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!)
