Primitiva Roca

Community Coordinator

I was born November 27, 1949 in a valley of the Department of Potosi. My mother’s name is Margarita Huarachi and my father’s name is Roman Viracochea. They cultivated the land and lived off it. I have four brothers, and I am the youngest and the only girl. My older brother has since passed away. Until the age of seven, I lived with my mother, which is a beautiful memory. She always taught me values and that the most important value is honesty. And from my father I learned to work. He said that work dignifies the person. When I was seven, my mother died. Then I was left orphaned and went to live with my older brother in a mining camp. My life had changed, and I also received instruction in an elementary school. During that time, my brother William also left and to this day I still have not seen him. But I know he is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, because when my oldest son when went on a mission he found him. And now I can talk to him on the phone, but I still have not seen him. Then for economic reasons I left high school and went to work in the city of Oruro where I have now lived for 40 years. I came to know the gospel of Jesus Christ here in Oruro, and I was baptized by Elder Alvin Roads. I am one of the first pioneers of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints of this city, and recently I received an acknowledgment for being a pioneer of the 50 years The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has been in Bolivia. I married Don Florencio Rock Barrientos and have five children, including three who have served missions for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Now I have about 14 grandchildren and the oldest of my grandchildren is serving a mission in Central Lima. At the age of 37, my husband died. He was a teacher, and that is why I worked in a city school for 25 years. But two years ago I welcomed retirement. During my years as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I have served in various callings. I have served as the Primary President, Relief Society President, Young Women’s President, and as a teacher in these different auxiliaries. In 2014, I began volunteering with the Bountiful Children’s Foundation with which I am happy to contribute service to others. I am very grateful to my Heavenly Father for giving me this opportunity, and I am also grateful to those who created this foundation that remember the teachings of the Savior and put into practice. In my current city it gets pretty cold in the winter but we feel the warmth. Thank you. Primitiva Roca