An Evening with our Retuned Missionaries

A 2 day seminar in Lima included a little time to spend with our returned missionaries.  

It was a wonderful evening, it started with them singing to us.

Missionaries came from Arequipa, Cuzco, Lima and Australia, 

yep that is right, Sister Afoa came from Australia.

 For more pictures, look at Sister Marler's Facebook page, there is an entire album of pictures.

Jennifer Villanueva came with her sweet little baby daughter, who is due to arrive in August!

A wonderful Aji de Gallina meal was prepared by the Huayton Family, 

I can testify the food is great and everyone should try their restaurant in Lima. 

We are so grateful to José Carlos Cano and Christian and Marisol Zavaleta f

or organizing the event for us.  

And a huge thank you to Elder Alarcon (Elder Zavaleta's father-in-law and our dear friend) for joining us at the reunion and arranging for the Lima Tumba Stake Center. 

Most of all thank you to all who came, it was wonderful to see you all, 

to give you hugs and enjoy your company. 

Thank you for the wonderful song, we love the song, "The Army of Helaman"

You are all amazing!

The Top 10 for 2015

Maybe you parents remember the program "America Band Stand," with Dick Clark.

Every New Years Eve he would do a countdown of the best songs of the year, ending with the top 10.

I think everyone listened to see if their favorite song would be number one.

This year we present:
President and Sister Marler's Top 10
(in no particular order)

 #1 The Trujillo Temple Dedication and Cultural Event
and the Fenn's

President Uchtdorf was here to dedicate the temple.

 ...and little did we know this would be the last time we would see our dear friends, 

the Waddel's in Peru. Elder Waddel was called to be in the Presiding Bishopric of the Church in the October General Conference. 

 #2 A Reunion with our past missionaries.

Thanks to the Temple Dedication we were able to have a reunion with missionaries.  

From near and far they came, it was such a joy to have them all here.

#3 Family came to visit us in Trujillo.

Kim, Arnie, AJ and Riley came in January

Jenny, Conor, Aiden and Elli joined us in May.

Karen and Steve visited in March and we found connections in our mission
 to Steve's mission in Argentina.
Elder Andia's family was a special part of Steve's mission.

Becky, JJ, Michael, Gunnar, Jorden, Axel and Addy came in July.
Which brings us to #4 going to the temple with my Dad's name.
Michael holds his card.

 #5, new missionaries arrive every 6 weeks,
a highlight of our mission experience.
We love adding to the mission family.

#6 adding two new grand babies to the family,
Blake in April

and Will in December.

#8 Baptisms: we love welcoming new members into the family of Christ.  

The Work of the Lord is rolling forth as members and missionaries work together to provide firm

foundations for new members.

 



 # 9 The mission re-organization, it was so hard to say good-bye to nearly 1/2 of our missionaries on July 1.  We are so grateful for the growth of the Church and the need to have 2 missions in Trujillo.  We said some tearful good-byes.

Then welcomed new missionaries from the Chiclayo Mission.
They were in the Cajamarca Stake and Guadalupe District.
We also welcoming the President of the Trujillo Sur Mission, President Rios and his wife.

#10 the opportunity to go to the temple and witness the sealing of eternal families.

We have been blessed to have two of our missionaries sealed here in Trujillo, and also several families that we have come to know and love. 

#11 exito!
A quick fishing moment.
(the fish is down by the rock)

#12 a turn around moment home.

 

 #13 all of our magnificent missionaries, who make this experience exceptional.

We have so much love and appreciation for each and every one of you we

have had the opportunity to serve with.

As of December 31, we have had 544 missionaries serve with us.

#14 Serving a mission with my best friend, we love being here together and serving every day.
OK, so I couldn't do it in 10, but Top 14 didn't have the same ring to it!