Soccer

 Well, this was a very slow week. I feel like a lot should have happened but it was pretty normal. It's been a lot of work. We have a very hard time finding people on Sundays. Chile played against Argentina in the World Cup last night. And when that happens, nobody cares who is at the door; everyone is busy. We went to look for someone and found a man opening the door we were going to knock. We said who we were looking for and he said they weren't home. So we asked if we could talk. He said he'd love to, he had to go inside to grab some things and then we would go to his house around the corner. And 15 minutes later we decided he forgot there was a game going on and didn't come back out.

We had an amazing lesson with a less active returned missionary. We weren't sure what to do. Nobody knows why he isn't attending. So we talked about the restoration and the Book of Mormon. He then opened up and said he stopped reading, but he knows it is true and the only way to know if this is true. The Book of Mormon is the key to our religion. We can talk for days of doctrine, but if the don't read, they'll get nothing out of it. He then went to church for the first time after more than a year.  

  I attached a photo from Fathers Day. Something all the young women did. Also a photo of the converts in the ward.

Love you all. Have a successful week!

Changes!

 Well we made it. Six weeks here in Trujillo and I'm not going anywhere any time soon. Everything stayed the same. I did recently find out we have to move. The problem with this area is there is a huge University, the UPN. So everyone and their dog is renting rooms. Our budget is about 300 soles for two people. So it's impossible. There is nobody here to look for us so we have to ask around and find a room and move in within 10 days. The mission wasn't stressful enough?! 

  It was a very sad Father's Day in the Church. There were two talks given. One on the temple and the other on the Lay of Chastity. I don't know who plans these things, but I felt bad for all the dads out there. But the young women made little candies for all the dads and future dads, that almost made up for it. 

  We had a very busy week. There are 17 missionaries finishing their missions today and they all had to come to Trujillo Friday. We traveled all over Trujillo picking people up and dropping them off. The room is so little and they put an Elder that was there 8 month ago with us. It was so fun though. We went to teach people and he was pointing to a bunch of houses saying, he is a less active and she went to church once. It was a very busy day of note taking. 

  But I will be here a little longer. Here is a photo of the last district. Here we go again!

Father's Day

 Happy Fathers day to all the dads, future dads, and very old dads that drive red Jettas! What a crazy week. The mission President just started to set standards of excellence for a few things. So we had to work like crazy this week. It is a lot more difficult to accomplish goals up here in Trujillo. But we are definitely seeing miracles up here and finding the people who are being prepared. 

  We were knocking on a door one day in the afternoon, when one man walked up to us and said he wanted help and knew we could offer it. So we made an appointment for the next day and he wasn't there. It was just a lie. So we went on with the week. And one day we passed by and said we'll pass by again, he lives in the back corner of a three story building. But they were there this time. Him, his wife, and his mom. There was so much contention. Apparently about four years ago he was super drunk and was trying to access his room from the roof because he forgot his keys. He, being very drunk, fell three stories to the ground and almost died. And after that he got better and kept drinking. The wife came out screaming and saying he calls her names and beats her and just went off on him. We couldn't really do anything because she if from the jungle and is rather large and loud. So she went off for about 20 minutes and finally we told them that we can change all of their lives, and they all stopped and listened. It was such and amazing lesson. The mom came to Church yesterday and loved it. So many tender mercies from the Lord. 

  Yesterday the President called a meeting at 6:30pm for 1pm with the whole zone. He is so close that he can just do it. The one thing I took from it is to rely on the Lord. We can't accomplish any goals or have any success if we don't rely on him. Hope you'll have a great week and a wonderful Fathers Day!

Winter in June

 Well one year ago I graduated, and eight months ago today, I left on the mission! The time is flying by! There is so much going on and so many people to talk to here, but the people are very busy. In Chimbote everyone just slept and watered their sand, so they had time to hear of salvation. But here, everyone has to leave and study and work everyday! Yesterday we asked a guy if he was too busy to share a message. He told us he was too tired and wouldn't be able to focus. Come on!

  My pensionista is 5 months pregnant with her fourth boy. It's a very interesting eating experience everyday. When we are three years old, how prone are we to throw food around? It's kind of common here. I included a photo of us eating the most delicious food. It's arroz chaufa con ceviche de pota. It's rice Chinese style with squid! 

  We had no church again this Sunday. There was the second round of elections between a white looking 85-year-old man and a Chinese women. Apparently the White guy won to be the next President of Peru. But it's good it's over because it is against the law to do any religious thing that day. We couldn't leave to go proselyting until 4pm! So I just was reading a lot of the Bible and the most recent conference. I love conference. 

Anyway, It's June now and colder everyday. Have fun in summer up there!

Three Days

 Well, I was just here on Friday, and don't have too much to write. We taught a man who is the only non-member in his family. He has listened to the missionaries since he was 19 years old, and he is now 60. So we went to figure out what his deal is. When we talked about the Priesthood he got really weird and talked about what some guy on the TV said about tithing. He said God is never going to ask for anything from us. Then we read a few scriptures about paying tithing and being cursed for robbing God. He said Christ never cursed anyone, then we read more scriptures. We all came to the resolution that he only believes in 90% of the Bible. It made me realize that this life is hard and we actually have to do work here. 

That's about it. Love the area and am always learning, people shouldn't even go to school, you learn everything important out here. Love you all!

Temple Trip

 Well we just got out of the temple! It was awesome. I wish we could go all the time. All I have to do is get in a taxi for two soles and I'm at the temple. It is so close! I love it so much. There are two senior missionary couples that work there. I want to do that at some point in my life. 

I love my area and all the people. It just keeps getting better. I can't believe it's almost been three weeks. We get a lot of support from the members. There are about 10 returned missionaries that still haven't gotten married which is good for us, but sad for them. That means all of you need to go help the missionaries. Tell them where all you friends live. 

We taught a crazy lesson. There is a couple that aren't married, but are living together. He is a member, but she isn't. She goes to church but can't get baptized till they get married. But she didn't want to tell him that. She wants him to ask her. So we went with Adolfo, the Blind High Priest group leader, and taught the guy for the first time. We straight up asked if he wants the blessings of the temple and of eternal marriage, he sat there and said, Of course. Then he just opened up and said he wants to get married and they're setting plans. Adolfo is the key into anyone's house. He knows everyone! 

The other crazy lesson was with a 90-year-old man, he is part blind and can't hear. His granddaughter is 40 and less active and told us he hasn't bathed in weeks. So being a helpful missionary, told him to bathe himself and go to the doctor and get his ears checked. He then yelled a lot of words I didn't understand. Everyone was laughing and then he asked my companion's name for the seventh time and forgot everything... I did my best! 

Anyway, love it down here! It's a little crazy sometimes, but what are you going to do. I saw a car crash into a pile of sand in the street last night.

Love you all, take care!

Trujillo

 I made it up here. I'm in the Palermo Stake. It is the most north stake of the mission. My area is so north, my church is in the other mission. We have the North mission on three sides of us! It is so crazy. There are two wards that meet in the chapel from different stakes. So I met the Hermanas that serve there. We are two Elders surrounded by hermanas. The area is so nice and kind of clean; it is almost like a city in the poor part of the States I think. 

Our pensionista, bishop, and a few members live on this street called Putumayo. We tell everyone we go teaching there and they kept saying no don't go, there is a lot of danger over there. So we were eating one day and this random guy walks in and we start chatting getting to know each other and then he leaves. My companion tells me he is one of the three main drug dealers in the area. The other one is a woman and the other is named Chuvi, but it's pronounced Chubby. I told him it means gordito, so whenever I see him that's what I call him. There is a lot of respect for the missionaries here. They don't do anything. 

But I love it up here! Everything is better. The pensionista's name is Charo and she makes the best food! And if I don't eat it all, she doesn't even cry! I love her! It is going to be a really good change foodwise. Also my companion is the BEST! His name is Elder Torres and he is from Chiclayo, two hours north of here. He is so cool and funny. We have so much fun together. 

Every Sunday we get to go proselyting with the High Priest group leader. He has been blind for 35 years, and a member for 21 years. It was the most interesting time proselyting with him. He speaks with so much conviction. We taught a woman and invited her to baptism, then I invited him to share his testimony and it was so incredible! He is cool! The Book of Mormon in Braille is 7 3-inch binders. He has so many scriptures memorized. He is my new best friend.

Anyway. I love it up here, it has been the best week of my mission. Love you all!