Hola, Peru!

24 October 2011

 

Que pasa familia!

Hey! How is everything? Yes, I finally made it! I´m finally here in Peru.  Lots of planes, no trains and I am afraid of the automobiles here.  I thought they drove bad in Italy!  At least they stopped at stop lights in Italy.  Here its optional.  But its a lot of fun! Yes, I have a pensionista! She is super nice and patient with my lack of Spanish.  My new comp´s name is Elder Palacios.  I thought maybe a relation to the Palacios in our ward, but no, and he does speak English... kinda. He speaks English about the same amount of spanish I speak.  But, his is British English so even then it's difficult to get the point across sometimes.  He is from Lima.    Then, in answer to your next question, YES! Jalapaños and habiñeros would be more than welcome! The food is kinda bland sometimes. I had some of their ¨spicy¨ food the other day... and uhh... it had good flavor (not spicy at all).  Also recipes! I would apreciate those too... and if you are sending a care package... could you find a football and a basketball for me?  It's about 25 dollars American for a piece of junk basketball or football.  Both would be welcome!  (Remember, plaster the sucker with pictures of Jesus and The Virgin Mary. or else someone else will be very greatful for the stuff.

 

The mission here is really nice! It's very hot. Not too bad humitity wise, but it is basically a desert.  My comp said it never rains here...like ever...and if it does, its a minor sprinkle.  I am guessing I'm in for a hot couple of years.  Que mas.  My mission president is super cool!  He is a very nice guy and speaks a tiny bit of English.  As long as we only talk about church related stuff, it goes ok!  I don´t know many words outside of the Preach my Gospel lessons.  I´m serving in Chiclayo for the moment, the José Balta area.  I don´t know if you will be able to find that or not.  It might just be a church related name.  It's nice here.  There is one thing that is a little strange, though. I have yet to see a completed building.  Every building has rebar sticking out the top of it like it's ready for another level.  Its interesting! 

Most people are really nice to us.  We were giving some poor guy a hard time the other day.  We were tracting and came to a door, when the guy opened the door, he wouldn´t let us speak at all and quickly slamed the door.   We went on to the next one and while we were waiting, he came out to throw something away so we said "hi" again!  We started talking to him while he couldn´t do anything about it.  Then suddenly, he found something interesting on the sidewalk and followed it, making sure to avoid looking at us till he was out of sight.  I found it entertaining.  Another door, the guy answered it, looked at us, didn´t say a word and before we could, he slammed it shut.  My first real door slamed in my face!! :)  Then, another part of the city, a pentacostal person tried getting us to come with him to his church.  I took his flyer for my journal.  It's a lot of fun! The other thing, apparently we live right above a Catholic family and we hear them doing what ever it is they do below us almost everyday.  What is it? Well, your guess is as good as mine.  I have no idea.  IT comes through the window, though.  We open our window and play hymns for them to listen too.  During their mass last night, I wanted to start a chorus of "Called to Serve", but Elder Palacios said no.  Oh well, I guess I need to learn respect.  There is always next Sunday.  Two doors down from us is another church.  We always are very friendly and give out our pass along cards like candy during their meetings.  No just kidding.  But I´ve thought about it more than once.  Apparently, its a bad idea to upset our nieghbors. 

Devin, Aaron, Nate in the MTC

 I really am enjoying it here and learning a lot.  It's about as different from our culture as you can get.  The people are great and very friendly!   If you don´t mind,  I would like to give my freinds your email, Mom.  Could you forward letters to me? It will cost and arm and a leg to send letters.   I don´t know how much international stamps are back there, but here it sounds like they get kinda pricey.  I haven´t seen a post office in all of Peru yet, so I´m not sure how that works.  Well I love you.  Thanks for all the support! And, if you send a package,  any new pictures would be nice to have too! I love you so much and miss you all at home.  I hope things start looking up for the Ward.  I´ll keep everyone in my prayers.  Take care! Give everyone my love!  I love you

Up, Up and Away To Peru

17 October 2011
Nate called last night to let us know he had his visa.  He is on his way to Peru and should arrive in Lima tonight around 10 PM Lima time.  It was so good to talk to him.  He said only 3 visas came and his was one of them.  He is excited to move on to Peru, but he was a little sad to leave Alabama.  He was teaching a family and wanted to keep teaching them.  He sounds happy and enthusiastic about missionary service.  I will post his next letter as soon as it comes.

Birmingham, Alabama

11 October 2011
Dear Mom, Dad and Family,

     Hey! I'm finally here and writing! We got to write Tuesday because of the holiday (Columbus Day) yesterday. It was great to see all your messages! Oh,and tell Sawyer "sorry" for the misspelling!   It's crazy here! People are awesome though! We already are teaching two new families! It's great!  There is a lot of Anti-Mormon literature here!  Just about every white person we talk to tells us that they worship the real Jesus.  It is kinda of funny sometimes. Sometimes not so much because we have to go up this big hill to be told no and then, we go back down it.  We live right on the side of a pretty good sized hill...maybe twice the size of Mary Pulley hill.  Just about everyone we are talking to is on the other side of it.  Haha!!   At least I'll be in good shape when I get back.  It's a lots of fun here.  We are also finding a ton of Hispanic people here! But, it's just bad timing. A new law was just passed in Alabama for Hispanics and its a rough one. Thousands of people are either leaving out of fear or being forcefully deported.  Its really rough for them right now.  We get a lot of grief, too, because we are walking around in white shirts and ties with a name badge on.   People think we are the government coming for them, but we keep trying.  The Spanish ward here is super cool! It's a little small, but the people are all so nice to everyone!   We met a member who owns a bakery just outside of town.  We did service for her today and she gave us some really incredible food! A sandwich and a cinnamon roll that were Super Good.  I have no idea how they make it but it is good! 

     In my apartment, we are staying with a couple of English elders, Elder Losi and Elder York. Losi reminds me of Steve Giffen and Elder York of Braden Peruca. It is just like being at home.   Elder Andersen is my new companion. He and I are both green.  We came out together from the MTC and so we are really struggling to figure everything out.  He and I are both stubborn and thick headed so sometimes we butt heads on occasion, but I guess Grandma's stubbornness runs in the family because I win a lot of the arguments.  Its a lot of fun being out here, but its hard, really hard.  I wish I had prepared a bit more before I came out here.  It sounds like every missionary says that.  Even so, I can't help but feel ill prepared to be here.  

     Well,  Mom and Dad, I love you and I miss you.  Sometimes I wishIi could just be out in the garage working on cars with D ad. They don't like us tinkering with theirs here.  It was sure felt a lot more productive than working 8 hours a day out here and getting nothing done. We go door to door and get rebuked or they don't want anything to do with us.   It is hard not to think of home out here.  The entire state is green and there are countless trees.  Every so often I'll see a grove of trees that looks like home except it is missing a few mountains.   I'm still working hard and  I go on splits tonight with the AP's and so I've got to go.  I love you all.  My address here is:

 1809 F Woodbrook Circle

 Alabaster, Alabama.  35007.  



Preparing the Lorna Building in Alabama



For now, that's what I'm giving people. That is my apartment.  The other missionaries say that is the best way to get mail.  I love you all!  Take care and have a good week.  I'll write again next Monday!

The Oak Mountain Boys

5 October 2011

Nate arrived in Alabama without incident.  He met with  President and Sister Holzapfel for a short meeting and some food.  He and Elder Andersen have been assigned to the Lorna Branch in Alabaster, Alabama.  They will serve with the Oak Mountain Elders.  We are waiting to hear more about it from him on his next P-day.  Sister Holzapfel keeps a wonderful mission blog.  I have added some of her pictures to this post.



Flying South for the Winter...to Alabama!



<>        Nate - Ready to Go

The group heading for Alabama

 4 October 2011 Terry and I (Debbie - the keeper of this blog) went to the airport to see Nate off.  We only spent 5 minutes with him, but he looked wonderful.  If there were two adjectives to describe him, they would be handsome and happy.  He was ready to start on this adventure as a missionary.  He left with 5 other missionaries, all waiting for visas to Peru.  They were all going to help in the Birmingham mission until their visas arrive.  What a wonderful looking group they were.  They certainly brightened the airport at 5:30 AM!

Finally...

1 October 2011

I actually found out I leave at 4:30 AM on Tuesday. So, I would say, don't worry about seeing me off. I will get a chance to call on Monday and talk to you. I actually haven't got my travel plans yet, but I talked to someone in my travel group who did and we skidaddle pretty early in the morning.  I can't wait to get out there though! I have got a package on its way home with a bunch of stuff I'm not going to take.  If possible, could you same day send me a package on Monday?  The only thing I really need is my Black CTR ring.  I got a Spanish ring here, but I think, since I'm going to Alabama, I ought to have my English one too.  Then I have a bunch of ties I'm sending home because I have heard that silk will not hold up well in humitity all that well. I'm keeping a couple, but I have a couple nice ties that I probably won't ever wear. 

Its so weird to think that I'm really on my way out of here.  I can't believe it's already been nine weeks! 

Thanks, Dad, for the meds! I got them!  Of course, I'll always check with you before I use any of them. And Dad,  I wish you the best of luck with your plumbing and computer jobs. I could tell in your letter you are just bursting with excitment to get started on it!  I wish I was able to help! But, you can always make Matt do it. So any idea what is wrong with the white car? Is it just a bad valve or something making the mixture to rich?

Well, I hope everything works out around the house! I love you all and I wish you luck.  Take care!

Llama a Servir

29 September 2011

Dear Mom, Dad, And Family,

I just found out, I have been recalled to serve in Birmingham Alabama! I leave on Monday sometime, but I don't know when yet! I'm super excited! I guess I won't have to eat hamster for at least a little while longer! Haha!  I also just checked and there is Spanish ward there.  It has a church of another demonination right across the street. and it's about 5 times the size more or less than our church. Bring it on! I'm just excited I get to finally leave! They may not let me call home. I'm not sure.

 

Thanks for the package this week too! I've already broken into the food and you were right, I ignored the labels and rearranged them. (Haha, but thanks!)  I was afraid the bread would be about stale by Monday so that was one of the first things to go. I really appreciate it!  Also, I sent home the SD card and the CD is comming in a package in a couple days.  Thanks for Everything and the support.  This is just an FYI message, I will write again tomorrow.  \

 

I love you! and Take care!

It's A Party

A Fun Note:  Nate's district was assigned host district for the week Aaron entered the MTC.  The Tholls saw him as they entered the MTC driveway where they had to let Aaron out.  When Nate saw them, he raced down the sidewalk so that he could be the greeting missionary for Aaron.  He was Aaron' s guide through the MTC.  It seems only fitting that the two of them should be together in the MTC since they have been best friends since birth.

23 September 2011

Everything is good here, and it was great to see Aaron! I see him a good deal.  He doesn't live in my building though, he lives two buildings down. I've been checking up on him periodically.  I gave him the food you asked me to.  He enjoyed it.  As for the Spanish..., yes, I can pronunciate things with no problem. I actually think that's the easiest part.  What I can't do is congugate my verbs fast enough.  A lot of the time I just use the infinitive form of it and speak fast enough that I hope no one can tell the difference.   I can now teach all of the Preach my Gospel lessons completely in Spanish and I can understand the responses for the most part.  Not bad. :-)

I am loving it here at the MTC.  There are about 20 people from AF in here right now.  I wasn't friends with most of them but I'm seeing lots of familiar faces.  Also, I'm seeing a bunch of people from Logan here too! Its a party.  The cool thing here is that in the last 4 weeks we have had 3 apostles come speak to us in devotionals. First, we had Elder Holland.  A couple weeks later, Elder Ballard, then this last Tuesday, we got Elder Nelson.  Its way cool!  Tuesdays have become my favorite day.  That is our devotional night.  Jake Pentleton and I figured out how to tell when we get an apostle coming so we can go early for good seats too! They change up a few things here when a apostle is coming and we figured out what they are.  Jake and I were talking and we are going to get a specific spot picked out in the gym where He, Devin, Aaron and I are going to start meeting up.  Finally, we've basically got the system down here.

Thats about it for this week.  Thanks for all the boxes, I've gotten all of them.    That's about it.   I love you and wish you the best.  Could you maybe try and get Kelsy Stilson's contact info for me? She uses facebook a lot, I think.  Could you send her a message?  Braden hasn't written back with that info for me.  Thanks! I love you!  Have a good week.  I'll try and write again on Friday.  I leave the week of the 5 of October. It will probably be Monday or Tuesday of that week.   

Where are the Visas?

16 September 2011

     Hey! I'm still here! They still haven't told me anything on my visa. But I will for sure be able to call when I get it.  Not sure why, but I will.  They say don't tell your parrents when your leaving and then they say call them to let them know when you are leaving... oh well,  I'm not complaining.  All is well here and actually it's very possible that I will give Aaron the grand tour on the 21st.  My district just got the assignment for host that week.  Tell Aaron I'll be looking for him! If you can get a package or letter off before then (21st) would you let me know when he is supposed to arrive?? And if the ugly ties don't get here, it won't be the end of the world.  I'm only here for a couple more weeks.  Do you remember when I said that I was positive I was going to Texas?? Well, it is distinctly possible that I will if my Visa doesn't come!

     The post office here is back up and running again.  Yesterday was officially labeled "la dia de cartas!" (day of mail.)  Everyone got at least one piece of mail; some people got 5 or 6.  It was impressive! 

     The MTC does have a sense of humor I discovered.  They sent me a letter for a room checkout sheet, obviously implying that I would be checking out of my room.  So, I ran to the travel office here and check to see what day I was leaving... But... Nope, just kidding. They told me they hadn't recieved any visas for Peru.   Other news, or prank I guess is more like it.  The other day I was talking to someone in my district, and while we were talking I managed to take his suitcase and walk out of the room with it without him noticing.  I was very impressed with myself.  This suitcase was a big one too! Thats about it for humor.  We, in the district, have begun developing our Spanish sense of humor too! It's kinda weird.  I learned from one of our teachers that Spanish has no sarcasm and anything you say will be taken literally.  Makes cracking a joke a whole lot harder, but I is coming.

     That's about all that's new here.  I hope everything is good in Colorado.  Tell Aunt Dorothy "hi!" for me. For treats, I'll take just about anything, BUT NOT COOKIES.  We have been overloaded with those.  I always love lemon bars or bread.  (Rice krispies are good... I don't know.)  Just whatever!  I still have your staygood for a while salsa so... pretty much anything would be appreciated.  I might be bad and sneak on here again if I think of anything specifically.

      Tell everyone I love them.  And I miss them! Take care and have fun in Colorado!