Working Hard - Loving the Lord

We've worked hard this past week. We're working hard to be an example for our Elders. This is the most tired and exhausted I have been on my mission.

I love the Lord and I am getting to know Him even more every step of the way. This past week I have experienced alot of things that have touched my heart, and made me realize the importance of the atonement. Jesus did everything for me and for us, and I love Him. It brings tears to my eyes just thinking about it and writing this.

To all of you, I love you and I miss you, but the time is running short!!!! I have to work harder and I have to complete the things the Lord wants. The temple is the only place we can be sealed for life... GET THERE!!!

Missionary Work

I'm very excited for this new change. We're going to work really hard and I know we will have a good July. My birthday is coming up pretty fast, how weird is that? It doesn’t seem like it, haha. It will just come and go. I don’t have much time to write right now, because we have to do a ``informe``. I don’t know the word in English, sorry.

**Informe means "report" in English

Juan Carlos Tacuri Villacorta and Daniela Flores Vargas were baptized last night. Carlos is 22 years old and Daniela is 10. Carlos will be a great missionary and I'm very grateful for him and his learning. This week we have worked hard and we had good numbers, even being in Lima for 2 days.

I'm very grateful for the prophets and apostles that we have today. I'm in the process of reading the General Conference talks and I love them. I feel the spirit so strong and I'm becoming more receptive to the spirit, like when Carlos was bearing his testimony last night, it was so strong and I loved it.

Planes, Showers, & Scales

The Consejo (Zone Leader Conference) was great!!! The flights were also really good, nothing bad at all!!! (they experienced REALLY bad turbulance last time)

Being in Lima was great. It was 17 degrees Celsius (62.6 degrees Fahrenheit), and it wasn’t too cold. But showering in the morning in cold water was sure cold, haha. It's a lot different than showering in the jungle with cold water.

Oh ya, I also lost another half kilo. I weighed 84.5 kilos (186 pounds), so I'm almost down to what I was as I entered the mission, how sweet is that!?!?!?!

Homemade by MOM

"That’s cool you learned how to make my favorite food!!! I don’t mean to burst your bubble, but when I get home I think I will want to eat food from the states, haha, just joking, I will probably want to eat at the Peruvian restaurants all the time because I will miss the food down here!!!! That’s great!!!"

Papa a la Huancaina - (Peruvian Potatoes with Cheese)

Peruvian Sauce:
2 lb. Panela cheese (found in Mexican markets)
3 Tbsp. Yellow Hot Pepper Sauce (Aji Amarillo salsa)
½ clove garlic (optional)
Salt to taste
1 Tbsp. oil
1-2 cans evaporated milk (till you get desired consistency)
Dash of freshly ground black pepper
½ tsp. lime juice

Peruvian Potatoes:
10 leaves of lettuce
10 potatoes, boiled and sliced in half
3 eggs, hard-boiled and sliced vertically in ¼’s
10 pitted olives
Parsley, chopped
1 medium red onion, sliced very thin, rinsed in water and seasoned with salt

Combine all sauce ingredients in a blender; blend completely, using a little more oil and a little more evaporated milk if needed to blend ingredients well. Sauce should have a slightly thick consistency so it can be spread over the potatoes. To assemble, lay a bed of lettuce in a serving dish; place the potatoes on the lettuce. Cover with the sauce. Garnish with eggs, olives, parsley, and onion slices. Serve cold.

Peru Party was a Success !

Even though we were rained out at the property, we were able to move to Elder Rich's grandparents house nearby. Everyone had a great time sharing pictures and stories of our missionaries. The "kids" had a great time playing games while the adults visited. Next year we'll hope for better weather, and we'll have our missionaries HOME, so we can sit around and listen to them! Thanks to everyone for coming, and if you couldn't make it this year, we'd love to have you next time.

What - no boots ?!?

Elder Quintana and Elder Rich got a little bit muddy, don't you think?


Of course, the question from mom is, "Were you riding that motorcycle?" - or is it just a clothes rack :)

WE KNOW BETTER

God has put the commandments in our lives to lead us and protect us from all harm. We KNOW to obey them!!! And just like a father in this world shakes his head in disappointment when his earthly children disobey, our Father in heaven I'm sure does also, when we disobey and sin.

WE KNOW BETTER, we must always try to make our fathers happy by obeying. Not out of pressure, but out of love. That's what I learned this week.

Cambios! (Changes)

Well the news is in!!!! Looks like I will be flying to Lima on Wednesday, but I will be coming back on Thursday night to keep working in PUCALLPA!!!! For a month and a half more!!!! I will have 6 months here in Pucallpa!!! For the past year, I've only been in 2 areas, Independencia (while working in the office) and Pucallpa.

I'm really excited, and what's even better, I'm staying with Elder Figueroa. Six missionaries are leaving the zone and six more are coming. Those leaving are Elder Mamani and Elder Elison, Elder Morton, Elder Moreira, Elder Rojas and Elder Quintana. Next week I will tell you the new ones who are coming here.

I love working and I love helping other people. I'm very happy and I have nothing to complain about. I just can't believe how fast this change went by. Aaahhh it's going by too fast!!!!

** Note - the picture above is the Pucallpa Zone from March 26, 2008 to May 6, 2008 (Missing Elders Wayt and Atkinson who arrived on May 7th)

Congratulations Senor & Senora Ticona

Elder Ticona, was one of the AP's while Landon was in the office. He finished his mission in November or December 2008. The missionaries received word that he has recently been married. He and his beautiful bride were married in a civil ceremony in Arequipa, Peru (where they are from), and then flew to Lima to be sealed in the temple. Congratulations to the new couple !

Pics from Pucallpa

We received a CD of new pics this past week. There were some nice ones, and I'm working on getting them out on the Picasa account.

In the news..........

Here in the jungle they cut alot of trees, and the rivers get polluted and well, the natives are rebelling. It hasn't gotten to any big city yet, like Pucallpa or Iquitos, but we see things in newspapers and TV news, etc, and it's pretty rough. We have heard that 20 police officers were killed and over 100 natives. They were blocking roads and causing problems, but there is no harm here.

Cambios coming up

Man, about the changes...... I have no idea. Next Monday I will know whether I'm going or staying. I have no idea if I will go or if I will stay!!!!!

My time here in Pucallpa has been great and if I'm changed so be it, and if I'm not, that works too!!!

All is well here. If I am transferred, the saying goodbye will be hard, but I will get it done. I love the work I'm doing. So many people are changing and it's all thanks to one thing!!!!!! Jesus Christ. He is the only one that makes everything possible. I love Him and am grateful for Him. I love you all and thank you for everything.

The "Bicycle"

I was sick the other day. One of our investigators invited us to some lunch, and well, they live out in the boonies so the water they gave us wasn't treated or boiled, so needless to say I got sick!!! I had a bad stomach for two days and it was bad. I almost couldn't leave the bathroom, haha. They have a slang down here for diarrhea. They call it the "bicycle". Someone asked me if I was sick with the "bicycle", and I said it's more like the "motorcycle", haha. It was pretty bad, but now I'm better. The Lord blessed me and I'm better in 2 days, but I think I lost even more weight.

Ok, so a funny story. We were walking and I was sick right? So I didn't feel very good but we still worked, and well I didn't see a curb and I ate it hard, haha. I tripped and fell with full force and well, at least I caught myself somewhat, but the worst is that it was at an intersection!

Missionary Work

Our converts are flourishing, I'm so happy!!!!! The Macedo family is doing great and the rest are too. I had the opportunity to bless Rubì Ester Macedo Coronado yesterday in sacrament meeting. My first baby blessing, and what an experience. It was great. The family Macedo is one of a kind. The father will be a great leader!!

Our investigators are doing well for this Saturday. We have Betsy Vasquez and Linda ready for baptism, and for the next week, Victor and Carlos. Sadly, two nights ago, the dad of Manuel Montes, our convert, died of cancer. He was receiving therapy, but had a blood clot and died. Thanks to God for the Plan of Salvation!!!!

Hot and Cold

On the 3rd of June it was COLD - like really cold, haha. Not really for us back home, but for the people here in Pucallpa, all of them had their coats on and scarves and all were dying, haha. I thought it felt great!!!!! But it was a big change, because one day it's way hot, and the next cold, and the next way hot - that's how it is.

Just missing him..........

Some days are harder than others. Again, I kick myself for not making sure that Landon's camera captured SOUND with the video. I do like this video, seeing Landon talking with his hands. SO LIKE HIM :) He's obviously explaining something. I just love to watch him. Yes, today I'm trunky !

You are or have been a Latter-day Saint missionary if:

You have been living in Hawaii for a year and a half and don't even own a swimsuit.

You ask golden questions and talk about golden plates while searching for golden investigators.

You have learned that pouring ketchup on burnt scrambled eggs is cheaper and easier than throwing them away.

You've ever been told that Elder is an interesting first name.

You have a new wardrobe today because you traded ties with a friend.

You've reinforced the soles of your dress shoes with duct tape.

You top 10 favorite hits are all hymns.

You hum them all day long.

You have calluses on your knuckles from knocking on doors.

Your closet has nine shirts in it and eight of them used to be white.

You spend more time praying for others than for yourself.

You have learned how to eat animal parts that you would normally throw away.
(Latter-day Saint Wit and Wisdom, p. 118-120)

One of those tender mercies...............

An email message from Sister Snow:

"I bring you greetings from your son in Peru. We were with him at a Stake Conference in Pucallpa a week ago, and I am pleased to report he is doing very well!

We are only home at the computer for a few hours, then have more travel until next week. I will try and give you a call when we return to give an "in depth, in person" report.

Elder Rich asked me to send his love to his family, so I am sending a big hug your way. For now, here is a photo and a compliment on raising a wonderful young man!" - Sister Phyllis Snow

The Scriptures bring to mind.................

It seems that when you have a missionary in the field, certain scriptures touch your heart more than others. (Moroni 7: 31-34)

31 And the office of their ministry is to call men unto repentance, and to fulfill and to do the work of the covenants of the Father, which he hath made unto the children of men, to prepare the way among the children of men, by declaring the word of Christ unto the chosen vessels of the Lord, that they may bear testimony of him.

32 And by so doing, the Lord God prepareth the way that the residue of men may have faith in Christ, that the Holy Ghost may have place in their hearts, according to the power thereof; and after this manner bringeth to pass the Father, the covenants which he hath made unto the children of men.

33 And Christ hath said: If ye will have faith in me ye shall have power to do whatsoever thing is expedient in me.

34 And he hath said: Repent all ye ends of the earth, and come unto me, and be baptized in my name, and have faith in me, that ye may be saved.

Estamos en JUNIO‏

Well, May is finished!!! The race for 505 is over. As a zone we finished with 45 confirmations with 12 families and 13 men over 18 years old. As a mission we finished with 404 baptisms and confirmations. It's a miracle and we are all very very happy. It's the highest number of baptisms we have had in all my mission and well, it feels good. Here in the area, Elder Figueroa and I finished with 7 baptisms with 1 family and 2 men over 18 years old. Also in our zone, Elder Elison and Mamani finished with 11 baptisms and 6 families and 3 men older than 18. It's truly a miracle and I'm very grateful for this time I have to be here. This week that passed we had 22 baptisms here in the zone. It was great, the Lord is truly blessing us all.

Jess Ramos moved from Lima to Pucallpa with his wife 3 weeks ago. His wife is a member and the family of his wife are members here in Pucallpa and they gave us his reference and he was married, taught the lessons, and baptized in a week and a half. Only the truth restored can change a person's life so fast. I'm grateful for Jess and his change he has made.