Week 12

Familia,

Now it feels like I`m really getting settled into Peru/South American life. Got my lost suitcase at the airport on Thursday & it was like opening a Christmas present. Shoes! And sheets! And t-shirts for working out. It was oh so nice! Ate some cow stomach this week, fun times. And changed over some American dollars for soles. Getting into the swing of things! 

After District and Zone meeting on Tuesday, we saw some of the parade for Peru’s day of Independence! It was awesome, all these little school kids dressed in uniform and their teachers trying to make sure that they don’t take off their little hats and walk straight. And flags all over the city, I love it! 

 

I think our pensoniesta doesn’t like to cook very much...got half an avocado with a piece of cake for breakfast. haha. but she’s in Lima for a few days, so my comp and I have enjoyed being able to cook for ourselves! We even whipped up some CREPES (one of my absolute FAVORITE breakfasts) yesterday morning. Randomly put some flour, eggs, evap. milk, and butter together and thankfully it turned out. 

Julio. Man I love Julio! We washed his clothes earlier this week & wow-I’ve never seen clothes so well used! Now he has nice smelling ropa to wear to church. He didn’t attend yesterday, so we had to push his baptismal date back:( but he started reading the BOM while we were cleaning his clothes & certainly has come a long way! also found out yesterday in ward council that 2 of his family members are members, just less-active...I made up a little rap/song with him about church. Diez Domingo, Domingo Diez. Its got a nice alliteration to it. Also found out this week that he’s 81! Not 70ish something. He cracks me up! 

 

Josefina. Phew. Super hard to teach, cause she can’t see/hear/understand very well. We started teaching with loads of big pictures and using reaaaaally simple language. It’s gotten a bit better. Ready for baptism. Has a huge desire to follow Christ! I love her so much, especially when she always gives me tons of kisses after we teach. Tryin`to get some BOM CD`s for her to listen to or get some members from the ward to come over and read to her. Heart of pure gold!

Juan Y Carlos. Brothers. They both came to church yesterday. Juan is 8 and kind of reminds me of Grant & Carlos is 13 and reminds me of Rex. Juan had his baptismal interview, after taking a bathroom break for a few mins. haha. And Carlos had to leave right after 1st hour, so will have his interview later this week. Good boys, just trying to get the parents to help them with family prayer and being more encouraging with attending church. Parents aren’t married, but dad’s interested in getting baptized, just doesn’t wanna get married...haha. 

There’s also Gloria, Edit, Maria, Juan Carlos, Marta, Yefferson, Jorge, Sandra, and Jose Luis. Just trying to focus on those that are making the most progress. 

 

I have so much respect for one of the young men in the ward we’re working in. We had a NDH (FHE) at his house the other night and wow. So much respect. He’s accompanied SO many sets of missionaries to lessons and always is at church with different activities. Coming from a part-member family and some probs, it just says a lot about his character. Lin is just so wonderful! I’m grateful that the ward and especially the youth have a great example to look up to. Always willing to help out with everything!!!

Our district did another missionary blitz in a different area with the Elders. I was with Hermana Balcaza from Argentina. It was fun to track down references with her and explore a different area of Peru. I’m thinking of adding a space in the key indicators (in our planner) for all the whistles and kissey noises. and gringita. 

3 investigators at church yesterday, wahoo!

I`m happy & doing well. Just trying to do my absolute best. Happy Birthday Dad!! Love you tons, hope you have a wonderful day.

Con mucho Amor,

Hermana Boody 

Week 11

Buenos tardes from Trujillo!
Trujillo. The city is crazy, but wonderful-filled with LOADS of taxis, venders, and Little kids in school uniforms. I really love and am enjoying all the craziness and hustle of Peru! This week was filled with LOTS of whisteling, kissey noises, double-takes,  etc. ugh these people just stare at me! And wave. It was kinda funny at first, but now kinda annoying…like this one guy first tried to give me a kiss on the cheek and I jumped back, and stuck out my hand for a handshake like 10 ft away. Then he took my hand and tried to kiss it like twice….weird. funny, but weird. And asked where in the Estados Unidos I was from like 5 times. Yep. Lots of interesting people in Peru. And they always try and use the few words of phrases that they know in English, which is always entertaining. Its just frustrating when we´re tracting, and they won´t get past the fact that I´m an American, even when we are talking about where the chapel is. Lots of stares. Haha anyway…
Companion. I have so much respect and love for Hna. Huaman! Santa Vaca. Only member in her family. Her dad passed away when she was 12 and her brother also a few years ago. 24 and was only baptized just a few years ago at 18. Such a kind person, always really giving and caring about others. I´ve already learned a lot from her and feel very fortunate to have such a wonderful trainer. We walk suuper fast, to be able to meet our goal for contacting and lessons and sometimes I make up songs in Spanish, when it’s a longer distance from house to house.
Julio. One of our investigators, about 75. We begged to help clean up his little room and oh boy it was quite the service opportuinity! Huuuge spider webs hanging down from the ceiling and no dustpan, so we just covered our hands with bags to pick up trash and bugs. It felt really nice to clean up a little. He´s funny. Next time, we GOTTA clean his clothes.
Josefina. Around the same age. She´s always just sitting outside her home, chilling out in a plastic lawn chair. Have taught her a few times, but it’s a challenge to determine what she really knows, cause its hard for her to hear and internalize concepts…I just love her tho! She always gives me lots of cheek-kissesJ so cute!
Mammatina. Our pensoniesta. We taught her how to make French toast this week! Not too shabby, esp. with some peanut butter I had in my suitcase. Really thankful for the dog tho…we snuck some of our dinner under the table. I felt bad, but I really didn´t want to eat it. Or hurt her feelings. Perfect solution. Except he doesn´t like fried eggs.
Ward. They host a missionary night every week, with a lesson and game. Kinda like FHE. The youth feel comfortable to invite their friends and its pretty fun. Ward council is good and the different auxiliaries have good ideas to help us meet the needs of our investigators. I love the members and all are very friendly and genuinely loving. I have come to know and really love the Aguilar family, Cecilia snuck us some cake to our residence last night. Such kind people! And it was quite delicious.
District. We had interviews with the President this week, on his birthday! Yummy cake, which was sweet.literally. Sometimes we all play futbol for morning sport at the chapel. MY comp accidentally kicked the ball REALLY hard and it hit me right in the face. Oh man. It hurt like ANYTHING. Trying to improve my skills.and lookout for incoming moving objects. Also, all the missionaries in our district came to our area and we gave them a map and list of names and refernces to check out. A missionary work blitz! It was very effective and nice, since our area is really big! Also today, we went to the Museo Huacas de Moche together and it was awesome!!! Great visit for my 2^nd p-day. Next week we´re gonna hit up this huge souivineer place, so please let me know and start thinking of some things you´d like from peru! I have some ideas, but anything specific?? Dad- I´m gonna try to get you a badge from a corrupt officer…just have to go on the right day apparently.
Sunday. We took a combi all the way to Carlos´house, waited about 15 mins for him to find his other shoe, then last minute, he decided not to come to church. And we were already far in the area. Then we raced to Julio´s and he didn´t want to walk all the way to the chapel with us, even though we offered to get a taxi….ugh it was frustrating! But Josefina came!!!!!!!!!! Wahoo, we had asked 2 members to walk with her to church and I was so happy to see her, she´s seriously so precious. We had to take a moto, since we ourselves were running pretty late from Carlos and Julio´s houses. Missed the sacramentL killing me Julio!! And maria wasn´t home. Again. C´mon people, 10am is NOT that early.
Overall, its finally settling in. The culture, people, everything. A little crazy, but good. The work is hard, but wonderful! We teach people from all different paths of life and each have difficulties and struggles. Taught on dirt floors with an illiterate woman who works really hard to support her 2 children, outside on a plastic stool to a family with children running around in dirt and trash-yet have HUGE smiles on their dirty faces, and sitting on couches covered with plastic shower curtain covering the couches and GIANT pictures of the Savior and the Virgin Mary on their ceiling. Everyone is a child of God and has a desire to follow Christ, but just needs a little encouraging…and a guide to strengthen that relationship.
I love having the privilege of teaching a family, being an instrument in His hands, so that they may know they can be together forever. I always show them a picture of our family (its in my pocket planner) and bear testimony of how much God loves us and that we can be with our families and loved ones forever-because of the Atonement. I hope you are having a great time in Florida, jump some waves for me;) and study hard, hunt & clark!!!
Always much love,
Hermana Boody

Week 10 - JUEGO FUTBOL EN PERU!!!! FINALMENTE

Mi Familia Y Mis Amigos!!

I feel like it would take me HOURS to say all I wanted to about Peru thus far, but I only have one:( Que lastima! Let´s see...

Provo. so my last few days in the Utah Provo Mission were WONDERFUL!! LOVE the people, my 2 companions, mission president, and especially my district!! Seriously the best district in the world, by far!! At our last district meeting, one of the Elders from Chile even bought a cake and rad balloons since I was leaving the next morning. So nice!! Love them to death and already miss the UPM. Also, ran into Hunter AND Clark at 7-11 on P-day!! Ahhhhh so wonderful to see family and give each a nice huge squeeze. Love you both and thanks for the slurpees! It was quite strange saying goodbye to people that I had come to know and love so much, even in a short amount of time. 

Traveling. Phew. So when I got to the SLC airport early Wed morning, I was told that there was a 3 hour delay with my flight to Atlanta. So instead of SLC, AT, Lima, Trujillo-it was going to be SLC, TX, ATL, Lima, then Trujillo. Except our flight from TX to ATL was an hour late, so I missed my flight to Peru. Me and another Hna. headed to a different mission in Peru stuck together and stayed at her relatives´ house for the night in Atlanta. Then we finally made it to Lima the next night. Super late after customs. Stayed in a hotel for the night, then on Friday, I was able to finally arrive in Trujillo and was greeted by the fabulous marlers at the airport in Trujillo.

PRO of the traveling chaos-we were able to attend the ATLANTA temple!!!!!!!!!! ahhh so wonderful, HUGE perk with the airline madness, AND had a bit of time to relax before hitting the ground running in Peru.

CON-One of my suitcases was at baggage claim in Atlanta, since we spent the night there I guess...but thankfully the other suitcase that I do have has about half of my clothes and toilitries. phew.

Lima/Trujillo. My 1st few hours in Peru were spent going to Immigration and National Police in Lima on Friday. Sitting, waiting, etc. Afterwards, we had lunch at pizza hut and I drank Inca Kola for the 1st time. good, but too sweet! And we had time to take some pics around the Lima temple, really pretty! The city was INSANE and the driving is quite scary, but kinda fun too. Maybe cause I´m a bit of an adreniline junkie, idk. It was kinda chilly since its winter and there were a lot of American places to eat, mostly fast food. 

Trujillo. LOVE this city!! In the Marler´s car on the way from the airport to their house to stay for the night, we drove past the temple and its gorgeous!! really hoping it gets completed before I leave. There´s dogs just lying all over the streets, like trash (there´s that too) really sad. The climate is nice, just a little chilly. The people are really kind, humble, and friendly. Contacting is fun now!! A group of girl teens yesterday asked for a picture with us yesterday, probably cause I´m the whitest person they´ve seen in person. jaja. no Americans around here, except the missionaries. People on the streets call me gringita. I know I´m a "Gringo", but a cool one, right? jaja whatever. Peruvians also try saying little things in English to be, quite entertaining. 

El Bosque. Is the name of the area that we are currently serving in! Many contacts that appear interested in learning more about the gospel. We walked with an investigator named Julio to church yesterday. He lives about 20 mins away on a super dusty road. 

Our pensoniesta is nice, we call her mammatina. Lots of rice and chicken. Last night she made this quinoa thing with pineapple and it was really good. My companion is wonderful, using LOADS of Spanish which is great!! We live really close to a bar, so its a bit hard to get to sleep some nights, but every night is a fiesta in Trujillo! 

Ward and members are really nice, introduced myself in RS. 

Met my district this morning, as we played futbol together at the chapel.

Coming to PERU has by far been the easiest transition, as strange as that sounds. REALLY LOVING PERU!!!!!!!! Defiantly seeing the Lord´s hands in many different aspects of my life and this great work. love you all!!!

Con Mucho Amor, siempre,

Hermana Boody

La Misión Trujillo

Our mission was blessed to have another sister missionary arrive from the Provo Utah Mission, Herman Boody.  After being at the MTC and then assigned to Provo as she awaited her VISA, she was excited to be here with us in Trujillo.  Her time is Provo was wonderful and she had the opportunity to teach a few families and march in the Independence Day Parade, with many missionaries.   We hope that all of the missionaries who are assigned to Trujillo, but await their VISAs will take advantage of their great experience in the area of their service.  When you arrive, we will build upon your training and experiences...and remember there maybe a family in your temporary area that has been awaiting your arrival for years.  They have been prepared and will know you as a messenger from the Lord.

Hermana Boody arrived on Friday night...

Hermana Boody was so excited to meet her companion Hermana Huaman.

...and Sister Huaman was so excited to meet hers!

Friends at first glance, friends forever.  I hear that you never love any sister the way you love your trainer...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finally Made it

Mi Familia Y Amigos,

Yo estoy aqui, en el campo blanco de Trujillo, Peru!!!! FINALLY MADE IT!!! I spent the night at the mission home last night and am now just finishing up at the Mission Office. My companera es de Peru Y doesn´t know very much English. I loved spending some time yesterday in Lima, it was awesome!!! My pday is Monday, so I´ll say more then:) jaja love you TONS & TONS!!!!!!!!!

Con Mucho Amor,

Hermana Boody

Week 9 - Provo

Fun 4th of July!

We experienced a crazy summer storm while tracting!!

The picture says it all.

Hike up to the Y

this woman CRACKS me up!! 

Week 8 - Provo

shout-outs.

Dad-Glad you went to the Nats game with Chris and the boys!!!! How awesome that they won!!

Mom-Please tell Sis. Patty Lee I say thank you & love you lots!! I'm SO thrilled that you were able to go and be there for Kyra at the temple, what a blessing:) Also thanks for the last and final dear elder, I got it right in time!

Hunter-HUGE thank you for the drop-off at the mission office!! so lucky. Hope you continue to enjoy the busy college life and social aspect of BYU. LIVE IT UP!!!! good luck with all of your classes and such:)

Clark-thanks for the letter!! glad you are also enjoying college life. welcome to the real world, my friend:) I'm so thrilled that you were able to meet/see sis.La Porte!! LOVE HER:) My spanish is coming along, its hard to follow what people are saying since everyone talks so fast/in a different accent. 

Rex-how's wrestling going? you never wrote me back...love you anyway:) It's really hot here and whenever I see someone without a shirt I think of you, my awesome/crazy brother REX!

Mckay-Are you enjoying the summer with trying to read all of the Harry Potter series/finishing up?? getting nervous to start MIDDLE SCHOOL?!? weird how old your getting!! or rather...how old I'm getting:)

Grant-How's my favorite "big guy?" are you still straight up crazy? Hope your summer has been fun!! Try not to do anything too crazy/drive everyone else crazy, ok? And help mom with chores!!

Brittany Rosa-Hey in answer to your dearelder, you can just send the wedding invite to my address here at the Utah Provo Mission.

Oakton Ward-a big hello from Betty Stoker, I saw her in her ward yesterday!! Crazy small world in UT.

Aunt Mary-glad I saw you on your walk/our run!! Keep rockin' the overalls. love you!!

Phew. Let the typing war begin!!! 

MTC peace-out. My last night at the MTC was great! One of our teachers, Hermano Roden had a us do a wonderful activity in which we practiced contacting in a very comfortable and easy way. And we had a testimony meeting, just with our small district of 4 hermanas Y 2 Elderes. I helped all the Hnas. pack up and weigh luggage, since their flights were super early in the morning. Oh also at the main lobby area, I met Elder Don R. Clarke, one of the 70. not too shabby! I'm thankful for the 7 weeks that I was able to learn and grow at the MTC, I really learned how to teach with the spirit and why its so crucial to do so. And what matters most. Its an incredible atmosphere and it was fun seeing so many people from school/Jacob Lake/NoVA. Plus the bagels were amazing.

Utah Provo Mission. You should be receiving an envelope that the mission office is sending this week! I wrote a letter to you all on my very first night at the mission home, after we met the President. On Tuesday, we met President and Sis. McCune and they had a nice dinner for us at their house. I was so grateful for that taco salad!!!! And being in a HOUSE!! Never going to take that for granted again:) He kinda looks like George Allen and reminds me a little of Uncle Mark Sykes. He showed us a huge map of the mission and all of the different areas. Many of the areas have and the rest of the mission will eventually have ipads and iphones. some info on the mission:

-1400 wards in the mission, 9 zones, 161 stakes, 3 temples in mission

-lots of less-active teaching.

-we'll be a big part of the 4th of July parade. Its the biggest 4th of July parade in the world, 300,000 people!! (LEGIT). HUGE missionary work opportunity with the community.

I had a interview with the president and he was very keen on welcoming me to the mission, won't just be treated as someone here temporarily and waiting for the VISA. I was also sure to make him know that I'm grateful to be here & apart of this mission! The Lord wants me here and there is work and people that are here for me. 

Slate Canyon. I'm here serving with 2 companions, Hermana Cordova Y Hermana Gonzales. Both haven't been here too long and are wonderful companions!! We cover 3 wards and went to 2 yesterday. My district is wonderful, we're all going bowling at BYU today!! Our district leader tries to do things to promote unity, like eating lunch together. 

Weather. This week, it got all the way up to 110! Pretty crazy. My 1st day tracting was 103 and got worse throughout the week. Keeping hydrated! 

Investigatores. so many!! I'll give a short run-down of each since I'm running out of time...

Bernice. 15, date for baptism, but has been kinda flaky lately. still need to teach Ley de Castidad.

Sasha.Bernice's mom. married to someone in the Dominican Republic, so have to get that figured out...

Lorena & Esmeralda. Haven't met yet, but will soon. In vaca in LA right now. 

Bolivar. haven't met yet, we've tried to see him several times but he hasn't answered the door..need to teach le de castidad.

Adolfo. Trying to get him to keep his commitment with reading the scriptures. has some sort of disease, his skin and muscles are damaged and his hand is always swollen . always going to Dr. appts.   Cynthia.3 kids, kicked out husband. Shakey relationship with mom. Has a testimony, but its certainly being tested! Her family was involved in a REALLY bad car accident and her niece is still in the hospital, in a comma. Her family is blaming it on the fact that she's meeting with us:( noooooo!!

Members. We've had dinner at a few member's houses and they're all really nice. One with a woman from Lima, Peru!! Last night, we had dinner with Maryoury and she was HYSTERICAL!! Maura would have died laughing while she was telling us all the many times that she somehow got out of a ticket from the Police. From Venezuela and made an amazing meal for us! This week, we helped Hermana Munoz move out of her apt. It was fun cleaning and organizing! 

Menos Activos. We're working with a lot right now and struggling with different things. Lizet, Pretel Family, Maria Sanchez, Sandra, Bonnie, Myra, Val, and Shalice. Lizet is just super busy with going back to school and juggling the kids too. Maria has been through a LOT and has 3 kids, single-parent. She recently had to move and hasn't found a place to live yet...Sandra's husband isn't really supportive...but we still visited them and invited them to church. Her son is old enough to get baptized, so trying to start to talk with him about preparing for that. Shalice is an incredible single-parent of a daughter that just got surgery so they have to stay at home for the next few weeks while her tendons heal. 

Teaching/Spanish. Its been rough, but just trying to do my best!! Everyone talks pretty fast, so just trying to keep up!! I got a massive headache just trying to keep up when this woman Bonnie was talking with us. We have to give a talk in a few weeks in the ward, so I should probably start writing it. Something incredible that I've really been able to see is that although I really don't know these people very well, I already love them and care a LOT about them. I feel the love that Heavenly Father has for them. Its just so incredible.

Randoms. We live with members-the Andersens. They're in their 70's, I'd guess. The sink, toilet, and shower are this dark olive green. Saw aunt mary!! and betty stoker.

I KNOW that God lives and loves us individually. He sent his son to die for us that we can utilize the atonement and one day return to live with our Father in heaven. I know that His church was restored on the earth again through the prophet Joseph Smith, a true prophet called of God. I am thankful for this church and gospel so much, it always brings me joy when I have the privilege of sharing it with others. 

Happy 4th of July, hope you have a BLAST!

Con Mucho Amor,

Hermana Rachel Anne Boody