19 October 09

No such luck with that package yet (retrieving the package in the mission office in Lima that we sent-ED), but not that Elder Hales (from the Canyon Gate ward, Sandstone Stake-ED) is in the office we’ll be able to bug the people till they get it to us. She dropped off the package at the CCM and I’m pretty sure the people there messed up a bit, but Justin will make sure we get those packages. Oh ya, so I finally got a chance to see Elder Hales, and it looks like I’ll be able to see him quite a bit now that he’s in the office. And I can call him up for whatever I need, information, packages or whatever. It’s good to have some Las Vegas blood in the mission. Anyways, I don’t think I’ll get a change, and me and Elder Pizarro will be comps until his visa gets in, but I don’t know when that’ll be, and I don’t think anyone really knows. The other guy whose mission is in Venezuela is gonna head off this week, so I don’t know if that means Elder Pizarro will head off soon or not. Its kinda nerve racking thinking about it, so I just don’t.
Actually, I was thinking about what the reason was that he’s here and not in his mission, thinking that there needed to be a reason, and we just found out… at least one of the reasons he’s here for the moment. We got a call Wednesday in the morning that his mom was in the hospital. President called us and told us we had permission to go visit her. Lucky us, it was just a 2 hour bus ride to get there. We stayed there in the hospital for almost the whole day, called president when we got back and he told us we could go back the next day. So Thursday we did the same thing, we went down to Villa Salvador to be with his family and visit his mom and then we had a baptismal interview. Friday when we got back to the pension we found out that she had just passed away and the funeral would be Saturday in the morning. The thing is that we have a conference with Elder Christofferson that morning, so he decided to go to the conference and have that baptism and then we’ll be heading out sometime this week (today or tomorrow) to go to her grave-site with his sisters. I really don’t know how to comfort him; I’ve never been good at that, but I have to say he’s been really strong. We talked for a long time about our families, about you mom, about everything and I think it helped, but we’ll see what happens when we go visit his family again.

And please don’t tell me you forgot the rubix cube (another package Mom sent, and no we did not forget)! Oh, and they use the word polo but they mean t-shirt, and yes it would be for Conny. And when I get that package I’ll send you guys all my pictures and a few video clips. And to all the returned missionaries in the family, send me some ideas about district meetings, or your favorite district meetings that you had.

Thanks for all you’re support, and I love you all.

12 October 2009

Just letting you know, we normally get the Liahona the month after, the mission sends them out, sometimes in English, sometimes in Spanish, but either way you don’t have to send the new Liahona with the conference talks. As to that problem with the investigators coming to church… we had 7 show up yesterday, and I was extremely relieved with that. And because they finally came to church, we’ll have 2 baptisms this week. Keep them in your prayers (Jamier Loma and Jaime Navarro).

(We are sending Coulson a care package - Ed) Anyways, don’t worry to much about whats in the package, you know I’m not exactly one to be picky while I’m in Peru.

Send my love to Zach and Mike. Love you guys too.

And here is a list that the pension would like… its basically a joke, but he made me promise to send it to my family

LISTA DE PEDIDOS QUE VENDRAN DE U.S.A

- USB Lexar de 4 GB
- Pistola eléctrica (TAZER)
- Polo con cuello camisero de la bandera de Estados Unidos (size M)
- Chewy
- Mantequilla de mani (Skippy con crunch)

-La Hermanita Conny

6 October 09

October conference was great, but I was only able to watch parts of it in English, and then the rest in Spanish and it really just isn’t the same without hearing their real voices. I didn’t really get as much from Elder Holland’s talk because of that, but it was still pretty amazing. As for how it works, we all go to the stake center to watch it, its that easy. And they do all the translations in the conference center and broadcast it with all the translations already added. It was amazing because we heard so many messages directed exactly to the member’s problems and needs, and those of our investigators too, but it was horrible, because during the Saturday sessions, there was hardly anyone, and the Sunday afternoon session didn’t have many people either, just the Sunday morning session. It made me a little sad that the members don’t take general conference seriously. Its like they take for granted that we as a living church of Christ have prophets to guide us.
We had four investigators with a date to get baptized this week, but not one of them showed up to conference. It was a little bit disheartening, especially now that they can’t get baptized this week, and so many messages that were directed straight to their needs. Looks like we’re gonna be teaching a whole lot about the Sabbath day this week. Any suggestions on getting people to the church are not only welcomed, but needed. We need to change something to get more of the members to come to the church every Sunday.

Thanks for all you’re support, I love you guys and you’re always in my prayers, especially my first baby niece that’s coming on her way. Whenever I see a little girl playing in the streets I think about Calder and Ivy and say a quick pray for you. (There’s a little girl playing outside now)

Mayce and Ethan, come on guys, I need to know how you're doing, write me a quick note.
Calder and Ivy, you too.
Becca and Davis, really?