The Big Countdown!

Look who is coming to Peru!

    

 Cole, Summer, Meg and Isaac.

These are my nieces and nephews

and of course, their parents, Tom and Melissa are coming too.

Tom is my brother.

They arrive in Trujillo in the morning.

They aren't here for very long but we have every minute 

packed with the 

adventures of Trujillo Peru.

Watch the next few posts... 

This should be very exciting.

Surprise... Let's check out those Rooms!

Surprise... Elder Mayorga

I love to walk in on the district meetings to ask for the

 keys to their rooms.

They are usually in some deep discussion.  

Here, Elder Gomez is expounding on the keys of the kingdom...

but all I need are the keys to their rooms.

I am amazed every single day at the missionary program.

To watch these young men and women

leave their worldly lives behind for two years

and serve and teach and preach

to people all over the earth is absolutely a miracle.

I brought these Elders with me today.

Look, all in blue..

The inspection committee is ready.

Guess what we found...

Rooms that were all as "neat as a pin"

What does this saying mean?

Is this even the right saying?

I looked it up... It is talking about when pins started to become

mass produced instead of hand made.  They all became very 

unified in size, shape and color.

Good to know.

Congratulations Florencia de Mora!

There were no beetlebombs...

what does this saying mean?

Is this even the right saying?

Oh dear, here we go again...

New Assistant - New Personal Secretary

The time has come to make a few office changes.

Elder Kyle Nichols will be finishing his mission in a couple of weeks.

(sad)

So he is training a new Assistant with Elder Chacaltana.

Elder Mark Pickett has been called to serve as an Assistant

(happy)

Elder Pickett is a farm boy from Oakley, Idaho

(Super)

He is a fantastic missionary, He knows how to work hard.

He has a strong testimony

and knows why he is here.

(Perfect)

He is a  quarterback... we are going to let him make a few calls

and watch his team win.

(Great)

Also it is time for Elder Sam Andersen to head out in the field.

(wow)

He has been unbelievable in our office.

His talents are many and his enthusiasm contagious.

(really)

He has been with us for quite a while

He is having a hard time giving up his phone...

(understandable)

And his office space...

(Whoa)

But look who is taking over for our Personal Secretary

(yippy)

It's Elder Cedar Glasgow from Mesa, Az

What a fantastic place.

(home)

He looks like he is comfortable already.

(maybe too comfortable)

We are going to miss Elder Nichols who has been so great and steady.

And of course Elder Andersen will still be with us working hard as usual.

(that's life in the mission)

Thank you Elders

We Love You

You are the Best!

(sincerely)

Another Stake in Zion... Casa Grande

Exciting Day for  Casa Grande!

They are officially a new Stake in Zion.

Elder Nash and Elder Vallejo came to call and set apart

the New Stake Presidency.

Pres. Rojas !st Counselor, New Stake President Neira, Elder Nash, Elder Vallejo, President Javier 2nd counselor, Outgoing District Pres. Sagastegui, President Turk, Outgoing counselor Pres. Mauricio

Elder Nash is so sweet and personal with each and every member

no matter how small.

 The members in Peru line up to see him, shake his hand and take his picture.

And again always on their level...

Here the members in Casa Grande are shaking hands with 

their new Stake Presidency and 

saying Thank You and Goodbye to our dear 

Area President and Friend...

Elder Marcus B. Nash


~ PS ~
A few weeks ago

When President Turk received the phone call that Casa Grande

would become a stake,

We were at a huge service project with about 

one hundred of our missionaries.

And when he told them the news about Casa Grande

They all jumped up and cheered.

It made me cry. 

This is what we are all working for.

One more stake added to Zion.

The number ONE is so important to our missionaries.

Because everything starts with one…

One lesson of truth given that will touch a heart of an investigator.

One soul at a time being baptized and Coming unto Christ

One family at a time going to the temple to be sealed together.

One ward reaching out and making a family for the new converts

And now one District growing strong and becoming a mighty Stake in Zion.

This stake is now the direction and protection for the saints in Casa Grande.

It is a haven for those that want to live the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

True happiness comes from following Christ’s example.

And we can each develop Christlike attributes one at a time…

Such as obedience, honesty, charity and forgiveness.

I love the 13th article of Faith...

We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous and in doing good to all men. Indeed we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul. We believe all things. We hope all things.  We have endured many things and hope to be able to endure all things.  If there is anything virtuous, lovely or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.

Elder Nash and the Zone Leaders

Elder Nash's assignment has come to an end.  

He is leaving the Country shortly

after serving as the Area President for four years.

And here he is on one of his last weekends taking time to teach 

some of our Zone Leaders.

             

They will remember this for a long time.

We appreciate Elder Nash and his family for their great 

service here in Peru.

Guest Post: Elder Scott Daniel McGrath

Our Incan Quest through the Ancient aqueduct ruins of Cumbe Mayo

by
Elder S.D. McGrath

A beautiful view of Cajamarca 

While we were in Cajamarca to have our last testimony meeting with the Elders who will be going to the new Peru Chiclayo Mission, we had to show President Turk some of the magnificent sights of Cajamarca. We headed out from the hotel at 7:00am in the red, 4x4, all terrain, hefty duty, elite, Chrysler  Town and Country minivan and started our trek up the steep, windy, dangerous, adventurous, rocky, green,  beautiful, very steep mountains heading for Cumbe Mayo. When we arrived to our destination we started our hike down into the stone forest. Cumbe Mayo is internationally known for its volcanic rock formations and Pre-Incan “aqueduct” (Thought to be constructed around 1500 BC and thought to be the oldest existing man-mad structure in South America) "Wikipedia pg 315”  Many of the rock formations are covered in ancient petroglyphs or inscriptions which were carefully engraved into the surfaces. Throughout our journey we scaled the rock forest, army crawled deep, dark tunnels and traversed many rivers and primordial bridges. We saw many beautiful sights along the way filled with ancient meanings and beliefs. It was a great experience getting to know a little bit more about this wonderful country where we are currently serving - Peru.

Elder Scott D. McGrath 

Great Elders Coming Your Way Chiclayo!

This is the last bunch to leave us to go to the Chiclayo Mission.

Thank goodness because I am dehydrated from the tears.

They are going to be fine.  They are ready and they 

are excited to work hard for President Risso.

The new president in Chilcayo is from Uruguary

and served as a counselor to my brother-in -law, Fred Ashby

when he served as the Mission President in Montivideo.

Fred also baptized his wife when he was serving in 

Uruguay in his youth about 35 years ago.

 

Elder McGrath is going into the new mission as the Assistant

We have loved having him here in our office for the last month.

He is full of life and can motivate and lift the other missionaries.

President calls him "a man of action"

He is a great missionary and loves people.

 This is our dear Elder Monzon who served with us in the office

as the secretario de suministros.

He has been serving as district leader in Casa Grande recently

and has been an inspiration to those he served.

He has child like faith that can move mountains.

We are inspired by him and his pure love.

Elder Almanza is heading to chiclayo as the Secretary of Records.

He has a great sense of humor and can do all kinds of funny voices.

Hi is excited for the new mission and the experiences it will bring.

He is a very hard worker.  He is always the last one working

They will love him in the new mission.

 Elder Burymiski has already made a huge difference in Guadalupe.

The Local Leaders have called President Turk to see if there are more

missionaries like Elder Burymski, but no, He is one of a kind.

His positive attitude lifts those around him.

He will make a great leader in the Chiclayo Mission.

 Elder Mendoza came to us from Lima not too long ago.

He began his mission in Guadalupe and has been an effective missionary there.

He works hard and wants to be a great Elder.

We can see his diligence and testimony growing every day.

 Elder Gomez is the outstanding District leader of this Group.

He has been in the mission the same time as us.

He has overcome the small trials that can get you down in the mission

to become a great help to those in need.

He has a powerful testimony of the Atonement of Jesus Christ

We will never forget him! 

 Elder Vilca is leaving us with several in his arriving group.

He is one of our steady warriors.

He puts the needs of others first and seeks for unity.

His humility will help him for the rest of his life.

He wants to do what is right.

He will become a huge asset to President Risso.

 Elder Casupa is from Bolivia and played professional soccer.

Futbol was his love and almost kept him from coming on a mission.

Thank goodness he his here.  He is driven to be great.

His competitive nature pushes him to new heights.

He wants to be a bird that flies... no walking for him!

We will miss him!

Elder Chuiz is loved by the missionaries.

He is here for the right reason.  He has a deep testimony.

He loves the Lord and we know that he will serve

with all his heart, might, mind and strength.

I can't believe that these great ones are leaving us.

They might Physically be in the Chiclayo Mission

But they will always be OUR missionaries!

Our Prayers and Hearts go with them...

Please take care of each other.

WE LOVE YOU ALWAYS AND FOREVER!

Here is their goodbye video!

Guadalupe Goodbyes!

We drove to Pacasmayo/Guadalupe today 

to say goodbye to some more of our Elders

When we got there Elder Nichols was complaining that his neck hurt

I wonder why?

 The Assistants are working like crazy.

but They just can't keep up with us.

Terry and I are running circles around them... ha ha

When we arrived we found these gentlemen waiting for us.

These are the six Elders from Guadalupe that will be leaving us.

We also had the three from the office that will be going too.

 So nine more in this group.

It was brutal.  I cried again like a baby

 These are the cool seahorses near the plaza in Pacasmayo.
Elder McGrath told me that they shoot water out of their mouths into the
fountain in the middle.  I have never seen them do that.
I hope they really do because that would be beautiful.
Can anyone tell me if this is true?
Elder McGrath can sometimes kid with me.

There is a beautiful beach here in Pacasmayo too.

Here are the nine.  I am going to write about them tomorrow.

We gave them their ties.

They are really ready to go 

and serve where the Lord wants them to go.

Chiclayo here they come.

They will always have a place in my heart, my home and my family.

They are Precious to me.

Until...

"Elder McGrath please don't do that."

He can take two steps and jump over 

Elder Burymski in one hop.

I love you Elder McGrath.