Learning About the Bible

28 May 2012

Querida Familia,

     Hey!  I don´t have a whole ton of time to write; I am experimenting with the camera-Peruvian computer thing again.    That always is interesting... but we will see.

     Well, it's not working, but I thought I would like to try  Now, I only have a few minutes.    Haha, for sure send me pictures of Aaron!  I look forward to seeing them.   How is everything at home? 

     Here, everything is good.   We had a way successful week this week.    I have been teaching this less active family off and on for about 6 months with various companions.    The mother of the family, this week finally started listening and opened up.  She asked us some good questions that have been bothering her for a long time.  It is the reason why she went inactive.   She started going to the Adventist church looking for the answers then decided that she liked the way they taught in the other church and was baptized there.    This week, we had a lesson with her and she finally opened up.  We answered a whole ton of questions about everything.   She didn´t want us to use the Book of Mormon, so I had one of my first real Bible exams.   I was way happy to pull out my Bible and show her about a whole bunch of stuff.    Finally,  we ended up teaching the plan of salvation to her with just the Bible.  You can ask my brothers, but it sucks!   We taught about the spirit world, the judgement, the ressurection, and the kingdoms of glory all from the Bible.   Then, using the kingdoms of glory, we used it to show her the evidence of Joseph Smith as a prophet.   It was a way cool lesson.   She didn´t want to come back to church yet, but she sent her daughter to the young womens activity and she will also come to church with us this next week.   It was really a great week for this alone.   I felt really pleased with myself, the spirit, and with the lesson and more than anything, with the family opening up to us and the church again.

     Anyway, I am out of time but that is one story.   I think I will try and send something home in a few weeks because I can´t send pictures very well.

     Love you all!

A Short Note

21 May 2012

Dear Mom and Dad,

     How are things back home?    Thanks for telling me about Devin.   I sent home a letter for him.   I hope he is doing OK and will you get the letter to him?

     I don´t have time to include any stories really this week. Yes, I got the package. Thanks so much for the pants and baptismal clothes.  They were desperately needed.   I also passed along the stuff for Hma Graciela.   It's good to hear that the house is done and that all is well in the family.   I will have another transfer in about 2 weeks.   It's almost sure that I will be changed.   I have about 6 months here and that is the limit with PTE Risso.   I love you all and will write next Monday!   Tell Devin I love him too!

--

A Great Telephone Call

14 May 2012

Dear Family,

     One more time Happy Mother's Day to all the woman in the family.   It was really good seeing you all on skype and a lot of fun to talk to the family!   I really enjoyed it.   I hope Mom and the Sisters all had a great mother's day.

     Haha and thanks for the package,  but I laughed when mom said she sent sugar.   HAHa, they grow that here. :)   But I am super grateful for the thought.   I haven´t seen the package, yet, but I will keep my eyes open for it.   As for pants and shirts, I am doing OK with my shirts, but I would appreciate some new ones if it is possible.   Mine at the very least are a touch yellow.   They look white till I compare them with some thing that really is white, then they look yellow.  (Mi camisa amarilla)   I need a 18 neck, I think,  then maybe a medium or a large.   XL is to big for me now.   Elder Fernandez, in some of the pictures that you saw, gave me one of his shirts and it actually fits really well  except the neck.   He is the little Chilean in the pictures.

     I hope JT will have some luck with finding a house. I found a nice one here that he could have for $10,000 American dollars,  but I will keep him in my prayers.

     I didn´t get a chance to tell any stories on skype the other day, but that's OK,  I was over joyed to be able to talk to you.  

     This week I had my first confirmation which was really cool.  Then this morning,  I actually got the chance to be contacted by the J-dubs.    I was downstairs in the house talking with our penisonista about an activity with the other missionaries and a Jehovah Witness knocked the door.    It was interesting to be on the other end of the door for a change,  but they don´t study as much as we do. (Nor did he know that we were missionaries.)   I was running and forgot my nametag when we were talking to the Hma and my comp was hiding his behind the door.    This fellow was trying to contact us and so we had some fun with him.   I was pretending to be a real investigator and my companion was helping.   We had some fun with the poor guy until another missionary from our church came by (Elder Nicaragua) and then we contacted him.   He was a touch confused and we invited him to visit with the missionaries to learn a little more about the Bible.

     Well all right,  I actually need to go.   I am almost out of time . I love you all and hope everyone has a great weekend.   Congratulations Dad on the Project!  I hope it gets finished up today.   I love you all and wish you all the best!  Tell Ken Thanks for the email and I look forward to more MRE´s (just don´t send me the rice and chicken one. :)

 

 

Moms Are Great

7 May 2012

Dear Family

     Hey! How are things back home. Things are normal here. We only had one baptism this week. The other kid, come to find out, has had problems with a few of the commandments that he needs to be working on. We talked to him and he really wants to change, but hasn´t had much success. We got him to talk to the bishop and his family and now, he is doing a great deal better. If he can stay clean for this week he will be baptized this Friday.

     In respects to the package, no I didn´t send the SD card. I copied everything to 2 disk and sent the disks. I thought I would hang onto the card to make sure you got everything no problem. If you got both disks, then ya, you have all my pictures and videos. I had 4 videos, I think, and about 300 pictures or something like that.

     With the Hermana Cheyla (Graciela), she is like my second mom, (aside from Sister Vogelsberg and Sister Tholl.) She has adopted me, too, as one of her children, I think. We came home late the other night and she yelled at us and demanded to know why we were late (5-6 minutes late). It was funny for us, but she mothers us a great deal. Also, I am pretty sure my comp and I help her keep her sanity with the other missioneries. . We live with 2 other missionaries; one is opposed to joking (don´t know that for sure, but I have yet to hear one) and the other is super picky. So, my companion and I help her to keep things calm some days. For sure, after my mission, I would love to come back to this area. I have come to know all the families here personally and would love to visit afterwards.

     Sounds like all is good back home. I will call later in the evening around 8 or 9 my time. I think that´s about 6 or 7 your time. Will that be okay? I believe that I will get a chance to call home Saturday in the evening, but I am not one hundred percent sure about that. I will try to call Saturday at 9 my time (7 your time) to make the arrangements. Also, would you like a call on skype or a conference call like we had for Christmas? Let me know!

     I'm out of time, but I love you all and can´t wait to talk.

The Work Continues

30 April 2012

Dear Family,

     Hey I am sorry about the baby. I know this is really tough on Jeff and Kelsy. Tell them I am sorry and I wish I could be there to help out.   But give Jeff and Kelsy the message from President Monson for April.   Our Heavenly father is mindful of each of us and our needs may we be filled with his spirit.   Have them read the conference talks.  They were great.

     I hope it can help.   It was the first thing that came to mind as I read that last letter.  

     Aside from that well all is well here.   I am here for one more change.   I will leave this area with almost 7 months, I think.   It is really great here.   The people here are really wonderful people.   My companion is great.   We are getting some great work done out here.   We have two family nights to go to tonight  and we have 2 baptisms this week; one is a little 11 year old boy and he will be baptized on Wednesday.   Also, a 16 year old who will be baptized on Friday.   This week,  Elder Samamé´s uncle who lives like 5 minutes from us was taught by the other missionaries.   On Saturday, we went to his marriage in the morning and then, in the afternoon, Elder Samamé baptized him.   It was really cool.          

     The work in our area is just now starting to pick up after we cleaned the investigator pool.   We now have like 5 or 6 progressing investigators and 2 baptisms this week.  We might have one more next week,  but more likely,  the week after if all goes well.   The story last week is original.   I use it a lot here to help people understand trust in the Lord.  It's one of my favorite stories to use.   I like to assosciate stories to things they know.   Everyone here knows Machuu Pichu and has dreams of going there.

     Thank the boys for all the prayers. I feel them.   Friday, like everyone we met gave us food or invited us in so I definitely feel the prayers.  Thanks

     And for you mom and dad,  I will plan to make the call in the evening  around 5 at night, I think-  my time.    That's like 3 your time  or I can do it later like at nine like we did before for Christmas.   Those will probably be the best times for me to call.   My hours are flexible so if you can tell me before hand, I will figure it out. 

Well, I love you all.   I will write again on Monday and I will talk to you soon!