Peruvian Dinner

After attending no meetings last week due to the Swine Flu scare, it felt good to be able to go to at least Sacrament meeting today. That was the only meeting being held in the wards and branches in our stake. We jumped in the car and as we headed towards Tigre, I was in charge of finding the church in the GPS. We had been there just once two weeks ago so we were a little unsure of where it was. When I told Elder Kroff it was not in the GPS, we gasped and wondered what to do. Should we turn around and go to Sacrament meeting in San Fernando where we used to go, or keep going and hope we find the capilla in Tigre? We decided to keep going to Tigre.

As we proceeded, everything looked familiar to us, and all of a sudden as I looked to the left as we were approaching a stop light, there it was. "Good eye", Rich said. We turned around and felt blessed that we arrived without any trouble.

As we entered the building, there was a man standing by the chapel door with rubber medical gloves on with a bottle of disinfectant gel with alcohol. He squirted some in our hands as we entered the chapel. The priests at the sacrament table wore gloves, as did the deacons who passed the sacrament. They weren't taking any chances in spreading the flu in this gathering of people.

Since Sister Shaffer was transferred from this area, they had no piano player. We sang without music and the branch president's wife was the chorister. It took several measures until everyone was on the same note and same pitch. They are hurting in the music area in this branch, and even with my limited ability on the piano I felt like I should volunteer to help out next week. The branch president called upon the sister missionaries to come forward and bear their testimonies and give a brief message if they had one, with no prior warning. Even though I couldn't understand what they were saying, I got the gist of what they were talking about and they appeared confident and blessed with the spirit to deliver a good message. I was impressed. Then the president was the concluding speaker. Until further notice, we can plan on only having sacrament meeting again next week.

When the meeting was over, the branch president asked Rich and me meet with him in his office. We didn't notice the chapel being overly cold today, but then I didn't remove my coat. But the halls and branch president's office were noticeably cool. The president had put his overcoat on also. He said the heater in his office wasn't working.

He knew we were transferred to this branch to help in any way we could, so he has called Elder Kroff to be the Gospel Principles teacher. This is good because he will be teaching new members, and investigators. That's the class he was teaching in Tooele before we left.

Sister Kroff has been called as the Music Coordinator of the branch. I knew it! He found out I could lead music and wanted me to lead in Sacrament meeting and possibly Relief Society. He said they had a lady from the stake that comes to teach some members how to play the piano and could I come on Tuesday and Thursday evenings to those lessons to see what they are learning so I would know what songs to lead and when. I told him I could play some hymns and he was delighted. He said that he doesn't want to take the responsibility away from those that are learning to play the piano, but if they do not come when assigned to play, then I could play and his wife could lead the music. I am to coordinate and work it all out. Then I would do the same for Relief Society.

Okay, so now I need to practice. We have music missionaries that work out of the area offices, and at the 4th of July party we attended, they told me that they would teach me their technique that they go around teaching to the wards and branches. They teach on key boards, and then leave a keyboard with the branch if the person progresses to a certain level. I would like to get a keyboard to practice on here at home for a while.

We had a dinner date with the elders to the home of a couple in the San Fernando ward. She is from Peru and all the elders rave about the meals they have eaten with them. When she found out we were leaving the ward to go to the branch in Tigre, she told me she wanted to have us to dinner sometime before we left. Today was the day!

We asked the elders if we were going to walk or take the train to their home. They said we would walk because the train is unreliable on Sundays. Was it far? Well, yes, but not bad. Oh yeah!! It was 31 blocks one way. These are a little shorter than Utah blocks, but nonetheless it was a trek and a half. So all in all, we walked 62 blocks by the time we got home. Luckily my foot was in good shape today and didn't hurt. I was truckin' right along. When we turned the corner onto the street where they lived, it made Rich think of his days in Mexico. He said it looked just like the streets he remembers. Kids playing ball, and poor rundown dwellings.

This is Rita Mansilla and baby Victoria (3 months). They keep their babies bundled up all the time. It was quite cold in their home. All the children (5 of them) were wearing sweatshirts or sweaters. The floor is just cement that has been painted, and the paint is chipping off. Very humble circumstances.

Elder Nelson is deep in thought playing chess with Matias (12) with Abel (4) and Dario (10) looking on.

Rita and husband, Domingo, putting last minute preparations on the food. She has been a member of the church since she was 12 years old. He was baptized 1 1/2 years ago. They have been to the temple to be sealed.

When she brought out a couple of plates of this chicken and rice dish, I thought they were the plates from which we would serve ourselves. Not so! They were the individual servings for each of us. Oh boy. . . . . I have never seen so much food. The rice had peas and carrots in it with a piece of chicken and a slice of cooked potato on top. It was very good and flavorful. We loved it.

Elders Valente and Nelson, then Abel, daughter Genesis (9), Dario, Domingo, Rita, Sister Kroff, and Matias. The elders had two plates of food. Rich and I ate about 3/4 of our plates, but couldn't finish. We don't know where the elders put all the food.

We enjoyed getting to know them better. Domingo is a construction worker, and they are very faithful members. If we have baptisms on Saturday nights, they are always there and she has baked a couple kinds of tortas (cake) to serve after the service. When we are invited into the homes of members, we are always reminded of how blessed we are and how much we have as compared to saints such as this. Yet, money and things do not bring total happiness. The Mansillas are a happy family and their children were very well behaved. There was love shown in their home. It was a good day.