Week 25

HAPPY 22^ND BIRTHDAY MAURA!!! Oh and Halloween too this week, right?

Oh WOW, what a week!!! Eduardo got BAPTIZED!!! Ahhhhhh so incredible. We´ve been teaching him for quite some time, he´s the one who came to all the sessions of general conference was and on Monday when we taught him, he asked us what time his baptism is for this Saturday and my comp and I just looked at each other, shocked and so happy that his mom gave him permission!! Lots of his family came to support him which was amazing and his mom was super supportive, even brought little chicken sandwich things, cake, and of course aint no get together without some inca kola.0

 

It was such a spiritual experience and my comp and I sang the classic primary baptism song about how the earth is clean after it rains and looking for rainbows, haha I promice I make more sense in Spanish…he´s such a good kid, Eduardo! Reminds me a little of Grant. When we picked him up yesterday morning for church to receive the Holy Ghost, he even had read and put a picture of himself and signed his name on the faith of God booklet that the primary president gave him. What a stud!! We´re finally starting to see the fruits of all our labors and wow!! It was just so incredible.

 

Mom, pleaseeee don´t send anything for all of the insect bites! The zone leaders gave me some Raid that I used for the mattress and left it out in the sun for 2 days to kill all of the bed bugs. Plus I bought some intense insect repellant. But thanks for the card and Grant, I LOVED all your drawings!!! Rex and Connor Castelaw, THANK YOU for the random package!! Haha who do I need to thank? It had the Palmers address on it?? The pillowcase is so awesome!! I loved the random Spanish pronouns on it, and the pudding I´m gonna use for some family home evenings with the ward. I feel really bad getting stuff in the mail, since its so pricey to send things-but at the same time, its like the greatest day ever to see familiar handwriting.

 

We had a teaching appt. for a contact and when we came over, there were a BUNCH of her friends from colegio!! How awesome!! They actually focused pretty well, surprisingly and thankfully. And after, I gave ´em each a mint that was in the package from Rex and Connor. It was so random and so fun!

My companion and I finished sawing and fitting the door to the outside part of Hna. Horacia´s outside part of her house and celebrated with crackers and Inca Kola. Haha super ghetto, but its certainly better than what it was before!! She is one of the most incredible people I´ve ever known. While putting the hinges on, it reminded me of when hunter and I worked for Uncle john and accidentally put some of the hinges on backwards or opening the door the wrong way. Haha and were sooo hungry! Peruvians are some of the hardest workers I´ve known!! 

Luiz Galvez, lives across from our awesome RC Eduardo and is a taxi driver! Was a reference and came to church yesterday!!! He´s awesome and we´re organizing what members can come with us to teach him so that he has some good friends with people from the ward. Oh man its so nice having a taxi hookup, esp. since he lives RIGHT across from Eduardo and mamma transito. A little tricky to walk with her to church, 80 year old Peruvian woman-I´m like a oh whats it called, oh yeah crossing guard.

We had a mtng recently with all of the missionaries and their wards in our zone and really trying to encourage everyone to work with us and accompany us with lessons!! And help recent converts!!

My comp and I are in a group of hnas. to sing for the Christmas event at the plaza de armas. Should be awesome!!! Transfers are this Saturday which is CRAZY to think of how fast time is flyinggg!!

Saw my first car and moto accident earlier this week and it was so frightening to hear the crash, then look over and see what happened. Ahh and it was RIGHT after we crossed that part of the street, too!!! Bloody faces and poor taxista, the people that were riding in his taxi just hopped out after the accident happened and caught another taxi.

Well the mission is CERTAINLY a challenge, but its also the most rewarding time of my life!! Oh man, its HARD!! Just the schedule alone is stressful, we wake up at 5:45 in order to run at the park, breakfast, and be back at our desks to study at 8. There´s just these moments beyond words to describe that make it all worth it. I know that God lives and loves us so much! I´m here because I love the Savior and sharing my testimony of his life and ministry is what brings me joy! Seeing others being able to change their life thru the atonement is simply wonderful. Thank you for all of your encouragement, love, and support. I´ve felt your prayers in moments of difficulty and discouragement. The gospel is just simply incredible! 

Enjoying the “greatest adventure of your life” (Holland)  

Week 24

 

 

I meant to write this in last week´s email, but THANK YOU SO MUCH for the birthday package Maura!!! Ahh you are the greaaaaatest!!! I love the scarf, already worn it many times. And the stationary, perfect!! Thank you, thank you, thank you!! And crazy that YOUR birthday is so soon!! Hope you eat an extra cupcake for me And thanks mom for the family pics, I used a lot of them for letters to people in El Bosque. But they have mints here, haha tic-tacs arn´t worth the postage.

Wow there´s always so much to say, but I never have the time to write all of it. Here´s how everyone´s doing:

Norma Delgado. We watched the restoration with her, which was awesome-but still have yet to teach her and her husband together…really nice-just needs to attend church!!!

Familia Avalos. Taught the plan of salvation which was perfect since one of the daughter´s friends just passed away.

Adrian. Oh man Adrian. Awesome kid, but I really don´t know…mentioned something about his dad not being ok with his choice to be baptized, but his grandfather that he lives with is fine with it…ahhhhh ugh. I´m really hoping things work out. Jean Paul, preparing to leave for his mission in Santa Ana, El Salvador accompanied us and it was awesome cause he was able to invite Adrian to play futbol with the young men. Also found out that Adrian´s grandfather is a clown and has been for about 25 years, haha did NOT see that one coming, that’s for sure. Oh man, the pictures were priceless.

Eduardo. Preparing for baptism, but still needs official permission from his mom. Transito, his grandma, is so cute. Taught her how to high-five and fist-bump this week.classic.

Mendosa Family. Such a boss family, but didn´t have the chance to teach them this week

Alexandra Andrea. We were getting frustrated while trying to teach the Restoration cause she didn´t read the pamphlet, but then realized we shouldn´t have been annoyed during like the 3^rd time explaining it, cause she can´t read! Haha oh man, we felt to bad. She´s 8 years old.

This week we had interviews with both prez and hna. Marler. Wow. I didn´t really realize it until talking with hna. Marler, but my mission thus far has completely changed my life. I can´t even find the right words in English or Spanish to describe the things I´ve seen, witnessed, felt, and the miracles that have changed these people´s lives forever. When we teach the gospel of Jesus Christ, it really makes me realize or at least start to understand how much Heavenly Father really loves me, so much that I can´t even comprehend it. It´s incredible. Just as I´m still constantly worried and thinking about my recent converts in El Bosque and how their testimony is growing, God is always so very concerned about our spiritual growth and progress. Wow. 

 The woman that last time wanted me to pray with her scarf on my head, this time had curlers in her hair and crazy glasses.haha 

We had many opportunities to serve this week. The familia Hereria, Hna. Horacia, and clean the chapel with part of our zone. We fixed hna. Horacia´s door, with some super old tools. Haha she´s the cutest 80 year old.

I´m so thankful for the Plan of Salvation. It fascinates me and I don´t think I could ever thank my heavenly father enough for the fact that we´ll be a family together forever. Especially when we teach it, it really hits me. It doesn´t matter how many times I´ve studied and prepared to teach the same lesson, I understand it differently each time. Ahh the gospel is incredible!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Trippin´on the sidewalks cause they´re so uneven.

It´s been 6 months since I´ve cut my hair and a member owns a salon and cut it for us for free....here´s a cliff-hanger picture of how much I got cut off. stay tuned until next week! time for a change:)

Week 23

Guess where we just went for P-day??!! That’s right, the largest ancient adobe city in the world!! Ahhh so awesome. Its called Chan-Chan, google it. Our tour was annoyed that we kept stopping to take pictures instead of paying suuuuper close attention to an hour and a half tour. En espanol. Sorry kid, just trying to create some memories! 



Forgot to mention last week, by far my favorite part of general conference was turning to my left during one of the talks and seeing a woman breastfeeding her baby. In the chapel. Ahh so classic-peruvian style motherhood. Just pop it out wherever, whenever the baby`s hungry. Haha it’s a good reminder that I`m in South America.
Happy happy happy 24^th birthday, Hunter Eric!!! I hope you live it up with Clark in Provooooo!!! You have a heart of gold and I`m so grateful for your example.
So here`s how everyone`s doing:

Maria Rosado. We taught her a few times this week, but she still has yet to finish the pamphlet for the Gospel of Jesus Christ lesson 3. Haha you`ve had a week…..but there`s so many animals to feed and look after. At least that’s the excuse she gave us. a member was able to accompany us to her house last night, so that was really good-showering her that the ward genuinely is here to help and cares about her. Its just frustrating cause she already knows a LOT and has a testimony, yet isn`t acting on her faith-which is vital to progress.

Adrian. Oh Adrian. No cell phone that we can use to see if he`s home, never there when we go over, and wasn`t there yesterday morning when we went to pick him up for church…ahhhh he`s so ready though! But without keeping commitments, can`t progressL  please pray for him!!!!

Eduardo and Avelino. Actually Avelino is her 1^st last name. hope that made sense…most people call her Transito and we just found that out this week…haha. Eduardo is the greatest!! Such an awesome 11 year old and he`s enjoying primary, which is wonderful. Did I mention how for conference, when I suggested to bring a notebook to take notes, he asked if he needed to bring a calculator too? Haha
Maria Mendoza. We had the incredible chance to teach all of her family this week and it was great! A really lovely family and all together! But couldn`t come to church yesterday…please pray for them too! I know this gospel can help their family become stronger and they can truly be a family together forever!!  

A younger sibling of a member was really hesitant when we asked her if she would follow the example of Jesus Christ and be baptized (she attened General  Conference with us) and we were confused why, but then she explained that she was really afraid of the water and doesn`t know how to swim..haha precious. 

We got an investigator handed to us from a different set of Elders, cause he just moved into our area. Haha sweet! His baptism was on Sunday and will be confirmed this upcoming Saturday, so just preparing him for that. His conversion story is incredible, been ready to accept the gospel for many years now. Has daughters on missions! And is truly converted, its awesome to see someone who really GETS it and has such a love for the Savior Jesus Christ.

One of my favorite moments this week was during a lesson with a reference, I offered to give the opening prayer. She gave me a scarf thing and reminded us that we need to use a scarf to cover our heads while we pray, for respect for Jesus Christ. Haha a little puzzled about what I could do to not offend her faith, but also stay true to mine- I put it on as a scarf instead. Oh man it was hilarious. She thought that I didn`t understand that it was for my head and told my companion to explain it to me. Hna. Portillo assured her that oh yeah, I understood. Haha I just kept complimenting her on what a beautiful scarf it was and started to offer the prayer before she had time to argue. Haha oh man, by far one of my favorite moments. Oh and don`t you worry, she used it when she gave the closing prayer.
Being a missionary, or maybe just being a missionary in peru specifically sure makes ya thrifty! Like how excited we were to find a shoe box in the street. Something to store stuff in the bathroom! Haha for real. I love it, so handy. Thrifty`s a classier term than ghetto, cause that’s what it really is.
Possibly have bed bugs, not really sure yet..I woke up one morning to 19 little bites and flipped my matress and washed the sheets. Haha they just make a insect repellent body wash or something. It would be a lot handier. Hna. Gonzalse was right, sometimes it feels like we`re camping. Wearing flip-flops everywhere and using bottled water to brush teeth. At least the shower`s been better!
The President came to our district and zone meeting and of course we were the only companionship to show up a few minutes late…haha oh murphy`s law. With general conference and the work of salvation trainingship broadcast meeting, we`re really putting an emphasis on less-actives and how we can best help them and ask for references from them too. I love it!! That’s what we really need to focus and work on in this mission, how to retain the new members and help them with the individual problems and difficulties that they face. 

Later in the week, we sort-of randomly had breakfast with him at the mission home. I mean we already knew we were going, but the opportunity to eat GRANOLA and ALMONDS!! Yeah-it was a good day. I had some things on my mind and it was a bit of a rough week, so it was nice to be able to talk with him. Seriously the Marlers are the greatest! Such a comfort to be able to confide in someone that understands how hard, but incredible the mission is. 

Favorite part of the day is always when the police either cheer us on or try to tell us to calm down when we sprint home a few minutes before 9:30 to get home after a lesson. haha too good.
I thought Book of Mormon names for kids was just a UT thing, oh no-its in Peru too. Haha talked to Nefi this week. 

With our stack of references from other missionaries, I developed a paper clip system for organizing them by the street names. We go from Paraguay, Bolivia, Mexico, to Panama in one day!
Nights are pretty windy and I`m trying to keep things classy and avoid a Marilyn Monroe moment. I can only imagine how much more confortable a suit would be. My ultimate dream would be to proselite in my camelback and chacos. 

Going to and from our pensoniesta`s house is quite the adventure! She only lives a few blocks away, but trying not to get hit by a car is seriously a goal for the mission. Well that and being in the District 3. Trujillo, Peru mission represent!!! 

Similar to what Hunter said about being able to communicate more smoothly when I have the spirit, I`ve found the exact same thing to be true with Spanish. The spirit is the teacher, not me! Thank goodness. Cause my Spanish is still so robotic sometimes. Please just continue to pray for these people! 

Feelin`like Harrriet the Spy, writing everything down in my agenda.

Week 22

                        
 Familia Y Amigas!

We just ate burgers, and I`m talkin`real-deal american CHEESEBURGERS! And coke. Ahhh how it warmed my soul. Yeah…you can tell how much I was looking forward to P-day today. And last week we had a blast in Salaverry, hiked to this suuuper windy place then played american football on the beach-it was so nice to just unwind for a few hours. 

 

Things are going well in Monserrate and becoming a Little more familiar. Just still miss my El Bosque peeps..its just hard cause we make appts with people, yet there not there when we come or are too busy. Kinda flaky

…So we just teach people when they have time for us!

Some of our investigators are:

Maria Rosado. Already knows TONS about the gospel, her dad was a member and not very many people from the ward came to his funeral and for this reason-she doesn´t want to get baptized and become a member—because she thinks no one will come to her funeral either. Haha kinda a random reason, but I guess those are the things you think about when you live alone and don´t have too much social interaction. She´s a seamstress and has 2 cats. Members don´t realize how important they are to others, they have an incredible ability to make a huge difference in other´s lives!!!

Adrian. 15. Kinda reminds me of Jose Luis. Accepted his baptismal date, but ever since-its been SUPER hard to catch him at his house cause of his work schedule. Spirit´s always really strong in the lessons that we are able to have with him, but its just frustrating going over and him never being there….

Michelle. 15. Completely ready for baptism, have almost taught her all of the lessons, but dad won´t let her get baptized until her next birthday in March…patience. She´s really nice and is enjoying going to YW´s!

Eduardo and Avelino. Found them from a reference card from other missionaries. Eduardo is 11 and Avelino is his 80 year old grandmother. Both really awesome. For general conference, we could only go to the sessions if we had investigators and thankfully Eduardo came to ALL 4 sessions with us. So thankful!!!!

Maria Mendoza. Recently met her husband, so trying to teach them together. Has 2 kids, hasn´t been able to come to church yet. Her daughter Maria knows Eduardo from school, small world in Monserrate. }

Javier. Oh man. Javier. Such a precious old man who we found while contacting one night on our way to an appt. Thankfully, we were able to get a member to accompany us cause Javier lives alone. He has parkinson´s and you can tell he´s really lonely, breaks my heart. So nice to us, showed us some pictures of the catholic orphanage he grew up in and started to cry cause his dad passed away last year and its been really hard on him. Even served us these little galletas with Carmel stuff after our lesson. Love him so much, but not sure if he´ll progress…

General Conference. Holy cow, how much I appreciated conference!!!! It was kinda funny/stressful picking up people for it, then figuring out how to fit all of us in the taxi to the chapel. I watched both morning sessions in English and both afternoon sessions in Spanish, so my notes are kinda funky…really answered some of the questions I´ve had and gave me some much-needed strength and encouragement! Plus revelation for investigators and what they´ve been struggling with to understand about the gospel. What a highlight to the week!! And the ensign comes out soon, that I can really in-depth study in personal study!! Ahhh how nice it was to hear the prophet´s voice, and in ENGLISH too!! Oh how beautiful. I tried to scan the faces for Hunter and ClarkJ

Trying to just be as diligent and consistent as possible. In the morning and after lunch, I have all this energy and a strong work ethic to seek out all these tarjetas de referencia. But after dinner, it’s a struggle to stay awake. Haha didn´t know it was possible to be THIS tired at 8pm. Our daily planning used to go until 10:20 every night, but lately its getting better. Starting to get a feel for the area and where/with whom we can be most effective. I just try to push myself everyday, always know what street we´re on and know where everyone lives. Especially if I have to lead this area next transfer, I want to at least have a foundation of the area and how to work best with the leaders in the ward.

There´s so much more I want to say, so much that I wouldn´t even know how to put into words and if I was faster at typing or had more time, maybe I could. But for now, this will just have to doJ

Random funnies for the week: random lady on the Street told me to use a banana peel for all the lovely mosquito bites I have….haha haven`t tried that one yet. I should just wear tights so people stop asking…Nueva Barazza had a lot of mosquito's and they couldn`t stay away! That wonderful moment when contacting a reference turns into a MUCH needed bathroom spot. Haha always a highlight of the day: figuring out when/where you can find a somewhat decent restroom. Classy. 

Wearin´ out my shoes, knees, and hear everyday,

Hna. Boody

Week 21

Just took a combi for 30 mins to an internet café in the middle of nowhere…legit! We´re hiking to the beach/or something like that in Salaverry today for P-Day!
 
Mammacita Bonita-Got nice letters from Mary & Miriam this week! I was trying to explain to my new comp how perfect it is that your working in beehives , cause you always wanted another daughter. And now you have plenty! But she was confused and looked really serious and asked, your mom can´t have any more children? Haha it was just really priceless..i´m still not really sure if she understands the point I was trying to make, but it made me laugh. Hope you find it funny too.
Pops-We contacted a cop the other night and I thought of you! In fact, there´s a police station right by the park we run at-super close to where we live. I´ll try to trade a patch for ya. And our pens always has bananas on the table for us, reminds me of yaJ
 
Wow. No one gave me a heads up about how strange/hard it would be to leave my 1st area! In many ways, it was harder leaving El Bosque than my actual, real home. I don´t know if I´ll see these people ever again, at least for a long time. Oh El Bosque…its where I was first introduced to everything. Like being shoved in a combi, feeling like you could fall out of the door at any minute, tripping on sidewalks all the time cause they´re super uneven, getting the “tasty fish” cat-calls, etc.  I came to love it!! Life of a missionary…or rather life of a vagabond. Packing up and moving into a new place makes you realize what random things I took for granted. Like the comfort of always saying hello to the guy at the store close to our house, Hna. Luz´s squeaky voice, a toilet seat, or taking to Mamma Lucia who always had on the most random clothes to clean in. Or the fact that literally every person in El Bosque appreciated “paz”, as you can probably tell in many pictures…haha basically I´m just a big dork.
 
Anyways, Monday we said goodbye to all of our recent converts, many ward members, and it just felt so strange. Seeing them progress so much and growing with them—then leaving. Poor Hna. Gonzales was so stressed/worried about us leaving. It felt like dropping off your first child at day care for the 1^st time, trying to make sure that the ward will look after Carlos and Juan, help Sandra´s parents learn more about the gospel, visit Josefina, and try to understand Juan Carlos´Spanish… The seminary kids even gave Hna. Huaman and I really nice letters, which was a nice surprise.  Bishop had us over for a NDH and it was a bittersweet last night in el bosque. What an incredible ward. they showered us in sugar. And random earrings. Haha love hna. Luz!!
 
My new companion is Hermana Portillo, from Santa Ana, El Salvador. Where she served for 5 months while she waited for her visa for Peru. Also the same mission that Hermana Serene Peterson is serving in! crazy. She´s only been here in the Trujillo mission for 3ish weeks, so we´re working as hard as possible together to whip this area into shape!! Monserrate 2. It recently split into 2 areas, so it’s a lot of figuring out who has which references. Hermana Downs and I switched districts, she´s in my former one and now I´m serving in her former district. Loco.
 
Going off of 4 maps. FOUR. Haha I´m just really lost. All the time. We´re in the heart of the city of Trujillo, Avenida Espana is part of our area! Dangerous, but we got each other´s backs. Literally-crossing the street is CRAZY!!

Our pensoniesta is the greatest!! Mamma Maria. Her laugh is just the greatest. And she genuinely loves spending time with us. So grateful to see her everyday. Another companionship also has our pénsoniesta too, Hna. Stekler and Hna. Panchi. An American and Peruvian. Its fun to hear about their day, while we enjoy some really spicy soup! I used to hate spicy foods, but now-it’s the BEST!!! Also her daughter-in-law is the RS Prez, so its awesome to be able to constantly talk about members in the ward that we can help.

The ward. There´s 6 missionaries in our ward, which is kinda strange. Haha the bishop and his wife are really nice and own a lavenderia. I already sort-or knew him, cause he takes care of our clothes. In el bosque too, and I was after him for losing a blouse haha and now we´re in ward council together. everyone knows Obipso Freddy! He´s like the Chris Copans of Trujillo.

So trying to go around and meet the members of the ward and track town all of these References from other missionaries. Feels like playing Sherlock Holmes. Trying to build up the area and get some progressing investigators! Which is tricky, cause church is at 8 am!!

Crazy to think that now I´m a fully trained missionary!! Psh I feel like I just barely started.
No growing in a comfort zone and no comfort in a growing zone
.
I know that this is the church that Jesus Christ established, restored on the earth. I am weak, but through Christ, can invite others to come unto Christ. Joshua 1:9 Ether 12:27.

old guy we always say hi to & the seminary kids gave us a card

Con Mucho Amor,
Hna. Boody

josefina´s daughter and bishop and his wife