Tender Mercies

Hello Family and Friends,

This week has been something.  I started updating the missionary records on the church website that we use.  In between that I had to talk to some couples about their paperwork, things that they need and what they have to obtain to get married. 

We had transfers on Tuesday, and I took advantage, that some of them that are far away and needed to pick up their carnet de extranjeria and I took 10 of them to pick it up.  We also had the farewell dinner for the Missionaries that were leaving the next day.  I couldn't go, I was not feeling very well with my stomach, I actually left early at 6pm. compared to other days. I went straight home and went to bed early.  Especially because I had to do a lot the next day. 

Wednesday 10 Missionaries left, and we were supposed to receive five Missionaries. Two from USA., one from Argentina and two from Peru. While I was helping the missionaries that were leaving to check in and turn in the luggage, I received a call from Lima telling me that two of the Sister Missionaries had lost their flight and that they were trying to put them on another flight. We were almost done, and then one of the assistants to the president came and told me that the elder from Argentina didn't want to come. That was so sad to hear. 

Two of the elders that were returning to the US had two luggage, one carry-on, a backpack and a guitar. So again, we try to get the carry-on to go as a courtesy for free. Also, he had to rearrange some of the luggage because he had so many books in his carry-on. He didn't have a space in any of his luggage, so the other elder had to help him and put some of the stuff in his. The two of them are going to different cities, but they will see each other later on for a visit. Finally, we had all the luggage done and then the lady was trying to get the carry-on to go as a courtesy but it was not working, so when we asked her how much would it be to pay for it? She said over 700 soles, so it was like $200. The other 2 missionaries were able to send their carry-ons as a courtesy. We only had problems with one, somebody else came to help the girl at the counter and they were able to get it through without having to pay. Really God was helping us.  Tender Mercies.

After they left, we waited for a little bit, for the 2 missionaries that were coming. The two Americans speak very good Spanish. The sister is half Argentine and a quarter Peruvian. The elder is half Peruvian. 

We had lunch at the mission home and they also had their interview with the president. 

After lunch, we (Me and the 2 Elders assistant to the president) had to go and pick up the other two sisters that missed their flight and take them to the mission home. When they arrived, one of them had to go and put a claim on her luggage, they had completely destroyed one of the wheels and left a hole. And the problem was that luggage had already been checked in for the first flight. When they missed their flight because nobody will tell them where the flight was departing from because it changed gates.  They kept walking, trying to find what their gate was until they lost the flight. So they had to go and pick up the luggage and that's when they saw the broken wheel. They tried to put a claim at that point but because they were also trying to take the next flight, they made her sign a little tiny paper saying that at that point, the luggage was broken and that they could put the claim in Piura. Of course, in Piura they didn't want to accept the claim because of that little paper. Finally, we were able to fill out the form. We didn't know if she was going to be reimbursed.  So I asked the relief society president if we can check with the sisters if somebody will have luggage that can be donated for our sister. We received an answer, and one of the sisters had one available. Talk about another tender mercy.

And let me tell you, by Friday we were able to get a credit ready to be issued by Latam Airlines, but it will still take a week to release it.  At least it is approved.

That same arrival date after their interview with the president I took the sisters to the hotel where they were gonna stay. We were walking to the hotel. It was a long walk. Halfway there a taxi driver who is a member and I have used his service once before, recognized me, and stopped. He asked us where we were going, and that he could take us for free because it was very hot in the afternoon. Tender Mercy.

When we arrived, they didn't have room for the three sisters; they only had doubles. It was their mistake because I told them what we needed. And somebody had taken that room that same afternoon. So they were able to move that person to a double and we had to wait for them to clean that room again. 

On Thursday we had to present ourselves, the secretaries to the new missionaries and explain our duties.  This time it was a bit better for me, because there were only 4 of them.  I had already spent some time with the sisters. After that we had lunch in the Mission Home.  The President had an extra little rolling laptop case, and he gave it to me so I can pull my things instead of carrying it. It was great, but I kind of felt a little uneasy going back to the office with it.  When I left the office the Bishop lives a block from the office and his wife saw me. She was just arriving home, and she said wait I will get my son and we will go with you home.  It is no good to pull that briefcase like that because it is prone to be stolen. It was so sad, I couldn't use it.  But like I said I felt uneasy anyway.

A sister needed help getting her birth certificate and the certificate of being single from a city that is 3 hours away from where we are.  I was able to contact another sister in that area, and she was awesome. She lives a few blocks from the City Hall and was able to go and get the documents that same day and sent them to us.  We are hoping to get all the documents ready this coming week.

Tender Mercies.  I had to print a couple of forms that my Bank in Utah needed from me, to be signed and send it back in original.  I went to the office for a few minutes, and as I was coming downstairs one of the Elders was receiving an envelope, as I approached him I asked him who the delivery company was. It was DHL. Immediately I reopened the door very quickly and thank goodness the person was still there.  He was able to tell me where the DHL office was and they were still open. I went there, and the person at the desk is a member. I was so happy, he even offered me a discount. This was great because it is very expensive to send just a simple envelope. And the package will arrive in 5 to 7 days.  If I went to the regular post office, price wise it might have been a bit cheaper, it would've taken like a month to arrive and could've been lost. I was so happy that I was able to send it without any problems.

Today Sunday Feb 16 is my daughter's birthday. I can't believe where the time goes, I still remember when she was born, and started to walk and talk.   She has become a beautiful person and loves the Lord. I know we aren't supposed to have pride, but I am proud of her.  I thank the Lord for sending her to me.  I love her sooo much.

Today there was a 14 year old talking in Sacrament.  It was amazing to hear him talk and he didn't read his speech.  He is like a missionary.  

We also had an office meeting at 3:30 pm. And when we finished the President and his wife fed us Hamburgers, but a wow hamburger.  Toast the bun, peanut butter on both sides, jelly on top of both sides, sriracha sauce (since we didn't have that they mixed mayo with red chili pepper) the hamburger and bacon.  I didn't want the spicy, so I only added mayo.  It was a wow of taste, and I don't like peanut butter, but it was very, very good. And I forgot to take a picture.

Ok, it is time to say goodnight. 

Alma 12:33

33 But God did call on men, in the name of his Son, (this being the plan of redemption which was laid) saying: If ye will repent, and harden not your hearts, then will I have mercy upon you, through mine Only Begotten Son;

I love you, 

Hermana Malpica

Office Specialist

Peru Piura Mission

Pic 1 Transfer Day, some of them changing companions.

Pic 2 Same day I took 10 of them to pick up Carnet de Extranjeria

Pic 3 7 of them leaving, they are going home.

Pic 4 2 Americans arriving the same day.

Pic 5 2 Sisters arrived in the next flight

Pic 6 The sisters with us that pick them up

Pic 7 A way to present the companion to the Elder

Pic 8 President with the new missionaries and their companions

Pic 9 This is the way the luggage was returned 

Pic 10  Who needs seat belts in that vehicle