Keep Up the Prayers - I Can Feel Them

Eyyyooo. Okay so I'm going to try to figure out how to do this fast because I have a ton of people I'm trying to get back to!

It's crazy to think what has happened to change me in 4 months. To think, I still have 20 months left. Holy cow, I never want to leave! I just love it here and am taking advantage of every day I have. I write in my journal every single day, don't you worry. Even when it's hard haha. Sometimes I have to write 3 days at once, but I always get every single day. 

Changes are coming up. Elder Harper.. he's going, sadly. He has 7 months in Chao, but we know for sure that Elder Stroud is staying, which makes me happy! And I'll probably get a Latino companion. Things are about to get exciting. This Sunday is changes so we will finally find out. 

Sounds like Thanksgiving went great! I got your letter today, and thank you so much. That really helps. Thanksgiving didn't happen at all here haha, but it's okay. I sure missed the rolls that Mom makes. I am so thankful for all the blessings I have! I have so many and I realize that so much here! 

Okay so this week, so to start off with Julten. Holy cow. He is so amazing and so prepared by the Lord. He's very smart and respectful to us and listens and asks quetions. He and his wife - they really listen to the stories because when we come back, they always tell us what happened exactly, and that's very rare. They were very intriged by the Book of Mormon and we are going to continue to teach them every week! They are just so amazing and I am very excited to see what happens with them. 

Also we found a new investigator, Jose Luis, through Brando (his dad is Cesar Castillo) but Brando is less active. He's 17 but wants to go on a mission. Oh, side note.... we can't visit less actives any more. Saved souls don't exist anymore, sadly, but it's also true that it is the members job to visit them and work with them. It's hard but hopefully we can work with the members more to help them visit less actives.  Anyway.. Jose Luis is awesome. He's about 17 and thinks this is cool. He's doing great but we have only visited him twice. It's hard to get to him when he's 17. 

Later this week we visited Joiner.. and well we didn't really teach him much because a doctor that lives in the same apartment as him decided he wanted to teach us what we are doing is bad and we are going to Hell because we don't know the Bible and we don't teach the total Bible.. We just listened.. haha, and then when he said we don't know the commandments, he went to flip to them and Elder Harper quoted all of them hahaha, it was hilarious. So after that, he went quiet and we just pulled another cita (appointment) with Joiner haha. 

On Thursday or something like that, we had an interchange.. and I was nervous out of my mind because this time I stayed in Chao and directed our area. The Zone Leader, Elder Rodriguez, came here and he knows a little English.. but still not well enough to communicate in English, so I was very nervous. But then that morning I read in Alma 56:47 and it says .. (talking about the Strippling Warriors..) "if they did not doubt, God would deliver them.." So, I decided not to doubt.. and you know what? I did great! I felt awesome and felt the gift of tongues so much! I was able to completely communicate with him and practically say anything I needed to say or wanted to say. It sure is amazing how I realize how well I can talk in Spanish when I am forced to speak with a Latino companion. It went really good and I loved it!

Me and Elder Rodriquez on our interchange in Chao.

                                                                           

Pretty sunset in Chao.

So we visited with Lilia and Abraham. We need to teach about the concept of fasting. They thought all their children had to do it too, so we are going to talk more about that with them. Abraham really listens but he hasn't been completing his tarea (homework) and isn't going to church with the family, which is sad and hard to work with, but we are working with them.

We taught Eldon's ex-girlfriend and her mom. Her mom is super nice and was super open to the message! She was amazing. She has a very clean home and she gave us some left over birthday cake after our lesson. She is so sweet and I'm excited to keep teaching this family. 

We are really seeing the results of obedience and hard work through the people who are being prepared for us. We have found some amazing people and we know they have been completely prapared by the Lord! 

We had District Conference on Sunday. Manuel got the priestood!!! I still need a picture with Manuel and Melissa. Oh yeah, when I say he got the priestood, he got the Melchizedek priesthood! So what happened though was he wasn't informed of his interview.. which could only be on Saturday, so we worked some things out and got him an interview that night, after his work and after the night session of conference there in Viru. Manuel was worried though because he didn't know if he could get back, since the conveys stop running at 8 and it would be after 8. But I promised him that if he would go and get his interview the Lord would provide a way home. And well, the Lord provided a way for him to get home! And that was amazing. 

                                                                             

Getting on the bus on the way to District Conference. I was playing a game called "Su Su" with the little girls.

Going to District Conference.

Me and the elders in our district heading to conference.

Hanging out the bus..... me and Elder Stroud haha.

In the conference.. Yes, I did sing.. haha we were forced.. but I actually kind of enjoyed it. In the conference I loved one thing that was said, which was "no recibimos ningun milagro slash bendicion sin la proeba de nuestra fe" (We do not receive any miracle/blessing without the test of our faith) and I loved that so much. Because it's so true. We are going to have hard times in this life but most of them are times when God is just testing our faith. But always when those things happen, our faith is strengthened. And I have really seen that here. I've never really had my faith really tried before. But here, it definitely is.. but I have seen the blessings and I have seen that my faith has grown and strenghtned so much because of it. 

                                                                               

Singing in District Conference. I'm in the back row behind the sister in the red dress.

A cool band that played in the street on Sunday.

Today we went to the temple. It was AMAZING! When I woke up this morning I felt awful. I figured it was just because I hadn't eaten yet. I ate.. still felt horrible. On the bus ride to Trujillo I thought I was going to lose my insides out the window, but luckily I made it. When we got to the temple I felt a little better but was worried about making it through the temple, so I asked the elders in my district to give me a blessing. Elder Harper blessed me that I would be able to enjoy the house of the Lord and that the Lord is proud of my efforts and I would be able to preach the gospel valiantly and go through for this person with love. It was an amazing blessing and I went through the temple feeling great and it was amazing. I understood so much in the temple and loved it. The Trujillo temple is so amazing and so beatuiful. I want to take you guys through after my mission. It'll be in Spanish but I think it would be a cool experience for you guys. 

                                                                             

The Trujillo temple.

Me with Elder Ortiz, Elder Harper and Elder Stroud on the grounds of the Trujillo temple. 

I was so happy to be here today.

It's beautiful, isn't it!

I got used to cold showeres this week. We didn't have any electricity in the morning so we didn't have hot water. I figured out cold showers are just a head game haha, sort of.. but yeah. 

So guess what?? Baptism this week!!! This Sunday!! Saturday they're getting married!!! We are so excited for them!! They're so amazing and I have loved seeing how far they have come. 

My time is almost up, but I just wanted to share something I felt this week during studies. Sometimes it's hard to know what I'm preaching is true. But I know it. This week I actually felt it is true. I felt that the scriptures are true. Everytime I read the scriptures, I get a confirmation for the truthfulness. I feel, literally feel it, every time I read. It's so amazing and I just want you guys to know I have a strong testimony of the strength the scriptures have and how they really are so amazing and so true. I love this gospel and I love this opportunity I have to share it here in Peru to these amazing people here. They are so amazing. I have loved every moment of it. I still have so much more time here and can't wait for all my experiences. I love you guys so much and I hope all is well. Keep up the prayers. I can feel them! I love you all. Besitos! (Little kisses!)

The Incredible "Gift" of Tongues

Okay.. so this has only been the best week of my life. But first, some responses to my parents. Mom, the main street you probably saw in Chao on Google Earth may have just been the Pan Americano. It's what connects Lima to Trujillo. I think it runs like all of Peru! So that"s why there are cars. No one has cars in Chao. They all have their work trucks or mostly motos. Our branch president has a moto and a motorcycle and the Whitneys do not have a car. (I had told Cory I strolled the streets of Chao on Google Earth and thought cars were pretty non-existant in Chao but saw lots of cars on what I thought must be the main street and asked if his branch president or the Whitney's had cars.)

Dad, I really liked what you said about faith and our efforts - that I should have faith that my efforts will have lasting effects on others. Sometimes it is hard to see the big picture when you only teach maybe one lesson or have a tough week with teaching. But I've realized that that little number represents a person. We helped one person progess. Maybe even helped them out of a bad day. That is why we are here. We are here to help people like that. It's just amazing this work we are doing. It really will have lasting effects on the people.

I'm sorry work has been tough. Sometimes things are tough in life but that's what makes us better. God tests us and pushes us so we become stronger and I know you, you're the most hardworking man I know. Keep doing what you do and praying, reading and fulfilling your calling. You will see the blessings. But you already know all that haha. You know that the Savior has felt that tough time you are going through right now, so know you aren't alone. 

I sure do love you Dad and really look up to you. You're one of the biggest reasons that I have become who I am. Through your example I have learned how to work hard, never give up, and live up to my potential and work as hard as I can to be the best person I can. Dad I love you so much. You are in my prayers every night. The whole family is, but you and Mom especially. Keep up your hard work Dad. 

Anyway, so the beginning of this week my companion told me I was stiff and kind of put me in my place. Not in a mean way but in a loving way. But it really hit me. I'm here to change and so this week I completely changed my attitude. I stopped being so selfish and prideful and tried to turn out like the Lord would if He were in my position. But I just changed my attitude and I had an awesome attitude this week and had an awesome week. 

On Tuesday we came across a man who came up from behind us. He asked us if we were the CIA haha. We explained who we were, then he said, "but sometimes the CIA dresses up in disguies like you guys." After a minute we convinced him of who we were. He was coming back from work and we asked if we could have a cita (appointment) and he said, "Come visit me right now" and so we did. The lesson went awesome. His name is Julten and he has a wife and a 5 year old daughter - the familia Sanchez! (The Sanchez family!) We taught lesson one and it went awesome. We are coming back tonight so we will see how that goes. 

This week we have been finding a lot more people to teach. Our goal as a Zone of four was 20 new people. I don't know if we hit that goal but we have been doing a lot better on finding new people to teach. 

We talked to Eldon (a 17 year old stud soccer player member who is preparing for a mission) and we got the reference of his ex-girlfriend hahaha. It was pretty funny. We found her house and then got a cita (appointment) with her parents. She asked how we found her.. she goes.. "did Eldon send you?" We just go, "who is Eldon?" and then hurry and say bye and leave haha, it was pretty funny. 

We also taught Jesus, who is just the nicest man ever. It is Caesar Castillo's brother (our saved soul who calls us his angelitos) Jesus and his family will get baptized soon. He wants it so bad! He's the best. 

Thursday was the most powerful and most amazing day of my mission so far. I have never felt so spiritually high as I did that day. Around 5 p.m. I felt we needed to go find and visit a sister member. She hadn't been to church for a couple weeks and we hadn't seen her around at all so we were super worried about her. We found her and started talking to her and immediately knew something was wrong. After prying at her for a bit, she finally told us a few things and why she hasn't been coming to church. She's been going through a tough time. We asked her if we could give her a blessing of comfort but she said no. We just knew something was really wrong. We tried to go inside to talk to her but she wouldn't let us. We borrowed some chairs from her neighbor and talked to her at the door. We started off talking to her about how we could help, the importance of prayer and shared a scripture with her. She stopped, got a piece of paper and wrote us a note. It was very personal about what is happening in her life and what she is dealing with. After we read it, we just stopped. She couldn't even bring herself to words. She looked up and was crying. I started to tear up. After about 10 minutes of silence, I started to talk and I just started crying. I told her we came here to Peru to help and wanted to help. I asked again if she wanted a blessing and that it would help her. She started to cry again and said no. It was just horrible to watch. Elder Harper shared some things with her about the atonement. We were with her for a long time, but most of it was in silence. We asked her to pray, even though we knew she wouldn't, and she didn't. But I'm glad she didn't - I told her I would say the prayer. In the prayer, I said what I would have said in a blessing, in totally fluent Spanish, with words, conjugations and grammer I had learned but never once used (or used correctly at least.) I have never felt so guided by the spirit and I just cried. She thanked us in a truely thankful manner. We wrote down Philippians 4:13 which says, "He knows, pray" and told her we loved her. When we left, I just felt this peace that everything would be okay. I wasn't really happy, I was devastated to see her so sad because she's always so happy, but I was just filled with the spirit, like I could physically feel it. Later, Elder Harper said he never heard me make one mistake that whole lesson. It was amazing. I just know that was completely the gift of tongues and everything that came out of my mouth was not from me. I know for a fact it was the spirit talking. I've never talked so powerfully and fluently in my life.  

The next day we taught Abraham with his family. His family is the best. I need a picture with them. They are all progressing so well. Xavi is their son of about 10 years old and knows more doctrine than me and they aren't even baptized yet haha. Abraham is awesome. He just needs to come to church and for him and Lilia to get married, then they can get baptized. We always leave him with homework. This time we forgot and he goes, "You guys forgot my homework!" Haha, he's awesome. He always listens, that's pretty rare, like he listens and asks questions and stuff and makes sure his kids are listening! He's so cool. 

The next day I starved. Haha it was sad. Flor made.. well, a fish, but the fish was basically just caught and gutted, then cooked, head, bones, skin, all still on it.. I didn't eat lunch. She thought I was sick, then I told her I just don't like that and she got mad at Elder Harper for not making her cook something else for me. I love just being the little angel hahaha. During that lunch too, Elder Ortiz.. gosh, haha, Flor walks by and he goes, "Woooah temblor!!" which basically means "Whoooa earthquake!!" but it wasn't really an earthquake, he meant the ground was moving when she walked by. She didn't even blink an eye!! All three of us Gringos were mesmerized. In the states if you said something like that to a female you would have gotten smacked and then sent home. Here they just don't care. It's pretty funny. 

On Sunday, me, Elder Harper and Elder Stoud got to sing in the primary program. We sang the first verse of the song in English then the kids sang the second in Spanish. It was really cool. I've never been the one who speaks "another language" and it was cool to see everyone's reaction to our English. 

Later that day we officially set the date for Marilue, Magnu and Lucy's baptism for the 4th of December!! We taught them 2 nefi 31 (2nd Nephi 31) and I thought I would share a good verse, so I shared 13 and 14.. well.. I forgot that 14 says "..if you've done all these things and deny me, it would be better that you would not have known me.." hahaa oops.. it's a good thing we are super close with them and can joke with them.  

I'll share something spiritual from Matthew 6:21 where it says "for where your treasure is there will your heart be also." It should really influence us to set our minds on the gospel, to treasure the gospel and not the things of this world, because really that is what matters in the end and it sets our true character. It shows who we really are. And I just liked that a lot. 

This week completely flew by! That's what happens when you're having fun I guess. Anyway, I have to go. I love you all and am always praying for you all. Cuidanse mucho!! Les amo!! (Take care of yourself. I love you.)

Elder Rokovitz

                                                                            

Enjoying some p-day activities

A frog I found one night

Me and Elder Harper running Jenny's jugaria (smoothie shop). We had to watch over it for like 5 minutes while she had to run and do something. I just love Elder Harper in this picture.

Me and Madison, my favorite little person in the world. I love her. She's good at posing for photos.

Madison on the back of Flor. All the mountain women here do that. It's pretty cool. 

A llama in Chao. It costs to take a picture with the llama and I would have paid to have one taken but it was Sunday.

Me and Elder Harper racing haha. 

A Trip To Lima and Singing Lessons

Wooo, entonces (so).. I'll start off real hot and heavy with the respuestas (answers). Okay so first and foremost, Mom "jugaria" is relative to "juice" which is jugo. A jugaria is basically a smoothie shop. That's the kind of business that Flor owns that Christian's wife runs. Yeah, "jugar" means "to play", but jugaria means smoothie shop basically. Sounds like Maple Mountain had... fun.. at Rice-Eccles. That would've been super great to play there but that's okayyy... I knew that East would win. The Halloween package was an awesome surprise! I loved it! It was so awesome and had lots of good candy that got me fat, but super good. I loved it!! Those are definitely something you can keep doing haha. Hermano Castillo put a personal note in there for me. Haha I loved that. It was awesome to have a little something personal.  And Aracely told me about how she is talking to you through Facebook. She doesn't speak much English that I know of so she must be using a Google Translate or something. I can't remember how she does it. But she's super sweet. She is the church member of the family that is getting baptised on the third. She uses Facebook through her phone. That's how everyone does it. Practically no one has internet here.  Also, I would love to do the challenge of reading the four gospels and 3rd Nephi before Christmas like Bishop Muhlestein challenged the ward! That sounds fun. I absolutely love learning more things about the Savior and His life so I'll definitely try to do that. 

                                                                               

My note from Hermano Castillo (CCM teacher) with my Halloween package haha. 

(Hermano Castillo's sister has a wonderful business right in Peru where missionary families can order packages from her and she will deliver them to the mission offices so you don't have to mail things from the states. Love it!!)

 

The great things that were in my Halloween package.

Aracely's family - Aracely, the baby, Lucy, Marilu, Magnu, Elder Harper and Elder Rokovitz.

Okay, now Dad, so yeah, we are allowed to have baptisms at the beach but we, the elders, are not allowed to perform the baptism, which is sad, but I think if we ask nicely we could probably get permission, especially here in Chao where there is nowhere else to do it. We are definitely going to Machu Pichu after my mission when we come back and visit, that is no doubt! I mean I'm here in Peru and don't even get to see it? Yeah right. We have to go when we come down! Also we will have to visit Cajamarca, close to Trujillo. It also is not in my mission but would be a cool place to visit. I haven't seen much here in Chao but I'm sure once I leave this area there is a lot more cool stuff to see for sure. Especially in Huaraz, which is the lowest part of my mission. Lots of cool things to visit here! Quick fun side note, not really relevant or anything, and don't worry, I'm not trunky haha, but Saturday was my 100th day. So "Kevin" is our pet.. he.. did make sounds.. then he got sand in him, then I tried to wash the sand out.. now he just kind of moans and cries. He was here when I got here.. but I'm going to take him when I leave haha, and I'm going to try to take him places around the mission! I just named him Kevin because I liked the name.  

So for this week, it went really good, naturally. Always does. So we went to Lima. It was me, Elder Rhoton, Lee (my man), Collazos, and Lanier. So we went to Trujillo Sunday night, you guys know that, and then we flew out the next morning to Lima. The flight was good. I got to nap, but we had to get up at 5 am that day, and really.. no pasa nada con Lima (nothing happens with Lima) haha we didn't get to do anything. Except wait, yeah.. we did a lot of waiting haha for like 5 hours in the migration office.. I thought we would get to go wait at the mall because that's what other groups have done.. but we didn't.. so not much happened there. The only good thing that happened was at the airport we waited for an hour ... and.. we got to eat McDonald's! And Papa Juans!! (Papa Johns) and Dunkin Donuts! It was pretty great. I didn't care how fat I got. I didn't know when I would ever see that food again haha, so I just went crazy. The McDonald's here are actually better than in the states. They don't "sit" (smash down) on their burgers. Really that's all that happened in Lima. 

                                                                               

On the way to Lima for paper work.  

We came back on Tuesday morning and then taught Manuel (he and his wife are about to get sealed and he is getting the Melquisidec (Melchizedek) priestood on the 26th this month and they always give us pudding when we visit) and we taught him some awesome things about the priesthood. Thanks to Dad, I knew all the cool D&C stuff to show him. He really understood a lot and is really excited. 

Later that day, we had a RCP with our Branch President (reunion con presidente.) It went really well and we helped him know we are here to help and completely support him and that we love him. That night as we walked back to his house for dinner (we were at the church) everyone was watching the Peru vs. Paraguay game. It was nuts! Every single time we walked past a store or a home everyone was around the TV watching. There was nobody in the streets! The four of us were walking and then we just hear eveyone go crazy. We couldn't resist and ran into the closest place to look for a second. Peru beat Paraguay 4 or 5 to 1! Every time Peru scored, the whole city just erupted. It was a pretty cool experience honestly! 

The next day we visited Carlos. We haven't seen him forever. He has been avoiding us. It's really sad. He was doing so good and then his wife left him and things just all went downhill. He stopped reading and says that he doesn't want to come anymore... he gave some excuses. One was that the people aren't friendly, which was hard to hear.. and the other because the girls wear too much makeup? It was kind of weird. He said that it's only "one God" and the church shouldn't matter.. that's when I showed him Efesios (Ephesians) 4:5-6 (One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.) Sadly he just wasn't having it. We explained that we love him and want to help but he does have his agency. Sadly, that's true. It's so hard to see that happen because he was doing so good.  

On Friday we had a intercombio (exchange).... I learned a lot from Elder Stroud in his area. He is just super fun and outgoing with the people and I loved that. He is really good at finding new people. We found 6 new people together Saturday, which was awesome. I just can't wait to speak Spanish better so I can be more of myself with everyone. We also did service. For our first service, me and Elder Ortiz stood on a roof while Elders Stroud and Harper threw up bricks to us. It was pretty sketchy at times but fun! Then our second one we helped with moving dirt piles out of this one house. I think they are constructing something soon. We filled 5 gallon buckets then took it to the street and dumped it... except one time it didn't make it to the street. I would throw the bucket on my shoulder and one of the times I dumped half the thing on me, and I was all sweaty so it just stuck! Sadly I didn't have my camera to take a picture of it but it was pretty funny. 

Ivan seems to be more spiritually excited. He came to church last Sunday, which was awesome, but he didn't come this week. But he is seeming a lot happier. He is reading and now prays better. He is doing really good!

I am learning how to sing haha. The Whitneys came by to help us practice for an upcoming District Conference (Stake Conference) and that's the first time I actually understood the little note things. I never knew what they meant before. We are actually doing the Primary program in our Branch in two weeks here! Mom, that's awesome that the children in our ward back home sang "I Love To See the Temple" in Spanish. They want me, Elder Stroud and Elder Harper to sing the first verse of that song in English for the program here, so I thought that was funny when you said that.  Also.. I have to give a talk this week.. that will be interesting.

A mission really is something you have to experience to know what it's like. The mission is the best thing that has ever happened to me! It's only something you can know through experience. It is so true that the Savior is really the only person who knows what we are going through. I love that I can always know He suffered for me and knows every single thing, pain, affliction, tentacion (temptation), etc. I always love replacing my name in scriptures. It always makes things so personal and helps me see how personal the scriptures are to me and how much the Savior loves me personally. I have really realized that on my mission and a ton this week. I always knew these things but I never was put to the test of my testimony and this has really made my testimony grow so much. It's so amazing what missions can do for you. Also, just a side note, we have been playing basketball in the mornings because Elder Stroud bought a basketball.. and I've actually been enjoying it. It's really weird! The mission changes people.  

When we talk to people here we always tell them that they are the literal descendants of the Book of Mormon. They always ask us who the descendants are and we just say, "you are!" They just are so amazed and think it is so cool. That's what is so cool about being here in Peru is that we get to teach them and tell them this is literally their heritage. I just love reading the scriptures and learning so much doctrine! Dad, I hope one day I can just be as doctrinally smart as you! You just know so much doctrine and that's my goal. 

I have like 2 minutes before my computer shuts off. Sorry to everyone, I didn't have time to reply to anyone today, but I'll get to people next week. I love you all!! Stay happy.

Love, Elder Rokovitz

                                                                                 

With two of the elders that used to serve in Chao and found some of the people that we are now teaching - Me, Elder Valasquez (Elder Harper's old companion), Elder McMillan and Elder Harper.

My homemade weight set.

Spiritual Highs

(Cory's email came in late Sunday afternoon/early evening, right as we were getting dinner ready because he and a few others had to fly to Lima Monday for some paper work. None of us had sent our email to him since we usually do it after dinner on Sundays, so that is why he starts his email off saying his family must not love him since he had no emails to read. We were able to still catch him online and converse back and forth for a few minutes, which was nice.) 

Okay since my family doesn't love me and didn't write me this week, I guess I don't have any questions to answer haha. So anyway, this week was great! Super spiritual and on a spiritual high. All is well! So the week started off last p-day when we all went to the playa (beach) as a Zone. It was pretty sweet. We played futbol (soccer) and Capture the Flag and stuff. It was a ton of fun. I always love going to the beach for p-days because it just kind of releases stress and makes me happy. (Lot's of pictures below.)

Later on that night we taught Ivan and Clarita with one of the Branch presidency members, Christian. His wife runs the jugaria (jugaria is a word for "play" but the picture looks like a little store) that Flor owns in the middle of Chao, but the lesson was awesome! We read Alma 34:32 with Ivan, and Christian shared an awesome testimony. Also we figured out why he wasn't getting his answer about being baptized. It's because he's been saying repititious prayers. So we explained to him that we have to pray and really express our heart and ask for the things we need and his answer etc. It was awesome and the spirit was super strong that night! He came to church this week and that just made us super ecstatic! I need to get a picture with him and Clarita so you guys can see them. 

                                                                               

With Christian, a Branch presidency member, and his family.

The next day we went to do service in the morning in the Valle de Dios (that place where I took the picture over the valley and all the houses a few weeks ago.) Service here is just picking up trash on the street haha, so we did that... and I realized that I need to buy sunscreen haha. We. Got. Fried! It was bad. 

We went to go see Geheydi in the night and she was on the street, just like super sad. She was sad because her family was fighting and stuff. She is married and owns a business and everything but her family lives in the valle and they aren't getting along and are having some problems. That night I just totally bore my testimony (in complete awesome Spanish) and I could tell it helped a ton. I just explained that the gospel could really help them at a time like this and that she needs to be saying her prayers and reading because she hasn't, because of all this. Her family aren't members and she wanted to use them for a reference, but she was sad because she doesn't think they want it right now. That's why it was so good to help explain that this is the perfect time for the gospel. And she really loved it! We saw her again two nights ago and she was just her happy self. She's the best! And it was so awesome, she just looked me in the eyes and really thanked me sincerely. It just melted my heart. It made me so happy to see her happy because that's why I'm here! I'm here to help people in their lives and help them be happy, and just seeing her happy made me the happiest person in the world! We were just on a spiritual high after that one! 

The next day we spoke with "B" just about normal stuff in his life, just trying to gain his and his wife's trust and I think that it really helped a ton. Later on we also did a little service, helping move their business (just moving sticks and putting up wire.) It was just good to gain their trust. Later during consejo (council) they were good and happy and they didn't cause any contention. It was aweosme! I'm really glad things are going better with them as well. It really helps not only us, but the branch as well. 

Later that day we taught our next door neighbor who sells us our candy. Her name is Rosa. She's a member, and we just vistited her to see how she was doing.. I was dying the whole lesson. For some reason I was just super tired and Elder Harper and her were conversing and I didn't understand much so I was fighting to stay awake! But after we left I woke back up from the hot sun. 

Our next lesson we taught, we taught this lady and her husband who were evangelical. We walked up and she must have noticed us or something because she was reading her Bible and was like, "Look! I'm reading my Bible! Come in, I love the word of God!" haha she was super funny and nice. They were super open to our lesson, they just listened and liked it. They would share some things... we would share some things and everyone just listened and we felt the spirit! There was one point where she claimed that she saw God in her church one day. She told us that after we taught her about Joseph Smith. While Elder Haper was giving his testimony, he would just kind of listen.. and then keep giving his testimony from where he left off haha, it was pretty funny! But really, the lesson was awesome and we all felt the spirit. It was nice.

On Thursday Elder Ortiz completed one year so we all pitched in on a Peru soccer ball and wrote on it. Also we smashed eggs on his head because that's what people do here for birthdays and other celebrations haha, but yeah, that was fun because I had to hold Elder Ortiz and take blows while they smashed eggs on his head! 

                                                                           

Celebrating Elder Ortiz's one year mark in the mission. 

The next night we went to a little Halloween party put on by Benjamin and Gailee in the church. It went really well and we got to eat some candy and judge the costumes of the little kids. It was pretty fun. 

                                                                           

Elder Stroud dressed up as Elder Rokovitz and I dressed up as Elder Stroud haha.

The Branch Halloween party

We didn't get to preach much that day because Elder Harper had to interview Chao 2´s baptism and then we had to clean the church and then only had like one hour to proselyte then had to come back to make sure all was ready for the party, then stayed for a bit, and by that time it was time for dinner, so we didn't get much done.  

The next day (Saturday) we started off in the morning looking for a place to do the baptism that was close, maybe a river or something, but they were all too shallow... Soooo we got to go do it at the beach! We aren't allowed to baptize, as missionaries, in the ocean so Elder Ortiz was kind of bummed out at first, but they got permission to be the testigos (witnesses.) It was fun. We got to go see the baptism and it really made me excited to work harder for my own baptisms because that looked so awesome and to see the kid (Julio, who is 19) so happy, it made me just so stoked to get my first baptism.

                                                                           

So, Elder Stroud and Elder Ortiz were the testigos (witnesses) and went out to do their thing.. apparently the tide had gone out more and so they walked out further (in their suits) then right as Julio was getting baptized by Carlitos, the waves picked up.. haha soo yeah.. just look at the pictures! It was hilarious! But really, the baptism was awesome and I'm so excited to get one of my own and see how happy the people are. 

                                                                           

Elder Stroud and Elder Ortiz witness the baptism of Julio.....

....... Then the tide came back in and the waves were a bit too high.

Oh, which reminds me, Marilu and Magnu set a date for their marriage on the 30th of this month and a baptism date for the 3rd of December.. but the great part is, they TOLD us that. They set those dates and they said, "oh yeah, that's when we want to do it!" They're so awesome! I love them!

We went and talked to Brando ( a less active of 17 years old, his dad is Cesar Castillo, our rescued soul.) We talked about him going on a mission and he is getting better. He came to church yesterday with his dad and his sister. Their whole family is just doing so well spiritually and we are so happy for them! They're doing awesome and stopped selling on Sunday and just doing great spiritually and we can really see the change in their life. I love it. 

After having such a great week filled with the spirit and everything, we just went and had a bunch of good lessons. We were fasting, I was speaking good Spanish, the people are happy, all just went super well this week and especially this weekend! 

I'm here in Trujillo right now about to go to Lima tomorrow for some legal stuff which is cool. So yeah, we eat good tomorrow and I'm not holding back on the McDonald's because I don't know when I'm going to see it again. Or the donuts.. yup. So I'll let you guys know how that goes! But just know that all is well here in Peru and I'm doing great! Loving the work and loving the people.

Also, before I go, I just want to share something with you guys. In my studies I was reading in Alma 36 and I just loved that chapter! It's Alma talking to his boys and telling them about his life and repentance experience. I just love it so much and it really goes to show how amazing the atonement is. I love how he expresses that the joy he felt after he repented was so much greater than the pain he had felt, and that's just the love of Jesus Christ, our Savior. It's just so awesome to have that and to be in this work. I also love in versiculos (verses) 24 and 25 when he is expressing the joy that is in his life when he brings joy through missionary work, That's just what I have felt this week, when I see these people happy, I just get so happy and there really is no greater thing in the world to see these people happy. I know that's why I'm here and I know that through the Savior, all things are possible. We can always turn to the Lord for help. The joy will be so amazing in heaven when I get to rejoice with the people whose lives I have helped bring to the gospel through the Savior. I want everyone to know that I know this church is true and I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer. I also bear testimony of the strength and joy that missionary work brings and has brought to my life. I love you all and I hope all is well back in the states. I love you all, take care! Oh and I forgot to say happy Halloween.. so happy Halloween.. a week late.

Elder Rokovitz

                                                                           

Gian Franco trying to drive his mototaxi across the river to get to the baptism..... He eventually got across.

Mmmmmm, yummy little crab

Elder Stroud, me, Elder Harper and Elder Ortiz

At the beach on p-day with part of our Zone

P-day, beach day.

Wrestling grip

Kevin, our pet chicken, doesn't like to be buried in the sand.

Me and Kevin, our pet chicken.

Kevin doesn't like the big waves either.

Sweet little Kevin.

On the pier with Kevin.

Our Zone (including Kevin)

This is what the mototaxis look like that I've been telling you about. Most people drive these. They don't have cars.

My Halloween package from the My Missionary Packages Peru site. Thanks Mom and Dad.