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.