Hey Famali,
This week like my title says was a great week, just a ton of good news and hope for my area. I love to read all of your letters and all the good news from the states. I'm glad to hear that you all had some good spiritual experiences this week, some in the form of getting flat tires as a result of breaking the Sabbath, and others by remembering the pioneers and their legacy. This week a brother gave a talk from the July Ensign about the pioneers and it is a great talk from Elder Perry. I absolutely love to hear about the pioneers and their legacy becuase that's where I come from and my whole family as well.
This week was awesome because we had our Baptisms!!! Paola and Monica got baptized on Saturday night at 7:00 pm and there was quite a bit of ward support so we were happy. Even though we had to worry about filling the font and heating the water and organizing the baptismal service at least the Relief Society President bought the cake and was there to give the ward welcome to the two new converts. I was really edified that night and humbled at the same time. There was a little bit of stress because we had to organize a lot of stuff at the last second and wasn't really feeling the spirit till the actual ordinance. Then the two girls gave their testimony and I really was surprised. Monica gave a really good testimony that came from the spirit. She gave a testimony just like an old member in the church and I knew without a doubt that the church is true and that this work is also true. Paola also gave a moving testimony. Paola always wanted to get baptized but her sister no. Because of our persistence and the love she felt when she was around the members and around us, she decided to really listen to us and read and pray. Then she felt the spirit testify to her that the church is true and that she should get baptized.
Also this week Elder Juan A. Uceda of the Seventy came and visited the mission. We had a conference with him all afternoon on Thursday. It really was one of the biggest spiritual experiences of my mission. I know that he is a servant of God. He always referred to the seriousness of this calling that we both have. The difference I think is that almost ALL of the Seventies take their calling seriously and act on faith and obedience. Sometimes us young men don't really understand our calling and don't take it seriously. I really want to be a better missionary becuase of that conference we had.
We had a stake activity in our ward on Saturday and it was pretty awesome. It was almost like being at home becuase they did a really awesome barbeque and had soccer and volleyball tournaments. We also now have a Ward Mission Leader!! We are going to have SOOO much success now that we are going to have more support. Our new Ward mission leader is that ex branch president who graduated from BYU and live in the Avenues in Salt Lake for like 20 years. He's super cool and the first day called an assistant and is already planning meetings, activities, has goals and has the vision. He said something really awesome yesterday. He said that some people get offended becuase they get released from their callings and think that they are doing something "worse or less important". He said he had served with ex mission presidents in the primary and they loved it, we have to have this attitude of lifting where we stand. The church is perfect and true, shouldn't we try to serve there?
Thanks for all the support, I know the Lord will bless us for being obedient.
Love,
Your Son and Brother
Elder Child
P.s. This is the baptism we had. The girl with the baby is Monica and the other one is Paola. More pictures next week.
Hey Family,
Its so great to hear from you all this week. I love to hear that you're all doing well and that the summer is in full swing. I wish we could get some of that heat here at night. Its usually really nice during the day but right when the sun goes down it gets really chilly. Its like some great fall weather but without all the leaves on the grass. It made me laugh the other day becuase one of the kids we live with, Josemit, had to "rake the leaves" it was like half a garbage bag full of leaves in their tiny yard. He was complaining about it all then I told him how it is at our house and he just grabbed the rake and started again, it was funny. That's probably something I'm not looking forward to when I get back home though. Speaking of coming home I think there was a little bit of a mis communication last week. If I remember right Karyn asked me when I was coming home and I responded Wednesday November 7th. That is my guess as to when I'll be home becuase the North Americans ALWAYS get home on the Wednesday after the last transfers. BUT if I extend I'll be coming home right around christmas (six weeks later), so I can't say for sure If I'll be home on the 7th or not, it's just a guess. Sorry for not writing to the whole family about the matter, its not a verified fact from my mission president so I'll just have to wait and see. Thanks for your concern, when I know 100% I'll be sure to write the whole family in the same email. But hey if its a hassle to come to the airport that day I guess I could just take a taxi like mom suggested.
Anyways, this week was pretty awesome for us. Like we usually do we played soccer as a zone last monday and had a good time. I actually scored like three goals left footed so that was probably like a little accomplishment for me especially since I'm right footed. We had some pretty cool experiences this week doing splits with a bunch of elders in the zone. Its always fun to get to know other elders and learn from them and their style of teaching. I was with the Elder from Idaho on Tuesday and then an Elder from Ecuador on Thursday. I just love how the Lord knows who we work best with and who needs to be our regular companion. I've learned a lot from Elder Bastidas and love to be around him, usually. There's always those MOMENTS when we disagree but we usually get along really well and he is HILARIOUS. He is known as the uncontrollable ADHD jokester in the mission and of course we get put together cuz I'm exactly the opposite!!! It was his 25th birthday on Friday the 13th and we had a good time. We visited a couple of members and they threw eggs on him (a peruvian tradition-actually I think its in all of southamerica)!!! Our "mom" gave us pizza and cake that night too and that was special. I also sang him a birthday song along with the other kid that we live with, it was pretty funny because it was total improv and sounded horrible!!!
I know without a doubt that this is the Lord's work. This week we should have our two baptisms. Paola and Monica. They are so special. They are accepting all of the commandments and living by them and are excited about their baptism on Saturday. Paola still needs permission from her dad but they say he is happier about the decision now which is an absolute miracle. This guy didn't even want to see us or want us in his house but now he is changing his mind a little. We'll just keep praying, I know that he will soften his heart. We were able to give talks in sacrament meeting, again. I talked a bit about the normal and natural way to share the gospel. The ex mission president of this mission also gave a 20 minute talk so I got saved a little bit on time but the spirit was there. I love the promise that Jesus gave his disciples in 3 Nephi 28:9-10. I know he will help us and bless us if our desire is to bring souls unto Him.
Love,
Elder Child
Hey Family,
Thank you so much for your letters this week. Its always amazing to think about how fast time flies especially in the mission. I can't believe that a year ago I was where I was and all the stuff that has happened since then. I also can't believe that it's already the 4th of July and fireworks, baseball games, bbqs, and my best friend's homecoming!!! Wow, I honestly was stunned to see Dallin's picture standing next to Alex and Karyn!! It sounds like it was a good sacrament meeting with the spirit testifying of the truthfulness of this gospel and the importance of this work. I can't wait to get back and see Dallin and his family, they are like my second family. Sorry to hear about the dogs' mischief this week.
This week for me was one full of surprises, good surprises. Like I said last week I didn't get transferred so that was actually kind of a surprise. We just chilled out in the house last week and prepared for this week, I like to take one day a week and just rest. Wednesday was a great day for us. We got to do some real work that day for a few hours and saw the blessings. We found a family whose son has some problems but wants to get help, wants to change and keep the commandments. Then we were just walking on the huge hill and a lady was on her balcony and said, "Hi, are you guys teaching about Jesus or what?" We then started to teach the Restored Gospel not to just her but to her husband too. It was pretty awesome, I love it when people come up to US to hear the Gospel. They are really humble and don't have much as far as their house or money but they are pretty receptive. The only problem is that they aren't married so they will take a little longer to get baptized.
The next really cool surprise also came Wednesday. We went to an appointment with some investigators that I've had since I got here. They are references from a good member family in the ward. They have pretty much just playing around with the idea of getting baptized, sometimes listening to us, sometimes not, but lately they've been progressing. They are two sisters, Paola and Monica. We were just talking about the Book of Mormon a little bit and Monica (who was the more difficult of the two) was like, "You know what, I want to get baptized, I've already decided". We were pretty stunned. I was super happy!!! Then we asked her why. She just prettty much described all these really awesome feelings she gets when she's talking to us and to that member family, its like she doesn't have problems. We testified of the Spirit and she felt awesome. They are getting baptized on the 21st of July.
Well my time is gone now but I just want you all to know how much I love each one of you and I KNOW that the Spirit testifies of things we need to know even if we aren't expecting it. They talked about the wierdest subject in Sacrament meeting sunday, cleaning the church. I wasn't expecting anything spritiual but I was pondering about how I feel when I clean the church and the Spirit testified to me that when we clean the church the Lord cleans us spiritually. I love that..
Hopè you all have a good week, clean the church to recieve the remission of your sins!!
Elder Child
Hey Family,
This week was pretty crazy like always. I love to read all of your letters and all of your support. Thanks for the news updates about all the fires in Utah, that sounds kind of stressful actually, the trials never really stop in this life do they? I translated that part of mom's letter when the governor asked the members to pray for the elements and my comp thought that was a hoot! Well, I already wrote Alex about this but on the website we go into to write to our mission president there's a part where you can see ward maps and directories, it's brand new. So I looked through the Heritage Ward directory and Dad's picture comes up with Bishop next to his name. Technology is pretty awesome. All of my comps flipped out and did the same. The church really is worldwide and keeping up with the times!!
Last Monday was super cool as usual because we played soccer as a zone. My comp and some other missionaries had to travel to Lima to do some papers so I was on splits with some other Elders. We taught a lesson to a couple of girls whose mom is inactive. We challenged them to get baptized and becuase of distractions and other things I kind of didn't feel the spirit really strong in that moment but they accepted to get baptized, it was actually a pretty cool experience because we as missionaries should never feel scared or timid about inviting people to repent and get their lifes in order.
Last night we had transfers. I've been in my area for four months now and so most of the members were saying goodbye to me. I felt the love of the members here even if they don't always do their part in the work. We have seen the fruits of our labors though becuase now they are starting to give us references.
So I waited till 4:30 AM to get the tranfer call. And it turns out I'm staying in my area with my same comp!!! Such a waste of a night, couldn't really sleep at all cuz I wanted to know if someone had transfers. Anyways, I'll be here for 6 months and I hope we can get 3 baptisms in the next couple of weeks. We're starting to see some people progress which is really awesome.
Once again my time has run short. I feel like I'm always saying that but it's true. This week I had a fun time looking through the directory so that took up some time. I hope you all enjoy the pictures. The house looks bigger than it really is by the way, they don't have a yard or anything, but I love living with that family. I hope that one day the husband will listen to us and join his family in the church!!! Love you all, you're the best!!
Elder Child
