Working Hard and Learning Much

This past week has been good…. I learned a lot and I'm working hard... You won't recognize me when I get home, I'm learning so much.

This change (6 week period) in Tarapoto is slow - but fast. Let me explain.... it's fast because, wow - next time I email I will let you guys know the change (where he's going next), but slow because the work is kinda slow.. We find new people to teach every day, but they don't progress. I'm working hard, but right now we're not having success in baptizing, but we're spreading the gospel to hundreds of people every week.. Teaching them about the restored gospel....

The people are great... I love the members, and I have such good friends here.. Gabo, Marco, and all the members. I love Spanish. I love speaking it, but I have to get better. Right now I can speak fluently, but my grammar, well that's a different matter. But I will get better. I can understand everything, and I can respond good. I don't sound like a white guy speaking Spanish, so that's good. I sound like a Latin, so that's good. It's just the little things.

I'm doing great in health - haven't been better... Ya know I'm a pretty lucky kid. I haven't been sick with anything of the stomach or anything, knock on wood... haha, it's truly a gift of God. I was studying the other day in D & C, Section 46, I think it is, and Moroni 10, about the gifts of God.... It's amazing how many gifts I have. I'm striving to reach all of them.. and that should be our goal...

Ame la lengua

From the latest email:

I’m getting pretty good with Spanish. 5 1/2 months out, and I can say pretty much whatever I want. I can teach really good, and joke around with people too. It’s great. I can understand probably 90% of things said. All is well down here.

How is the Spanish coming?

Good..... I really am starting to pick it up. I can understand pretty much all, but even though I don't understand the meaning of the word, I still can tell what word it is.... Ya, me and my comp were talking last night when we were falling asleep, our "dejo" is what it's called, or accent. Haha, I'm pretty sure I have one, but we will see in May (when I call home).

Info from Peru

I had to get my hair cut again.. it was already short but they just pretty much buzzed it.. oh well..

Man, here everyone speaks Spanish... my teachers, everyone..

My mission president is really good.. he tells you how it is for sure.. he is strict and doesn't have many rules, but the rules he does have - he means them...

We are already teaching the lessons in Spanish... it's crazy how much I'm learning here.. It's comin' fast but not fast enough...

We teach the Latinos.. I have started loving them already.. they have nothing and yet they give everything to be here... most, if not all of them are the only ones that are members in their families.. It's just sad.. Peru is really really really poor..

I was sitting and thinking last night.. all I have are the clothes in my suit cases and that's it... we have hardly any space and it's just a hard way of living.. but a mission isn't meant to be easy... there are some sacrifices to be made.

The food is really funny - the same thing at every meal - potatoes, chicken, rolls, and rice. They also have an ice cream maker, the soft serve kind. They also had this mashed potato stuff and some other little treats I've yet to figure out, and they always have some kind of soup available, and fresh fresh juice. (This info comes from Elder Herdt and Elder Woolf)

We have a turf soccer field so that's nice.. I can't believe I'm saying this but I kinda like soccer... Elder Woolf is still my companion I'm happy about this.. also there are 16 Latinos and I have gotten to be pretty good friends with them...

Happy Happy

We have received one hard copy letter, and a couple of emails. Landon sounds Happy - as usual his attitude is great. His companion is Elder Woolf from Flower Mound, Texas. Here is an excerpt from one of his letters, " When it snowed, the mountains and cliffs with snow were amazing. I’m going to miss them. I’m sleeping well. Every night has been really good. I had my first sacrament in Espanola, it was crazy! I didn’t understand a word. Spanish is coming ok. I can’t communicate yet. I saw Pres. Fisher and Sister Fisher’s pictures. They have all of the mission president’s pictures up. I love you all. Everything is great!!" Only another week in the Provo MTC, and he heads to Peru on November 7th.