Merry Christmas

Good morning family and friends,

I am so sorry, but I am behind in writing this letter because it has been a full, full week. Saturday is my day off, but I had to go to the office because today I am traveling to Lima to spend Christmas with family and friends. I will be back on Thursday. I also had to clean and do laundry yesterday. 

I am receiving your emails, and I am so thankful for them.  Sorry I can't answer each one.  There is not enough time, but you are in my mind and in my heart. 

The two elders in the office and I had to go to the airport four times this week. We went on Monday to send 4 Missionaries to La Paz, Bolivia to the Mexican embassy to obtain a visa for Mexico. The Mexican embassy in Lima did not have any availability for a long time. On Tuesday we have to be at the airport at 7 o'clock in the morning for one departure. On Wednesday, we went to the airport for more departures. This time it was 12 Missionaries leaving, some international and some Peruvian.  One of the missionaries had left his luggage in the mission office, so we had to take it.  I thought we were taking a taxi, instead we took a Moto Taxi. It was 2 50 lbs. luggage, 2 missionaries, 1 carry on, 1 guitar and me. Hahahaha.  I couldn't believe it.

We had to go back in the afternoon to receive the 4 Missionaries that left on Monday and drop another missionary. We have to go with them to help them with check-in to be sure that everything is in order and that all their luggage gets sent. We wait until they go through security. 

On Tuesday night, we had a goodbye dinner for all the missionaries that were leaving, it was wonderful. I was able to meet several of them and unfortunately they were leaving. After the dinner, they were asked to share their testimony. What a powerful time to hear all these young elders and sisters. I was so happy that I was able to be in that meeting.

Thursday and Friday we had the full day Christmas celebration for the Missionaries. The six elders that are in the office are the ones that prepare everything, one of them, elder Evans, was in charge of the whole thing. He did a wonderful job. The agenda was pancake breakfast. The mission bought a huge griddle so we can have more of those kinds of activities when we reunite the missionaries. Also outside sports and games in the morning. 

The president wanted the sisters to have something to do if they didn't want to do any sports, so he said to set up a table with all the stuff for manicure. I was in charge of going and getting all the supplies.

They were provided lunch and this time was sandwiches in mandarins. Also, they had asked all the family of the missionaries to provide baby pictures or when they were little, and they played the game of guessing who was who they also asked me for pictures and the Urquizos. It was fun to see all of them so little. After that, everybody went home to shower and change for dinner.

Dinner with tacos that the actual Missionaries mixed all the spices because they don't have taco seasoning in here. They catered the rice and beans I will show you the pots that they used to bring the food. And also the Missionaries use the griddle to warm up the tortillas. It was a great success. They had a white elephant game and we finish with our Christmas devotional. Sister Van Alfen was the first speaker, and one thing she asks us to do is to write what can we give to the Lord, what are we sacrificing for the Lord, and why? They gave us a little box to put that note inside and to keep it on our desks so we can remember, and we can check that we are doing it.

President Van Alfen also spoke, we had a narration of the Christmas story intermingled with hymns and finished with a short video of the nativity. The spirit was so strong and to hear those voices, strong and loud it's amazing. 

Friday also as a sister missionary was doing my nails the president approached me. I needed to get everything ready for one more missionary that needed to go home and that had to leave that day. This time I went by myself and met the missionary with his zone leaders, everything went smooth, and I was able to go back safely. I am learning the ropes.  Besides all the running to the airport I still have to be in the office to do the paperwork.  So long days, short nights.  But very happy.

Here are some pictures, the house is actually the office on the second floor and the house for the 6 office missionaries.

The last picture where we are seating eating, is the office crew.  And the Urquizos were not there, but they are also part of the office staff.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!! 🤗

I love you. 

Hermana Malpica

Office Specialist

Peru Piura Mission