A Peruvian Birthday!!!

 I´ve been having a sweet birthday so far. We´re about to go get pizza from a place called Arreganos and they say it´s the best pizzeria in the mission! Then, I´m going to buy a book to learn Quechua, which is actually a rather difficult language. Did you know Quechua evolved from the language the Nephites and Lamanites used to speak? So, that´s kinda neat. I have a Book of Mormon in Quechua in the room and sometimes it´s cool to think that it´s probably rather similar to what was written on the original gold plates.

We had a great week. We had a couple days in which we walked all day and ended with one or less lessons, but we met some great folk and are currently teaching some very special people. First off, we have a baptism planned for this Saturday. This couple have been listening to the missionaries for more than a year now and the reason they´ve waited so long was that he still had some doubts about the Book of Mormon. Last week, we watched some BoM videos with them and committed him to read a chapter. He read it, and yesterday told us that he prayed about it and feels like he received an answer that it´s true, which is awesome news! Also, we´re teaching a YSA named who has been coming to church, has already had various spiritual experiences regarding the Book of Mormon and is hyped to get baptized on the 20th. Those are the people we´re focusing on right now.

Something special: On Sunday, we arrived and sat down near the back and the counselor did the announcements, then there was sacrament, then the counselor went up to the pulpit again and said "we will now here from Elder Alexander who will speak on the subject of tithing". So, I went up there and gave what I felt was a very basic talk about tithing and it´s blessings. Afterwards, a very elderly lady came up to me and shook my hand with her both hands, telling me "thank you for your words", crying and then kissing my hand. Sometimes we don´t realize how God amplifies even our simplest endeavors when we search for his inspiration.

Also, we did service this week and helped an investigator build their house. We just lugged buckets of cement up and down a hill and now my back don´t feel so guud.

Also, the night before I was throwing up and then at the service project they gave me a big bowl of Alpaca-face soup which I consider a miracle that it didn´t come back up. I was gagging the whole time I slurped it down.

Alpaca-face soup. A Huancavelican delicacy. I´ll be sure to bring some home for you! :)

But I´ve been having and interesting birthday so far. The other missionaries turned off my alarm and woke me up by dog-piling me and screaming "happy birthday!" And my companion gave me a birthday surprise: he hid everything I planned on using that morning. Ex: Shower sandals, hairspray, lotion, sunscreen, etc. Then I had to go on a treasure hunt for all my things which was apparently hillarious. I won´t even mention the fire-crackers. (I´ll tell you about that in a couple months). 

Anyways. Thanks for all your wonderful birthday wishes! I love you all very much. Today, as we were leaving the appartment I said the prayer and gave thanks for the wonderful blessing that I am to the district here and as soon as I said amen they all tackled me to the floor. This should be an interesting birthday with these guys. (they told me they are going to soak me in egg).
Much love,
Elder Alexander