when you find out what's most important..

Dear Family,

It has been another busy week. I love busy weeks. Plus the Lord has opened the windows, doors, gates, and all other egresses (is that a word? and is that its plural?) of heaven to pour blessings upon us. I'll take a moment to mention a few of them.

Henry Orellana is the second counselor in our ward's Bishopric. His family consists of his wife, Rocio, and their three children - Angel, 8; Juaquin, 5; and Ariana, 3. Henry is a very well-off individual. Aside from working at the bank, he manages a number of other business and works with other well-off people. He's quite the influence in the community and has massive leadership skills. We like him. He might run for mayor (or whatever the translation of "alcalde" is) in a year and a half, when the next election rolls around. Henry got us permission to sing in the Plaza Mayor on Saturday with the primary children. We also performed a Christmas lesson (missionary lesson of the Restoration plus Christmas songs to teach the principles) at his family home evening and a couple of family friends. We've begun teaching a young woman who takes care of the kids during the working hours. Her name is Yesenia. After just a couple teaching appointments she's excited about what she's learning, but she still wants to advance "poco a poco". The fact that she spends several hours in a member's home every day is a great help. There's something special about a home where the Gospel is lived.

Jason Corales is another family father - he's got two little kids, but I don't remember their names. He just got back last week from almost a year and a half in Italy. He was living with his mother and working there. Now he calls us "Ancianos!" every time we come to his house - apparently that's how they say "elder" in Italian. For some reason, we don't translate it here and we just put a little accent mark on the first "e." We're glad he's back, because we're teaching his next-door neighbor (Javier Leyva) and another friend of his (Alonso Gonzales) from around the block. He's happy to come with us and help the work move along. We were visiting at his house yesterday, and his wife served us some amazing hot chocolate. My companion and I commented to one another that Peruvians do not play games with their hot chocolate. There's no cocoa powder or anything here - they take the straight, pure unsweetened Cuzco chocolate and melt it in boiling milk with sugar. You might be lucky enough to find a large piece of cinnamon stick at the dregs of your cup, too.

Last night at Jackie's house, her husband said the family prayer at the end of the day. Jackie was elated. They kept up on their family prayer almost every day throughout the week. We've decided that "la china" (her name is actually Mayli) is kinda clingy and demanding and has to go. But we're not in the business of correcting relationships, especially of young people - we've been talking to Jackie, trying to figure out what can be done. It will be a matter of prayer for now.

Saturday's activity went pretty well. I'm grateful for Tonio Carranza, the High Council representative assigned to missionary work. He was the first person on the scene. When we arrived, we discovered that he had everything ready EXCEPT for the Santa suit and Santa himself. I made several phone calls (and spent all of my cell phone minutes, apparently) and found a suit downtown that we could rent. I went on a split with one of the newer elders and hauled him downtown with me while my companion got things organized in the Plaza. When we got back with the Santa suit, the program had already started, and a group of primary kids were singing and dancing for the onlookers. My companion volunteered to be Santa (pictures to come shortly). We took a bunch of pictures with kids with Santa Claus, writing down addresses so that we could deliver them the picture in person. The stake primary president was a big help as well, along with several primary teachers, too. We had to take the Santa suit back that same night - not wanting to do it on Sunday - so we got back to our room a little after 9:30.

Yesterday, Carlos Huaillane (it's really pronounced in Spanish exactly how it looks) came with us in the afternoon to some of our appointments. His is an interesting story. Henry Orellana baptized him when he was on his mission in Lima. Now Carlos just recently moved here and is working with Henry in some of those businesses they manage together. Carlos, on his mission, served in the same ward we're in right now. He even baptized Henry's father-in-law. That might be confusing to follow, but it was pretty cool to hear the story. Carlos took us to a family that he had baptized that were a little less active. We sang our Christmas lesson to them and invited them to come back to church. They were pretty excited to see "Elder Huaillane" again.

I love the world! And I'm out of time. Feliz Navidad to everybody. Don't forget that peace on earth and goodwill toward men are the messages of Christmas that angels thought most important to sing to men 2,000 years ago. That message has been restored by modern prophets! I love the Restoration.

Love,
Elder Withers