The best part of Christmas was being able to talk to many members of my family (I feel sad that I wasn`t able to talk with David, Jenn, Lily, Julian, Emerson, Lisa and Matt, and Bequis) and to find out how they are doing. On the 24th, we had a nice Christmas turkey dinner with the Balbodilla family. We noticed several dolls here in Peru, with some rather entertaining names...(“Intelligent Baby” or “Baby Thirsty” are some of my favorites).
This weekend was special as our friends Truario and Consuelo were baptized. This couple has faithfully attended church and paid their tithing for 6 months, but were waiting for their papers to arrive in order to get married. We stopped by before Christmas to see how they were doing and they told us that the papers had arrived and they had eloped! They didn`t even tell their children! Since nothing was stopping them, they decided to be baptized the day after Christmas. They are already preparing for the temple, in one year from now. If I am in the area, and if I am invited, I will be able to attend their sealing in 2010. There was such a special spirit in the room when they were baptized and confirmed. They join their children, who were already baptized. So special.
The only words I can use to describe this Sunday is “The Muppet Show.” It was a happy Sunday, and many of our investigators attended church. Here are some highlights:
1. Since church is between 11-2, we suggested to Ursula and her children (the little terrors) that they could bring some snacks to eat in between meetings. We wanted to burst out laughing when we saw the little year old boy, Amado, struggling to carry a bulging sack (a full out dinner with rice, eggs, bananas, and drinks) of their food. They arrived early to church and were in the main hallway, eating their picnic and drinking their manzanilla.
2. Our investigator Pablo came to church again. He arrived before we did, and was afraid, because he didn`t know anyone there. He ran away in tears. Some gracious members from the other ward ran after him and plead with him to come back. He came back and wanted to share his testimony (we told him to wait one week). I didn`t know that Pablo was a little tipsy until some more experienced missionaries told me. He was so excited to come, that even if I had known, I probably would have allowed him to come, too. I now know to do the “breath test.”
3. At the Ward Christmas party, Hna. Flores and I have to leave before the program is over, because we have to be back in our apartments before 9. Sis. Rojas ushers us into the kitchen to eat some paneton (fruitcake) and hot chocolate before we leave and leaves the room. We are in the kitchen, eating quickly (stuffing our faces), when a little girl, Daisy, opens the door and shouts, “Hermanas!!! Las chape!” (Hermanas! I caught you!). We stop and look at her, paralyzed (deer in the headlights). We had to chase after her and explain that we had asked for permission. We recommended to the Bishop that she have a calling as the Serenazgo (security) for the next ward function.
That's all for this week! Just be obedient. It makes life so much simpler for everyone. :)
Hna. Christensen
