This morning, we cleaned up and organized the carpeta (binder/folder)! During cleaning/organizing cosas (things), Hna Kingsford pushed the sink plug closed and then it wouldn't open again, so we had to get the owners to come and fix it....haha. While they fixed it, we went to lunch at a restaurant down the road. The owner's son, Leonardo (5 yrs) started talking to me. I asked him if he could run fast, so he showed us over and over again how fast he was. It was so cute. Once we were done eating, I had a push-up contest with him, and then we played futbol with a bouncy ball. It was so much fun. When it was time to go, he ran up to us yelling, "Chow Gringas!" and gave us high fives and told us to come back!
Then we went to internet! It was so rapido here!! Yay!! After internet, we went to the playa (beach/dock/pier). While we were on the dock, I was trying to take a cute photo and my plaque fell into the ocean! haha Que feo. We just laughed and continued taking photos. We had a lot of people laughing with us because of our jokes and actions. It was fun!
While we were walking back to the beach, a man stopped us to show us a really ugly fish and he scared me with it and he thought it was the funniest thing. Once we made it back to the beach, we walked along the water and took photos by the strange and cool boats that they use. Then we walked the street right above the beach to look at all the little tiendas (stores). While we were looking around, we met some ladies from Argentina and they thought that us serving a mission was the coolest thing since sliced bread. They were so cute.
Then we went home, cleaned up from the sand and headed out teaching. We went to teach a little girl named Youleidy and her abuelos. We taught them about Jose Smith and they really enjoyed it. We ended by singing "Soy un hijo de Dios". They loved it!
After that, we went to dinner and headed home to plan. First we called the Pres. of the Rama (Pres. Arroyo) because it is his birthday today, so we sang to him and he invited us to his house manana to have cake! Yay!
Today, I got an email from the Stake and little quote that says, "The children of God come into this world, pass through a veil of forgetfulness, or spiritual amnesia. They forget who they were, what they did, and why they came to earth. All of us who have received the gospel have the sacred responsibility to help them to remember God's glorious Plan of Salvation."
Also, Hna Kingsford and I were talking about prayer and how we need to pray specifically and be honest, because like when you are asked, "How are you?" and you answer, "Good." and it's not good, no one is going to know how to help unless you say and ask. Same with God. You need to tell Him and ask Him specifically and be honest and open with Him. That is when He can help you and bless you. That is when you can see and feel miracles.
On the way home, we saw a woman who fed us the cow stomach yesterday, and she said, "I was praying yesterday that I would find help" and she said we were her "angels" and that the rest of the day after we set up her work that she had lots of customers. She said, "I know God answers prayers because he sent you two and blessed me with a lot of business." How beautiful is that? When people can feel and see the simple blessings from God. I love this gospel. I know that it is true and that it can bless all with so much guidance and peace!!
Martes, 19 de Agosto de 2014
We had a district meeting this morning in Monsefu, Peru. (15 minutes from Pimentel). I love my district! It is all Latinos (2 hermanas and 2 elders). One of the hermanas is from the USA but she is a Latina. Our district lider named our district "Pimsefu" which is Pimentel + Monsefu put together. Later in the day, we taught Pilar (17 yrs). She is really sweet and is super adorable! During her lesson, I felt the gift of tongues. The entire lesson I understood everything and said everything that I wanted to without questioning or having a hard time pronouncing! It was awesome!!
After her lesson, we stopped by the house of President Arroyo and his wife invited us to 2 different kinds of cake and juice! It was bien rico! After that, on our way to our Noche de Hogar (FHE) with our Pensionista and all those who live with her, we got stopped by a man with a cart of fruit who was handing me all sorts of fruits. We started contacting him and in the end, he wanted to know if I was married and when I told him I wasn't, he asked for my number. I didn't give it to him...don't worry!! Anyways, we finally made it to our pensionista's house (Ida luz -Lucy) We taught her daughters Lucia y Mayra and her sister Channy, and her daughters Juanita and Nikol and also the boyfriend of Nikol, Jerson, and also the ex husband of Channy. It was a very successful lesson. We taught the 10 commandments and they were loving everything about it. We did a fun activity to remember all the commandments.
After the lesson, we all ate arroz con something (haha) with coconut in it. It was really good. During that time, we sang some Disney songs and they loved it, and Jerson was making fun of us, but I know he loved it too!
Then we ate dinner. (oatmeal drink called avena and tamales) All during dinner, we were all laughing and joking around! I love how close I am with this pensionista and her family. We eat lunch together everyday and they always hang out with us at dinner time! I love it here in Pimentel. I love the people and the love I feel from everyone!! I feel like I really fit in here. People here understand my personality and I love that! It was a good day! I am still struggling with Spanish, but I feel myself progressing a lot more here in Pimentel than I did in Motupe. I am loving it!!!
Miercoles, 20 de Agosto de 2014 [HAPPY ANNIVERSARY MOM Y DAD!]
Well today was a good day! We were walking to a cita and we saw a crazy grandma in leggings, high tops, an oversized t shirt and a hat that was on backwards. I love it here! Our first cita of the day was with a recent convert named Karla. We were talking with her about Jose Smith and she ended up relating a lot to the story and shared some really personal experiences from her conversion. It was beautiful. I love when people remember the reason why they chose the church!
After that, we headed to our pension for lunch and right before we sat down to eat, our hermana liders showed up to do a visit of planning with us, so we brought our lunch with us to our cuarto to eat and plan. We planned with them for a couple of hours, about how to improve our area and use our time wisely, so we can visit all the people we need to in such a large area.
Then we headed out teaching and visited a woman named Liliana (mama de Youleidy) and it turns out that her aunt and uncle died juntos esta semana (together this week)...so we talked about the Plan of Salvacion and I shared my experiences of losing friends and how Christ helped me feel peace and know that all is alright, and even though I still have a hole in my heart, I feel better about where they are. Then I told her that it is good to cry and to let it out, and that we were her support, and she began to cry. I held her hand and let her cry. Then Hna Kingsford and I sang "Where Can I Turn for Peace?" It was beautiful. We left her with a prayer and before we left, she gave us a huge hug and told us that she loved us.
Then we taught Giannina and Danitza. Giannina is a recent convert and I was talking with her a bit and when I told her I had 4 meses in the mission she said, "I thought you had a lot more time, because your Spanish is good." I love when people think my Spanish is good! For our lesson, we taught the Atonement and then she told us we strengthened her testimonio and she feels that she understands things a lot better now!
While we were walking to our last cita, Hna Kingsford complimented me and told me the sincere love and compassion that I radiate for the people here is amazing, and that is why in every lesson the people "listen very intently to you." And then she continued to say she wants that gift! It was much needed for me to hear that she sees the actual love I have for these people!
Our last cita fell through, so we tried 3 other houses and no hay nadie. So we headed to the parque to contact people and I saw a man sitting alone and I turned to Hna Kingsford and said, "Him. He needs to talk." So we walked over to him and introduced ourselves and we all started talking and he told us about his life, family, work, etc. Then we shared the same things back and then we shared the basics of the gospel. We invited him to church, and he said, "I'll be there, I promise." He really wants to learn more and grow closer to Christ. Then the most beautiful thing happened. Right before we left, he told us that he usually goes to the beach and then right home, but today, for some strange reason, he stopped to sit in the parque, and then he proceeded to say, "If I had known I would be receiving all this love and joy, I would have come here sooner." How amazing is that?! He recognized what we have. I really hope all works out with him and that we can baptize him, and get him making covenants with God and his familia. Oh, his name is Jimmy and his 2nd name was Carter, but he changed it to Jonathan. He said his dad was obsessed with the Presidents of the States and named him after Jimmy Carter!
We went to dinner and we talked and laughed with Lucy y Channy forever. We were all choking on our drinks and food! Today was a good day, full of lots of fun, laughs, cries and the Spirit! Good day!!
Jueves, 21 de Agosto de 2014
All morning we had no success. All our citas fell through. We knocked doors and every door got shut in our faces. I was worried that the rest of the day was going to be like that, but it wasn't! After lunch, we went to Omar, who is a young man (17 yrs) and his mama, Maria. (the woman who fed us cow stomach/ panchita) Well when we entered the house, we sat on the couch and were waiting for him to come and join us, when I saw BEAUTIFUL art on the wall, so I got up to look at it, and Aaron (23 yrs), the brother of Omar, came out and asked me if I liked his art. I told him that I did, and that I love to paint too, and so he invited me to come by on Monday to paint! At this point, we had hit if off great so when Omar came out, I invited Aaron to join us too, and Hna Kingsford said that he has never wanted to join, but he joined us today! We had a great lesson about baptism and Aaron asked how and what he needs to do to become a member. We told him that he needs to pray to know for himself that this is the path, and then to be baptized. He said that he was going to pray! We sang a himno, "Soy un Hijo de Dios", and they loved it. Then we prayed and we asked when we could come back and Omar said, "Next week on Martes", and then Aaron said, "No, tomorrow!" But we had a full day tomorrow, so we couldn't but I was really excited that Aaron really likes our message. Before we left, Aaron was looking at my photos, and asked if he could take one and draw it for me! I gave him a picture of me. I hope he actually draws it!!
We headed to Fonavi and taught Marlo. The last time we were there, we challenged him to watch/read talks from General Conference, and he did and he told us all about what he learned. It was awesome! He is so cool! His sister, Clara Leyton is so funny! She and I have very similar personalities and we get along so well. I love the relationships I am gaining here.
Then we headed back to Pimentel. We went to visit a woman named Maria, but instead we found her daughter, who we haven't taught before, name Crucita. Turns out that she had received all the lessons a year ago but the elders just stopped visiting her, but today she told us she wants the lessons again and that at the end of Septiembre she wants to be baptized! How beautiful is that?! She said that she has missed the church and really wants to go and learn everything again. She is 16 yrs old and she is such a down to earth girl. Her personality reminds me a lot of Danielle, not as funny -obviously :) but she loves music and is just super chill and smart! (like my sissy!)
After her lesson, we went to dinner and talked with Lucy. :) I love her. She is totally my mommy here. She is so much like my mommy at home. She is hilarious and cooks well and gives us good advice and love! I love her! For dinner we had broccoli, carrots, sweet potatoes and avena (oatmeal) with hot chocolate in it! That is rico!! :)
Then we headed home and planned and talked about how beautiful today was even though we didn't have as much success as we wanted (numbers wise), but we had amazing lessons and amazing miracles happen of finding people!! I know we are being blessed because of our obedience and our humble desire to love and help these children of God come to the knowledge of what they had known in the life before!! La obra misonal es bien bonito y tambien es un inspiracion! I love being a missionary!!! I love Peru!!
Viernes, 22 de Agosto de 2014
"The word hope is sometimes misunderstood in our everyday language. The word often has a hint of uncertainty. For example, we may say that we hope for a change in the weather or a visit from a friend. In the language of the gospel, however, the word hope is SURE, UNWAVERING, and ACTIVE." True to the Faith (Ether 12:4)
All day today, no one was home. It was completely draining to not have lessons....but we laughed a lot as we walked everywhere. The best part was when we were with Daniel (our mission lider) and Hna Kingsford took a sip of her water bottle and turns to me and says, "My water tastes like toilet water." I busted up laughing and Daniel kept saying over and over in his cute little accent, "Gross!" It was perfect!
Before dinner, we were looking for new investigadores when a woman from the Netherlands comes up to us and starts talking to us in English. Her name is Anna and she is here for an internship. She speaks Dutch, German, English and Spanish. She is really cool. She invited us to eat carrot cake with her one day when she makes it. She has no interest in hearing our message, but she is really an interesting person.
Then we headed to dinner. (eggs, hashbrowns, broccoli, carrots y avena with apples cut up in it). After we ate, we went home, planned and got ready for bed. It was a draining day. It was mentally and spiritually exhausting when you only have 2 lessons. :( Hopefully tomorrow will be better.
Sabado, 23 de Agosto de 2014 [Feliz Cumpleanos Danielly!]
This morning no one was home, so we went to the park and contacted all morning. And we had a lot of success!! We had people flocking to us! Not even joking! During our time contacting, we had a man come up to us and start selling us some scissors. We said no. So he pulled out the next best thing....books to learn English. Once again, we turned him down and told him that we already speak English! :) Another man chased us down for a Libro de Mormon, but we didn't have any on us, but he asked us what Bible we use so Hna Kingsford pulls out her Bible and shows him, and he ripped it from her hands and we both thought that he was going to run off with it. She almost got her Bible stolen!!! Then we contacted a man named Miguel. He wants us to teach him!
Then we went to lunch at a member's house. (Familia Paz) It was bien rico! I love the food here. We had potatoes con spicy sauce y arroz con fried chicken. After lunch, we went to Fonavi. No one was home again, so we contacted a few people and stopped at a house of a member. Their son drew me as an Angry Bird!! He is 5 yrs old! It was so good! haha He even drew my plaque on it- on my face! :)
Then we went to the house of Daniel (ward mission lider). His mom Ede served us warm apple pie with apple cider! It was the best apple pie EVER!! Then we went with Daniel to teach a lesson to his neighbor and buddy, se llama Lucido. He is 17 years old and such a good kid. We taught him about Jose Smith, prophets and the Book of Mormon. He loved it! The lesson was awesome, especially with Daniel. He is a great teacher!
We hurried to meet Jimmy Jonathan in the parque to teach him. He had bought us water and crackers because he knew that we had walked all day and were tired and hungry. The only sad thing was, that the entire lesson, he was distracted because he had a soccer game he had to get to...but he did listen and promised that he wants to talk more tomorrow at church!! How exciting!!
Tonight at dinner, I drank a really nasty drink mix from Hna Kingsford, because she said that it helps you not get sick, and I could feel myself getting sick, so I drank it. It was bein feo!!! After laughing with Lucy, we went home and planned and got ready for bed!!
Domingo, 24 de Agosto de 2014
When we walked into church, Lucido was sitting with Daniel. He was clean shaven and cut hair. (He had long hair and a mustache yesterday). He was as adorable as ever when he was "showing me his cut hair"..haha.
I went to a meeting (ward council) and then went to lunch with a family of members. After lunch, we went out teaching, and at the house of an investigador, we found his little sister and we asked if we could teach her and she said, "Yes, but I have a lot of homework.... but God has time for me, so I have time for Him." She is only 12 years old!! I wish I would have been that faithful when I was that old. We had an amazing "sweet spirit" lesson.
We went to our next cita, and on our way, we got stopped by a drunk man. He kissed my hand and then asked me what color of skin Jesus had- and then compared my skin to his. He made us stack our hands, so I made a "cheer" and waved my hands, and he started laughing.
Tonight, we taught the familia Fernandez (Fernando, Alicia, Lis y Ismael). We were teaching them about the Plan of Salvacion and about how we are children of God. After an hour and a half, we were talking about deep stuff and we invited them to baptism. They said they would when they know it is true!
We had dinner and on our way back to our cuarto, we passed by a house of members. So we stopped by to say hello and to introduce myself. Their names are James (dad), Maricanela (mom), Diana (17 yrs), Jesus (13 yrs)- we have the same birthday, and Victor (10 yrs). They are a beautiful family with a sweet spirit about them. I hope to spend more time with them!
We headed home and planned and got ready for bed. It was a long day....good, but long.
 |
| With the boy from the restaurant Hna Kingsford, Leonardo, Me |
 |
| "I was trying to take a cute photo and my plaque fell into the ocean!" "Que feo" |
 |
| "We just laughed and kept taking more photos!" |
 |
| Halt! Stop! No passing! Danger! |
 |
| Hna Dodson living on the edge of danger! |
 |
| Live crab that we thought was dead! |
 |
| Men crab hunting |
 |
| Me with the cabaillitos de totora- the boats they use here. |
 |
| cabaillitos de totora (boats) |
 |
| I love Pimentel and you...show your love by keeping the beach clean. |
 |
| "Their son drew me as an Angry Bird. He even drew my plaque on it- on my face!" |
No comments:
Post a Comment