October 26, 2015

Hey guys! Here's a little tidbit that I learned this past week:

This past week was a little discouraging for me. There's a couple that we've been visiting named Gladys and Freddy. Gladys is a member but Freddy isn't, and we've been teaching them since the beginning of the transfer. Early on we started to notice that their family wasn't very united. The two of them were constantly fighting with each other, and it was starting to affect their children as well. So lately we've been focusing on the things that we feel could help their family. We've talked with them about patience, repentance, prayer, scripture study, but nothing seemed to help. They wouldn't do anything we asked them and slowly but surely the situation kept getting worse. This past Thursday it all fell apart. We got to their house for our appointment and Freddy had his things packed, he was getting ready to leave. We spent 2 hours there talking with them, trying to do everything in our power to help this family. But in the end, they didn't want to try and work it out. Freddy told us he was leaving and nothing we say could change that. When we left, my heart was broken. I've truly grown to love this family, and seeing them like that was just too much. I blamed myself for what had happened as well, because we couldn't help them. Later that night, I was still feeling really discouraged when Elder Aguilar shared a quote he had written from the testimony of Elder Stevenson "No te centres en lo que no puedes hacer, sino en lo que si puedes" That simple sentance comforted me a lot, because it reminded me that I can't do everything. Obviously the Lord wants me to give all I have, but He realizes that I can't do it by myself. That's why I have my companion. That's why I have leaders. And more than anything, that's why we have the Atonement of Christ. We're not perfect, nor will we ever be in this life, but through the Atonement we can reach perfection in the life to come. We just have to look forward with faith, never doubting His power to help each and everyone of us.

Yesterday Gladys came to church with her kids and she seemed happy. I wanted to talk to her after the meetings, but she left before I was able to. About an hour after leaving church we were walking towards our pensionista's house when we saw her and Freddy drive past in his moto. He stayed. And more than that, they were both smiling. I don't know what's going to happen with this couple, but that gave me hope. Maybe not all of our efforts were in vain like I had thought. Maybe, they realized the need for the Atonement in their lives. This experience confirmed to me, again, that the Gospel changes lives. No matter the situation, no matter how dire things may seem, if we look forward with faith in Christ we will see miracles in our lives and the lives of those who surround us.

October 19, 2015

No group email from Jeremy today, but he did send an email to Kathy and me. And lots of pictures! Some highlights are:

"Your kids are growing up. I was thinking the other day that when I get home, there will be 4 legal adults in the house. That's weird. And I'll be old enough to drink haha. But it's been fun for me watching Kaitlyn grow up more. I know I'm not actually watching her since I'm on the other side of the world, but I can see it. I see it when you guys write me, and in her letters as well. Man, I miss that girl.

You know what's weird? Our zone here is really young. Most of the missionaries are between 18-20. Today I was watching my comp and one of the other new missionaries, both of whom are 18, and I thought to myself "These guys are such kids. They need to grow up." And that's when it hit me: I grew up. I don't know how, or when, but I just realized I really am an adult now. So I guess I do feel like an adult every now and then. I try to make sure it doesn't happen too often though. It helps when I bring my sling shot proselyting ;)

I started listening to my Christmas music last Sunday. I didn't pút it on purpose, it was just what followed in the music I was listening to. The speaker I bought always picks up from the last place it left off, and it was honestly MOTAB to Christmas. The funny thing is, I'm not the only missionary in the zone who's listening to it. It seems like half of us started listening to Christmas music last week. Today in district meeting our opening hymn was Joy to the World. We're all getting pumped. Also morning exercises to Tran Siberian Orchestra just makes it all the more epic. Only 2 more months!"

Burning a shirt for his one year anniversary. 

October 12, 2015

Hey Guys!

So this week was super boring. I honestly don't have a lot to write about. Wednesday was my hump day! And I spent it in conferences in Puno. It was nice going back to Puno though, every time I'm there I run into someone new that I knew when I was there. Also I met up with a bunch of other elders who started the mission with me. Of the 5 of us that were there, 4 were actually in the same district in the CCM, so it was fun seeing them again after so long. Thursday night I burned my shirt to commemorate. Pictures will be sent next week.

On saturday we went to Ayaviri and met this little old man named Andres. Andres was an old investigator, but when they took all the missionaries out of Ayaviri he quit going to church. Last week, though, he had a dream where he was getting baptized and told a member about this dream. The member told us, and we went over as soon as possible. So saturday we go to his house and he tells us, "Elders I want to get baptized. Can you help me with that?" I just had to laugh and tell him "Yeah, I think we can help you out there." We invited him to be baptized on Nov. 14. He told us he was going to pray about it, so we'll see how that works out.

And that's about it. It wasn't a super exciting week. Thanks for all the birthday wishes and for writing me! I love you guys! Until next week!

Jeremy

October 5, 2015

We are seeing miracles in Choquehuanca. I can testify to the lesson learned in conference this past weekend, when we put in our part the Lord makes up for the rest.

We've started teaching this kid named Jesus, who is a great guy. Jesus was a friend of one of the members of the branch who agreed to meet with us because he saw how happy his friend was and wanted the same happiness in his life. We've met with him a couple of times now and he wants to get baptized. That is such a miracle, because it's been a long time since this branch has seen a baptism. We've been so blessed to have met him and helped him in this time. For now, we're working to get him to church more and to get permission from his parents. If everything goes well, he can be baptized by the end of this month.

We've also started working in Pucara a bit more. One day we went and we felt the impression to knock a certain door. A man came out and said "Elders, who gave you guys the reference?" We were really confused until we found out he was a less active member. We talked with him for a bit that day in the street then set up an appointment to come back and talk with his family. The day of the appointment came and we were surprised to see his whole family there, especially when they told us that they had forgotten about the appointment. Then something weird happened. His daughter came into the room to join us and audibly gasped when she saw Elder Aguilar and I. She proceeded to tell us about a dream she had had the night before. In that dream she got super sick and thought she was going to die. She went and found her parents to say goodbye, and her dad told her not to give up yet, because there were two doctors nearby. They climbed up a hill and found two elders who were able to give her a blessing and heal her. She then said "Fueron uds. No vi las placas de los misioneros, pero recuerdo sus caras. Fueron uds que me ayudaron. Por eso me sorprendi al verlos." She had seen us in a dream before ever meeting us, and in that dream we helped her. To be honest, I don't really know what that means. But she told us it was a sign, and that she needed to come to church more. And that's exactly what happened. Sunday her whole family came to conference, and they've already sent us a reference. And it wasn't for anything we did. The Lord just put us in the right place at the right time.

All in all, I can say that it was an extremely rewarding week. I felt the spirit immensely, and I know that the savior was by our side.