THREE Families in Harmony with the Lord

In this weeks email I wanted to tell you about the THREE families we are getting ready for baptism this month; First off the Martinez family. Jorge and Hermalinda live in the poorest part of our area and it has really been a humbling experience working with them. They have so little and yet are sacrificing so much to live the Gospel. We actually met them thanks to the branch President and we have been working with them for about two months now. They are going to get married September 23 and then enter the waters of baptism September 27. They have a huge family of about eight kids. It’s so much fun when we teach them, because when we arrive all of the little kids go running through the house yelling “MAMA, LOS HERMANOS”. The kids are big fans of the magic tricks you guys sent me, so thanks again for those. But I have really seen the way the Gospel touches the hearts of those who are ready to receive it with the Martinez Family. They tell us everyday just how happy and excited they are to finally be putting their lives in harmony with the Lord.

We received a reference from the Bishops wife last week of one of her friends who isn’t married but her and her boyfriends are excited about tying the knot. When we arrived to meet them, they were in a hurry and were heading out the door. So we made an appointment to return, but after they left we began talking with her parents. Eliseo and Hercilia are in their 50s and are definitely a cute little couple. We began talking with them and we found out that they weren’t married as well. We began to teach them about Matrimony and all of the blessing that the Lord has ready for them if they are will to obey this commandment and get married. We began to explain to them about the “Matrimonio Massivo” that we are getting ready and they both instantly told us, “Yeah lets do it, what do we have to do” We were definitely excited to get them ready to get married but it wasn’t until our next appointment that we began to teach them about the Restored Gospel. We taught them the first lesson and Elder Salvatierra and I both felt that they were ready to be challenged to baptism. We challenged them and they both accepted to get married September 27. They both came to church yesterday and afterwards they told us about how they hadn’t felt so sure about anything until we challenged them to be baptized and accept the gospel of Jesus Christ. Eliseo always has a handful of questions but he has received an answer to his prayers and the two of them are progressing together. This family, the Marin Family, is what every missionary prays for, and I am so thankful I have the opportunity to help them along.

The last couple is the Rios Family. Wader and Rosa aren’t your typical jungle couple, mainly because THEY ARE ALREADY MARRIED. I know, crazy isn’t it, but it’s true. Their kids are already members but for some reason the missionaries that were here a long time ago didn’t teach the parents. So here we are cleaning up what some bum missionary didn’t do, lol. But the two of them are really excited. Wader came to church yesterday and after Sacrament Meeting, I leaned over to him and asked him how he felt and if he had any questions. He was silent for a moment and then he told me “I know now more than ever that this is the only true church on the earth” I smiled and agreed with him. They are going to get baptized September 20. They truth is definitely going forward even here in the Jungles of Peru.

Changes and Challenges!

Let me just say that you hit it on the head when you said my new companion will add a new dimension to the work. He is also from Bolivia like Elder Quiroga but it will definitely be a learning experience for me. I love taking him through the really muddy and rugged parts of our area just too dirty up his shoes a bit. Hopefully I will be able to find a way to get him motivated and focused by the end of the change. I am really missing Elder Quiroga but I just have to remember that there is a reason for everything!

Families Can Be Together Forever

This up coming month is looking really good and I am really thankful for the success we are having thus far. We have a total of three couples that are going to get married this 23 of September and all of them are really excited about the message of the restoration. We received a reference from the bishop’s wife so we of course made it a point to contact them as soon as possible. We met them (The Familia Marin) and got to talking and our conversation slowly merged into the importance of the family and the plan that God has for every family. They told us that they weren’t married but asked us if we could help them out. We were like HECK YEAH, so they will be getting married this month as well along with their son and his partner. We taught them the entire first lesson last night and this week we are going to challenge them to get baptized after their marriage. Never before have I taught so many families at one time that are actually going to be able to progress and are excited about the Gospel. I feel a little overwhelmed because there is so much to do and so little time. Everything from getting their documents ready and authorized for their marriage and well as trying to keep them motivated about the Gospel, Whew, There is a lot to be done. But I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Signs of the Gospel Message

The last couple of weeks we have been teaching a young girl (whose parents are members) who only communicates with sign language. Her name is Sarbia and we baptized her this past Saturday. We had been teaching her for about two weeks and it was really a great experience. I can officially teach the four lessons with sign language. Every night Elder Quiroga and I would practice the lesson we were going to teach her and planned out what pictures we were going to use to help her understand and feel the importance and the truth of the Gospel. Her mom also helped us out quite a bit with some principles that we weren’t quite able teach. Her dad is a less active and he too joined us during the lessons and this past Sunday he came to church and after our meetings he cooked us lunch. But the best part came after the baptism of Sarbia and it was her turn to share her testimony. She told us that he had been practicing her testimony and so she got up and shared her testimony with nothing but sign language.

Hands That Help

This past week we also did a huge service project as a zone. There was a member family whose house burned down when their propane tank exploded. No one was in the house when it happened which was a huge blessing. But we had the privilege of tearing down the old a building up the new, JUNGLE STYLE. The method of building houses here in the jungle is really a bit different from back home in the states as well as Lima. More or less it’s like building a model for school out of toothpicks, lol. We used poles and of course the house is raised up off the ground. It was really quite a process but it was really great. We got to wear t-shirts which read “Manos Que Ayudan” (Hands that Help) and we served our fair share of Lemonade. The house we built back in Lima isn’t anything like the house we put together here in the Jungle, but I still had just as much fun.

Twin Falls Temple Dedication Weekend!

We had a fantastic weekend with the Dedication of the new Twin Falls Temple. President Monson was so fun and personalble! Brian and Lani participated in the Youth Cultural Celebration at the Filer Fairgrounds. This article and video from Mormon Times (by Deseret News) features our very own President Akerman and his family from Filer Stake! Enjoy!

http://www.mormontimes.com/WC_aroundChurch.php?id=1920

Open Houses All Over the World!

Well its that time again and the email informing us of our upcoming transfers has arrived. I will be staying in my area of Mi Peru/Versalles for at least 6 more weeks. Elder Quiroga is headed to another part of the jungle in Tarapoto. My new comp will be Elder Salvatierra and he is from Bolivia so I will still be tearing it up in the jungle with another crazy Bolivian.

We did an activity this past week to try to find more people to teach and at the same time introduce the people to the chapel. Just like you all did back home with the Temple, Elder Quiroga and I had our own little “open house”. We opened all the doors, turned on all the fans, and invited everybody and anybody to come on in and take a look around. We gave them a little tour of everything and we ended it with the baptismal font. By our baptismal font there is a picture of Christ when he was baptized. We would show them the picture and then share our testimony about the importance and need to be baptized like Christ by someone who has authority and power to do so. Most of the people instantly asked us when we could come and visit them and teach their families as well. One of our contacts, Jaime, actually asked us “how much does it cost to get baptized here”. We chuckled a bit and told him that the sacred ordinance of baptism isn´t something that can be bought with money let alone any of the sacred ordinances. The entire “open house” went really well and we found quite a few really great people to teach as well as families. I t was kind of fun putting the whole “open house” idea together and I kept thinking of you guys back home, preparing for the “open house” and dedication of the Temple.

I was so glad to hear that the dedication went so well. It sounds like everyone really came together is a huge way to make it such a great and special experience.

What Happened In the Sacred Grove Changed The World

Yesterday our Bishop came to us just before Sacrament Meeting and asked us to give the talks. (This happens a lot, lol) He didn’t have a topic for us so during the passing of the sacrament I prayed for something that I could talk about that would help build the testimonies of the ward. When I got up to speak I still didn’t have a clue as to what I was going to say or what I was going to talk about. I simply greeted the ward and opened up my scriptures and it fell open to Joseph Smith History and the page which gives the testimony of the first vision. I instantly started talking about just how much our Heavenly Father loves us for him to call a prophet here on the earth. I gave a little bit of history of the circumstances of Joseph Smith at this time and just how much of a need there was for a restoration of the Truth. I felt as though throughout my entire talk I didn’t say a word. I was simply moving my mouth and someone else was putting the words in it. I shared with them the first vision and my testimony. As members of the church how often do we think about this miraculous event which is changing the World? How God and his son appeared to a young boy to restore all of the truths that we lost. I am so thankful for this act of love with God showed to us, because it blesses families!!!

The Way We Handle Life Is What Makes Us Who We Are

I liked how you said that there is never a dull moment. That was defiantly the case this past week here in the Jungle. Elder Quiroga and I had a really great week but still at the same time it was full of challenges. We are praying a lot for the couples that we are preparing for their marriage so that everything will go through and we won’t have a problem there. It really is a challenge to motivate these people to make a decision like getting married because the world around them is telling them NO!!! But the teaching of the Restoration of the Gospel is what does the trick, and a family that truly prays to know if it is true will also accept the invitation of getting married. It’s just another one of the many wonderful blessings that people receive from the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

We have been working with a less-active family for quite some time and our prayers are begging to be answered. The Amasefuen Family has been inactive for about 5 years and they have had a hand full of trials which have caused them to go in active. Every time we visit them we give them a really powerful spiritual thought and always bear testimony that God is mindful of us and know what we are going through. This past fast Sunday the entire family came to church. Just about when the Bishop was going to close the meeting one of the sons (Miguel 11 years old) got up and began to bear his testimony. He shared one of the most powerful and heartfelt testimonies that I have ever heard. He shared how much he loves this gospel and that he knows that his family will be a family for ever. Miguel has really had to grow up fast because he hasn’t had a really strong father figure to look up too. He helps his mom make “juanies” to sell and also studies in the afternoon. He’s friends at school constantly give him a hard time for being a Mormon but he told us that he wouldn’t have it any other way because he has a lot of opportunities to share his testimony. His simple testimony really spoke volumes to me. No matter what life throws at us, the way we handle it is what makes us who we are.

I Am Still A Runner!!

I am doing great and staying healthy. My gringo soccer skills are defiantly coming along. We play tons of soccer in the streets, the stadium, with members, with investigators, with EVERYONE. Our chapel has a soccer court along with every other chapel in Peru. Yeah I am learning to love another sport but don’t get me wrong, I am still a RUNNER.

Temple Open House

I’m glad to hear that the Open House for the temple went great and people are becoming to respect and admire the Lords House. I love sharing with people that “My Temple” with be ready at the end of the month, Anna sent me a really great picture that I always show people.

I hope you all have a great week and remember I love you all. Thanks so much for your prayers and support. I love this work and the way it has blessed the ones I love. Keep on Keeping on!!!

Goin' Bananas!

I am learning very quickly just home many different varieties of bananas there are and just how many ways you can eat them. Every meal we eat bananas in one way or another. They have a banana here called “platano verde” and it’s basically a potato that looks like a green banana and you have to peal it, but it tastes exactly like a potato, CRAZY. But my favorite type of banana is called “manzano”. They are basically midget bananas but they are oh so tasty. I usually buy a bundle every other day to fill the gaps that the rice doesn’t fill.

"I Want That Kind of Happiness For My Family"

As of right now we are teaching about six families and only one of them is married. But in reality we were really lucky to find the married one. Jungle life is really different from anything I have had to get use to. People just don’t get married; it’s too much of a hassle. It’s much easier to just live under the same roof and have a family. It’s sad because when we teach these couples about the importance of marriage they tell us that marriage is a big decision and is something serious. We always ask them how many kids they have and then we use that number for the amount of reasons they need to get married. We had a really neat experience this past week we a couple who wasn’t married. We discussed the importance of marriage and began to teach the message of “The Restoration” teaching the importance of marriage in every principle. At the end we challenged them to pray to receive an answer from God if these things are true. On our return visit we began to ask them about how there prayer went. The father (Juan) looked us straight in the eye and said “I know Joseph Smith was a prophet, and I want the kind of happiness the gospel brings for my family” We are helping them get their papers and documents ready for the next Matrimonio Massivo here in Iquitos. The Gospel changes lives and its just as true here in the Jungles of Iquitos as it is back home in Idaho. I love seeing the changes in people and seeing them progress.

My Companions Are Great!

We had our interviews with the President last week and he and the assistants really emphasized the importance of teaching with the spirit and being diligent. No matter how hard we work or how we do it there is always something to improve. Elder Quiroga and I are great about being straight-up with one another and helping each other to learn and grow. If there is a problem we just solve it on the spot so that we can continue working together and as a team. My comp is great, we have a blast and work like LOCOS and everything we do and have accomplished is thanks to out third companion, The Spirit. Obedience and Diligence is the key to success and the constant companionship of the spirit.

What Matters Most is the Name

I would have to say Elder Quiroga and I had the most successful and challenging week thus far in the mission. We set the high mark for “Investigators in the Chapel” in the mission for the week as well as “Baptismal Dates”. We had a total of seven investigators come to church and five of them have baptismal dates by the end of August. But in reality, the numbers don’t matter a bit. What matters more is the name behind each number.

Elder Evans in Iquitos!

Another bit of good news, you will never guess who got an emergency transfer and is now working in Iquitos. ELDER EVANS! He arrived Friday night and traveled all by himself. He was companions with Elder Duran for a while and was working in my area. He was actually the one who baptized Yesinia. So yeah it was great to see him and now he’s in my zone so that was cool.

tortuga grande de río

Elder Quiroga and I got served something very special to eat. One of the members was given a very large river turtle from one of the native villages along the Amazon River when she went and visited them. I guess the offering of a turtle is one of the highest signs of respect, second to the offering of a daughter to marry, LOL. But anyway she invited us over to eat it with her family. It was really something different. I can’t really explain what it was like because it wasn’t anything like chicken but it was really good. Hmmmm, so if you get the chance to eat some turtle, do it and tell me what it was like.

Return With Honor

Please take a moment and enjoy this little video on Missionary Work. I think of all our missionaries currently serving and all the young men in Peru that Landon and others have worked with as they prepare their papers and look forward to receiving their own mission calls.

This is truly the work of the Lord

We are currently teaching two eighteen year old boys who are really excited about the gospel and the whole idea of missionary work. They are Orlando and Luis Alberto. The two of them came to church yesterday and when they both found out they were both investigating the church they instantly became friends. They both had a really neat experience in during fast and testimony meeting and are excited to come again and to continue the lessons. We have still been working hard with Luz and her two kids (Willie and Leticia). All three of them came to sacrament meeting yesterday and we visited last night to find out how it went and to visit for a bit. Leticia and Willie both asked us when they could get baptized. We began to teach them the doctrine of baptism as well as the restoration of the Gospel. We began to bear testimony that the Priesthood was taken from the earth but was restored through Joseph Smith and that the power to baptize was on the earth again when something special happened. All three of them tuned in and Elder Quiroga began to challenge them one by one to be baptized. When he challenged Luz to be baptized she slowly nodded her head and quietly said YES!!! The entire family accepted a baptismal date for the 16 of August. If everything goes to plan we will have at least one baptism every week for the entire month and a total of eight baptisms in all. I still remember when we entered this area and it was dead, the members weren’t excited about the work, and the days went by kind of slowly. It has completely turned around here in Mi Peru and Versalles. Everyday I receive a confirmation that this truly is the work of the Lord.

Enjoy The Spiritual Experiences

Another amazing week has flown by and quite honestly I have no idea where the time is going. One of the bits of advice President Perez has given us is to “enjoy the spiritual experiences”. The mission is full of disappointments and rough times, but if we just enjoy the spiritual experiences all of those discouragements just disappear.

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.

Celebrating My Birthday--Jungle Style!!

My comp kicked off my birthday this morning with a bang. While I was in the shower he made me a birthday cake. But not just any kind of cake, this cake was made with resources that are very common to missionaries. It was made of toilet paper and peanut butter! He made a three layers toilet paper cake and used peanut butter as the frosting. I didn’t want to waste the peanut butter so he filmed me while I ate the “frosting” and he sang happy birthday. Tonight we have like 5 families that want us to stop by to celebrate my birthday and have a family home evening, so it looks like we are going to have a busy night.

Baptisms and Bruins!!

This past week Elder Quiroga and I had two baptisms. We baptized a girl by the name of Fressilla (18 years old) and a young man named Jorge (13 years old) We kind of had a panic because we told our Ward Mission Leader that he needed to organize the service and prepare the font and everything and he agreed to do it. Come Friday morning we decided to check in on him to make sure everything was going to be ready for that night and he told us that he had forgotten everything and that he didn’t have time. We rushed to the chapel and cleaned the font and got it filled. The Baptismal service went great and my favorite part of a baptismal service is when we invite our converts to come to the front at share their testimonies. Jorge has such a strong testimony, it was great listening to it. He is the only member in his family but we are working really hard with his dad so that he can be baptized as well. Oh and get this Jorge’s dad was wearing a pair of shorts the last time we talked to him but guess where these shorts came from.



They were Twin Falls High School Football Shorts, like from their spirit pack! They said Twin Falls Bruins Football. I was like what the heck! and told him that those shorts came from my town!!! It was really funny, small world huh!

We Have To Just Keep Working and Staying Positive!

Well I am getting my first experiences with the Peruvian Jungle Gangs here in Iquitos. We are teaching a few potential priesthood holders with the ages of 18-22. They are great guys and really fun to talk too. They all know of the importance of baptism and know that the Book of Mormon is true but there is a problem we are running into. They are scared to attend church or leave their block because they would be crossing turfs of neighboring gangs. Even though they aren’t gang members themselves, the gangs have a lot of power. It’s a really tough challenge to try to find a solution too. And also we aren’t able to allow non members play on the churches soccer field any more because a gang decided to paint it with their signs and the stake presidency said that only members are allowed to play there. This was a huge side shot for us because the best way we have found to find potential priesthood holders to teach was at the soccer field but now that option is no longer an option. It’s tough, but its just Satan trying to fuel the fire but in the end we are going to win. We have to just keep working and staying positive!

The Church is Really Growing!

I received some very exciting news this past week about a couple of my old areas. First off the area of Miramar (Ancon) is going to have a chapel built! The land is bought and from what I heard they have already broken ground. They have finally out-grown their little ¨house chapel¨(casa capilla) and are finally getting a chapel of their own. The next bit of news that I received was about my area in Paramonga. Paramonga was actually a small branch and part of the district of Barranca. Their were 5 branches that made up the district of Barranca but by the end of the year it will no longer be the District of Barranca. By next year is will be the Peru Barranca Stake! How cool is that!!! Its great thinking that I had a small part in their becoming a ward and a stake. So keep your eyes open in the Church News for the notice about new stakes. Can you cut out the notice for me? That would be great.

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY, DAD!!

Hey Dad,

I just wanted to let you know how lucky I am to have had a father figure like you. Everyday I have to apply something you have taught me out here in the field. From hard work, to just Cowboy-ing Up and making the most of the little things. You have prepared me so well for my work here in Peru. I am forever grateful for your example to me and love for me. I pray everyday to be the missionary my parents want me to be so that I can make them proud. Even though I don’t get to call home for Fathers Day, remember that I am thinking of you and think the world of you. Thank you so much for being my dad and being someone I can look up to. I love you so much, Dad. Thanks for everything.

Your Son
Elder Schofield

Blue Skys, Big Bugs, and Rain!

Never have I seen sky so blue, mosquitoes so big, or been rained on so hard! Every single day is an adventure here in the jungle. I love mission life, especially in the jungle, because you just don’t ever know what is going to get thrown at you. From bugs to weather I am loving my time here. This was the kind of place I wanted to serve my mission and I feel so lucky to have been sent here. The culture, the ruggedness, the adventures are all so amazing and I feel really lucky and blessed to be trusted with the work here in Mi Peru and Versalles.

This past week Elder Quiroga and I really have been focusing our work on finding families and strengthening the ward. The Lord knows who is ready and it is our responsibility to be worthy to receive the promptings to find those people. My testimony of the Lord putting people in the paths of the missionaries really grew this week. Tues night we were making a contact in the street when out of no where it started to rain like crazy. We quickly wrote down this mans address and ran for cover. We saw a family sitting under their woven grass patio and they shouted to us to come under for cover. We thankfully ran over and began talking. The entire family was there (mom, dad, kids, and grandma) and they were extremely friendly. They wanted to know what we were doing in shirts and ties and why I had left the states to come to Iquitos. We gave them a little background about ourselves and also the calling of missionaries. They were extremely interested so we began with the lesson of the Restoration of the Gospel. We gave them a Book of Mormon and once we finished teaching them and answering their questions the rain let up and we were able to go on our way. We have since taught them two more lessons and the entire family is reading the Book of Mormon. We are anxious to get a baptismal date with them this week. It’s the little things about this great work that just make me smile and know that this is truly the work of the Lord.

The past Saturday we did an activity with the stake and the Future Missionaries. Each companionship was assigned a Future Elder (with name badge and everything) to accompany us during the day. We were assigned Future Elder Aspajo and we went right to work. He is actually from a small river village about 2 hours by canoe north of Iquitos. He told us all kinds of stores about anacondas, boas, tigers, and stuff like that. His brother and him live in Iquitos right now and have only been members for 3 months. He family is working hard to save the money to come to Iquitos to be baptized and live near a chapel. It was great working with Brother Aspajo, his testimony was so strong and he loved sharing it.

Anyway I hope all is well at home. Don’t worry about me I am loving the Jungle and for some reason I feel as though I have been well prepared to work here. From my scouting experiences to hiking I feel right at home here, ITS GREAT! I love you guys and appreciate all of the love and support you give me. Thanks

Elder Schofield

Soccer and Address Fun

I´m sure you already knew that soccer is a HUGE thing here and it is even bigger in Iquitos. We are never able to get a member to come on visits with us Saturdays because it is Saturday Night Soccer. Everyone one shuts down and goes to the nearest television set and watches soccer. We love Saturday nights because everyone is home and it is a really good way to see which members we can count on for support. For the most part the Priesthood of the ward won´t leave the TV set but they send their wives to talk with us. It’s funny how people think but its just one of those little quirks that we have to learn to deal with and make the most of it. Oh by the way Peru usually gets beat so I’m not real sure what the big deal is with watching them, lol.

Another really fun challenge that we have here is trying to navigate the roads and paths. There is no organization and most of the addresses we have are in correct. We make a ton of contacts with people who we thought lived at the address we are trying to search. We will walk down a street and the address will go something like this: 112, 358A, Mz. B Lt. 97, AB56. Yeah it’s great, hopefully by the end of the change I will know how to get around and then with my luck I will get transferred.

Sounds Like a Great Place!

My new comp is Elder Quiroga and he is from Bolivia. He and I both entered the field together and were together in the CCM. So we are a couple of young guns tearing it up in the Jungle. We are assigned to two areas, a ward and a branch. The area of the branch (Versalles) has actually been closed for about 8 months and the ward (Mi Peru) is in need of some serious help. When we arrived in our apartment and opened up the area book to see our investigators it was pretty much empty. We have a lot of work to do but we are both excited for the challenge. The members are slowly but surely warming up to us but it is taking some time. They haven’t had elders in their chapel for quite some time so they aren’t really sure what to do with us, lol. Elder Quiroga and I are really focusing our work with the members and trying to include them is as much as we can.

They have changed our eating routine a little bit for us, now every lunch we are eating with members. It is really great and it’s so much fun getting to know the members. They seriously bend over backwards to make sure that we are taking care of. We still have a pensionista but she only cooks breakfast and dinner. Our apartment is small and we have to sleep in a bug net. It’s also a rule that we have to wear bug repellant and sunscreen every day, so it reminds me a lot of camping. With the constant aroma of bug spray and sunscreen, yeah I’m loving it!

As for that everything is really great. We have a ton of work to do but we are definitely excited and thankful for the challenge. I love you guys and thanks for everything. The church is still true, even here in IQUITOS!!!

Landon of the Jungle!

Well I’m pretty sure you were all looking forward to an email being sent from Iquitos, but there were some more crazy transfers……………..just kidding, but it came close. Wed morning we woke up at 2 in the morning to catch our plane that left at 4. It’s about a two hour flight from Lima to Iquitos and once we got right over Iquitos, they informed us that we weren’t able to land and that we were returning to Lima. They were having some unexpected thunderstorms and we weren’t able to land. So we went back to Lima and didn’t arrive in Iquitos until 9 o’clock that night. But I AM IN THE JUNGLE!

So a little bit about Jungle Life: The only way to get to Iquitos is by boat or by plane, so it’s really an island in the middle of the country. Yes the houses are made of wood or tin and the roofs are made of leaves. The people have a lot more trust in one another here because their houses are always open and never locked up. Unlike Lima where everyone locks up their houses with locks and chains and bars. They don’t really have a sewage system, so what they have done is dig a ditch down every street and from there people dump their waste and then when it rains is flushes everything down. So far it has rained every other day and I LOVE IT. It never rained in Lima so it’s great to get soaked. We still work in the rain and its so much fun. We are always drenched from either the rain or our sweat, because when it’s not raining it is freaking hot and humid. The people here are also very distinct. I don’t think I know of anyone as laid back as these people. It’s easy to make contacts because everyone allows us to talk to them and they are always sitting in lawn chairs in front of their houses. They also talk with a really funny accent. It’s like the south in the United States, but is really funny how they talk. I will try to mimic it on a tape or something.

My Thoughts In A Nutshell--

Well everything here in the Peru Lima North Mission is great and the work is going forward. I love this work and I love seeing the gospel change lives, especially the lives of those I have grown to love. I am doing great and everything is great. Thanks for all you love and support I love you guys!

Trompo!

Nearly every single kid that plays in the street plays with a toy called a Trompo. It’s a twist between and top and and yoyo. I bought one last week and am slowly getting the hang of it. One of our investigators has a little boy who is really good with it and he is teaching me some tricks. Once I get really good with it I will make a tape and send it home. I am going to try to send one home for Brians Birthday so he can play with it.

Building Homes and Families

This past week Elder Duran and I did some service and we helped one of the families we are teaching build their house. Now Peruvian arcitecture is very different from what I am use to. We began by drawing up the blue prints in the dirt with sticks. We then went to the local supply store and bought posts and the walls. The walls are made out of woven grasses and also we used that same stuff for the roof as well. We then went back and dug the holes for the posts. We fastened the walls with wire and we had their house built by the afternoon. They were so thankful for their new home and for our help. Yssenia actually gave them the lot to live in cuz it is right next to her house. The family we helped are working on getting their papers together to get married and then baptized. One of our families are going to get married this next week. We finalized all of their papers and documents last night and they are really excited about it. It really is sad leaving all of these people that I have grown to love. Yssenia told me that it was tough on her when the missionaries would transfer back in Guam because she had grown to love each and everyone one of them and has so much trust in them. She told me last night that she hopes I don’t get transferred because she dosen´t want me to leave.

Special People - Special Times

This past week has been one I won’t soon forget. We had the interview for our Pensionista (Angela) on Thursday and she was so excited about here baptism. She has really come along way and Friday night she told us that she feels as though a huge weight is going to be lifted off of her when she is baptized. As we were talking Friday night she asked me a question kind of quietly. She asked if I could be the one to baptize her. I was really surprised she asked me and really felt honored. So Saturday afternoon we had her baptism and it was so special. The water was chilly but it didn’t matter. She was so happy and when she shared her testimony and feelings to us, the spirit was so strong and we all knew that all of her doubts and past problems had been taken care of and she was a new person. Angela is really the person I am going to miss here in Palermo. She really has been like a mother to me and has taken such good care of us. She always thinks she isn´t doing enough for us but in realility she goes far beyond the call of duty.

When do we get the Church issued Machetes I've heard about?

Hey Family,
Welcome to the JUNGLE! The email telling us about our changes arrived this morning and I am headed to IQUITOS!!! I´m not real sure on who my new companion will be yet but I will be sure to write that next week. I will be flying out from Lima tomorrow night with Elder Ikerd. He is in my zone now and we are both going to Iquitos together, but he is going as District Leader. It will be about a 4 hour flight and I think we will leave around mid-night tomorrow. I am really really excited about heading to the Jungle and going to be able to see some green and get rained on. Iquitos is right next to the Amazon River so I will be sure to snap some shots of it from the plane. Elder Duran is staying here in Palermo and his new comp will be Elder Evans, (my old comp in the MTC) so that will be cool. I must admit when I read I was headed for the Jungle I didn’t really know what to think. It really is totally different there but I am way excited about it. 4 transfers and 4 Zones!!!

Please Help With A Special Fast

I have a special invitation for you guys this fast Sunday. Remember I told you about Yesenia (the lady who can speak English). Well her situation has taken a bit of a bad turn. Her husband, who is in Guam, has rejected the missionaries and is now making threats against Yesenia that if she continues investigating the church he will take their daughter and leave the relationship. Yesenia knows that the church is true and loves being a part of it. She wants to get baptized but can't because of her husband. Elder Duran and I are fasting for her to help her to have the faith that when she joins the church, her husband will follow her example. She wants nothing more than an eternal family and its sad seeing what her husband is doing to destroy that hope. I invite you all to fast with us because she really needs the help. Thanks guys.
I am doing good and definitely learning a lot this change. I love you guys so much and love hearing from you. Tell everyone hi. Thanks for Everything!!

Take Advantage of the Temple!

We had the opportunity to go to the temple this past Weds and like always it was special. Even though the entire thing is in Spanish I still learn so much. It really is a neat experience to be able to participate in a session in a different language. Take full advantage of that temple in Twin Falls! We were teaching Rocio about temples last week and to help us we jumped on her computer and I pulled up the Twin Falls Temple Website. She really loved looking at the Pictures and getting a little Idaho Culture. And yes she is a Mormon now and no longer a Catholic!

Bringing FAMILIES into the waters of baptism

The Northern Part of Lima definitely knows of the impact the ¨Norteños¨ are making in their communities. One part President Perez´s mission plan is expressing the importance of baptizing families. There is a huge problem here in Lima with people just living together and saying that they are married. Now we can’t exactly baptize people that are just living together so as missionaries we have been talking with government leaders, mayors, and others and helping them to organize huge marriages with lots of couples for a very little price. Over the past two months we have had more family baptisms (husband, wife, and kids) than ever before in the history of the North Mission. It’s amazing! Elder Duran and I currently have about 4 families that need to get married and then the next step are the waters of baptism. HECK YES!!!

Missionary Kisses :)

The greetings here in Peru are very different from a good old American greeting. Back home a simple head nod or wave would be sufficient, but here that doesn’t quite work. The people give kisses on the cheeks when they great people. But as missionaries we are really allowed to do that so we shake hands. But this past week I got two kisses landed on me. The first one was when we were teaching a family and their four year old daughter came in late from the park and I was sitting down talking and didn’t even see it coming. I freaked out! (To say the least). The second one was at another family and we gave their 3 year old daughter an issue of the Friend (Amigos) she jumped in my lap because she was so happy and landed one on me. Yeah it was a little nerve racking, I thought for sure I was going to get sent home!

New Twin Falls Temple Photos!

We recently were sent these photos (courtesy of my cousin Ron Withers) of the Twin Falls Temple. As you can imagine, we are SO excited for it's opening! Come and visit during the open house July 11-Aug 16.

Buenos días!!

There is this little boy that when ever we see him in the street or walk past his house he comes running over to me and yells GOOD MORNING. It doesn’t matter the time of day or anything he always just yells "good morning". I taught him Good Night but he has yet to use it!

I am really beginning to feel the sorrow of missionary work when an investigator doesn’t progress or accept the gospel. But even in the mist of all the hardships there are so many little things that make this work worth while. While we were walking with Rocio to her interview for baptism, she said she had a question that had been bothering her for a while. I thought, Oh man, please don’t be anything BIG. She asked us if she was still Catholic till she got baptized. I just about started laughing and I was so glad that was her big question. I was worried it could have been something else.

Getting to Know Our Families

President Perez is really encouraging our work with the members. To help this he has changed some rules. We can now eat with members in their homes and cook with them. We are encouraged to eat with them as much as possible! I know that in other Peruvian missions the missionaries are only allowed to eat with their Pension but I am so glad we get to eat with the members. We are better able to win their trust and to work more effectively with them. They love having us over and I am more than will to get a free meal. We have a member that is going to cook us some Cuy (Guinea Pig) here soon so I am excited about that. I have yet to eat some.

Man in Charge??

This past week Lima has been quite the place. Every year there is a huge meeting of all the South American Country, Central America, and some European Countries Presidents. They call it a Cumbre. This year it was Lima’s turn to hold the meeting so with something like that the security gets raised. We have had to carry all of our documents with us everywhere we went just in case we got questioned. They had a no tolerance policy, if you don’t have your papers they haul you off no questions asked. The terrorists threats are a big deal here and they don’t mess around. But I never got questioned and hauled off so its all good.

(Landon said they found this vest in one of the rooms of their new apartment. He said that he is pretty much the authority figure now in Lima and everything has to go through him . Ha Ha!!)

"Mormon Standard Time" in Peru!

I have yet to become accustomed to the Peruvian Time system here, but i am figuring it out. When an activity is planned for a certain time, everyone here thinks that at that certain time you start getting ready for the activity. For example a 3 o’clock baptism, People begin getting ready at 3 and show up at 4. It’s a very unique way of thinking so now when we tell people the time for things we tell them an hour early, lol. It just one of those things that make missionary work fun, frustrating, and very interesting.
But I love it!

Getting Back to the Grind!

Hey Family,

It was so great talking to you all. It's crazy to think that it had been about 6 month since I have talked to you but it didn’t really seem that long. You all sounded so good and I loved talking to you.

This past week Elder Duran and I really got things clicking and we got a lot of work done. But it's funny because the Lord always finds a way to keep us humble. We have been teaching two boys named Sandro and Martin. Their mother is a member but their father isn’t. Sandro is 9 and Martin is 12 and both of them love it when we come over and I love teaching them. They are always asking questions and it's impressive because they know a lot. We had a baptismal date set for both of them on the 17th and both of them were so excited about it. But this past week when we went over to teach them we got nailed with the news that their father Andres changed his mind and we no longer had permission to baptize them. We told the mother that we really wanted to talk with him because its really hard to find him home when we are there. We arranged an appointment where we began to discuss with him just what exactly baptism is and the importance of it in our lives. As we began teaching he did not want to listen but as we kept talking to him he slowly began to show interest and started asking questions. We watched a movie with him called ¨Finding Faith in Christ¨. I’m not sure what will happen yet, but I witnessed something special. The Mother told us that all she has ever wanted was her family to be together forever and she feels that it is slowly coming true.

Elder Duran and I are doing something a little different with our work with less actives as well. Every companionship is required to get a list of 10 less active families from the Bishop and to focus our efforts with them. We went a little bit farther and asked for a list of 10 families that are REALLY active. We assign one less active family to an active family and when we go visit the less actives we have the active family come with us. Now the less actives don’t just have to support of the Elders but they also have a friend and a smiling face to help them come back to Church.

I loved hearing from you and knowing you all are doing great. Love you Guys!

Elder Schofield

Technology is Amazing!

It was so awesome to have some time to visit with Landon and really get to know what is going on in his world! Anna and Curt and the kids were here and Amy and Brady called from Rexburg. We all got to spend some time with him and Curt and Brian had fun speaking Spanish with him! I told Landon that he must be doing something right, because he sounded SO HAPPY! He said he really was! He said President Crayk used to tell them to just "be the missionary your mom thinks you are!"

We are so thankful for the technology that allowed us to speak to him so clearly. It was a wonderful Mother's Day memory-maker!!

"Hello, Mom?"

Lani and I had just returned home from two different appointments tonight and the phone rang. "Out of Area" usually means a telemarketer, but I picked it up and said "Hello, Schofields" "Hello, Mom?" was the response on the other end! Oh, it was so good to hear Landon! He sounded so good and just wanted to set up the time that would work for all of us for the Mother's Day call on Sunday. It is so amazing to think that, as far as time zones go, Landon is only one hour different from us here in Buhl! He slipped into Spanish a couple times but his companion and the other two missionaries he lives with were having a great time as they listened to him speak so much English! What a treat to hear Landon's voice!!!!

Crazy Busy!

Hey thanks so much for the awesome letters this week. I seriously love hearing about all of the little crazy things you all are up too. From Amy running the good old Teton Dam Marathon, to Anna and Curt's move to their new home, to the lawn care business getting up and going - you all are really quite busy. I'm staying really quite busy as well but its a different kind of busy and I'm really loving it.


We have another baptism lined up for this weekend and the following weekend we have two more so it is certainly an exciting time right now. We are going to baptize a 25 year old who is actully dating a memeber. We met him for the first time yesterday and he is really quite the guy. All of his friends and family are against him joining the church but he has felt the confirmation of the spirit and he knows that this is the right thing to do. They are making plans to me married in the temple and everything. I love seeing the joy the gospel brings to these people!

Exciting Firsts!

This past week was full of firsts for me. First off our baptism on Saturday had a bit of a surprise. Friday night, Elder Duran and I stopped by Ruth and her son Manuel to see how they were doing and to finalize everything for their baptism. We talked for a while and then just before we left, Ruth asked me if I would be willing to baptize Manuel. I was thrilled, I guess he had been running around the house the past week telling her that he wanted me to baptize him. I was so excited. So Saturday came and like everyone here in Peru, everyone runs on Peruvian Time. So the baptism was suppose to start at 3 but we got started at four thirty. But it was funny cuz the water was a little cold and once Manuel got in there he started freaking, lol. But we got the job done and once they closed the doors he was like ¨Can I go swimming¨ I said ¨go for it¨ so he did a couple of laps in the font and called it good. It was such a neat experience for me. I actually baptized someone!

Praying For Our Missionaries

I don’t know who wrote the following poem, but it might help familes to better understand the heart and mind of a missionary as he passes through the phases of a mission experience. Think about their shifting emotions as you read this description from an unknown missionary.

kathy


Today I am frightened.
My heart is beating a silent fury.
Before me are my family and friends
I love so much and must leave behind.
Pray that I might have courage.

Today I am studying.
With all my intellect I am diligently preparing.
Preparing for the days ahead,
That I might be an effective tool in the hands of God.
Pray that my mind might be clear and alert.

Today I am homesick.
The memories of fun, school, family crowd my mind.
I almost long to return to the carefree days of my youth.
Pray that I might feel the spirit of love.

Today I am successful.
The doors of those seeking truth open to me.
They are receptive to the word.
They will be baptized!
Pray that I might be humble.

Today I am discouraged.
Lowly I trudge home through the rain.
Pondering the slammed door,
The cruel hasty words, the laughing jeers.
Pray that I might have faith.

Today I am happy.
The light shines in my eyes.
From within me I have found joy.
Today I have lived close to the spirit.
Pray that I might always find this joy.

Today I am sad.
Reluctantly and with tears in my eyes
I must someday leave this country and the people
I have taken into my heart and loved.
Pray that I might always remember.

Today I am full of love.
Love for the Lord who called me on this mission.
Love for my family who supports me.
Love for the friends who installed the desire within.
Love for those who had faith in me.
Love for those who prayed for me.
But remember today, today,
I miss you. I love you. I need you.
Pray for me always.
I am your missionary.

"I am doing good and the work is still true and always will be!"

Family Home Evenings

Something that the ward here in Palermo is really edifying is the family home evening. They are teaching on how it really helps to build and strengthen the family. Not only is it a time to enjoy one another’s company but it is also a time for the Father to share council and revelation that he has received during the week which will help the family. They are also stressing on how important it is for the father to be worthy to receive such revelation. I really like it when we get to go to family home evenings with member and investigators. They are pretty fun.