Visit to the Mission Home

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Huamachuco and Otuzco - the big O's of the East

Elder Dickerson, Elder Bravo, Elder Soto, Elder Cortez

Elder Fuentealba, Elder Arriola, Elder Spencer and Elder Peralta.

They all feel right at home... and that's what we want.

16 months in the mission field today

I honestly cant believe how much can happen in a week.  Elder Peralta and I started the week going past our branch presidents shop.  We started talking to him and he gave us 2 referrals to go and visit.  We were excited because the referrals are really where we see progress.  Well it wasnt different with one of these two.  We have only taught one 2 times now.  Her name is Yesica.  We went to visit her with him and can I just say how amazing was the experience.  After explaining that the Book of Mormon is the convincing evidence of the Restoration and that the Holy Ghost would confirm that through our feelings she said to us, a little teary eyed, "It looks like God has responded my prayers." She had been given the Book of Mormon before we had visited her by President Moya and she has been reading it.  She has asked God and knows it is true.  We invited her to baptism the 9th of February because she wont be able to go to church this week as there is some test in Trujillo for all Profesores so they can hope to have work.  This was only one of the two.  We are going to go visit the other one this week as we werent completely persistent with visiting her that night we got the referral.

So I have also received another thing awesome this week.  A strong desire to stay in Otuzco...  It was so weird how it happened.  We were walking around talking a little bit and I just realized how much I do like Otuzco even though it is so full of apostasy.  I know that Im supposed to be here right now.  I guess its to help out President Palmer in the work or something. Idk haha.  All I know is that I love it here and it has been one of the biggest helps for me.  Im super happy for this work and want to continue doing everything I can while I can in Otuzco.

So I still have not received the package that you guys sent.  Im not so sure why but we will see this next week haha.  I do have a request if you can in the next one you send.  I left a pair of black pinstriped pants there that at that point was small for me.  Im sure now its perfect but if it is possible, could you send them?  My gray pants are practically destroyed haha  but I still go on using them patching whatever that I can haha.  

Well I love you guys a ton and hope everything is going good for you all.  Love you all so much!!!!!!

Sam

7 Months in Otuzco

I got to Otuzco on July 24th of 2012.  I still am not leaving yet haha.  We received changes last night and I was informed that I am going to be here with Elder Peralta for another change.  I at first thought that I was going to be extremely depressed like the last time we got the changes when Elder Mano left.  I actually am not at all.  In all honesty, Im extremely happy and just hope that my companion and I can do what God wants us to do here in Otuzco. 

So I will say that one thing that contributed to being ok with Otuzco was reading so many conference talks this past 2 weeks and praying for help in everything that I do.  I have found two talks from Oct of 2012 that have helped me so much.  The talk of Elder Anderson and of President Eyring Sunday morning.  I would suggest that if we are in a moment of struggling and need and dont know what to do I would recommend reading and studying these 2 talks.  they are titled "trial of your faith" and "Where is the Pavillion". 

So really this week we didnt see many things that interesting other than rain... lots and lots of rain...  All it does now here in Otuzco is rain..  Its been difficult with it as its super strong  but nothing is impossible. 

I should probably mention right now that I didnt get the package yet grandma.... The week of changes, they dont send a package with our letters or anything for us.  It really sucks and is annoying but I guess its alright haha.  Patience.  Nothing else.