Happy Birthday Duncan * Barrio Central

Duncan had his 1st Birthday on the 10th!

Happy Birthday!

We Love You Dunkaro!

Duncan was born 6 months after we came to Peru.  It makes me sad to think that we've missed his first year, but so happy for electronics and pictures and to know that we'll be home soon. 

This picture was taken when he was 6 months old. 

Barrio Central

We went to the Central ward for our meetings today.  There are a lot of members we know in this ward.  

It's always fun to see the young missionaries when we visit the wards.  Elder Turner was there with his new companion Elder Garrison.   I didn't get their picture, they were busy helping and I just didn't get it.  

Sister Mujica from Magdelena del Mar in Lima and Sister Queiroz is a new missionary from Brazil, she's only been here 5 days.

The power was out all over Trujillo, so the microphone wasn't working and the fans weren't running to keep us cool, but it was a good meeting.  Cynthia Garcia spoke, I'm not sure what she said but I did understand some words, and it felt good.  

 This week has been a fun time for the youth of the church.  The church sponsors  FSY  which is like EFY in the states.  They have speakers, activities and workshops for the youth all week.  It's a fun time for them and it's well attended.  this years theme was Pride

We had a wonderful day!  We are so blessed to be here in Trujillo.  We will miss it someday and wish we could come back.  It would just be nice to be in two places at the same time, home with our loved ones and friends and here with those we love and our friends.  

These blog posts will be made into a book some day, then we can be in two places at once.

Christmas Cards In February * Happy Birthday Addilyn

Christmas Cards!!

I guess it was a good thing we still have our Christmas/Valentines tree up.  today we got mail and there were some Christmas Cards.  So fun to get mail!   

Don Bosco Pictures

This pictures hangs above our bed.  It's carved so it is 3 dimensional.

We have a very neat carved pictures above our bed which was made by an artisan for Don Bosco, in Lima.  When we first arrived here,  there were two big screws on the wall above our bed where a picture once hung.  All of the missionary apartments were missing the picture above the bed.   When we inquired about what hung there, we were told that the General Authorities took the pictures home as a souvenir when they came to the temple dedication, but they had ordered new ones and were waiting for them to arrive.  It took almost a year for the pictures to be replaced.  We loved the picture so much, we wanted to have one to take home with us as we complete our mission.  Bill and Sandy Hartman and Jim and Patti Fackrell also wanted one.  We were told the picture cost about 400 soles, which is a little more than $100.00.  We all decided to get a picture.  Come to find out the pictures were 400 dollars not soles which was a bit much.  So we forgot about taking one home.  

When we were in the mall yesterday, we walked past a store that had a Don Bosco sign.  Wayne and  I went in to investigate.  They had beautiful furniture that was made beautifully, but we were interested in finding a picture.  They didn't have one like hangs above our bed, but we liked this one that was carved out along the top, so we got it for us, it cost 630 soles.  There weren't any other good big pictures.  We wanted to get one for the Hartmans and the Fackrells.  They had a small set of 4 pictures that we liked,  so we decided to get those, they were 70 soles per picture or 280 for the set.  Wayne had the salesman get some more little ones from Lima so we could have a set for Bill and Sandy and a set for Jim and Patti. We want to have them when we go home while the temple is closed in a few weeks.  The salesman told us they would have the small sets in a few days.  

UPDATE:  We went back to get the little sets and were so excited to get enough to take home March 3rd.  There were a few extra so we will have a few for us.  Can hardly wait to share them with the Hartmans and Fackrells.

* * * * * * * *

Today is Addilyn"s 4th Birthday

Happy Birthday Addilyn!

We Love You!

Ground Hog Day * Singing In the Rain * Happy Birthday Shanna * California

Since we arrived here in Trujillo, Wayne and I have joked about everyday is like Ground Hog Day.  The weather is pretty much always the same and the temple work is always the same.  There isn't much difference from one day to another, much like the show Ground Hog Day.

When Wayne looked out the window at 11:11 pm on February 1st, it was RAINING!  It rained for almost an hour which made it just in time for Ground Hog Day!

We got so excited, we hurried and ran outside to sing and dance in the rain.  

We walked, sang, and laughed and enjoyed the rain shower!

Wayne stood where a rain gutter should be, under our balcony,  because the water puddles and he jumped and splashed in the puddles.  

Splashing in the puddle

I think he enjoyed it!

The thing that's funny about this is the last time it really rained was exactly a year ago, 

on Ground Hog Day!

These snails are everywhere.  They enjoyed the rain too.

* * * * *

The 4th was Shanna's Birthday 

Happy Birthday Shanna!

We Love You!

* * * * * *

We went to the California ward today and enjoyed the testimonies of the people in that ward.  When Wayne asked me what the lesson was about in Relief Society, I couldn't tell him because the lesson wasn't out of a manual one I could follow along with.  He said the High Priests talked about a Valentines party and they made all the planned for it for their lesson.  It was nice to be there though and enjoy the spirit of the wonderful members of this ward.  

We love being here and we love the many wonderful people we've grown to love. 

Brother Azbache Laid to Rest

Brother Azabache Laid to Rest

This morning Wayne and I went to Parque Eterno, the cemetery next to the temple.  It is a very well kept and beautiful spot for a friend Brother Azabache to be laid to rest.

We waited there for the funeral procession to arrive from the chapel in Salaverry.

The place for the burial was back in the far North West area of the cemetery through the big cement  arch gateway.  There was a big group of friends and members of the church there waiting.  

The funeral procession arrived and drove up to the area where the big cement gateway is.  Several people were waiting there to walk to the burial spot behind the casket.  Sister Alva was one of them.  The pallbearers carried the casket on their shoulders.  Brother Azabache's three daughters walked along the side holding wide gold ribbons that were attached to the casket.  It was pretty neat. 

As they walked to the burial spot, the congregation started singing I Know That My Redeemer Lives.  It was very touching. 

Both of Brother Azabache's sons spoke.  George, the oldest, he spoke first then his son who is the Bishop of the Mansarrat ward spoke.   

The congregation then sang several more Hymns as the cemetery workers did their job.  

They  lowered the casket into the ground, made a cement paste to seal it, then they used shovels to fill in the grave with dirt.   John Paul, the oldest grandson was the first on to take the shovel from the worker and helped.  I think it was a way to honor his grandpa.  Several others joined until the grave was filled in.  

It didn't take long before the grave was filled in and covered with grass.  The head stone and flowers on top.  

Wayne with the grandsons including John Paul and John Pier.

Brother Azabache was a wonderful man.  We will always remember him as our friend from the temple, always happy, and willing to serve.  It is only fitting for him to be buried next to the beautiful Trujillo Temple, a sacred place he loved.

Brother Azabache

This morning at Stake Conference, we sat by Brother Pretel,.  He was the Esperanza Stake President before President Bravo.  He is one of the coordinators for the men in the temple. During the meeting, Brother Pretel tapped Wayne on the leg and handed him his cell phone.  This picture was on it.  Someone had sent him a message to let him know Brother Azabache passed away this morning.  

We love Brother and Sister Azabache!  They are wonderful members of the church.  When we first met them at the temple, they came through the temple doors with happy faces saying Buenos Dias!  So happy to be there and to see us. 

We last saw Brother ans Sister Azabache at the Laureles Stake Conference 3 weeks ago.   

Tonight we went to a devotional for him at the Salaverry chapel.  It was kind of like a funeral, they called it a devotional.  There were a lot of people there to show their love and support for the family.  All 5 of their children were there.  The oldest son was a here from Boca Raton Florida, their twin daughters who live in Salaverry, their daughter Patti, was here from Argentina, and their youngest son who is the Bishop of the Monsarrat ward here in Trujillo. The family have all been together for about a week so they had some time together.

I was impressed with the many friends that were there.  The chapel was full, they had chairs out in the entrance and down the halls.  Several people were standing looking in the windows to be a part of the devotion for Brother Azabache, a wonderful man!

John Paul and John Pier Brothers and Grandsons of Brother Azabache
This picture was taken 3 weeks ago.

On Tuesday Brother Azabache will be buried at Parque Eterno Cemetary, next to the temple.  We will be there to show our love and support for this great family!

Frozen Fog * Nachos * La Esperanza Stake Conference

Beautiful!

Brady sent this picture of the frozen fog on the trees.  I love the trees when they look like this. 

Saturday morning we opened the temple at 6:45.  It was fun to see the Saturday morning temple workers.  None of the temple missionaries work the Saturday morning shift.  We go early to open the temple up, then at 8:30 am we go home and have the morning to ourselves.  We go back at about 1:30 pm for the afternoon shift.  

The temple missionaries have also been helping Saturday mornings with the laundry from the Alberge. There get to be a lot of sheets and towels when a lot of people stay here.  We iron the flat sheets and pillow cases and we fold the towels.  Saturday was my turn so I did that from 10:00 am until about 11:00 am.  

Saturday afternoon when we went to eat lunch in at the comedor, the line was very long, so we walked to Chili's for lunch.  I had the Saturday special, Grilled Chicken Salad and Wayne had Nachos.  It was nice.

Wayne loves Nachos and has wanted some for a year and a half.  They were good!

La Esperanza Stake Conference

This morning we went to the La Esperanza Stake Conference with President and Sister Casos.  It was a wonderful meeting!  There were a lot of people we see in the temple and a lot of temple workers in this stake.  It is always so fun to see them.  We are always received with hugs and warm greeting.

  

The members

President and Sister Casos with president and Sister Marble
Sister Leon is there in the middle.

Brother Ponciano led the choir and they were great.

President Bravo, the Stake president, not a very good picture either

Sister Carre with her daughters.  Her oldest daughter Ashley is on a mission

These pictures I took on the way home from the conference.

We see these snow cone places wherever we go.  Inside the rainbow colored cooler they have ground up ice.  They put it in a cup like a snow cone and put fruit flavoring over the top of it.  they look refreshing, but we've never tired one.

Another Sunday finished.  Tomorrow starts a new week! 

 According to Wayne we only have 23 left.

Oh MY!