IT'S A BOY!

Alright, so first off.... I'm going to be a dad!!! I'm going to train!! I am HYPED! I'll find out who it is tomorrow. (For those that don't understand this term, when new missionaries come into the mission field they are assigned to be with a missionary that will train them and help them continue to learn the language etc. for 12 weeks. It's an honor to be asked to be a trainer because it comes with a lot of responsibility. The missionaries like to call themselves "Moms and Dads" when they become trainers and are trusted to train missionary "babies".) Elder Cruz is going to Huaraz as Distrcit Leader, Elder Johnson is going to Viru as District Leader and Elder Stroud is bouncing to Chimbote as Zone Leader, so yeah, we are all hyped!

This week had it's "best of the mission" moments and it's "worst of the mission" moments.. But more than anyting it's been a great week for sure! So it started off with Elder Johnson letting out a mean "Cheehoo" in my ear at District meeting. He did it because I told him he was too soft, and we were trying to get everyone hyped about getting new investigators. After that though, on Wednesday, I had one of the worst mornings in the mission. Satan is such a tool bag! But then after praying harder than I've ever prayed, etc., I went OFF in my studies about the Plan of Salvation and the Atonement. It was so great. I felt the spirit hard core. 

Later that day we went and taught Melissa. We taught the Restoration with them and afterwards I told them the First Vision of Joseph Smith and I shared my testimony about it and I started to tear up. I felt the spirit so strong. It was so awesome! 

Also it was Elder Cruz's one year mark so we burned his shirt on the roof haha. So yeah, it was one of the worst, but turned out to be the best days.

                                                                             

The next day we found this guy named Victor. He's super cool and way funny. He makes tamales and lives in probably one of the worst houses I've ever seen, but he's a great guy. Going into his house was really a humbling experience for sure. 

On Thursday Elder Johnson and I MOBBED on an interchange here. First off I went absolutely OFF in my studies! I finally understood everything about the House of Israel.. I've never understood it before. 

Then later when Elder Johnson and I were going down the street we passed by this car shop place where they sell oil. There's this desk by where the big doors are at and at that front desk, clear for everyone to see, is a 3x4 foot straight vile porn poster. Elder Johnson and I were LIVID. After coming back from Las Delicias where we were walking to, we decided we weren’t having that bull crap and we were going to go call them out… so, we did. This is how the conversation went: Elder Johnson, "Ya, hey.. we were walking past recently and saw something very offensive. Could you tell me about that?" Car Lady, "Oh..Ya..Um..", Me, "Um yeah, can we rip that down? That is very offensive and kids and families walk past here all day long." Car Lady, "Um..Well..it's the owners.. it’s a product we sell.. and.. um.." Me, "What, her? I'm sorry, SHE is the product?!" Car Lady, "Yes..oh, no! Her no! She's not.. um..", Me, "I'm sorry, do you view women as an object? I'm sorry, women aren’t objects. You're a woman correct? Are you telling me you enjoy being viewed as an object?" Car Lady, "Yes.. No! No. I don’t.. um.. yeah.. um… yeah just take it down..", Me, "Gladly! Thank you! Have a good day." I tore it off, crumpled it up and threw that bull crap in the trash! TAKE THAT SATAN! Priesthood Power!! Yup, so that’s how that went down. 

Anyway, Elder Johnson and I continued to do a ton of work that night! We later got straight police shirts and badges from the local cop that we talked into getting for us. He took us to go get them in Trujillo. So yes, Elder Johnson and I went on a semi ride-along on the mission haha. But yeah, it's been a great week.

Yesterday I gave a talk in church about "Ayudar personas venir a cristo" (Helping people come unto Christ) because our church open house is this week. I went off in that talk about 1 Nephi 8 and shared Moses 1:39, it was awesome. Right after that we sang "Las familias puedan ser eternas" (Families can be together forever) and the verse "quiero estar con mi familia por la eternidad" (I want to be with my family for eternity) hit me super hard with the spirit. I straight up teared up. It was an amazing moment. 

But yeah, this week was great, except when I went to go print pictures and the guy put a virus on my memory card and I can not access any of my pictures or videos. Luckily I've got the pictures backed up.. but all my videos that I didn’t back up are gone… which is about 70% of them.. so yeah, that’s great! But apart from that, we are all good here. Oh yeah, and yesterday I broke up a fight in the street. A couple was fighting and I think the man was drunk and he was pushing and started to hit his wife and I was NOT having that… apostate or not, I wasn’t going to let that continue. But don’t worry, nothing happened to your local missionary! Haha so yeah, it's been good. I have to go now though! I love you all and hope you have a great week!

Love, Elder Rokovitz

                                                                             

Elder Cruz, Christian and me bringing people into the capilla abierta (open chapel).

Happy Semana Santa

The rain has stopped. All the bridges that fell are going to be up and running tomorrow. The houses are back to good from what I've seen here. A few walls have fallen, but apart from that, all is well!

To start off this week, on Tuesday I wasn't feeling good at all. My body was killing me and I felt super weak for some reason, I don't know why. We had a training from our mission president during the first half of the day but after that I knocked out until about 6 p.m. At 6 I was feeling a little better but I just decided to say a prayer and get going because I hate just laying in bed. I feel like it's a waste of time. And that night, we went off! We found a new guy and took out 5 citas (appointments) and then ate at Gio´s for the first time. He's a member, and has the best burgers in the WORLD. Dad, we will have to come here when we come back, you'll love it. 

                                                                                

Me with Gio.

Best burgers ever!!

Then on Wednesday we went to the temple and it was awesome! Me and Elder Johnson chilled in the Celestial Room for like 30 minutes and I found that answer about Adam getting baptized, Mom! (Moses 6:64-66 The question for Cory was, "Was Adam baptized?") Haha, Elder Johnson didn't know the answer to that question either. It was so amazing to be in the temple and I just didn't want to leave the temple and go back into the real world. 

                                                                               

Our zone at the temple.

 

That night I actually felt really down, disanimated and just sad for some reason, but after praying and reading the scriptures I remembered a quote that says, "I know that right when I break down, I'm about to break through." That quote can work in sports, school, life, and the gospel. Satan was digging on me so hard but I wasn't feeling that crap and I just felt the Atonement super strong and it was actually a really amazing moment to realize that I knew Satan was working on me so hard, because he knows I'm about to break through and have an amazing moment or something great is going to happen. 

After that, the week started going up, and the next day we were talking with Melissa (we're in our 3rd lesson with her) and she told us she really wants to get baptised! We were like.. YUP!! The only problem is that she is co-living right now with another member. His ex-wife won't divorce him.. it really stinks. We felt inspired to talk to them about fasting and they loved the idea. We are really hoping and praying that his ex-wife will open her heart and just divorce him. I think they will be coming to church next week together. We have to get a letter for Juan to let him off Sundays for work. 

Then on Friday, the four of us here in Moche went to Gio's and made some waffles! They were supposed to be Belgium waffles but we cooked them on like a mini George Forman grill type thing... haha but they were still pretty good with syrup and butter. 

                                                                             

Me with Gio and his SUU shirt. Our waffles are in the background on the green plate.

Easter doesn't exactly exist here.They don't exactly celebrate Easter, which kind of stinks.. but they go hard core on "Semana Santa" (Easter or Passover week) and have a huge party on Palm Sunday and then just like have a carnival going on all week. Then on Thursday and Friday another party. It all happened here in Moche because the Catholicism is really strong here. Then on Sunday... at 5 A.M. IN THE MORNING they march down the main street, right in front of our apartment, as slow as humanly possible, with their musical band and a guy with this firework, which is basically a bottle rocket and blows up super loud when it goes off.. remember, at 5 a.m., in front of our apartment.. haha yeah, that was great, let me tell ya. But other than that, this week has been a great week! 

I love you all and hope you had a great Easter! Besitos!


Elder Rokovitz

                                                                              

Zone p-day playing soccer.

                      After soccer.                      

                                                                                 

A day of training. (Elder Rokovitz is on the far right, 2nd one in.)

With my companion, Elder Cruz, at the training.

Me with Elder Johnson and Elder Olsen.

Me with Elder Houskeeper.

Elders at the training.

Our Zone. (Elder Rokovitz is in the back, right in the middle.)

A great day at the Trujillo temple.

Riding the "Big Dog".

Us elders with Hermano Miranda and his son (sitting in the middle of the elders.)

Grinding corn for Angelica's chickens. A mission isn't all about knocking on doors. 

                                                                               

Outward Appearances

Wassuuuuh Fam,

Alright, so about this week, tomorrow was suppose to be transfers but because of the flooding, there will be no transfers for 2 more weeks, and then the next change will just be 4 weeks after that.

Melissa, we couldn't visit them last week but we have another cita (appointment) for this week. 

This week I went on an interchange with Elder Luna and Elder Johnson both. Elder Luna on Tuesday and Elder Johnson on Thursday. And let's just say we went OFF this week! Also me and Elder Johnson MOBBED haha, we had such a great time. There were times where we were crying laughing so hard and then out on the streets we were having a bunch of super spiritual moments. I think it was my best interchange yet! 

Also earlier in this week I got the chance to give 3 interviews for baptisms. One was a younger boy, 13 years old, and then another 13 year old girl, and an 8 year old. They were all so awesome, Jairo, the boy, was a stud and was super mature and what not and the 8 year old was so cute! When I started the interview with her she goes, "I'm getting baptized today at 7 p.m.!" Hahaha she was super cute and couldn't stay focused. It was the hardest interview ever, but it was easily my favorite. I would rather interview kids any day. They're so cool! 

We've been working on holding open houses at the church buildings. It was super cool. I was just at the doors greeting people but it went really well. We will have 3 more, one for every church in the district. Ours is the 29th so I'll give more info then. 

                                                                           

Also one of the highlights of my week was yesterday when we went to go knock for a reference we received. He wasn't there but 3 guys were there. They were like 3 gangsters and were all tatted up and stuff and looked kind of sketchy. I was just going to avoid them like I normally do when I see some sketchy guys, but then I thought.. you know what, I have a brother who may look a little sketchy, but he is the most outgoing, and one of the funniest, nicest guys I know. I knew that if that was my brother sitting in front of me, I wouldn't have blinked an eye to talk to him. So we contacted all three of them and they were actually super cool! They not only were super nice and funny but they actually knew a lot about Christ and His life and what not. It reminded me of a scripture mastery in 1 Samuel 16:7 about looking on the heart and not the outward appearance. It was such an amazing moment to talk to these 3 guys and get to know them and realize that even though they may look tough and sketchy on the outside, they could be the nicest person on the inside. It was a really humbling and such a spirtitual moment. Easily one of the best moments here on the mission! I hope that we all can learn to be more like the Savior and develop and apply what is taught in this verse. 

I love you all and hope that you all have a great week! Oh and Palm Sunday here is ligit! 

Love, Elder Rokovitz

                                                                               

P-day with the elders

All of us squished in a car together.....we were going to be late.......we had to squish.

Love my elders!!

Love serving with these missionaries!

Holding the Perúvian sun.

Ahhhhh pizza!!

Conference Love

This transfer has flown by!! It's been nuts. I noticed the other day that it's been a year already since I received my mission call... that was weird haha. 

This week, well it was definitely one of my best weeks on the mission! On Monday we had a Noche de Hogar (family night) with Juan and Melissa and Hermana Maria Asmat (Melissa is not a member and is our investigator.. also the pareja - partner of Juan) and we had an amazing lesson on the Plan of Salvation. I had an amazing spiritual moment as I testified of eternal families and of my family, that I KNOW will someday too, be eternal. It was so amazing and the spirit was so strong. We hope to keep progressing with her. She seems very interested. We have another cita (appointment) with her tomorrow. 

Also this week we were teaching a new family and at the end, the 8 year old girl wanted to learn how to pray. We taught her and she did so amazing. It was the cutest thing in the world. She was adorable and so sweet! I just love seeing and having moments like that. 

This week I was studying and came across Romans 12:21 "Be not overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good." I thought that was sooo great! Definitely one of the truest things I've ever seen. Sometimes it may not be all that easy, but with Jesus, all is possible (Philippians 4:13). 

Speaking of spiritual moments, conference was AMAZING. Either the talks are getting better, or I'm just paying more attention, because every talk had something so amazing to learn. I didn't take advantage of that as much before my mission and boy, I wish I would've because it could've and would've helped me so much in my life in hard times. I tore apart Moroni 7:40-48 (it straight took me an hour to re-study these verses). I learned so much about charity and loved what President Thomas Monson said, "We do not honor the priesthood of God if we are not kind to others." In the two lessons I had yesterday, I tried to see people more as the Savior would, as emphasized so much in this conference. I could see and feel the difference in just two lessons of how much more connected I felt to my investigators and how much more of a love I grew for them in the short 45 minutes we taught each lesson. It was such an amazing feeling. 

Also I loved Elder Joaquin Costa's talk. It was an awesome talk and I love putting my name in my scriptures when I read them. That's something I'm definitely going to do more with our investigators. 

Other talks I loved were the talks of Elder Bednar, Elder Holland, and Elder Rasband. I wish I had time to bear testimony of their words! But something I did love that Elder Rasband said is that we should be spiritual first responders. It's so true, especially here on the mission! Like the Prophet Joseph Smith said, "9 out of 10 times you will have chosen the right path if you act on the first impression." I can solely testify of those things that he said and the others that spoke. As Elder Clayton said in his talk, "May we choose well". I promise and testify that this is the Lord's gospel and that "nothing else is more relevant" than the promises that our Lord has in store for us. 

I hope you all have an amazing week and I love you all so much!!

Con mucho amor (With much love), Elder Rokovitz

                                                                             

I found Brother Miller in the choir. (Our good friend, Layne Miller, sings in the Tabernacle Choir. Our family loves to look for him during General Conference time. Whenever we see him, we all say, "Sing it Miller, sing it!!")

Riding in a taxi to lunch between conference sessions.

Lunch at TGI Fridays. Good ol' American food.

Me and Elder Johnson exchanging a 100 for two 50's. (If this is 100 sol in Perúvian money, it would equal about $30.82 in U.S. dollars, but I, Mom, don't know anything about Perúvian sol, so I'm not sure if what I'm saying is true.)