Okay, so on to this week. So this week has been pretty nuts. I don't think I can say I've seen anything so crazy in all my life. I've been humbled more than I can imagine and realized how blessed I am. This week started off with us visiting a member, her name is Maria. After we taught their family and were about to leave, she wouldn't let us until her daughter could run down the street and buy an Inca Kola and some Galletas to share with us. It's just so amazing that they have so little and want to give all they can to show their love for us. It's amazing and it's just so humbling that they would give, for them, so much, because they want to show their appreciation to us. I just love it and I love seeing stuff like that. It just makes me so happy!
The next day it started raining all day but we didn't think too much of it. It was pretty crazy because it never rains all day here. So we just walked around like normal but we got soaked. That night, right as we got back to the room, it started POURING and the streets started flooding. We helped out those in our apartment building and then went out and helped a hermana (sister) and her daughter get water off of their "patio", so to say, so it wouldn't run into their house. (The "patios" are on the roof.) We helped out with that and were out until about 12:30 a.m. helping people. The next day we basically had a day of service and helped out all those whose houses had gotten wrecked by the rain and helped them prepare for more, because we knew more was coming.
Later that day we went and did an interview for the Zone Leader's baptism. It was pretty nuts because the guy was leaving for Spain the next day so all had to be done that day - the baptism and confirmation as well. We waited and waited for a bishopric member to show up. We couldn't call anyone because the lines were down due to the rain. Finally, after basically giving up, and giving up hope, the bishop showed up. He had to call SLC to get approval for this baptism to happen haha. Finally, they approved it and we had a baptism and confirmation in like 15 minutes. It was pretty nuts but, it's crazy, every baptism there is always some type of trial to test their and our faith, but finally it comes together and everything works outs! It's crazy how it works out, but it's great.
The next day we had some real burgers at a member's house and they were amazing!.. We don't get burgers much here so it was a big deal. From there, things started to get crazy again. It had been raining up in the hills and filling up the rivers, so the rivers would overflow and flow down into the city. Mudslides, landslides, and rivers were all passing through Trujillo. Luckily not too much is happening here in Moche, but there are so many houses that have been completely destroyed. Normally Trujillo receives about 1cm to 5cm ( 0.393701 - 1.9685 inches) of rain every year.. so this was out of the blue for them. Most people's houses are built from adobe which is basically dirt bricks with mud to hold them together. Also the streets don't have drainage because this has never happened before.. it's sad and humbling at the same time. It's been pretty crazy to see all of this.
They've cut the running water for 5-15 days, so for now, it's "cup" showers from the buckets we have. We fill our 2 buckets up with well water and then use a bottle and that's our shower haha. It sure is a crazy experience, that's for sure! But I'm glad to be here to help the people out. The service is going to be crazy. These last 2 days we have been in our rooms and can't leave but when we can leave, which will be tomorrow, it will be pure service to help everyone out. We do everything we can to find all the service we can. We´ve done everything from sweep water out of homes, move sand bags, move a fridge onto a table, dig holes, to building roofs and move giant rocks. I'm tired but I'd rather be tired giving service and be protected in the Lord's hands than anywhere else. I'm glad to be here and I'm glad to be able to help the people of Perú. Please keep them in your prayers as they pass through these difficulties.
I'm glad I got to talk to you guys! It was so good to hear your voices haha, I was super happy to hear your voices!! I love you guys so much. I hope you have a great week! I am safe and everyone here in our mission is A-okay! Worry for those here that are passing through rough times and please keep them in your prayers. That's all for me today! I'm loving the work and I'm loving the people! Roko out!
Me and Agua man (Water man) a statue without significance, I think.
At the Zone Leader's baptism I wrote about.
On the roof with the Moche 1 elders (We are Moche 2) checking out the clouds. They have been and still are staying with us until the rains calm down.
Me and my cards. Dad, I challenge you to do that with a deck of cards..... without cheating or using the internet or other resources.
Limited water use right now. Filling up the toilet - we can only flush at night.... or if we poop..... so it gets kinda stinky.
Me and Elder Johnson, the one who miraculously got better and didn't need surgery.
The flooding on the first night
Flooding on the first night. This is nothing compared to yesterday and other days in other cities.
Doing service. We dug holes at a ladies house for a roof. All this trash is behind her house and it's straight mud, and it like slants into her house. It's pretty sad. Without our help, they could have died because they would've gotten trapped, but we were able to build a roof for them and they are safe now.
A better look at yesterday. It still doesn't do it justice but it doesn't even begin to compare to other cities.
