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