As you may remember, we moved from our original apartment to our current apartment because of a number of "parties" which were extremely loud and long. They played their music at the loudest volume possible and usually they ended between 3 to 6 in the AM. So...we moved in September when our contract ended. That was "the old noise."
Our new apartment is closer to a venue called, "Jockey Club Plaza." They hold concerts and we knew this but we were assured that we would in no way be the same situation concerning noise. We have had two or three concerts since moving and they ended about 11 pm. Well...last Friday night was a different story. The "Tokio Hotel" came to Peru for the first time. They are a band from Germany and have a very large following. Concerts are really a big thing here in Lima. It was SOOO loud, let's just say, I did not get to sleep until 4 in the morning. Thus "the new noise!"
We are right next to a school also. Right after our move, one morning as I was getting ready for work, I heard a teacher speaking to the students in English. As time went on, we became more curious about this school, so we did some research. Markham College is different than most other high schools. Instead of being just a high school, they enroll students from 4 yrs. and go through high school. It is ranked as one of the best schools in So. America.
They use a British system; all the classes are taught in English. There are about 2,000 students in total. The students are arranged in "houses," (as in Harry Potter). The house colors are red, yellow, blue and green..go figure. Each house is also named after important British person.
The athletic field is in use all the time. I am sharing some photos. We have seen four of this same type of activity during the last 2 months. this particular day, they began testing the sound system at 7 a.m. (ugh). After no sleep the night before, that was not fun. The competition commenced at 9 am and lasted about 3 hours.
It is wonderful and amazing to see how much effort and emphasis the school places on physical education. Each station (and there were many) presented different athletic challenges and some were very strenuous. After about 10 minutes, they change stations. They climed, jumped, crawled, played volleyball and soccer. It was delightful to watch and listen as the students played so hard and cheered eacg other on. Many parents attend these activities, they are very involved. This is more "new noise," but this noise is wonderful...it's children.
This mission experience is coming to a close. My assignment (as in our last assignment) has always been to contact our "PEF" participants. Each day, I send out emails for birthdays and to thank those who have made a payment to their loan. This mission I have learned to use new applications on the computer. It has made my job easier and that is a good thing because,
my workload has increased with each passing month. The easiest way to explain this is that; when a new "coordinating council" was added to the project, it adds to the number of participants to be contacted. Fourteen months ago, we began with two councils and 27 Stakes. At this time our project has 9 councils and 89 Stakes.. This encoorperates the entire country of Peru. The number of participants has grown to about 7,000. I have become the busier one of our companionship.
my workload has increased with each passing month. The easiest way to explain this is that; when a new "coordinating council" was added to the project, it adds to the number of participants to be contacted. Fourteen months ago, we began with two councils and 27 Stakes. At this time our project has 9 councils and 89 Stakes.. This encoorperates the entire country of Peru. The number of participants has grown to about 7,000. I have become the busier one of our companionship.
About 5 months ago Elder and Sister Seegmiller joined our PEF team here in Lima. Elder Seegmiller helps with the approval of new loan applications and thankfully Sister Seegmiller has taken the role of learning my functions. I am so thankful for her. We now divide the workload...she has been a lifesaver! I would never have been able to keep up with the changes. We make a good team! Together we get the job done each day.
Elder W. has completed his work and is now in the process of writing the instructions that will be the format for maintaining the program after we leave. He has written all the procedures, sent out all the training information and attended the meetings. He taught the principles to the members of the Seventy who now teach the Stake Priesthood leaders in all their Stakes. He continues to receive monthly updated information from those Stake Priesthood leaders and he is making sure the statistics are being thoroughly reported. Basically, he is done. As he so often says, "We fill assignments, not time." Our goal this entire mission has been to write ourselves, AND our position, out of the program. That has now been accomplished!
As we end this third adventure, my testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ has again been strengthened in so many ways. I am comforted in the fact that the Lord's Church is in wonderful hands. The Church members here in Peru are strong. The leaders called from Salt Lake to "preside" and lead those who live in this area of South America are such great teachers. We are truly blessed to have met and worked with these wonderful people. The Lord loves his children and His Gospel will continue to move throughout the world.
I pray our children know that I have taught them correct principles. I love my family more than they could ever know. I thank them for the support we receive that makes it possible for us to leave them for a time in order to serve others.
Until I write again,
Love,
Mom, Grandma, friend
or Hermana W.
