More info about the changes

"Elder Vasquez is going to Tarapoto, and Elder Figueroa from El Salvador is my new companion. He entered in the CCM with me, and the misión field with me, and is a great friend. We will have great times together and much success. "

This is what President wrote to Elder Rich and Elder Vasquez:

"Congratulations Elders, You have really done an impeccable excellent work. Elder Vasquez, that is the same way we want it to be when you go to Tarapoto. We want you to continue the excellent work that has happened in Pucallpa. You two are very good leaders, and I congratulate you. Sincerely, Presidente Perez"

The elders that are leaving Pucallpa are:

Elder Lee and Elder Soto
Elder Hyde (going to Iquitos)
Elder Layton (also going to Iquitos, but a different zone than Elder Hyde)
Elder Stewart and Elder Cope (going back to Bolivia)

Those elders that are coming in to replace them are:

Elder J. Mamani and Elder Elison
Elder Choc
Elder Merrill
Elder Clarke and Cuellar

"We will have a really good zone and I’m really excited for this new change."

What's wrong with this picture?

When missionaries are transferred to the jungle, they are only allowed to take ONE suitcase :)

Landon is in Pucallpa now. I can't help but wonder......... how the flight was (I'm a worrier), what his companion is like, what their housing is like, who their pension is, how he slept last night, how the training meetings went yesterday, is it really as hot as they say, is he nervous, excited..................???

So many questions, that will have to wait until Monday to be answered. Believe me, I'll have a list :)

Last week in Independencia

Walter is really excited for his baptism next Saturday (2/7/9), but we have to get permission from his parents. Please pray for him.

It’s going to be weird working in Independencia for the last time this week, my last week. I will work hard and talk with more people than I ever have before. Then........off to Pucallpa, Wednesday, February 11th.

Changes are coming.......

Well family, here is the news for the week. Sunday night (01/25/09) the Assistants got back from President’s house and told us of the changes to come. Elder Foutz came to the office (as my replacement) on Tuesday and he is doing well. As for me - I’m going to Pucallpa !!!!! Another part of the jungle......

I’m happy happy happy and kinda sad at the same time (to be leaving Independencia), but most of all I’m really really happy. I’m really ready to work and get going out into the field.

For Sure

Well, it’s coming to an end. I will be leaving the offices the 11th of February. I had my interview with President, and it was good, short and sweet, and full of the spirit as it always is. He made a comment to me that really made me happy, and more than anything, shows I did my best. I would do anything for that man.

I’m not going to lie, it will be sad to leave Independencia. I will miss a lot of people. It’s a great ward, young, and still learning the ways of the Lord, but they’re progressing.

All good things must come to an end..........

Elder Herdt moves on today - back to the field..........the jungle at last :)
Until we meet again, take care.

A Change in the Changes

There are usually 6 weeks between changes, and the next one was scheduled for December 31st. It has been postponed for ONE WEEK, until January 7th, in order to avoid any New Year's celebration.

Getting the Royal Treatment

Elder Rich sent this photo, and there was no info attached, except to say that the woman in the picture was a Sister from the CCM (Peru MTC). If I had to guess, I would say this was taken at the airport this past week. During all of the changes, the office missionaries spend quite a bit of time at the airport.

"So I got back from the airport and slept for an hour, then I had to get up and wake up some missionaries that had to go to the airport. I woke them up and got back to bed at 2:45 am, then I got a phone call at 3:30 am, saying that one of the elders couldn’t travel with his baggage, so I had to go BACK to the airport to bring his baggage back."

Till we meet again...........

Tuesday night, it was pretty sad to see Elder Larkin and Elder Schaertl leave to go home. I had become pretty good friends with them. Elder Ticona and I took them to the airport and didn’t get back to the offices till 1 am.

Elder Larkin and I were talking, and I told him a few of my goals after the mission.
1. Learn how to play the piano.
2. Learn another language, and then Elder Larkin pulled out his guitar, and I added,
3. Learn how to play the guitar.

Elder Hirschi and Elder Ticona and my companion (Elder Vargas) all know how to play it, and also Elder Larkin.

Elder Larkin said, “How am I going to take this home?? I can’t send it. I can’t put it under the plane, and I don’t want to carry it on. I don’t know what I will do”.

About 15 minutes later he was like, “Elder Rich, when is your birthday? Here, I give you my guitar, Happy Birthday, haha”. So I am in the process of learning from Elder Hirschi, how to play the guitar. I never thought I would have my own personal guitar. That’s cool.

The Changes went well

"The changes are done, all the meetings and trainings are over, and everyone is in their new areas and all is well."

"These changes passed a lot better than the last ones. I knew what was going on, and when it was going on."

"It was not tiring in the sense of no sleep, because I’m on schedule, and I get everything done and I get to sleep by 10 or 10:30. I’m tired in the sense of a lot of things went on. Alot of movement and thinking and decision making, but it was all good."

Busy Busy Change Week

Hey! Well, how is everything going back there in good old Morgan??? I hope well. All here is well. The changes got approved, so I have a lot of work to do and not a lot of time to do it. Monday is the start of changes and another week of no sleep and lots of fun. There have been A LOT of changes, and a lot of flights to arrange. I think there will be more than 40 missionaries flying on the 8th of October. There is going to be a lot of movement and travel, but it will all go fine and I will love it.

It’s so tough to write letters down here in the offices. There is NO time, and I’m not just saying that. It’s so crazy and busy all the time, even on P-days, we’re always doing something. I love it. Thanks for all your prayers. I need them. I love you.

A Crazy week in review.......... Monday (09/15)

We didn’t get out in the field today till we left for dinner, which is at 8pm. I was busy doing the new changes, YES, the new changes already.(October 8th changes) I know where everyone is going this next change. All my old comps, all my buddies, I love it. They will be excited. I was doing that all day long, and my comp was at Serpost (the post office) picking up packages, and then we cleaned upstairs. Our room, and the big room also.

To follow up on the girl that the member presented to us yesterday. Me and Elder Herdt went to teach her. I loved teaching with Elder Herdt. It was the first time in the mission. We didn’t have any experience together or anything, we just taught, and it was good… The lesson went really well, but I thought the commitment we did to get baptized could have been a little better. I now realize I have to keep studying to keep up the teaching good… I need to read Preach My Gospel a lot more… I don’t think there is time, but I will find time.

Everything you ever wanted to know about changes..........

........but your missionary never told you ! (haha) - Between Elder Rich and Elder Herdt's emails, we'll see if we can't fill in the blanks.

Elder Rich - During Monday through Friday (of change week) there are a lot of missionaries in the offices. At one time there could be 30 to 40 missionaries and that's a lot. We had 15 missionaries leave this last change.. and 15 came in also… So it was pretty even.. This next change (in 6 weeks), 11 are leaving… The number varies, sometimes it's more... sometimes it's less…. It all depends….

Elder Rich: Monday - Interviews for those that were finishing their missions. I had to have all their packets done and ready.

Elder Herdt: Monday - It was my responsability to set up our next years budget.

Elder Rich: Tuesday - I had to be ready for the oldies to go to the temple (for one last time), and when they came back, have all their tickets ready to go to the airport. We left for the airport to take five North Americans and two Latins at 8pm. We were there till 12am, then we worked a little bit till we had to turn around and go back to the airport at 2am to drop off two more Latins that were flying to southern Peru. We came back at 3:30am and got to bed at 4am.

Elder Herdt: Tuesday - So the day comes when we have to send all of the oldy olds home. So we were running to and fro (whatever fro means), trying to get people home.

Elder Rich: Wednesday - Up again at 6:30am to get everything ready to go to the church for the "change" meetings. There are two change meetings, one at 1pm, and one at 3pm. During all this I have to be ready to hand out documents and plane tickets to the people that are flying to Iquitos, Tarapoto, and Pucallpa. I have to make sure they get to the airport on time. Then Wednesday night we have to get ready for meetings the next day. There are now about 20 Elders (Zone Leaders) sleeping here in the offices.

Elder Herdt: Wednesday - Change day......DUNDUNDUM!!!!! So I wake up at 5am, ready to rock and roll. Ready to go pick up these little new kids, and rock their worlds. My job is to give them all a presentation about how their funds and money will work, and solutions to their problems, and stupid things not to do.

Elder Rich: Thursday - Is the council of the Zone leaders and President Perez. All day is spent in training, and we have to be here to run the offices and work like normal.

Elder Herdt: Thursday - Zone Council is pretty much legit, we have all 28 of the zone leaders here, and then they have a big meeting taking turns giving trainings. They send us in to answer questions and to explain things.

Elder Rich: Friday I have to be up at 5:30am to make sure the Elders get to the airport to get to Pucallpa on time. Then I just start working like normal. All day Friday is the council of the District leaders, and the training of the trainers, … so it's not as bad as they all say, but the earliest I got to bed this week was 2am…. It was good… I loved it…

Elder Herdt: Friday - District Leader council and training meeting for the new trainers. All that went smooth, then we went out and hit the field for the first time this week. It felt good.

Cambios and a Challenge

I'm starting to change, I think and do and say spiritual things now.. I can't help it.. It's not a bad thing, it's just that I'm turning more and more into a "weird" missionary everyday, and I hope you all can handle it. This life is so short, and we have to live every day as if it were the last.. We have to conquer the flesh. We have to stop doing the things of the world. I want to invite you all, if you're not already doing it, to try every single day, to walk, talk, and be as Christ was and is... In the way you talk and act with people, reflect Christ, and let your spirit and the Spirit of our Lord work through you to bless the lives of other people.

Español/spanish
Cambios y reto
Estoy empezando a cambiar, pienso y hago cosas espirituales ahora..No puedo ayudarlo…No es algo malo…Es sólo que me estoy convirtiendo más y más en un misionero “raro” cada día. Espero que ustedes puedan manejarlo. Esta vida es tan corta, y debemos vivir cada día como si fuese el último. Tenemos que vencer a lo carnal. Tenemos que parar de hacer las cosas del mundo. Quisiera invitarlos a hacerlo, si tú no lo estás haciendo todavía, intentar cada día, caminar, hablar, y ser como Cristo fue y es. ..En la manera que tú hables y actúes con las personas, reflejando a Cristo, y dejas a tu espíritu y al Espíritu de nuestro Señor obrar en ti para poder bendecir las vidas de otras personas.

Português/Portuguese:
Troques e desafíos
Estou começando a trocar, penso e faço coisas espirituais agora...Não o posso ajudar...Não e algo mau... É só que me estou convertendo mais e mais num missionário “raro” cada dia. Espero que vocês o possam entender. Esta vida é tão curta, e devemos viver cada dia como se fora o último. Temos que vencer o carnal. Temos que parar de fazer as coisas do mundo. Os quisera invitar a fazer-lo, se você não o está fazendo ainda, tentar cada dia, caminhar, falar, e ser como Cristo foi e é....Na maneira que você fale e atue com as pessoas, refletindo a Cristo, e deixe a seu espírito e ao espírito de nosso Senhor obrar em você para poder bendizer as vidas de outras pessoas.

Changes Already ??

"Man, I can't believe this change is almost over. This is the fastest change in my whole mission. This month of May flew by, I don't remember anything. It's crazy. Only week more, and I will have a new companion....it's all good. I love this work, it's the most important work in the world. I'm glad you're all happy, and that you're good in health. I love you so much Dad and Mom, and thank you for everything you do for me."

Everything is New

My new companion is Elder Evans, from Idaho Falls, Idaho. He has 13 months in the mission, and I'm his second American companion. He is a good elder. I love it, cause I can speak English to him, haha.

We live in a really really really really nice house, haha, I'm serious. I hear it's one of the nicest houses or rooms in the mission. We're on the first floor, and have a bathroom, our sleeping room, a kitchen, and a study room.

Our church has a branch here. It's kinda smaller (than a ward), but we are hopefully going to create a Stake while we're here, so it's good.... The members are really nice. I love it.. I had to give a talk yesterday (in church), to introduce myself, it was all good.. I love it.. My Spanish is great.

Cambios! (Changes)

Tommorrow, Elder Vargas heads off to the jungle, and I stay in Villa Sol, and I'm happy. My new comp is from Bolivia, and I still don't know him, but I'll have all the info next week. He gets to Lima on Saturday, I'll be in a "triple" for a few days. (3 Elders together)

Well, I think it's a good thing there is a change, cuz you all know I can get along with everyone, but with Elder Vargas my nerves were tested, haha. Man, he is a good missionary and obedient, but is there such a thing as too obedient? Haha.... no there isn't, but I guess what I'm saying, is he did things in excess, where I didn't see the need, and no, it wasn't breaking rules or anything, but all is well, and I've learned a ton in the short time I was with him.

We have 15 families, it's amazing, and we're teaching like crazy. We had 16 dates for baptism, but lost a few, but now we have 9 solid for the upcoming weeks. One family and 3 more to come in the next month. I'm excited. Well, I love you all, and keep on keeping on.