boy did I feel the will to burn him with the scriptures....

but I then looked at this woman Beatrice,

 I felt a strong impression of the spirit say "just stay quiet". 

After a while, when the pastor finally

stopped yelling and talking, 

me and my companion got up and told Beatrice

that we would pass by a little later that day. 

After a few hours, 

we returned to her house and the first thing she told us was 

"I'm ready to be baptized"

She then told us

how she recognized her feelings in the presence of that pastor..

in the way he preached, the tone of his voice, 

the contention he brought, 

was simply not the way of the Lord.

    I can't tell you how grateful I am to have the 

Gift of the Holy Ghost in my life. 

It is so important that we stay

worthy of the Spirit so that when he whispers, 

we can recognize His voice and follow His guidance.



THANK YOU ELDER... PERFECT EXAMPLE!

Take the Picture!

Look what it takes just to get one decent photo of my missionaries...

These missionaries have been with us only five weeks.

  President Turk, Perez, Velastegui, Fuentealba, Sandoval, Sandiford, Herrera, Calcina

Sumi, Olivares, Morales, Gamboa

Hey, look at me.  What's so funny you two on the front?

No, no don't pick his nose,

Do you want me to stop him Hermana Turk?

Look I will palm his face... stop picking his nose!

Okay, leave his face alone
Hey, absolutely no biting!

Elder Morales... look up.

You two on the right move in closer.

President, tell them to leave each other alone now

Elder Morales, please look at me.

Enough already did you hear Hermana Turk?

It's fine now Elder, they stopped, turn around.

one, two ...

Don't you ever tell us to stop Elder.

We listen to the President.

No Elders. just let me get one shot before you...

Anyone, Anyone... Please let's just get the picture....

Don't do that  really someone is going to get hurt.

Elder Sandiford... don't put him in a head lock.

Please Elders... Just one good one.

President ... a little help please

Elder Velastegui, don't fall on them, you could....

Elder Sandiford, let him come up for air.

Elder Herrera, thank you, you have been ready for every shot.

President, President, wait really we will shape up now...

Come back!

One out of fifteen turns out okay ...
It's a lot of hard work being a
mission photographer.