Rokin' Perú: YOU. IS. SMALL!!

Heyyo. Changes happened. Nobody in Chao is going! I'm happy but I'm going to learn a lot of patience... but that's the way life is. God knows me better than I do and I guess he knows I can do this. So I'll put my trust in Him and do all possible to improve! I'm trying so hard to be patient with my companion... it's super, super hard sometimes... but I guess I'm going to learn real quick. It's good I still have Elder Stroud in the area, but I'll sure as heck learn how to be patient.

Thank you for your advice on working with my companion though, it means a lot! I'm going to try as hard as I can to be better and quit being selfish and pridefull as well. Also Dad, I loved that story you shared about wedges! That's awesome and so true. I'm really going to try harder with not letting wedges come between us. I've set goals of how I can better our companionship and I'm going to do all possible to complete them. I'll also be using that story in lessons and with members!

Okay, okay so now for this week! So p-day was super awesome because the Zone Leaders came down and played soccer with us but the best part was that Elder Herget brought his football and so he whipped that out after an hour and me, Elder Stroud and Elder Herget all played 1 on 1´s and it was so much fun! Haha I love football!!!!

"Futbol" (Soccer) team

"Football" (the real thing) team.

Later that night we visited with Diana and Jorge and challenged them to the 4th of March for baptism. They accepted! They couldn't come to church this week but they will this next week. They're progressing really well, especially Durli. She is reading and praying and we didn't even ask her to read, she just did it, which was cool.

On Tuesday we didn't teach anyone... we tried to contact this barber guy but... well... he just started bashing the Book of Mormon and how the only prophets that existed were those in the Bible and that we have no knowledge... basically called us stupid... and after that, I was pretty heated. We left early because I was done hearing it, but after I got some juice-in-a-bag at the jugaria (smoothie shop) to cool down, that helped. I thought about that man all night though and the next morning I was reading in 3rd Nephi 18:30 (Nevertheless, ye shall not cast him out from among you, but ye shall minister unto him and shall pray for him unto the Father, in my name; and if it so be that he repenteth and is baptized in my name, then shall ye receive him, and shall minister unto him of my flesh and blood) and it reminded me of 3rd Neph 12:44 (But behold I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them who despitefully use you and persecute you) and how we should pray for those people like that, so I did, and I just felt so much better after that. It was great.

Later in the week we taught Lilia and Abraham. We started to share the 10 Virgins story but Lilia was sick and we thought we better finish another day and give her a blessing and leave.. so that's what we did. We are teaching them tonight though. Lilia and the kids came to church on Sunday but Abraham still isn't coming. We´re working on him. I appreciate how you reminded me that weddings are important to family members and that I, myself, missed my sister's wedding because I was going on my mission. I'll definitely use that in Lilia and Abraham's lesson tonight! I know it's important for Lilia's father to be here for her wedding, but getting baptized is also important and that can't happen until they are married. I'm sure my personal experience will help. I didn't even think about sharing about Amber's wedding.

The next day we had another interchange.. and it was one of the best days in my mission! I went to Elder Stroud's area with Elder Stroud and we just told stories and laughed our heads off that day and night! Haha he's a stud. Me and him are probably going to room together when we get back from our missions. He wants to go to BYU or UVU for a little bit and I'm planning on going to UVU so that would be awesome!

The next day me and Elder Alarcon taught Manuela and she's really progressing. She came to church this week and she is really sincere in her prayers. She is just awesome! Also, we challenged her to the 25th of February for baptism. She accepted, which was awesome, because before, she was like, "Why do I need to get baptized?" and stuff and didn't get it... but after about 4 or 5 visits, she accepted for the 25th, which is so cool to see her progress! She's the best! She's older and fragile and has diabetes and here, they just don't have the stuff to help figure it out, so she suffers and is usually in a lot of pain, but she's a warrior.

Also that same night we were looking for a teen that we contacted on the street, named Juan Carlos, and here there aren't really directions so you just have to figure out the general direction, then pick houses until you guess right haha, so that's what we did. The first house we knocked on, a guy looking about 25 answered the door and we told him we were looking for Juan Carlos. He said, "Yeah.. okay.. just a sec." We were like, "Oh cool, first try..". A couple minutes later, this same guy comes out, changed, and goes, "So you guys are the testigos (Jehova Witnesses) right?" and we go, "Haha no, Mormons." He was super cool and chill. Well, after talking for a bit, we find out this kid's name is Juan Carlos too.. coincidence? Nope! Haha it was so cool. The kid is 18.. looks like he's 25, but he's super cool. He doesn't have a religion, his dad taught him the Bible growing up though and he lives alone, no girlfriend, and doesn't work Sundays. Yup. He's been prepared by the Lord and we found him! It was super cool to have that happen! I'm excited for this guy. He's a stud.

Later that night after consejo (council) in the church, we were walking back to Flor's. Me and Elder Stroud were arguing about who is taller (I obviously am) and finally we ask Elder Daza to check.. he does. Then he lies to us and tells us that Elder Stroud is barely taller. I obviously objected and me and Elder Stroud continue arguing haha. Then Elder Daza jumps out and goes, "YOU. IS. SHORT!!.... SMALL!... YOU IS SMALL!" Hahaha me and Elder Stroud just lost it, hahaha it was super funny! At that point I almost forgot about who was actually taller.

Elder Daza, Me, Elder Alarcon and Elder Stroud

That's my week for ya. Anyway.. I love you guys!

Your handsome missionary friend... Elder Rokovitz! Les amo!! Chaufita!

Valle De Dios. We had a lesson here and I realized that probably none of you will ever see this in your life so here's a picture. This is probably the poorest part of our area.