FAMILY EMAIL!

WE FREAKING DID IT. We put these two kids on baptism date and I am so happy and excited for them. They are so excited to be baptized, they just have to attend church these 3 weeks (the date is November 28th). I knocked these guys door 9 TIMES before 1 response and I kept begging my comp to keep trying because I had a feeling and it payed off. I am legitimately so excited I was brought to tears when they sounded so excited. I have worked and prayed so hard for these kids now they are ready for baptism. I got pretty close with them these past weeks, I always played games with them before lessons and when I told them im their baptizer they were super excited haha. Prayers for them that they attend. We cannot baptize unless they attend these 3 weeks so prayers for them. Im so excited fam. Also the guy on the left who isn't smiling is a recent convert who is inactive and legit randomly walked by and was like oh hey elders and them bore his testimony about baptism it was so cool. Legit a miracle he randomly walked by and then shared a great testimony, it was so cool. The camera I think took the shot at a bad time he was smiling haha

Well thats the update love yall!!

90 VAMOS PE!

 First week with the new transfer. Nothing new with the transfer same comp same area. Here are some updates for yall

1) A drunk guy came up to me and said he was Satan and that his wife doesnt trust him, so that was cool

2) There's this family i teach with a single mom and three boys and I love teaching them. They keep asking me about words in english and they said you are very tall and asked about my sizes in everything (like shirt, shoes and whatnot) and when I told them my shoe size they said "ASSSUUU MAQUINA" its like perus saying for being very surprised like "oh my gosh!" It was so funny haha. Love the tall moments here

3) Cool moment, i was having a rough day and the last lesson I was baring my testimony and i started talking about how Jesus knows exactly what we see gojng through and is there for us and my testimony was changing into what I needed to hear. It was so cool man

4) We needed a man over 18 to join us for a lesson and we needed it last minute and my comp wanted to give up and go home, and I was like wait, trust me ill find someone and I did  and we had a baller lesson

5) So i met thid Elder named Elder Carrillo and he was my comps last companion and he is a jit, I love this guy, and he is training this transfer and his missionary on training is 26 YEARS OLD like brochacho was born 1999, ay mi mama. And his first ever question he asked was "hey bro are we allowed to swim with the hermanas"  like brotha what

6) You guys know how we have clase de ingles every week? Well some lady walked in and she knew a good amount of english and she asked me during the lesson "oh yah is this a colloquial question" and in my head I was like "what in the Sam frick is a colloquial question" I still dont know what it is but I told her, yah its a colloquial 

7) Some random guy in a moto called me over and was ey Elder come in my moto and give me a lesson and I was like oh bet I gotchu so we had a lesson

8) Shout out to the Church for 55 missions, the city of Lima has 8 or 9 missions now which is insane

9) My mission received 32 missionaries last transfer and we are probably receiving 32 more so there's a good chance I could train after 2 transfers 

Spiritual Thought: Its gonna be short but relying on the Holy Ghost and Jesus has been so clutch this mission, its gotten to the point when I know when the Holy Ghost is with me or not with me because of my thoughts and actions and I love it. I have never felt so close to the Holy Ghost in my life, and its so chevere

Love you all and hope you all have a great week 

Here's the Google Photos join up

https://photos.app.goo.gl/7d6U7GWNwS1UVbVS8

WHAT'S UP AYLLU!

I've been working on my testimony in Quechua because I wanna share my testimony with the ward when I return from the mission in Espanol y Quechua so here it is. But before that today was probably my most tiring day because we had 2 lessons at the tops of 2 different mountains, and a TON of walking uphill and downhill today like more than usual. But it was pretty good nothing too much to complain about. I cried again today because of my comp and other things, but I just dont wanna keep doing this with him but we are enduring (i keep saying preserving instead of enduring because enduring is perseverando in spanish for absolutely no reason) so itll get better hopefully and if it doesnt well its only 6 weeks. The heat got to me today along with the walking uphill, and I thought I was gonna throw up. I swear I am liking it out here dont worry guys, the lows make the highs well worth it. Like tonight we had a lesson after lows and as I was baring my testimony at the end, my testimony started randomly changing to what i needed to hear, and it was how Jesus knows exactly what im going through right now, and i almost teared up while baring it to this guy haha, and yesterday i was walking and i had a thought to start walking on the road instead of the sidewalk i was on and then 2 seconds later a bunch of wet concrete came down from the roof exactly where i was gonna be, so all of that wouldve landed on my head. So good looks Holy Ghost, and also i guess Villa Maria gets Feed My Starving Children rice packs because i saw an empty one on the road. But yah there's a little update for yall, lots of lows and some good highs, and here's the testimony in Quechua

Testimonioyqa yachanin qespikuypa planninqa kusikuypa planninmi, kay plantaq kay Pachapi llapa runakunapaq kamasqa kasqanmanta. Yachanin Jesusqa kay Pachapi tukuy ñak’ariykunata, nanaykunata, wateqaykunata ima ñak’arisqanmanta, wakmanta kawsananchispaq. Hanaq pacha Yayanchispas Jesucristopas munanku paykunaq qayllanman kutimunanchista kusikuywan kusikuywan kay kawsaypi. Yachanin kay Pachapi kawsayqa sasa kasqanta, ichaqa yachachikuyninkunawan, allin willakuykunawan ima, aswan thak kaywan, aswan sumaq sonqowan kawsasunman. Testigoni, Qelqaq atiyninwan mañakuywan ima, cheqaq kasqanmanta, chaymi llave Diospa, Jesuspa hunt’asqa atiyninman kawsayninchispi haykunapaq. Testigo kani kay evangelioqa atiyniyoqmi llapa runaq kawsayninta cambiananpaq, imaña kaqtinpas, Jesucristoq hunt’asqa evangelio kasqanrayku. Testigo kani Jesucristoq ejemplonqa hunt’asqa kasqanmanta, payta qatikunanchispaq kallpachakuqtinchisqa aswanta munakuyninta sientesunman, sapa p’unchaytaq aswan thak kayta tarisunman. Yachanin kay cheqaq kasqanta, iskay wata testigo kasqayrayku, testigo kasqayrayku ima, rikurqanitaqmi imatachus kay evangelio llapa runapaq ruwayta atinman chayta. Chaytan testigo kani Jesucristoq ch’uya sutinpi, Amen.

FAMILY EMAIL!

Que onda chibolos. Calm update for yall, I figured out from other missionaries Villa Maria is basically the most difficult area in all the missions. Its the dirtiest, the area isn't entertaining because its the same route everyday, and the work in my area is just straight up difficult. Every elder that has served here says dont worry every where isn't like this. Im not pointing this out in a negative way whatsoever, im just super excited to see new parts of Peru. Also this is probably the most congested area (housing wise), para mi this is the most perfect place to be born (start my mission) because it only goes up from here. I dont even mind my area but I guess it gets a lot cooler and more entertaining. The thing that carries this area is the ward. The ward is sooo good but everything else is difficult and not entertaining haha. One elder says he made a term for shoes or clothes when they are beat up. He says "oh your shoes got villa maria'd" which is like dirty and destroyed because its dirty and rocky here haha. But im liking it its not too shabby, part of me wishes I didnt here it because now im super excited to start in a new area and getting ready to leave and I still got 2 transfers haha. But yah there's a little update for you guys

Also im not crashing out as much im figuring out the guitar

Love yall have a great week

91 ?YA FLUIDO?

So the title means already fluent? And to answer that title, no im not but we are getting there . This week was super rough im not gonna lie to yall, hardest week by far. Sickness (as I said thursday) and I had to sacrifice a lot of things that I did not want to sacrifice, my 40 days is rough, and I finally broke down because I miss my family so much, and its just difficult. But let me tell yall now it was soooo worth it. This week while I was sick and struggling I learned 2 very important lessons and im glad I didnt just take my trials and sulk and not learn anything. First I learned "how to get lost in the work" everyone always tells me "oh if you want to enjoy your mission more or have it go by fast, get lost in the work." But I never knew how, but I finally learned, to get lost is to put all wordly things behind me and soley focus on missionary work and helping others, yah it sounds simple when I type it out but I couldn't figure it out for the life of me, I just have to be a missionary for 2 years and only focus on that and its gotten better ill say, I now know what I need to do throughout the weeks to better help myself. And the other lesson is follow promptings, and how to just feel better in general. I realize that all good thoughts come from God and that I need to follow everything God tells me because he has an eternal map layed out for me and I need to listen to his directions, no matter how hard. It is also easier said than done, and even though I gave up these things I feel better and more at peace because I followed God and his will, and if I want to enjoy my mission more I need to follow his will. If I get lost in the work and receive more promptings and listen to those promptings I will be better off and be happier. The only left on my mind is family and praying that all of them are doing ok, I miss them dearly and I hope and pray nothing bad happens to them while im gone and its been occupying my mind a lot and ive been struggling with these thoughts, but I know if I stay lost in the work and do his will then everything will be ok and I won't worry as much anymore. On happier notes I armwrestled my entire zone and beat everyone so thats pretty cool. We also played 11v11 soccer today against another zone and I scored 3 goals sooo im goated. We got transfer news today and im with same comp and same area. And yah I just bought a guitar so if anyone wants to give me some tips and tricks feel free to hit me up. Ive been wanting to learn so I decided since my mom or dad isn't with me to say no I bought one on my own . So yah give me some advice if you guys have any

I love you all and hope you guys have a chevere week

From, the guitar playing elder

Join the google photos chibolos

https://photos.app.goo.gl/7d6U7GWNwS1UVbVS8

Here's some photos from soccer today, my zone got matching jerseys

A TEXT FROM A STRANGER!

 The day before we got an email from Jared that he had been having horrible stomach pain and his stake president wanted him to go to the hospital, but he didn't want to. Anytime he ate anything, his stomach stung. The next day was their P-day and they were going to go to the temple and we were just praying Eli would be able to make it. I was worried about him in the back of my mind and then while I was at the gym with Amber I got a text from unknown number. A mom from Utah and her returned missionary had returned back to Lima to visit her son's mission and she ran into Eli and another Elder from the states and she sent us a picture of them! Seeing Eli's face melted my heart, he looked happy and he had made it to the temple! I have never been so grateful for a text before! This stranger has no idea what this meant to me! 

When we finally got to talk to Eli he told us how excited he was to see Americans! Later that night he called us crying....he didn't feel good, he was done with his companion and he couldn't believe he had 22 months left! 

We talked to him for a while and tried to help him as best we could. It broke my momma heart...I just wanted to hug him and let him know it was going to be ok. 

Luckily Emma and Hunter were able to jump on the call as well and talk to him too. The next day Eli woke up with a new attitude and ready to conquer the world and he started his 40 day fast (not from food, but from other things) hoping to help him with everything he was struggling with and everything hsi companion was struggling with. 

But today....I am so grateful for the littlest things....like the text from a stranger! 

92 READ SPIRITUAL THOUGHT!

Nothing too excited happened this week, but I had a eye opening experience so pls pls read the spiritual thought.

First: an old lady asked me to buy bread for her, because she was too tired to walk so I attempted but they didnt have the bread she wanted 

Second: ive been teaching a English class every thursday and thats pretty dope

Third: LISTEN TO DALLIN H. OAKS FAMILY TALK, its very amazing and I love it

Fourth: We met this amazing Lady named Luzmaria and she is very interested in the Gospel so stay tuned for her

Fifth: Took two temple trips in 1.5 weeks (one was baptisms with the ward the other was endowments with the zone for p-day which was today)

Sixth: This random kid came up to me at the temple and started chatting with me and I absolutely loved it, he is 7 years old and I loved every second of it (these moments have been my favorite in the mission so far)

Seventh: I ate soup at the temple with a whole chicken foot (see google photos) so thats pretty cool

Eighth: My stomach has been hurting really bad and stinging and I think its because of food from Sunday (won't go too much detail because whats the point)

Ninth: Everytime I try and pray in english I keep saying words in spanish on accident, my brain is lost now and im slowly converting to spanish only sooo that's chill

Tenth: As I wrote this some guy was blasting "Stan" By Eminem so I hope hes ok and I wonder if he even understands the meaning of the song 

Eleventh: Don't wanna say too much but my companion is going through it, so I took it upon myself to sacrifice personal things from my life to become a more consecrated missionary, in hopes of helping him enjoy his mission more. And so far it has been really good and my lessons have been more powerful

A little more on this so basically like I said i decided to become even more consecrated and in doing so hoping he would enjoy his mish more. And I am also receiving the benefits I am seeing. Last night at our last lesson, at the end I bore my testimony, and I said things I didnt think to say, (this lady is very close to baptism and her daughter is ready, the mom just has a few more questions) but I was doing my usual testimony, but then I started promising in the name of Jesus Christ, this gospel WILL change her life, and will help her with family and work problems. I have no clue what is going on with her life im just a missionary, but I knew i needed to say that and I started to tear up a bit while saying that and even while writing this now and thinking about it I tear up, because this gospel has the power to do marvelous things and can change lives. So we will see how she feels about baptism these next coming weeks (I figured out missionaries have been teaching her for 10 months now) sooo this will be a miracle.

But anyways now onto the best part of this weeks email

Spiritual Thought : This week was kinda hard to feel the spirit not gonna lie. With me being sick, me and my comp having our differences, and just my thoughts in general, and I needed to know, how can I feel the spirit through good times and bad times, and just have the guide with me at all times and whether or not its my head giving me the answer or whether its Heavenly Father. Luckily my friend Seth (Elder Nielson) helped answer this question for me. Before I begin this is why relationships are the most valuable thing to me and this is one way I feel the spirit is through others and their experiences. He had a similar question, but we received different and unique answers to our questions. I learned a very powerful lesson through a devotional by David A. Bednar called "That We Might Not Shrink" (thanks again Seth for sending me this ). He asks, "can we drink the bitter cup, and not become bitter?" Or another one was "Do we have faith not to be healed?" In our life we know it is easy to have faith when life is good and we know God is there watching us, but what about when life hits us in the face and we drink that bitter cup? Do we have that same faith knowing God is there watching over us, and that God has eternal perspective for all of us? The second question is from a story (from the same devotional) when Elder Bednar not knowingly beforehand asks a newlywed husband "i know you have faith to be healed and thats amazing, but what if God doesnt heal you? What if he needs you now in Heaven to preach to his children to him? Do you have that same faith?" This opened up my eyes these past two days and it made me reflect. Yah I know God is with me throughout the mission and he protects me, but I need to realize that trials need to happen, because God wants them to, he wants us to grow, and we need to realize that God has a eternal perspective, our loving, all powerful, merciful Heavenly Father knows exactly what we need to grow and knows how to mold us, we just need to be able to drink that bitter cup and not become bitter, and the best part is we have infinite chances to try and try again because of repentance. So far this mission has taught me that I need to look unto God at all times, and I need to keep looking unto him whenever life gets difficult, because thats my time to lean on Heavenly Father. As for the other question about whether its my head or the spirit im still working on that, so stay in touch for that. But I recommend all of you listen to that devotional, it is so so good

I love all of you, and hope you guys had a splendid week (I swear emails wont always be this long) but let me know what you think of the spiritual thought, because it hit me like a truck

From, The Elder with the best tie collection

Here's the link to the devotional : 

That We Might “Not … Shrink” (D&C 19:18)

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/broadcasts/article/ces-devotionals/2013/01/that-we-might-not-shrink-d-c-19-18?lang=eng

Join the google photos :

https://photos.app.goo.gl/7d6U7GWNwS1UVbVS8

Here's a pic of me talking to the chibolo (slang for kid)