Elder Adril Garcia Perez

It's been far too long since I've posted an update on our favorite missionary.  We're hitting our 1 year mark this month - it's amazing how quickly the time has gone by!

At ten months, Adril became a senior companion.  It was a really big deal for him and he was so very proud!  I was traveling a lot during the month of January and my weekly emails to him were usually written in airports on my phone i.e. were quick messages letting him know I was thinking of him.

After a few weeks, he emailed Laura and told her he had become senior companion and asked her to tell me (I think because he wasn't sure if I was getting his emails).  I realized then how much it meant to him and quickly wrote a long email to let him know how proud we were of him.

It's no surprise to any of us what a wonderful missionary Adril is.  I often wonder if mission life seems kind of like a vacation of sorts to Adril.  Let me explain.  Adril is one of the oldest boys at the orphanage and there were lots of children younger than him and he was the older brother to all of them.  Whenever I visited Peru, I was always amazed at how hard this boy worked.  It reminded me of the stories my parents often told growing up farming.  But I'm pretty sure Adril had it tougher since they often didn't have electricity, running water, gas to cook with, etc.

I could go on and on about what a great kid Adril is, but I'll just say, I truly believe this kid has a great mission in life.  I believe he knows he this too.  And the ability to help him in a very small way is one of the most humbling experiences of my life.

Please write to him.  Even if you don't know him.  He would LOVE to hear from you.  And if he does know you (or even if he doesn't), include a picture of yourself.  Over the years, hundreds of people have visited him at the orphanage and he probably knows several people with your same name.  It doesn't mean he doesn't remember you - it just means he doesn't know which "Mike" you are.

Adril's email:  adril.garcia@myldsmail.net

Mailing address:

Elder Adril Garcia Perez
Mision Peru - Lima Oeste
carlos salarerry #3664-los olivos
casilla de correo 39-054
lima 39
perú