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