Elder Scott Learning, Living and Sharing the Gospel in Perú: Two weeks have come and gone....sometimes at a snail's pace

Elder Scott with President and Sister Moore
at the Lima CCM

Elder Scott has been in Trujillo for 2 weeks now, and if I've learned one thing for certain, it's this: The internet is slooow, we're talking snail-pace slow. He has 1 hour once a week to e-mail home, and during that time he has been trying to upload photos and journal entries. Unfortunately, last week no photos came through and this week only 1 day of journal entries along with a handful of pictures from 2 weeks ago in the CCM finished downloading. The computer showed he would have needed another 2 hours and 47 minutes for the rest to complete. Hopefully next week goes a little faster with a little more information. That's okay though! I'll take whatever I can get. I'm just thrilled every Monday when I get to hear from my oldest boy! He wants everyone else to know he's sorry if you haven't heard from him. It's been quite a challenge to even send us a few lines of information.

Here's what I do know. The first couple of weeks were a little challenging. During week 1, homesickness was a real struggle as Elder Scott learned how to adjust to the many changes he was facing. Don't get me wrong, he loves Perú and the people he's met in Perú, it's just a change from what he's used to, and it took a little time to sort that out in his mind and heart. He said today that it's starting to get a lot better.

To start off week 2 Elder Scott got hit with a horrible flu-like sickness. I asked for a few details, but he refused to give me a mini recap telling me that I would have to wait until those journal entries made it to me. That might be 1 week or another 22 months. I guess I'll have to wait and see, but he promises it's quite a good story so I'll be patient for all the details.

One really exciting thing for Elder Scott was they finally installed hot water into their apartment. He was thrilled at the prospect of finally taking a luke-warm shower. The only problem was he discovered that when the faucet was turned on, that faucet became electrified causing it to blow the fuse for the whole apartment building meaning no lights for anyone. Whoops!!

One other fun thing this week was his companion, Elder Parra, took him to a massive store that he said was a cross between a Walmart crossed with a Sears crossed with a Target. He was in heaven and found super cheap, super delicious Oreo's and Heinz ketchup imported from America. It was like Christmas morning for him! I think he ate a whole sleeve of Oreo's that night to celebrate. They say it's the little things, right?

One entry that did manage to download really touched my heart. It's messages like these that clarify the importance of the work Elder Scott is doing in Perú. He loves the Savior and he loves teaching others about the Savior. Even though the language is still a little rough, people understand what he is saying, and the importance of the message he is sharing.

"It’s amazing the sacrifice that our Savior did for us. He set the perfect example. Even in his last moments of suffering he had mercy and love, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” How hard would that have been to say? “Forgive them.” After being whipped, abused, spit on, nailed and hung on a cross, a sword in his side, a crown of thorns, “forgive them.” That is the ultimate example of love. I need to remember this more in my life, especially when I partake in the sacrament. Jesus is our Savior. He is my Lord.

It is his greatest desire that all of God's children come to know and believe this. Jesus Christ was and is the perfect example. He loves us. So much so that He died for us so that we may one day return to live with him. No one but a perfect Son of God had that power. No one could else could have done this for us, only our Savior. He is the ultimate example of love.