Independence Day

 Well here in Perú they also celebrate Independence Day, but it's the 28 and 29. What I don't understand and what they don't know is why they deserve two days to celebrate. Not that I think we should also have two days, but it takes away a lot of time and chance to find new people. Everyone left and drank and the streets were empty. 

  The highlight of the week was being able to proselyte with a companion from the MTC for a day. Just talking about that time over 20 months ago and comparing to now there has been a lot of changes. Good changes. That's what a mission does. He was more rebellious at the beginning and told me that now he has to leave his friend that are going to hold him back, the people that wont help him progress. It was a very interesting day, and lots of success. I never received so many complements on my Spanish. 

  Lesson of the week. Just work. Many things happen in the mission, but who cares, just do your job. And that applies everywhere. Love you all, and get to work.

Elder Willard 

Temple Trip

 There is a convert here who is blind. He wants to go to the temple. And I get to go with him! Maybe this will be my last time going... We had a great week and got lots done. We made tacos today. 

  We found a family. The women said she hadn't really prayed before. We asked if she believes in God. She told us the the belief is recent and didn't know what to do. She couldn't pray and didn't know what to do with these new feelings. She told us how her mom died and how she felt that this was all true. Without a doubt, we were guided there, we were just knocking on door before dinner. But she was able to understand the importance of prayer and how to do it.

 I think we all need to be reminded of how important it is. You should read 2 Nefi 32: 8-9. I always think that the spirt reminds us to pray, but the evil spirt gives us excuses. Watch and Pray ALWAYS! 

Have a great week and make good choices!

Milagros

 There was this family, they were going to get baptized leter on. But the dad got a job in the jungle and wanted to get baptized now. So I interviewed them and he asked me to baptize him. My suspicion is he didn't trust the little Elder that baptized his daughter. The mom and son will be baptized soon, don't worry.

  My family is having a hard time with the economy and nobody in the family wants them to pay tithing, because they are poor. But pray for them, The De la Flor Family or Of the Flower family. Today is the dad's birthday, he is turning 85 and the mom tomorrow, she will turn 81. We told them, "NO BEER!" And they invited the bishop! So that's progress, lots of prayers. 

 Love you all, Enjoy the heat while it's nice and cool down here. I love being by the beach, so much breeze. The only downside is sand in the eyes...

Tami Memorial

 Paul and I traveled down to Temecula for a memorial for Tami. Nana had asked someone to make a bench for Tami that could go on Fletcher Island, at Lake Cuyamaca.

It was a lovely walk and we enjoyed a wonderful sunny day. The location is about 20 min. away from Julian.

Ward Lunch

 So there is a few members from my ward that now live in the states, and the bishop asked me, "Is it true that you eat in the church with the whole ward?"

So then I explained what I have done before in the ward, and he liked it a lot, so we did it. I was assigned to collect the garbage. It was a ton of fun. There is nothing better to help the investigators feel part of the family then eating as a family.

  BUT! My pensionista said there was a certain member that said, on facebook, it's a sin to work so hard to cook and bring lunch to the church on a Sunday. So the old stake president and the current on respectfully said like this,  "Thanks for your comment, but I have lived here in the States for over a year, and this is an activity they do every other month." Then my pensionista said, "I think we should respect the ideas of our leaders, because they are the ones that receive revelation."

There was another 10 comments directed at this member. My pensionista was a little furious. 

I learned: Facebook is dumb! 

Love you all, have a great week and do good!

Changes

 There wasn't any! I'm staying here with my same companion. It was a slow week and lots of work. There was some kind of day off on Thursday, and when that happens, it turns into a four day weekend. Se acabo mi tiempo. Love you all and I'll write more next week, maybe...