Dreaming of a White Christmas!

The Peru Lima North misión is going to have a White Christmas. (White with Baptismal Clothing!) We have set a goal of "X number" of baptisms for the month of December. I seriously can´t wait to make it happen! It won´t be easy but its what the Lord has revealed to President Perez so if we do our part, its gonna happen.

This past weekend we had our first two baptisms in the area. We baptized the Mori Family (Wilmer and Amelia). The two them work all day and all night and are rarely home. They both knew of their goal of getting baptized this past weekend but neither of them thought that they would be able to do it together because of their work schedules. But Friday night when we went to visit them we found them both sick and they weren’t going to be able to work over the weekend. We chatted with them for a while and before we left we gave them both a Priesthood Blessing. Before we walked out they told us that they wanted to get baptized together even though they were both sick. So Saturday morning we had their interviews and Saturday night they entered the waters of baptism. We challenged their daughter to get baptized yesterday so she will be baptized the 6th of December.

Leaving Iquitos....

So saying farewell to Iquitos was a lot harder than I thought it would be. Tuesday afternoon we spent some time with my converts and some of the members and that night the ward threw me a going away party. Everyone was there and everyone was crying and I was thinking "What the heck, I´m not dead yet". But they all gave me my fare share of goodies, treats, and little souvenirs. It was tough telling them goodbye but thats the way the misión goes. I remember what Flint Jacobson told me during my misión interview with him, he told me "Just about when you get use to an area, you get transferred. That’s the way it is". Boy he was right. But the next morning in the Airport The Cubas Rios Family came to bid me farewell, along with all of their kids. So many great people I left back in Iquitos, its as if I left a part of my family back there.

Gotta Love LIMA!

Being in the Jungla for so long I have forgotten just how much I love climbing sand dunes all day, being bitten by fleas at night, and being chased by dogs. Gotta love LIMA. But I´m back in the city and my new area is Los Rosales. This area is really neat because at the end of the year they will be finished building their new chapel and everyone is really excited. They are all so willing to and anxious to talk to everyone about the church as well as give us referentes so that is always a plus. I don´t know why President Perez likes putting me with pretty boy comps who don´t want to work but I´ve got another one. My new companion is Elder Zamora and he is from Ecuador. He has about 3 months into the misión.

The Spirit Of God

The Transfers Are In....

Another six weeks down and the changes are in. This go round it is going to be a bit more than just a little change for me. I’m heading back to Lima and heading back to Puente Piedra, I’m not quite sure where I am going to be going to but both Elder Evans and I are headed back to Puente Piedra and we are both going to be District Leaders. I’m excited, nervous, and sad all at the same time. Last night we had a Family Home Evening with the Cubas Rios Family and we mentioned the possibility of transfers, and they all started crying. I never thought it would be so hard to leave an area here in the mission but when you have six months in and you know pretty much everyone, it makes it a little difficult to leave. The Elder that is taking my spot is Elder Trinidad (my second comp) so at least I know that my area will be in good hands. Well Guys, I love you all and the next email will be coming from LIMA. Keep on keeping on and remember I love you. Thanks for Everything!

A Song and a Prayer...

One of our converts Alberto (the Catholic Priest) is really quite the guy. He has such a huge knowledge of the bible but what makes him really unique is that he loves to play religious songs with his guitar. This past week we started teaching his wife and after every lesson we would end with a song by Alberto and a prayer. It was so much fun, he loves singing for us and its fun stuff listening to him. Even though he plays catholic songs and doesn’t know how to play the church’s hymns yet, its great hearing him sing. He loves sharing his talents with us and he is gaining such a strong testimony of this gospel and work.

If we trust in the Lord, He shows us who is ready...

Ok one more story of one of our investigators. We started teaching a man by the name of Jorge Panduro whose family and wife are members. His wife use to be the Pensionista to the missionaries and he has listened to the missionaries for over 10 years. He has always had the Elders in his home but no one was able to get him excited about the gospel and to motivate him to get baptized. Needless to say this guy is what they say here “Bien Duro”. We have been working with him for only two weeks and yesterday he took a HUGE step in his progress to getting baptized. For the first time in 10 years, Jorege Panduro came to church. This guy use to come to the chapel to yell at his wife from outside the gates to tell her that it was time to get home. But seeing him in the chapel yesterday was a huge achievement for us. His wife told us that she never thought she would see the day when he would accompany her to the church. The bishop and his wife also asked us “how did you Elders do it”. Every person has their moment and if we trust in the Lord he shows us who is ready. The Lord showed us Jorge and I just pray that we will be able to keep him motivated so that he can take the steps of having an eternal family.

This Is What Heavenly Father Does for His Children

One of the families that we have being working with for so long finally entered the waters of baptism. The Cubas Rios Family was completed this past weekend. We baptized Flor two weeks ago with her mom, but Saturday we baptized Percy (her husband). This was the family we found when we decided to be late to an appointment in order to help a young kid with his wheel chair. Last night we were visiting with them for a little while and I began to share this experience with them. How we crossed the road to help out Percy Lino (their oldest son) who was having a struggle with his wheel chair and how we arrived at their house and met Flor. From there we made an appointment to return, by a miracle, found all of their documents to get married in only TWO days. And now I was able to see them all enter the waters of baptism and begin to take the steps to have an eternal Family. After I got done sharing this experience and bearing my testimony Percy said something special "This is would our Heavenly Father does for his children". I can’t begin to tell you how happy and proud I was of him. He alone has come such a long way; he too is like a brother to me. I am honestly dreading the day when I get transferred just because I am going to be leaving behind so many people that will forever have an impact on my life.

It is very likely that the 19th of November I could be shipped out to another part but as for now I am trying to not think about it. I’m so thankful that the Lord gave me 6 more weeks here in my area so that I would be able to see the Cubas Rios Family get baptized. The Lord trusted us alot with this family and I just pray that we didn’t let him down.

We Are On Fire-In Lots of Ways!

This past week our chapel caught on FIRE!!! During one of the activities one of the lights exploded and at first only made a lot of smoke, but a little bit later that smoke turned into flames. Don’t worry the chapels here are made out of wood and leaf roofs like the houses but it still gave everyone a pretty good little scare. It only makes the wall really black but this week they are going to get everything cleaned up. They will have two weeks to do it because this week is Stake Conference. Which reminds me of something really great that is going to happen. One of my converts Eliseo is going to receive the Melchezidik Priesthood this weekend along with his son that we baptized too. The two of them will get it together!!!

Elder Cahui and I had a very neat baptismal service Saturday. We baptized an elderly man by the name of Alberto and he has quite the past. He was a Catholic Priest for over 30 years and needless to say was living very comfortably. He was a very prominent Catholic leader here in Iquitos for the longest time until he came to realize just how many bad things go on in the catholic church. I won't tell you everything, because it is so so so wrong, but there is a very large list of things. He was finally faced with the decision of leaving the church or being forced to sleep with a lady in order to clear him of his sins. He left the church and all of this money and worldly comforts. He is currently living in a very small shack and doesn't have water or electricity and in order to teach him, if I forgot my flashlight we would buy a candle just before we got there. I remember when we first met him, we were walking down the road on our way to lunch and he came out of his house yelling at us, wanting to know who we were and what message we were carrying. We made a brief contact with him but weren't able to find him the entire week. He came to church on the 19 and told us that he really needed to talk to us, he said that he would be home every night at seven in order to talk to us. We went to his house and began teaching him, and in only a week we had taught him everything he needed to know but the most important thing he received his own answer with respect to the Prophet Joseph Smith. We baptized him Saturday night and got him confirmed yesterday.

When he shared his testimony after his baptism he shared an experience with us. He told us that for the longest time after leaving the Catholic Church he felt so alone, He didn't know where to go and for the longest time he prayed to know what to do. He had a dream where he saw two young men, with white shirts and ties. He told us that when he saw us walking by his house he had to talk with us. He thought that we thought he was crazy but he knew that he had found the two men in his dream. Alberto is still struggling to live day to day but he said that he has never been happier or felt closer to the Lord. I live for testimonies like those from my converts. I feel so happy and thankful that the Lord trusts me enough to be the one to find the people who are truly looking for the truth. I love this work and our church is ohh so TRUE!

Brian's Broken Arm

Holy COW Family!
Those pics of Brian's arm are SICK! I'm not looking at them right now but I am still getting the creeps. I opened them up with Elder Evans and he was grossed out too. But that is just like Brian, to jump back up and get ready for the next play. Just tell him that it was a dang good thing that he stopped the kid from scoring or then he would have really looked dumb, lol. Just playing, my little Bro is as tough as nails and he showed his true colors this past weekend. I hope everything gets healed up soon. Tell him hey and that I Love him.

Brian broke his arm in the playoff game against Payette on Halloween night. Maybe that's why these xrays are so spooky!! He had a double break, just short of a compound fracture. He went through surgery and is wired together pretty good. He won't be playing basketball this year, but has a good attitude about it all! We have certainly been shown many tender mercies that have come into our lives from this experience. I have included some before and after photos!

The Language Has Become a Part Of Me!

I have come to the conclusion that when I get home, I am going to have to pray for the gift of tongues to talk to you guys. Just saying simple phrases with the North Americans here in my zone is a struggle but we have a good time laughing at each other with how pathetic we sound, lol. But don't worry, I will manage some way to communicate with you all at Christmas. They have a nick name for me here now Gringo Charapa because I am beginning to talk with the crazy jungle accent that the people have here, but its all good.

Exciting Growth in the Mission

I doubt I will have the opportunity to serve in the new mission but at least the church is expanding the little villages along the river. This little "island" of Iquitos" is sure sprouting up and growing, its definitely an exciting time.
The Bishop´s family says hey and are really looking forward to meeting you when we all come back.

Never lose sight of how IMPORTANT and TRUE this Gospel is!

Well we took a huge step in getting the entire Cubas Rios Family baptized this past week. We helped them to get married last month and slowly but surely they are also accepting the gospel. We baptized the mother, Flor, along with Flor´s mother Mechi and this week are have a baptismal date with Percy (Flor´s husband) . This family has really come a huge way from the time that we first met them. Remember the story of us finding them through their son who is restricted to his wheel chair, well this is the family. When we met them they had a bar in their house. There bar was very very successful and were always bringing in big music names to come to town and play for the weekend in their bar. Needless to say it was very successful and they were living very comfortable. But over the past month and a half we have worked so hard with them helping them to find the strength and faith to leave the bar and rely on the Lord to provide for them. They have sacrificed so much in terms of worldly treasures but they have come to the realization that what the Lord has in store for them is far better than anything money can buy. They have since left their bar and are now enjoying the blessing of the Gospel. When Flor bore her testimony Saturday night after her baptism, she shared how her family has never suffered so many trials and challenges from leaving the bar but at the same time they have never been happier. It just another great reminder to me that the Lord is in charge of this work and that he merely uses us (19 year-olds) to carry this message to his children. Never lose sight of how IMPORTANT and TRUE this Gospel is!

A Monkey Named Garfield!?!

Well to end on a lively note we found a little monkey and we got him bought. He's the coolest little guy I know. I figure he has a pretty good resemblance of my nieces and nephews so I feel like I am right at home, lol. Just playing --but our little monkey Garfield is pretty dang cute. He looks like a miniature King Kong!

If It Doesn't Kill Ya, It Only Makes Ya Stronger!

My poor comp is having a really rough go at getting acquainted to Jungle life. This past week we spent quite a bit of time in the hospital because he got bit by a mosquito and got a case of Yellow Fever. Even though it passes within two weeks in the mean time they is quite a bit of pain and suffering but he is getting better. I just try to keep him positive and I always tell him just how sweet of a journal entry he is going to have. I told him the other day "if it doesn't kill ya it only makes ya stronger". He didn´t quite understand it at the time but he is now beginning too. Keep him in your prayers!

Blessings of the Gospel

Thanks so much for that letter from Elder Ruiz. Every day I hear of the sacrifices that many of the Latin Elders have made in order to serve a mission and continue with the church. But this gospel does amazing things with the lives of the people who truly seek the truth. I know that the family of Elder Ruiz will one day feel the importance and the truth behind this gospel. He sounds like a great kid with such a great love for the work and the gospel. Elder Cahui is the only member in his family as well. He is the youngest of three brothers and like Elder Ruiz, isn´t receiving alot of support from his family. He is doing great though and loving the work along with Elder Ruiz.

Along that line, I am including something Gwen Rich posted following a conversation she had with a sister from Arizona who had recently returned from Peru: "Sister Coombs was there with her husband, who had previously served a mission in Peru about 35 years ago. They were with another couple who work with our church's Perpetual Education Fund. They were meeting with North American missionaries who were soon to be going home after completing their missions. One thing that she said, sticks out in my mind. If these returning missionaries would set aside $5.00 per month, this $5.00 would "fund" one of their former companions, for one month, as they progressed through the PEF program. Just think of that !! So many of these missionaries that our sons are serving with, have no prospects for an education, or bettering their lives after returning home from their missions. Our sons, who are so VERY blessed, can help to improve a life - by giving so very little. I tell you, it surely changed the way I personally look at the PEF program. It puts a "face" on it, so to speak." Thank you Sister Coombs and Sister Rich!!

Amazing Things in Iquitos!

Even though the church here in Iquitos has a lot of challenges and obstacles, it is definitely growing. By the end of the year, my little ward is going to be made into a STAKE. They finally have enough members attending along with Priesthood holders to be able to support another stake here in Iquitos. I remember when this place was DEAD, but looking at it today you wouldn’t ever know that it was the way it was. The leaders are also talking of the addiction of an Institute building as well. But the highlight of what is going on is the Making of a new mission. They are going to be making Iquitos its own mission and are going to expand the church to the pueblos that live along the river. When I heard that I about lost it. I am always telling President Perez that I want to go and teach the pueblos but here in the near future the missionaries are going to arrive there. This little part of Zion is growing and definitely getting stronger and I love being a part of it.

The Marin Gonzalez Family

The Marin Gonzalez Family that we baptized about 3 weeks ago had another very special weekend. We completed their family by baptizing their youngest son Marco Antonio who is 18 years old and yesterday Eliseo received the Priesthood and his first calling/assignment in the ward. He is going to be in charge of passing out and collecting the hymn books for the ward. How sweet is that!!! It reminds me of when I had the calling of ringing the bell to change classes. Something simple but still very important. We are getting the two of them ready to receive the Melquisedec (I forgot how to spell it in English so I wrote it in Spanish) Priesthood next month during Stake Conference. This little family is truly something special. I remember hearing about families like the Marin Gonzalez Family before from other missionaries but never did I think I would have the responsibility of helping one find and receive the Gospel. I am so excited for what this Family is going to do for the Church and this great work.

I Love Everything About Jungle Life!

I definitely don’t want to go back to Lima any time soon. Despite the heat and the crazy jungle challenges I am going to have a hard time leaving Iquitos. Last night I got to thinking, "wow I am going to have SIX months here in my area, Where the heck has the time gone” I love almost everything about jungle life especially the people that I have gotten so close too. Even though we still have a month until transfers, I’m not in any hurry of leaving this place.