Saturdays at the Peru Arequipa Temple

I wish I could take you to the Arequipa temple grounds on a Saturday afternoon. It is a vibrant and beautiful sight because the grounds are filled with people of all ages and walks of life who are enjoying the beauty in every way.  Because few can afford cars, there are bus loads of Peruvians in their traditional clothing who have traveled through the night with their families from places like Puno or Cusco to do temple work or to wait for their loved ones to finish.  There are always several small groups of missionaries who sit among flowers and benches and teach families or individuals who have accepted the invitation to learn more about their Savior and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. And of course, there are others, like us, who have discovered that this is the perfect place to take an afternoon walk and think and ponder about God. 

 It is obvious that we are beginning to savor our time in the mission because it is going too quickly as we are in our third year.  The Lord has blessed us without fail and in every single way because this is His work. While we are not enough, He is and He has given us power beyond our own, over and over again. The Lord truly loves his missionaries. It is marvelous to watch them grow and become converted themselves as they look outward to others and share the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is equally amazing to watch those they teach joyfully discover that God does indeed have a church and a plan of happiness for them.  

 We are grateful for this remarkable experience.  Elder Holland promised to the new mission leaders recently that this will be the most rewarding conversion experience you could possibly ever have. It certainly has been for us, for I know that Jesus is the Christ and this is His church.