Week 101 - Chimbote (his last week in the field)

Monday, August 7th, 2017

Well time is going by super fast it seems like. It is kind of an enemy I'm starting to realize as we are trying to help a few investigators progress in the gospel. I would love to be here to see them progress more and make covenants with our Heavenly Father, but I have come to realize that its not really about me and the work of the Lord always moves on. I am excited, however, to keep helping them this week.
This past week we had a pretty fun little lesson with our convert's kids. They want to get baptized and we have been teaching them the lessons little by little. This past week we decided to talk to them a little bit about the Plan of Salvation, and my companion had the great idea to use a little whiteboard that we have. It was actually pretty awesome. They learned so fast and in the end they were explaining to us the Plan of Salvation.
We also got to teach two converts in the church. It was a good time. They are really progressing quite a bit as they read their Books of Mormon and go to church. It was awesome to hear that they feel like their faith is growing as they strive to be obedient and live the gospel.
I have learned so much here in the mission and I can´t name all that I have learned. I am very grateful for the mission. I would just like to share one of the most important things I have learned. It is so important for each and every one of us to have faith. Faith helps us to live with a positive attitude and god also blesses us according to our faith. We can gain faith by acting and by relying on the Lord. The Lord wants us to be able to develop faith in this life and I know that that is one of the most important things we can do in this life.
I am excited for this last week here in Peru. It´s going to be a great week! I know this is the work of the Lord. I know that he directs it. I know that the through the atonement of Christ and his gospel we can overcome our weaknesses and become better.

I saw my last companion that I had in Huaraz, Elder Torres, in a training this week. 

Week 100 - Chimbote

July 31st, 2017

Another week has come and gone here in the mission. I am still learning a ton and we have a few people that are progressing in our area. The Lord´s work is moving forward. 
We have gotten to help one of our convert´s wife learn a little bit more and progress. She is so awesome and has come to church quite a few times now. We got to talk to her a little bit about the Plan of Salvation this past week. We are also trying to help her understand the importance of baptism as well. Her husband really wants for his wife to get baptized as well. It is always nice to know that the Lord is preparing the way so that his children can make covenants with him. I know that little by little she will have that desire and will get baptized.
This past week we also got to visit a few members that we haven´t gotten to visit much yet. One family that we got to visit has a son in the mission and it was really nice getting to visit with them. We got to read the scriptures with them and they expressed to us how grateful they are for the many blessings the Lord has given to them. They explained to us a little bit all that happened so that their son could go on the mission. I have realized here on the mission that the Lord really prepares a way so that young men can serve him as missionaries.
Last night, we had an awesome experience with a new family that we have started teaching this month. They had read a little bit about the restoration before our visit and we were able to help them understand the importance of the restoration. It is always so awesome when people are able to understand the importance of the restoration. The were excited to know that they could look for their own answer to know if our message is true. I am grateful for the restoration and I know that if one searches diligently to know if it really happened they can receive an answer.
I am grateful for the mission and for the opportunity to strengthen my faith every day. I know that having faith is a choice we can make each and every day. I know that the Church of Jesus Christ has been restored. 

Week 99 - Chimbote

July 24th, 2017

This past week was a pretty busy one and we have gotten the opportunity to know some great people. We are pretty excited. This next week should be another great one as well.
Last Monday we went to Trujillo for a training we had on Tuesday. It was a great training with President and Sister Ríos. They always teach us such important principles. This last week Sister Ríos talked a lot to us about the importance of being examples. I really enjoyed the training.
We didn't get back to our area until Tuesday night. We realized that we really had to get going on Wednesday so that we could have a good week in our area. We were able to teach some great people this past week. That was a blessing. We have been able to help a few people understand the Plan of Salvation more and it is awesome to see how that knowledge, and their faith in that knowledge, really helps people overcome difficult times.
This week we got to visit a few of our converts as well. It is always interesting to see how they are doing. There are always trials of faith for them I have realized, but as we were able to talk with a convert this week we we realized, once again, the importance of Lehi´s vision of the tree of life. We have to hold on to the iron rod if we don't want to go astray.
One of my favorite experiences from this past week was getting to know and teaching a young man. He came to church yesterday with his cousin and he is very interested in the church. He has listened to the missionaries before a while back. He had a few doubts, but we were able to help him find answers to his doubts, and he is really excited to read his Book of Mormon and prepare himself to be baptized.
I know the scriptures are true, and that if we study them with real intent we can receive answers. I know that the Church of Jesus Christ has been restored. I am grateful for the Savior and for his example.

Here is a picture of me on my first day in the mission field. 

haha I remember it as if it were yesterday.

One of my friends here in the mission, Elder Diaz, he is from Lima Perú. We took this picture after a training we had this last week.  

Here is a picture of our district from this past week.  

Week 98 - Chimbote

July 17, 2017

The weeks keep flying by here in the mission. This past week was another great one. We stayed busy almost all week teaching and finding which was a great blessing.
Last monday we decided to put into practice plan cookies. A couple of weeks ago we dicided that we needed to gain the confidence of the members here a little bit more, so we asked one of our companions for a chocolate chip cookie recipe. We made cookies in our penionista´s house, and they actually didnt turn out too bad considering we are pretty much rookies when it comes to making food. The members liked them and I think our plan worked. I have included a picture of our cookies.
We got to know a new family this week and we had a great experience with them. We had invited them to read the pamphlet about the restoration. They did it and when we got to their house they had a few questions about it. The dad had an awesome question. He asked us if there is a prophet in the world today or if there wasn´t any more prophets after the church was restored. We answered his question and he and his wife were pretty happy as we finished the lesson. It is so awesome when the people understand this message.
We also have been teaching an older man that is very willing to learn and has been coming to church for about a month now. We got to watch a little video about the restoration with him yesterday. He doesn´t know how to read, but he wants to have his kids read the Book of Mormon to him so he can know if it is true. I am grateful for the chance to help him and I know that the Lord always provides the means so that we can understand his teachings if we look with real intent.
This past week, on saturday, we had the church open house acivity in our church building which was a great time. a lot of the members brought their friends and family to the activity. The members can be such great instruments in this work. It is always a blessing getting to work with them.
I know that the Church is true. I am grateful that the Church has been restored and that there is a prophet and twelve apostles in the world today.

The Elder's with their cookies

Week 97 - Chimbote

July 10, 2017

This past week was another great one here in Chimbote Central. It has been such a busy week, but it has been awesome. I'm excited for one more transfer here in my area.
Last Tuesday we got up pretty early and went to the bus terminal for the transfers. My new companion got here on Tuesday night, and we have been having a great time since he got here. He is a great missionary and he has an awesome attitude. These next few weeks are going to be awesome.
One of my favorite experiences from this past week was getting to listen to one of the families we are teaching tell us one of their experiences. They had a few differences in their family, and they just wanted everything to calm down and they wanted their kids to talk and work things out. They decided to pray together, and they prayed sincerely for their family. A little later their kids were able to talk and work things out. They are so happy now that their family is doing better. I know that the small and simple things of the gospel can make such a big difference.
This week while we were contacting a family one of their neighbors came over to give them something, and while they were talking we got to know their neighbor and she told us to come by here house when we had time. We made time a little bit later to go visit her and her family. They are an awesome family. It is always a big blessing getting to know new families. The Lord´s work is always moving forward.
One of the funniest experiences from this past week was with one of our convert´s son. He is preparing to get baptized and we talked to him a little bit this week about the first principles and ordinances of the gospel. We talked to his primary teacher after church this Sunday and she told us that in her class he was participating quite a bit and that he had asked her what it meant to have faith. My companion and I laughed a little bit as we heard that because the day before we had explained that to him. We are excited to get to help him a little bit more this week. He is a great kid.
I know that this is the Lord´s work. I know that as we live the first principles and receive the ordinances of the gospel we become more like the Savior and our families are blessed. I know that the gospel has been restored. I am very grateful for that.

Week 96 - Chimbote

July 3rd, 2017

This past week was another great one. At times it was a little tough finding people to teach, but by the end of the week we were pretty busy. We also got to spend a little bit of time with President and Sister Ríos.
Last Tuesday, we got to teach one of our converts, Hermana Fany. We talked to her a little bit about the first principles and ordinances of the gospel. As we finished the lesson we helped her to understand that the small and simple things are what are so important. As we strive to live the gospel I really think it`s so important to keep it simple. As we finished the lesson she expressed to us that as she learns more and gains more experiences she is realizing more and more that she is doing what is right.
This week I got to serve one day with one of my old companions, Elder Pacherres. We did an exchange and it was a great day. He is a very diligent missionary. One of my favorite lessons was with a new family that we found. We found them in the night and they told us that they didn't have a ton of time to talk, so we talked to them a little bit about how the gospel blesses families. That is something that always brings the spirit. At the end of the lesson they were very grateful and the dad gave us a hug. It was a pretty cool experience.
One of the highlights of this week was an actividad that we had with almost all the missionaries in the Zone. We had a church open house activity with President, Sister Ríos, and two wards here in Chimbote. We went out and invited people to the activity and Hermana Ríos went with us as well and we knocked on doors and the church was pretty full all night. It was a good time.
Yesterday,we had a little training during third hour, by President and Sister Ríos, for the open house that we are going to do in our ward in a couple of weeks. After church they came to our room and left a few of the banners there and our pensionista invited them to eat lunch with us. It was pretty awesome getting to eat lunch with them and with our pensionista and her husband.
We also had transfers yesterday.....I am staying in my area! My new companion is going to be Elder Henao. He is awesome! We played football in the MTC when we were there! Im excited for these next few weeks!
I know this is the work of the Lord. I know he knows and loves us. I know that it is so important to have faith centered and focused on the Savior because that is what will drive us to have a positive attitude each and every day.
Here is a picture of our zone at the temple a few weeks ago.

templo

Zone Conference

Week 95 - Chimbote

Monday, June 26, 2017

This past week was another good week here in Chimbote. It´s winter here and I'm loving it.
We have a few investigators that are progressing pretty well and it´s great to see that. One of our investigators that we are visiting is Hermano Edson. He is awesome. We have been visiting for a couple months now and we got to meet his grandma yesterday. She has listened to the missionaries before and gone to family home evenings with the missionaries in the past as well. She has a picture that they took in a family home evening about fifteen years ago. It was nice to get to talk to her about the good experiences she had with the missionaries in the past and we are excited to get to keep helping them.
This week we got to visit Hermano Efren and his family a little bit. His wife is progressing little by little and that is great to see. One of the happiest moments of the whole week was getting to see them together in church yesterday. They aren't afraid to ask questions, and they are learning quite a bit. It is so cool to see how happy they get as they learn more. Going to church really is a big blessing that helps us to be strengthened for a new week.
This week President Ríos and Sister Ríos came and trained us. It was a great training. They helped us to realize that we need to rely on the spirit as we teach and help the people in our areas. Sometimes it´s easy to do things our way not relying on the spirit, but the only way to success in the Lord´s work is his way.
This past week we had a few interesting experiences listening to what people have heard or think about the church. It is always interesting listening to that. There is always opposition and its so cool to see the people´s reaction when we answer their questions. I have come to realize that what the Prophet said about the Book of Mormon is true. We have to always strengthen our testimony of the Book of Mormon in these latter days.
I know that the Lord has restored his church and that Thomas S. Monson is a prophet called of God. I know that the Lord´s work will never be frustrated.

Here is a picture of us eating cuy last Monday. We ate cuy and fried rabbit. It was pretty good actually.