When things start to come to life, they usually continue without you knowing it. Such was the case this past 7 days. Our second week in the MTC was focused on Temple training. We reviewed the inner workings of the Temple, its function, purpose and use in our lives. Elder Melvin Hammond and his wife Bonnie met us on Monday in the Provo Temple. Our group included couples from the Western US assigned to serve in London, Johannesburg SA, Cebu Philippines, Washington DC, Helsinki Finland, Recife Brazil, and Lima Peru.
We heard messages from people who serve in the Provo Temple. The laundry manager, engineer, recorder, president and others welcomed and taught us. It takes lots of behind the scenes support to get anything completed. This is especially true in Temples. Generally, we don't consider others' involvement in our personal accomplishments. Can you imagine doing 7,000 lbs of laundry every single day? Cleanliness is really next to Godliness. We were trained to know what happens in case of emergencies, be they medical or mechanical. Who does what and what don't you do?
We participated as patrons in sacred ordinances, enjoyed great meals and discussed many things pertaining to Temples. While we've been generally familiar with such things in the past, we're now intimately familiar. We'll be doing much more for ourselves. Those we greet and help each day in the Temple are there for their own reasons and we want them to feel welcomed. We want them to leave with good feelings and correct understanding. Temples help members be better people. Temples bring us closer to our own potential as humans. They lift us out of temporary thinking and propel us to find deeper meaning to our existence.
By late last Monday it became very clear we were finally going to be leaving behind our family, home and friends. We'd be leaving the familiar, the predictable and all things we know to enter a bigger world where things can be unfamiliar, unpredictable, uncomfortable and unforgiving. We'd be more aware of who we are and where we are.... constantly. Our needs would become secondary. Our comfort range will be broadened and our awareness of others' needs will be expanded.
The sorting of what to pack or not became a constant. We had moved 13,600 lbs from AZ to Utah one year ago. Now we leave 13,400 lbs of that behind. The big question is - Which 200 lbs gets us through these next two years? An extra large 66 inch suitcase bought at T J Maxx proved wrong when I discovered the baggage restrictions to be 62 inches (tall, wide and deep) maximum. (Add one more trip back) Weight limits on airline bags are 50 lbs each ...... hello! I down to real time when you rethink needs and wants. By Wednesday I'm down to getting very real and start packing. Thursday completed the training, packing had to be wrapped up. No more time to ponder. Friday morning at 6:00 am was lock and leave time.
After calling each of our children, saying personal goodbyes to those close by, kissing the little ones once more, we tried to get some sleep by sometime late Thursday. No more cooking, eating was thanks to local eateries or compassionate family. Starting about 7:00 Thursday night, I loaded the first bags into the SUV as they were packed. Now it's tag those new bags, check for essential papers, passport, money (USD and PEN), airline tickets, more....! Check the home security system, utility controls, car keys, get some sleep, the clock is ticking..!
Somewhere pretty early Friday, our minds refuse to sleep. Now it's time make finalize everything we'd been planning for so long. Then...its out the door and on to the airport. Mike took us in our car then went on to work. He took goodbye airport pictures of us just as we'd taken of him 15 years before when we left for Brazil. Nobody likes goodbyes. With nine bags including a purse, we entered the security line. The first leg was to Atlanta.
From Atlanta we connected to Lima. Both flights were large 767's loaded to the limits. Not much knee room but both were smooth and generally on time. We landed in Lima 12 hours after leaving SLC including connection time. No overnights in airplanes and no jet lag. Good !
Next was claiming all that luggage in Lima, clearing customs and loading it all in a vehicle. As we emerged from all the security and immigration sections of Lima airport, we met our friends Pres. Robert Lees and his wife Kay along with another couple (the Thompsons) and our driver (the head of Temple security). As we emerged from the airport with luggage cart and entourage on the curb, we were met by the usual hustling baggage sky cap, so we thought. He insisted on helping, expecting a tip. Our van was out there in the sea of other vehicles so in true huckster fashion this persistent fellow stays with us the entire way. Turns out he was likely a front for what happened about three miles outside the airport gate.
There, stopping for a traffic signal, our van was attacked by a thug who attempted to smash the side window and steal our bags. The skycap had been part of the plan. The thug looked in through the side window (very scarey face) then reared back with his fist and hit the window, WHAM then again WHAM! Fortunately, the window held. Our driver immediately cleared our lane and veering into the adjoining lane sped off. The thug didn't pursue us. Needless to say, we were protected by our quick thinking driver. This kind of thing is pretty common in Lima and other cities. A lesson in travel. From start to finish, it lasted less than 15 seconds. Another few miles and we arrived at our apartment building.
Our apartment was ready and waiting for us. The Thompsons had arrived along with two other couples a month or more earlier and had readied the place. I called them an excellent advance party. Kay and Bob Lees are the real pioneers though. They had worked tirelessly to make things as nice as possible. We're so fortunate to have them here. We feel like royalty having so much prepared for us. How can we make it up to them? Within no time, we were settled enough to get some sleep. Our apartment has two suites, a nice kitchen and large living room on the 7th floor of a highrise. We have plenty of hot water, lots of light, internet and VOIP phone. A very livable apartment for the next four months. I early March when its completed, we'll move to a new apartment on the Temple grounds.
Some details to remember. We're on Eastern Standard Time, 12 degrees south of the Equator. The temperatures range in the mid 70's, night and day, humidity is the high 70's. There is a fog layer that burns off by mid morning generally. Its a very comfortable climate. Lima is on the Pacific coast. We're inland 10 miles.
Saturday was a day to get settled, find the closest shopping for groceries and meet more missionaries assigned to Lima. In total, there are 8 couples of Temple missionaries. Four live in our building with the others close by. We enjoyed a walk to Jockey Plaza where we bought towels and some supplies. Kay furnished our fridge with a stock of eggs, bread and peanut butter before we got here. We lack for nothing. Stores have everything we need. The currency is the Peruvian Soles (sou lays) and converts 2.75 to the dollar.
Saturday night we all had dinner here, sponsored by the couples. We brought nothing ! Sunday was church meetings at the ward nearby. It's comprised of Area office staff, MTC Lima leaders and locals. Everything was translated for us gringos who can't understand everything yet. In time ! We were also greeted by Mark Austin and his family from Alexandria VA whom we had met before. Jeff and Beth are their good friend in DC. They had all anticipated our arrival. Each of the couples was very gracious and expressed joy that we had finally cleared up our visa delays.
Following our church meetings, the Lees took us to their home and on into the Temple where we spent some time becoming acquainted with it and in preparation for our sacred work there. After which we enjoyed a scrumptious dinner with Bob and Kay Lees. Sunny warm day ! Later on Sunday the couples in our apartment building sponsored supper. White bean chile from all the local markets. It was very good. I assembled the rest of our electronics, sent some emails to family and friends and generally settled the balance of our things. I called my brother Bill. He was happy to hear from me and reported on the health of our sister Marilyn. It's good to be able to connect with our family as we like. Mike talked to his Mom.
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