The Cold Again

 I got a cold. This doesn't even make sense. It's hot! I can't even sleep with a blanket because it's so hot. The good news is they sell Halls here like candy and I can buy a bag of 100 for 7 soles which is like two bucks. Pretty cool right? 

We painted a house for a guy in a wheelchair. For being in a wheelchair he was fairly picky an wanted us to paint everything. 

  We are teaching an older couple here. Guillermo and Ester. He is 86 and she is 82 with los principios de alzheimer. But they go to church every week. Here is a picture of her during the lesson. We have learned not to wake her because she then takes five minutes to say what she had just said. The most common thing she says is, "The church of Salaverry is next to my house."

But Guillermo always reads and prays and said he wants to die in the religión.

Anyway, hope everyone is doing great have a great week and behave!

Eighteen Months Into It

 Well, I have finished my mission as a sister. That means I have six months till I finish. I don't know what is happening with the time. It's been going by so fast. Everything here is normal again. The water is colder now.  There isn't much rain. There is just a lot of mud in my old chapel. 

  While I was in my old area we changed rooms. The sister missionaries found it and we talked to the Landlady. I felt a little uncomfortable because she wanted me to marry one of her daughters. But they lived in a different house. She always said she would come to church, but then got really sick from diabetes. Then I left. All of a sudden the new elder told me we needed to interview her daughter for baptism. It was crazy. She had read the Book of Mormon when she was seven and didn't know where it was from. Then the missionaries passed by a lot and asked for water (because in the room there was no water) and then started visiting and she knew it was true. The only problem was the mud in the church. It was gross. But we did it!

  I did an interchange with a new Elder Near. He is from Iowa. We went to see my investigator near the top of the mountain and took advantage to see the city. This is all of Trujillo from Pequeda. I also found a UW hat in the dirt.

Love you all. Have a great week, and please write or send a picture at least... 

The Fruits

 Well I got good news this week. While I was in my last area we found a big family and they were very excited about our coming. So we taught for a couple weeks and they said they were married, but then they said they weren't and wanted to be baptized, but lacked the funds to do it. So after a lot of effort and visits with many members to help (visits that were hard to do with older members, because they live on the top of a hill) they were willing to get married and do whatever possible to make it happen, then I got changed. But on Saturday I was happily informed they got baptized. It was not easy, one of the sons is very sick and has to have his blood cleaned three times a week. But I know that they gained a testimony of the truth and took the first step to salvation. It was bittersweet because I wasn't there, but they got baptized!

  I'm going to stay here in this area for at least six more weeks. We'll see how our investigators progress. Thanks for writing, have a great week!

Happy Mother's Day

 We had a great Mothers Day here in Peru. It was a great excuse not to go to church and for everyone to drink outside, even the women! We had an activity for the moms on Thursday. We chose two moms to answer a series of questions, the one that didn't answer in time had to throw a plate of shaving cream in our faces. They just so happened to be moms with missionaries in the field, so there was more emotion. They made me make this heart in the pic because I am tall. 

 We found a woman knocking on doors a few days ago; her name is Dolores, and in English that means Pains or Aches. So I can only imagine how her mom felt at the moment of her birth. I tell you about this women because she is a very positive mom. Her husband left her for another woman, and she doesn't care. She said, "My husband was just some guy, but my kids are my kids forever." Very inspiring! She doesn't complain, her old husband is rich and still gives her cash to cook and sometimes he comes by to eat. So we wanted to share the plan of salvation at a later date, but she said no because her husband hates religion and there is a chance he will be home. Not the best reason. We'll see if we find her tomorrow. 

  In the other pic we are eating hamburgers. The woman in the pic is from Venezuela and she made us arepas, which are like bread filled with what you want, in this case chicken. 

 

  Anyway, it was nice to see you all and hope you had a great Mothers Day to all the moms and future moms!

Mother's Day Soon

 The weeks are flying by. There is so much to do here. We are just talking to everyone we see because we don't know anyone. It's been a crazy week. But I'm back in Chimbote where the people are a little lazier. 

We managed to find a family that had a son recently pass away. I had an exp like the general authority that was talking about the kid that was going to die, and then she said we know the doctrine, but do we believe it. It was a great moment of reflection, and I came to the decision, that any of you can die and we'll see each other again. The woman said her son didn't repent and the knowledge that he is being preached to helped her a ton. 

  Don't die yet, that would be sad. Thanks for writing! Have a great week!

Back to Chimbote

 Well, in Chimbote there are three stakes, I'm right next door to my old stake. And I'm literally right next to my old area. The guy that gives us drinking water is from my old ward. President is just doing this to mess with me... It was a very sad farewell from my old ward. I was only there for five months, but it was great. I have a lot of hair on my head. Nobody was available to cut my hair, or maybe they were scared. So I am slowly growing my curls, thanks mom! 

  We found a ton of new people just knocking on doors. There was a bunch of people that said they would go to church too, then I remembered I was in Chimbote when nobody came. The people here are receptive, but slow to fulfill a commitment. But we found some solid people. The members here are great and willing to help. When I started the mission, I also opened an area, so it takes me back to the good old days with my Mexican companion. My new companion is from a very dangerous part of Lima called San Juan de Lurigancho, they sometimes say Luriwashington and I don't know why, maybe to make fun of me. It's been a ton of fun and I am very excited!

Work hard and be good people.