And the work continues! This week was a busy week of meeting with our new friends. It’s amazing to see someone join the Church and watch their life change. Most people here are Catholic, but that is mostly due to tradition. There are Catholic churches here and there, but not enough to accommodate for as many as say they are Catholic. As we walk through the neighborhoods, you see small community churches that are not of the Catholic kind. Occasionally, they are having their meetings as we walk by. We have never seen one with more than 20 or so people. To most people, belonging to a church means to attend once in a while when there is nothing else to do or on special occasions. One of our challenges is to help new members realize (they have been taught this by the missionaries all along but need reinforcement) that continuing on the covenant path is the way to endure to the end. Becoming a part of the Church and not just a passenger, stepping on and off the bus as they feel. It’s rewarding work to see new members accept callings and attend the Temple and even share the message with their friends and family.
This week was transfers. We only had 2 Hermanas leave, and we received 3 new missionaries, all Elders. One is from Utah. He was born there, but his parents were born and married here in Peru. He has family in the next mission over. He grew up speaking Spanish and English. As it turns out he lives about a 10-minute walk from one of the new training missionaries. But those 2 missionaries are not companions. It would have been 12 weeks of “Do you know…?” Small transfers seem to go smoothly. Just fewer boxes to tick, and we help make sure the missionaries have everything they need as they leave for their first area.
House inspections continue. We find that the success rate is getting better. Maybe because the missionaries know that they really are happening. Since we have access to a car, doing the inspections on a regular schedule is much more plausible. I’m not sure the candy bars offer much of a motivation for a job well done, however, it is fun to give them out.
This week, during inspections, we also delivered some supplies to some nearby Hermanas. When we got ahold of them, they sent us a location to meet them. As we drove up to the location, they were sitting out in front of a little store and teaching a young man who was in his early 20s. We waited in the car for a while until it looked like they were winding down. I went over to say hi to them and introduce myself to the young man. As I did, I asked him when his Baptismal date is set for. I like to do that for 2 reasons: it’s fun to see the expressions from the friend and from the missionaries. If they haven’t talked about baptism yet, the missionaries quickly give their friend cover by saying something like, Give him a break; we just started teaching him, or he needs to come to church first. The other reason I do it is to plant the idea in the friend's head. Let them know that they are invited to join us by making this special covenant.
When I finished asking the question and the Hermanas covered for him, the Hermanas started talking to the store owner (a member of the church). As they were talking, the young man asked me whom he needed to talk to to get baptized. I told him the hermanas could help him with that. I then asked him if he believes what the Hermanas have been teaching him. He said yes. I asked him how he felt about Joseph Smith. He said he believed he saw God and Jesus and believes he was a Prophet. I asked him if he has been to church, and he said yes, and then I asked how many times. He said 6 or 7. I turned to the missionaries and asked them what they were waiting for. They were only on the 3rd lesson with him. To make a long story short, I went back to the car, and the Hermanas finished their discussion with him. When they got to the car, they said they set a Baptismal date for early next month. I guess sometimes you just need to ask. Stay tuned… There is more to the story.
We have now been here for more than 8 months. Two months before we got here, our bishop was released. We still do not have a Bishop. What we do have is a wonderful Stake Presendency member that presides in our Ward (not resides). He attends every Sunday and extends callings and presides over the ordinances. And we have wonderful members who step up and do their best to make the Ward function. We need a Bishop, but it is a testament to me to see our faithful Ward members watch over each other and try to fill that void.
So the work (fun) goes on! We enjoy it. We are constantly being reminded of the hand of the Lord in our lives and are more grateful for it now than ever.
Until next time,
Your friends,
Hermana Y Elder Borup
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