Working with a greenie...

We are going to have work exchanges and my companion is going to another area and guess who is coming to my area?? The new Greene!! Yeah we have a new elder in our zone and I guess he is really scared too. So lucky us they are sending him with me! a gringo who can barely communicate! lol. But Elder Trinidad said that it’s times like these that miracles happen so I hope he is right. So yeah, please pray extra hard for us!

Idaho Spuds

Last night we were watching a movie about the church and the activities of the church at a member’s house. It was talking about the humanitarian program that the church has and a picture of a little girl standing by a bag of potatoes came on the screen. But this bag of potatoes said Idaho Potatoes from Larson Farms. I grabbed the controller and had to explain just what all those English words meant. It was really fun to kinda share a little Idaho culture with them. The family we were watching it with is awesome. Their little kids are 5, 2, and 1 and they all want to learn English and constantly ask when we are coming to their house. They are a lot of fun.

After All...

The member who does our laundry served her mission in the Lima South Mission and she had a companion from Idaho and her name is Withers. I told her my mom has family who are Withers and I told her that I would have you do some homework to see if we are related. Since I’ve been out here It has amazed my how small the world is. We are all connected in some way or another, especially next weekend when we get to hear General Conference. I am way excited for that.

Stuff A Mom Shouldn't Know?

Anyway I am doing good.! The fleas are still biting but its all part of the experience. Just keep on Keeping On. I love hearing how you all are doing and it sounds like things are great. I love you guys and thanks for everything!!! I don’t know if Jenna has told you about the snake in my area but anyway... it's here mom!

(Landon told us that they have a lady that does their laundry each week and a 'pension' that cooks for them each day. "It might sound like I am getting pretty spoiled down here, But I also have fleas and snakes too, so it all evens out!" I was going to include some pictures and/or links on the subject, but I just couldn't bring myself to do it!! Your welcome, Arlene!)

Preaching in Paramonga!

So this past week has flown by and it was thus far the busiest week of my mission. Elder Trinidad and I taught over 75 lessons and as a result we are teaching a FAMILY and several men who are eligible to receive the priesthood. That after all is the focus of the Peru Lima North Mission--to find and baptize families and strengthen the Priesthood. So we are both way excited about our latest success and pray that they will continue to grow and develop in the gospel. It was funny how we found the family because they own a store and we were shopping for chocolate for a birthday party for the wife of our Branch President and we saw a box of Snickers sitting on the counter. We bought a couple and began talking to him (Carlos) about work and stuff and we learned that he had a family and had talked to missionaries before a little, but hadn’t received the discussions. So we set up a cita (appointment) and taught him and his family last night. It was really great and they are all excited

Landon is terrified of Clowns! (Where does that come from?)

Get this, our Branch President has his own little business. He is a CLOWN for hire. So we were at his house the other night and he told me this and I thought he was messing around. But then he brought out the pictures of him dressed as a clown and thought I was going to wet my pants! Not only is HE a clown but so is ALL OF HIS FRIENDS! I thought I was going to hyperventilate being surrounded with all of that clown stuff but I survived, lol. I guess if I get nothing else out of my mission, maybe I will get over my fear of CLOWNS! LOL. But I'm going to have him get in his costume one of these nights and I'll get a picture with him!! Crazy!! Its his wifes b-day today so later we are going over there to give here some American chocolate. That's all she wanted for her birthday so I'm going to hook her up.

"Small Town" Peru

My new area is really more of what I thought Peru would be like. It is very green and there are huge fields of sugar cane which line the roads. Paramonga is kinda the "small town" feel of Peru. It's really calm and pleasent and the members are really great. We have been doing alot of service lately so we have been very busy.

Changes in the Changes!

My first experience with cambios (transfers) was really quite the experience. Wed morning I woke up and packed knowing that I was going to the Zone of Puente Piedra but as we were walking into the stake center for the meeting I walked past the zone leaders from Puente and asked them about my area. They informed me that I was no longer going to Puente. Instead I am currently in the zone of Barranca in the area of Paramonga. It is the farthest north you can get in the Lima North Mission without being in the Jungle. My new comp is Elder Trinidad and he is a short stalky Mexican. He and I are having a great time together and we are doing awesome. I have already learned so so so much from him--he is also the district leader. I guess I have had a chance to learn what kind of a missionary I don't want to be and my new companion is teaching me how things should be done. But anyway we are getting a lot done and working great together.

Twin Falls Temple Dedication Announced!

We are so excited and grateful that the open house and dedication has been announced for the Twin Falls Temple! The open house for the public will begin on July 11, 2008 and the dedication will be in four sessions on August 24th. How we have anticipated this time! It has been so neat to watch the temple being built and to be a part of such a special event. It is just amazing that we will be able to partake of the blessings of the Temple within 20 miles/30 minutes from home!

Cambios! (Changes)

Well I have officially survived my first change here in the mission field and this Wednesday I am taking off for another area. I'm not quite sure what area exactly I am going too but my new zone is Puente Piedra and my new comp is Elder Polimino. We will meet this Weds.

(Puente Piedra means "The Stone Bridge")

¡Buen alimento! (Good Food!)

I have learned not to ask what I am eating. As long as it tastes good and looks somewhat normal, I am a happy camper. Our new pension is the coolest. He's got that rough military attitude but he is the nicest guy in the world. And he is really enjoying the discussions and the Book of Mormon. He came to church for Elders Quorum as well so that was really neat.


(This is a picture of cuy, or guinea pig/cavy. Quite common in Peru! Other missionaries haved been called.....and served!! as they share their stories!!)

How's the Spanish Coming?

Interviews were last Wednesday, and they went really well. President Perez was really quick to compliment my Spanish and the improvements I am making. He gave me a lot of good advice to get investigators in the capilla (chapel) and as a result we had 3 come to sacrament meeting yesterday. I WAS SO EXCITED!!! One is married to a member and the other one is a single mom with 5 kids. She came with her oldest girl and really enjoyed it. She called us angels the other day and she is the sweetest lady. She is even giving us references to go and contact so that's good too.

Teaching in the Streets

I went on splits the other day with one of my zone leaders, Elder Espinoza and he came to my area so I was kinda the senior companion because I knew the area. That was kind of overwhelming! We had a wonderful time though. The coolest thing that happened was when we saw a couple with their little girl sitting on the corner, the little girl had a ball and it rolled out in the road, so Elder Espinoza went and got it and we started talking to them. Elder Espinoza started talking about Families and then I taught about Temples. While I was teaching, people saw this gringo speaking Spanish so they started to stop and listen. I taught over 15 people right there! It was actually one big family who just got done playing at the beach. They don´t live in our area but we took their addresses and stuff so the Elders in Ventanilla can teach them. We have 7 dates for baptism from our investigators for the end of the month, so hopefully I don´t get transferred before that!

A little later today we are going to explore a castle. We are in Chancay right now which is a really cool city.

New Web Site about the Savior

Using the teachings and testimonies of apostles and prophets, JesusChrist.lds.org affirms our faith in the Son of God and the need for all to come unto Him. Check it out when you have time.

We Found a New Home!

We officially found a new apartment and maid. We actually found it the night of the 29th so we cut it kinda close. Its funny cuz all the paper work and agreement we did with the landlord was a simple handshake and our word. Why can’t we do that back in the States? oh well. But anyway our room is very very nice, it has laminate floors instead of cement and the bathroom and shower are in the same building, lol. It’s on the third floor of our landlord's building and it has a balcony and we also have a really cool view so I can’t complain about that. Our new maid/pension is actually a guy and his cooking is off the wall! He was actually a chef in the Peruvian military for the past 30 years but now he owns a little store with him and his wife. He isn’t a member and we ran into him just as a contact and now we eat with him everyday, so little by little ...We are teaching him the discussions and he came to Elders Quorum yesterday too so that was cool.

Moving our stuff was interesting because no body has their own vehicles here so the only way to move things is by bus or taxi. But we were lucky and found a guy who had a very tiny pickup which was smaller than my Mazda, and a tiny rusted out flat bed, but he said he would charge 15 soles (around 5 bucks) per trip so we hired him. But being poor missionaries we were determined to only pay for one trip so we managed to get all of our stuff on one load. You should have seen it, this truck was loaded to the hilt and then some. It was sky high. So Elder Chavez and I rode of the back to make sure everything stayed on, and we took off down the PanAmerican Highway, it was definitely a sight to see!! lol. It reminded me of when we would move our sheep, llamas, and cow down the road all at the same time!!, lol. But we are moved and getting settled so all is well.