The Lima Peru LDS Temple Mission: Christmas will come for some, others maybe not...

Favorite recent and insightful quote I have read recently:

Favorite quote I have recently read: "The word temple comes from the Latin templum, which signifies an extended open space that has been marked out for the observation of the sky. In what manner is such a space marked out? According to Dr. Hugh Nibley, the word templum, "designates a building specifically designed for interpreting signs in the heavens--a sort of observatory where one gets one's bearings on the universe." The root "tem-" in Greek and Latin denotes a "cutting" or intersection of two lines at right angles, the point where the "cardo" and "decumanus" cross, hence where the four regions come together." Matthew Brown - "The Gate of Heaven"

Friday, December 17, 2010

Christmas will come for some, others maybe not...

We met Peruvian friends for dinner here last night. It is across a very busy and noise street from the temple but one of our favorite places. It is called Pardos Chicken. There was a Quechua grandmother selling candy bars along with her 8 year old grandson named Juan Carlos. I asked him how many soles for one of his bars and he said "cinquenta." He meant cinquenta centimos but I had no coins and the smallest bill in my wallet was a cinquenta soles or a 'fifty' which I gave him and said, "No vuelte, no cambio, Feliz Navidad." He allowed me to take his picture then ran back across the street where there were two older boys observing the transaction. It did not help that he waved the bill in the air in plain sight. You can guess what happened while we were inside dining. When we finished dinner the boy was with his grandmother, his sister, and mother waiting there for us. The grandmother was quite upset and I did not understand a single word other than some "por favor senior..." as they explained what had happened to the boy's money. I gave Juan Carlos another 50 soles bill and asked for an abrazo which he was happy to give. A smile with some uncertainty returned to his face. I thought about the six grandsons and one granddaughter at home and Jack, who is just a little older than Juan. The boy had his backpack on with who knows in it, maybe more of those cheap candy bars? Maybe a toy, a favorite hero figure, or a ball, I don't know. It is the summer break from school right now and I hope he goes somewhere when it is in session.

Jimena and Christian with RuthAnn and I at Pardos

Juan Carlos and his grandmother in traditional dress.

Presidential elections are soon coming to Peru and the federal government has been accused of manufacturing statistics suggesting the poverty level has been reduced from 50 to 35 per cent in the last five years. Independent observers suggest otherwise. Those in the middle and upper economic classed by some external standards are doing well. Locals tell of more shopping malls going up and more new car dealerships are in evidence. Still 20% of the population lives on less than one dollar a day according World Bank statistics. I hope Christmas came for one little boy in Lima this year.