That day, we were singing in the street.

About the flooding; it has been raining quite a bit here. Even though it never stops being super hot! Thankfully, the majority of the houses here are set above ground or on stilts. Our area is called Castillo and it's on the outskirts of Tingo Maria, where there aren´t stores or paved roads or anything, but our room and our pention are all here in Tingo Maria, where they have big gutters and all paved streets, so it doesn´t affect us much.

Anyway, my wasp bites already healed, but I´m more bothered by the mosquitoes here. When it rains at night, all the bugs come inside and I happen to sleep with my head less than a foot from the window (which does not close because there is no glass, just hole). I´ve resorted to spraying myself, and my bed, with bug spray every night and it´s been going well.

A young girl is getting baptized this Saturday. My first week here, we found her while contacting. We contact a little differently, here in Tingo Maria. That day, we were singing in the street. My companion did beat box and I sang. During that time, about 20 or more people came and gathered around us. Then, we contacted all of them, and she happened to be one of those people. It´s very inspiring how much she´s changed her life during those few weeks. Just a humble reminder of how little we do, and how much the Spirit can do, in terms of teaching and converting.

I tried aguaje this week. Aguaje is a fruit famous for producing female hormones. They say that´s why all the girls here are super feminine, and all the guys are slightly odd. I have yet to experience any noticeable physical changes, but I´ll keep you posted. In summary, the fruit wasn´t all that good. It tastes like cashews and cranberries mushed together.

I, on the other hand, screamed like a girl!

I´m honestly loving it hear, in Tingo Maria, despite this crazy heat. The people are incredibly receptive and loving towards us. A few days ago, we felt like knocking a house. When we approached, making our way through the mud and trees, before we even said anything, they invited us inside. We taught the restauracion and all the family accepted a baptismal invitation. And during the lesson, their little daughter kept bringing me flowers and leaves from outside. So much that I had about 20 by the end of the lesson.

The kids are so funny here. The other day, we were talking to one of our investigators out front of her house, while above us, there was a football-sized wasp nest just swarming with giant wasps. It was only worrying me slightly, me being so accustomed to insects by now. When suddenly, her little cousins come outside and throw a big rock at the hive, causing the wasps to go loco all over us. At one point I had at least three on my face at once, and got bit in 3 different areas. My companion got bit once on his hand, our investigator didn´t get bit because she stayed completely calm. I, on the other hand, screamed like a girl and immediately threw my book of mormon on the ground and then ran all the way down the street like a mad man. And her little cousins thought it was the funniest thing on earth. Anyway, I love Elder Gonzalez to death. He´s super funny. We´re always laughing and enjoying the work.

Much love,
Elder Alexander

We´re sorry Elder Jones had to move on, but happy he could be with us.

My companion had to go to Lima on Tuesday, so I was stuck in Huanuco, on divisions with the zone leaders, until Saturday. I missed my area quite a bit during that time. I really do love it here.

                         This old man. This old man. He gave us guavos when we were hungry yesterday.

Our pentionista is one of the best I´ve known. She always asks us what we want to eat and tries to always make our favorite foods. I´m very impressed by her dedication, considering her having 7 kids to worry about. But I know she does it because she has a great testimony of the work we do. She, and her husband, Hermano Cesar, are converts, like almost everybody here.

Yes, I heard that Elder Jones passed away. Actually, in the Christmas conference, I talked with him a bit. I don´t remember what we said completely, but I remember he was very funny and we laughed a lot. We´re sorry he had to move on, but happy he could be with us.

 About my hair, I have no idea what has happened. I left having brown, strait hair, but it looks like I´m coming back with bright blonde, curly hair. I´m considering it a blessing for my dedication. ;)

There´s a like five year old girl sitting next to me, and she just screamed, out of the blue "Oh my gosh!" hahahaha! It´s so funny how little parts of our language and culture make their way to the kids here. The popular word to use, here in Peru is "full". They use it, as if it was a spanish word. For example "Llegue anoche y estaba FULL cansado." They also use the word "out", to describe people who are not hip on the trends. Our pentionista always calls me "out" when I don´t understand a word that she says.

Last P-day, we went to the Santa Carmen waterfall, about ten minutes away in moto taxi. Today, we´re going to a recent converts house and we´re going to play guitar, and then buy some things that we´re needing (like air freshener).
You´re in my thoughts and prayers, always!
Much love,
Elder Alexander

It`s hot. Like really hot.

Guess where I am!!!!!! Here`s a clue. It`s hot. Like really hot. Also, there are trees. And it`s not La Merced! Okay, okay. I`ll say it. I`m in a magical place called "Tingo Maria". Now, I should clarify that Tingo Maria is a bit different from La Merced, although both are jungle. Tingo Maria is even hotter than La Merced, and the culture is soooo much more awesome. The people here are super receptive to the gospel and the ward is growing very very fast. We`re six missionaries for one ward, here, and I`m the third missionary to be in my area because it was just opened about a month ago. We went contacting the other night, and four people whom we had invited in the street, came! The people are very very nice, friendly, and chill, here. Everyone is just so willing to talk and do good things in their lives. We had a lesson the other day with a woman who was very Catholic and didn`t want anything to do with the church. At the end, she said she would like to be baptized, regardless of what all her family will say. I`m loving life here. Also, our Pentionista is incredible. Her family are all super nice and I already love them a ton! My companion is named Elder Gonzales. I`m training him. He`s from Ecuador, and loves his bananas! Also, he`s a semi-professional singer/songwriter, which is going to be a lot of fun. Thanks for all your warm wishes!
Much love,
Elder Alexander

Tingo Maria

My new companion!!!

My pentionista and the family!

My companion taught me how they eat bananas in Ecuador. I approve. Banana with Nutella. Yes, they have Nutella here, in Tingo Maria. Also, Taco Bell. Weird, right?