Peru does chicken right. we share a whole chicken for under $20

I’m not sure where to start. This week (ending 2-23-25) was maybe one of the busiest and best weeks of our mission. As far as we are concerned a good week needs to start with a trip to the beach. I have mentioned Playa Bahia Blanca before. It is less than an hour away and seems to be fairly undiscovered. We found out one of the reasons why. One of our friends told us that the neighborhood around the beach could be a little dangerous. It’s kind of crazy to think about, but it’s a relatively new area of Lima with mostly unfinished houses that are being finished. As far as we are concerned, property values would be in the millions if it were the United States. The weather is mild year-round, and you have a view of the ocean from almost everywhere. This is probably the time of year when the beach would be the busiest, yet it doesn’t feel busy at all. We had a great time and we’ll be back.


I want to say something about the dangerous neighborhood. We have found that areas that local people consider dangerous don’t feel too dangerous to us (I hope I’m not jinxing us). Generally, people here seem to be cautious by nature. They are also very good hosts who want to make sure our experience here is safe and peaceful. We have never felt at risk or in danger. We have been in some areas that feel a little less safe than other areas, but everyone seems to be very friendly and watchful of us. If we have a phone out while riding on a bus, a friendly passenger would warn us that it could get stolen. If we are walking on a street and a zipper on our backpack is not all the way closed, someone would stop us and let us know. We feel like everywhere we go we have guardians watching over us and most of them are on this side of the veil. That being said, we know when you live in a big city there can be bad players, but the good players out number the bad by a long ways!


The mission highlights for the week were meeting with new members and reminding them of what a great blessing it is to be a member of the house of Isreal and be able to continue to make covenants for the rest of our lives. Every time we testify of this great blessing we are grateful for the Spirit that confirms that truth to us and our friends. We were able to have a Family Home Evening with 2 recent converts who are brother and sister. They were baptized on the same day about 2 weeks ago. They are already planning on going to the Temple. The sister is 18, and the brother is 13. They are a great support to each other. Another young man we met for the first time this week is 29 and was looking for peace and answers in his life. He saw an ad and referred himself. He’s a young professional and will be a wonderful addition to his Ward.


This week, we got together with one of the missionaries that we served with in the Dominican Republic. At the end of her mission, she developed a very severe cornea infection that required her to extend her time in the DR. It just “so happened” that one of the best eye doctors in the world for her particular infection lived in the Dominican Republic at the time. Now here we are 8 years later and she’s married and has 2 adorable little children. She needs to have a cornea implant this summer. But she didn’t lose her vision or her eye. Anyway, it was a great joy to catch up with her. Her husband works building and repairing boats, and they are active in the Church. What a great joy to visit with them! 


This week after church, 3 young men were given the Aaronic Priesthood. One is 15, one is 17, and one is 18. They weren’t friends before they joined the church, but they are now. The highlight was that after the 18-year-old was ordained and the amen was said, he clapped! Just one clap. You could tell it was a clap of joy. It felt so right. Mosiah 18.


The Big event of the week was the Tabernacle Choir Concert. If that’s not big enough, Israel and Melisa Gonzales came at the last minute for the concert. Melisa (Ransom) grew up across the street from us and married Israel, who grew up in Lima. Israel was never able to come to our part of town (too dangerous). He was a member of the Choir for 5 years and now is the director of Luz de Las Naciones. The church's program celebrates Latin cultures. Walking around with him was like walking around with a rock star. Besides knowing everyone because he grew up here, many people recognized him from the Luz de Las Naciones programs. Between his fame and Melisa’s high energy, we had a blast showing them around our mission and them giving us better than VIP tickets to the concert. We sat 3 rows in front of Elder Soares. 


The program was amazing. There were 35,000-50,000 people there. Almost all of them were members of the church. One of the performers from Ecuador sang “I am a Child of God”. All 50,000 sang along with him. It was the highlight. To be honest, I was not looking forward to going at all. It sounded awful sitting there in the heat with 50,000 people waiting for a concert of music that isn’t really my favorite (Can a missionary say that about the Tabernacle Choir?) However, It was FANTASTIC. The music was a perfect mix of local artists and Choir favorites (many sung in Spanish) and even a little gentle preaching. The event was amazing. We are grateful we were here for it. 


The week goes on, but I’m done writing! This really was a highlight week of our mission. We are going to work hard to top it in the coming weeks. We hope you all had a highlight week as well! 


Until next week,

Your friends,


Hermana Y Elder Borup



I told you they know people

After the concert we looked for our friend Marcia. We didn't find her but the Manly's did.

Missionaries everywhere

With the celebrities before the concert

the Chior

Another friend and Choir member from our Ward, Becky Willard

Sitting 3 rows in front of Elder Soares. 

The celebrities were interviewed and photographed 

Israel in the distribution center with him directing Luz de Las Naciones playing on the TV



Visitors from another mission

Waiting for the action to start

Capybarras are not this cute in real life.

The National Stadium filling up

First time for the Peruano on the Metropalitano


On the Temple grounds in front of the Peru flag

This is how we get around

Los Olivos Temple

The best way to see Independencia, The Moto Taxi

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