If I Were A Sister Missionary, I Be Coming Home This Week!

Its good to hear that all of my highschool friends haven´t completely forgotten about me yet. But hey get this, If I was a sister Missionary I would be coming home this week. CRAZY HUH!!! I love the work and I love sharing it with you all every week. I hope you have another great week but not quite as busy. Love you all and thanks for everything.

Quite the BBQ!

As a Branch we put together a really cool branch campfire. One of the members, Luis Paredes, has a piece of jungle that he calls his backyard and we decided to invite the ward over for a huge campfire and BBQ. We barbaqued bananas, yuca, chicken feet, and chicken necks. YUM!!! We played campfire games including El Coco se quema (Hot Potatoe except with a coconut). We threw a coconut in the fire and after a couple of minutes, pulled it out and starting passing it around. It was somthing different but really fun.

Working Together and Working Hard

This past week was nothing short of a huge spiritual boost for me. It all started with a work visit that I did with Elder Ortega (MY SON). I don´t think I told you this last change but Elder Ortega has been here in Tarapoto with me these last two changes and what a strength it is to have him. Even though I was his trainer, I feel as though he taught me much more. This last week I got to work with him for the day and everytime we work together amazing things happen. I don´t know what it is but we just seem to be on the same page and our love for the work just goes together and we seem to always have such a strong spirit with us when we teach. As we were walking in the street to an appointment I mentioned to him of what its like when we get to teach and work together. He told me that he felt the same and that he had actually thought alot about why it was that way. He shared with me something really special, he said “I really believe that we work so well together here in the field because we also fought along the side of each other before this life”. I couldn´t ask for a better friend than Elder Ortega or for a better example that I find in him. I might be his DAD but I still look up to him in so many ways.

We finished the week with two very neat converts whose lives have already taken a huge 360 degree turn. Pedro Fababa is thirty four and for the longest time had a huge drinking problem but always knew that there was something more for him. Seeing him now and knowing him before, is a strong testimony of the way the Lord helps to give his children the strength to over any obstacle or challenge in order to go back home. After his baptism, never have I heard a more pure and sincere testimony from a new convert. It was so simple but OH so TRUE . The other baptism was of Lusis Flores. Luis was actually the very first lesson that Elder Vasquez and I taught together here in Tarapoto and in the first lesson we left with a Baptismal Date. It has since been a wild roller-coaster ride with him but he finally received his answer and knew what we taught was true. But two and a half months later he was able to enter the waters of baptism. It was such a special weekend I can´t really describe it. Things here in Tarapoto are going so great and this part of Zion is getting stronger and growing every day.

Road Blocks (literally) To The Work

Thanks so much for your prayers and concerns. The situation here in Tarapoto is getting better little by little but the chaos continues up in another part of the zone called Yurimaguas. It is a small jungle town two hours from Tarapoto and we have four missionaries up there. The natives have taken control of the city and also the river that surrounds the city. Nothing comes in and nothing goes out. The missionaries are safe and sound but frustrated because they haven´t been able to work for over a week. It has been a big road block for us as well because alot of our investigators left for Yurimaguas to visit or for work and haven´t been able to return because of the strike. But as we all know no unhallowed hand can stop this work from progressing, not even a bunch of natives with bows and arrows.

A Special Friend in Nilson

This past weekend we had a very special baptismal service, one of those long shot miracles you wish a pray for. Yesterday afternoon we baptized Nilson Savedra and never before have a seen so much thankfulness come from anyone. Nilson came to Tarapoto about two weeks ago with absolutely nothing and with nobody as well. He was taking the lessons from the missionaries back in Trujillo and when he told them that he was going to move to Tarapoto, they told him to find a Mormon church in order to keep on progressing. Wednesday during our District Meeting, he walked in and asked to talk with someone. I went out with him into the hall and I was able to get to know him and he gave me his history. Luckily the branch President was in the chapel and we were able to coordinate with him to find a place for Nilson to stay and a place to work. Talking with him he shared his desires to be baptized. Teaching him we quickly realized that he already had a very strong testimony of the church and was more than ready to be baptized. Yesterday when he bore his testimony he just broke down in tears and said that for the first time in his life he feels as if he has a place to call home and people to call family. He is quite the guy and we have already been able to become really good friends.
Well family I hope this letter finds you all happy and healthy. I am good, safe, and loving every minute of it. Keep on keeping on and remember that I love you.

It's Been a Wild One!

As I am writing this too you the Internet has been shut off in all of Tarapoto and so I hope that by the time I get done writting you, the Internet will be back up.
Last week after the zone got done writing to their families we were just about to leave the internet cafe when a giant band of rioters came by closing the doors of businesses and slashing tires and when they got to our little internet spot shouted for all the GRINGOS to come out. Elder Vasquez and I pushed all the missionaries into the back room and slammed shut all the windows and locked the doors. They kept shouting for a second and the owner of the shop called the police. They had thier little hoot rally for about five minutes and then took off. We ran across the street into the chapel and locked our selves in. We spent the day watching a few movies and sharing experiences. Later that afternoon we made our way back to our apartments and locked our selves in all of that night and all of Tuesday. Tuesday night the Government officials were able to come to a conclusion for the natives and so we were luckily able to get out and get back to work Wednesday.
It was one of the longest days yet in the mission for me. I felt so useless hanging out all day in my room. All I thought about was how much time we were loosing and how badly I needed to be outside getting something done. I tried to make the most of my time though. I wrote to alot of my converts as well as a few letters to send back to the states. I got an awful lot of study time in which in the long run I am thankful for. I haven´t had to many of those days to myself so I wasn´t really sure how to make the most of it but we were safe and out of harms way and I know that was probably the most important thing. The Elders are safe and sound and were excited to be able to get back to work.

This past week we found the neatest family and they are OH so close to accept a baptismal date. It is a family of five and seeing the way the mom and dad care for one another and their kids has really impacted me because that kind of family unity isn´t really common here in Peru, and its just amazing how close they are. They are the Rojas family and the dad makes a living my making shoes in his house and his wife sometimes has to travel to the river villages selling them in order to make ends meet. Every time we come out of there, after teaching them a lesson, my testimony gets strengthened so much by the way the Gospel truly blessing the lives of every family. The mom will get back the next week and with the two of them we are going to invite them to baptism and I KNOW that they will accept. Keep them in your prayers and I know the Lord will continue to touch their hearts.

Well Family I just want you to know that I love you so much. Don´t be trunky, stay focused, don´t forget who you are and don´t let it get you down, and remember that I love ya. Thanks for everything.

Natives and Nonsense, But The Work Continues...

I am going to go ahead and share the experience that Elder Vasquez, Elder Woolf, Elder Apaza, and I had yesterday. As you already know the little city of Tarapoto is on strike right now but mainly it is being shut down by force by all of the Indians that live in the surrounding jungle villages. The Peruvian Government is trying to sell their lands to foreign oil companies and the oil companies are being to contaminate the villages water source. As of last Thursday the natives have blocked all of the highways and roads and so no one can leave and no one can come in. Elder Woolf and Elder Apaza are the zone leaders from Moyobamba (about 3 hrs outside of Tarapoto) but with the strike weren´t able to leave ever since we had gotten back from Lima Thursday night. They had tried everything to get out; everything from a three passenger airplane to traveling in the middle of the night but everything fell through. Until yesterday in church we heard some members talking and they told us that the natives were going to allow people to pass for only two hours but they would have to pass on foot. The natives had a really big stretch of highway closed off and we would have to walk quite a way in order to get to the taxis on the other side which would carry Elder Woolf and Elder Apaza to Moyobamba.
We decided to take the opportunity and so with all of Elder Woolf´s and Elder Apaza´s luggage we took a little moto-taxi just as far as we could and from there we set out on foot. The highway was lined with little natives with their spears, bows, arrows, and face-paint. It was a little nerve racking because Elder Woolf and I kind of stick out like a sore thumb. We ended up walking for two hours and arrived at the river, which on the other side we would be able to find a taxi. We figured that we could cross the bridge but the natives had also blocked it off so the only option was to carry all of the luggage on our backs and ford the river. We had to make several trips back and forth and we got covered in mud and soaked but we were able to get a taxi and send Elder Apaza and Elder Woolf off to Moyobamba. After they left Elder Vasquez and I had to once again cross the river and walk another two hours back. On the walk back I asked my comp what time it was and he said “five o´clock, time for you to call your family” (That was when we were about an hour from the nearest moto-taxi) I laughed and said that my mom was probably going to freak out a little bit, but from the sound of it I think you took it pretty well. The zone is safe and we are all doing really well. The missionaries are still in high spirits and so I guess it was just another one of those speed bumps that try to interrupt the Lords work but like always nothing will stop this work from progressing.

Great To Visit With You All!

You´ll never know just how great of a boost it was to be able to talk to you all yesterday. You are all such a great and special source of love and encouragement to me and knowing that the Lord continues to bless you is such a great blessing to me. You all sounded really great and I think its safe to say that you are much more “trunky” than I am.

Hey I´m glad to hear that you are all doing so well and that you are just as busy as ever. It was funny because the other day I used one of dad´s ever famous quotes during one of our lessons “If it doesn’t kill ya it only makes you stronger”. I got my point across and that investigator came to church, so thanks DAD.

Working Hard and Working for Miracles

Another six weeks down which means that its TRANSFER time, but it looks as if this go round I am staying at least another six weeks here in paradise, aka TARAPOTO. Half of our zone got changed but we are happy to be getting the new Elderes. From the look of things we are going to have a very young gun zone. Elder Vasquez and I will have another change together but we are also flying back to Lima Wednesday for our Zone Leaders Council. We are also opening up another area here in Tarapoto so we are excited to get one more companionship working with us.
As a companionship, Elder Vasquez and I have made a goal for this next change. We have set the goal to know our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ better and to be able to trust in him more as we teach his children. Last night we were up pretty late trying to put things into place for the up coming transfers but I think we ended up talking more about how the mission changes us as people and why we are truly here. This last past six weeks I think I have learned more about myself then I ever have before. Everything from the way I have had to council missionaries, council myself, overcome pride, and working as a team, I have realized just what I, Elder Schofield, need to do in order to become what and who the Lord wants me to be. Along with my study of the Book of Mormon I am still reading Jesus the Christ and right now I am reading about Christ´s last week on this earth. Never before have I really been able to understand even the slightest bit of Christ did for us but little by little I am learning and realizing that what de did for us, he truly did it alone, on a long and very lonely path, all because he loves us and wants nothing more than for us to return to him. I´m excited for this next change and for the new goal of getting to know my Savior even more.
This past week as a zone we decided that the only way we are going to be able to baptize at least thrity people this month is if we receive a MIRACLE. So durring our District Meeting we did a giant companionship study of just what a Miracle requires. We decided that it comes down to several steps which are found in DyC 103:36. I´m going to let you look it up and do a little study of your own, but Tarapoto is going to make it happen this month.

Ruined Suit, CTR Wedding Rings and Finally....Baptism! Yeah!

This past week the Mera Family FINALLY made it to the baptismal font. It has been quite a journey in helping them along their way but it was just another testimony that everyone progresses in their own way. Saturday night the font filled up, the members arrived, hymns were sung, and the couple was baptized. It was really neat because I was able to baptize them with Elder Seaman and before entering the font Gerlin and Ynes were bickering about who was going to be baptized first because they both wanted to do it first, so Gerlin decided that the four of us would enter the font together and do it at the same time. Well things don´t really work like that but all that matters is that they both got baptized and are oh so happy ahora.