May 23, 2011

Hey family!

Wow did I have a week! This new job is kinda crazy! So on the 17th we were here in Lima with 3 zones having a zone conference. I'm learning how to think on my feet and do things a lot quicker. In a zone conference we have things that we want to teach the zones and we have an agenda but sometimes we take a whole bunch more time with something and then sometimes we take less. Everything varies and we have to be very flexible. It's a lot to not forget but its possible. I'm really glad to have my companion, because without him I'm not sure I could do it. He sure helps me a lot. I like the zone conferences because I get to meet lots of missionaries that I never knew. I'm learning lots of very useful things, it's actually a really big blessing. I'm learning things that will help me be a better businessman and a better student, a better teacher all sorts of stuff. I'm very grateful for this opportunity. I have lots of opportunities to help people and missionaries.

On Thursday I went to Mala!!!!! It was so great! I didn't get to visit converts but it was good to just be there. Mala has a special spirit. I just liked being there and talking to the people there. I got to see Lily and Ever and their little girls! The twins are really big! They are doing well and in good health. On Friday we went to Cañete to have a conference and then we went on to Pisco where we had a conference on Saturday. The coolest thing about being in conferences all the time is being with President Manning. He shares lots of little different things with each zone, but I get to hear it all:) I try to take time and write the new things that I learn in between doing things. This week I'm going to Ayacucho! Its a place in the mountains and we are flying! It's gonna be sweet!

I know that this gospel is true and that through this church with the ordinances that we can receive we can make make it to the highest kingdom in heaven. We can literally live with God and the Savior. How special is that? I know that if we do our part and work hard, I mean really hard we can make it with our family. I love this gospel, I have lots to improve on but I'm doing my best. Little by little I'm doing better. The Savior is helping me to be better. If we let him work in us we can make it to celestial glory. I love you family, I love you and I'm so happy that we have the chance to live together forever. I want everyone to have this chance, that's why I'm a missionary. I fulfill my duty helping people get to the waters of baptism and make sacred covenants with God. That is my purpose, to help them get on the path to heaven. I love this work and I'm happy to be a part of it.

I love you all family!

Love elder B

May 16

Hey fam!

My new life as an assistant is very, very different. I have lots of responsibilities. We have to do the majority of the preparing of zone conferences, and stuff like that. We plan with President and we take care of lots of things that he wants us to do. We plan the zone conferences with him and then we get everything ready to go. This week we will have three conferences one here in Lima, the other in Cañete Friday! I'm gonna see the Riches and the Whitneys! Awesome! I'll get to pass by Mala!!! Side note! There are now 130 people attending the Mala Branch. When I got there, there were only about 50! It's progressing so much! Ok, back to the stuff. On Saturday I'll be in a place called Pisco. The cool thing about this new assignment is I get to travel a lot and I'll see the whole mission.

This last week we actually got to work in our area a lot. I was able to meet a lot of the members. Its a great ward! Its called Surquillo. The members help out a ton and the bishop is awesome. We have a house converted into a church. Its pretty sweet. Its illegal to build a church building where the church wants to, so they have been using this house for the last thirty years. They take really good care of it and its really pretty. Its all hard wood. We have some awesome investigators. One girl is named Ana Lucia. She is only fifteen but has the mental capacity of someone much older. She would be baptized if only her mom would give her permission to do it. she gives us tons of references. Its hard sometimes to see people that are so prepared be denied the gospel because of the choices of another. She will be baptized though, we have a plan. We are doing everything that we can to convince her. Please pray for Ana Lucia.

I live in one of the richest places in Peru. Its very different from where I have been before. There are streets and grass and there aren't stray dogs. I saw an Audi today that looked like a concept car that escaped from the factory! Its very different from what I'm used to. The people are kinda hard to teach sometimes because they think that they know everything, and talking to people in the street is very ineffective. They don't even respond to your "Buenas tardes" usually. But when you do find someone that will listen to you they understand very quickly. Its something that I'm also not used to. Its different but i like it. I'm glad that I still get to teach. Sometimes we don't have time because we go with President or we are in the office for a long time but when we do have time, we get to go out and teach. Oh something cool. I live next door to the Romanian Emabassy. I thought that was kinda funny cause Nats in Romania, haha.

We do lots of things with numbers. We take things like all the lessons taught and the contacts and references and we put it into spread sheets and stuff like that. Its not the funnest but someone has to do it. Its not bad. I'm kinda nervous about learning everything because Elder Cahui, my companion is going to have a change in five weeks and I have to know everything that there is to know so that I can "run the show". I have to learn an area and take care of the mission too. Its stressful and challenging but I like it. I hate to say it but I'm pretty sure that I'm going to get a little fatter while I'm here. Its really hard to eat good food. I don't have time to make stuff very much and its hard to buy everything that I need. So I'm going to try and be good at doing my exercises so I don't get too fat. But please don't stop loving me if I get a little chubby.HAHA

Oh before I forget, I ran into someone today that just finished her mission in Mesa Arizona. She said that she worked in the visitors center a lot. I just thought that was pretty cool. She said that Elder Caywood sounded familiar but didn't remember him exactly. I can't remember her name.

I'm stoked about Ben! That is so cool! I'm super happy that everyone is making it out to the mission field. Thanks for sending me the letter from Justy!

Well family I love you a ton! Thanks for everything that you do! you are the best!

Love elder B

May 2, 2011

Hey fam!

This week was one of the best weeks that I have had in a long time.
It's been a rough month. We ended up getting our 20 lessons. But this
week was a holiday called the workers day. Really they just get a
holiday for 4 days and drink in the street. It's kinda lame to go out
and work with holidays like that.

We have the family Castro. Juan Carlos is the best seriously. I have
never had an investigator that is so darn ready. He asks us to teach
him more commandments so that he doesn't mess up. He is the best
seriously. His son that was born two weeks ago was born with a
cleft pallet, so that's making it kinda hard for his wife to go to
church. They are really excited though. This week will be pretty
sweet. I'm excited to call you. I can't believe that I'm calling you
again already. It's kinda weird. I hope that I can hear Lauren.

Sounds like everyone is doing well at home. We did kind of a silent
celebration on the Bin Laden story. You´ll have to tell me a little bit
more about that later.

Changes are coming up this week, so this could be my last week in
floresta. I sure hope that it's not so that I can be here for the
baptisms of the Castro fam and a few others this month. I forgot to
tell you about Cristina. We have been teaching her since I got here
but she hasn't been able to go to church because of her work. She
finally was able to change it. We had fasted for her in April so that
she would be able to make it. She will be gettting baptized on the
21st! Awesome.

Well family I love you a ton! I'll talk to you on Sunday. Not sure when
I'll talk to you but I think I'll be able to call you for a sec to
schedule a time. I love you!

Love B