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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.

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!