Misión Perú Lima Central
Free resources about the Peru Lima Central Mission:
Aquí están algunos recursos gratuitos sobre la Misión Perú Lima Central:
- Mission address and phone number
- Mission map
- Video interviews with returned missionaries
- Missionary blogs
- Facebook groups
- LDS Mission t-shirts and gifts
- List of past mission presidents
- Cultural articles written by returned missionaries
- Survey with RMs
*Other Mission Pages: Peru LDS Missions.
Peru Lima Central Mission Address
Here’s a recent address for the Lima Central Mission. We try to keep this information up to date, but it’s a good idea to check the address with several sources, including your mission packet or the mission office.
Perú Lima Central Mission
Ave Juan De Aliaga 510
Esquina Javier Padro Oeste
Magdalena del Mar
Lima 17 Perú
Phone Number: 51-1-494-7500
Mission President: President Stephen J. Larson
Peru Lima Central Mission Map
Here’s a link to the mission map for the Peru Lima Central Mission (LDS). To access the official, up-to-date LDS.org map for the Lima Central Mission:
Videos with Lima Central RMs
Here are in-depth YouTube video interviews with returned missionaries from the Lima Central Mission. We interview hundreds of returned missionaries each year, so check back regularly to see new RM interviews.
LDS-Friendly Videos about Peru
Here are LDS-friendly educational videos about Peru. We scoured YouTube to find the best quality videos about Peru, that are free from inappropriate music, immodesty and profanity.
Lima Central Missionary Blogs
Here’s a list of LDS missionary blogs for the Lima Central Mission. This list includes the missionary’s name, URL and when their blog was updated.
Peru Lima Central Mission Groups
Here are Lima Central Mission Groups- for LDS missionary moms, returned missionaries, mission presidents and other alumni of the Lima Central Mission.
- Mission Peru Lima Central Facebook Group (582 members)
- Lima Central Pres. Stephen Tyler 2009-12 Group (484 members)
- Mision Peru Lima Central 1994-2000 Group (478 members)
- Mision Peru Lima Central Facebook Group (443 members)
- Lima Central Mission President Borg Group (249 members)
- Mision Peru Lima Central Facebook Group (77 members)
- Mision Peru Lima Central Facebook Group (32 members)
- Peru Lima Central Mission Moms (LDS) Group (5 members)
Peru Lima Central Mission T-Shirts
Here are T-shirts for the Peru Lima Central Mission!
Shirt designs include Peru Lima Central Mission logo/emblem shirts and Called to Serve shirts. The shirts make great gifts for pre-missionaries, returned missionaries and missionaries currently serving. LDS Mission shirts come in all sizes: Small, Medium, Large, Extra Large, up to 4XL. The mission designs are printed on white shirts and are shipped to you.
*Simply click on a shirt design to view the details and submit an order. The designs on mission t-shirts may also be printed on other LDS mission gifts, including: Peru Lima Central missionary aprons, Christmas stockings, ties, pillow cases, teddy bears and Christmas ornaments.
*Click here to browse Lima Central Mission gifts
Lima Central Mission Presidents
Here’s a list of current and past Mission Presidents of the Lima Central Mission.
- 2015-2018, Stephen J. Larson
- 2012-2015, Alan M. Borg
- 2009-2012, Stephen H. Tyler
- 2006-2009, Jeffrey C. Elmer (Listen to an interview with the Elmers)
- 2003-2006, Spencer L. Weston
- 2000-2003, Brent Pratt Thomas
- 1997-2000, Miguel F. Rojas
- 1994-1997, Carlos A. Cuba
Peru LDS Statistics (2015)
- Church Membership: 557,328
- Missions: 12
- Temples: 2
- Congregations: 774
- Family History Centers: 125
Helpful Articles about Peru
Peru Lima Central Missionary Survey
Here are survey responses from Peru Lima Central RMs, to give you a snapshot into what it’s like to live in the mission.
*Click here to take a survey to help pre-missionaries going to your mission.
When did you serve?
- July 2012-June 2014 (Shad)
- February 2013 (Linda)
- 2005-2007 (Palmer)
- 2004-2006 (Jessica)
- 2000-2002 (David)
- October 2000-May 2002 (Johana)
- 2008-2010 (Karen)
What areas did you serve in?
- Lima [Zarumilla (Palao), Elio (Magdalena)] Picchu Alto (Cusco), Vallecito (Sicuani) San Jeronimo (Andahuylas). (David)
- Lima, puesto Maldonado, Cusco. (Johana)
- Lima. (Karen)
What were some favorite foods?
- Lomo Saltado, Inca Kola, Carapulcra, Chaufa, chicharrones de pescado, Maracuiya. (Shad)
- Ají de Gallina, Papa a la Huancaina y Causa. (Linda)
- Tallarin con pollo, biscochos….(Palmer)
- Arroz Chaufa, Papa a la Huancaína, Papa Rellena, Anticuchos, Lomo Saltado, Bistek a lo Pobre. (Jessica)
- Tallarines verdes, arroz con pollo, aji de gallina, chicharron de pota, lomo saltado, salchipapas, papa rellena, chifa, arroz chaufa. (Pierina)
- Arroz Tapado, Papa La Huancaina, Arroz Chaufa, Inca Kola, Choco Soda y Sublime. (David)
- Aji de gallina. (Johana)
- Papas a la huanchina, just about everything. (Karen)
What was a funny experience?
- All of my sectors were places where nobody visits and few people want to live. In one of my areas, my companion and I were running in the morning and a lady flagged us down from her door. She then tried to tell us in English that we were in a very dangerous area and we should leave immediately. (My companion was from Bolivia, fairly white though). We let her know we spoke some Spanish and she was very adamant about us leaving immediately…to go to a safer place. We assured her we would and continued our run. We found it pretty funny considering that was the safest part of our sector. (Shad)
- Una vez caminando por el parque Castilla en Lince había una chica con un letrero que decía DAME UN ABRAZO mi compañera y yo no le hicimos caso, cuando de repente esta chica se acercó a mi compañera y le dijo dame un abrazo y se acercó y la abrazó de repente unas 10 personas más entre hombres y mujeres se acercaron y también la abrazaron y gritaron WE LOVE YOU!! fue muy chistoso ver la cara de mi compañera porque hombres las estaban abrazando. (Linda)
- HACER CONTACTOS Y EL PDAY. (Palmer)
- Every day there was something. Peruvians like to laugh and they have a great sense of humor. It just doesn’t always translate well. (Jessica)
- We were waiting out side the door of a sister so we were laughing and a strong wind came and it made my skirt go up and the light was red so there was a lot of people watching us, that was so embarrassing!!! (Pierina)
- We were on the top of a hill outside of Cusco knocking doors. As the man opened the door a large dog jumped out at me to bite me. Now I know that you don’t mess with Peruvian dogs so I took a short leap backwards and went tumbling down the hill literally doing cartwheels. There was a good 50 foot drop off down to a road, but I got stopped by a small tree before going over the edge. I am sure it was amusing to open your door and see a gringo rolling down the hill. (David)
- Going into the jungle for a canopy walk with the Tyler’s. We were dressed for a rough day. Sister Tyler wore a white skirt. At the end of the experience we were muddy and grubby….but Sister Tyler’s skirt was still nice and white. (Karen)
What was a crazy experience?
- This could also fit in as a funny experience. I’m 6’4″ and I have a pretty large build. We were walking in the most dangerous area of our sector. Lots of drugs and wannabe gangsters. We passed an intersection where there were about 15 of the so-called gangsters and they started talking about us and pointing in our direction. One of them suggested to the others that they should rob us. He just said “hey, what about them?” Gesturing to us. Immediately over half the others exclaimed, “NO!!! That big white guy would kill all of us!!” My companion and I had a pretty good laugh. (Shad)
- Una vez regresando a la casa hubo escuchamos disparos eran unos ladrones que dos cuadras antes estaban por ahí robando. (Linda)
- CUANDO LOS PERROS TE MORDIAN. (Palmer)
- So this guy came up and started talking to us in the streets one day, and of course I’m doing my best to chat him up and see if he’s interested in hearing about the Gospel. We’d begun doing “street contacting” so we had kind of an abbreviated version of the first discussion that we’d go over with people, but this guy kept trying to get us to walk a different way. He’d chat with us and try to change directions but my companion, a Limeña, kept tugging me toward a main thoroughfare. I gave him a Book of Mormon (which he kept trying to give back), and I guess that and our ever increasing proximity to more traffic is what kept us safe. My companion said he had a knife in his pocket and he’d reached for it a couple of times only for me to be pulled away, but once he had the Book of Mormon in his hands it made it a lot harder for him to try something. I was clueless. And also struck by the knowledge that the man would have attacked me in vain. He saw a rich gringa. He had no way of knowing I had a grand whopping total of 1/2 sol in my coin bag, because we never carried around more than we needed, and that was just enough to get us a moto from one end of our area to the other in case we needed to get somewhere quicker than we could on foot. (Jessica)
- I was going to study language with my companion so we were just talking about the lesson we had. So two guys were Hi Elders!! One gave us his hand and he was in front of us so we did shake his hand and he tried to kiss me but I didn’t notice. We kept walking to our house and we noticed that they were following us and when we got to the owner and she said hide here and they were waiting for us. Nothing happened but we were scared!! (Pierina)
- Crossing roads in Lima without any sort of crosswalk (work on your timing it is a little like frogger). (David)
- Riding with President Tyler through a rock slide. (Karen)
What was a spiritual experience?
- Bearing pure testimony. It’s a different feeling than just stating something. When your heart truly extends to those you teach, it is touched by the Spirit. (Shad)
- Estando en el consejo de barrio un día una hna nos llamó porque nos buscaba una persona cuando salimos era una señora que no sabía que hacer con su hija mayor que estaba rebelde, más tarde ese día fuimos a la casa de esa hna y justo cuando estábamos ahí su hija regresó y le pudimos dar las charlas a la familia completa que luego se bautizó. (Linda)
- Cuando alguien aceptaba el bautismo y daban su testimonio. (Palmer)
- I have a hard time sharing these, because they are so personal, so subtle. I can’t explain them. Words don’t work. But there were many spiritual experiences. Small moments that felt like being run over by a train that no one else even noticed because we were just reading our scriptures. Moments of silence and then suddenly an investigator was crying because they’d never been so touched. Moments that made me realize I had a testimony about something I’d never stopped to consider. Moments of insight into another person’s life that may have been visionary or wishful thinking, and I have chosen to believe the first. Stepping off the plane in Cuzco and feeling something different than I’ve ever felt before. They don’t make for great stories because there’s not really a beginning or an end or a plot. They just *were*. And they were real, and profound. You’ll understand what I mean when you’re looking back, trying to find good talk fodder or maybe filling out a questionnaire like this for yourself. (Jessica)
- We got a referral from the secretary of referrals and we contacted the referral right away. We felt that we should invite her to get baptize and we did and the member who was with us shared his testimony about his baptism and she said I want this for my life. I was waiting for this my whole life! It’s like fresh water in the desert. We couldn’t believe it. She got baptized and she is a great person!! (Pierina)
- Watching the look of hope come into the eyes of the people who had previously had none. Hearing a man tell a missionary that God had sent him to save his family and they were planning to go to the temple. (David)
- La última capacitación en conferencia de zona que di. (Johana)
What are some interesting facts about the Lima Central Mission?
- Most of the sectors I had were slightly larger or smaller than the acreage my family has at home. You can’t breathe because of the pollution. Peruvians think saying “What’s up man” over and over never gets old. You will go insane because of the lack of geographic area in a sector, but you will never meet everyone who lives in those 4×6 blocks. Your not in Kansas anymore. (Shad)
- Es la segunda misión más pequeña del mundo. (Linda)
- Las personas a quienes conocí, ayude a convertirse al evangelio y a activarse. (Palmer)
- We had some strange, oddly situationally specific rules in our mission. Like, missionaries were specifically not allowed to ride on the roofs of buses. I can only assume that someone did that at some point, because it doesn’t strike me as a rule you just come up with in order to have more rules. Our mission covered two major areas: parts of Lima, and the provincias of Cuzco, Madre de Dios, and Apurimac. Sometimes, the Peruvian Elders and Sisters wanted to go to the provincias more than anything else, because they’d lived their entire lives in Lima and had never technically left the city’s boundaries, and they wanted to know what it would be like. The mission’s been split now, the Lima areas incorporated into other Lima missions and a new Peru Cuzco mission. (Jessica)
- We are the smallest mission in the world, we have Cornelios, we are a mission who focus on the eternal progress of the converts and we help them to go to the temple and use their own names, we help them to understand that baptism is not the only thing they need to do and we are the best mission in the world!!! (Pierina)
- El servicio prestado a las personas, el vivir sin preocupaciones como que ropa comprar o ponerse?, como pagar el alquiler? Entre otras, el ir a cantar en Navidad a un orfanato en Cusco, el conocer íntimamente a las personas, su honestidad y confianza. (Johana)
- My husband and I worked in the office. We were in awe of the responibility the missionaries took on. My husband served in Peru as a young elder March 1961 -September 1963. He was in the old mission home, which we were able to visit. We feel one of the hardest callings in the Church is Mission President. We loved being able to be sealed in the Lima Temple and having President and Sister Elmer there and 14 of our missionaries. (Karen)
What was the weather like?
- The sun would come out for part of the summer and then never show its face again. There is a permanent mist/smog over Lima. It never rains, only a light sprinkle. One time it almost rained and half the streets were flooded. (Shad)
- El clima en Enero es caluroso ya para Julio era frío húmedo y con poca lluvia. (Linda)
- MUCHO CALOR, FRIÓ. (Palmer)
- Incredibly hot and humid in Lima. It never rained, but 100% humidity IS a thing that happens. You can walk around and suddenly feel moisture on your skin that isn’t from you. Like rain, only there are no clouds and no droplets hitting the ground. In Cuzco, it went the other way. It was fiercely cold when I was there, though there wasn’t much snow to speak of. Be prepared for anything. (Jessica)
- All the time it is cloudy and humid. The winter is cold and humid. Summer is so hot but the best thing is the wind. (Pierina)
- Lima was very humid and could get hot, air quality was not great. Sicuani and Cusco were very cold. We slept in layers and I wore a scarf around my neck and gloves while sleeping in addition to many blankets. No real water heaters so showering could be exciting from time to time. (David)
- Weather was great. Our apartment got chilly because of the cement walls and no heater. Cusco did get cold. Winters in Lima was in high 50’s at night in the winter. Summers were wonderful. (Karen)
Any things you really like about the area/people?
- Lots of fresh food. Almost everyone in my mission seemed to be an accomplished chef. (Shad)
- Me gustó la gente muy abierta y el clima. (Linda)
- DE LUGAR, QUE HAY MUCHAS PERSONAS A QUIEN AYUDAR, A PESAR DE QUE NO TODOS NO ATENDÍAN,OS QUE SI LO HACÍAN LLEGABAN A SER MEJORES PERSONAS. (Palmer)
- I recently read over a journal entry I recorded my first night out of the MTC in Lima. It had been a long morning, which meant a short day teaching. We didn’t have time for any appointments really, so my companion took me around and introduced me to people in our area. I don’t remember many of the names or things they said to me (mostly because I could only follow about as far as “Hola” and “Como esta?”) but I remember as we went around, I realized preparations were being made for a birthday party. We met a baker, and something was said about a cake for that night, someone else was to go around inviting people, it was apparently a spur of the moment type thing. One person we met was to provide music, then finally we met someone setting up decorations. There wasn’t haggling over money, there wasn’t an attitude of “Ugh, do I have to?” and that touched me. The sense of *community* was something strange and foreign to me. I learned quickly that Peruvians LOVE to party. They love to gather, to dance, to laugh and enjoy each other’s company, share good food and good stories. They are a warm, inviting people. They want to get to know you, they want you to remember them, and joke with them and laugh with them and smile with them. Family is a big deal. Children continue to live with their parents and grandparents even when they’ve established themselves in a good career, to help strengthen the safety net for the rest of the family living there, or to help care for the elderly. They’re a people that work together. It is very rare to find someone living in isolation. Youngsters don’t “strike off on their own” to make their fortune, and those that do tend to not do very well emotionally. Everyone is connected to someone else- deeply connected. As a missionary, those connections are both a blessing and a curse, because if just one person chooses to embrace the Gospel, they inevitably start a chain reaction that can spread across many families; but those chains sometimes hold people back when their family has set themselves against the Church. But still, I always admired that community, the way they looked out for each other. (Jessica)
- How they are open, they like to meet people and to help them although they don’t know us, they are great people! (Pierina)
- Peruvians are the most humble and giving people I have ever met. They are firmly committed to God and help the missionaries with the work. They would also give you the shirt off of their own backs. They are very accepting. I almost feel more Peruvian than American some days. (David)
- El amor de la gente, el cliema, el respeto y la comida. (Johana)
- We loved the people and our missionaries. Our dream is to return and serve another mission there. We still are in touch with some of our friends that we became close to there. (Karen)
Any packing/clothing advice?
- Don’t bring a coat or umbrella. Bring a few long sleeved shirts and maybe a few dress sweaters for when it gets colder. (Shad)
- En época de frío llevar ropa muy abrigada. (Linda)
- LO NECESARIO, CHOMPA, SUERTERS. (Palmer)
- At the time I served, our mission covered areas of Lima and the provinces of Cuzco and Madre de Dios, possibly one other. When in Lima, I needed light clothing that breathed well. It never even rained, and the temperature ranged from “light jacket” weather at night during the coldest time of year, to oppressively hot, nonstop. However, in Cuzco, heavy duty cold weather gear was definitely necessary. A good coat, thermal underwear, gloves, earmuffs, a hat, all of it. Also multiple pairs of shoes, since there would be frequent sudden rainstorms that would literally flood the streets and completely drench everything from the knees down. The rain would subside after a few minutes, the flooded streets would be clear not long afterward, but shoes and socks went beyond unpleasant to outright unhealthy to walk in afterward. A good umbrella and a rain poncho were also musts. Basically, you have to be ready for both extremes, or at least have some money set aside to purchase additional gear if it becomes necessary. (Jessica)
- Just the things they ask us to bring but it depends of the person. (Pierina)
- Nothing special, the church gives great advice. We rarely used our suit coats. (David)
- Viajar ligeros, adaptarse a las normas, si vas a hacer algo sométete y hazlo bien. (Johana)
- Weather was great. Our apartment got chilly because of the cement walls and no heater. Cusco did get cold. Winters in Lima was in high 50’s at night in the winter. Summers were wonderful.
- For me, I would find a way to pack more chocolate chips. I regret I did not keep track of how many dozen cookies I baked. (Karen)
What blessings did you receive from serving a mission?
- Taking a step back from life gives you a new perspective in regards to who you should be and what is truly important. Gained a deeper understanding of the scriptures and I was present to witness many miracles. (Shad)
- Fortalecí mi testimonio del Salvador acerca de su Expiación, de la oración es un medio poderoso por el cual El Señor nos escucha y bendice. (Linda)
- Un corazón dispuesto y un testimonio grand en el padre, qué él cumple sus promesas. (Palmer)
- A deeper understanding of the Gospel and what it means to love others as God loves you, wonderful friends, fluency in a beautiful and widespread language (which gives me the ability to reach out to others instead of always expecting others to reach out to me), a stronger testimony, a better understanding of how it feels to be the outsider, a better understanding of myself and my purpose in this life, a broader perspective of the world. (Jessica)
- A ton! I think I would never forget all the things I’ve learned, but I will be blessed all my life. (Pierina)
- There is not a day when I don’t remember my mission. I now teach high school Spanish (a subject I HATED in high school) I have had the opportunity to serve in leadership positions in the church which I was better prepared for after having served a mission. It truly has made me who I am and shaped the course of my life and that of my family. (David)
- Durante la misión conocimiento, disciplina y auto-conocimiento. Después realmente diría que ninguna de las que desee, pero tuve un lugar donde llegar, dinero para estudiar un técnico y apoyo de dos de mis hermanas durante el tiempo de estudio. (Johana)
- A greater capacity to love. (Karen)
What are some skills you gained?
- I learned to speak Spanish extremely well. Better than most. I know how to see and feel what others are feeling before they know they are. I guess that would be called discernment. I can use that to reach an understanding with them. (Shad)
- Aprendí a escuchar mejor a las personas, saber cómo ayudarlas y conocer más a mi Salvador. (Linda)
- HABLAR CON LAS PERSONAS, HACER PREGUNTAS. (Palmer)
- Speaking Spanish, obviously. I also learned how to wash my clothes by hand, and some basic sewing stitches (also by hand), and some basics of Peruvian cuisine (Which is fantastic, by the way. You are in for a treat!). Teaching, public speaking, attentive listening. (Jessica)
- More organized, prepared me for my future marriage, patience, charity, humility, diligence, knowledge, faith, hope, and more. (Pierina)
- Leadership skills, a strong testimony and the ability to recognize when the Spirit was directing me. (David)
- Valor, disciplina, amor, responsabilidad, auto-disciplina y trabajo. (Johana)
- No longer afraid to speak Spanish. (Karen)
What do you wish you knew/did at the beginning of your mission?
- When we read the scriptures, don’t look for all the technical reasons they are correct. Let the truth of the book come from the Holy Ghost through prayer. Nothing is more powerful than a sincere testimony. A testimony comes in parts and pieces. When you study Spanish, work on your vocabulary. Grammar will come from reading and speaking. The more you work on vocabulary and pronunciation, the sooner you will be able to convey your feelings more effectively. I don’t know if that goes in line with what is taught at the Mission Training Center. I hope so because the Elders who focused on grammar generally went home with a very weak grasp on the language. This does not mean that they were not excellent servants of the Lord. (Shad)
- Saber cómo hablar con las personas y ser más perceptiva a la voz del Espíritu. (Linda)
- No sabia mucho, pero había un gran sentimiento en mi corazón que me decía que esto era todo. (Palmer)
- I wish I had known that it wouldn’t ever get any easier, so that instead of focusing on my problems and trying to make them go away I could have just understood that they were going to be constants, and put my focus elsewhere. Some things did get better, (my ability to speak and understand and communicate, for one thing!) but I never got over the gastritis, people never stopped rejecting me because of the color of my skin, people never stopped rejecting the Gospel or refusing to progress, and that never stopped breaking my heart. We were lied to on a daily basis. Those frustrations never go away. And they never will. And they aren’t worth your time. Just let them go and throw yourself into the work as hard as you can. You’ll never regret overlooking all the negative things that happen. (Jessica)
- How to contact people, to know the lessons more and not be afraid of talking or inviting people to get baptized. (Pierina)
- Never waste a moment. Speak up even when you are afraid or think you can not communicate effectively what you want to say. Keep ALL your letters. I recently typed mine up and included all my mission pictures and journal entries into one book. This was saved and uploaded to familysearch.org for future generations. I also am going to present a printed version to all my children so they can learn from my mistakes as well as the positive experiences I had in Peru. (David)
- Hacerlo bien y con todas mis fuerzas para que al terminar no sintiese arrepentimiento por lo que no hice. (Johana)
Any advice/testimony for pre-missionaries going to Lima Central?
- Never be true to your companion. Be true to the Lord, your Mission President, and yourself. The greatest temptations and trials came from my companions. If you are true to the Lord and your companion is as well, you will be unstoppable. Help your companion by changing yourself. You can’t change them. Every companion has the potential to be your best friend. Treat them as such. Take responsibility before the Lord in all that you do. You do not know better than your Mission President even if he isn’t “there” with you and doesn’t “understand” why your needs are different. (Shad)
- Leer todo el Libro de Mormón, conocer la biblia principalmente el Nuevo Testimonio, saber las lecciones misionales, ir con un testimonio no esperar tener uno allá, ir dispuesto a servir a todas las personas, orar siempre con mucha fé, ser diligente y apoyar a los lideres de cada barrio en el que les toque. (Linda)
- Obedezcan al padre, esto es lo mejor. serán dos años que recordaran toda su vida, si no hacen vivirán toda su vida con el lamento que pudieron haberlo hecho. Dará dirección a su vida. (Palmer)
- Whatever culture you’ve come from, lose it, just for awhile. The moment you set foot in Peru, be Peruvian. It is your home and your country. Your opinions about politics are irrelevant, because Peruvian politics are their own beast and absolutely nothing like you’ve ever experienced before. Your sense of society and your place in it and the way people ought to act within it are also irrelevant and you can spend your whole mission being offended or you can get over yourself and let Heavenly Father’s light shine in your smile. Peru isn’t a perfect place, but if you open your arms and embrace it, its people, its culture, its history, its *weirdness*, then you will find that Peru and its people will be more than willing to embrace you back, show you the ropes, make you a part of them. Peruvian people are strong, straightforward, welcoming and warm. Generosity is often times second nature. Learn to love the country, learn to love the people, because they’re both amazing. Learn what it means to be Peruvian. You aren’t there as a tourist, you’re there as a brother or sister, a representative of Heavenly Father trying to get your siblings home for the longest holidays ever. Learn to understand as much as you can about the culture, and you’ll find that loving the people comes a lot easier. Keep in mind that you aren’t there to judge the people, or to tell them how to run their country or even to turn them away from the faith they already have. You are there to encourage, to edify, to serve, to love, and to build them up on an individual basis. You are there to show them where they can turn in order to grow their faith. You don’t have all the answers. Heavenly Father may use you as an intermediary to send some answers to some people, but the answers still come from Him. (Jessica)
- Just work like this would be the last day of your mission, talk with all the people that you will have the opportunity to, be obedient 101% all the time, always always invite others to come unto Christ, and be nice to your companion, serve them and take care of them love them sincerely. (Pierina)
- Prepare spiritually and physically. Read the standard works and have a burning testimony. I also bought the Book of Mormon on CDs in Spanish and listened as I read aloud. This helped my pronunciation as I saw it, read it, heard it and said it to myself. This was very helpful. Stay obedient!! (David)
- Si van háganlo bien, entreguensen, sirvan no sólo predicando si no trabajando, ayudando, aconsejando, trabajando y disfruten ese tiempo, amén a las personas y procuren llevarse bien con sus compañeros. (Johana)
- When you love the people is when your mission begins. (Karen)
What was a funny language mistake?
- There have been some instances where I was on splits with other American elders and they said a few things you should never say, but the funniest comes from an American elder who was with me on splits. I had about 4 months in the mission and we went to visit a sister from the Sierra area of Peru. People from the Sierra speak very rapidly and mumble the entire time. She wanted to share a story with this elder and began by telling him that her uncle had died a few days before. When you are new, your favorite word will be si. Si hermana, si hermano…and so on. This is followed by a “que bueno.” The sister tells him, “ayer murio mi tio. Eso fue muy triste a me.” Then our good elder follows it up with a “si, si, si….QUE BUENO HERMANA.” Basically, oh wow…that’s so awesome!!! Her face was one of total shock and she starts saying, “no, no es bueno. No es bueno.” Our dear elder responds “No bueno hermana?” “Si elder no bueno,” She responds. He says, “oh, no bueno. Lo siento, mucho triste.” She then says, “si es muy trise, murio mi tio.” He followed that with, “Murio su tio? QUE BUENO!” After that I translated a little for him and he quickly gained the same shocked expression that the sister had on her face before apologizing profusely. Once we got it all sorted out, we all had a pretty good laugh. (Shad)
- Solo confió en el señor, eso no es obstaculo en la obra de Dios. (Palmer)
- I once told a guy to bury his parents, rather than to keep them informed about something. I got too zealous about rolling my Rs once I learned how, and that is the dark path it lead me down. (Jessica)
- I said a bad word in English like three times but I didn’t know that it was bad and my companion told me not to say that again in my life. I forget about some things in Spanish but I’ve learn a ton in English. (Pierina)
- I once meant to say “soy de la Iglesia de Jesucristo y tengo un mensaje para usted” (I am from the Church of Jesus Christ and I have a message for you but instead said “Soy Jesucristo y tengo un masaje para usted” (I am Jesus Christ and I have a massage for you . . . We didn’t get in that house. (David)
- Too many. My missionaries very lovingly corrected me. (Karen)