Giant Landslide

Well, we`ve been having an eventful week. I stayed, and I got a new companion! His name is Elder Lopez, and he`s from Chile. He`s a super awesome missionary from what I`ve seen so far of him. This is his second to last transfer, so I think he has a lot to teach me. I hope to learn a lot from him! The interesting part was that shortly before the transfers there was a giant landslide which blocked completely any migration between Huanuco and Tingo. In order for my comp. to leave and for Elder Lopez to come, they had to climb over it. There are men who help you with your luggage, at least, and charge 3 soles a trip. The landslide was about a neighborhood block long, containing boulders the size of our house. Even as we were crossing, more rocks began to fall. At one point, we were making our way across when suddenly everyone started running and screaming that a giant rock was going to fall, so we ran as well, trying to help some children across, as well. We got to the other side safely. I wish I had pictures, but for some reason it didn`t occur to me to take pictures. I do, however have this picture of us waiting in line to go cross the landslide. They sent us in a group of more than a hundred.

Because of the landslide, the prices of almost everything have gone up. Especially fruits, vegetables, and gas. Also, we ran out of money. We had no money to pay to go to the landslide and come back all those times nor to get around in our area, so I had to take out money from the bank. The leaders said they`ll reimburse all of it, but that`s the reason for the withdrawals.

We stood there waiting more than two hours, but it`s okay because I bought chifles! Chifllleeeeesssss! Three times! NO REGRETS!!! Whoooo!!

The good news is that we had a wonderful baptism this week. An investigator got baptized on Saturday! Whooooo! Also, our new pentionista came to church with us, which is an achievement because she`s not a member! She loved it, and will now be coming with us every Sunday. I`ll send pictures with their family next week. They`re super awesome.

I`ve been listening lately to many speakers. One of my favorites I heard this week was by Arthur C. Brooks called Why Giving Matters. He talks about how sacrificing to give even though we may not have much actually helps us in the end to be happy and prosper. Listening to talks has become a hobby of mine. I think it helps me learn to be a better teacher, as well. I always write down the examples I like and the scriptures they use. I`m suuuuuppperrr excited for General Conference this time around because I feel like I`ll have a better appreciation now for their inspired words. I`ll be letting you know what most calls my attention in the conference, and I hope you will let me know as well!

I love you all very very much, and hope you know that I pray constantly for you and hope you feel as happy as I do, and even more!
Much love,
Elder Alexander

"I`m loving the work we`re doing and the people we`re helping."

We had a fabulous last week! I say "last week" because it`s almost sure that my companion is going this week. Transfers are Tuesday and I think we`ve been here too long to not leave at this point. Saturday we were a little disappointed when we went to see Maria and she told us that she wouldn`t be able to come Sunday, due to a group project she had to do for school. We friendly reminded her that being a member of Christ`s church she`s expected to be an example to the rest. Apparently she took it to heart because we were sitting in Sacrament Meeting on Sunday when all of a sudden she enters along with her project group, and proceeded to sit down with her five friends, all dressed in street clothes with just about everyone staring at them. We talked to all of them afterwards and will soon be teaching them all! I hope I can be more like Maria when I get back and any opposition I may face, flip it around and find a way to apply the gospel. I`ve got my fingers crossed that I don`t have to leave this week. I`m loving the work we`re doing and the people we`re helping right now.

My beloved district Tingo Maria!

On Monday, we went to the Miracle lagoon which was cool. There was lot`s of bugs, but the water was beautiful and so relaxed. We chilled there, dipping the toes of our shoes in the waters and watching the ripples when I suddenly dropped a cookie. Surprise! Piranhas! Hundreds! So that was nice. We did not put our toes in the water anymore after that. And to think, I was thinking about how nice it would be to take a dip in the water that whole time. This could be a great metaphors for sin and how the temptations of Satan often distract us from the possible outcomes of our actions. I also feel like people are going to hate me when I get back because I`m going to make everything into gospel metaphors.
Much love,
Elder Alexander

PS. after taking this picture, we only recently noticed the Caution: Alligators sign. :)

(It`s wonderful that God protects us because we`re not always the most intelligent of creatures and otherwise probably wouldn`t have lasted this long in Peru.)

It´s wonderful how God humbles us.

Of all the wonderful experiences this week what comes to mind was a lady who we were privileged to share with. She had been struggling for more than ten years with a sin she had committed long ago, with feelings of guilt which stopped her from praying and living happily in general. We taught about the principle of baptism, and there are few things as beautiful as what happens in the heart of a person as they begin to understand the saving principles of the gospel. The Spirit spoke a new hope to her and we could see her, even there, begin to change. It´s something I suppose a missionary sees many times in his mission, but it´s something I cherish.

Enjoying the view from our new room´s balcony! (With foot powder (We love foot powder)).

Our biggest challenge?
Finding priesthood members to come with us. We can´t teach anyone with a female present without a member present and the members aren´t very consistent and that often keeps us from visiting many important investigators. It´s sometimes frustrating.
Also, sometimes the water doesn´t work and we can´t shower even though we stink bad and in that time I do not let my companion hug me even though we love each other much.

In case you ever doubted how hot it is here (that´s not water!)

 On Sunday, as we left the building, I noticed a man standing by the door in street clothes. He looked rather lost. And gringo. I sparked up a conversation with him and found out that he´s from Chicago. He had come here for vacation, all by himself, but got robbed and was left with nothing. Now, he´s just waiting for a friend to send him money through western union. He told me that he was a believer in God, but he had lost himself in pride. He said he had never considered the value of money, spending $200 on a normal dinner like whatever, and had never had to go to anyone for help. Now he had no other choice and that´s why he came to the chapel. We presented him to the Bishop and the Bishop gave him an interview. That was the last I saw of him. I think it´s wonderful how God humbles us. Sometimes he stops the blessings from flowing just long enough to realize where we stand. And I/we always seem to end up grateful for those moments.

My biggest blessing or miracle this week was:
Being in the mission and being a missionary!

Mosiah 4:9-10 was my favorite scripture this week.

M. is doing awesome! She´s inviting her friends to church and participating in the classes, seminary, and everything!
We had an awesome lesson with our new investigator and cleared up all his doubts about the Word of Wisdom, explaining the concept of commandments. We read what President Deiter F. Uchdorf said where he´s like "I think He knows something we don´t know!" and he got it.

Much love,
Elder Alexander

New favorite food! Raw cuttlefish with milk, fried banana, fried corn kernels, onion, and potato!

"No man can change another man"

We did not end up moving into the jungle shack. We happened to notice that someone living nearby was building a second floor on their house, so we asked and they said we could rent it. It`ll be small, but cheap and convenient. We move next week (it has a bathroom with a toilet and shower). Our pention is a 25 year old man who is not a member, named John. He`s a chef, so that should be fun! Although, I`m going to miss Hna. Karen and her family imensely. They`re some of my favorite people I`ve met in all my mission.

 I also got the shoes and valentines candies. The pentionista and her kids loved the dove chocolates and were left amazed by the splendour of frozen junior mints.

 Our investigator got baptized on Saturday, and it was an incredible spiritual experience. She has changed COMPLETELY since the day we met her. She used to live as if she had no purpose or value, and now she has a real conviction of her purpose and value. At her baptism, she gave a simple but powerful testimony. Through tear-filled eyes, she admitted she could not describe all of what she was feeling. She said she just felt like laughing and crying and that she was "filled with happiness". I pose no claim to have influinced what happened in her case. In fact, we noticed that she didn`t really begin to change so much or even want to change until she started reading the Book of Mormon. In the beggining she loathed reading and now she`s been reading every day. And she`s been reading and watching everything she can get her hands on about the prophet Thomas S. Monson. No man can change another man, and no 14-year-old girl can change the way Maria has so abruptly, without the influence of Jesus Christ. For me, it`s been a witness that the Lord is sufficient to do His own work. I thank you for your prayers, knowing they helped, as well. 

I`m excited for another week of the Lord`s work. Transfers are the 24th, so we`re taking advantage of all the time we have, just in case we have to leave.

Closing this letter and sealing it with

Much love,

Elder Alexander

Those words sound so sweet to a missionary.

We´ve been doing great here on this side of the equator! Is it true that the toilets flush backwards over there?

Anyway, this week was more or less difficult. But we did find many new people we are eager to teach and who are eager to listen which is always encouraging. The people here are by tradition very open and expressing. That said, I´ve found that they can be capable of being rather rude now and then, as well. Especially the teenagers. I, being pacifist, am completely well with it, but every now and then I have to hold my companion back a little. It just reminds me of all the stories grandpa used to tell us about his mission. I must admit that I often remember his experiences as I realize that these things actually happen.

On the other hand, we were talking to a man we had taught just once, on our way home last night, and he mentioned to us that he had talked before with people from every church and has listened to their messages, but with us he felt something different. Like we were sent from God himself. Even though I know that´s true without a single doubt, those words sound so sweet to a missionary. Especially when it seems that people simply don´t understand our message.

 I love the theme of the message that Elder Perry gave. I´ve seen that the strongest members are those that have traditions in their family such as scripture reading, prayer, and family night. If fact, our pentionista wakes all her kids up early, even though their in vacation, and they read a chapter in the Book of Mormon every morning. Even her 12 year old son has been inviting a non-member friend who´s now been studying with them and brought two of his friends to their last family night. I am so grateful that we had those traditions in our family, although I often realize that I could have taken better advantage of them. I hope you all know that I´m doing well and loving the people here like crazy!

Much love,
Elder Alexander