A WEEK IN TRUJILLO

Well, this week I sure did have a lot of fun out of Otuzco haha.  I was in an area called Florencia de Mora, dont ask me to translate it because I really dont know how to translate it haha.  I am starting to forget the words in English, oh wait, that happened a while back haha...  So anyway, this ward is an actual ward...  wow strange...  There were only young men blessing and passing the sacrament and it was in an actual chapel.  wow.. It was weird.  I almost felt like I was back home.  The ward is huge!!!  Thats the biggest difference between everything here and there is well Spanish haha.

So this week I was working with an Elder from Chile.  He is awesome haha.  His name is Elder Riquelme.  He has definitely become a close friend of the mission haha.  

So things about Christmas, I will be calling home this Friday to set up the time to call.  I honestly dont know if I will be able to use skype.  I will be in Otuzco for Christmas.  There are places but Idk if they will be open on Christmas.  This wednesday, thursday and friday i will be looking for somewhere to go.  Dont worry I will have the answer for friday night of how everything will be working out there.  and yes, i was thinking about calling dad first with nickolas austin and susan and then after calling mom just like last christmas... wow last christmas.  this is my last christmas... wow...

I got the christmas package honestly 1 day before I took off for Trujillo haha.  So most of the stuff is there in my room.  Wow I really do like those drink mixes more than anything haha.  They are amazing haha.  So it sounds like you guys all had fun this week haha.  The Christmas program huh. second row?  Crazy haha.  So tomorrow, we are going to be singing in the plaza de armas in Trujillo.  If I read right on the Blog of the mission, the thing will be broadcasted for the blog so if you guys want to watch it, I think itll be there tomorrow like starting at 7:30.  

Grandpa, Happy Birthday haha.  the 16th.  It was funny. here there was a kid that had his birthday the 15th.  I said that day that his birthday (cumpleano) was that day and the day before was my birthmonth (cumplemes).  the kid and his family just started laughing a ton haha.  

Oh this week I was staying in the room of the Elders in this area.  I wanted to take my camera prosyliting but its way dangerous here.  I didnt know at first but wednesday night I saw President Turk.  I then later that night found out why there arent north americans in my zone in trujillo.  Like 10 years ago, north americans were kidnapped in the area where im at and so after paying the ransom, the Mission President pulled the missionaries from the area and put only latins here in this zone.  I was extremely careful after that haha. 

Well I have fotos to send this next week.  Sorry Ive got to go but I will be calling Friday probably at 8:30 your time haha

Love you guys.

Sam

MY SECOND DECEMBER HERE!

Ok so this is weird to think about... Im in Peru and for my second December..  I really think time is going way too fast haha.  So Im just working my butt off here in Otuzco haha.  I have really been trying something that I havent done for... well all of my mission in all honesty.  I started working out like 2 weeks ago haah.  Its really nice actually.  I feel that I have more energy everyday.  So if you all want an idea of how to feel better everday, do some excercises haha.  

So nothing really happened this last week.  We only had changes.  Im now with a Peruvian from Puno.  His name is Elder Peralta.  He has 5 months in his mission.  It honestly reminds me of being with Elder Nystrom and also when I completed 5 months with Elder Johnson.  Its crazy to think that this month I will have 15 months in the mission.  I keep thinking about how the time just keeps going and I will never get that time back...  But also its all good haha.

So this week we are going to be going to Trujillo well, tomorrow for a multi zone with a Seventy.  That honestly I feel was the reason why I wasnt on the computer earlier.  I had to clean the room this morning.  So we just left internet until the end of Pday.  The other thing that will be going on this next week is that on Sunday we are leaving Otuzco for a week and a half.  There is a dumb fiesta for the catholic church that just means drunks in the streets.  but more than normal.  So Im going to be there in Trujillo for a little bit of time and then we come back haha.  Its ok with me.  Less time I have to stay here in Otuzco haha.  

I was dragging my feet at the beginning of the week cause I just didnt want to be here in Otuzco but then I realized that I still am here and nothing is gonna change.  So I just changed.  I just keep trying to think that Im in the coolest place in the mission.  Its been helping actually haha.  But Otuzco just keeps being... well Otuzco.

Well I love you all so much and I will let you know how everything goes with the Seventy.  Hey next week Im going to be writing in Trujillo!!!!  Oh words cant describe my happiness for it haha.

Love you all and good luck this week haha

Sam

BAPTISMS IN OTUZCO

MIRACLES HAPPEN

So my week was the best ever and also the worst... haha



Luis and Maria's Baptism Day

So we start with good news.  I actually was able to help Luis and Maria get married this week and also the two of them got baptized on Saturday.  

Yanela's  Baptism Day

 The other good news:  Yanela, another investigator of ours got baptized on Thursday!  Yes!  After 18 weeks we had 3 baptisms.  It was by far one of the craziest weeks ever!!!  


Dr. Pepper for Thanksgiving!



We had one of the greatest Thanksgivings ever haha.  So we started out with of course the Baptism in the morning and then we continued with lunch.  My pensionista wont buy Turkey for anything...  which is ridiculous... but then again it is also kinda expensive.  So we had just like meat with mashed potatoes and rice.  But Elder May and I a couple of weeks ago we bought barbeque sauce.  So that really helped out.  Then at night with all the Elders we had a fire and we ate chicken and fries that we bought which was freaking delicious haha.  And best of all I had boughten Dr. Pepper for special occasions and well ya it was Thanksgiving so it was special haha.





So after all of this week we also had changes.. Well this is were it came to be the worst... I am still here in Otuzco.  Elder Mano is leaving for Trujillo.  So im going to be here in Otuzco for Christmas...

So like the subject says, its been interesting...

I love you guys and hope everything is going good back home.

Sam

 

Pray for Sam and the people of Otuzco.  He needs your prayers more than ever through this next few weeks!!!!

AUGUST MULTI ZONE TRAINIG (OOOPS PUBLISHED THIS ONE LATE)

Otuzco and Huamachuco

After the big multi zone conference our work was not finished.

We went back to the offices 

and had interviews and training with Otuzco and Huamachuco

Elder Salazar, Elder Spencer, Elder Nystrom and Elder May

sang "Come, Come Ye Saints

"Oh Está Todo Bien"

I said...

"Let's take your group photo..."

This is the pose that I got

(((PURE LOVE)))

Hugs - Squeeze - Joy

But of course the mean mom says...

"Okay drop your arms so that we can see everyone"

Elders in Otuzco are 

Elders Salazar, May, Nystrom and Spencer

Elders in Huamachuco are

Elders Astill, Merkley, Ordoñez, and Lorenzo

Zone Leaders are

Elder Márquez and Elder Castillo

We Love You!

Keep up the great work!

NO MORE TWINKIES???? WHAT???

One of two things is happening... Either A) The Second Coming or B) The Zombie Apocalypse...

Ok in all seriousness we have got quite the week coming this week.  So last Tuesday, we went to Trujillo for interviews with President Turk.  While there, mom I got my pouch you sent and can I just say I am loving the drink mixes!!!  I have a request for the Christmas package:  more of those drink mixes and also like 5 pairs of missionary mall socks... some how a bunch have become ''lost'' ...

So anyway continuing on, we had a zone training as well.  One of the elders from our zone that is in Trujillo gave us the suggestion about teaching about how the family is meant to be together forever.  They realized that they could not live together forever.  So they have seperated themselves.  Luis leaves tomorrow for Chiclayo and Maria is going to get baptized the 1st of december. 

But dont be sad...  Luis has told us he is going to join the church there.  It all still is working out great.  The better news is for this week.  We have an investigator that took the stand of the... black horse i think is the expression...  came up from behind.  We have an investigator that is getting baptized this week!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Her name is Yanela.  She works for our Pensionista (The lady that cooks for us).  It has definitely been crazy.  I am so happy for the gospel and the blessings it gives us.  I was reading today actually in 3 Nephi 11 when God announces Jesus Christ.  I really love this chapter and would definitely say you all should read it and think about the holy ghost in our lives.  

Well Im out of time.  I love you all soo much

Oh and Grandpa, thank you for sending me the letter.  Im going to go print it off and read it today.

I love you guys.

Elder Sam Spencer

Lessons learned with our traveling assistants

So this was definitely one of the best weeks here in Otuzco!  We had the traveling assistants come to Otuzco from Wednesday night till yesterday at 5.  

I have definitely learned a ton from my first comp in the mission.  I was out prosyliting with Elder Pillajo.  there is a foto of that.  He helped me realize that I was missing that extra love and patience that I should have with everyone.  I also learned to be even more persistent than before.  Wow.. the list is extremely long.  So Im gonna stop for now.  

As you can see in the pictures, we had a fire.  well actually 2.  one thursday night and another saturday.  but a bit of a difference.  the first one was a fire to make smores and hang out together.  the one on saturday we made a doll for Elder Frietz and we burnt it.  there is a picture of a before and after with that one haha.

  

We really learned a lot together as a district and personally this week.  WE have definitely seen some crazy awesome miracles.  and some other things a little on the bad side...

Luis wants to leave and there isnt a lot of love between the two of them.  Its sad but we are going today at 7 to help them out some more...

This week was crazy and I just cant say everything here.  Oh grandma, I dont know if I will be in Otuzco or in another place but Im positive that im going to skype.  I will know where I will be for Christmas the last monday of this month when we have changes.  

Well Im out of time this week.  Love you guys a ton

INTERVIEWS AND MEETINGS WITH PRESIDENT TURK

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Mountain Men

Interview time for Huamachuco and Otuzco...

These are my fine Mountain Men.

If you are in the mountains you have to be obedient,

hard working, diligent and a Rock Star.

(don't ask... I don't know)

Here are a few of the one liners we have heard from our missionaries

as we talk about their love for the Book of Mormon and

the impact it has had on them...

"The Book of Mormon Corrects me when I read it."

"I trust my feelings as they come to me when I am reading the 

Book of Mormon"

"The Book of Mormon is the reason I am here"

"I love to Search, Ponder and Pray... and I find true answers in this Book"

One of our Elders was only twelve when he started to believe and learn

 about the Gospel and the Book of Mormon.

The Missionaries wanted to teach his whole family

but they were not ready to receive it.

So his parents told our Elder that he was too young and

couldn't be baptized at that time.

Three years later, some new Elders were searching their area books

and came back to his family.

He begged his parents at this time to please

let him go back to church.

They said he could only go if they went with him.

They started to attend church all together.

At this time his parents had investigated 6 or 7 religions.

With each church, they would leave the meeting bored and never return.  

But after attending the LDS church, 

they felt something different.  

They started to take the lessons with the missionaries.

They kept attending church and in 3 weeks

the whole family was baptized.

A few years later, his parents started to drift apart.

There was financial stress and they were about to separate.

They started to read the Book of Mormon as a family.  

Love came back into the marriage.

Stress left the home.  They were willing to square up their shoulders

and deal with obligations.  There was forgiveness and charity

in the home.  Life was meaningful and hearts were happy again.

There is Power and Love in the Book of Mormon.

Story after story reveals miracles that come from reading

and following the principles in the Book of Mormon.

WE LOVE THE BOOK OF MORMON!

PS>  Elder May says hello to his Mother!

New Apartment, City Party, and yes, I hitch hiked in Peru!

alright so first off, these pictures are from the new room. We are moving in on Halloween so we are taking the morning to move everything and then its right back to work haha.

So This week was ridiculous. I hate city parties here in Peru... Unlike in the states, there arent laws against drunks in the streets, or if there are they dont enforce anything... So this weekend was a big stupid party for the doll in the Plaza haha. Ok that may be kinda bad to say but its our nickname for the catholic church here. They were doing some like march for the virgen mary. I took a 20 minute video of it but I cant really send it haha. So Im kinda short on time because I was focused on reading everything.

 

Oh I really love Otuzco now haha. Its so much fun with the people here. Oh I have a question and request. mom or grandma, can you send me Monopoly Deal Millionare edition. It is so cool haha. Elder May received that the past week and its a lot of fun haha. Oh ya that reminds me, I didnt get the package yet but probably this friday or saturday. Its a couple days late but hey its all good. Ive been learning the atribute of Patience here in the mission haha. so Im sorry this one is kinda short but Im kinda short on time. I will definitely take less time to read this next week haha.

Oh ya i do need to say. we go every friday and sunday to Millachaqui to prosylite and have church. On Sunday Elder Cortez and I went there but we missed the bus. Its about a 40 minute bus ride there. We got on a bus that took us 30 minutes there. then we started walking. I just wanted to let you guys know that I can say I have hitchhiked in Peru legitamently. haha

Cow's in Salpo

Ok so there is some really awesome stuff going on here in Otuzco and also back in Chimbote!!!!!

So first off, here in Otuzco, I and Elder Mano are working extremely hard and seeing our labor pay off!!! We have a couple that are planning on getting baptized probably this 13th of this month if they get married before then!!! Its awesome to watch in my life Alma 32:42 come to pass. haha its so awesome to watch each of the scriptures come to life in my life and each day. The scriptures are becoming more and more part of my life. Its funny when I contact persons, I actually use parts of scriptures to talk with them its so funny.

 

 

 

 

 

 

So in Chimbote, I got a letter from my old comp, Elder Perez. He told me that the parents of the family Romero Malarin (4 of the baptisms in Chimbote) are getting married and baptized the 13th of October. Its crazy to think about that!!!! I really have watched God enter into their lives and I was part of it!!!

So to know whats up with the pictures, One is from last monday at the beach haha and the other one is funny. Its a welcome to the City of Salpo, where we kill cows in the middle of the street and let the guts be out in the open for everyone. Enjoy hahahaha. Dont throw up haha.

 

 

 

 

 

 

So this week, we have really elevated ourselves a ton... We decided that we better start trying to get the normas de excelencia which is the goals that President set for us to get. Its to have 5 people at church with 5 people with a baptismal date. Its gonna be hard but were looking for miracles everyday this week. We are going to see it. I know haha.

 

Hump Day

So I just almost sent a letter with nothing in it because Im forgetting everything with this thing... oh no...

So first off, ITS NOT A TIE MOM FOR A YEAR, ITS A SHIRT!!!!!!

 

 

Yes, I really enjoyed the 1 year anniversary. So I received the package this last saturday. THANK YOU HAHA the Legos are awesome!!!! If you guys want to send more in another package later on Im ok with that (Star Wars Legos haha maybe). Also yes I received everything in it, including the two ties, and the SD card. How much are they there? because ive found them here for like 13 dollars (35 soles). So I gave the red and gold tie to Elder May because its the colors for the Minico Spartans. Oh and Elder May is Colby. I dont remember if you received the picture from Christmas when I first met Elder May in the mission. So I am going to enjoy those double stuffed keeblers elf cookies today and later on probably as well haha.

 

 

So I really dont have much time today on the computer, I really dont know what happened to my time. Sorry but I just want you all to know that I am doing really good, that I am getting kinda sick of lying children but thats ok... I really am sorry for everyone of these children here. They are learning so many sins in their lives...

Oh interesting note, Saturday I had a real big Come To Jesus lesson with a less active member that wasnt listening to us. I felt really terrible about it because she didnt want to pray afterwards.. I went home and prayed, prayed that she would go to church. I got back to Otuzco yesterday and learned that she had a dream in the middle of the night that she had to go to church. She went to church. I was so suprised after the lesson we had with her....

But ya im out of time sorry there isnt much more here.

I love you guys and I will well write you next week. Im excited to hear about your week.

 

 

Elder Sam Spencer

Adventures on P-day

Ok so I have decided that you all are more trunky than I am!! It was like when an Elder was going home, everyone else was super trunky for him hahaha. So yes this week I do hit a year... weird.... I seriously cant believe it...

So first off I would like to inform you all that I received a package on Saturday, but it wasnt the Year mark package. I finally after 6 weeks got my birthday envelope with the card, two ties, and two garment tops haha finally!!!!

So the first funny story this week was actually last monday. We, Elder Nystrom Elder May and I, decided to make a shooting range in our house. The problem was we didnt really look exactly at what was in the area from where we were shooting. Elder May shot a rock with the slingshot and broke a water pipe haha.

 

 

  So we spent about an hour and a half learning how to sketchily replace tubing. You just use pvc cement and heat up pvc to slide it over the old stuff. Ya its super sketch but hey it works haha. So two of the photos is what it looks like when shooting a slingshot from here. they are slightly on the sketchy side but theyre fun haha. Mine actually that I have is yellow. Its just that in the photos I had another slingshot in hand. Oh mom, this is the slingshots we use against dogs.

 

 

 

So also this week we had changes. My companion is Elder Mano. He is from Bolivia and has 13 months in the mission, 6 weeks more than I do. I was honestly kind of worried at first that he wasnt a hard worker because he has more time than me but I am senior comp.... That is still weird for me to think. I dont feel like it and really it doesnt matter. I only am making mention of it because I was scared that he wasnt a super hard worker but that is wrong haha. He is awesome. He is a super good missionary and Im super excited to work with him. His comp before me was Elder Aquino, if you all remember he was my companion in Chimbote, good missionary but not the most 100 percent obedient. Elder Mano is not like that though. We are doing really well.

Otuzco is really difficult I wont lie, but its all good, with more challenge comes more blessings. We are looking for miracles everyday. I was a little discouraged but not anymore. I realized that its the opposite of Faith. Never get Discouraged in anything. Its what comes when we fear something, and when we fear something then we lose our faith.

 

 

So the last thing that im going to add to this is even though Elder Nystrom left, we still play Monopoly Deal between us four. Oh if you want to see a picture of Elder Mays new companion, Elder Cortez, just look at the blog for the mission. I will have a picture of Elder Mano and me the next week. Just wait, Im gonna come home and destroy you guys in Monopoly Deal hahahaahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha.

Love you all so much and miss you all the time. Have fun celebrating Hump (Trunky) Day for me back home haha

Elder Sam Spencer

Big Decision

So last Tuesday, we were in trujillo all day long. That was cool but super long with meetings... We had interviews with President Turk and so yes I discussed with him about starting school. I have really been thinking about it a lot these past few well months and I was super happy to talk with President Turk. He told me he has the authority to move my last day in the mission 30 days in whichever direction I want. But then he told me about his own son when he served his mission. His sons last day was like a week or 2 after school had started. He talked with his family about doing the same thing. President Turk told his son that he could make whichever choice he wanted but that President Turk told him that it such an awesome experience at the end of the mission to testify in front of each one of the Elders that we came with to the mission. President Turk told me to think about that and what I really wanted to do. I thought about it a lot. I was reading something in the mission manual and it had a line from the mission calls letter. That we are here dedicating all of our time to the the Lord and that we need to put in second place all of our personal matters. The Lord will bless you more than you can imagine. To finish the story about President Turks son, he decided to stay in the mission. He missed starting school by literally 2 weeks. He stayed home and spent the time with his family and had a job. President told me that his son said that he was blessed beyond measure for staying in the mission. Can you guess what I feel that I've decided? YES Im finishing my mission with my group. Im going to stay here until the last day of my mission. Ya I know I'm going to be missing starting school in August, but I know that The Lord will bless me and us as a family beyond measure for my service until the end. I want to have the experience at the end of the mission more than starting school and continuing on with everything.

So that took a lot of time but it is what I really want to do. So this week, I got sick... I have been sick with a super sore throat for like 3 days. And Ive also ya had a cough for like my entire time here. But I can only go on and continue working. We have literally not had anyone at church for 2 weeks (Investigators) and I have been a little bit discouraged... But there is good here in Otuzco.. We just have to find it.. It could be in the area of my area that I seriously dont know. Its hard there because there arent numbers to the houses or anything. But we will see how it goes haha.

So this week I was able to do my 2nd and 3rd interviews. Yes... Im a senior companion and im doing baptism interviews. It is really awesome to do them. It is honestly something that I didnt think would happen here in Otuzco. It is literally the 2 hardest areas in the mission.

So idk if I answered grandma about the type of legos haha like lego cars or idk something like those, vehicles haha.

Ummm... oh the funniest thing, remember the RM? ya ok so the Elders Quorum class where they just read out of the manual? Ya that was our Elders Quorum yesterday haha. It was hilarious. So Im out of time today but remember that I love you all and that finishing my mission on September 14th is what I want to do. I love you all so much.

Elder Spencer

I'm 20 years old

So my birthday came and passed haha it was different I wont lie haha. But i dont feel older... haha in all honesty i feel younger haha. So todavia i dont have the package but its all good. Im hoping that it gets to me. Sorry that I was maybe a little mad last week. I was so tired, and well ya tired haha. So this week was crazy fast haha. Time goes really fast here in Otuzco. On Fridays and every other sunday, we go to another like village that is an hour and a half away to prosylite and have church. It was really cool to go there. When we go there we go on splits. So I was with Elder Salazar from Ecuador and also my group haha.

It was funny to read matts letter this week cause he talked about like giving a talk to encourage, or burn im not sure, the members. Well yesterday night we did the same thing... We had a fireside that was really good. We really tried encouraging them to help us. We are going to see how it goes. I realized that if this branch doesnt have people telling them what to do they wont do it... its sad but what are we going to do right?

So this was crazy this week listening to the spirit. We have been guided to people that need the gospel in their lives. There was a lady we found on Friday that had lost her dad literally 2 days before. How awesome it is that the gospel really is that peace that we need. We read her alma 40. She said after reading it that she felt a peace and knew it was true ah!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So we are going to visit her on Wednesday because ya tomorrow we have to go to Trujillo for some meeting... Cool I wont complain. Wow there is so much.

Oh some stuff i wanted to ask. Does school really start the 16th of August. thats like a Friday. and also in a package it would be awesome 2 things haha. Legos and Zingers, zingers chocolate or vanilla or both haha. Just some last second thoughts I had.

Love you all and miss you. HAPPY BIRTHDAY KIRI HAHA

Sam

TRANSFERED TO OTUZCO IN THE MOUNTAINS

So this week I have been dying of cold and climbing....  First off, its cold here at night.  During the day im dying of heat and at night I actually am using my sweaters haha.  Also, its up in the mountains... im dying of lack of oxygen like at sea level.  that and the fact that we climb up hills and down them all the time...  Its super different than my old area. 

So my companion is Elder Nystrom, there is a picture of him here.  He has 5 months in his mission but I think his Spanish is a ton better than mine was when I had his time.  He works hard..  a lot harder than my last two comps.  I like him.  My district leader is Elder May.  Idk if you guys got the picture back at Christmas of me and him but its Andrews and Devons cousin from Heyburn.  Its cool haha.  His companion is one of the latinos from my group, Elder Salazar.  I only have contact with these three.  Missionaries more than that not really.  In my time here, I had one of the Zone Leaders call but thats it. 

So Otuzco, its cold, its a mountain and like almost everyone works on Sunday so its hard to have people at church...  but its going to be good.  Us four are going to break the streak of bad luck here in Otuzco.  The area of Elder May and Salazar hasnt had a baptism for more than 9 months, the longest an area has gone without a baptism in the mission, and my area is number 2 with the last one 3 months ago.  We are changing that. 

Its so weird here to me.  Everyone that we contact, unless its in the door of someones house doesnt live here...  Sorry if i sound mad at all in this letter but im exhausted from the change and well a lot of changes... and frustrated...  and ya I just need to get use to the hills here and all........... 

Sorry about anything that sounds rude but ya its im tired frustrated and annoyed that the office missionaries are mad at me for stuff i really cant control but whatever.  Well see how it is this next week...

Love you

Sam

Javier and Cinthia in the Gospel together!

Well the exciting news is that I am leaving Chimbote Peru to go to Otuzco, a city or village in the middle of the mountains, YES!!!! its going to be cold por fin!!!!  haha so I leave tomorrow in the morning to travel to Trujillo and then from there i go to Otuzco.  Yep...  So I also...  got moved to senior comp....  wow... that was weird to hear.  My companion is going to be elder Nighstrom.  He just finished his training.  It reminds me a lot of when I was with Elder Johnson.  wow so weird.  Elder Johnson had my time in the mission and I had my new comps time...  Oh other side note,  my second comp and friend Elder Johnson became a Zone Leader 6 weeks ago.  It was awesome to see that in all honesty. 

So exciting news this week as well,  We had a baptism!!!!  The Husband of Cinthia, Javier, got baptized this last Saturday.  Im sending the foto of his baptism.  It is awesome to see that this family is all together in the gospel.  Im so excited for them.  It has been awesome to see this family grow in the Gospel.  I have literally watched the Light of Christ illuminate this family and their lives.  It is so amazing the difference the gospel makes in some ones life.

So on the bad news side...  I have not received that package...  My companion told me that he would send me the things through the mission but...  thats through the mission and who knows.. probably will take an extra 2 or 3 weeks.........  So I really hope it gets here today...  Oh how i hope so... 

So that is the things that have happened this week.  we will see how everything is this next week.  im kinda sketched out about senior comp honestly...

Love you all

Sam

Wow about time that we'll see that change haha. 6 years? I thought 2 years was long but I realized just how wrong my thought are... These last 2 weeks have flown by so fast that I can't believe that its Pday again. So the reason why I'm not writing earlier today is because the zone decided that they didnt want to play soccer but instead go to the megaplaza which is just a mall... how stupid...... First off, everything there is real, which means it costs a ton of money. Second, were missionaries, and dont have the luxury of tv and well that. Guess what was in like every store? TVs, video games, ipods, tablets, and pretty much everything that we leave home for 2 years (Longboards..... the worst part....) So I spent the whole morning walking around honestly homesick... I only wanted to go for one thing. Pizza Hut! that was super nice haha. I ate pizza today for the first time in well ok its not super big haha in my other area we ate pizza a lot haha. but it was a nice change from rice every meal haha. 
 So this week I have awesome news haha First off there is a picture of me with a youth. He is wearing my straight purple tie. I gave him that tie so that he could have a tie to pass the sacrament. He was baptized a month and a half ago and received the priesthood. Its awesome to see the converts here really taking hold of the gospel. I really am seeing what the sons of mosiah saw. their converts were more faithful and strong than those who had been born into the church. I was really happy to see him and also one of the other converts. Cinthia was baptized on the 9th of June. on the 8th of July she was set apart as Relief Society President. Ya... Its awesome to see them continuing in the gospel like I said a few lines ago haha
 





Sam and a youth in his ward.  The purple tie,
one of Sam's fav's!

So next exciting news. Javier, the Husband of Cinthia, is getting baptized this 21 of July. He came to us and said baptize me haha. We werent even planning on talking about baptism. I realized that the power of the Book of Mormon is powerful. the last time that we had visited with him we read the first chapter of Nefi. sorry Nephi haha. When we went by the next time he suprised us with telling us to baptize him. 



So 4th of July was interesting. I started wearing my tie and got a feeling that i should change it, so I did. But I did wear it for part of the day haha. I'll wear it another day.  .

Cock fight outside my window......









And the last pictures are idk if you can see it well but it is of a cock fight... I think that what there called right? This was going on outside of my room in front of the church. I talked with someone. There are laws against it but no one follows it... and the police dont enforce anything... It made me realize that I love the US. Really we are blessed when we follow the commandments and the laws of the land. I know the blessings of the Book of Mormon apply to here as well but there is so much more corruption that they dont enjoy the blessings of prosperity like we do...

So that was the week. Oh grandma, so I have decided a few things. Im starting to take the piano thing serious. The problem is that I cant practice but like once a week. In the book that you sent me, it said that there also was a cardboard keyboard, a book of simplified hymns, and note cards to learn the notes. Could you send that with some other things that i have thought of this week and actually written down haha. the first and this is more for comfort for me haha, could you send a big pack of Pilot G-2 Pens of the .5 mm tip. and the other thing is if you could send me some dri-lux round neck medium top garments. I have plenty of bottoms but the tops I have are super super small. They dont have dri-lux here in Peru and it also takes like 6 months to actually receive garments through the mission. Those things would be awesome if you could send those to me.

So, I'm excited to hear about this new Bishop this next week haha. Well I love you guys a ton! miss you all everyday and dad, I did get the picture. Thats awesome she got married.

Oh mom, so idk if i said this in the letter i sent or the email last week, but with the sd cards, could you take all the videos with your camera? I cant watch some of the videos from kiri and andrew and all of them that would be cool.

Love you all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sam

Haha well it would be buenas tardes right now for you all huh? haha its all good. sorry that we didnt write earlier today but we went to some place that is closed every monday except this week. Why is it open today you might ask? ya its open for the week of saint peter. ya.... they celebrate holidays for the saints of the catholic church... but hey owell haha it was open and i wanted to go. we were so close to hitting up a zipline course.. until i thought about the rules of the mission and realized that it probably would not be a good thing to do sooooo we didnt do it. it would have been a lot of fun. haha. so im sorry that this recording im sending is kinda long and especially because im explaining some things that dont matter a ton haha until the end haha. well you can hear my voice at least.

so how was your week this week. crap.... i felt that it flew... I honestly woke up saturday thinking that it was friday. maybe that would attest to the being sick on Friday.......... Ya my companion and i were/are sick right now. we couldnt leave to prosylite on Friday. he got an intestinal infection and well i just have diarrea haha. but you know what? I cant do anything about my diarrea but just keeping taking the meds a little. haha its all good. I dont hurt like before. my companion got a shot in his butt for his infection. he couldnt walk for the night haha. i felt bad but it was funny looking back on it now haha.

So tonight, wow i about started writing in spanish haha, we have a lesson with a young man. he loves to go to church. we invited him two weeks ago and loved it. were inviting him with a date tonight. wish us luck haha were going to try this saturday or the next. we arent 100 % sure right now. were going to go by the spirit. I love learning about things of the gospel. Its interesting to learn about the spirit and how it works i have to really focus on my feelings and the thoughts in my mind. I am still having trouble following the spirit 100% of the time but i am learning to....... uh... confiar sorry haha in the spirit.

I love getting the letter each week from Elders Holmquist and Cross haha its funny to hear how theyre doing and with Nicks letters, i can think a lot about my time 2 months ago when i had that same experience. its awesome every week haha.

well im gonna finish up this letter as i need to send some quick comments to grandma. Thank you so much each week for the emails and for the continued support. Nickolas, i would love an email or something to hear how youre doing haha. Love you all so much!!!!!

Elder Sam Spencer

forgot to share this one ha ha

NEW MISSION COMP

how the time just flies... crap haha.  So number one......  I got a new comp in my area!!!!  but i forgot the photo... sorry.  His name is Elder Perez.  he is from the jungle of Peru.  He is really calm and is a super hard worker!!!!  ah por fin!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I learned this week the miracles that you can see when your comp wants to work and both missionaries want to put there full effort.  I have never been more tired in my life but it has been more rewarding than any other time in my mission so far.  Elder Aquino, my old comp would complain about how the ward is bad and that its hard to work.  ya its true, but only if you look at it that way.  I have learned to have a new point of view haha.  Im looking at everything more optimistically now.  there is only one thing that we need to fix....  a ward member that honestly, because of him and his mouth and many other things, he is the reason the work can be held back here.    but hey i cant do anything about it haha...  i just have to in the words of the madagascar penguins, smile and wave. just smile and wave.  

So last week, with elder aquino, the vago, we only had 2 new investigators.  with Elder Perez, we now have found 12 other people to teach and help find christ.  that is just one...  there are many many many improvements haha.  Im just super happy with the work and how it is going here now.  

So grandma, details about everything.1.  I received the sobes.  ahhhhhh they were awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  thank you so much for those, honestly.2.  I have received every movie that you have sent and wow.  how powerful and awesome is the Emma Smith Movie.  Thank you for each one of those.  Each one will help in one way or another with furthering the work honestly.  whether it is to further my understanding to teach better or to help directly the investigators.3.  the treats.  all have come safe and sound. I have enjoyed each one of those cookies other than 4.  But 3 of the other 4 elders enjoyed them just as much.  I know that this sounds bad, but i hate when latin elders come snooping around and beg for your food.  they dont appreciate anything and in all honesty, im never giving one a homemade cookie again.  But the American Elders, ya they understand the amazingness of the cookies.  Thank you from each one who took a bite from those wonderful treats.  So it would be cool by the way to receive more peanut butter m&ms and more variety.  honestly grandma i will enjoy whatever you guys send.  oh im using the lazy tie at this instant because we are going to play soccer like usual haha and i just want to change fast :)  

So before my time is up i just want to say to every father that reads this HAPPY FATHERS DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  (one day late)  Thank you for everything that each one of you have done to help me get where I am today.  I am eternally grateful for each person that has influenced me to come to this point in my life.  I would not give anything else to be a missionary.  I cant even imagine myself home right now.  I just couldnt do it with what i know now and what ive done in these short 9 months.  wow 9 months...  hey the next home coming will be mine in the ward huh?  weird...  Its weird to look at the blog and see one missionary on it who is now in his home.  he became one of my really good friends over the past 2 months and a half.  its crazy how fast time goes in life.  Well, im out of time like every week but thats ok.  Im more excited to be working here now with Elder Perez.  we are working our butts off to change everything here to be a better area than it has been for 6 months.

Love you all so much!!!!!Elder Spencer

These photos were on Elder Spencer's Mission Presidents Blog.  There was a Mission Conference in his area just after he arrived in Chimpote.