April 3, 2020 - Departure Day (part 2). It has been a monumental effort by so many to prepare for this mass exodus. We want to thank our dear prophet and apostles, the Mission Department, our Area Presidency and the employees of the Area travel office for their tireless efforts to accommodate the many moving parts and governmental restrictions that seemed to change every hour. We are forever indebted to our mission office staff who worked around the clock, sometimes sleeping on the floor of the office, to get everything ready and especially our inspired Mission President who navigated every detail. So many consecrated people did their part to ensure that each missionary was taken care of. The Lord LOVES his missionaries and so do we❣️ We had hoped to take one last mission family picture all together but due to quarantine restrictions and police escorts it was not possible. They came from 8 different Zones throughout our mission boundaries on 3 different buses, each arriving at the mission office at a different time. We had to give every missionary their passport and their envelopes with important documents. We were so grateful the documents were in our office because it enabled us to see them one last time! We couldn’t give them a big departure hug so a chocolate chip cookie had to suffice. We look forward to the day when we can see them again and get those hugs! Love you Lima Central family! ❤️❌⭕️❤️
April 3, 2020 - DEPARTURE DAY! (part 1)
Our “Army of Helaman” is pulling out with the troops!!! All the North Americans from the 4 remaining missions in Lima (2 of the Lima missions already left) are heading home this morning. It’s a strange mixture of emotions for them - sadness to leave their mission field and the Peruvian people they love, yet excitement to see their families waiting for them on the other side of the ocean. There is something beautiful to see all of them together, such a powerful force for good! We know the Lord has great plans in store for this generation of missionaries whose faith is deeply rooted in the Savior Jesus Christ. They have found Him in this “furnace of affliction” and it will give them strength for whatever lays ahead. They are coming home battle weary after 18 days in quarantine but they have fought the good fight and now they fly towards their future. Vayan con Dios queridos misioneros until we meet again. ❤️🇦🇹❤️🇦🇹❤️🇦🇹
It’s the last day for our North American missionaries to be in Peru! The people in the Area office for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have been working around the clock to get our 80 North American missionaries home and tomorrow is finally the day! Our own son, who has been serving in the Peru, Lima South mission will be with them. My mother heart is breaking to lose all our missionary sons and daughters at the same time , but there will be a sense of relief once we know they are safely in the arms of their own families. Today we had one last conference call with our mission family to impart vital departure information. We ended our call singing our mission song together one last time. It was emotional and celebratory, especially for those valiant Latin missionaries who for now remain with us to “fight the good fight”. It was bitter-sweet making cookies for my mission family one last time, but since we can’t send them off with a physical hug it’s the best we can do. We love them and know there will be joyful reunions on the other side of the ocean. We are so grateful for the privilege we have had to know and serve alongside these remarkable young men and women. Vayan con Dios queridos! ❤️
