Week in Review - July 3, 2016 - July 9, 2016

I don't know what to write!  This last week has been one interesting week that followed a very interesting week in the mission.  President Silva is getting comfortable where he is, and is taking charge on many different things.  This last week we had a Mission Leaders Meeting in which all the Zone Leaders and Sister Training Leaders came to the mission office and had our usual (ward council) type of meeting.  This is a monthly meeting that we always have, but this time was a bit different because it was President and Sister Silva's first one.  

It has been somewhat interesting in these last few weeks, as I have been helping President Silva with things I thought I would never be doing.  i.e. Helping coordinate an early release for a missionary, explaining District (Small Stake) business, missionary applications for Tarma, General Mission and Office Rules and Regulations, Local Laws, etc... Its been a hoot!  There have been some times on some serious matters where I have just told President Silva that it needs to be like this, or like that, and he would just look at me and go... Elder Holmes, I have no choice but to trust you!  Im still not quite sure!....... Truth be told though, he is getting a grip on this pretty well, and pretty fast.  Just a matter of time.  

I am attaching below a photo of the latest in the Immigrations Offices in Lima.  Yes, that is Christian Sulcaray fighting to get President Henderson and Sister Henderson home.  After a successful trip to Cusco the Henderson's have plans to come home TODAY(Saturday) but still had some immigration paperwork to work on.  Well, Perú (who has been voted as the most advanced passport for South America Bar None) had a problem with their Immigration system making everyone in the last 3 months who ordered this new SOTA Electronic Passport, pick them up.  All on the same day, at the same time.  Approximately 3000 residents flooded the Immigrations offices in Lima on Friday (The day the Henderson's need to go there for their own paperwork.)  What does Perú do?  Well, they close down their only Airport Emergency Immigrations office a few days extra for remodeling in the Airport, and the others either closed down for stress, or simply took them out of the 3000 line, one at a time.  All worked out, but its a mess!

Luckily in the States our immigrations offices are the Postal Offices, and there aren't that many people outside rioting.  But whatever!  

The rest of the week has been busy, but not much to report.  I´m finishing my reports and revising my documents that the Area checked off when they came up to my office a few weeks ago to audit me.  Just a bit left to make everything perfect again.  

Love you all!

Elder Holmes
Misión Perú Huancayo

2 Weeks in Review - June 19, 2016 - July 2, 2016

Elder Holmes was able to send us a video of what went on the last 2 weeks with a new mission president that arrived last week. He had been very busy. This great video sums it all. Enjoy!! (The video was over the size amount that Blogger allows, so please follow this link, it is about 10 minutes long:

Elder Holmes Video Update of the Last 2 Weeks 

Elder Holmes also sent us a few videos of the market place in Huancayo, Peru. It was a fun watch and to listen to Elder Holmes speak his Spanish.

Peru Market - Part One - 5 minutes long

Peru Market - Part Two - 9 minutes long

Peru Market - Part Three - 14 minutes long

Birthday Dinner for several of the Elders

Birthday Dinner for several of the Elders

President and Sister Henderson

President and Sister Henderson

Multi-Zone Conference Dinner

Mission Home

Mission Home

Mission Home

Mission Home

One last hike with the Henderson's

Harvey - the taxi driver for the missionaries

Henderson's bags are packed

New Mission President and his wife, The Silva's

Incoming and Outgoing

Until me meet again....

Week in Review - June 12, 2016 - June 18, 2016

This last week I had told you that I would be going to La Merced (Jungle) and Huanuco, as part of the going away multi-zones for our Mission President Henderson and his wife.  Well, it was an adventure!  A few shining hours of fun in the jungle (Quite literally) and the rest traveling, planning, fixing problems, etc... Hope the pictures do justice...

On Monday we left from Huancayo to La Merced, a journey of about 5 hours, and then got to La Merced and had our quick P-Day to a local set of Waterfalls that I know from a while back... That is on the map below....

The multi-zone went well in La Merced, We ate at a place called Miraflores (Look at the flowers) of which I included pictures.  Ate at a few other places, including Oxen, a restuarante that is owned by British people and they will even speak to you in English! Really Good Food and Milkshakes.  That evening when we got to La Merced we celebrated my birthday, surprise in El Refugio.  Birthday Cake, nice dinner, etc... 

The following day, we traveled from La Merced to Huanuco, one of the worst traveling routes EVER.  About 6 hours and you just don't want to repeat it if you can.  That is shown below.  If you zoom out you can see that trip visibly from the Space Station.  Yes, it was a large travel.  

We get to Huanuco!  All in all things went well over there, I wont lie.  I don't miss Huanuco. But, it was a nice nostalgic moment to be there.  Multi-Zone went well, and very little to report outside of that.  I worked on some immigrations on the way, did some flights, etc... Pretty Productive.  

Also, worthy of mention - our taxi driver that takes us everywhere and takes us to Huatapayllana is getting baptized this week, but required a Special interview from President Henderson for some past issues. Well, just to we know who schedules those special interviews, and when he can do it... So when he was with us in Huanuco, he had his special Interview, and passed!  we are planning the baptism for this evening (Saturday) if all goes well.  He is the husband of our Pensions daughter who is a member, and now they will all be members.  Yea! 

The following day, we returned back to Huancayo.  Home sweet home.  All is well!  the office renovations are FINISHED!  They finished while we were gone (But they stole my chair, I'm still fighting that one) but all is well.  Transfers start today (Saturday) and we will be running on battery power until after the new president comes in on the following week.  Woah.  FYI, I will write, but it might be at odd hours/days based on change in Mission Presidency.  

All in all, we are tired, but keep on pushing on. 

Love you all!

Elder Holmes

Secretario Personal

Misión Perú HUancayo

 

Week in Review - June 5, 2016 - June 11, 2016

So, in the United States the voting process is finished within 24 hours of it starting.  The winner is chosen, and life moves on.  Not here!

It took 5 days, helicoptering votes in, and just watching the votes trickle in little by little. Woah, so for this being the second round, it was extremely close.  Below it says - General Resume of Presidential Elections - 2016

PPK Won: 50.124%
Keiko Lost: 49.876%

IS this a good thing?  Only time will tell.  For the moment it means nothing for us, but on July 28th when they Inaugurate the new President PPK, it might be a bit fun outside.  Other than that, I don't think many things will change.  

We decided which mountain peak we would climb based off of the 3-D rendered images on Google, to see if it was good or not.  So we went!

Changos Bajo.  Took a taxi ride for about 20 minutes to get there (it was a pueblito pretty far out) met at the base of the mountain, and begun the steep climb.  There was no path, we simply climbed to the top of the mountain, (loaded with Cactus and Very Sticky Plants that don't show up in Google Maps) and just made it to the top of the mountain.  Very beautiful view from Jauja (Airport City near Huancayo) to Huancavelica Valley Entrance.  

The rest of the week was filled with planning for the next wave of transfers, Bus Tickets, Plane Tickets, early releases, newbies, etc.... Ugh.  The Office Renovation will pick up speed again when the second shipment of supplies arrive, but until then we are waiting on about 80% completion.  

FYI:  Next week starting on Monday, we will be taking our real P-DAY, but I am doing internet today.  Reason being, is that for the Last Set of Multi-Zones we will be touring the mission with President Henderson, and taking care of a few things in the cities we pass along the way, making sure everything goes over smoothly.  So, this next Monday we will be leaving bright and early to La Merced (Jungle) to get things started over there for the Multi-Zones on Tuesday.  Then on Wednesday we will be on our way to Huanuco for the other corner of the mission, another 7 hours away for another chunk of the mission and their Multi-Zones.  

Slowly but surely things are coming together.  I will hopefully be able to send pictures of our InterMisison Adventures this next Saturday, just know that it will be crazy that day, because the day we get back, we have to begin with the transfers of those who leave the mission, and those who come in. 

Love you all!
-Elder Holmes