Karaoke!

We are doing great here, forging the wild frontier, forgetting at least one word in English a day, teaching the people of the Andes mountains.

 This week, we actually had a good amount of success. Especially in the activity we had on Friday. We did Karaoke and like 30 people showed up (a new record!) and everyone got a chance to sing and had a great time! The best part was Hno. William singing that 80`s song that`s like "I ain`t missin you at all", which is impressive because he pronounced some of the words right and Quetchua is his first language!

 F. felt like he should be baptized on the 10th of December so that he will do, and it`s looking like the last baptism I see here will be Hno. W`s, which I`m content about.

I just got a virus on my USB and am fighting to rescue what I can before it decides to die. I should probably attend to that. Love you all very much, my gringo family!
Much love,
Elder Alexander

*BTW- Elder Alexander returns home 2 weeks from today! We are very proud of him and excited to see him!! -Shelly aka Mom

"Giving all I have"

So, we`re finally entering the cold season here in Huancavelica. That, apparently, means snow!! That`s right, it snowed a bit this week, and rained a ton! But we`re enjoying that, I having not seen snow since Carhuamayo.

A little bit about the people we are teaching: One wants to get baptized, but didn`t stay for the full three hours Sunday, so it might be better to postpone that until she shows a little more dedication. We and F. fasted yesterday to receive an answer about when he should get baptized. He said he felt an answer and is going to...... tell us about it on Wednesday. W. and his family want to get baptized on  the 5th, before I leave, but that would require them to not miss a Sunday until I leave. We shared the restauracion with a less active`s daughter and then we talked to her a couple days later and she told us very excitedly that she prayed, felt an answer, knows this is the true church, and wants to be baptized. She`ll get baptized the week after I leave. We`re having a lot of success these days, and really enjoying our time here. The space bar doesn`t work so I had to copy and paste a space between all these words, so appreciate that. :) Also, this monitor is in black and white...

Huancavelcyeah!

Anyway, I gave another one of those improv talks yesterday. This time they gave me the subject on the way to the pulpit. I talked about the importance of the family and really remembered how much I miss you guys and how happy I am to see you all soon. Regardless, I`m set on giving all I have left in me here, before I have to leave these beautiful people behind.
Much love,
Elder Alexander

The pioneers of Huancavelica.

I´m really going to miss giving improv talks, when the branch counselor whispers you a topic once you´ve already started talking, and have to think of some smooth transition from the Atonement to the Book of Mormon. But, the branch has been growing little by little. Something I´m happy about from this week: There was a little girl (like 7) about two months ago who was having trouble dragging a large load of laundry down the street and Elder Horsley and I helped her bring it to her house (about a twenty minute walk for us). We, then, shook her hand and left but we both always felt like we should go back and visit their family, even though we didn´t even know who she lived with. We tried visiting them a good 20 times during that month, but they were NEVER there. But God never gives a prompting without great purpose, so we persisted. A couple days ago, we passed by the house again, and we ran into some man who told us they were at work, and showed us where they worked. The little girl was extatic to see us. She jumped up and down and screamed "the gringos came!!" We met her mom and the rest of her family and the mom, we found, was really looking for help. She was really worried about her daughter who had ran off and she wanted us to pray for her and visit her. I´m so happy we could be there for them. Deffinitely worth the wait to meet them. Also, last night, we trained a family who has two teenage kids. The kids expressed how they felt in school and in public, being Mormon in Huancavelica. I never really realized how much kids bug them about their beliefs, especially because drinking (even at a young age) is such a big part of the culture here. But the oldest kid expressed that whenever she chooses to defend what she knows is true she suddenly feels as if she´s not so alone, because she has God backing her up. There are so many strong and inspiring people here. They really are the pioneers of Huancavelica and they were definitely chosen to be the light, here in this great city. Anyway, I hope all is well at home and you´re enjoying vacations! Can´t wait to hug you soon!
Much love,
Elder Alexander

My Mind and Heart

So, we had a weird week because we were only in Huancavelica for one day, due to transfers and multi-zone meeting. Anyway, I have a new companion! Sad to lose Elder Horsley, but Elder Rasmussen is also a great person.

A chill little candid of me and my new one.

Something cool that happened this week: We talked to a previous investigator after a long time of not finding her. Apparently she went to Huanuco, relapsed with the commandments, lost her backpack with a number of important things inside and decided she never wants to do that again, and she wants to get baptized next Saturday. So, we`re going to try to make sure she`s ready for that. I`m feeling weird about this being my last transfer in the mission. I feel like there`s still so much to do here. Although I`m sure the work will continue after I leave, I don`t believe it will be so easy to get these people and places out of my mind and heart. On the other hand I`m happy to get away from the Santiago music!

 I love you all so very much!
Much love,
Elder Alexander