Feliz Navidad

Muchísimas Gracias to Rob's sister Kristi who sent this very cute banner to brighten up our apartment!

Merry Christmas Everyone

This week found us working at our desks all week, trying to play "catch-up" after being out of the office for 2 weeks. Rob was going to take a picture of Mary banging her head on her desk in frustration as she was trying to enter a complicated bill into the computer, but he forgot. It is probably a really simple procedure for someone who knows how, but with the language, procedural, banking, tax law, and cultural barriers, simple tasks can be quite difficult at times for those of us who grew up in another country than in the one where we now reside.

We spent time searching for boxes to send some surplus computers and printers to an organization in another part of Peru that helps disabled children and teens. They will use the computers to help these young people improve their computer skills and hopefully improve their opportunities to become gainfully employed in the future. There are so many wonderful organizations and people here who are working to help others who are less fortunate.

Mary had the opportunity to leave the office on Friday afternoon to visit a Women's Shelter for teenage girls. A few sisters from the Relief Society from Church had the opportunity to take some gifts and treats to the girls who reside there. It was a really nice, clean, safe place for these girls and their babies to be living during this difficult time of their lives. In this shelter, they have the opportunity to continue their education and hopefully be able to improve their lives for the future. The young women there were so gracious and appreciative of our Relief Society's visit and quite a few of them expressed their appreciation with warm hugs and kisses. Mary couldn't help but love all of those girls she met that day and was grateful for that opportunity.

Photos:
*Beautiful Nativity in front of the Lima Temple.  
*Since most homes here don't have fireplaces, Santa rappels into the homes.

This morning we went to the Lima airport at 6:00 a.m. to meet our youngest daughter, Natalie, and her husband Brad who have come to spend their Christmas break from BYU with us. We will be out of the office for the next two weeks exploring Peru with Natalie and Brad. They arrived a little bleary-eyed, but after they passed through immigration and customs we were able to drop their suitcases at our apartment and make it to church, arriving just as the opening hymn was beginning.

We wish you our friends, family, colleagues, and strangers who have somehow happened upon this blog, a very Merry Christmas. We invite you to take the time to reflect on the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ, more than two-thousand years ago and His redeeming mission of mercy.