No One Can Question A Testimony

One thing that I am learning really quickly is that people love to argue and deliberate with “The Mormons” especially the Elders. We have had some interesting conversations but Elder Quiroga and I have a sure fire game plan every time someone wants to argue with the truth. We pretty much load them with testimony and answer every one of their questions with the Book of Mormon. We always have an answer, most of the time they don’t accept it, but it’s an answer and it’s true. But every time we come away from a situation Elder Quiroga and I always tell each other how our own testimony just grew. I always tell him that “Nuestra Iglesia es BIEN Verdadera”. (Our church is so True). Our testimonies are truly the strongest and most important part of us. No one can question a testimony.

A Family of Faith

We had Laura’s baptism on Saturday and as always it was a special experience. I think we set a record: I was so worried about pronouncing here last name correctly (Chucisuta) that I missed a small word. I dunked here twice and said the prayer three times. It didn’t matter though she was more than willing to do what ever it took to get baptized. Elder Quiroga and I went the extra mile to make it a really special baptismal service and it turned out great. The bishop’s kids sang a musical number, I used my CD player to play church music, and the testimonies shared were really special. When Laura bore her testimony she told us how she felt so different, how she felt that she had been looking for something all of her life and for the first time felt as though she had found it. All of the members of her family are members so she was the missing link, my first baptized family!!!

The Spirit Knows Who Needs A Helping Hand

Thursday afternoon our district leader wanted to do a work exchange with Elder Quiroga so I went to another area with Elder Apaza. (He is from my CCM group as well). We had a pretty tough day, as all of our appointments fell through and we were both pretty discouraged. After dinner we were walking back to our room and when we came to this intersection we both looked at each other and said “we need to go down this street”. Really it didn’t make any sense we were already late and we had decided to take a longer route. But we began walking down the street and we say a lady with a shovel and she was attempting to conquer a huge pile of dirt. It was dark and she looked exhausted. I threw my bag down, asked if we could help, took off my tie and name tag and got to work. Elder Apaza ran the wheelbarrow while I shoveled dirt. We moved that entire pile of dirt in about 45 minutes and I pretty much thrashed a pair of pants and a white shirt. We were both filthy dirty but so happy. We chatted with the lady (ANNA) for a couple of minutes and set of an appointment to visit her again. Saturday we went and visited her and she shared with us that Thursday morning the police had told her that she had to move the pile of dirt in front of her house or she would be fined. She prayed and prayed to find a way to move the dirt because she didn’t have the money to pay the fine. She told us that we were the answer to her prayers. She called us angels and just couldn’t stop thanking us. It was incredible, the spirit definitely knows who needs a little helping hand and I am so thankful we were able to hear and heed its promptings.

The Lord Truly Answers Our Prayers!

We are still working with Luz but I’m afraid it might be a while till she will fully be able to accept the gospel and get baptized. But I am positive it will happen, we just have to be patient and keep working with her and her family and they will come around. I received and very exciting piece of news today. Remember Ysenia back in Palermo, Puente Piedra. Well she got baptized and is doing great. I was stoked to get that little piece of news. Thanks so much for your prayers and fasting for her. The Lord truly answers our prayers!!!

Scout Day Camp!

My little Boy Scout Day Camp went awesome! I taught them some basic knots, how to start a fire, and some survival skills. We played games to reinforce what they learned and I even taught them the Boy Scout Oath and Law in Spanish. I like to think of them as my little scout troop, lol.

Carrying On This Great Work

Last week we received a call from a less active member whose brother Eduardo (who is also a member) was in the hospital with cancer and little less than a month to live. They asked us to go and give him a priesthood blessing but we made sure to invite the entire family to participate with us. When we arrived we learned the most of the family were members except for one sister named Laura. We explained was a Priesthood blessing is and how Jesus himself did the exact same thing to heal the sick, give sight to the blind, and heal the lame to walk. Elder Quiroga did the anointing and I gave the blessing. The spirit was so strong in that little hospital room it’s hard to describe. When we concluded the blessing and everything we bore our testimonies and asked when we could return to visit with Eduardo. The first person to answer was Laura and she asked us ¨Can you come to my house tomorrow night and begin teaching me? ¨ . We have since been teaching her and she is getting baptized this Saturday. Everyday she tells us how excited she is for her baptism and everyday her testimony of the Plan of Salvation grows in huge ways. Yesterday we took the Sacrament to Eduardo with Laura as well. We had a little testimony meeting and sang some hymns as well. It was great and I couldn’t help but think of you guys in the nursing home giving a little sacrament meeting.

Unsettling Events

This week was full of surprises and neat experiences. First off we learned Tuesday that there was going to be a nation wide strike on Wednesday and that we were to only visit the appointments that we had scheduled and that we had to do them in our P-Day Clothes. Tuesday night we woke up to the sounds of people yelling and things getting blown up, it was really exciting even though we didn’t open up our door to see what was going on. The next morning when we walked to our pension’s house the roads were all blocked off with trees cut down and garbage scattered in the road. We ate breakfast went back to our room, studied, taught some lessons, but spent the most part of our time in our room. It was so frustrating, I wanted to get outside and do something but we were obedient and stayed indoors.

El Libro De Mormon

I had a really neat experience with one of our contacts this past week. Earlier in the week we met a lady named Luz. A few years back she had a really bad accident which left her body all scared and burnt. Ever since she has really been depressed and hasn’t had a good outlook on life. She is married and has a daughter but at times she doesn’t feel welcomed in her own home because she is self-conscious of her appearance. When we went back to visit here she brought with her a book which she told us was the only bible she had. I asked to look at it and when I flipped it over I read “El Libro De Mormon”. I asked her where he had received the book and if he new the history behind it. She said that an older couple from the USA gave it to her while she was in the hospital. We began teaching her about the restoration and The Book of Mormon. We taught her about how families can be together forever. We left her smiling and she told us she has never felt happier. It’s the little visits and testimonies like that, which make this work all worth wild. I am excited for the future with Luz and her family

Boy Scout Pioneers!

Our zone has been brainstorming with the stakes here on ways we can strengthen the young men in the church and keep them excited about the gospel. The idea of applying boy scouts activities was brought up so this Friday I have the assignment to put on a little day camp for the young men. We are going to tie knots, build things with lashings, play games, and learn some wilderness skills. I super excited about it and can’t wait to put it on. I am the only Eagle Scout in the zone so everyone was quick to put me in charge. As far as I know there is only one scout troop in Peru and it is in Lima. So maybe I will be a Boy Scout pioneer here in the Jungle of Iquitos, who knows! But I am busy putting together a program and arranging all of the activities so I will let you know how it turns out next week.

Things Are Starting To Click!

Yesterday was the kind of Sunday I had been hoping for since I have arrived in Iquitos. We have been working our tails off with the members and less actives in order to strengthen the ward and yesterday I felt as if I was beginning to see the fruits of our labors. When we arrived at the chapel, after picking up a few of our investigators, we noticed that the chapel was pretty full. Then as the bishop began giving the announcements more and more people started coming in. People that we have been working with were showing up in their shirt and tie and with their families. By the time we received the sacrament the chapel was full. This is something I haven’t seen since my first week in Palermo, Puente Piedra. Elder Quiroga and I quite honestly couldn’t believe what we were witnessing. The ward is getting back to where it used to be and we are excited to be a part of it. It’s so easy to get discouraged here in the mission but we have to just keep pressing forward with a faith unwavering that things are going to get better.

We had another baptism Saturday night and we also had another surprise that gave us a huge boost of encouragement. Just before the baptismal service our ward mission leader showed up with a program all ready. When we entered the area we couldn’t get our ward mission leader to do anything with us but to our surprise he showed up and conducted the entire service. Things are finally starting to click here in Mi Peru and Versalles and it’s so exciting.

Getting to Work--

Friday I had a work exchange with my zone leader Elder Saucerdo. When we made the exchange in the morning and he came to my area I told him we didn´t have one appointment the entire day. He told me that I had better make something happen then. Even though we didn’t have an appointment the entire day we had one our greatest days. We found two new families to teach, taught over eight lessons, and made over twenty-three contacts. Once we got back in our room Elder Saucerdo told me that he was a little worried about how the day would turn out, but he told me that I handled the situation like a true missionary. I told him that the only thing I know how to do is to work. I don´t exactly know what I am suppose to be doing except that I need to always be doing something. He told me that is the key, to just get to work and the success will come.

The Reality of the Plan of Salvation

Our family has been through a difficult time as Grandma Zweifel passed away on July 2nd. We have also seen so many blessings as we have seen the hand of a loving Heavenly Father watching over her and all of us. I would like to express my feelings for just a moment, with the words of a book about losing a loved one. It says it really well--

When I lost my mom, I lost the person who rejoices in my accomplishments and agonizes in my struggles; the person who thinks I should win every race and succeed at everything I do; the person whose first urge is to protect, shelter and guide - the one who knows what is best for me - or thinks she does; the one who bragged about me in my absence and offered expert advice in my presence. I lost my mom - my biggest fan and most ardent defender. She showed me unconditional love that no one else can understand, much less fill. She had an intimate knowledge of me as a baby and as a child that I myself can never have access to at all. A fundamental part of me has existence only in my mother's memory and when I lost my mom, a part of me is gone, too. She is a point of reference in determining my identity. I've lost a piece of who I am. She is the person whose story provides the beginning of my own. I have to wonder - If I am no longer my mother's child, then who am I? Mom looked out for her children. That shield of protection, both physical and emotional, is lost when I lost my mom. I've lost my mom's hug and caress...the complete physical acceptance that a mother can give.

My sister said this so well too--"I've lost something that can't be replaced, but I have wonderful memories and her example. And I have a sure knowledge of the gospel of Jesus Christ and the plan of salvation that I will see both her and Dad again. They have both left quite a hole. There were so many blessings this past week. What would we do without families? I'm so grateful for both my parents and the legacy they left me."

Leno said, "Good people go easy." And she did.

After a nice visit with the financial assistant to President Perez, I was calm to the fact that Landon would be given the news about Grandma in a very loving way. This is what Landon wrote on Monday, July 7th.

"Dear Family,
Thank you for the news about Grandma. Thursday night while Elder Quiroga and I were doing our daily planning session we got a phone call, it was President Perez. He informed me about grandma and wanted to know how I felt. I told him that I know now more than ever that the plan of salvation is real and the love God has for us is true. We had a really good talk for about 15 minutes and he wanted to let you know that he and his family are praying for you all back home. He made sure I was alright and he expressed his love for me as well. I am doing good Mom so please don´t worry about a thing. Grandma always loved her missionaries and this great work. She was always such a great example of strength and love to me and I know she is so happy right now. I hope all is well back home and that everything goes great for grandma´s services. Tell everyone hi and that I am thinking and praying for them."

The Holiday of San Juan

This past week we celebrated a jungle tradition. Every 24th of June they have what they call San Juan. It’s a day to remember John the Baptist and his martyrdom. Everyone eats “Juanes” and drinks “chincha de maiz”. Juanes are basically tamales made from rice, chicken, and olives and are cooked in Banana Leaves. They form them into balls to represent the head of John the Baptist on the platter. And the “chincha de maiz” is a drink that they make from corn but you have to be careful when you drink it, because it ferments really quickly. If you aren’t drinking it from a member or from a trusted source chances are that it is alcoholic. But in the end I think the holiday of San Juan is just another excuse to drink. They love their holidays here and also their booze. But we celebrated San Juan Mormon style which was just fine with me.

Sharing the Gospel In the Jungle

We started tracking and making visits to the families that live on the borders of our area. They live in the jungle-jungle of the jungle. I love going out there and teaching them, because we sit on rocks, swat mosquitoes, talk about the weather, and share the gospel. They live so far away from the city that there isn’t a water or waste system so all of their water comes in a big tanker truck. Once a day all of the families go with their buckets and containers to fill up from the truck that comes. We decided to use this to our advantage. We carried buckets and buckets of water for people and as we walked with them to their house we made a contact and an appointment to visit them. Most of them looked at us pretty weird because here we are in a white shirt, tie, and dress pants and we are trudging through mud in order to carry water. It was such a great time and I can’t wait till we get to go back and do it again.

We also mixed up our door approach when we knock doors (if they have a door). When they answer the door we ask them “Vive aqui la familia Chosen” (Does the Chosen Family live here). Its funny cuz we are bluntly asking them is their family is “chosen” to receive the gospel and they have no idea what we are saying. Of course they always say no so of course we always offer to set up an appointment to come back. Elder Quiroga and I are definitely still in the learning stages of the mission but we are having a great time tearing it up in the jungle!

We aren’t receiving a lot of help and support from the members but still we are finding ways to find success. I hope you guys never shy away from an opportunity to help out the missionaries. This work is hard and they need all the help they can get. We are constantly trying to get them excited about the work but slowly they are coming around. They haven’t had missionaries in their ward for quite some time so they are still getting use to us I think.