Welcome to our Meeting.

These are very cute greeters.

This is the meeting when the Trainers come to pick up their New Ones.

This is Elder Davila and Elder Escobar

some of the Office Elders

that we couldn't live without.

Okay here we go...  these are the nine new ones that arrived yesterday.

This is our new Elder Palma from Ecuador.

He is being trained by Elder Espinal

and they will be in Esperanza.

Elder Acuña from Lima is being trained by 

Elder Hoyos and they will serve in the East Zone.

Elder Cardenas from Peru

is being trained by Elder Román

and they will be in Virú.

Elder Cañarte from Ecuador

is being trained by Elder Calisaya 

and they will also be in Virú.

This is Elder Patiño from Paraguay

and he is being trained by Elder Cornejo

and they are in Chimbote Sur.

Elder Tello is from Iquitos, Peru

and so is his trainer Elder Morales.

They are from the same Stake.

They will be in Chimbote Sur too.

Elder Colonio from Peru

will be trained by Elder Leon

and they will be serving in Casma.

Elder Castillo from Chiclayo

is being trained by Elder Dickerson

and they are in Huaraz.

Elder Cruz is from Cusco... 

(he had an older sister serve in this mission with us too. 

Thank you Hermana Cruz for blazing the way)

He is being trained by Elder Arriola

and they are with Mama Yuyu in Yungay... Huaraz.

We feel blessed as always to have these sweet missionaries

come with great attitudes and strong spirits

ready to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ 

with their Brothers and Sisters on the earth.

This is what earth life is all about!

BURST OF EXCITEMENT!

I AM SO EXCITED I CAN'T STAND IT!

IT'S THE BIG ...

ONLY

MORE DAYS

UNTIL

FIVE OF THESE BEAUTIES...

ARRIVE IN TRUJILLO!

Really...  I can't breathe.

It feels like Christmas when I was a little girl.

Sometimes you just need your sisters!

Favorite Days... New Arrivals!

This has been a day of more emotions.

We had lunch with Elder Arthur and his parents 

and Elder Andersen and his family.

They are now heading out of Trujillo.

So we said our goodbyes.

I am tired of Goodbyes.

There is really nothing good in good bye

I am just going to say Bye Bye

Not Good!

Hermana Bigler and Her mom are in Huaraz today

and they will be back with us on Friday.

BUT LOOK

Nine new ones came in on the late afternoon flight.

We didn't go to the Temple grounds because it was raining.

It never rains here.

So we will do it in the morning.

They went and ate Pizza with the office Elders and then

all of them were paired up with some seasoned Elders

and they went out on teaching appointments.

We will have orientation and training tomorrow

and then I will post their trainers and areas 

and introduce you to each one.

Let the New Ones Fly!

How Can I Be....

Goodbye My Beautiful Missionaries...

Keep the Commandments...

In this there is safety and peace!


I think this is the first time I have made the video
in English.  Enjoy!

Some Great Ones... Leaving

What a Beautiful Day.

This is the group of those leaving us today.

I'm not ready for this!

Elder Arthur's parents made it in this morning and we were so happy

 that they were here for the day's festivities along with 

the Andersens and Sister Bigler.

President Turk interviewed the missionaries in the morning.

They finished their packing and last minute errands.

Then it was off to the mission home for Lunch by Lucy and Ali.

It was delicious.

Elder Andersen called in his favorite lunch order.

We ate Lomo Saltado with all the great sides that come with it.  

And of course he wanted Apple Crisp for dessert.

It was perfect.

We then had testimonies from each of those leaving.

It was very tender.

I love these missionaries so much.

My heart keeps growing and growing.

I know that it is several sizes too big and I love it!

We watched the Goodbye Video

and then

We loaded the big blue bus.

We were running a teensy bit behind.

Our missionaries had to throw open their suitcases

and let the inspectors rummage through quickly so that they

could get them on the plane...

It was a little hectic.

Sorry moms if their stuff comes home in big disarray.

The sweetest was watching our office Elders give them the

"Hurrah for Israel" hand pump

through the glass.

I decided to include this picture with my mouth wide open

because I am sure that this is how they will remember me.

It never seems to shut.

But I would rather have them remember me with a smile

than my tears and believe me, there were some goodbye tears.

I love you all forever and ever.

Thank you for your Dedication, Testimonies and Love.

Make the rest of your lives as great as your mission.

COME WHAT MAY AND LOVE IT!

Look who's Here!

There was no time to wait for luggage...

Moms came running

Sister Andersen left her family in the dust

and look at this sweet reunion.

And Sister Bigler reunited with her daughter

Hermana Bigler.

Hermana Bigler is our first missionary that we have had from start to finish.

The Andersens made is all the way from Brigham City, Utah

Elder Andersen's brother Mitchell is an unbelievable violinist.

He gave us a private concert.

Fantastic.

This is an exciting time

So many emotions...

The missionaries are on a roller coaster

and it's fun that the parents are here for the ride.

Elder Arthur's parents are here too.

I will post about all of them later today when we are all together.

For Your Information.... FYI

Important Little News Flash:

Clinique Makeup has arrived in 

Trujillo Peru!

This makeup counter is found in the department store

called Ripley.  Ripley already has many makeup specialties but

now with Clinique...

...I am completely severed from the States

for all my needs.  (okay... my wants)

I will Survive.... Beautifully!

AWESOME!

The Paparazzi...

Look, the paparazzi were out today for something very special.

You guessed it.... Baptisms!

Every time there is a baptism... 

there is the potential for hundreds of lives to be changed.

...those in the family line that have gone before and those 

that will come after...

and all the people that they will affect for good.

Then missions that family members will serve...

and all their converts...

 and the chain goes on and on.

This is a decision that will effect many for eternity.

Congratulations to

Elders Lorenzo, Espinoza, Randall and Frietz

and special congratulations to those 

that were baptized and their families

Samuel Isaac Andersen... Guest Blogger

** A little note from me first...
Elder Andersen is going home.  He has had a unique mission serving closely with us in the office for about 15 months in different capacities and at different times.  He is talented beyond his years and has served effectively and obediently his whole mission.  His life has been changed physically as well as spiritually.  He went from a young boy to a mighty man of God.  Thank you Elder Andersen.  We will love you forever!   Hermana Turk


Now... Elder Andersen's post

When a new missionary arrives here he feels…

Scared

Lost

Alone

Useless

Nervous

Confused

Excited

Homesick

 

That was two years ago.  I remember how hard it was.  

Being a missionary is not easy.  It is hard work, and it should be. 

Mom´s: Please don´t cry for us, we are having the best experiences of our lives… better yet, share your testimonies with us.  That is what we need.  Our emails might not always show it, but we love what we are doing and what we are learning.

My family is on a plane right now coming to get me 

and take me home,

I feel…

Scared

Lost

Nervous

Excited

...FULL CIRCLE

   I have so many mixed feelings… 

It is like trying to choose between Perú and Utah.  

I love them both.

It has been so amazing to serve.  

The mission has changed my life forever.  

I shall always speak of it with sacred tones.  

The world is a big place, 

but I know that what I have done here has made a difference. 

 If you are trying to decide whether or not to serve a mission… 

DO IT!  

If not you will lose the opportunity to 

bless the lives of hundreds of people, 

and you will lose the millions of blessings 

that you can earn through 

completing this sacred priesthood obligation.  

Worthily serving a mission, 
is the best decision I have ever made. 

... Elder Andersen

The Scout Motto.... Be Prepared!

President Turk was in Chocope with 

Elder Zarian and Elder Velastagui.

They had some great teaching experiences.

When they were finished President Turk

was pushed for time and had a little bit of a drive to get 

back to meetings with Stake Presidents in Trujillo.

So he hugged his Elders and turned around to hop in the car

...and saw that he had a flat tire.

He put the Assistants right on it.. they opened up the back to 

get out the jack and the spare

And they found the spare but no jack.

President tore apart the car baffled by the disappearance.

He knew that it was in the car at one time... He had seen it.

But today it was not there.

Let me just tell you that this does not sit well with President Turk.

He is the most prepared scout I have ever known.

Sometimes I just test him to see how prepared he is...

For instance.

We can be out to dinner and I can say

I wish I had some minty flavored dental floss right now

and "Voila"

He can pull it out of one of his pockets.

Everybody knows that President Turk is prepared for everything.

He is a Silver Beaver after all.

So now they were scrambling to find a jack.

Then a nice man offered to help them.

He was kind and they had a great conversation

with him while they changed the tire.

And you can guess the rest of the story...

He wants the missionaries to come and teach him

about the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

The Lord works in mysterious ways

and these stories happen by the dozens every day.

This will be a great conversion story 

for the good samaritan to tell his grandchildren.

(cross your fingers and say a little prayer)

Soccer for the Soul...

These are our hard working Zone Leaders

that got to pick out of Sister Turk's prize bag today.

Congratulations Elders for reaching your goals.

These are the hard working office Elders that

can all fit on the new couch in my living room.

I need to do a post on these couches... Funny story.

I will do it soon.

Elder Prebe from California is the only

new Zone Leader this month.

He is taking the place of Elder Wright who has been called 

as President Turk's new assistant.

Elder Prebe is a volleyball star.

Welcome Elder Prebe!

After a full day in training...

the Zone Leaders were able to release some tension

and run.  We have soccer games every third concilio.

We alternate with a service project, soccer and then a free one.

As I was trying to take an artistic photo...

of some of the name tags hanging on the netting...

A ball came right at me and my finger snapped this photo in fear.

What a great shot.  Now that is artistic.

See what a little soccer can do for the soul....

Such Happiness!

And they are off...

Back out working hard.

They are the Best...

We Love Our Zone Leaders!

No Backaches Here!

Today in our Zone Leader Council

President Turk took a moment to teach all the Zone Leaders

how to strengthen their backs and how to stretch and 

release tension that can tighten up those muscles in the low back.

It really looked funny but...

President does 5 or 6 exercises every morning and...

he swears by them.

He doesn't have back pain any more since he started these stretches.

The Zone Leaders will be able to teach them to their District Leaders

and they in turn can teach them to any of the missionaries 

in their Districts that complain of back pain.

No time for pain here....  Goodbye Backache.

Thank you President Turk!