Busy week at the Temple

Temple blessings come from sacrifice.  With little money or belongings, lots of patience and filled with faith in our Savior, humble members of the Church come to Lima.  Travel time can exceed 20 hours one way.  Many can afford to make the trip only a few times in their entire lifetime.  Knowing their background, preparations are made to accommodate as many as possible.  The Temple grounds contain every convenience possible.  Food, Temple cloths, care for children of new families being sealed and in a few months, temporary short-term housing for patrons. 

Coming in their very best cloths, other belongings are stored while attending the Temple.  On this day, 1,400 entered the gates of the Temple Grounds.  Children usually wait for parents on the grass or have lunch in the Comedor. Those attending the Temple kept workers busy from early until very late while we tried our best to provide a spiritual experience.  Over 60 couples were sealed on Saturday alone.  Total size is 9,600 sf or about 1/26 the size of Salt Lake Temple.  Those serving provide assistance in the ordinances, as guides helping people find their way, greeting and checking recommends, laundry services and caring for the children of newly sealed families.  Likely there is nothing left to the imagination in terms of sacred service.  The wide expanse of grass spreads itself over much of the 4.5 acre grounds.  On a typical weekend there are children playing, families gathered together under trees or sharing a meal in all parts of the grounds.  The Temple district includes all of Peru serving the 500,000 members there.  Distances are often long extending over roads of varying quality.  Buses allow poor people to get places.  Only the very few own cars or transportation of any kind.  In a later posting I'll include a summary of the types of conveyance available here. Automobiles are for the businessman or taxi driver who depends on it for livelihood. 

      The Comedor serves the best food possible.  One faithful member runs the entire operations with the help of few family members.  Delicious deserts greet you at the door where within 1000 sf you can purchase for S/.5 a very filling and nutritious meal.  Rice is a staple, pollo (chicken) usually is serves on top of the rice with bread, salad, entree and drink.  Cakes, flan, puddings, jello and juice fill in the other spots or desire for food.  S/. is the sign for Soles, money.  One Sole is equal to about 35 cents.  By late summer (in S.A.) the hospedaje will accommodate patrons with housing as well as food.  Temple missionaries will occupy the 3rd floor, patrons the 2nd and Comedor on 1st.   On our Thanksgiving, we gathered all the Norte Americanos who live or work here and each contributed.  It was heavenly food, in the tasty sense.  And lots of it.  We all took something home and enjoyed those leftovers, we all love, for a couple of more meals. 

Patio dining runs year round.  Annual rainfall in Lima is less than an inch.  Its really not referred to as rain though.  It never rains,,,it mists.  In these past 5 weeks it has misted twice.  Today is warm, 77 degrees at most.  Mornings are cool and very pleasant.  This area of Lima is known as La Molina.  Generally the housing in this section is better than most other area.  Streets are narrow except for thoroughfares.  Taxi's are a thrill a minute. Street signs are mere suggestions.  Speed is controlled by speed bumps.  Lights are observed well though.  Of all the traffic rules we see in the states, lights are more well observed here than there.  As for the balance, not so much.  Traffic lanes are never observed. If it fits, drive it.  

I will share some of the names of co-workers in the Temple. These are all humble men who serve weekly, traveling hours, in some cases, to get there.  Aguayo Palacios, Fernando Enrique - Montenegro Ríos, Darío Humberto  -  José Fabián Gálvez Meléndez  - Presentación Fuentes Ibarra -  Guillermo Segundo Pasco Castañeda - Héctor Augusto Yovera Chicona  -  Paulino Acarapi Laura   - Samuel Bernardo Estrado Moreno  – Desiderio Torres Núñez  – Abelardo Beas Arcela  – Fermín Laguna Capillo  – Ricardo Torres Quispe, . Their names appear unusual from the way we would name our children.  The first two names are their given  names, just like we would order our children's names but then comes the fathers surname, then the mothers maiden name.  So, I would be  -  Max Robert Simmons Grover . 

And, it's Christmas Season.  Even with the green grass, the nativity identifies the Season of our Savior's birth as practiced traditionally.  These replicas are an attraction for all the children who climb all over them.  Families often use them as a setting for their family photos.  The flowers in the background surround the Temple building and are cared for carefully by the gardeners who tend them each day.  The lack of rainfall is fully supplemented by the nightly sprinkler system cycle. 

Below is a typical scene on a busy day with people coming and leaving constantly.  There is complete security within the gates of the Temple grounds and so you will see children playing freely, people lounging on the grass, retrieving their luggage or storing excess carry items.  All those souls are on holiday and this is their selected way of spending that free time, attending the Temple.  This scene is the back side with the entrance on the side near the flag of Peru.  The tree are beginning to blossom.  Someone told me these trees are Orchid trees however this is speculation until I can confirm it.  Their appear like standing stumps until they begin to re-grow their leaves and foliage.

Tonight is the Christmas Broadcast of the First Presidency and will be shown at the La Molina Ward Chapel as well as on the Internet throughout the world.  We feel very connected electronically and love to hear from you.  Christmas cards will be electronic for a couple of years.  No matter which method of conveyance used, please know that you are remembered now and throughout the entire year.  Merry Christmas !!