Week 16: "I wore my new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle shirt! I have the best t-shirt in the whole Peru, Chiclayo Mission!"

Lunes, 21 de Julio de 2014

     Well at 10 am, we cleaned and organized the cuarto.  Our cuarto gets a little disorganized.  After, we went shopping and bought me some art/craft supplies (toy story stickers and Phines y Ferb stickers).  Then we made recuardos for Elder Thompson and Elder Coons.  They are pretty cool.  Then we had lunch (rice, chicken, tomatoes y juice box).  Then we headed to the house of Fiorella to make cinnamon roll dough, to bake for FHE tonight)  It was so much fun.  We laughed a lot and Elder Coons gave me a sass like always. At 4:20 pm, we left to go to internet and on our way over, we saw that the Catholic Church was open, so we went inside and looked around.  It is so beautiful, but most of the statues kinda scare me, but is is bien bonito.  Right after that, we headed to internet...turns out that while Hna Reid and I took our pit stop at the church, the Elders took our seats in our favorite internet!  Little trouble makers! haha  So we went to this crappy place, and well.....that turned out bad..  Then P-Day was over...so we headed out to teach.  We went and taught Milagros and Kevin (9 yrs) and they were so great.  Kevin really wants to get baptized and the best part is...we taught his mom last week and she is super interested and wants baptism, too.  So they will most likely get baptized together!
     Later, we stopped by our cuarto to grab sweaters because it is so stinkin' cold!  haha  Then we went to the house of Fiorella.  We got there and the Elders were putting the cinnamon rolls in the oven and then we taught the lesson. (santificar el dia de reposo)  Then we ate cinnamon rolls with cold milk!  Best thing ever!! The rolls got a little burnt but they were good.  We left and ate dinner (fruit in yogurt and tea).  Then we went back to our cuarto, planned and got ready for bed.
     P.S.  All day today I was super nausious...so I literally was putting on a happy face...I hope I feel better in the morning.

Martes, 22 de Julio de 2014                                                                                     Jayanca, Peru

     We had meetings in Lambayeque this morning. (zona y districto)  I got sick during the district meeting so Hna Reid y I went on a walk outside to get some fresh air.  We then went to lunch (potatoes, spicy chicken mix y rice).  After lunch I went with Hna Rivera (intercambios=splits) to Chiclayo to pick up my package from the post office.  (P.S.  I sent home a package)  After we got it, we headed to Jayanca.  We got there at 4:45 pm and got ready and went teaching.  We taught the most amazing woman named Sabina.  She has cancer in her abdomen, so her stomach is really swollen.  When she first laid eyes on me, she didn't want anything to do with me, but during the lesson, I prayed to know the things to say to soften her heart.  I bore my testimony of the afterlife and talked about her faith. By the end of the lesson, she was wanting me to come back tomorrow morning to visit again!
     We also visited a family who lost a loved one 2 days ago, and by the end of the lesson, they asked me to stay in Jayanca.
     Our last lesson of the night was with a member menos activo.  He is 17 yrs old and is getting ready to go to the temple in Lima on 30 de Agosto, with everyone in the zone of Lambayeque.  We taught him about the beautiful ordananzas that happen in the temple, especially focusing on baptisms for the dead.  He is super excited to go and do the work for his Grandpa.
     We went and ate dinner at 9:00 pm (a straight up fried fish- head, eyes and tail...bleh....with rice and avocados :)  Then we headed back to the cuarto to plan for tomorrow and get ready for bed.
     Today was a good day.  The spirit of Hna Rivera is so beautiful.  She touches so many lives, and I want to be just like her.  I love this gospel and I love the work of missionaries.  It is hard and emotionally trying, but it is such a beautiful blessing and work to be a part of.  I love this church.

Miercoles, 23 de Julio de 2014    [HAPPY 14TH BIRTHDAY JENNA!]

     Hna Rivera y I had deep conversations about some of our studies.  I love working with her!  At 12:30 pm, Hna Reid y Hna Bean came back to Jayanca to switch back companions.  Once we got back to Motupe, we ate lunch and went and bought coconut flavored cookies to eat with PEANUT BUTTER!  Que rico es...Then we went and taught 19 yr old Jessica.  She told us all about her hard life.  Her dad was arrested 2 1/2 years ago on charges of rape, but he was innocent, but it still caused big problems in their lives.
     Then we went and taught Xiomara, and all the kids were there.  They were crazy... they were touching our faces, so after the lesson, we rubbed hand sanitizer on our faces...;)
     After that, we taught Anyela.  She gave us cookies, soda y cheese sandwiches.  Then we went to corelacion y consejo del Rama.  During that time, I taught a young woman English.  I hope I taught her correctly.  English is getting harder and harder to speak and teach. :)
     We left at 9:00 pm to eat dinner. (soup y popcorn).  Then we left and went home.  We planned and got ready for bed.  I wore my new TMNT (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle) shirt.  I am so obsessed with it. Basically now I have the best t-shirt in the whole Peru, Chiclayo Mission!!  Thanks Miguel!

Jueves, 24 de Julio de 2014

     Today started out sad and long.  We first visited Filomena.  We were going to tell her that we were done visiting her because she isn't making the steps she needs to...but when we got there we realized that she still needs us.
     After that, we went to a menos activo named Franklin. (30 yrs)  He is cool.  He is an artist and is super chill...He told us that he has been sick and that the Elders gave him a blessing, and because of that, he wants to go back to church.  He was also trying to guess our first names and ages.  He thought I was 27 and Hna Reid was 18...haha...So funny!!
     Then we went and taught Noeli and she told us she was watching a show about murders and heard something about a Mormon.  Turns out, it was the Susan and John Powell story!  How crazy is that!!??
     Then we went and taught Clarita, and we brought Edita with us.  We started out asking her how her prayers were, and she said, "God told me I need to be like Jesus."  So we asked her what she thought that meant, and she said that it means that she needs to be baptized and preach the gospel, but she is hesitating to say yes to baptism still and at that moment, Edita shared her conversion story.  At the end, Clarita said, "I feel different. Give me a day to pick for my baptism!"  We left that lesson feeling so happy!  We were losing hope that we would be able to help her get the gospel.  But...it's happening!!!  Edita is our miracle worker!!
     After that, we went to teach Jesus Ramiro and his crew, but they weren't home, because they were a couple streets over.  So we went to teach them, but is turns out they were practicing a dance for tomorrow morning's parade.  So we rescheduled and went to dinner.  When we went to the dance practice, so many kids came running at me yelling, "Hna Dodson!!"  I love the kids here.  And the best thing is their hugs!!! Today was so hard in the morning, but by the end of the day, it was great!!

Viernes, 25 de Julio de 2014    [HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOMMY!]

     We did a visit of studies and planning in Olmos with Hna Tomlinson y Hna Lima.  It was super fun and quite a learning experience.  We talked in depth about the Bible.  When we were waiting for the combi (bus) to take us back to Motupe, a young woman came running at us.  We asked her if she was a member and she said, "No, but I would like to be.  Come teach me."  We took down her info and we are going to give it to the Hermanas in Olmos.
     Then we taught Geraldine and her Grandma Violetta (they were the only ones home because the mom, Tana, was in Chiclayo having her baby)  After we taught a lesson, we helped them cook dinner.  We peeled and cut potatoes for french fries and then when we asked what else we could do, she told us to sit down and eat dinner with them when it was ready.  We told her that we couldn't stay to eat because we had other citas (appts), so she told us that she is going to make us cake one day and then she gave us a huge avocado!
     Then we headed on to another cita con Kevin y Milagros.  When we got there, their dad, Paulo was there, so we taught them about the Sabbath Day.  Their dad was really cool and told us if his kids choose to get baptized, he will help them keep their covenants!  The entire lesson, Kevin and his 4 yr old brother, David, were playing with me.  I love the kids here!  They are so fun and accepting.  I love Peru!
     Oh one funny thing happened on the way to a cita today....we ran into the dad of Jordano (Gonzalo). Well he asked us our names again even though this is our 3rd time talking to him, and then he asked us what his name is. Well, Hna Reid guessed Gustaba...:) haha I knew I knew it, so I was dancing a bit, thinking and saying "No-no-no" to stop him from telling me, and he said, "Tan poco", which means, "It's not that either!" :) I started laughing really hard and so did he, but then I said, "I got it!  It's Gonzalo!"  He said, "Yes!" and he continued to laugh! It was so fun!!
     Another thing that happened a couple days ago....we were walking to the pension from a cita and had to pass through a group of people with signs and ribbons for an election or something...well as we were getting closer to them, one man said "Clap for the beautiful misses!" So everyone started cheering for us.  It was so awkward!  We hurried through the group and into our cuarto.
     For dinner tonight, we had popcorn and arroz con leche!!  It was basically my birthday!!  Today was a nice day full of the spirit!

Sabado, 26 de Julio de 2014

     This morning, we decided that we need to change cuartos because we are the only girls in the entire building that we live in.  Also someone on our floor is smoking marajuana and we don't have a whole lot of privacy, so we called our zone leaders and told them our situation and their exact words were, "ummm...that doesn't sound good...you should move."  So during the morning, we went searching for a cuarto.  No luck. But when we told Hna Crisalina at lunch that we needed help finding a cuarto, she insisted that we move in with their family.  We politely told them that we would think about it...
     Later, during a lesson with Brigitte (9 yrs old- we almost have her mom and dad's permiso for baptism), a ton of kids joined us and at the end, I handed out smiley face stickers.  They loved it!!
     After that, we taught Gonzalo and his son Jordano.  Gonzalo is so funny.  We laughed and joked for a while, but when we started to teach about eternal families and temples, the spirit became really strong and he started to tell us about his life as a member before he stopped going to church.  He told us that he wanted to serve a mission but right before he could go, he lost the desire and just stopped going.  When we finished, we asked him to say the closing prayer. It took time and a lot of encouragement to get him to, but he finally said yes.  His prayer was so beautiful.  Right before he ended his prayer, he said, "Bless my heart with peace." and at that moment, I knew that he knew that he was missing the gospel in his life.  I really hope we can help him get back to church.
     Then we went to pick up Fiorella to help us teach, but we had to wait for her husband to come home to watch the kids as we go out, so during that time, we danced and sang with her children, Luna (6) and Cesar (3)  They are adorable kiddos.  We played Ring Around the Rosy and hey loved it!!
     Then we went to dinner. ( hot chocolate, panqueques con honey and an orange)  We went home and put away our clean laundry, planned and got ready for bed.  Today was such a good day!  I love my mission!

Domingo, 27 de Julio de 2014

     Well at church today, Gonzalo stopped by the church outside and we kept inviting him in, but he kept blaming his "clothes" as to why he couldn't enter...so I offered to switch clothes with him and he turned me down...I don't know why...haha...So before he left, I shook his hand and tried to pull him in. He thought that was hilarious.  After church, we took Jordano home and talked with Gonzalo for a bit.  He is so cool!  I hope we can reactiviate him!
     After church, we ate lunch. (soup with one hard boiled egg in it, 2 hard boiled eggs and salad) Then we went teaching.  We first visited Filomena and she told us that she had been thinking about suicide, but after becoming friends with us and becoming closer to God, she doesn't want to die anymore.
     Then we went and taught a mom and her 2 younger daughters.  During the lesson, a drunk man interrupted us 3 times and he kept trying to hug me and hold my hand.  The girls were giggling the entire time. Then we went to Salitral to visit Jhanina, Julio, Enrique and Xiomara because they were celebrating a birthday.  So we partied with them and got a party bag full of candy!!! :)
     We went to the upis after and while we were walking, a man named Xavier stopped us and asked us if we believed in a life after this life.  We said, "Yes." and he said, "Good, because I'm done with this one!" and walked away.  Well we weren't going to let it end like that, so we started talking to him and reading scriptures, and he started crying...because he feels abandoned by God.  So we sang "Yo se que vive mi senor" and right after, he told us that he felt a lot better and wants us to visit him another day.
     Right after helping Xavier, we ran into the Elders and told them about our day.  And while we were talking, a drunk man started yelling to me and he started walking towards me and was saying that he wanted to talk to me, but the Elders jumped in between us and saved me!  Right after talking to that drunk guy, the Elders turned to us and with hands outstretched and said, "Hand sanitizer please."  haha
     Then we went to visit a family who just had a new baby.  We keep trying to tell her to name him Michael Espencer.  She won't.  haha
     After that, we talked with the father and mother of Ashley and they said that she could get baptized.  Yay!  A lot has happened today and it was such a great day!  I love missionary work!

our juice boxes :)

Inside the Catholic Church

Inside the Catholic Church
"It is bien bonito."

Me and Hna Rivera
"The spirit of Hna Rivera is so beautiful."
"She touches so many lives, and I
want to be just like her."

Hna Rivera, Hna Bean, Hna Reid, Hna Dodson
in Jayanca, Peru

Hna Reid, Hna Dodson, Hna Lima, Hna Tomlinson
"We did a visit of studies and planning in Olmos, Peru
with Hna Lima y Hna Tomlinson."
"It was super fun and quite a learning experience."

   

Week 15: "We killed a cricket that was hiding in our dresser!"

“Sorry, the pics won't send, so here is a little update.”

Lunes, 14 de Julio de 2014

We went to Chiclayo, and went shopping with the elders. Then we went to Brothers. It is a hamburger place owned by this black man that only speaks English. hahaha He is super cool. He married a Peruvian, whom he met in Africa. Haha random. Then we had fast internet, and that was great. hahaha Then we went to Motupe again, and the combi (bus) was hot as H-E- double toothpicks! We had a FHE with a family of recent converts (Jesus and Julia) and we watched the Restoration. It was really good. They really liked it. Then we had dinner (fruit and tea). We killed a cricket that was hiding in our dresser! hahaha It was so annoying! hahaha Basically we are awesome.

Martes, 15 de Julio de 2014

We went to a lesson and taught a teenager named Noeli. She wants to become a nurse in a hospital for babies and she decided to describe to us a very detailed version of the birth process! hahaha Then we went to an investigators house and the music playing was blasting the F-word every 5 words...hard to have the spirit in that condition. We later met some teen boys that were really cool, but turns out that they are working with the elders.

After that, we went to the house of Julia (mother of Edita, a member that helps us teach) and she denied us entrance into her house because she was too busy pushing her baby in a stroller, in a circle in her front room...
Then we went and taught Jordano and his mommy and the spirit was so strong! I love this gospel! Right after that, we had English class. Lets just say there was A LOT  of accidental swearing. Oops! (hahahahaha)

Miercoles, 16 de Julio de 2014

We went to Lambayeque for meetings, had lunch- lasagna!! It was sooo good! Then we had intercambios with the Hermanas in Lambayeque. (Hna Chaccara and Hna Herrandez) I worked with Hna Chaccara. She was the Hna that ignored us when we stayed with them that one time, but she is actually really great!

Jueves, 17 de Julio de 2014

We ended cambios and when we got home we taught Ezkiel (menos activo that pretended to hate Jospeh Smith) Well the spirt in his lesson was amazing! Then we went to Jose and Jamie, and we taught the law of chastity, and well that was sooo awkward....especially because they kept flirting with us and asking us if we had boyfriends and stuff like that. Then we had a meeting with the Rama and the Elders didn’t show up, because Elder Coons was at the doctor. So we left and taught another lesson to Nicol, Jovanna and Ricardo. We started to teach them the same lesson that we taught last time, so we changed it and started teaching another lesson we had already taught them! hahaha… oops it was funny though. Then we had dinner (fruit, hot cocoa and a fried donut thing with cheese).

Viernes, 18 de Julio de 2014

We taught Teressa, and she was wearing a fish net shirt…. no bra..... it was soo wrong. hahahaha (she is like 56) Then we went to the church and learned how to make lasagna. Then we went out teaching and nothing too exciting happened, but the best part was that right when the food was done, the Elders just happened to walk past and so we invited them to eat with us!

Sabado, 19 de Julio de 2014

We taught with Maruja, and she is so crazy but awesome. She is the woman that talked in RS about modesty. She is great. Then we went and taught Filomena. She was crazy today! She told us that she didn’t want to hear from us anymore and then invited us in!? hahaha!? I don’t know what is up with her....Then we went to a baptism of a woman named Melissa. She is SUPER pregnant, and I thought that she was going to give birth in the font- she didn't...but it was kinda intense. Then we went with the Elders to teach Jose and Jamie. Turns out that they were with a friend who wanted to hear more about the church. Unfortunately, they were all drunk. They did give us cake, though. Then we left and taught Nicol, Jovanna and Ricardo. We laughed during the prayer... bad missionaries… bad bad bad missionaries... hahaha Then we taught Jesus, Ramiro, Dana, Fabriana, and Katerin. Their brother was doing magic tricks for us and it was soo fun! hahaha He was super professional- doing things with animals and stuff.. haha Then they asked us to sing for them so we sang “Lean on Me” and they loved it!

Domingo, 20 de Julio de 2014

At church everyone thought that I looked 25 hahahaha no idea why.. hahah it was funny though. After church, I threw up, so we rested for a bit because I was feeling sick. Then at 5 pm we went out teaching with Maruja. At 6:30 pm, we went and taught Jesus Ramiro and his crew and we watched the Restoration and the spirit was so strong! Then Hna Reid and I bore testimony and ended the lesson with an invite to baptism and they really want to get baptized!! yay! We are super happy! Now we just need permission from the padres... wish us luck and pray for us! After that, we had a class to teach the members how to be home and visiting teachers. We did a little skit with the Elders and it was fun, and we had everyone laughing! hahahaha 

“Sorry that the internet isn't so great today. I love you! I know that God lives and loves me, because He blesses me with the words I need to speak to the people of Peru everyday!”

With the Hermanas in Chiclayo
Hna Ccalli, Hna Yuagi, Hna Tomlinson,  Hna Dodson, Hna Reid

At a birthday party!
"So at the birthday party, we were invited to eat lunch, but
we had already eaten, so we said that we couldn't eat, and
this little kid didn't understand my explanation, and he
thought that I said I was pregnant!  One of the menos
activos named Enrique asked me why I wasn't eating,
and that kid said, "Because she's pregnant!'
"I then had to explain that that wasn't true!"
HA HA HA HA HA

CAKE!

We got sick :(

Week 14: "'I got down on my knees and begged...she said the prayer!" :)

Lunes, 7 de Julio de 2014

     Well, just a normal day.  We did our exercises and ate breakfast. (bread, potatoes, and hard boiled eggs with soya).  After, we had studies and then we cleaned our cuarto.  During that time, the Elders called us and invited us to do P-Day with them.  They met us at their pension and we learned how to make pineapple cake!  It is so good!  It took forever for it to cook, so we chatted forever and had lunch all together. (potatoes, rice, this chicken sauce stuff and a corn drink).  We were together from 11:15-3:30pm!
     Once we left to go find internet, we stopped at a store to buy some things and the Elders were there. haha.  We were not stalking them.  We did that 2 more times at 2 different places.  It was so funny because we hardly ever see each other, but all day today, we kept running into each other.  We emailed.  I hate emailing because it always says that my emails/pictures are working, and then they don't. :(
     After that, we went back to the cuarto to rest before we went out teaching.  We taught Nicol (menos activo) and her siblings Jovanna and Ricardo.  They are great, but her siblings just don't understand.
     After that we went and visited Shirley.  She wants to get baptized, but she can't because she is not married to her "husband" because he is still married to another woman who won't divorce him.  But she wants to leave him because she doesn't like that he drinks, and he only sits around and watches T.V.  She is so cool.  She isn't a member but she has the standards of a member.  She said that once she leaves him, she is going to get baptized in Lima.  She will live with her sister there.  We left with a prayer and some hugs. Bless her heart.
     Afterwards, we went and taught Jesus Remiro and Fabriana about the Restauracion and they were so interested and the spirit was so strong.  Before we left, they were asking us questions about the church and ourselves.  They are so cool.  They are so ready to be baptized.
     After we left them, we went to dinner. (popcorn, soup and tea)  Then we went and bought cookies and went home and planned for our busy day of meetings tomorrow (district and zone).  We talked about what we can talk to the Elders about tomorrow on the car ride.  haha  Question of the day, "If you were an animal, what would you be?"  haha

Martes, 8 de Julio de 2014

     On the way to the meetings in Lambayeque, I asked the animal question and here are their answers.  Elder Thompson: Leemer  Elder Coons: Lion   Hna Reid:  Monkey  and  Me: Raccoon.
     Once we got there and during our break in the meeting, we got CAKE!!  And at 1:00pm we had lunch (tacos).  It was so yummy.  Then we headed back to Motupe.  During the car ride, we talked about movies/actors/friends and also our families. :)
     Once we got back at 4:50pm, we went out teaching.  We taught Clarita and the spirit was so strong the entire time and we felt/knew that she could feel it and that she knows that this is all true, but she won't accept our baptism dates....
     We taught two other families and headed to English class.  We taught them colors and body parts. (head, shoulders, knees and toes) and other things like hands, etc.  It went really well and the entire time it was a huge laughing fest!  haha
      After that, we headed to dinner. (cheese on rolls, hot milk, 1 mini banana, 1 mini apple)  We headed home, planned and got ready for bed.

Miercoles, 9 de Julio de 2014 (3 MONTHS!)

     Happy 3 meses!  Only 15 more meses to go.  CRAZY.  Well this morning was really interesting.  We went and taught a contact named Juan Jose and for a good 25 minutes he told us that we were liars and that we don't know anything.  Once we finally left, we visited a young menos activo named Leonella (16 yrs) and the entire lesson she was showing us her crafts that she has made.
     After that, we visited Jamie (menos activo) and his cousin Jose (both 19 yrs).  The lesson was going great, and then right in the middle of me reading my part in the Strength of Youth, I started to speak English to them. They stared at me in shock.  haha  Awkward, but more comfortable because we all moved to another level of friendship because of it. :)  Jose is super cool and he is really interested in the church, only problem is he lives in Chiclayo and doesn't know how long he will be here in Motupe.  Hopefully, he will be here long enough to teach and baptize him.   Funny thing about Jose y Jamie, is when we arrived at their house, they ran and changed clothes and bathed themselves in cologne.  We were choking on the smell. haha Silly boys!  Gotta love it...
     After that, we ate lunch. (soup, rice, tomatoes, meat-no idea what kind, and "pulp" to drink) We did our language study and training, and then we went to visit a contact named Julia.  When we got to her house, an older man answered and we asked for Julia and that we were missionaries.  Well he thought we were looking for the missionaries so he told us where to find the missionaries (as he points to our pension). We both giggled after he left to find Julia after we explained again that we were the missionaries. haha Everyone here knows where to find all the missionaries.
     Afterwards, (we never did find Julia), we went and taught Anyela and her brother Johnathan.  They are so cool and so ready for the church.  After that, we went and taught some children that live by the church, named Jon Carlos (11 yrs) y Alexis (9 yrs).  They are both awesome young boys!  During our lesson, they basically taught us all of Lesson 1 because they read the pamphlet many times.  They are great! :)
     We then had consejo de Rama and dinner. (fruit with condensed milk drizzled on it- it's a great dessert idea.)

Jueves, 10 de Julio de 2014

     This morning, some of our citas weren't home, so we contacted a few people.  One man was paralyzed on half his body.  When we finished setting up a cita with him, he asked us, "Do you have pills to give me?" We said, "No."  We were a little concerned about him now....Then we went and taught Filomena and she is driving me crazy, because she told us she didn't have time to join the church now because she has many hardships...We told her many times that she really can use the church in her life.
     After that, we went to our cuarto and called Hna Williams because ...CAUTION READERS...READ AT YOUR OWN RISK....we have black poop.  haha  Well she ended up being in the car with her husband (Pres.) and two elders, the assistants to the Pres.  And well, we had that wonderful conversation with her about it, and the best part was when she told us IN FRONT OF EVERYONE IN THE CAR, "If your poop is still black in a couple of days, we will send you to get your stool tested."  We both started busting up laughing!
     After that, we went out teaching.  We taught Ivet (little girl who got baptized) about Daniel and Lion's den.  Then we taught Rosa, a menos activo, and we talked with her for awhile because she is in need of a friend.  And because she loves us, she gave us some of her apple pie that she made.  It was so yummy.  I really wanted ice cream with it.
     Then we went to buy some Peruvian chocolate and at the little store, the owner asked us if we were from Columbia (because we are white and speak Spanish) When he found out that we were from the United States, he got super excited.
      We then went and taught Pascuala y Ruth about Daniel and the Lion's Den.  They loved it!  Then we taught Jesus y Julia, the recent converts, about modesty and they loved it.  It went so well.  After that, we went to teach Jesus Remino (14 yrs) y Fabriana (9 yrs) and when we arrived at their house, they were outside watching for us.  When we made it close to their house, they ran to greet us!  We taught them Lesson 2!  The spirit was crazy strong.  We asked them if they had questions about the lesson or the Book of Mormon. Jesus Remiro proceeded to tell us that he is in 1 Nephi 13!!  And that him, Fabriana y Dana are all reading and praying together!  This family is so special!!!!  After we answered his questions, we asked when we could return and he said, "We will see you at the activity tomorrow, so come Saturday and then we will see you at church on Sunday."  They want to see us everyday.  Before we left, he told us there was dance tonight, but he skipped it because he wanted to be there for our awesome lesson!!
      Afterwards, we ate fruit and hot chocolate for dinner and then headed home to find out that we don't have water....again...and got ready for bed after planning.

Viernes, 11 de Julio de 2014

     We had weekly planning this morning until 2:00pm.  Once we finished, we ate lunch (rice soup and C-fruit- a Peruvian punch)  We went back to the cuarto and finished up questions for the jeopardy game tonight, because the Elders sent us a message that told us that they probably weren't going to make it to the activity because Elder Coons was at the doctor.  So we thought of other topics, one being "name that tune". We thought of songs that we can sing and we practiced singing them all day. :)
     At 7:00 pm we headed to the activity and when we got to the church, Jamie and Jose were there waiting. We got inside and got the board set up.  We had a great turn out and everyone got so competitive- a different kind of competitive than in the U.S.  They just shout out the answer and run at us at the front of the room yelling!  They really just didn't understand the game, but they were having so much fun.
     Once the activity ended, we had refreshments- panqueques with manjar (caramel) and apple juice.  We then went to drop off Ivet and her sister at their house and headed to the pension.  It was 5 minutes to 9:30pm when we got there and we hurried and grabbed our dinner (arroz con leche) in measuring cups and ritz crackers.  But we had to run home so I grabbed the arroz con leche and my crutches and we ran to our cuarto.  Basically we looked classy, especially me running with crutches.  Makes sense. :)  Don't worry, my foot is better now, so I am fine to do that.
     We got to the cuarto at exactly 9:30 pm.  We ate dinner, planned and got ready for bed.

Sabado, 12 de Julio de 2014

     This morning, we talked to Hna Crisalina about our food and portions because we want to eat healthier. We told her the kinds of foods we like and to cut down on the fried foods.  She was really understanding.  I love her.
     Later, we taught Jose and Jamie again.  This time outside because they were home alone, and of course they smelled really nice, but STRONG!  haha  The lesson went really great, and once we asked them if they had questions.  They asked for our first names.  We explained that we would tell them once we have to leave Motupe.  They were disappointed.  Yesterday we sang at the activity, and they heard us sing, and they liked our voices so they asked us if we knew romantic songs.  We said "Yes." and they asked us to sing one and Hna Reid then says, "We don't know any..."  haha
     We left and taught a couple other lessons.  Then we went to lunch. (big plate of veggies, small plate of rice, healthier fried chicken, juice and 2 bananas.)  After lunch we taught Milagros (15 yrs), Kevin (11 yrs) and Maria (10 yrs).  They are really neat and they all have so much potential!  After we finished there, we went to visit Cecilia (menos activo), her mom Teressa and her sister Fiorella.  The lesson consisted of smoke from their fire blowing in our faces, the sun in our eyes, loud music blasting from the drunkards bar and a lecture from Teressa about how we are terrible missionaries because we haven't been by to visit...says the woman who threw us out of her house the last time we met with her....
     Later, we taught Jon Carlos, Alexis and their buddy Jordano.  During their lesson, a man came walking in to buy a cigar from their store and starts flirting with us.  We ignored him so he lit his cigar and blew it right at us through his nose.  blehh...then we dropped off Book of Mormons at the house of Jamie and Jose and they answered the door putting clothes on...haha (listening to the song, I like to move it, move it.) Awesome!
     After that, we taught Nicol (menos activo) and her siblings.  We invited them to come to church with us and Nicol said, "I can't, I'm on my period."  So if anyone is wondering...that is a legit excuse...;)
     After that, we went and had dinner. (fruit, small bowl of popcorn, and a small cup of hot chocolate)  Then we went home and got ready for bed after planning.  P.S. All day I was off my crutches!!  P.S.S. An observance of Peru:  the men here wear capris and the women wear...nothing.  The End.

Domingo, 13 de Julio de 2014

     For breakfast we got 16 soda crackers with jam and 2 soft boiled eggs. haha  After that, we headed out to pick up people for church.  I went with Ana and we picked up Jovanna y Ricardo (the siblings of Nicol) and Hna Reid picked up Brigitte (9 yrs).  After we partook of the sacrament, we left to pick up those people who didn't show up.  We picked up Alexis and his brother Jon Carlos and their friend Jordano and his little sister.  So we showed up at church 15 minutes before sacrament was over with 4 kids!  After sacrament meeting, we took all 7 kids to Primary and we headed to Sunday School.  Well, in Sunday School, I poked my eye out.  Elder Coons and Elder Thompson thought it was hilarious that I couldn't see anymore. haha After we checked on the kids and they thought that meant we were leaving, and when we told them we still had another hour of church, they were so excited.  We went to Relief Society and when we got there, they were talking about temple marriage and then the subject changed to modesty.  This conversation was quite descriptive.  They told us that we can't wear tube tops with our bras because it is too tempting to men to pull your shirt off...and also if you wear mini skirts, they will stick their hands underneath. It got a little crazy.
     After church, we dropped everyone off at their houses and went to the cuarto to study for a little bit before lunch. (rice, beans, 2 hard boiled eggs, tomatoes and pina to drink).  After lunch, we went home to study and get ready to go out teaching.  We taught Filomena first, and both Hna Reid and I want to just drag her to church because she keeps saying that "she doesn't know the Bible well enough and that she doesn't have time to be a member right now."  That woman is going to be the death of me.
     After that, we went to Los Cocos to teach Pascuala y Ruth but they weren't there, so we went to ask directions from these girls, and this old shirtless man started talking to us about how beautiful we are and then he introduced us to his son, Manuel (35 yrs) who over and over kept asking us if we had faith that he could change.  We kept telling him, yes.
     Then we visited a recent convert named Doralisa (85 yrs) and her neighbor Esmith came over (16 yrs). After we taught a little lesson, she told us the Elders are visiting her.  We asked her to get baptized and she wanted to!  She has so much potential.
     We taught a menos activo, Claudia (25 yrs) and she is really cool and wants to come back to church.
     Funny story:  While we were teaching Filomena we asked her to give the closing prayer, and she kept saying no, so Hna Reid sang her a song several times...we took a vote, and asked nicely and promised her blessings...and she still said no.  And then Hna Reid said, "We have done everything!  What else can we do to make you pray?"  And at that moment, I got down on my knees and begged.  She said the prayer!  :)
     We ate dinner at 8:45 pm (potato soup, popcorn and chocolate milk).  At 9:15 pm, the Elders came by the pension to get our numbers and plans.

P-Day with the Elders!

"The Elders called us and invited us to do P-Day with them."
"We learned how to make pineapple upside-down cake!"
"It is so good!"

Ward Activity
I spy....Hna Reid
I spy Hna Dodson
I spy Elder Coons
I spy Elder Thompson
I spy..... FUN!

Jeopardy game
"They just shout out the answer and run at us at the front
of the room yelling...they really just didn't understand the
game, but they were having so much fun."

   

Week 13: "I got to eat American Peanut Butter, Pringles & drink normal milk!"

Martes, 1 de Julio de 2014

     Hna. Reid had a lideres (leaders) meeting with all the lideres in the Chiclayo Mission.  We had to be there at 9:30am, so we left Motupe at 7:30am.  When we arrived at the mission office there was a ton of people there for the meeting and I had to explain my wonderful life to everyone and their dog.  Once we made it into the auditorium, Hna Williams and Pres. Williams pulled me aside to figure out what was happening with me and wanted to make sure my family knew what was happening with me and I also needed to email this doctor about my foot.  This doctor is North American and works a the CCM.  He wanted pictures of my foot.  I love my mission presidents so much.  They are always on the look out for me.
     After we figured out my plan to email, Hna Williams just hugged me and held me as I cried.  I just have melt downs at the most random times.  Not when I'm talking about him (Matt) but when I'm talking about cookies or the pink hair thing on my wrist...I hate it.
     After I emailed I got sent off with a couple hermanas; Hna Daza, Hna Perez, and Hna Cachi.  Hna Perez and I stayed together in her cuarto and studied while the other two went out and taught.  At 1:10pm we ate lunch and on the way back, a really ugly, hairless dog that only had short blonde hair right on the top of his head, tried to attack me!  Good thing I had extra long arms (my crutches) to threaten it with!
     We then headed to the mission office again, to pick up all the companions, but the meeting was still going so 7 hermanas and I went to another room and we all chatted until 3:30pm, until the meeting finally ended. And then I talked with the Presidente and Hna Williams until almost 4:30pm.  Then Hna Reid and I headed back to Motupe.  The entire car ride we talked about how amazing the Williams are.  They are so funny and so loving.  They are my "parent" figures while I can't have my actual parents here with me.  They both told me over and over again today that God only sends tough people hard trials and that God must think I am "one strong mama for going through all of these crappy things" (words of Pres. Williams )  Once again, they told me to call them even if it is just to chat.  haha  They are too cute.
     Once we got back to Motupe, I went to the pension and decorated my new planner.  It looks really cute! :) I also taped together my picture book while waiting for Hna Reid to come and get me for English class @ 8:00pm.  Well 8:30pm comes around and no Hna Reid.  At 8:50pm ,she showed up with a chocolate cake in hand, and tells me that the elders bought if for us!!  We share Motupe with the best Elders!!  They decided to finally listen to our plea of wanting cake! (they always ask us what they can do for us and we ALWAYS say, "we want cake" ) :)
     English class got cancelled so we ate dinner. (chicken salad sandwiches, popcorn, hot milk and chocolate cake!)  Then we went home, planned and got ready for bed.

Miercoles, 2 de Julio de 2014

     We had breakfast brought to us this morning. (3 rolls, 2 hard boiled eggs, 2 bananas, y shampoo)  After we ate, we had study time.  I studied in the scriptures and in the "True to the Faith" booklet.  And one thing that I studied a lot this morning was physical death and in True to the Faith it reads, "You have probably experienced the pain that comes at the death of a family member or friend.  It is natural to feel sorrow at such times.  In fact, mourning is one of the deepest expressions of love.  The Lord said, "Thou shalt live together in love, insomuch that thou shalt weep for the loss of them that die." (D+C 42:45) " The only way to take sorrow out of death, is to take love out of life."
     Luckily for us, who have the knowledge of the after life, know that we can see and live with our loved ones again.  This knowledge however will not take away the sorrow and pain of losing someone dear; it does give us a hope. :)
     During companionship study, I shared my thoughts on this and Hna Reid told me about a book that talks about how a life without love would be like.  It's called "The Cure".  She says it's really good.  Buy it so I can read it when I get home.  You should read it too.  As Hna Reid described the book to me, it reminded me a bit of  the book, The Giver. :)  After those studies, we figured out our payments to the cuarto owner and our pension.  The cuarto is s./150 each and the pension is s./443 each.  Then we had language study.  I feel like each day I am getting better but then when I actually "speak" it I sound like I don't know anything!  After we went to go get the rest of our money out of the ATM and since we were going straight to the pension, we just brought our dishes from breakfast with us, which included a tea pot.  So we were two gringas, one with crutches with a HUGE backpack (full of books for my stay at the pension for the rest of the day) and one with a tea pot, and both at an ATM.  We stood out big time!  haha
     Once we got our cash (soles), we went to lunch. (Pina juice, chicken pasta: beets y potatoes y carrots and mayo- it's really good and for dessert 2 mini oranges)  After lunch, I started my sitting at the pension.  I wouldn't mind it, but the couch I sit on has no padding on it at all.  haha  It feels like I'm sitting on cardboard boxes with 2 blankets on it. haha  Well during my down time, I finished reading Mark in the Biblia,  took a nap and then talked with Lucero and Edita and Ana for a bit.  They are so funny.  Lucero is always making jokes about how I am going to marry someone here and teases me about my foot. haha
     At 7:30pm, Hna Reid came and picked me up for corolation and consejo de Barrio.  And the entire time we (the missionaries) were giggling.  And during one of the prayers, Hna Reid snorted and Elder Coons busted up laughing, and after that Elder Thompson said, "What the heck was that?" and then I started laughing.  During one of our breaks during the meeting, the 4 of us were singing Queen's 'Bohemian Rapsody'...it was so funny!  Elder Thompson was SO into it.  He was singing every little part and sang the instrument parts too.  When the meeting started, he was still going crazy because the chorus line was running through his head!  haha  Oh, funny thing.  Before the meeting started, the Elders left and came back with drinks.  I asked them, "Why did you not get me something?" and Elder Thompson said, "We did get you cookies, but Mr. Butterfingers over there dropped them."   haha
     We left the meeting at 9:00pm and had dinner. (fruit with condensed milk drizzled on top and tea)  Then we went home and planned.  We have a multi zona conference at 8:30am in Chiclayo so we have to wake up at 5:00am, so we can leave at 6:30am.  Uhhggg...haha...it's okay!  We get to see the Williams again!

Jueves, 3 de Julio de 2014

     We woke up at 5am and ate breakfast at 6:00am. (avocado on rolls and leche)  At 6:20am, the Elders met us at our pension so we could head to Chiclayo.  We laughed and shared a lot of stories on the ride. And we really started laughing when the door on the bus van got stuck shut.  Thankfully, they got it open so we could make it to the meeting on time.  We took a taxi to the mission church office and I saw a couple of hermanas from the CCM.  It was fun to see them!
     The Williams started the meeting by giving a background about themselves and their family.  They have lived in 7 different states.  And when they were telling us all about their children, they said "Sorry Elders, our daughters are happily married, but hermanas, our sons are in need of wives...so who is heading home soon?" We all busted up laughing!  Pres Williams is so funny.  He reminds me of my dad.
     The meeting lasted from 8:30am-1:00pm.  After the meeting, we had lunch. (Pizza Hut!!!)  During lunch, we found out that my doctor appt. was not until 7 pm so we were trying to figure out what to do with all our time, and Hna Williams told us to hang out with her while she was at the office.  So we got to know her a bit more, but then she had to leave, so Hna Reid and I hung out in the chapel and Hna Reid played the piano and sang while I studied.  After only a short while of doing that, Hna Williams came back and told us that we were going to stay with her and Presidente at the Mission Home.  So we went with them to their home and they showed us the room we were to stay in, and then they told us to make ourselves at home.  So we sat on the couches and I was pulling out my scriptures and I have some pictures in them and Presidente came over and took them and was looking at them all.  We talked a bit with them about life and our families and then they gave us lucama yogurt.  Lucama is a fruit here that tastes like caramel.
     We then hung out in our room and talked and studied.  At 6:30pm, we headed out to the internet to print off my receipt for the doctor.  Pres Williams was so worried about us traveling alone, but we do it daily, so we told him that all was well and we went on our way.  Once we received our receipt, we went to the doctor.  He told me that I can walk again....slowly and not much.  I have to slowly work my way up again. Bummer.  Oh and I am not allowed to walk on dirt roads, so that is going to be a hard task.  haha  The doctor sent  me my x-rays and we headed back to the mission home.  We got back at 8:10pm and helped Hna Williams in the kitchen to set dinner out and she started naming American foods that the Rissos had bought them to make them feel at home.  It was PEANUT BUTTER and PRINGLES and NORMAL MILK!  She fed us all those things!  We ate peanut butter on wheat toast!  For dinner, she made German pancakes (you cook them in the oven) with peanut butter and syrup.  And they gave us the milk, pringles and peaches!  They were spoiling us.
     During dinner, we were talking forever, and the Presidente was still hungry, so he went and made himself a hot pocket thing and took a huge bite from it and he did the whole, "Oh that's hot...fanning his mouth with his mouth wide open...chewing ever so slowly."  I was laughing so hard!  haha  Then Presidente had to go back to work, so we cleaned up dinner with Hna Williams and we talked in the kitchen until 10pm!
     We then went to our room and said goodnight to the Williams.  I got a long "mommy hug" from Hna Williams.  It was nice.  Then we got ready for bed and planned.  The room feels like a hotel.  It is so nice!  I still can't believe we are staying with the Presidente and his wife for a non-emergency thing. :)

Viernes, 4 de Julio de 2014  HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA!

     I slept great in the beds at the mission home!!  And the shower was amazing.  The water pressure was so strong!  And the best part was that we realized this morning we could wash our hands in warm/hot water!! After we got ready, we ate breakfast. (Special K cereal with Almonds, milk, toast & peanut butter, and scrambled eggs)  We talked with the Presidente from 7:30am-9:50am, helping him understand more about the mission and what the missionaries do everyday.  We helped him figure out what can be changed to make it run smoother.  He told us that he really needed someone to talk to about that stuff.  Then we left the mission home.  We were on our way out and the door man helped us out and asked us when we would be returning, and we both said, "We don't know." and then he told us that we were very beautiful.  haha
     We got a taxi and the music playing was American.  It was "This Thing Called Love" and "I Feel Like a Woman"  I was loving life!
     Once we got back to Motupe, we started/finished our weekly planning and then we went to lunch. (rice, chicken and tomato/onion mixture, soup with spinach and egg in it-so yummy!)  Then we went out teaching. We went to Salitral and visited with a young menos activo named Ana.  I made a big mistake and just assumed the child she was holding was hers, so when I offered the prayer, I blessed Ana and her daughter. After the prayer, she told us, "This is not my kid.  I don't have kids."  Awkward.  We taught her and just laughed and joked around.
     We went to the family of Julio y Jhanina.  Both are menos activo.  Julio is the one who likes us more than our lessons.  Well today, they told me that I had a good Spanish voice!  That the way I speak is understandable! yay! :)  Once we taught the family about the Restauracion, they wanted Hna Reid to sing, so she did and then the dad told me to sing, so I did.  They freaked out about our voices.  They said the next time they are going to record us.  haha  The entire time, I felt really happy to be with them.  I felt a true friendship with them.  They want to play volleyball with us on P-Day when my foot is completely healed and rested!!  And maybe one day, I can show off my "soccer skills" that they think I have because Hna Reid saw me play with a ball before I hurt my foot, and tells everyone that I play!  haha
     After we left their house, the children followed us to help us find a moto taxi and we started playing with them.  Hna Reid was a witch mixing her brew and I was trying to "steal" the feet of the children by touching them with my crutches.  They loved it.  After 15 minutes, we finally saw a moto taxi and took it back into Central Motupe.  We went to the pension because the doctor still wants me to rest part of the day.  When we got there, we learned that it was the Birthday of Crisalina!!  So we bought some paper and I decorated the card super cute and when Hna Reid was waiting for Diana (her working companion), she wrote a message in the card.
     During my downtime, the Elders stopped by and dropped off some notes/letters to me.  I received a note from Hna Kennedy (Hna from the CCM) and she sent me love, testimony of the Eternities and the plan and timing of God.  It was much needed.  I also received a letter from Victoria White!  It made my day to receive a hand written letter from the USA!  Especially since it had a little bit about Quest in it, because for the passed couple days I have really been reflecting on my experience and my testimony building experience that I had at Quest.  The one thing I regret not doing is to have the entire Book of Mormon read before I went, but having read it completely through after the strength I received from Quest, has helped me develop a a stronger love and understanding of the Book of Mormon.
     The Elders hung out with me for a bit and asked about the doctor and the sleeping conditions.  They really enjoyed the part when I told them about the American food I ate.  They were prettty jealous.  I felt bad. :(  Oh well, I will make them tortillas on a P-Day and serve them with peanut butter, which I will hopefully be receiving soon. :)
      Once the Elders left, hungry and laughing (because I am hilarious) :), I sat and meditated about my hardships I've had these past couple weeks, and I realized that I have been praying for a better love and relationship with my Savior, and well with all these hardships, the one good thing I've gotten out of it all, besides cake :), is a solid relationship with my Savior.  I have grown to turn to Him often for help and comfort.  And He is ALWAYS there to comfort me.  I love my Savior and I love the knowledge of the Restored Gospel.  I have gained a love for my Father in Heaven and my Savior over the past weeks that no one can take from me.  This church is the true church of Jesus Christ and I know this with my whole entire being and soul.  I know God loves each and everyone of us more than we can comprehend.  I love that He gave us a way to communicate with Him always.  I love that He wants us to share every thought and feeling we have each day.  I know He listens to us and answers our prayers- most of the time in ways we would have never thought of, but He will and does answer.  God loves us.  Use the gift of prayer and talk to the man who always wants to hear from you!
     Around 8:10pm, the Elders showed up again for the party for Crisalina.  Hna Reid showed up at 8:40pm. We were laughing and joking around and at 9:10pm, we got dinner. (potatoes, some beef chicken meat that I refused to eat, and milk)  We ate really fast so that we could make it back to our cuartos in time.  Then they decided that they were going to do the cake.  Crisalina ended up not being anywhere to be found, so we said goodbye and hurried home.  Once Hna Reid and I got to our building, our key wouldn't open the door. So we started knocking, but no answer.  We went to find a pay phone to call the landlord lady, but when we did call her number, there was no answer.  So we returned to the building...turns out 4 more people couldn't get their keys to work either.  Finally the landlord lady heard us and came to let us in.  We got into our room at 9:50pm and planned for a little bit and just headed to bed.

Sabado, 5 de Julio de 2014

     As soon as we woke up, the power went out, so we did our exercises in the dark...yay!  haha  Thankfully right after we finished, the power came back on!  Then we got ready for the day and had breakfast. (hard boiled eggs and potatoes)  Then we had studies.  After studies, we headed out teaching.  Every single person was either busy or a man home alone, so we didn't teach anyone until we stopped by the house of 2 menos activos, Wendy (17) and Jamie (20).  Well Jamie was home, but since we can't be in a house with single men, he said that he would grab chairs to sit on the outside and talk.  We taught him outside and his friends kept walking by teasing him a bit about being with us gringas.  Bless his heart.  After the lesson, we invited him to pray and he did, and he blessed me and Hna Reid individually.  I love when people use our names and not just hermanas.  It makes it more personal. :)
     After his lesson, we went back to our cuarto to do our training and language study.  Then we had lunch (rice, chicken, tomatoes, and french fries).  Oh, I figured out what the meat was from last night!  It was hen. haha  Anyways, after lunch, we went out teaching and we went and taught the sister of Lunanna (Nicol) about the Plan of Salvacion and we taught it as simply as we could and she seriously was not understanding. It was a painful lesson.
     Afterwards, we had a baptismo of 2 children that we have been teaching with the Elders.  Their names are Moroni (10 yrs) y Ivet (8 yrs).  It was such a beautiful service.  Elder Coons baptized Moroni and Elder Thompson baptized Ivet.  Bless their hearts because you have to say the full name when you baptize or give someone a blessing, and everyone here has 6 names!!  So right before they were baptizing them, the Elders were memorizing the names!  They did it!!  They remembered all the names!!  And the best part was when Elder Thompson forgot one word in the prayer and dunked Ivet and the witnesses told him he needed to do it again.  Ivet said, "No. I'm done."  haha  But before Ivet could get out, Elder Coons explained to her why she needed to do it again.  So once she was legitimately baptized, everyone that got wet went and changed while the 5 other people attending went and sang himnos.  Not very many people attend baptisms here, like they do back at home.
     Once it was over, we got cookies (but we were fasting) to save and I headed back to the pension with Ana while Hna Reid went out with Edita to teach.  While at the pension, I found a thought/quote from Hna Kennedy. (she is the blonde Hna from the CCM)   These are her words:

                                                              HIS STRIPLING SOLDIER

"You are a chosen daughter of a king that reigns above.  He knows your name, your hopes and dreams with unconditional unfailing love.  Your place is here to shine forth among all those with troubled souls.  His expectations have been set high, but your faith can make you whole.  It is your turn to join the line of those that have been called.  It is His will.  It can be done through obedience, faith and love.  He knows your strengths.  He builds the weak to measure up to His trust.  He'll walk by your side, protect you from all that is corrupt.  Angels will come, surround your soul and be your constant guide.  You can overcome the slanderer with His help by your side.  You wear His name across your heart to represent the King.  You'll walk the streets to preach His word as loud as those angels sing!  You have the skills, you have the faith and now your on His time.  For "the hour of your mission is come", stand firm upon that line.  You joined a valiant army of missionaries far and wide, you are a disciple, who represents Him, and in you, He will abide."

    While at the pension, I had felt nauseous all day.  I got sick so they gave me dinner- crackers with jam and tea.  Afterwards, Hna Reid showed up and we headed to our cuarto to plan.

Domingo, 6 de Julio de 2014

     Well in the middle at the night, we lost power, so we got ready in the dark and because there wasn't power, we had cold showers. :(  That was painful!  After we were ready we went to the pension so we could eat breakfast (2 boiled eggs, crackers, and avocado)  After breakfast, we did splits so that I could go to the church while Hna Reid went and picked up people for church.  Before church started, Hno Jorge (1st Counselor in the Rama) asked me to lead the music.  That is a hard task because they sing with no piano, meaning that I don't know the songs well enough to start them, but I agreed and led the music.  Once church was over, a little girl came up to us with an invitation from the Church to go to an activity on Friday.  She said, "The invitation says if you bring a friend, you could win a prize.  So you come and you will get a prize." Then she ran out the door.  haha  The kids here crack me up.
     Afterwards,  we went to Hno Jorge's house because it is his birthday.  We had lunch with a bunch of members!  It was fun because the Elders came and ate by us, so we talked and joked around.  We shared family pictures and stories, which was fun.  The Elders didn't have pictures with them, so they promised us pictures of the their families soon!
     After we ate, we headed back to the cuarto to study and get ready to teach.  Today was my first full day back at work, and we had some amazing lessons.  We met one reference named Milagros and her brother Kevin.  They are tan bueno!  They were really receptive and understood everything!  We taught all the Restoration and the spirit was really strong.  I am excited to continue to teach them.
     Our last lesson of the day was with that family that has an amazing spirit about them (Juleisi, Fabriana, Katerin, Jesus Remiro and Dana)  That family is AMAZING!  When we first arrived at their house, they let us in and they all grabbed chairs and circled around us.  By the time we started the lesson, we learned that Jesus (13 yrs) dropped his Lesson 2 pamphlet in the toilet.  HAHA!  So we gave him a new one.  At the end of a really spiritual lesson, we invited them to Baptism for the first Saturday in August.  They were really excited to do so!! :) Yay!
      Afterwards, we ate dinner. (fruit, cake and tea)  After dinner, we contacted some awesome people.  I also got a phone call from Hna Kennedy.  She was checking up on me and wanted to make sure I am feeling good about life.  She is such an angel in my life right now.  I love her so much!
     Well, today was a long, hard day because I have to take walking slow/ with crutches and my tummy and head were not agreeing with me, but when we left our last cita with that beautiful family, I didn't feel sick at all.  There is something special about them and that household.  Oh, another bonus of going out and being able to walk, is all the children run to us yelling, "Hermanas! Hermanas!" and give us the biggest hugs and kisses.  I love the children here and I am going to miss being greeted in this fashion when I go home to the USA.  haha  I'll have to pay kids to love me when I return home!  haha

at the mission home in Chiclayo
"The room feels like a hotel!"

our room in the mission home
"I slept great in the beds at the mission home!"

"I can't believe that we are staying with the Presidente and
his wife !"

BAPTISMS!
Sabado, 5 de Julio de 2014
Elder Thompson, Elder Coons, Moroni (10 yrs), Ivet (8 yrs),
 Hna Reid, Hna Dodson

"Elder Coons baptized Moroni and Elder Thompson baptized Ivet.
It was a beautiful service."

"The best part was when Elder Thompson forgot one word in
the Baptism prayer and dunked Ivet and the witnesses told him
he needed to do it again, Ivet said, "No. I'm done." haha

Week 12 Part 2: "My Mission President is awesome!"

"My mission president is awesome.  He let me send everything I needed to you guys because he knew you were worried about me and wanted me to let you know that I am doing good....for all the terrible things that are happening, I'm doing good.  I have been having melt downs, but everyone is being super great!  Thanks for all your love and let everyone know at home that I love them and hope all is well. I love you."

Lunes, 23 de Junio de 2014

     Read Jesus the Christ, chapters 36-37.  So beautiful.  It's all about the death of Jesus and his resurrection. After studies, we cleaned our cuarto and then headed out shopping.  We bought fruit and yogurt.  After that, we headed back to the cuarto and got ourselves comfortable and relaxed until lunch. (rice, lamb, jello y flan) After lunch we rested and organized our cuarto, and napped!  Much needed!!  At 4:00ish we found internet and wrote home.  I love writing home and receiving emails from everyone.  I am constantly laughing out loud so that brings attention to myself as well as the fact that I am white and type in English.  All during emailing, there were these kids "reading" my emails.  It was really cute.  It's so fun to teach English and help people with English.  After that, we went back to the cuarto and rested.  I printed off my mom's talk she gave on Sunday and I totally forgot I had some of the memories she shared.  I need to reread my journal entries and remind myself of my spiritual experiences.
      Once p-day was over we went teaching.  We went to visit the familia of Julio (the snake who wants to marry me).  Well the ENTIRE family, minus one.  And the entire lesson everyone was loud and the kids were screaming and being loud, but the best part was when I started to talk, the spirit entered the room and the room went silent and everyone was looking at me.  I bore my testimony of Jesus Christ and His sacrifice for us.  My Spanish is still terrible but the fact that the spirit helped me testify of truth was amazing!
     After, we went to noche de hogar (FHE) with Fiorella and her daughter Luna.  We taught them about the turtle and the hare, and how we need to endure to the end, and it doesn't matter if we leave the path because through Jesus Christ, we can hop back on the path like the hare.  After the lesson, she brought us out some cold hamburgers and inca cola.
     We then headed to our real dinner at the pension- 2 dinners again.  If this keeps happening, I'm going to get fat!  Luckily, Crisalina served us a small plate of potatoes and cheese with warm milk. :)  And while we were finishing up to leave, Ana came running inside with some cookies and cupcakes for us.  We took them with us to the cuarto and talked about how we were dying from how full we were as we continued to eat desserts!  I need self control!

Martes, 24 de Junio de 2014

     I woke up this morning feeling mal (bad), but I acted fine and went on through our citas (appts.) all morning.  We taught 2 less actives named Leonella (16 yrs) y Cero (22 yrs).  We started teaching Leonella first and Cero walked in the room and he really became interested and really has a desire to get back in the church.  Hopefully we can help him get back and get him on a mission.
     After, we had capacitacion and lunch and at lunch, I felt really sick, so we went back to the cuarto for language study.  Hna Reid told me to rest and when I wake up, we can decide what I felt like doing.  Well I ended up sleeping from 2 until 4:45pm.  When I woke up, I still didn't feel well, but I really wanted to teach Clarita, so we headed to her and the spirit was so strong as we talked about the after life and the covenants we need to make.  We asked her if she still wanted to be baptized, and she said that she wants to know that the church is true with no doubt.  We know she knows it is true, but she keeps denying it...
     Well after we taught a few others and I felt really sick, so we went early to the pension to plan and eat. In the middle of our planning, we had a surprise visit from Elder Coons y Elder Thompson.  First and last time we will ever have a personal interruption during planning from the elders.  haha  Anyways, we wer all talking and Elder Thompson told me that his mom found my blog and that she is finding out more about the mission from me than from him!! haha  Bonus of being a girl...you write down all the details!  Anyways, shout out to Sister Thompson!  Thanks for reading! :)  The Elders gave me a blessing, which once again, the power of the Elders is AWESOME!
     After we ate, we just headed home and got ready for bed and for the big meeting tomorrow of sending President Risso y Hna Risso home.  Hopefully I feel better tomorrow because I have a lot of traveling to do. And we are going to be treated to a nice lunch at the farewell, and I want to enjoy the food!!!
     Funniest thing...Hna Reid sang me a song today about farting...."You don't kno-ooow, your farting on your companion's be-e-ed, and that's why it stinks in here!" (she sang it to the melody of "You Don't Know You're Beautiful" by One Direction)  We laughed forever!  Farting jokes-Siempre!!!!  Yeah, yeah...we are so grown up...haha..:)
     Study:  I finished up Chapter 38 and started 39 in Jesus the Christ.  39 is awesome because it talks about what was happening to those here in the Americas during the time of Jesus.  I am completely obsessed with Jesus the Christ.  When I get home, I am going to re-read it and see what I will catch the second time I read it.  I learn so much everyday.  I love Jesus and His sacrifice.  His completely voluntary sacrifice for us.  I love my Redeemer and my Heavenly Father.  I love this gospel.

Miercoles, 25 de Junio de 2014

     Well I woke up feeling sick still.  But we had to go to Lambayeque for district meetings and a zone meeting, and to also say goodbye to Presidente Risso y Hna Risso. They are ending their mission Saturday:(
     We met up with the Elders at our pension to head to the paradero.  The entire car ride we all talked and laughed.  We are all becoming better friends everyday!  We all work so well together.
     Once we got to the church in Lambayeque and had our meetings, and at the end of our zone meeting, the Rissos bore their testimonies and then we headed to lunch at this polleria (chicken house), and since my stomach was upset, I ordered light chicken (not fried :( )  Hna Reid was so nice, because she sat with me and ordered the same thing that I did, so that I wouldn't feel left out of eating other foods.
     I wasn't able to get to know the Rissos very well, since I've only known them for 6 weeks, but they are so full of love and the spirit.  Before lunch, and since I couldn't walk, Hna Reid and I got to ride in the Presidente's car- bonus of being crippled...haha...
     After lunch, we said goodbye and we all hugged Presidente y Hna Risso.  It was pretty emotional for most.  We then all headed back to our areas.  The 2 hour car ride home was so fun!  Elder Thompson and I just swapped stories and talked about all the music/artists we have in common.  We have a lot in common! We are planning to go to a concert of John Mayer together.  It'll be awesome!
      We got back and headed out teaching.  We stopped by Belen's house (little 8 yr old girl).  She has so much interest in the church, but she wasn't home, so when we were talking over our schedule, this young teenage girl walked up to us and basically said that she wants us to teach her.  We followed her to her house. Her name is Daniella.  I told her my sister's name is Danielle, but she didn't understand that it isn't Daniel with a Spanish accent.  haha  Her mom's name is Socorro and her little sister's name is Karumi.  They are really interested and during the lesson their dad stopped watching TV inside and listened "secretively" out the window.  He was hiding while listening to us teach.  :)
     After that, we had corolation so we went to the capilla to meet up with the Elders to talk about how we can continue to work well and share the area.  It is nice how well we work together, because sharing an area is hard.
  After that we left and headed out to get dinner.  The moto that picked us up gave us a ride for free, because we are apparently teaching his nephew Jon (the little boy we teach with Pascuala y Ruth)  It was so nice of him to take us for free. :)  We ate dinner (fruit) and headed home and planned.

Jueves, 26 de Junio de 2014

     I woke up this morning with a swollen, red toe, and I'm still feeling sick.  Basically life is great. Well, I made the best of it and we went out teaching.  We taught Cristian Dioses and he is such a good guy.  He is 17 yrs old and he is just out to do good.  He is a recent convert and he has such a desire to be good. Today during the lesson we taught him from the strength of youth (Parala Fortaleza de la Juventud) about agency (albedrio) and he had a lot of interest in it and the rest of the pamphlet.  He is so kind to me because anytime I say anything, he really listens to me and talks with me.  The other day when the power went out, there was a bunch of us at the church, and I was sitting with him talking about his life and he is a rapper, so he showed me some stuff he recorded and he is really good.  I told him about how I made a CD for my friend, and he wanted to hear me sing, so I sang for him.  It was fun to get to know each other a little bit more.
      After our lesson with him, we stopped by a member's house.  His name is Carlos (really old) and one half of his body is paralyzed.  He is one of the strongest active members ever!  He lives with his granddaughters named Kierra (7 yrs) y Ashley (9 yrs).  They are so adorable and they love me!  We shared the story about the Good Samaritan with them.  I love Carlos.
     Afterwards, we headed back to the cuarto and I started feeling really sick, so I just rested and went to lunch.  I didn't eat much.  They did give me a popsicle which helped a bit.  After that, we had language (idioma) study and during that time we decided that it would be best that I just rested at the pension the rest of the day and Hna Reid would do splits with Edita (18 yr old who wants to be a missionary-she is such a wonderful strong young woman).  I got all packed up to be at the pension for 5 hours...but before Edita could come, we went and visited one young lady Luhanna.  She knows all the lessons inside and out but won't just get baptized.  It drives me nuts!  We were teaching her the law of chastity.  After we explained everything, we asked her to explain to us what the law means.  And she says, "Well duh...it's keeping your virginity safe until your married."  I of course just thought to myself, duh Sierra...why would you ask her to explain it.  She already knows EVERYTHING!
     After we taught her, we headed back to the pension and that started my time at the pension.  During my downtime I read Jesus the Christ and in Chapter 40 it talks about Columbus and in the notes at the end (#5), it shows that Nephi saw him come to the Americas!! (1 Nephi 13: 10-13) How cool!!!  Also the chapter talked about the Constitution and about how "the gospel of Jesus Christ is the embodiment of Liberty;  it is the truth that shall make free every man and every nation who will accept and obey its precepts."  pg. 755 And in the last chapter (42), the last sentence is tan bonito!!  en serio.  I finished Jesus the Christ and I am completely obsessed and I love my Savior so much!!
     During my downtime, I had some tea and these deep fried batter things.  They are really good, but they were probably the worst things for my intestines/stomach.  Worth it...maybe...haha
     Want to hear a funny joke?  I was reading my patriarchal blessing and in it, it reads "your health will be sufficient for any of the tasks that the priesthood brethren bestow upon you."  As I have a minor fracture, sore throat, swollen toe and a bad stomach ache, I have "sufficient" health.  hahaha  God does have a sense of humor. :)  I have gotten to know the very distinct personality traits of Jesus and God in this short time out on my mission.  God...He is funny, INTENSE, loving, serious and little bit sassy. :)
     When Hna Reid and Edita got back, they told me all about their night.  Then we ate dinner and I started to feel really nauseous.  We went home and I laid on my bed....dying.  We have a doctor appt tomorrow to figure out what is wrong with me....

Viernes, 27 de Junio de 2014

     I woke up at 6:30am...still sick.  And now I can add a stuffed nose and a cough to my sore throat and upset stomach.  yay  Well Elder Brunis (one of the office boys) set up a doctor appt, so we packed a sleepover bag because I have two appts...one for my stomach/intestines and the other for my foot.  One is at 3pm and the other is at 7pm.  So we headed to Chiclayo.  When we arrived, we grabbed a moto and went to find internet service to print off papers for the doctor/insurance.  It took until Christmas to find internet. Once we found it, we printed the things off and went to find a moto to take us to the clinic and there wasn't any motos.  Only when you need one, can I not find one....haha  And right when we were about to walk somewhere else to find one, a guy on a motorcycle stopped us and started talking to us in English.  Man: "Hello sisters.  How are you?  Are you okay? (pointing at me)"  Us: "Good, but we need a moto."  Man: "I will find you one."  Me: "Yeah!"  Us:  "Oh, thank you."  And then he drove off to find us one.  He wasn't having a lot of luck and ended up calling us a taxi and he paid for it!  His name is Enrique Diez and my instructions are, "add him to Facebook and tell him thank you for taking care of the Hna on crutches!!"
     Once we got to the doctor, we headed upstairs and ended up running into Elder Thompson.  Apparently, Elder Coons is really sick, too.  The Elders went on divisions because there is another elder sick, too, so they put the sick ones together and the 2 heatlthy ones together.  We talked to Elder Thompson and he was looking for his companion.  In the middle of his story of what happened, I got told to go to another part of the building and waiting outside of the same room was Elder Coons!  Small world.  So we called back to Elder Thompson and told him that we found his companion!  We all swapped stories and took turns going in to see the doctor.  The doctor liked my first name, but didn't like how difficult it was to pronounce my last name :) haha  Anyways, my diagnosis is an infection in my stomach so lucky, lucky me, I get to take the pink stuff- like pepto bismol.
     After I got my medicine, we headed up to the mission home to meet up with Hna Yaulli and Hna Acosta, and Hna Ccalli.  This is my third time staying with these Hnas in Chiclayo and their pension is so sweet and accepting of me.  Every time I have come to them, they always give me the biggest hugs and always call me beautiful.  And since I can't do a whole lot with being sick, we went to their pension to hang out there until my later doctor appt at 7pm.  They were so amazing and they gave me a little bowl of rice and lots of hugs. They also put in some Old Testament videos (in Spanish) for me and Hna Reid to watch.  So for quite some time, we read and watched videos.  I hate not working.
     At 7pm, I went to my second doctor appt and I saw the same doctor that told me that I had a fracture in my foot.  He looked at my same xrays and couldn't find the break again...so....I might have been misdiagnosed!  hahahaha  Then he looked at my toe and sent me to get it looked at my another doctor (dermatologist) We waited to see him forever!  Once we got in, he looked at my toe and told me that I have an infection and that I need to keep it really elevated and not walk!  Just kill me now.  I was given more meds (antibiotics).
     After we got done at the doctor, we headed back to the pension in Chiclayo and the house was decorated because Hna Acosta was having her 25th birthday!  We sang Happy Birthday and ate dinner...and CAKE!! yay!  Afterwards, we went back to the cuarto of the Hnas and we talked with Presidente Risso tambien Presidente Williams (the new President). Poor man.  First day here, and he has to deal with all my WONDERFUL health stories!  Poor, poor man.  Thankfully, we could explain everything in English!
     When Hna Reid called Presidente Risso, he talked to her about me for a minute and then he said that he was going to let Presidente Williams have the phone since it was his area now.  So he handed the phone to Pres. Williams, said goodbye and right then, Pres. Risso got onto the plane.  We witnessed the passing over of the area!  So so cool!!  Well, he got back on the phone and told us he would call us in the morning and we could figure out what to do with me for a week.  We then got ready for bed and talked.
     The Hnas in Chiclayo are bueno!  They are so willing to always help, and they do all they can do for us! They don't make us feel like the unwanted house guests.

Sabado, 28 de Junio de 2014

    We woke up and I started getting ready for the day.  When all four of us got finished showering, we went to breakfast. (pan, ham, and omelets).  Then we headed back to the cuarto to do study and wait for the call from Pres. Williams.  At 9:40ish, we got the call from one of the office boys and they told us that the Presidente himself was coming to the cuarto we were at, to talk to me!!!  So everyone but me started crazy cleaning everything.  The Presidente showed up at 10:30am.  Hermana Williams was the first to enter and she is so amazing.  The love that radiates from her is amazing!  Then appeared 2 Elders from the office, Elder Lattin y Elder Noriega, and then Presidente Williams!  It was their second day in the mission and I got to meet them!  We were the first normal missionaries they met.  We then explained my whole health story to them and over and over again they kept telling me that I have such a great attitude about this situation.  Once we talked about what could be the plans for me for a while, we all decided on me going back to Motupe and staying at the pension all day so that Hna Reid could do splits with any members we could find.  The entire time, they were getting to know me and I am really excited about that because I now have a relationship and trust with them.  I love them with my whole being.  Before they left, Pres. Williams gave me a priesthood blessing.  It was so beautiful.  After the blessing, he got a little emotional and told us that he wants everyone in the mission to know that he trusts them.  And then they said goodbye.  Pres. Williams shook my hand and held and patted it for a minute- he is like my mission dad.  Hna Williams hugged me and told me she was proud of me.  And they both told me to call them if I needed something and they truly meant it.  They are so great and I am grateful to have 16 months with them.  All growing together in the language. Pres. knows Spanish but hasn't used it since his mission in Spain and Hna Williams has been trying to study it for years and decided that if they could live somewhere where they only spoke Spanish, she could learn faster and what do you know, they get called here. :) Presidente kept saying it was her doing that they were here!! haha They are so cute!  I already have so much trust and love in and for them, and I've only known them for 1 1/2 hours.  I can already tell a lot of things in the mission is going to change, because he was saying the things that he wanted that a Latino President would have.  Our mission is going to be Americanized and I am really excited.
     Once they left, we headed back to Motupe.  On the car ride home, we talked about how amazing the Williams' are and also about our bishops.  I shared my story of knowing that Bishop Smith was my bishop when we were at Quest and "Jesus" called his apostles (the bishops in the Stake).  I knew.  And I shared that ever since then, I have continued to grow closer to him and how grateful I am to have him as my home ward bishop, because he has been so supportive and understanding about everything.  Thank you Bishop Smith!  You are a great man and I know you are called of God and you have blessed many souls!  Thank you!  Thanks 5th Ward for all the support!! Much love!
     Once we got back to Motupe, we went straight to lunch (2pm).  We ate soup (which had rice, veggies, and lamb) and popcorn.  It was really yummy.  After we ate, we explained to them what needs to happen until next Friday.  #1  I need to rest all day long either at the pension or have someone with me in our cuarto. #2  I have 2 kinds of pills to take and for my stomach, I can't have anything fried or no milk......(bummer) because all I've been craving is these fried donuts and arroz con leche.  #3  My foot must be elevated always!!  #4  Call Hna Williams about anything :) I love her!!! (my mission mommy)
     It is going to be a long week, but luckily I get a lot of time for studies.  #5  I need to eat healthy and do lots of ab work outs while I rest.  haha  Problem solved :)  Once we told them my rules for this week, we headed to our cuarto with Hna Ana because we already had 2 bags and we needed to carry our laundry home too, so she helped us.  Once home, we unpacked and I packed up another bag for my long studies at the pension.  I am excited to be able to study, but I know I am going to go crazy after today!  We headed back to the pension and I stayed there and rested while Hna Reid went out and taught. (that lucky duck) She came back for me at 5:30pm to head to the church for a young women's activity of watching the movie Charly with our investigadores.  Well Luhanna was the only one of our investigadores that showed up, but there were other members there.  We watched the movie and EVERYONE  was crying and Hna Reid and I bore our testimonies.  The girls got more emotional and the spirit was so strong.  Then the girls there, all shared their thoughts about the video and Luhanna loved it.  I knw that if she goes to church tomorrow and feels the spirit she felt tonight, that she will want the gospel.  And while the YW were sharing their testimonies, they talked about eternal marriage and how we need to keep our baptismal covenants and be worthy to receive eternal families.  I think that his home for Luhanna to hear her friends her age talk about their desire to always be in the church.  It was such a beautiful experience.  I am grateful for this gospel and for the love from God.  I am so happy we can all be sealed for forever!  I am so grateful for the opportunity to serve a mission to help many people start their journey to reach the temple and eternal families.  I challenge you to watch Charly again, but really pay attention to all the spiritual aspects, especially when he gives her the blessing of health.  He has so much faith that all will be fine and "promises" things without the promise of God.  We all need to remember God has a plan for us and sometimes it's not what we want.... cough cough, stuck on a couch all day when wanting to work...coughcough.  God knows what we need to grow and become stronger children of Him.  I know this church is true and I know we can live with our families and God for FOREVER!  I know we can be forgiven through Jesus Christ and I know He suffered for all the terrible things in our lives.  I know with my whole being that God loves ME and YOU!  Pray to know this truth.

Domingo, 29 de Junio de 2014

     Well, we had church this morning and since I couldn't pick people up for church, cause that's "work", Hna Reid left with Crisalina to get people at 8:15am and left me with Ana.  Well, I thought we would just chill at the house for awhile because church doesn't start until 9ish (that is if they start on time :) , but we left at 8:20 am in a moto and ended up being 45 minutes early to church.  During my lengthy wait, I found a place to sit to have my foot up and out of the way.  Once church was getting ready to start, everyone and their dog came up to me to try and get me to go and see their doctor or to go get a massage.  :)  I don't think they realize a massage won't help a broken bone.  Once sacrament meeting started, they announced who was speaking and Hna Reid found out with the rest of us that she was speaking!  She did great!  After she finished, the first counselor to the President of the Rama spoke.  He gave the coolest analogy.
     We are all knives and the gospel is an apple.  What would happen if we rubbed the knife on the bottom of a shoe and cut up the apple to share?  No one would want it.  What would happen if we cut up the apple with a clean knife?  Everyone would want it!  It's the same with us.  If we are dirty (sins), no one is going to want what we have to share.  But if we are clean, everyone will want a piece of what we have in our lives. He proceeded to talk about repentance and that we can always be forgiven.
     After sacrament meeting, there were some teenagers in the hall stacking their hands on top of each other and then counting to 10, as they pulled a hand off with each number.  As a joking around, Hna Reid and I joined in.  Turns out that if you are #10, you get to do a truth or dare...Well I was #10.  haha  Since I am a missionary and someone who doesn't speak Spanish, one of the YM says, "Do you like Peru?"  haha I laughed and said "Yes!" and walked away.  What the random?  Truth or Dare in the church?!
     After church we went back to the cuarto and did personal study and then headed to lunch.  For study, I have started to read the New Testament.  It is so cool because everything from Jesus the Christ is right from the New Testament, so it is interesting to read from the scriptures and remember the descriptions/explanations from Jesus the Christ.  I am learning so much!  After I finished all of Matthew, I started reading "Our Search for Happiness" by Russell M. Ballard.  It is so good.  He says, "If you really concentrate on trying to walk the way Jesus walked, one day you'll look up and discover that His path has led you directly to the throne of God."
     After I read to chapter 3, Ana and Lucero (the daughters of my pensionista) came over to the couch I was resting on and they talked to me about the United States.  And they were surprised to hear that not everyone is white and that a lot of people are from other countries.  It was fun to explain my home life and my culture to them.  I told them about the crazy people who go tanning to get their skin dark like theirs.  :)
     When we headed back to the cuarto at 8:45pm, we looked at the phone and we had 4 missed calls from the Presidente.  We immediately called them back and they had called all those times just to check on me. How sweet.  The exact words were, "we are thinking about you Hna Dodson.  How are you doing?"  They are so great and so loving.  They told me again to call them whenever.  I am so grateful for them and their love for all the missionaries, but right now, especially their love for me.  Because they are brand new, and the fact that they know me is amazing, and that I am not just on some list of Chiclayo Missionaries.  :)  Love them!
     A little bit about Pres. Williams y Hna Williams.  They are from Rock Springs, Wyoming.  They have 5 kids- 3 daughters (all married) and 2 sons (not married).  They found out I'm from Bountiful and they told me that for a short time, they were in Bountiful and they went to the temple a ton.  And I decided that my mom has probably met them and didn't know.  Haha  They are hilarious and so open and loving.

Lunes, 30 de Junio de 2014

     P-Day!  Well we had breakfast brought to us this morning because we were going to be hanging out in the cuarto all day and since doctor's orders say "foot elevated", I need to do that.  It was weird to eat at our tiny little cuarto, but I enjoyed it though.  We had 2 hard boiled eggs each, a cup full of oatmeal, 2 1/2 rolls with jam and a banana.  After we ate, we did our studies and then cleaned the cuarto.  After we cleaned, we had to go get our money for next month.  While we were at the ATM, we saw a bakery, so obviously we had to go and buy chocolate cake with caramel drizzled all over it! :)  Then we went back to the cuarto and relaxed.  I made a little visual for the Plan of Salvation Lesson. :)  It's super cute.  And then lunch was brought to us (rice, salad, soup, grapes, and Tang)  After lunch, we relaxed some more and decided to go email.  And that's when everything changed.
     I got on the computer and nothing was working well and by the time I got on, the FIRST email I read was the update from Matthew's mommy.  And I found out right then that my best bud, Matt, died.  I broke down crying and that is how I started and ended my emailing.  During my entire hour of time, my computer was frozen and I couldn't get my emails to my family.  Really, after it was all over, I just left feeling completely picked on!  I have kept such a great attitude towards all my health issues and towards not being able to understand the language, and today pushed me over the edge.  We left emailing and Hna Reid and I hugged while I cried and then she bought me ice cream.  We then headed home and I just cried and talked to Hna Reid forever.  She is such a good support to me.  She called the Presidente to see if our Elders were back in Motupe, because Elder Coons has some parasite in his intestines, so he has been in Chiclayo since Thursday.  He told us that they would be back in Motupe tonight, and that once they get back, they will give me a blessing.  After that phone call, Hna Reid sang for me while I cried.  She is so great.  She told me that she doesn't understand what it feels like to lose someone, but she wishes to take everything from me because it tears her apart to see me suffer like this for the passed couple weeks.  At 6pm, we headed to the pension so that Hna Reid could go out teaching and I could rest.  Well as soon as I sat down, I lost it again.  I explained what happened (showed them the picture I have of Matt) and just cried.  And since my pension is amazing, they bought me arroz con leche with masomora and also a sugar caramel cookie.  They know my comfort foods.  Oh....one thing...while Hna Reid was singing to me, she started singing "You'll Be In My Heart", and I completely lost it, because that song was mine and Matt's song.  I have really enjoyed remembering all our memories together and also having an experience that really pulls the Plan of Salvation up close and personal.  I am so grateful that we will all see each other again.  And I know Matt is going to be right there at the second coming/resurrection to hug all of us.  I want to send love out to the Palmer family.  I want them to know many people adore and love Matt.  He is an amazing young man, and he changed my life for the better.  He was and still is one of my biggest supporters of my mission.  He gave me encouragement in the times of questioning and he always testified of God in all he did.  Matthew Palmer....I Love You. Thank you for your strong testimony and love for all.  I will serve my mission in honor of you, since you are a huge reason I'm out here!  You can finish your mission in the Spirit World, converting lost souls to God. Keep up the good work, and continue to shine and bless all with your beautiful talent of music.  I Love You.
     At 8:30pm, the Elders came by the pension and luckily Elder Coons is back.  They still don't know what's wrong, but both elders gave me a blessing of comfort and it was much needed.  By now, the Elders have my name memorized....third blessing from them.  Bless their hearts.  Today was just completely emotionally draining.

lunch:  rice, salad, soup, grapes and Tang :)

Visual aids I made for the Plan of Salvation lesson
"It's super cute."