Back In Lima!

Justin called home today! We have been able to talk to him more than expected with traveling and this crisis. It was so good to hear his voice! He sounds happy and well. He really wants to go back to Bolivia as soon as it is safe. We are thrilled to hear that. It tells us that his heart is there and with the Bolivian people . I always end all my letters and emails with "love the Bolivian people." As I know that if he can develop that sincere love, he will serve as the Savior would have him serve. Well, it appears that in only a month's time, that has happened and that warms my heart. While in the CCM a couple of months back, he wrote saying that if someone offered him a mission in the states speaking English, he would take it in a second. Now, he does not want to go to the states or anywhere else but Bolivia.
His last Saturday in Bolivia, September 13, 2008, Justin was able to baptize the investigator he mentioned a couple of blogs ago. It was a happy day in spite of all the chaos going on.
One of Justin's pension's and her family came to say goodbye to the missionaries at the airport when they left. She probably wonders if they will see them again. Hopefully.
On Tuesday, September 16, 2008, Justin's first day back in Lima, he and the missionaries (he said there are about 100 North American missionaries serving in Bolivia) met with Elder Nash, the area president. By the way, some of the missionaries that were serving in the Santa Cruz Mission could not get to the airport and were bused to Argentina and Brazil. Santa Cruz is where it was the most violent and dangerous. It sounded like they had a good and encouraging meeting. He said that the names of all the missionaries were sent to Salt Lake for the Quorum of the Twelve to pray about to reassign them to their new areas. They will be finding out where they will be serving by tomorrow. We should get an email from Justin as soon as he knows. In Peru, you can stay for six weeks without a visa. Justin said he actually got permission to stay for ninety days. We will see what happens. For now, we can only email him as we now don't have an address to send him a letter or anything. He did say he got two packages we sent him full of beef jerky and candy. He loved the one full of candy. He was glad he got them in the nick of time! He took them on the plane and shared with the other missionaries, he said they told him to tell us they love us.
Justin said this time in Lima is a lot better than last time. He is able to come and go from the CCM. That has made a big difference. He also said he appreciates the food ALOT better now. He used to think it was awful, but that was before he had the food in Bolivia. He didn't know he had it so good until now, now that he is back eating it again!
We are grateful for the protection of our son and all other missionaries there. We will keep you posted as we hear more.