Strike-ish, transfers and waiting for sunrise at the hospital

July 23, 2023

Nothing says, "Conundrum," like Latin American politics. This week got off to a start with the news of the pending "Takeover of Lima." The taxis were full of warning voices that the activists from the outlying communities and cities were coming to take control and force the government to depose the current president. They also wanted to force the deposition of her cabinet and the congress, according to reports. This was to be accomplished by invading the city center, disrupting traffic and causing a general maelstrom.

Threats similar to this in the past have been very upsetting and have generally stirred the pot. All of this was scheduled to be set in motion on the very day that fifteen new missionaries were to arrive to our mission, Thursday. Likewise, the center of the projected disturbance was planned for the very location where we were planning to put two new missionaries but did not have the apartment ready yet. Indeed, the set up was scheduled that very day!

Add to that, we had three airport pick-ups to make and the airport was to be closed to all but departing passengers. We sent a message to the missionaries arriving that they might have to walk completely out of the airport, through the gates to the main highway. It would be quite the hike with lots of luggage. Five of the arrivals are from the United States and came straight from the MTC (Missionary Training Center). Consequently, they had not had much Spanish experience. We were a little worried for them all.

Like so much of our experience, we saw the hand of God in all of it. The strike's scale was nowhere near the previous protests. We were able to get the apartment set up, pick up missionaries and lose no one's bag! One bag was destroyed by the airline but that happens on vacations.

On Sunday morning at 4:15, Julie got a call from one of our elders experiencing chest pains. He is young and fit and so we thought it unlikely that it was too serious but we put wheels in motion to get him to the hospital to have him checked out. It meant that Rich accompanied the elders in question to the emergency room and waited for their check up.

It turned out that a well meaning member gave the elder her cholesterol medicine as a remedy for his sore throat. The physician told him that it had produced angina and that he should go home, not take the pills anymore and not over exert himself for the rest of the day.

Circumstances were such that we brought them home and fed them breakfast. Rich helped them out with some finances and sent them home in an Uber.

Everything else was pretty tame. Our campaign to explain about the church on our Uber rides procedes apace. By the end of today we have found 50 people who have been interested enough in our message to take a copy of the Book of Mormon and say that they will read it. Several have also asked to meet with missionaries. With each opportunity we bear witness of the Book of Mormon, and our testimonies of it increase. We truly feel the power of this book of books. What a blessing it is in our lives.

We love our mission so much!