Week 48 - Viru

July 25th, 2016 

This week was another really great week here in Viru. I really have grown to love this place. It started off a little rough because our family home evening that we had planned fell through last Monday, but it ended on a great note. We had an open house in the Church yesterday, and it went super great. We spent all week handing out invitations, and I think not a single person that we invited during the week came. The Church is by a pretty busy street, however, so we started inviting people in from the street with the members and it turned into a big success. It was a really fun activity. The members are so powerful. We have so much more success when we get to work with them. It is such a blessing to have a nice Church building here as well.

This week we had the chance to give a few blessings to sick people as well. In one situation we found a less active member and we tried to teach her, but she said she didn't have time. We gave her the blessing then left. As we were walking on the trail to our next visit I felt that we should go back and teach her. That is what we did. I was definitely kind of nervous because she already said she didn't have time to listen, but when we got there we told her why we had come back and she let us teach her about the restoration for a few minutes. I'm not exactly sure why we were sent back yet, but I know it was for some purpose.

We also have been teaching a young family that is progressing a little bit. The mom has gotten a lot more excited about the Gospel in these past few weeks. Their little son got sick a few weeks ago and it got worse this week. He wasn't really eating anything, but we were able to give him a blessing. Then we talked to them about family prayer and invited them to pray as a family. We passed by the next day, and their little son was running around and laughing. He is doing much better now. I am very grateful for the opportunity to help the people here in Peru. I am excited to keep helping this family progress. 

This last week was a great week, and this next week will be a great week as well. The district has organized a Trek for the youth and for the members as well. We get to be a part of it too. We get to tell stories of the Pioneers. I have been studying the story that I am going to share and it always amazes me the mental toughness that the pioneers had. 

I know the Lord gives us strength and that he guides us and loves us. 

Week 47 - Viru

This was another good week here in Viru. 

Last Monday we had a family home evening in a recent converts house and it went very well. We had plans to talk about the Book of Mormon, but as we started we realized that there was only one other guy in the room. We ended up talking a little bit about moms and read a few verses from Alma 56. It was a great uplifting experience.

Later on in the week we got the chance to teach a less active family. The parents are Maria and Amarante. They are so great and I really enjoyed teaching them. The dad has gone through a few troubles, but as we talked and read with him I saw that the spirit was able to comfort him. The Book of Mormon is such a powerful book. We I really enjoy using it and it makes teaching about a million times easier.(I think I've said that a million times in my summaries, but its so true.) 

On Wednesday I had a district leaders training meeting in Trujillo and it was a great training. In the beginning we read in the book of Mormon for a little while and President Rios showed us how we should always be finding lessons that we can apply to our own lives and circumstances as we read the scriptures. It is so true the scriptures really can teach us so much if we are applying what we learn and feel as we read them to our own lives. 

In the end of this last week we had a little activity in the Church and quite a few people came actually. It kind of shocked me a little bit actually!(maybe i should have more faith haha) We started out by asking the question what makes our church special or what makes it different than the rest? then we watched a great little video about the Book of Mormon. One member also helped out a ton and provided us with a little snack as well. 

I have said many times that having a good attitude is very important and once again id say that's the truth. It is not something that is easy always. This last week I didn't really feel super excited and I got a little bit frustrated at times, but I know that I am exactly where I need to be and I know that this is the work of the Lord. It is not an easy work, but it is important. I am so grateful for the many blessings that I have received from my Heavenly Father and especially for the atonement. I know the atonement has the power to change and improve lives. 

Week 46 - Viru

One more week here in Viru is in the books! It was a great week and I really enjoyed it. This week I had the chance to go on two companion exchanges and I really got to learn a lot from the other Elders about how they teach and what they are doing to have success in getting to know new people to teach.
This last week we had a family home evening in our branch presidents house with a few other members and it went very well. We shared a mormon message that talked about being obedient. It was a really awesome video. I really like one part of it when Elder Eyring talks and suggests that we pray in the morning and ask for the help of the Lord to be able to be obedient for one day. I really hope that helped inspire the people present to keep pushing forward and take living the gospel day by day. I know that as we work day by day to do the best we can and as we work day by day in the work of The Lord he helps us reach our full potential.
This week we had the chance to meet a few new families. The gospel really can help anybody and can answer the questions that so many people have in the world today.
This week we got the opportunity to teach a family about how marriage can be a blessing for their family and how the gospel is a sure foundation for their family. I really enjoyed teaching about the family and it is so cool to see the progress of these families. The people here are very humble and despite their difficulties they are always willing to press forward with hope.
Yesterday we had a transmission from the area Presidency for all of the members in the area and it was really awesome. As they encouraged the members during the transmission I tried to put myself in their shoes a little bit and I realized that they have some really important responsibilities that seemed like they were going to take lots of time, but in the end Elder Uceda repeated the words of Elder Bednar and said basically that we don't need to take more time to fulfill our responsibilities, but rather we need to focus on our goals and work towards them in the time that we do have.
I know that the Lord always provides the way for us to accomplish what he wants us to do. I know that as we work hard that he helps us accomplish great things.

Cookin up some churros. 

We made a ton and I'm pretty sure I don't need to eat another churro for a long time. 

Week 45 - Viru

Happy 4th of July America!!!!!! 

This week was another good week in the work. Every week is different and unique. This week we had a few days that we walked a ton because we couldn't find a lesson, but i guess that's part of being a missionary! During one of these days we had been walking around for almost 3 hours when I decided to knock on a random door and the guy inside opened the door and the first words out of his mouth were ¨pasen¨ which basically means come in. That was definitely a huge tender mercy! He was a really nice guy and he was eager to listen and learn a little bit more.

This week we also got to work with a young part member family. Carlos and Eliza. She was baptized about 2 years ago and he is not a member yet. He has been working far away and coming back every few weeks for a few days, but now he has a new job here so he should be here every day which will make it a lot easier to visit him more. I have visited him a few times now and he is really humble and believes that the Church is true. I feel very blessed to have been put here in my area at this time. There is so many good people here. It really hope and pray that I am working hard enough to be able to help them the best that I can. 

This week we also had interviews with President Rios and they went very well. He has a clear goal of what he wants us to be doing and is helping us to step it up a little bit more so that we can hasten the work. 

I am so grateful for the chance I have to be a missionary. I am learning many things. I am very grateful for the Love of our Heavenly Father and for his patience. 

Week 44 - Viru

June 27th - e-mail:

This week was an awesome week here in Viru. We were able to meet and get to know a few new young families which was so awesome. It isn't super hot either so that was an added bonus. It is crazy how in just a few months i went from sleeping with just a sheet to sleeping with two blankets. I am definitely enjoying this cooler weather.

This week we met two new young families and they are awesome. One of the couples is reading the Book of Mormon right now and is so prepared. It is so awesome to see how the Lord really helps people to change and how he works in them and prepares them. The second young family that we found was super awesome as well. They told us in the end of the first lesson that their house is our house. The Lord really does prepare these people to receive the gospel. 

This week we also had a really great lesson with a family that we have been working with for a while. Carlos and his wife Elisa, they have two kids and they have been going through a few trials lately. Their youngest son has been getting sick a lot and every now and then it gets really serious. The dad is also having trouble finding a steady job. They are so great and always so nice to us. I honestly couldn't imagine having to go through these trials as the father in the house. We talked about the plan of salvation and the dad teared up as he explained the comfort that he felt as he learned that even though we make mistakes in this life, or even though we sometimes do things the hard way, we get second chances. As we left that lesson I once again felt so strongly that i am so blessed in my life and really don't have any reason to complain or whine. 

I know that our Father in Heaven loves us and that he will deliver us from our trials and help make weak things become strong to us. I am so grateful for all that he has given me in this life. I am so grateful for the opportunity to be a missionary for these two years. It really is a blessing. 

Week 43 - Viru

June 20th E-mail:

This week was a good week. It was an interesting week. We did quite a bit of walking, but we got to help a few families out this week.

Yesterday we had a really cool experience. We knocked on the door of one of our old investigators and his brother from Lima answered the door and let us in. We talked to him for about a half hour and he told us all about his life. He told us that he is separated from his wife and his kids, but he came to visit them for fathers day. He had a really strong testimony of Christ, however, and he has been able to find strength in Him. We shared the Book of Mormon with him and we talked about eternal families as well. As we talked to him I realized just how much the gospel blesses families that live it. I also was reminded by this man that we aren't ever alone. I am so grateful that my family is united in the gospel. What a blessing. 

Yesterday, I gave a talk in church and I had the last talk. I went up to speak at 10:35. I was really wondering how in the world I was going to take up all that time, as I walked up I was laughing a little bit along with the first councilor, but I talked of Fathers and used a talk from Elder Holland a little bit as well. It went very well and I really hope I was able to help the people. I know talking a lot has never been a weakness of mine so I guess the Lord was letting me use my talents a little bit. I am so grateful for the gift of the Holy Ghost and for the guidance that it gives to us in our lives. As a missionary I have come to realize just how real that gift is. 

I am very excited for one week more in the work here in Viru. We had changes yesterday and I'm staying here with Elder Cruz for his last transfer of his training. I'm excited for one transfer more here in Viru! I know this is the work of the Lord. I know he is patient with us and is always willing to help us become better. I know he blesses us with opportunities in our lives so that we can learn, grow and find happiness. 

Hoops in Viru

Our branch president works at a brand new court here and we got to go try it out last Monday.

It was a good time.

The zone in our new zone jerseys

the zone at the top of the castle a few weeks ago