Life as a Missionary

This week has gone by fast. People are asking us why we are not traveling to five different countries and teaching about genealogy. Our title still remains Northwest South America Family History Directors.

Recently a New Family History Manual, (Leader's Guide to Family History and Temple Work) and videos were released by the church. This is the training leaders are encouraged to use. It it very detailed and has videos that are excellent. You can find these items on the church web site. The goal is to help converts, less active members, and active members find family names.  There are also full time church employees with our same title.  So, it is necessary to be a little sensitive about stepping on anyone's toes.   

We are assigned to the archives at this time because that is where the work is.  Eighty percent of the names that come to the temple are from projects like we are working on.  Church members just don't supply enough names to keep the ever increasing number of temples busy.  We learned in the MTC that missions assignments are often changed in the MTC or in the mission field. We are serving where we are needed most, and glad to be a part of this great work. There is a great need in the mission field for Family History Record Preservation Missionaries. In reality, we have the best of both worlds. We get to see lots of people each day at street level and have fun doing it.  

We are out and about each day by 6:20 AM with the Peruvian people. Is is fun and exciting.  Each bus tip is like an E-Ticket ride at Disney World.  Most the missionary couples are assigned to the temple or the church administration building. They are limited in their contact with the local people. Our association with the people is at a completely different level.

Here are some pictures from yesterday's travel:

About 25, buses,  half double parked,  ready to unload 200 passengers, and then the scramble to make a connection.