Apply What You Learned in Conference!

Dear Family,

This week was a good one! I sadly, did not get to see all of General Conference yet. The deal here is that the country of Peru had elections for region and district leaders and it is like against the law to hold public reunions that day, so by law we were not allowed to have church. And every single person by law has to vote before 4 pm. So Sunday we actually were advised to stay in our apartment for the morning, but our whole district went to the Pensionista's house and watched the Sunday morning session on BYU TV (yep, they have that here and actually LOTS of people watch it!) So from what little I have seen so far it's been great! A lot about follow the prophet and receiving personal revelation. I liked it all so far!

Sadly, J's wife still hasn't accepted to listen to us. She doesn't know how badly she needs this message!! She's been quite engulfed with all going on in her life and doesn't accept making time to relax and listen. But we are still working. And J is doing great! Excited to keep going to church, we taught him the word of wisdom and prayer and once he understands it, he is all for it. So I am thinking we need to focus a whole lot more on him and then his wife will follow.

We keep talking to more and more couples in the streets! And we are finding some quality people! We found W this week, a less active that really wants to get back to church, he just has problems getting over past sins and mistakes, we are working on teaching repentance and forgiveness with him. I am so so glad we found him, a super high quality guy! He is already inviting us to hang out at his house some P Day and cook pizzas and all that! He actually used to be a YSA and YM councilor it sounds like, a very active and involved member! So awesome!

To answer some questions:

You mentioned in your last letter that the area you are in now is very different from Sechura and Tambo Grande... HOW is it different?

Well, Zarumilla is a much bigger and more sophisticated place. Tumbes in general is fairly more advanced than Piura. For example, it seems like everyone in Piura has the same beliefs - the Bible, Catholic tradition, accept everything you tell them. But in Tumbes you find more, we contacted a lady who believed in reincarnation, and a less active we teach lives with an Islamic believing Brazilian. It is much more developed in everything.

Tell us more about the Ward that you are serving in...

There are around 700 baptized members, but our attendance normally ranges between 110 and 140. The Bishop is awesome, he reminds me a lot of Uncle Daren actually in how he talks and interacts with people. It is a good ward. The strongest in all of Tumbes. I like the ward a lot, it is a whole lot of fun. I think us missionaries are going to plan a Halloween activity here too!! Here they don't do too many activities, or at least they have all recently died off. So we are going to try to plan something big and awesome. I am thinking and using the Littleton Ward Trunk or Treat for a few ideas. :)

What was the funniest/craziest thing that happened to you this past week?

Ok. Sunday, we were walking down the street all normal. We walk passed a couple we have talked to before sitting outside their house. I am walking in front of Elder Encarnacion. I say "hola". Then my companion does the same, right as their big dog JUMPS out of the house barking and BITES my companion's leg!! He didn't bite him too hard, it was more of a scrape, but that incident came out of the blue.

That night we were reporting, and the other missionaries were over reporting to me. They heard that Elder Encarnacion got bit by a dog and started talking about rabies. Elder Moses said, I hear that if you have rabies you have to get 8 shots in the stomach... And Elder Encarnacion's starting freaking out a bit, trying not to believe it. So we call out to Hermana Teo our pensionista (our apartment is like an annex to her house) and ask if it was true. She calls out "YES. 14 SHOTS IN THE BELLY BUTTON!" Elder Encarnacion's reaction was quite comical. He kinda freaked out. But in the end we called the mission health adviser (Hermana Rowley) and she said to just apply anti inflammation cream for now, and the next day everything was totally fine. But it was quite a deal I find quite comical now. :)

Here in Peru recently it has been rather cool but now it is starting to heat up again. I heard that here in Tumbes in the summer it stays right up there close to 100 degrees, but hopefully I get sent somewhere cooler before that comes around. haha

SO next week I will see Conference! Hopefully we can get J to come, and we've got a couple other investigators to come too. Hopefully this week we will find some super stellar new investigators too and invite them! Now that elections are over, this next week won't be so crazy with all the campaigning in the streets and whatnot.

Today we went to the beach again! I got some super awesome pics, but this week I am sending the birthday pics to you! I finally got them from the Q family!! Sorry they didn't turn out too well.. it was all from a phone camera... haha But there ya go!

I love you all!! Have a great week and apply what you learned in Conference!!

Oh and keep reading the Book of Mormon!! I finished it this week, Holy smokes I LOVE Mormon and Moroni. High Class Men right there. and now I am right back in 1st Nefi! Keep reading that book!!!!! It is true and changes lives!

Hear from you next week!

Elder Russell

( Pictures from Collin's Birthday in August :)