Hola querida familia y queridos amigos:
Don't worry I am not going to continue in Spanish.
I am going to add my talk that I gave on Nov 24 at my church, where I explain a little bit why I am serving a mission.
I received my letter on Oct 29 to go to Piura Peru on Feb 17, 2025. And the next day I was called to see if I can go early since I have dual citizenship and they needed me to get there soon. So it was changed to start the Provo MTC on Nov 11 to 20.
The experience in the MTC was amazing, we were taught by young returned missionaries, and we were taught Preach my Gospel for the first week, and then at night were devotionals or more instruction by return senior missionaries. The 2nd week was teaching office work. This was very good because it helped us to arrive with some kind of idea of what is expected from us. We also were able to talk to some of the young missionaries. I end up meeting a couple of young elders that were going to my mission. I will probably see them for the Christmas activity.
Saying goodbye to the people that we met there was bitter sweet. It was only a few days, but we were able to create a good friendship because we have the goal to serve the Lord in common.
After that, trying to finish packing my house to leave it accessible for rent and finishing packing was crazy and too much work, too little time, that I got up catching a cold. I couldn't enjoy my granddaughter's 17 year old birthday that was before Thanksgiving and even worse to enjoy my family on Thanksgiving, I only saw them for just a few minutes and then ran home to go to bed. On Saturday after Thanksgiving I ended up going to the doctor and they tested me for Covid and Flu, thank goodness I didn't have it. The doctor gave me some medicine to help with the cough.
My birthday was on Sunday and I was feeling a little bit better. My children and grandchildren got together to celebrate with me and say goodbye for a period. My son Abraham and my grandson Adrian couldn't be there since they were out of town for hockey, so they came on Monday to say goodbye right before I left for the airport. My children Linda and Jonathan took me to the airport.
Saying goodbye was very hard, I know that time flies but it is still hard to leave.
The adventure of the airport, so we arrived at the airport at Noon on Dec 2. This was good and I was traveling with 2 49 lbs luggages a carry-on and a heavy backpack. The attendant at the counter offered to check my carry-on without charge, so I accepted. It was the best because I was supposed to travel at 2:15, NO the flight was delayed until 4:42 landed in Atlanta at 9:47. The Atlanta airport is so big and I had to go from Terminal B to Terminal F to take my connection in only 1 hour, because of the delay. So not having to drag my carry-on was sooo helpful. I barely made it, thank goodness for the trains to connect the terminals. And also because the first connecting flight was delayed 1 hour. When I arrived in Lima, there was only our flight to deal with customs, so we passed fast and arrived for my last connection with a little bit of time to spare.
When I arrived in Piura, it is a very small airport, so we had to use the outside stairs to deplained and it was a very little place where we picked up the luggage and left the airport. I actually arrived a little bit earlier so I had to wait to be picked up. Then 2 tall American Elders arrived and it was so nice to meet them, and they also came with a Peruvian senior couple missionaries. As you can see the hand of the Lord was with me, I was nervous to miss my connections, but the Lord had everything taken care of.
They took me to the Mission office and then to my apartment that is like 4 blocks from the office. I am on the third floor. It is a very cute little apartment.
I had my interview with my Mission President and his wife. But really it was more a getting to know each other, and he said we will have the interview once I am more straight, rather than falling from exhaustion. After that we went back to the office and picked up 2 of the elders and went to my apartment, so they can install the microwave, the water filter in the sink and the carbon monoxide detector. They also communicated with 2 other elders that were in charge of buying some light bulbs and electric transformers, so they also came to the apartment. They ordered some subways, not like the ones in the US, and it was very good. We were able to talk and get to meet each other a little bit more. By the time I was done, I fell asleep for 8 hours with only 1 short interruption. In the morning I had a meeting with the Mission President and everyone that works in the office, thank goodness it was at 10:30.
I went to lunch with the couple that is in charge of Housing the Urquizos. Returning to the office to start part of my training, I went to the Immigration office to meet with more missionaries to obtain their Carne de Extranjeria, which is a Peruvian ID for non- Peruvian citizens. The office is at a very big open mall, and when we were trying to go do other things 3 Peruvian girls approached me and they wanted to know how to join the church, so immediately I asked the missionaries to get their information to do the referrals. It was amazing. (Also who wouldn't want to join, when I am surrounded by nice tall American young missionaries)
By 6 pm I was done and my eyes were closing on me. I have an appointment tomorrow to get a massage, my backpack was so heavy with all the electronics that I ended up hurting my right lower back, and it has been hurting so much.
Still had to go and get some bread (after going up and down 3 legs of stairs and 4 blocks away) to eat my beautiful avocado with some soup.
Good night for now. I think I am all caught up now.
Love you all.
Hermana Malpica
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