Perù mìo ("my Peru")

Dear Family,

We just got back from the mall, where we withdrew our monthly funds for the house, pension, transportation, laundry, and other expenses. We took advantage of the moment by eating at the food court - I had a quesadilla burger that turned out pretty nice. The mall is the closest I've gotten to the USA culture I'm used to.

It's a hot one again today, though we did have a cloudy day or two this week. I'm not sure what the temperature is to be exact, but I'd say somewhere around 27 or 28°C (they use the metric system here, which I actually find rather convenient) - between 79 and 81°F or thereabouts.

In making some street contacts here in Pueblo Libre, we talked to a man named Justo Moreno. His family was taking a walk and heading down the same hill we were (though I believe we had set out to return to our room to use the "servicios higienicos"), and we began talking. The sun was setting over the Pacific Ocean in the distance - when the sky turns pink and orange, and the waters purple, reflecting the sunlight off the waves so far away - and I commented on how beautiful it was. We took down his name and address and came by later in the week, discovering that the address he gave us was that of a private school (including "inicial," "primaria," and "secundaria" - or preschool, elementary, and high school equivalents; middle school doesn't exist here) called "Jesus Mi Salvador." Justo let us in, and we talked for a little while. He offered us his facilities for anything we needed, and said that he wanted to have a meeting with all the parents of his students and invite us there. That was pretty neat. He is a friendly, Catholic man, and he talked with missionaries a long time ago. We'll have to wait a week or two in order to see exactly where this goes.

It's March in Peru, and if you take the 6-month difference (occasioned by the tilt of the earth and its orbit around the sun) of time and season, it's something like September in the USA. Therefore, school started today. In Peru, preschool is often skipped. Students enter kindergarten (called "jardìn" here - or just "garden") whenever their parents decide their children are old enough. Including that year, the "primaria" is six years in total, the same as elementary school was for me. When a student finishes fifth grade, they have a graduation party (well, I suppose there's nothing wrong with the celebration of education). They then enter "secundaria," which is equivalent to high school, but is 5 years long. Depending on the age one starts, one can graduate at the age of 15 or 16 (with another party, naturally).

The culture of coming-of-age is a little different here, too. When a young woman turns 15, she has a "quinceañero" (a "fifteener," you could say), which is a large, fancy, birthday party; it includes formal dress, invitations and lots of Salsa dancing. They tell me that 18-year-old men receive the same treatment, but I'm not aware of a word for it and I haven't seen any pictures.

I'm in love with Peru and its people. It almost feels like home. I'm happy to be serving the Lord here, and even when it's hard I love every minute. It's phenomenal what the Lord is making of us through every experience of every day.

Love you,
Elder Withers