Bolivians, Babies and Brisa!

This has been an exceptionally crazy last couple of weeks what with the all the Bolivian missionaries coming to Peru and being reassigned to the 4 Lima missions. The funny thing was that President had just been complaining the day before that we needed more missionaries and, viola, the next day his prayers are answered! Talk about powerful prayers! About 100 north american missionaries had to leave Bolivia on an emergency transfer so to speak and we received about 24 of those into our mission in the middle of our normal change period which caused just alittle stress! The problem was that they could only be placed in Lima as many did not have any visas etc. so that meant that a several of our missionaries had to be sent out to the provinces upsetting areas and companionships etc. But the really wonderful thing that happened in the midst of all of this turmoil was a meeting that was called by the area presidency in the CCM for all the mission presidents and their wives and all the recently escaped Bolivian missionaries before they were divided and placed into the different missions. We walked into the auditorium where all 100 missionaries were sitting and the feeling there was like a funeral. You can imagine how many of them felt to have to leave their beloved mission and come to a strange new land full of rice and chicken (JK!) Anyway, all of the area presidency spoke and tried to bouy them up and last of all President Nash got up and spoke and he said he felt impressed to speak in english and that they could respond in english. He basically asked them one question: "What have you learned from this experience?" Well, after a few moments of silence one by one the missionaries began to share the feelings of their hearts and it was powerful. After 3 or 4 comments President Nash said someone needs to write this down as something special is happening here! So we all began to take notes! What we heard was amazing as missionary after missionary stood and expressed their testimony of the miracles they had witnessed, of the confidence that they had gained in the Lord and in his inspired leaders and in the knowledge that the Lord loves his missionaries and there is no reason to doubt that He will protect them and that this is the Lord's work and He is in charge! Nothing can stop the work of the Lord not even a military uprising! One Elder, Elder Peterson, that came to our mission shared an experience that when he was set apart by his stake president he was told to serve faithfully in Bolivia and anywhere else the Lord called him to go! He thought that was an odd thing to say until this happened. Another told of how their little zone of 10 elders found themselves in the city of Trinidad surrounded by the military with all the roads blocked when they were told by the mission president that they had to get to Santa Cruz which was several hours away by bus in order to leave for Peru. The airport in their city was also blockaded and so they did not know how they were going to escape and get to Santa Cruz. Someone (probably the mission president) told them of an airport 3 hours north of the city that was open and that the church would have two small airplanes waiting there for them if they could get there. They found a small dirt road leaving the city that was not under military guard and made their escape. When they arrived at the airport the 2 planes were waiting for them and so they loaded in. Not 30 minutes after their takeoff the military came in and closed the airport! They were so grateful that they followed the spirit and found that the Lord truly was watching over them. It reminded me of the people of Alma and how they escaped from the armies of Lamanites in Mosiah. It was a marvelous experience and a priviledge to be able to be in that meeting and to have the spirit bear witness that this work is real, that God is real and that miracles are happening daily.

On a lighter note another miracle is happening in our family--Rob is getting married! It is testimony that a mother's prayers are heard and answered! While in the midst of all the bolivian crisis Rob called to let us know that he had gotten engaged to a young lady from Alabama named Brisa Archibald. It was an answer to my prayers and even though we don't know this young lady at all we feel really good about it. Everyone in the family who has met her loves her and so we are anxious to meet her too.

We also have been fasting and praying as a family for Dan and Angie to be able to have another baby and I feel like soon we will know. So keep them in your prayers and we will combine our faith to get yet another Elmer baby here soon! I consider all these experiences tender mercies from the Lord as we serve this mission and strive to bring our misionaries and our family closer to the Lord. I am secretly thrilled that this also means that I will be able to come to the wedding and finally meet the grandbabies that I have not seen in person yet--how blessed can I be!!

The Rolling Stones came to Peru---live!

Yes, I guess the Lord knew that Jeff needed a little vacation so he sent the Rolling Stones to entertain him for the weekend---actually it was the Kidney stones! He got to have a nice stay in the hospital and got waited on for a few days and he even did a little drugs! Morphine is now on his top ten list of favorite drugs for pain, it being number one. After a harrowing drive to the emergency room with Jeff, throwing up and directing peruvian traffic all at the same time, while I drove (I wish I had a video of that drive!) he was admitted and started on an IV drip. It seems that he has been drinking way too much grapefruit juice (which is his favorite drink in the world) because it causes little stones to form in your kidneys....so just remember that if you are a grapefruit drinker like he is--BEWARE! He is back home now but we are still waiting for the stone to pass--hopefully it will be soon. He says he now knows what it feels like to have a baby!

A couple of cool letters...

We got these two really sweet letters last week from some recently returned missionaries and I wanted to share them with you....they make all this hard work worthwhile when we see them applying the principles they have learned through their missionary service!


Querido Presidente,

It has been a fast couple of months. I can hardly believe that I have been home that long. I guess I should apologize for not writing sooner, life just kinda gets crazy. I am doing very well, I have been working on road construction doing the chip and seal coat stuff. It pays very well, but the language is a little harder to learn than spanish. haha. There are some colorful words, but it is neat to see how some of the guys start to notice and show respect by talking differently around me. I have been able to share some pamphlets and talk with a few them about the church so it has been good. Also we work with some Guatemalans and Mexicans so I get to practice my spanish little bit. Life isn't as easy as I thought it would be. It's actually very frustrating trying to figure it out. As a missionary I learned so much and became someone who as I came home the world didn't want me to be. So as you know its been kinda hard, but I am doing fine. I am soooooo grateful for all I learned and the discipline that is now starting to take effect in my future. I know and have had a few experiences where I can see why I was called to serve under your direction. one story about a month ago. We had a very busy job going and had worked about 70 hours in a week and we were making good money because it was a federal job so the wages were high. Our boss informed us that we would probably be working on sunday, everybody was happy for more overtime hours which was something like $40 an hour. For me, I felt bad cuz I had learned so much about keeping the sabbath day, since we had to teach it real good in peru, also I had promised so many people blessings for not working on Sunday and going to church that I knew I couldn't. I work with three other rm's whom it didn't seem to bother. One justified his actions explaining that how he felt it was alright as long as he was paying tithing and going to the temple. Not to me, all I could think was "obediencia con exactitud", and 1 nefi 3:7. So I talked with my boss and got the day off. They made jokes and said stuff but I have seen many blessings come to me for choosing not to work on sunday. My co-workers often speak of their lives and all they have and I am so grateful for the lessons I have learned. I am very excited to go back to school which starts sept. 8 at byu-i. How is the mission doing? Is the goal to double progressing? Are the missionaries becoming more converted and better Preach my gospel missionaries? My prayers are always for you and the mission. May the lord continue to bless you with success and revelation. Send my best to your awesome wife, sister elmer. take care. JF

Dear Pte. and Sister Elmer,

Well I promised that I would write you guys and so hear I am! Well, I just want you guys to know how much I miss and loved the mission. I thought coming home would be cool, but its not as easy as everyone makes it out to be. I can only tell you that the devil is making things worse in the world every year. And it's so hard coming off this great spiritual high for 2 years and then dropping back into the real world. But I am so happy for the great blessings that I am receiving from the mission. If it wasn't for the habits that I picked up in the mission I would be a lost cause. I can just say that studying the scriptures, and daily prayer unto the Lord has helped me more than anything. If I wouldn't have put an honest effort into my studies in the mission it would be really hard to do it now. But I am so glad that I learned how to be obedient in the mission because when you are placed back into the real world the little things make a huge difference. I'm so greatfull for the mission and for what it has taught me because if your not a "ruler" here in the real world your going to fall and fall fast. I am happy that I learned to obey the Lord on the mission and His rules, because now I have the strength to be strong in the real world. I think a lot on that, and if I would have justified myself in the mission I would be doing it here. Thank heaven for the mission!

Well, I have some great news! I am going to be playing ball for the University of Utah! I made the team, I am a walk on and I will be red shirting. Which pretty much means that I will be practicing on the team but I won't be playing. But it saves me a whole year and it doesnt take a year of eligibility away. So I'm pretty happy about that. I can honestly see how much the Lord has blessed me for my service, it was amazing to see how the Lords hand was in this. When I came home the U of U basketball team was completely full--they didn't have any spots. But 2 weeks ago one of their walk-on players went to play at a Junior College and a spot opened up with just 2 weeks to go! I have no idea how it all worked out but I know the Lord was right there and he helped me get on the team! So I'm pretty happy and excited!

Well, I just want you guys to know how much I love you and apreciate your work. Remember that your always in my prayers and that I'm thinking about you guys and the mission a lot. Keep working and giving your all and the Lord will bless you when you return, I can testify of that! -BB!

Ps DyC 58:3-4

The small plates of Elmer...

This is my little miracle!
It comes with everything from towels to silverware to appliances!

I know this probably doesn't look like much but it is a true modern day miracle!

Okay so I missed a day...I knew this wasn't going to be perfect!

I had a really great experience a couple of weeks ago. I had the assignment to find an apartment for an office couple that are coming to our mission. (They are actually Kay and Karen Cleverly--Kay is the husband of James Peterson's daughter Claudia who passed away a few years ago.) I only had one day to find this apartment and so I had been fasting because I knew of the slim possiblities of finding something reasonable in San Isidro district close to the office. San Isidro is like trying to find an apartment in Beverly Hills! Well, my whole day became consumed by other problems and when I realized that the day was almost gone I panicked and said a quick prayer and started driving towards the office. I had seen a sign in a window of an apartment and so I thought I would start there to see how much and if it was available. The doorman was pretty rude and said it was 1,200 dollars a month and that it didn't include anything. So alittle discouraged, I went to the building where the South mission office elders live to see if they had anything and the doorman was real nice but they had nothing available and so now alittle desperate I said a prayer of faith and got in the car again and looked at the clock---it was now after 5:00pm! But I got the impression that I should drive down a little side street one block from the office in between Ave. Jorge Basadre and Ave. Javier Prado and as I drove slowly down the street I felt impressed to stop. I looked to the right and saw a nice secluded apartment building and I went up and knocked on the door. The doorman opened the door and when I asked if they had a one bedroom apartment he immediately said, Yes, one had just come available and to top it off it was fully furnished! (This is an added blessing because these couples come on their missions with only their clothes and a few books etc. and I was wondering how in the world we were going to furnish an apartment!) Anyway, he showed it to me and it was perfect but I was afraid to ask the price, especially being fully furnished, but to my surprize it was only 450$ and that included the water and lights etc. It also has a really nice club house with a pool and a gym and everything and I thought, this is where the mission presidents need to live!! Just kidding!! I felt so greatful to the Lord for directing me there and I have no doubt that He directs this work---He knows our needs and he loves us and its just wonderful to see the small miracles unfold before our eyes if we will ask in faith, nothing waivering! There is a scripture in Mormon 9:19-21 that I love--read it, its great!

2 days straight--waahoo!

Okay, here is alittle of what has been happening this past week...We are exhausted but feeling the urgency to keep going hard with the last year ticking away on us now! It is amazing how fast the time goes by and you wonder sometimes if you are really doing that much good in building the church. There are many baptisms in Peru but the retention is always a struggle. They are many wonderful people here but the false tradtions of their fathers is also a constant battle. We love the work though and the missionaries are wonderful and their faith is growing. It is awesome to see the change that happens over a two year period of time in their lives...they go from boys to men in a hurry! I think we as parents underestimate our kids when they return home from a mission and don't always realize the tremendous responsibilities they have carried on their young shoulders. We are learning to have alot more faith and we are seeing many miracles happen when we have the prayer of faith in our hearts. The prayer of faith has been my topic this change in zone conference and I am learning the importance of being specific in our prayers to the Lord. I love Ama's prayer in Alma 31:30-35 where he really talks to the Lord and asks for specific blessings. I think too often I have been very general in my prayers and I am learning that I have to be more specific if I want specific blessings. I feel more of the Lords guidance too when I pray this way. I have been praying to have my own personal misisonary experiences and the other night when I went to the grocery store as I was walking back to the car with the young man who was helping me I realized it was the same young man who had helped me before and with which I had a had a gospel discussion and so I asked him how he was doing. I told him about Institute and what they do there and he said: "What can I do to have someone come and talk with me about the church?" Well, it just so happened that one of our assistents was ending that night his mission and in the office with Jeff having his final interview and he lives in the same area of town as this kids does. So I gavehim the reference and tld him you need to go right away and teach this young man. I knew too right then that God does guide us and does answer our prayers in marvelous ways and I felt so grateful to be able to be the one to open my mouth and ask. I am sure you feel the same about your friends that were just baptized--you feel honored to be able to share in the conversion process and your testimony grows along with theirs. Jeff always says that I do all the talking when we get in a taxi and he never gets a chance to make a contact himself! So the other day he went to Cusco ahead of me and had to take a taxi so he was praying for the opportunity to find someone to talk to when the taxi driver turned to him and said: "You're religious aren't you?" To which Jeff told him: "Yes, I am a mormon and a missionary". Then the guy shows him a pamphlet of the Restoration that some missonaries had given him to read. He had read it and had hoped they would come to his house but they never came! So Jeff gave him the whole 1st discussion all the way to the airport and it turned out that he lived in Callao so when he got into the airport he immediately called the elders and gave them the reference...it is a miracle alone that the reference was in our mission!

More random pics from Peru...

Have you ever seen such big watermelons??? Well the ladies are pretty big too!!
Cutting up with the missionaries!! And you thought the nursery was a handful?
Me visiting a district meeting and having fun! Amazing what a little chocolate will do!
Some of our returned missionaries came back to the "despedida" in July
The Puerto Maldonado Zone out in the jungle...by the Madre de Dios River.

Surprize I'm baaaack!

Us and the sisters with family ready to be baptized in Sicuani!
These pretty sunflowers are in the garden of the hotel we stay at in Valle Sagrado...nice huh?!
Mini sisters conference in Lima at the temple!
The missionaries that came out with us when we started and are already ending...boo hoo!
View from the airplane as we fly to Cusco...I will miss the wonderful mountains of Peru.

I know everyone has probably stopped even looking at our blog page it has been so long since I have been able to update it but today is the day and for what its worth we are still alive and kicking down in Peru!

It seems like as we passed the 2 year mark in the mission things started to gear up another notch and go even faster (if that is possible?) Jeff sat down one day and filled out our calendar for the whole entire next year up until the day we leave in July and I am exhausted just looking at it. (So I don't!) I have a gnawing anxiety that I have really neglected to write down all that has happened in these 2 years so far and I don't want this next year to escape us too! I will try to be better. I keep trying to think of ways to keep everyone in the loop but many days I am just too tired to think straight....but my resolution is to do better with this blog page so we shall see how diligent I really am.

I thought I would write down ten things I have learned these past two years that have significantly marked my life:

1. I have a truly awesome and amazing husband who never ceases to keep me on my toes every single day! He has the kind of energy that only the duracell bunny possesses! We go from activity to activity, meeting to meeting where we have to speak and think at a moments notice without warning and he is truly inspiring every time he speaks! I love to listen to his talks as I always learn something new. It is fun to watch the missionaries watch him as they love his counsel too.

2. I am learning patience with myself, with others and with the Lord!

3. I have learned to be less selfish in my wants and as a result I think we are becoming much better as a couple and eternity doesn't seem as long as it used too! The Lord is really teaching us how to be truly happy and it is mostly by the difficult things which we have been asked to pass through together these past 2 years. Its pretty much a refining process!

4. I have learned that this is the Lord's work and that when he promised that he would always be with us and would not leave us comfortless he really does keep his promises! He is especially by our side when we try to share the gospel with others. He will help us to not be afraid and he will show us miracles if we will but only believe in Him and trust Him.

5. I have learned that the Lord loves all his children and is mindful of their special needs and puts people in our paths that will help us in the very moment we need it.

6. I have always loved my chidren but I have learned how very precious and unique they are and that the Lord loves their uniquness too. What a blessing it is to be a parent. More than anything I want us to be together for ever and I want them to be happy. I know that the Lord sometimes he gives us difficult burdens to carry to help us to grow to be more like him. I have learned to accept these burdenss even though as a parent I don't like to see my children suffer.

7. I have learned to trust more in the Lord and less in myself.

8. I have learned that I can live just about anywhere in the world as long as I have hot water and a good pillow under my head!

9. I have learned that friends are a precious comodity that we should never take for granted.

10. I have learned that there is always room in our hearts for more love and it is never wasted when we share it. We should say "I love you" everyday to everyone we come in contact with especially our family.

So to all our family and friends out there in blogland I want you to know how very much we love you all, especially our 5 grandkids, Porter Maya, Bennett, Benjamin, and Ryan!

Happy Father's Day to all the wonderful Dads in our life!

I can't think of a better tribute to these great dads on Father's Day than to say thank you for your wonderful examples, your great love and devotion to your families and especially for making this journey through life so fun for all of us. I love you and I honor you and I never cease to be amazed at the great people you have become. Thanks for making my life so complete and have a wonderful Father's Day with your families!!

I don't know what we did to deserve this but after five of our own kids we suddenly became parents to 200 more!!!

Casey is the oldest Dad in the Elmer family who is outnumbered now 3 to 1 but manages to keep things fun at their house despite the uneven odds!

Dan is wondering if Nephi had as much with his kids as Dan does? Hmmmm?

Will is the newest Dad in the Elmer Family and baby Ryan has worn him out!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAYA!

I know its not a pony but its fun to ride a llama too!

Only Maya could make earrings out of baggage tags!

Maya, the girl with the wild and crazy hair and a personality to match!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BENJI

Cool kid enjoying an ice cream in Lima Perú

Benji hanging on the fence in the Machu Picchu train station

Benji was dying to have a snake of his very own. Can you tell!

Amazing before and afters!!

We really had fun seeing what Hermana Vargas could do with the sisters!

Sister's Conferences in Cusco and Lima

This past week I had 2 sister's conferences--one in Cusco on Monday and another in Lima on the following Tuesday. Both were great! We went to Saksayhuaman and the llama farm in Cusco and then after a week of zone conferences and a district conference in Puerto Maldonado I flew back to Lima for a day at the temple with the sisters and a beauty makeover!!

Okay so I took a few more days off!!

Alot has been happening in our life not to mention General Conference which is the only moment you will see Jeff relaxing on the couch surrounded by all his "comfort foods"!

Gone to the jungle be back soon!

No posts this week but we'll be back on line on Monday the 14th....sweating up a storm in Puerto!
by the way Steph the gun/rifle is a "snake" killer... ask any returned missionary they will know what that means!

A few more photos of what we have been up to...

Went to Sicuani for stake conference with Elder Nash, had change week and then zone leader council and then went to Andahuaylus for another zone conference, back to Lima and then off to Cusco, Abancay for District conference back to Cusco and then off again to Quillabamba and then Valle Sagrado for another district and zone conference and we finally got back today after 12 days of traveling...phew...its our life what can I say!

Sorry we have been away for awhile....

We have had a really busy last couple of months that have gotten the best of me and my blogging but I thought I would post a few pictures of what we have been up to. We had a great visit with Joe and Steph for a week but we mostly saw the inside of the grocery store (Wongs) since it was our big zone leader council and lots of meal planning but I think Steph and Zully and I make a great team! We also went to a stake conference in Sicuani and had a zone conference with the missinoaries there. Beautiful flowers and scenery everywhere!