Share Your Testimonies!!

This past week I got to thinking quite a bit of something that I really regret not doing more of before the mission. It really hit me that before the mission I wasn’t really open with sharing my testimony with those around me. I guess it just hit me because seeing what this gospel can do to help put structure in ones life, give meaning to ones life, and to feel the love that our Heavenly father has for us, it made me think of all of my friends that don’t know the truth of all these things and that I could have made a difference. I know that Brian will have a great opportunity to share a little bit of what he believes with his friend Bailee. It takes a lot of strength to stand up for something but I know that my little bro will make it happen and that he will be much happier for doing it. I too am thankful for the way my friends respected and help to accommodate me with my beliefs and I too am much happier for it.

Well family I hope this letter finds you all very very well and very very happy. I think the world of each and every one of you and am so very blessed to have your love and support. Elder Andrade and I are working hard and just loving the work. Thanks again for everything. I love you guys!

A Neat "Reunion"

Thank you so much for the great letter this week, it gave me so much strength and courage to just keep on keeping on even in the midst of challenges and adversity. We are safe and very anxious to get back to work in the little ward of Los Rosales. Thanks for the concern and the prayers, they are being answered and the Lord definitely loves and takes care of his missionaries.

Yesterday was the Peru Lima Puente Piedra Stake Conference and it felt a lot like a giant home coming. I have served in four wards that belong to the Puente Piedra Stake and being together with all of the great members and people yesterday felt like a giant home coming. I was able to visit with those from Miramar, Palermo, Los Rosales, as well as Puente Piedra. It was really special seeing my converts at the conference, knowing that they are still young and tender in the faith, but are making the strides and sacrifices to become strong and valiant. All of the members from Los Rosales were extremely thankful and glad to know that we were safe and that soon they will have their missionaries back in the ward. The neatest part of the entire morning was the feeling that I felt, I felt as if I was amongst family and friends. Seeing them all brought me so much joy and strength and it was just another testimony builder that this work is true and this Gospel blesses and changes lives.

Seeing the Gospel Bless Lives...

I am happy to tell you that this past week we spent a lot more time with Margarita and she accepted to be baptized along with her daughter and her granddaughter. She has already told us that she has felt a huge difference in her house by inviting us in her house and listening to the lessons. I feel as if this one will be for Grandma. I know that she is playing a huge part in helping Margarita along and to come to an understanding of how true this Gospel is. This weekend we are going to be able to baptize all of my investigators that I left in Los Rosales. It has taken quite a bit of coordinating and a lot of time on the phone but this weekend we will get r´ done.

Feeling Help and Support From Grandma Zweifel

I had a really neat experience yesterday with a lady that we contacted. We met an elderly lady by the name of Margarita and once we got talking to her I knew there was something special about her. She invited us in here house and after a couple of minutes talking with her I felt as though I already knew her. She made me think so much of Grandma Zweifel. They way she just had that loving spark about her and her eagerness to learn and get to know you. We taught her about the Book of Mormon and she loved it and invited us to come back. We are going to challenge her to baptism Tuesday and I can’t wait to do it. She was a great little lady and it was really neat because I felt as if Grandma was there with us teaching her. I love all of the special spiritual experience that I have had thus far in the mission and that is truly what makes this work what it is. Everyday the Lord trusts us to gather his children and with his help there is no way we can fail. (Grandma Zweifel's name is Margaret....neat coincidence?)

Carry On, Carry On, Carry On!!

My new comp is Elder Andrade and he is from Lima. You wouldn’t think him to be Latin because he looks like an African. He is a great kid and I’m really excited to work with him this change. We are currently working in the Puente Piedra ward and we both hope to be back in Los Rosales by the end of the month. I’ve got quite the work load right now though; even though there aren’t missionaries in Los Rosales I still have the responsibility for the investigators. So I am directing Los Rosales by phone during the night and during the day we are working in Puente Piedra. It’s going really good and thanks to the members in Los Rosales it makes my work a whole lot easier. Even though things are hectic right now the work is still going forth and I still love it.

Reason for the "Emergency Transfer"

Now that things have calmed down a little bit and we are safely working in our new area, I will be able to fill you in on what is going on in Los Rosales. Last week Elder Ortega and I had an unexpected visit from two ladies who aren’t members (The area is very small so everyone knows the missionaries and where they live). Their sons are part of a gang there and they came to warn us that we should stay low for a little while. Their son’s gang was planning some stuff to do to the ¨Mormon Missionaries¨ and they came to warn us. We thanked them so much for their concern and Elder Ortega asked them just what they had planned to do to us. To make a long story short there were death threats flying around and that isn’t something to take lightly. We immediately called President Perez and the next morning we were in the offices with our entire luggage. I don’t really know how to feel, I am more frustrated than anything because the work was going so well but we also know that Satan tries to do what he can to frustrate the work in anyway he can. Thank you so much for all of your prayers and love, they were definitely felt on our end.

The Case of the Contaminated Clif Bars!

Thanks for everything especially for the great letter. Thanks for the notice with the Clif Bars, but I’m afraid it came too late. We have eaten the entire box and nothing has happened yet. I’m sure it’s thanks to this stomach of stone that I have acquired here in Peru. I’m alive and well and love you all so so much. Thanks for everything! (We sent a case of Clif Bars to Landon for Christmas...He loves them! Then Costco called and sent a letter telling us to get rid of them immediately since they could contain contaminated peanut butter! The Lord is certainly watching out for they young missionaries!)

Wonderful People in Los Rosales!

This past week Elder Ortega and I finished the transfer in style with the baptism of Luisa Taipe. Around 20 years ago, when Luisa was living in the jungle, the missionaries knocked on her door and she quite rudely rejected them because she thought they were from the devil and that they brought a bad spirit in the house and a list of other things. Well to say the least she has experienced a mighty change of heart and realized that the message we carry changes lives and blesses families. Her sister is a member and seeing how her life has changed, Luisa wanted to experience that same happiness and joy. She asked her sister what it was that made her so happy and glow all the time and all that her sister said was ¨When can two of my angels come a speak with you¨. From there we began teaching her and yesterday we were able to see her enter the waters of baptism. When she came out of the water she was so happy and just started crying. She always calls us her little angels. I really hope we will be able to get back to our area of Los Rosales soon, I have so many friends and family that I’m not quite ready to leave yet.

Opposition in All Things...

I thought that I had already experienced just how crazy transfers could be, but this go round has definitely proven me wrong. Due to a situation in our area, Los Rosales will be closed for some time and I’m not really sure when they will open it up again. I was supposed to stay another change there but it looks as if I will be opening a new area in Puente Piedra and hopefully by the end of the month they will send me back to my area. Elder Ortega is heading to another zone with one of my old companions, Elder Salvatierra, so it will be good for Elder Salvatierra because Elder Ortega will keep him working hard. I’m not sure who my new comp will be but I will find out Wed.

Don’t worry about anything, the Lord is definitely taking care of his missionaries and is watching over us. There was a situation in our area which will take a bit of time for things to calm down but hopefully by the end of the month I will be back there working with my investigators. I reported the situation last night to the Zone Leaders and this morning President Perez called us up and told us to pack our bags and get to the offices. Keep us in your prayers as well as the area of Los Rosales so that we will be able to get back to work there.

You can probably guess the sudden bit of news of us leaving was quite a blow for the Ibarra Family (Our Pensionita and Apartment). They are going to organize a giant ward wide fast so that their missionaries will be able to return to their ward soon. I know we will be back there soon. This is just a little bit of Satan working but as we have already been promised, No Unhallowed hand can stop this work from progressing. We are definitely fighting a war but the Lord is on our side and we can’t fail with his help.

A Busy, Grateful Time

While writing this letter one of the new Gringos, Elder Atkinson, is helping me with my English so that you will all be able to understand what I am trying to tell you. Like we say in the Mish, “if you can’t understand, at least we hope you can feel the spirit”. I can’t believe this transfer is almost over; it seems like yesterday my son Elder Ortega arrived. Time is flying but there is still so much more work to be done.

Thank you all for the great letters and support. The second of your Christmas packages arrived and today I am going to bake the cookies with my old Pensionita, Angela from Palermo. We are going to spend the day with her so I figure I could bake cookies with her. Well I hope you all have another great week. Remember that I love you and am oh so thankful for you.

Wonderful Baptismal Experiences

Well another week down and another week full of success and stories that will last a lifetime. Its great when a companionship has the same goals, the same drive to get r done, and works well together because that is the key to having success. The Lord has once again blessed our area, our ward, and our companionship; and its sounds that he has once again blessed you all as well.

We ended the week we two more baptisms and one priesthood ordination. We baptized a lady by the name of Basilia who really has shown a lot of faith and courage with coming to know the Gospel. She doesn’t live anywhere near our area, but with permission from President Perez and President Alarcon we were able to teach her here in Los Rosales. In her home she has no support what so ever with the church, she has a friend that lives here in our area so we held the lessons there. She has traveled every weekend for the past month to hear the lessons and attend church. Despite all of her family being against the idea; she was interviewed, baptized, and confirmed yesterday. She was so happy and I’m thankful that the ward has welcomed her with open arms and is helping her feel welcome.

We also baptized MANUEL!!! Do you remember him? He was the one that Elder Pratt and I found on our work visit that went down the tubes but Manuel was the only bit of light we found that day. We have really come a long way with him, we experienced everything from him kicking us out of his house because he didn’t want to listen anymore to him once again inviting us back because he had a change of heart and knew what we were teaching him was true. We baptized him Saturday night and it was really special. When I pulled him out of the water he had a HUGE smile on his face and just started laughing. I gave him a hug and told him that he was a perfect man, he just smiled and told me “This has got to be the most important thing that I have done thus far in my life”. When he bore his testimony he shared his gratitude for the way that we were so persistent and patient with him. He said that for the longest time he only had one foot in the path of the Gospel but when he heard the true gospel he knew he had to dive right in with both feet in order for things to make sense.

P-Day Activities!

Well today we are off to have a giant water balloon fight and later this afternoon we are taking the young men of my ward on in a basketball game on our new court. The young men are pretty sweet here in Los Rosales so today we are going to shoot it around a bit with them. Remember that I love you and that I know that where I am is where I am suppose to be. Love you ALL!