December 20, 2010

Hey fam!

Wow this week was awesome! We had a conference with a member from the
seventy named Juan Uceda. He spoke in the last general conference. My
goodness was it awesome! The spirit was incredibly strong! What I
thought was kinda cool was that he spoke about being fishers of men
haha. I talked about that a little bit last week. He talked about
Christ and the story in Luke 5 when he teaches the apostles to fish.
They had been fishing all night long without any success. Then Christ
came in the morning and said throw your net there. They could have
said, well we HAVE been throwing the net there. Why would it work now?
What they said was, we have been doing that all night but I know that
because you are telling me to do it it will work. They threw out the
net and they broke the net because it was filled with so many fish.
They filled up both boats. Their obedience to the Savior was the key.
If we do all we can to follow the Savior and work hard. We will be
able to hear him when he tells us " throw it over there." He will be
able to give us direction in times of need. As missionaries we have to
learn how to hear the spirit because we don't know who the lord has
prepared but He does and He can lead us to them. Obedience to the
Savior. Elder Uceda said things like "there are NO disobedient Gods in
heaven." They don't exist. We all have the chance to be gods and
inherit the kingdom of God if we are obedient. HOW COOL is that!

Well family we have two baptizms on the 25th Julia and Jesus! They are
awesome! Pray hard for them that nothing happens this week. Their
testimonies are really strong and they know its true. I'm so excited
for them!

Sounds like you all have big stuff planned for Christmas! I'm pretty
darn excited to get to talk to you all! I'm going to try and call the
24th in the night time. Like around 8 or nine here time. It might be
kinda rough to get my call to come through so be patient haha. I don't
have cool access to a computer like I did last time. I still didn't get
your box or the one from aunt kimmie but it should get here soon. I
really miss snow haha! Send me some pics of you all and the tree! I love
you! Talk to you soon!

Love elder B

December 13, 2010

Hey fam!

So this week as pretty swell for me! It was really hard but good. I got a package from grandma B! Thanks the chex mix was awesome! And beef jerky always makes a bad day good haha. My companion calls it his ¨take me to heaven¨ haha. I got a letter from my good buddy Adam Muffler and he was saying things like my wife and it kinda threw me for a loop. That's so weird to think that my buddies are all getting married, but awesome at the same time! Onward to exaltation!!! haha I'm really happy for him and Steve

So we are working with several people and their baptisms at the end of the month. Julia and Jesus are ready and just need to keep going. We have a couple others that need some help getting a testimony though. Mariluz and Angie. They are both awesome and want to do whats right but just haven't felt it yet. They both know its true but haven't felt their conversion experience yet. Please pray for them that they can feel it in their hearts and minds and have an asurity of these things.

I have been reading the talks from conference lately and been studying about them. Oh how I love it. I Wrote down what I wanted to quote but I forgot to bring it. doh! But I think that it was from the talk from elder Ballard. He said that we need to be strong and wise in all that we do. He talked about fly fishermen and how they are so great at tricking fish. They make their own little perfect flies that look just like the delicious flies that trout love so very much. The difference between the real flies and the fisherman's flies is the little hidden hook that they never saw. He said that we need to be wary of the enticings of the ¨counterfeit fisher of men¨. I loved that comparison. Christ is the real fisher of men and there are no little hidden hooks in His message. We get what we work for. With Satan, the counterfeit, we may think that it's something good, something worthwhile, like a cellphone with texts messages. It's not bad, but when we are constantly checking, waiting for and hoping for a text, then basically we are an addict, we´re hooked. Something simple caught us and distracted us from the important things in life. It turns bad when this thing that has hooked us isn't something simple like a cell phone. I know that Satan has power to lead us carefully down to hell if we aren't careful. I also know and have a powerful testimony that Christ can lead us directly to the celestial kingdom where we can live with God and our family. I meet people everyday that are lost in the world and think that they are doing worthwhile things. Its not so. Simple things like reading the scriptures, going to church, family home evening, and prayer. That's what keeps us from getting hooked by Satan. I love all of you and want to live with you in the kingdom of our father. Lets help each other live the laws of God and get there together. You all mean so much to me thanks for being the excellent family that you are. I know we can make it together.

To my good friend Justin. I'm so proud of you buddy. Keep up the good work. This will be the hardest thing that you have ever done in your life. But also the happiest, funnest and most spiritual experience that you have had. Never give up. Just keep trudging onward. I love you bud. Good luck, and may the spirit of God be with you.

Love elder B

Mom I sent the letter to Taylor like 2 weeks ago I think. It should be getting to you shortly, I hope! You could make it a Christmas present for her. Its the best thing that I could give her.

I'll be looking for the package that you and ant Kimmy sent! Thanks so much. I'll wait till Christmas I guess... haha. I'll be able to call the 24th or 25th whichever is better for you. The 25th is better for me. I could call sometime in the afternoon.

Tell Steve that he's done good for himself. I hope that he's doing awesome and I would live to hear from him. I love you mom! Your the best mom ever!

December 6, 2010

Hey fam!

I did get another package from grandma Dorothy! haha more beef jerkey
and rice crispies! Awesome! Who could ask for more! (my companion
loves my packages too.)
I had a pretty awesome week this week! We have 5 people that we are
trying to get a good strong baptismal date for on the 25th! Please
please please pray for Mariluz, Julia, Jesus, Angie and Beatriz. They
are all needing lots of help. They all know that the church is true
and want to do the right thing they just need the help to be able to
do it. Please pray for them so that they can make it to their dates.
We are working really hard in the ward and we have all sorts of
success. The members are helping a lot more than before and we are
having lots of success.

We got to go to the Christmas devotional yesterday! How awesome! I
love to hear the choir. It's awesome.
I had an experience this week. I was testifying to Mariluz about the
atonement. We were reading from Mosiah 3 about the atonement. As I was
testifying I felt the spirit very strongly. I'm so thankful for
everything that He did for me. I'm so thankful for the opportunity to be
able to testify about the gospel and about Christ. Thanks family for
being so awesome! I love you all so much! Keep doing the right stuff
and we will always be blessed by the lord.! I love you!

Love elder B

Mom, I sent you a letter this week. It's for Taylor so that you can put
it in a Book of Mormon. It should be there this week or the next watch
for it and get it to Tay as soon as possible. Love you mom

Hey mom could you do me a favor and send me some really good acne
stuff for my comp. He has had a rough time with acne his whole mission
and can't find anything to get rid of it. If there is something that
you could send to help him that would be awesome. thanks mom.

November 29, 2010

Hey fam!

Sounds like you all had a blast! Thanks for the pic of the pie...! It made me sad but so happy at the same time to see a big slice of pie with cool-whip on top. My mouth is watering just writing this...

I'm really excited to be here in Miguel Grau too. It's really awesome. The members have started bringing people to church more often, so we are busy. It's pretty awesome to see a new convert bring a friend to church. New converts are the best really. Through them come the most referrals haha. They are just so anxious to share the gospel with all of their friends and family. Why aren't we all that way... We have three people with a baptism date for Christmas day so that should be awesome! This week was pretty good for my comp and I. We are working hard and trying to find lots of new people. The members are helping us a ton.

Something awesome happened this week at church. You all should remember Carlos, the older guy that was baptized about 3 weeks ago. Well he blessed the sacrament for the first time ever today! He was really content and happy. He did it without missing a beat. It makes me so happy really to see someone like Carlos keep progressing. He's hungry for the gospel and he is willing to do anything to satisfy his hunger. It's a miracle. Well sorry this is a little short but I love all of you a ton. You really are the best and I hope that everything is awesome back home. Glad you all had a good Thanksgiving. My pensionista made me some turkey too. It was awesome, but I did miss the taters and stuffing and PIE! It was ok! I'll be there next year! Whoo! I love you fam!

Love Elder B

November 22, 2010

Howdy doo!


Wow! I had quite the week! First off last Monday we had the marriage
of Antonio and Mily. They had their ceremony with 348 other couples on
Saturday. They call it a massive marriage. It was pretty cool, but also
kinda weird. They had a kissing contest with ten of the couples. They
had to try and win stuff like a blender and a microwave with the
longest kiss. As a missionary it was a little awkward to have to be
there. Being there made me happy that we have temples! They got
married and they were super happy. It was awesome. So then in the
afternoon we went and had their awesome baptism. They both asked me to
baptize them and it was a pleasure to be a part of it. They have a lot
of things to work out but with some time and the Lord everything is
possible for them. Mily bore her testimony after her baptism and said
that she felt like she took a thorn out and has started a new life.
Its such a blessing to be able to take part in peoples progress. I
forgot my cable so you'll have to wait for pics until next week.

So today were transfers! Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand..... I'm staying!! this is
my fifth change here in Miguel Grau and I still like it haha. I'll be
here until at least the 2nd of January. That will make it 7 1/2 months
here in the beloved hills of Miguel Grau. We are having lots of success and
because the area is so gigantic President has sent two more missionaries
to divide our area. It's kind of a bummer because I won't be
able to visit a bunch of my converts during the week, but I'll be able
to see them every Sunday so that's still good. My comp and I are
working hard and we have some good prospects coming up here in the
future. Keep your prayers coming please. I know that they work!

I couldn't remember if Thanksgiving was last week or this week. Is it
the third or fourth Thursday? Guess it's the fourth huh. Sounds like
everyone is going to have a blast at grandmas! How awesome! Careful
with the snow though. That's weird to think about snow. I haven't seen
snow in a long time. Here it's just getting hotter! Take lots of pics for
me please! I need to know how everyone is doing! Have everyone send me
an email while they're digesting the turkey and waiting for their
chaser sandwich haha. Hey, can you take a picture of a pumpkin pie
and a banana cream one too. I wanna put it on my wall haha.

I can't believe how huge Zman is! He is super skinny haha. He's almost 6
feet but weighs 80 pounds haha. How's the running going or have they
finished?

I didn't know about that elder who got stabbed. They don't usually tell
us stuff like that. Hope he's ok though. I have never had a problem in
the mish. There are thieves and pick pockets all over the place but
they know us and I try to be their friends because then they
protect you from other thieves haha.

We have an elder in the mission named elder Bell. He is brand new in
his first transfer. He was down south in a place called Ica when he
started to feel bad. He just ignored it and kept working, the next day
he couldn't move his back very well, kinda like it was stiff. They next
day he couldn't move some parts of his body. He was slowly becoming
paralyzed. They brought him up to Lima and discovered that he has a
very rare virus that they don't know much about, but it causes
paralysis. The scary thing is that you are awake still but you can't
even move your eyelids. You can hear everything but are unable to do
anything. We had a mission fast for him and we heard that the Prophet
and The Council of the Twelve prayed for him in their weekly meeting.
He is now recovering and starting to be able to move a little. I know
that prayer and fasting are real.

Ok fam i love you a ton have a sweet week!

Elder B

November 15, 2010

Hey fam!

Que tal! Man, I had a pretty sweet week! I had an awesome experience about 2 months ago. I was sitting in a combi, those are the vans that take us everywhere, and I sat down next to a lady and felt the distinct impression to talk to her. I talked to her and gave her a pamphlet about the plan of salvation. We have been trying to get to her house for about all of these two months and we haven't been able to get a hold of her. Well, Thursday night, right before I woke up I had a dream. I dreamed that I was talking to her and right before I woke up I said when is a good time for us to come by... then I woke up. I had my hand held up to my head like I was talking to her. I knew we had to go and try again to find her... so that night we went back up to her house. It's really high up there.... AND we found her! She was in her house! "She said how great that you came! I had this afternoon off from work! I'm not usually here on Friday nights." We took out an appointment for Sunday night and we went to her house. She is awesome! I had one of the most spiritual experiences of my life teaching her. My companion and I had an awesome conversation with her. We taught her all about the apostasy, prophets and Christ's reign on earth. Then we taught about Joseph Smith and the restoration. She understood very well. She understood that her baptism in the catholic church isn't valid before God. We invited her to be baptized when she knows that these things are true. She said "I'll be able to tell you when I know." At the end of the lesson she said, "I feel at peace right now, I feel like I'm starting something." We are going back next Sunday. I love the lord and all the miracles that he lets me be a part of. That's my first dream that has ever influenced a decision that I have made in my life.

Other awesomeness! Carlos got baptized! This guy is the best! We thought that he was late for his baptism, we had called his house, and he wasn't there. Then my companion, out of the corner of his eye saw him sitting in this little section of the courtyard reading the Book of Mormon. He had been there for a long time and was just reading. He loves the word of the lord and knows it to be true. I'm so thankful to be able to be a part of helping him find the gospel.

This morning we got Antonio and Mily Married!!!!! Whooo! After about 4 months they are finally married. After lots of lessons and lots of struggle they are married and living the laws of the lord. Their smiles were awesome! We got all the papers signed and then on Saturday they will have the ceremony. What an awesome feeling!

Thanks so much for being the best family ever. You guys really are the best. Thanks for always thinking and praying for me. A thought occurred to me the other day. That we always pray for the missionaries to have success and we pray for lots of other blessings. But what do we do to make this prayers come true and be a reality. What do we do to help the missionaries be successful. Have we shared the gospel with anyone lately? I know I didn't do it much before but I will when I go home.

Thanks fam I love you so much you're the best!

Love B

For Christmas I dunno. What ever is fine. Maybe a real football if you can get it here. More drink mixes like crystal light and stuff. The ones that you can put in a bottle. That's about it though. I'm not too needy, haha. Thanks for sending me some more monies!

Novmber 8, 2010

Hi fam!

I'm a little bit short on time today but I'll try to make it
interesting! This week went ok. We have the baptism of Carlos Pauca on
Saturday.  Next week, hopefully,  we have the marriages of
two couples. Should all work out! This week we had a Zone Leaders
conference with President Manning and that went well. We now have
in the Zone 21 people with a baptism date. So that's good because we had an
abysmal month of October with only 5. There are way more people here
that are ready to receive the gospel than that! Pray hard for my
zone please,  we need it!  My back is feeling pretty good and I'm doing
alright with everything else. We are just trying to apply a few more
things to the way we are working so that we can do better. I sure love
you all! I hope that you have an awesome week! Thanks for being the
best family ever.

Love Elder B

November 1, 2010

Hey family!

What an awesome week that i had! We had a sweet zone conference with Presidente Manning! I learned all sorts of stuff. I had a question about the holy ghost and baptism. At what moment are ours sins forgiven? Look up 3 Nephi 27:20. It says that we are baptized and then sanctified BY the reception of the holy ghost. We are not cleaned by baptism, it's only to make a covenant but we are cleansed of our sins when we receive the gift of the holy ghost. Cool huh. I like learning doctrine.

After the Zone Conference Presidente Manning came and worked with Elder Huaman and me. We had an appointment with Antonio and Mily at the top of a big ole mountain! Presidente isn't very small but he climbed right up there with us. It was a way awesome experience to be able to teach with him. We taught about Joseph Smith again and the way that President teaches is so simple and excellent and just full of the spirit. It impacted me a lot.

So that was an awesome thing this week. But the coolest was the baptisms that we had on Sunday morning! Carmen, Jasmin and Jesus were baptized!!! They were all so excited. It was such a simple and awesome experience. We have been working with them for a really long time and they were finally ready to take the step. Jesus wants to serve a mission and will be one great missionary. They are going to do great and keep on doing what's right.

So the week was excellent! The next baptism is for the 13th of this month. His name is Carlos. I've told you all about him I think but pray hard for him. He will make it but send some prayers up for him. Then send some more up for a few of the marriages that we are working on. This area is great. It stinks, there's a ton of trash, dogs, and fleas but I'm going to be very sad when I have to leave.

I love you fam! Your the absolute best! I got a package from both of my awesome grandmas today! What a great day! Thanks so much for the jerkey and treats! And the socks! Whoo! Socks! A missionaries best friend!

Thanks fam!

Love Elder B

That's a bummer that you wont be able to come and get me but that's ok. We'll just have to plan well to be able to go sometime in the future. I'm going to buy that painting today then. I thought you would be much more wary haha. He knocked it down to $200 so that's awesome. Thanks mom! I love you a ton.!

PS. Forgot to tell you some funny stuff. So we went to a family's house that needed a new bathroom. We had to dig the hole for the bathroom. It needed to be 3 meters deep. I got it to 2.7 meters, then the side collapsed and buried one of my legs up to my waist. It was a little scary but I got out just fine haha.

November 1, 2010

October 25, 2010

Dear All,

So, I had an awesome week! This week was the baptism of Hermano Miguel.
He and his member wife got married last month and we had his baptism
on Saturday. He is an awesome guy. Just knows the Church is true and
is willing to do everything to have a happy family. I have had such a
good time teaching him and his family. He was so prepared and ready to
have the gospel in his life.

Next week is the baptism of Elder Jay's birth-mom Carmen, her daughter Jazmin
and Carmen´s brother Jesus. It's going to be an awesome weekend. Pray
hard for them, they need the support. I'm really excited. It's going to
be a good week.

I'm happy to hear about Aunt Lora!  109 1/2 Wow!!  A female pastor.... don't have
anything to say about that, and a blessing at the end of the funeral... let me
know what that means. Teach them a thing or two about the plan of
salvation. And hurry to the temple to do her work! You could do her
sealing to Uncle Bryan. That would be sweet!

That reminds me, I got to go to the Temple on Thursday. It was a really
good day, just nice and peaceful. I love the temple and I always learn
something new while I'm there. Sorry this is short but I'm kinda short
on time but I want to share about Hermano Carlos. He is about 65 and
just awesome. We have been teaching him for a few weeks now. In a
prayer that he said the other day he said this. "Father, I was hungry,
but i didn't have support. Thank you for sending the missionaries. "
He really is awesome and will be getting baptized the 13th of
November.  He came to Miguel's baptism and said after that he wants to
get baptized. He really felt something special. We just contacted him
in the street a few weeks ago and I'm really glad that I talked to him.

Hey we are going to try and do an activity with all the pictures of
the members from their baptisms. We want to put ours up there too. So
if you could send me some pics from my baptism next week that would be
awesome. I think that they exist don't they...?

Mom have dad write me and tell me about that Porsche that he drove. I
want to know how that went. Sounds like an awesome time.

I'm so happy that I made the decision to serve a mission. Everyday I'm
thankful to be here. Everyday I learn something new that will always
be a help to me in the future. I love the mission! Thanks family for
all the help that you have always given me. I love you all! Thanks for
your support.

Love Elder Bearnson


Mom

I had an offer given to me the other day. Elder Brinton knows a very
professional artist from Peru. His name is Albaro Suarez. He  
knows the President of Peru. He's a pretty big deal. But he gave Elder
Brinton a few works of art and he said that he would do one for me.
He would do it for 800 soles. I know that's a lot of money, but I'm
kind of feeling like it's a once in a lifetime opportunity. The guy has
sold paintings at $30,000. He would do one especially for me. I want
him to do that pic of me in Mala on the hill at sunset. He does big
2x3 foot paintings. I don't know how you feel about it but I think that
I would like to do it and have a really great and special memory of
Peru. 800 soles comes out to $288. I know it's a lot but I think that it
could be something really special. Let me know what you think. I love
you mom!  You're the best!

Hey, I forgot to tell you a funny story. So the other day we were making a street contact and talking with a family. A ball came flying at me and I stopped it. I tried to kick it back to the two teams that were playing but... I kicked the ball and it went flying off in some weird direction and I landed right on my butt... it was spectacular...!!! There were about 30 people or so that saw me fall. It was right in the middle of the street. I have no idea how I fell. I actually play soccer pretty well. It's funny to look back on though. We got an apoointment with the family that we were contacting, ha ha, so it was worth something i guess. Thanks mom I love you.

October 18, 2010

Hey fam!

Happy B-DAY D-MANNNNNN!!! Dude, I can't believe that you're going to be 13... Crazy! In six years you´ll be serving a mish! Whoo! I'm going to send a b-day/Christmas package for sure this year. I owe you guys.

Sounds like you guys had a blast in Idaho and Wyoming!! Looks like it too from the pics that Lauren sent me. Awesome! I can't believe how fast my mission is passing... it's really kinda ridiculous actually. The weeks just melt by and I feel like I'm sitting here at the computer every day writing to you, haha! I'm a little bit jealous of all the fun you guys had, but I'll be able to go hang out with ya next year.

He tenido una buena semana aqui en Miguel Grau. I have had a good week here in Miguel Grau. We have five people with a baptismal date. Only one of them is for November, so it's going to be a few awesome weeks for us here. We have Miguel Angel that got married last month to his member wife. They have a beautiful 4 month old baby girl. Miguel is really excited to get baptized and start the journey to marriage in the temple. We also finally have the family of Elder Jay. They are really getting a real testimony of the gospel and will be getting baptized on Halloween. Really it's going to be a very special couple of weeks. We had an awesome week with tons of lessons and lots of success. I love my area. We were walking a couple of weeks ago and we started talking to a guy who is in his sixties or seventies named Carlos. HE is AWESOME. His first week at church was the conference weekend. Taking an investigator to church for the first time on conference weekend can be a little nerve racking because honestly sometimes they get bored... But he loved it and he always applies the things that we talk about to himself and makes changes without anyone needing to tell him. HE has a date for the 13th of November.

I have a great testimony of this Gospel. I know it's true and I'm here to help people be baptized and be cleansed through the reception of the holy ghost. What a blessing it is to be part of such a great cause. I love you family! Keep being awesome!

Love Elder B

Hey mom,

Just so you know. You can come pick me up from the mission when I get done. It would be awesome and we could visit so many cool places and people. But we need to start planning it right now. So let me know so that I can make the necessary preparations with the office. I love you mom! You're the best!

October 11, 2010

Hey fam!!!

Ok, so this week was pretty cool. We had transfers today but luckily I get to stay! Whoo! Only a couple of Elders left so that's good. We have a really powerful Zone and I'm happy to be able to a part of it! I'll answer the questions that you sent me first so I don't forget.

The best thing that I have eaten. Would have to be bistek a lo pobre. It's a thin steak on a mountain of white rice with a fried egg or two and a fried banana. It's pretty awesome.

My back, hips, knees are doing pretty swell. My knees hurt me a little when I'm going down some of the crazy hills but other than that, not much. My back is doing much better and I don't have any problems with my hips. The blessing that the Stake President gave me is really coming true.

Oh and fleas... Only sometimes. But I got some wicked sweet bug killer that won't make me sterile so that's a win win! My clothes are doing good. I won't need new shirts at all and I don't think pants either. If I do, it's much easier to buy them here and much, much cheaper. I could even get them tailored haha! Christmas... Beef jerkey.

The chapel in Mala. I know that they were looking for a lot when I was there. They should have it I would think. That means that they should be close to starting I would think.

The pic you sent of Zach is pretty sweet! You didn't let that little shrimpy kid beat you, did ya!? I bet not. Sweet Adidas by the way.

That's hilarious about the rock and Uncle Dave and Elizabeth. Next time you could say something like this. Amigos pueden poner esta piedra por aca. When you say that first point to the rock and then to the spot you want it. Hope that helps haha. I'm pretty good on the Spanish front. I can pretty much say whatever I want. Sometimes the complex past and future tenses get me but yea I can understand it well. I think that when you can understand drunk guys talking to you, you can pretty much understand everything.

So, I had a pretty good week. My companion and I are finding some good new investigators and talking to everyone in the street. We have a couple baptisms coming up in the next couple weeks so that's exciting! We will also be helping two couples get married and then baptized! The family of Elder Jay is also progressing and they have desires to get baptized so we are going to talk to them and get back into teaching them. They had some pretty rough problems and we weren't able to talk to them for a couple of weeks, so it's good to get back to teaching them.

I had one awesome time watching Conference. I got to watch the Saturday Conference and Priesthood Session in English and Sunday we watched in Spanish. The talks were awesome! There were so many that the entire time I was thinking that applies directly to me. Watching the Priesthood Session and seeing the Greenie Elders sing in the choir was cool. I remember being in the MTC and not knowing what was coming haha. Seems like just the other day! It goes by super fast...

Family, I love you all so much. Thank you all for giving me the opportunity to serve a mission. Thanks for helping me to prepare and for all of your much needed support here in the mission. You have been such a great help without even knowing it. I know that this gospel is true. I'm positive. It's not easy to live the gospel but it's worth it. I have seen it and felt it change the lives of so many people and their families. I have felt the change and every time that I am able to participate in a baptism and they come up out of that water I can see it on their faces. I can see that they feel the power of the Holy Ghost. I know that this gospel is true I can feel it every time that I feel that someone has understood a principle and then wants to apply it to their lives. I'm so thankful for this opportunity to be a missionary! Thanks for helping me be here.

Love Elder Bearnson

October 4, 2010

This last week has been a little crazy! We are helping two families get married so we have been going to different court houses and looking at how we can get it done. They are really cool and always come to church. This is the only thing that is keeping them from making covenants with Heavenly Father, so I'm more than happy to help them. Their names are Jefferson and Diana and they have a brand new baby boy, Gianluca. They are awesome! Diana has been member since she was 9 but went inactive for a really long time. Jefferson's family are all members except for him and he is actually the most active… Then there is Antonio and Mily. They are awesome too. We are seeing so many changes in their lives. They have had lots of problems but everything is just getting better for them.

So Sunday was election day for Peru... So to make sure that we were all safe and sound we couldn't leave to do anything but eat. So we were stuck in the room all day. We studied and took a much needed nap and got some good stuff done. Because of the elections there was no church because it's required to vote in Peru or they tax you, and pretty heavily if you don't do it. So that meant that there was no conference either. We will get to watch conference next week. We also had a zone leaders conference on Friday and we were well instructed on some really great topics. The week flew by really quickly but it was good.

I have some questions though. I haven't heard anything about Stevie Wonder or Adam or Kalab. How are they all doing?

That's awesome to hear about Samson! I was praying for him this week. It's good to hear that everything went well!
IM SO STOKED THAT USU BEAT BYU!!!!! I have some friends to make fun of haha! Good for Frank! That just makes me happy to hear.

Sorry this note is so short. This week was pretty chill and not too much exciting happened. I guess I'll send some more pics! Thanks so much family for being the best! I love you all!

Love Elder B

September 27, 2010

Hey family!

What an awesome week I had! So i hope that you remember Lucy, the mom of Tania and Agustin. They were my first two baptisms here in Miguel Grau about 4 months ago. Well I think that I told you, but she decided that it was time to get baptized last week and we had her awesome baptism on Sunday morning. She was really excited and felt awesome. She shared her wonderfully heartfelt testimony with all of us after wards and how she finally figured out that it was something that she had to do. She knew for a really long time that she had to do it but finally decided that she was going to do it. The Bishop baptized her and it was awesome!

Saturday night we had the baptisms of Jeremy Josue Hinostroza. He is a way cool little 9 year old that is so dang smart. He would read the things that we taught him and retain all of it! On a very rare basis did he tell us that he didn't remember something. He is a brilliant little dude. His parents are both members but have been inactive for a very long time. Well they both came to his baptismal interview and then to his baptism. What surprised me the most was that they both came to his confirmation and stayed for the entire 3 hour block! I hope that they keep coming and that their son's baptism has been something that will help them realize that they need the church. That they need to be active as a family. Jeremy comes with his uncle who's a member when he doesn't come with his parents. It has been a really good experience and I hope that his family make a change because of the actions of their son.

The other baptism that we had was of Norma Quispe. She is awesome too. Super dooper prepared and ready to get baptized. Elder Leon finished the interview with her on Friday night and said ¨GOLD¨She came pre-taught pretty much. We taught her and she just gave us experience after experience confirming the things that we taught with her own personal experience. We are going to start teaching her family as well and they sound really awesome.

Something that Elder Jensen, I think that he is in the presidency of the 70´s or something I can't remember, but he came a few months back and shared a few things that really impacted me and that I had never really thought about before. He said that when we were in the pre-existence we were all taught the plan of the Savior and what we would all have to do. We all know that when we learn about the great plan of happiness since primary. But then he said something that made me think. Here on this earth we are only reminded of the things that we have learned. When we teach people we teach them and it's up to them to open their heart. When we teach, if they listen and we teach well, their own spirit will feel like an awakening inside of them. They will just know that it's true because they already knew it. They will just remember! I thought that was a pretty deep thought and I liked it a lot.

I was in a Van the other day that's called a combi, that's how we travel. But like all of the others it had stickers that said stuff like "Christ is my pilot" all sorts of things that like. I call this bumper sticker belief. Here Christ is more thought of as something that can save them and not as someone. People adore him more like he is something not someone. I hope that you can understand my explanation. But I was thinking, if they only knew that really he is someONE not a thing, that really truly he loves them and cares for them and wants them and all of us to be with him forever. That if they really understood that, even in the slightest degree, how different would be their lives. How different would be our existence. Just a thought that Christ is SomeONE not someTHING and that He lives and loves us.

So sounds like sis had an awesome week. Sorry, I don't think that I'm going to have time to write to you this week sis. Sounds like you all had a good time in Idaho. Sounds like the homecoming part was awesome he he and the game too! Good for you guys! Keep having an awesome time.

Ill be praying for Sam. I know everything will be alright. I tried to send some pics but my camera and the computers don't always agree. I'll get some sent to you next week. Send me some pics of the game and fruity tooty and Homecoming. I took some pretty sweet pics this last week of my area. I'm excited to send them but we will have to wait. Congrats to B-meister sounds like he had quite the experience. I love you all have an awesome week!

Love Elder B

September 20, 2010

Hey my wonderful familia!

Sounds like a whole bunch of good news is happening back at home. New cousins are arriving and the old ones get to visit Grandma ha ha! Sorry to call you old Jason and Jess. WHOO! I'm super excited that Fruity gets to play ball! I was praying for her to be able to! Just sounds like icing on the cake to a really great experience that she is having.

Ok. I had a pretty hard week with some high highs and really low lows... First off the good stuff. almost all of our investigators have a baptism date! The bad stuff there aren't any more... We got too concentrated on them and haven't been looking hard enough for new ones. We should be having four baptisms this week! One is named Norma, I think that I told you about her last week. She is awesome and so prepared. When she is at church it's like she has been a member for years. She isn't shy at all and just makes new friends all the time. There is a little kid named Jeremy (he´s named after the missionaries that baptized his mom, pretty cool) He is SOO dang smart. We leave him some stuff to read and then when we get there he says, "Sorry ,I couldn't read very much." But then he tells us all sorts of stuff and has a better understanding of what we teach than many adults. He's the man. He makes me think of the verse in Alma 32.23. And then we have another couple that went to get married they should be getting home any day now. She is a member but her soon to be husband Miguel is not. But he's really excited. And then the big surprise! Do you remember Agustin and Tania? They were our first baptisms here. Their older sister is a returned missionary. Well my comp and the first counselor in the bishopric went to their house and talked to their mom Lucy. We have been teaching her forever! But she finally understood and has decided to be baptized this Sunday! Whoo! So there are the four awesome people who will be getting baptized!

Then we have Antonio and Mily. We are working on their marriage. They have asked their parents to send their papers and when they get here they are golden! Awesome!

Some of the bad stuff. My companion and I walked a ton this week! I'm tired! We need to be looking for more investigators so that there is someone to teach when we baptize everyone!

The Lord is really blessing us so much it's awesome! I love this mission! I'm learning so much and seeing so many miracles everyday. I love you all so much! Take care and keep being awesome!

I love you! Elder B.

September 13, 2010

Howdy doo my awesome fam!

Ok, so this week was pretty cool. We had leadership conference training again. Leadership conference takes a long time. We were there Tuesday and Wednesday from 9am until 5pm and then on Thursday until 3:30pm. We learn about some key things that the apostles want us to be focusing on. We do lots of practices and stuff, so it's good. But some sad news happened yesterday... Carmen, her daughter, and her brother have decided that they want to keep preparing themselves to be baptized... they say they aren't ready to be baptized. I wasn't with my companion because we did splits for that appointment but they tried for a really long time to change her mind. She did say that if she prays and receives an answer that she will still do it. So pray hard for her and help her have a change of heart. She's really great but needs to open her heart and learn to accept the will of the lord.

Our other investigators are doing awesome. Norma is one prepared person. She keeps on having spiritual experiences all the time. After our last appointment she went home and talked about everything that she learned from us with her sister and her cousin. They both told her they want to get baptized too haha! So we are going to be teaching them too. We have one couple, Antonio and his girlfriend Mily. They need to get married but they are awesome! AWESOME! they always come to church and participate and have an awesome time. They love learning about everything. They are always so excited when we come to visit them. Their table is always set up nice and neat. I kinda have a funny story. We went to visit them the first Saturday of this month and we got there and there were steaming glasses of something called massamora. It's kind of like a jelly drink. Kinda weird but it's good. It's a drink that you have to eat with a spoon, so I'm not sure if you would call it a drink haha. It's really sticky. The bad part was that we were fasting... so without explaining we just kind of left it on the table and we taught them. At the end of the lesson I said ¨Tendra que perdonarnos hermana por no comer su massamora, pero estamos ayunando¨ You will have to forgive us for not eating your massamora, we are fasting. Then we had to explain about fasting. They understood and were just fine with that. So on Saturday night when we went to their house again. We taught them and it was awesome. But then after the lesson she comes to me and says. "Sorry Brother Bearnson, but are you fasting?" I laughed and said no "Hermana today we aren't fasting!" She laughed and went over to the stove and filled us up big glasses of hot chocolate and rolls. They are awesome. We are working on getting their papers ready to get them married and everything will be awesome. They have a huge desire to get baptized. They are sharing the gospel with their coworkers and neighbors and with all sorts of people. They have been so prepared to be members.

That's something that the Peruvians put us to shame with. Talking to their neighbors and inviting them to listen to us. They talk to their family, their neighbors, everyone knows that they are Mormons. They are awesome! It's something that we need to work on and I hope I can be better at talking about it when I get home.

Awesome! The Justinator is headed out on the mish! That's awesome! Arkansas huh that should be sweet! When does he head out?

The time is flying with my new companion. Elder Huaman and I get along really well. He is a really cool guy. I love the mission and for anyone that reads this and is thinking about serving a mission but isn't sure if they can do it. Just do it! It will be the best decision that you will ever make in your life. I have learned so much from these people and have been able to be part of their great change of heart. I'm so thankful to the lord for the chance that he has given me to be part of this work.

Whoa Zman! you ran a mile and a half in 12 and a half minutes! sweet bro! I'm really proud of ya buddy! Its awesome to see you sticking with it! Keep me updated buddy!

Ok I did get the package you sent me and my card! Thanks so much! Estaba bien Aguja! I was really broke! I had to use all the mission money to go to the doc... I was running low, but now I'm ok. The insoles are awesome by the way thank you very much. I gave the other ones to my comp. He basically was walking on nothing on the inside of his shoes.

WHOOOO yea BYU lost! !!!! Sorry that's rude... I need to work on my attributes specifically charity hehehe! And my awesome Aggies won!!!! yea! That's good news! Sweet Elder B-meister is District leader down there in Arizona! Awesome. Good for him. He´ll do a great job. That's good to hear about brother Phillips. I hope he is doing alright. Tell Jenn and Dawson good luck! I hope everything goes well for them! Well fam, I hope that everything is going awesome for you! I love you all so much and always pray for you! I love you!

Love Elder B

PS if there is a 19 to 20 year old girl that is part of one of those new families feel free to give her my address! Don't worry, I'm focused, haha!! love ya mom!

September 6, 2010

Hey fam!

Wow a lot has happened in the last few weeks. I remember taking the sacrament to Brother Nelson all the time. Send his family all of my best wishes. Also give the Phillips family a hug for me too. I hope that he is doing alright. Wow and I think his name is Dan McConkie, not sure, I didn't know him that well. But wow that's super scary. That's good that his companion did some quick thinking and didn't leave him. I hope that he is doing alright now and won't have to come home or anything. I'm sure that he is an awesome missionary.

Thanks mom for mailing my card... I have been using the mission money to pay for my doctors visits. Needless to say, I'm broke... But when it gets here it should be good! Thanks

So this week was pretty awesome! Elder Huaman and I are like best buddies. We worked super hard this week and didn't have very many lessons, but we had success in other areas. On Sunday morning we set Carmen Rosa and her daughter with a date for the 2nd of October! If you don't remember who they are, they´re Elder Jays birth-mom and sister! Carmen's brother also has a date for the same day! Awesome! Then later on in the day we met with a girl that has come to church with her very active cousin two weeks in a row now. Her name is Norma. Wow is she awesome! We went and started talking to her and she started sharing with us all sorts of feelings and thoughts that she had had over the past few weeks. She has had some deep feelings and thoughts of reflection and has really felt the spirit in her life. She has a testimony of the Savior and what He has done for her. She asked us the question. "If I was baptized in the Catholic church do I need to be baptized again in this church" So to answer her question we taught her the restoration and how the authority of God had been taken from the earth. When I taught the restoration and about Joseph Smith receiving the priesthood I asked her, " when you feel that your prayers have been answered from God, will you be baptized in the Church of Jesus Christ through someone that holds the authority of God?" After a short pause she shook her head "yes". I then asked, "Will you prepare yourself to be baptized the 25th of September? She said yes. I felt the Spirit incredibly strongly and powerfully. She is such a prepared person. I haven't felt the spirit like that in a while. It was one of the most powerful experiences that I have had on my mission.

I know that the Lord prepares people to be members of His church. If we are worthy, and working in His manner He will bless us enough to be part of their progress in this life. I love this work and want to keep working super hard to be able to be part of more people's progression. I love you fam! Keep being awesome!

Love Elder B

Oh and PS! I love my Aggies even if they don't win! It sounds like they played one good ball game! I saw something funny the other day! It was a big Utah State Aggies window sticker on a Combi. A combi is kinda like a mini bus. I just thought that it was awesome to see it here in Peru haha

Root against BYU for me this week!

August 30, 2010

Hey familia!

So ok first business... I did get the company called and they got me a new card in about five minutes tops... I need my card as fast as possible because now I have to pay for my doctors visits... they don't cost much. I'll take care of it. Yes I would like you to send my hat but I don't want that to make my card take longer to get here. It would be better if you could send it in the next package or something.

Sweet! Zman has been talking to Mr Heaston about the church! Have him take some pics in and show him. Tell him to get brave and ask him if he wants to listen to the missionaries! I'm super excited that Z is doing some sports. That's awesome! I'm glad he likes it. And on top of that camping! What a good weekend haha. I'm really bummed out about fruity... how lame is that. They really think that she came from Colorado to a little Idaho town to play sports... awesome... I'll keep praying for everything to turn out ok. That's good that she is having a good time with Grandma and Paula. Sounds like she is making some good friends. I can't believe that Brynnie is going to be in BYU... That's crazy... I can't believe how fast everyone is growing up. Pretty crazy.

Things here have gotten a little shaken up in San Gabriel (that means saint Gabriel) I have a new companion his name is Elder Huaman (waamaan) He is a way cool guy. We are going to work super hard together. We have had a family from heaven fall out of the sky on us. They have to get married but we are going to help them with that. They want to get baptized and always come to church. They say they have found what they were looking for! We visited the temple with our gospel doctrine class! We just walked around the outside and had some food to eat in the cafeteria. They could really feel the spirit and want to be an Eternal family. So we are going to be here to help them achieve that goal. They live up on top of a big mountain. It's fun to get up to their house. When I say up, I mean up. I'll send you some pics next time from up at their house.

We have a couple of other investigators that are progressing as well. Elder Jays mom is working hard and we are teaching her a lot. She should be getting baptized at the end of this month or the next. So all and all we are just working as hard as we can. I love the work and want to do my best everyday. Thanks for all the support that you all give me. Take care!

Love Elder B

August 23, 2010

Hey famila!

So I had quite the week. It was a normal week, just working hard and looking for new people. We got to Thursday and everything changed. I woke up feeling fine, then we went and played some soccer in the morning. That's when I didn't feel so great. I kept feeling worse and worse until... I threw up in the street! Not just any part of the street, but an intersection on a busy road! awesome! Well I just kept going and tried to keep working on our service project. I was pretty much throwing up most of the way there and kept doing it when we got there. I finally gave up and went back to the room. I was sick for the better part of the day when I finally asked for a blessing. I had a fever that got up to 101 and just wasn't in good shape to do much work. But when my companion and Elder Brinton gave me the blessing I could actually feel myself getting better. I actually don't remember anything that Elder Brinton said, but during the blessing the thought came into my mind that I was going to get sick just one more time and I would be fine. He finished the blessing and not thirty seconds later I got sick again. But after that I was better. I know that the priesthood is real, that God has put his power here on the earth to use it, and to bless us infinitely. I'm so thankful for the worthy elders that are around me that can worthily use that power to help. What a blessing it was for me.

Ok another tidbit of awesomeness. We met a couple that live way high up on the side of a mountain. They are literally some of the coolest people that I have met on my mission. The first thing that he asked me was "what do I need to do to be saved?" Well let me tell you a missionary has the answer to that question and is excited to give it, haha!! They both want to get baptized and they both came to church yesterday and stayed the whole time! What an awesome experience! People don't just fall out of the sky like that everyday. They were a referral from another member. I know that the lord has prepared them for us to come teach them. Here's the catch, they aren't married but they are willing. We will just have to help them out! We are working hard and doing everything we can to be good missionaries.

Changes are coming up one week from today so we´ll see what happens.

Mom, I sure love you and it would be so very nice if you could get me a card... I can't get the call to go through and if it did go through I'm not sure that I could pay for it. Thank you so very very much for sending me beef jerky! wow!

Ok fam I love you all super dooper much! Keep running hard Zach! Whoo! Makes me happy that you're doing track! Now just keep the grades up too haha!

Love, Elder Bearnson

Aug 16, 2010

Hey family! How's it going!

What a week i have had... So I'm going to the chiropractor 3 times a week. It's lame cause it takes so much time and I'm not a fan of wasting time. My doc is from Australia. It's really fun to talk to him with all of his funny Australian words. He used the very scientific term when talking about my back "we´ve got to unjim the jimmed joints" I thought that was pretty funny haha. His Spanish is hilarious. Just think, Spanish with an Australian accent haha awesome!

So, I was taking some money out of the ATM and took it out and was trying to do some math in my head but didn't take my card out right away and just as I was about to take it out... yea it ate it! I lost my patience a little bit... so I called the bank and they told me that I had to cancel it... one more awesome thing to take care of! I don't have my social number, I have an idea but it's been a long time since I used it and it's not really a good thing to guess about! haha so if you could find that out and help me out that would be awesome. Sorry that you got a call from president... you have talked to a lot of people in Peru haven't you... sorry. As for what I have been spending it on... um Sometimes I don't have quite enough so I take some out. I was still helping some people get married about 4 months ago, so there went some. I helped Elder Brinton buy a jacket cause he was freezing. It was a real one so it wasn't cheap. I have had to buy blankets cause there weren't any when I got here. Stuff like sweaters and pics. I have been helping Elder Brinton with a service project too. Basically laying some cement and putting up a brick wall and new door frame. I just haven't been worrying about it much. I'm not too worried about spending it on helping people. I figure I'm just trying to follow my patriarchal blessing. But it would be awesome if you could take some out and put it in something that could make it grow a little. I dunno what that would be but if you have some ideas go for it. I will be more careful with what I'm buying.

So awesome to hear about Tooty! Sounds like she is having a blast so far in Idaho! I figured she was going to be a big new asset to the team. She'll be able to teach them lots. ZACH TAKE SOME ADVICE FROM YOU BROTHER. DO YOUR HOMEWORK AND PLAY SPORTS. DON'T PLAY SO MUCH HALO. YOU'LL REGRET PLAYING AND WASTING YOUR TIME LATER. I wasted a lot of time playing video games and could have got much better grades and done some really cool stuff with my time. But I didn't and now I regret it.

Ok so this week went pretty good as far as investigators go. we have one lady named Beatriz that has a date for this Saturday. I hope she makes it. She is a really cool lady, and once she is baptized it will open the door for the rest of her family. Pray hard for her and all of her family please! Elder Jays mom. We are teaching her as well but wow it's hard. Understandably she just wants to talk about him. That makes it very hard to teach. She is really cool and will be getting baptized. We just have to make sure she is doing it for herself and not for her son.

Its pretty darn cold here some days. It's always foggy and overcast. Elder Xicay and I have a bet that the first one of us to use a sweater has to buy the other a pizza... not sure if betting like that's a good thing, but I want him to buy me a pizza ha. It doesn't get down to freezing but its still cold and its colder because its so humid. My old suit (oh yea other thing I bought a new suit but it was only fifty bucks...) started growing mold after only about a week of being hung up. So i had to send that out to get washed. Its just really really humid here.

So that's about all there is to it this week. Somethings that maybe you can send me are: some good insoles for my shoes. I wore through the ones on my first pair and stole them out of my other shoes. I'm going to keep using these shoes till my toes come out the bottom and then I'll use the others. Could you send me a hat, like my Utah state hat to wear on P-days. That and beef jerky would be awesome! Nothing else though. Thanks fam you're all the best! Have an awesome time in Marsh Valley sis! I love you all!

Love elder Bearnson

August 8, 2010

Wow!

Hey family how ya doin! Sounds like everything is going pretty well back in good ol Colorado. Z man stared school huh, awesome! I can't believe that he is a seventh grader! I remember when I was a seventh grader in Mr Heaston's class too. Tell him hi for me from Peru!

Fruity I bet you're pretty excited and probably a bit nervous though too. Are you gonna have M.s Paula for your speech class! Awesome!

So this week was pretty sweet. We had a couple of service projects that we had to take some extra time to finish. Some of my good buddies elder Brinton and Elder Martinez work in the area right next to ours and they have a lady that couldn't leave her house because every time she left, people would break into her house and steal all of her stuff. We put in a new door jam and a new lock and it's pretty sweet. I'm pretty sure that the jam is made out of hickory wood. You wanna know why I think so? Because when you saw it, it smells just like hickory smoked beef jerky!! haha. Needless to say I liked sawing it! She went to church yesterday and it was awesome!

I have another medical problem. My back is pretty messed up. I'm now having to go to the chiropractor and fix a vertebral rotation that is messing everything up. The very lowest vertebre in my back is pretty rotated and its causing the curves in my back to get all outta whack. My left hip is also a full centimeter higher that the other. I tried to just ignore it but Elder Brinton told on me to Sister Manning so I decided to go after talking to her. Nothing serious but thought that I would let you know.

Mom you asked me a couple of my responsibilities as a Zone Leader. Well we are in charge of the well being of our zone. If there is a problem they talk to their district leader and if it can't be fixed they talk to us. We have to take care of all their letters and packages and get everything that has to do with communication taken care of. We do visits to the other elders and spend a day working with them. If a district leader and his companion have a baptism we are in charge of interviewing them and seeing if they are prepared. We have to work with the stake president and the high priest in charge of the missionary work of the stake. So right now we have two stake presidents and two high priests to work with. Last night we had a little meeting with all the ward missionaries and mission leaders for the stake. Doesn't sound like much but it sure fills up the time. It's rough finding time to work with investigators sometimes!

We have some really great investigators right now that we are working really hard with. Ones name in Beatriz, she has her date on the 21st. She's about 55 or around there and is the grandma of a really big family. Pray for her!

Thanks fam! I'm about outta time! I sure do love you! Keep being strong!

Love elder B

August 2, 2010

Hey Fam!

I had an awesome week! This entire week was training... Tuesday to Friday we were in training from 9 in the morning to 3:30 in the afternoon. That didn't leave too much room for a lot of work but we managed to squeeze some in! We had the baptism of Hermana Rosiana Saturday. She is the coolest. She is the girl with cancer that we have been teaching. Just a way nice person in general. Her whole less active family came including some of her non member family. It was really great and hopefully will lead to more opportunities. She has such a great spirit about her, she's just happy all the time, in spite of her illness. I'm blessed to know her.

Ok I'll tell you a little bit more about elder Jay and his mom. Elder Jay was adopted from here when he was a baby and was called here to serve his mission. He looked up his mom and her address just happened to be in our area. We found her and had an awesome reunion with him his half sister and some of his Aunts and his Grandma. What an awesome experience it has been. We are now teaching them about the gospel and they are just super excited. Elder Jay told them before he left that the only way that he could think to repay her was to share the gospel with her and his sister. They came to the baptism that we had Saturday and they both loved it. His little sister Jazmin is going on the young women's camping trip this week and they are fitting right in. I know that Heavenly Father put all the pieces of the puzzle together so that this family could learn about the gospel. Of all the missions in the world he went to this one and found his mom. How incredible. I'm truly blessed to have been a part of this.

So my comp and I are just working hard with the zone and doing our best with the 24 missionaries that we have. We have a bunch of people that will be getting baptized this month and we are just working hard with all the time that we have which isn't much sometimes! How is everyone doing there? That's so awesome for Mathew and Karen! What a blessing! I'll have to meet the bruiser when I get home! I can't believe how big everyone is getting! All the pics that Lauren sent me are awesome! Are you guys thinking about coming down here to pick me up. because you can, but we have to start planning it right now. I would love for you all to get to know Mala! I sure love all of you! Just keep being awesome and keep your heads up. If we stand tall in the low places of the world we´ll make it through just fine.

Love elder Bearnson

Mom I'm not sure that I need anything just maybe some beef jerky... I could live on that stuff! And if you can find a way to send me a pan of lasagna that would be awesome! Just kidding. I miss food without rice... I'm doing good, though I'm about to wear through one pair of shoes but I still have the others so I should be good till the end of the mish. Don't worry about all the money that I have taken out lately. I was helping out one of my buddies buy a jacket cause he was freezing. He's going to pay me back. I love ya! Chau!

July 26, 2010

Hey Fam!

How's it going! I'm looking at the pics that Tooty sent, and it looks like you all had a great time in Star Valley and with the Bearnson clan! Sorry that this will be a little short but I have to take care of my camera. There was a virus and I have to transfer all of my pics... it's lame.

This week was really great! My companion and I are figuring out how to take care of a zone with 24 missionaries! It's not the easiest thing to do. It's fun though! I need to tell you all about an experience that I had two weeks ago. There was a baby born here about 21 years ago here in Lima. That baby was given up for adoption and adopted by an LDS family. That baby came back here as Elder Jay to the same area of his birth. He looked up the name of his mom and she just happened to live in my area. We went looking and found her! What a miracle! We got to be there when he met his biological mom for the first time and now we are teaching them! There is a lot more to the story but I don't have time. The lord sure did make a lot of miracles happen so that he could find his mom. I'm so blessed to have been able to be a part of this story. It's not something that happens everyday. Well family, I sure love you! Hope everything is well!

Love Elder B

July 19, 2010

Hey mamá!

Wow sounds like you are all having a blast! Awesome! We had transfers again. My companion and I are still together but wow have some things changed! We are now a zone of 24 missionaries! wow... we have lots of work to do and it will take some trial and error but we'll get it all figured out. We are working hard and trying to do all that we can to get the most work done possible. There is a lot of responsibility outside of our area but we are figuring out how to balance it all out.

I hope that your all having a blast with the fam and everything. Sounds like a great time to me. I'm safe and well and doing great. I sure love you all a ton! Sorry this is short I don't have much time today but I love you all and let me know how everything goes. Mom can you send me a bunch of pics please. I wanna see how Star Valley is doing and how all the fam is getting along. and to see how the trip with the Bearnson clan turns out. Thanks! I love you all! Stay tough!

Love Elder B

July 12, 2010

Wow! Sounds like you all had a great time in Star Valley. I sure missed you guys a lot but I'll be there for the 2012 sockey game. (Sockey is a family tradition. Think barefoot soccer with no rules!) The violence would be pretty shocking at first for outsiders haha. I sure do love it! I was kinda bummed that I didn't get to see the Deplee's. I hope that everything is going well for them. I'm kinda bummed that there aren't any pics in this email but I guess I can wait to see how the sockey game went haha.

We had another baptism this week her name is Agustina. She's way cool and will be a great member. We are working on the families thing. I'm not too big a fan of baptizing little kids and teenagers. The ideal is finding families, but we can baptize everyone else too haha.

This is by far the poorest area that I have been in. People live in homes made out of almost nothing. To have a perspective of things a family of 7 or 8 could live in an area of our living room and study easily. The roof could be made of plastic and sticks and the walls of particle board or something like weaved reeds. Things like carpet and hot water, private rooms are things for the very well off. Their way of life is not easy by any means, but they are happy. If I learn anything from my mission I hope that I can learn to be happy with what I have. Many of them live right next door to pig farms. Yea you can imagine how it is. You see many many people with sicknesses and diseases or some kind of injury that could easily be cured but they don't have the money to do it. Its a very hard way of life. We are infinitely blessed.

I can't believe that I have been here in this area for almost 6 weeks! The time is passing incredibly fast. I have received some awesome news! Elder Ponciano and his new companion Elder Schofield baptized Arevalos wife hermana Sara back in Mala! Awesome! I can't tell you how happy that makes me! The whole family is coming together! I don't have much time left but I'm going to send you some pics of the baptism so I have to make this a little short. (technical difficulties so maybe pictures next week!) I love you fam! Stay safe and have lots and lots of fun!

Love Elder B

Oh and tell Tyler hi and good luck for me!

July 5, 2010

This is the family Medina. They have their testimony all written out and wanted me to thank everyone for helping them to get married. They are a great addition to the church. This is from their wedding that we had about a month ago.

July 5, 2010

Hey fam!

Wow it was a good week! One of the coolest people that we are teaching is a girl named Rosiana. She is one of the brightest people that I know in the sense that you just look at her and you can feel her spirit. She is happy in the midst of everything that is happening in her life and it's not easy. Well for one thing she is always wearing a hat, and if you guessed right it's not because she likes hats, she has cancer. We went to her house the other day and she asked us "What do I need to do to be baptized?" I wasn't surprised at all! I knew that she would want to. We hadn't been able to teach her much, just one principle before this appointment. Her family is all members. They are inactive, but members. We are helping them too. I told her when she asked me, that we need to teach her a little bit then she can be baptized. So we taught her the restoration of the gospel and invited her to be baptized on the 17th of this month. She said, "well no I can't I have a treatment that day," meaning chemo therapy. She is such a strong person that is just always happy or at least has a smile. I'm very excited to work with her and see her baptized and confirmed a member of the true church of Christ.

The lord is blessing my companion and me with lots of people to teach. We taught a lesson with 4 men, which is something that doesn't happen much. We are just being blessed and trying to do everything that we can with the time that we are given. I'm so thankful for a family like you. All of you. My friends that are a huge support, my wonderful grandmas, my parents, hermanos! my aunts and uncles, cousins. We are all part of one big family and we can all be together forever. Eternity. If you think about it, if we all get sealed together during the millenium, eventually well make it to Adam and Eve and all of us will be sealed together. All of us are a family, friends neighbors, co workers everyone. So we need to let them know, like they are our brothers and sisters that there is something better for them out there. Love them. Teach them.

I love you all very much.

Love Elder B

June 28, 2010

Hey Fam!

Wow what a week I have had! Awesome! Everyone is leaving on the mish! Logan is gonna be my country neighbor! Awesome! There are lots of missionaries from Chile here. What mission in Chile will he be going to? There are a couple of families that I know whose boys are serving in Chile. And wow Ben gets to go to Hungary! Sweet!

Wow dad drove 2200 miles! Bummer dude... Which neighbors house is in foreclosure? I'm pretty sure I know which one though. Good job Zach doing some service hours. I'm sure you didn't even complain one bit haha. I'm pretty jealous of all of you that will be going to Star Valley, but I hope that you all have the best time ever. Yes! Send me lots and lots of pics! I wanna see how everyone is doing! Really I'm not homesick, the pics just help me to see what you all look like haha. I cant believe that I'm about to hit the year mark here in a little while. It's passing incredibly fast. I can't believe that only about a year ago I was in Star Valley working away with Grandpa and the uncles and cousins in uncle Jim's back yard. I can't tell you how thankful I am for that storm that blew all those trees over. Awesome Taylor gets to go with you! Everyone have lots and lots of fun alright!

Well this week we had two baptisms! Their names are Agustin and Tania. They are the younger brother and sister of a recently returned sister missionary (we are working on her mom too haha). I'm getting used to the way that things work as a zone leader. It's tough because at least one day a week I'm not in my own area. We have to do visits to all the other missionaries and see how they are doing and that means spending the night with them too. It's pretty cool. I'm learning a ton from all of them. They really are great missionaries. I'm praying for Justin to come to the best mission in the world! Mission Peru Lima SUR! I'm going to send you lots of pics today so this will be a little bit short. But know that I'm doing really well and loving the work. I'm trying really hard to put all my effort into it and do my best everyday. I don't want to come home the same person I was when I left. Thanks family for being the best in the world. I really would like to know how many generations the family has been in the church. Can someone tell me? People ask me all the time and I would like to know how to respond. Thanks for everything and stay strong in the gospel! Read the book of Mormon!

Love Elder B

June 21, 2010

Hola Familia!

Well things have been going well here in Miguel Grau. I tried to send you some pics but the computer is being dumb. WOW! ZACH IS HUGE! It was good to see him and dad working on the fence. I hope it looks good, haha!

My area is really a bunch of hills, lots and lots of hills! I'm getting to know it well and I'm getting to know all the members. We should be having a couple of baptisms this upcoming week so pray for us! I hope that all is going well at home. Sounds like things are on the up and up. It's good to hear that Sista got to go hang out at the Johnson's and that she had a good time on the trek! I'm not too worried about you all but I'm praying for you. Sorry, I don't have too much time. As zone leader there is a lot to do and we are trying to manage the time better. Thanks for all of your prayers and letters. Thanks Punt P for your letter! Heather! I would like you to send me an email! I wanna know how the kids are doing! I miss them a bunch! And Dennis and Jackie how are they doing with the newbie? He should have about a year now right? Well I gotta run! Love ya!

Elder B

June 14, 2010

Hola Familia!

Ok, well you guessed correctly mom... I got transferred. I had to leave my beloved Mala and I am now in a place in Lima that's called San Gabriel. My area in San Gabriel is Miguel Grau. I'm a zone leader with Elder Xicay (she kai). He's from Guatemala. He's a super dork but a really good Missionary and makes me laugh... a lot. My new area is like a series of 16 mountains... all of it is hills mountains and there is nothing flat. If I was gaining weight I'll be losing it here shortly. We had lots of meetings and everything this week. I was in one meeting with President Manning and the other zone leaders from 9 in the morning to about 5 in the afternoon. So we didn't get to work too much in the area this week, but we will get to work a lot more this next week.

So some things that happened before I left Mala. We had the baptism of Arevalo's daughter on Tuesday the first of June. Then on Friday we had the marriage of Juana and Mauricio!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Awesome! Then the next day we had their baptisms! I don't have time to send the pics but I'll do it next week. It was a very good way to end my time in Mala, but I didn't want to leave. It was fast Sunday and I cried a whole bunch. It was kind of like when I left the airport from home. I didn't think that it would be that hard. But it's ok. I'm here in Miguel Grau and I'm going to like it. It's much much different but a lot of the same problems. We went this morning to help a couple figure out how they can get married. There is a lot of new responsibility as zone leader. For example we didn't get to sleep last night till about 1 in the morning because we were filling out paperwork... lame but if that's what the lord has for me to do, alrighty.

I hope that everything is going well for you fam. I can't tell you how much I love you. I use our example of being an Eternal Family all the time. Stay strong, read and study the scriptures please! So that we can all be together forever in the presence of the most high God and his son Jesus Christ. I love you and I Want to live with you all together forever!

Love Elder B

PS. if you could tell B that yea he got my email address right but i can't email him back. We aren't allowed to email anyone. And tell Jason and Jess that I got the pic of gavin! They have a future lady killer on their hands! He's a good looking kid.