Working Hard and Having Fun!

Hello!!

To answer questions first:

What do you guys typically do on your P Days. Do you usually do something as a zone or do you do something as a companionship?

depends, it looks like this month we are planning to do zone activities every other week. Some zones have zone activities weekly, others have 1 every other month... depends where you are in the mission.

Do you get many dinner appointments?

nope. I could count the dinner appointments I have had in the mission with my hands. But that is because dinner here is a very light meal normally. Here Lunch is the big meal, and with that we do have lunch appointments. We eat with the members on the weekends.

Is there much of a difference in the weather from other areas of your mission?

Not really... Sullana is the hottest place, Tumbes after that, then Piura, and Paita and Talara always has a breeze so it isn't as hot. But the sun shines strong wherever you are. But recently it has been nice and cloudy, and cool in the night.

Have you ever used a coat?

never. for those coming to serve here in Piura: you don't need a big coat. A sweater is good to have, but you will never need anything more than that.

Is there anything that you wished you had brought with you to begin your mission?

hmm... nothing in particular. I was well set and I have always found where to buy things I needed.

Do you go on a lot of splits with the missionaries in your zone?

yes, with the District Leaders and then the Assistants also do splits with us. So we do 1 almost weekly.

Do you do any team teaching with the sister missionaries?

is that where you teach a lesson together with the sister missionaries? I have only done that once in my mission for a family home evening to introduce us to someone in our area the sister missionaries were previously teaching. but no, that isnt common, in fact I didn't even know that was a thing..

Favorite Peruvian thing of the week?

hmm...  I don't know... it is all my favorite by now! haha

Best thing about serving with Elder Mallo?

We work really well together! We are well balanced and he really knows how to use the scriptures well, so he helps me out in that. But LOTS of good things happening working with Elder Mallo.

What was your highlight of the week?

Placing a baptismal date with JL!!

So I don't have too much time!! But this week was awesome!! We are really working hard to baptize, and we are inviting everyone! And it just so happened that Sunday I had to teach Gospel Principles class about Baptism, and Elder Mallo got up at the end and announced to everyone that we are preparing baptismal services for those present who are not yet baptized. And I think it actually really got an investigator excited that the other Elders are teaching! So that has been fun!

We got J getting ready for the 20th of June!! He is progressing GREAT and loves being with us, he honestly would run around with us all day if we could! haha we just need to help him get really set on getting baptized, because he is without a job right now and he told us before that if he gets an offer out in his small home town village, he is going to go and take it.. and there is no church out there yet. So we are praying that he can find a job here in Piura so that doesn't complicate things.

We've also got C, whose nephew (even though they are the same age) is going on a mission at the end of June. He wants to get baptized and we are still trying to help out his other family members. Their home is full of potential! So C has a baptismal date and 2 other family members in the home we are trying to reactivate, so hopefully we can get that all worked out!

And we are working hard and having fun!! Today we are going to visit a hilarious family. You will have to ask me about them when I get home, they are a laugh! But hopefully we can get them baptized too!

The church is true! Hopefully this week I can finish reading the Book of Mormon, I will keep you posted! I also know that by the power of the Holy Ghost, ye may know the truth of all things. I had several spectacular experiences with that this week. I know that God is guiding us in this work.

Love you all! Keep up the good work!

Elder Russell

Goodbye Elder Montero, Hello Elder Mallo!

New companion, Elder Mallo!

Hello everyone!!

Well, today we had transfers... of the 9 companionships in the Zone, only 2 escaped without transfers. Elder Montero has left for Talara, and I am now with ELDER MALLO!!! He is from San Pedro, Argentina, which is within the province of Buenos Aires. He was in the CCM with me and he was in my District in Lopez Albujar!! I already have several photos with him from earlier on in the mission. He is super awesome! I already know him pretty well and we are going to work HARD and we are going to be awesome!!!

Elder Miller also has a new companion: ELDER PLATA! So I will now be seeing an old companion of mine on a very constant basis, and he also happened to be Elder Mallo's companion at one point. So our District is going to be very tight knit. :)

to answer some questions:

How much do you usually spend a week on food.  Do you get good food or do you usually have to buy cheaper quality food.

We get something like 350 soles to buy food and personal hygiene stuff for the month. We don't eat like church mice, but we don't eat like kings either. Every once in a blue moon we will eat something like Pizza Hut or Chilis, but normally for dinner we prepare burgers or spaghetti and breakfast is cereal or fruits.

Are there any big box retailers like a Shopko or Walmart or Target in Peru?  Do they carry the same kind of stuff that you were used to buying in the US?

Here you've got Metro, Tottus, and PlazaVea as the supermarket retailers. It is the same setup but Peruvian food. There are some of the same brands, like the world wide brands, but other than that they are Peruvian brands.

Do you speak in church very much?  Do you have to teach lessons.  

The missionaries speak in church here every month. So I personally get the chance to speak like every other month. I gave a talk last month about the Atonement with Missionary Work, which I enjoyed giving. We have been teaching Gospel Principles as missionaries (here locally that is typically the case) but this week one of our recent converts was just called to teach the class! So we are now just helpers and sit with the members. 

How many Book of Mormons do you hand out on a regular week?  Do you run into people that are unfriendly to the church?

It depends. Here we could give out Book of Mormons like chocolates and everyone would take one, but the majority would end up just covered in dust. We normally give one to every new investigator who shows interest in progressing (they read the pamphlets we gave them in the street contact, they went to church, the spirit tells us to give them one) Here we don't receive too many to give away either, speaking of logistics, we have to be wise in how we use them.

There are always some people here and there who don't like something about the church and are not afraid to tell you. Also I have seen Anti-Mormon websites as a stumbling block for people.

Do you have Sisters in your Zone or just Elders?

There are 9 companionships in total. 5 companionships of Elders and 4 of Sisters.

Best thing that happened this week?

We taught some GREAT lessons. People accepting the Restoration, People excited to read the Book of Mormon, People praying and receiving answers.

Funniest thing that happened this week?

We found a spectacular family who are very receptive and excited to meet with us. They have just become so attached to us so quickly! After the second lesson they are inviting us to go hang out with them in their house out in the countryside! They want to invite us to lunch, they always serve us something after the lessons (even though we need to get off running to the next visit), and just want to spend hours talking and chatting! They are super awesome, we just have to keep explaining the mission rules to them. But they are such a funny family! Hopefully we can keep them focused, because they are also praying and reading and they are starting to realize that this message is just what they needed. But LOTS of laughs in those visits.

Any upcoming events that you are looking forward to?

hmm.... placing baptismal dates this week. If all goes well hopefully we can have at least 4 or 5 set with baptismal dates for June this week. With Elder Mallo I know we are going to be taking care of business! He works hard and we are going to be sleeping like rocks at night!

This week was a little slower honestly, but we are getting a lot of things set to make a bang out of this week. WE also got to see a training video from the Area Presidency for Ward Council Training. And that was AWESOME! I was thinking a lot during that broadcast about how I really want to stay involved in the work of Salvation when I get home. So many missionaries are so sad when their mission ends because they feel like it is all over. I am trying to form the ways and ideas NOW in how I can continue when I get home. I LOVE the work of Salvation. And the way that the church works now to help the work progress is miraculous, I want to always stay involved. There is no other blessing like taking part in the work of Salvation.

The church is true!! The Book of Mormon changes LIVES! The Lord needs us all to work in His vineyard. This is His work.

And to the future Elder Lucas - DUDE!!! That is AWESOME!! That is YOUR mission, get ready NOW! start reading the Book of Mormon like a missionary. I didn't understand how to do that beforehand, but I wish I did. But when you read, search and mark the scriptures that relate to the missionary lessons. It will help :) Parker, I am so excited for you, seriously there is nothing better than the mission! Get pumped!! (his cousin, Parker, received his call to the Washington DC South Mission this week!)

Have a GREAT week!!

Elder Russell

Saying goodbye to Elder Montero (and others :)

Mother's Day Skype - YAY!

Hello family!!

Well it was SO great to hear from you yesterday and see your lovely faces! Logan sure is grown up!! WOW! haha it was fun to chat even though the minutes are short.

Well, a quick run though of this past week!

Tuesday we got to do splits with Missionaries from Tumbes! They had come down a day early for the Leadership Meeting we had Wednesday. So I got to visit with Elder Rodriguez from Lima and that was fun!

Then Wednesday we had the Leadership Meeting of all the ZLs, Assistants and Sister Trainer Leaders with President and Sister Rowley. We talked a lot about how to teach effectively using questions and also how to use recent converts and less actives in finding.

Wednesday night we had a meeting of us, and the other zone leaders in the stake, with the Mission President and the Stake President. It is something monthly they do and it is really great to see the progress that the church is doing and how we all work together to make it keep progressing.

Friday we painted a member's kitchen and part of his living room. That was a fun time, we are not the best painters, but it turned out nice. :) Then that night we had the Ward Mothers Day Activity -- a little show of songs and dances (and our top class sketch) then we went home and they had a dance for the mothers.

Saturday we had interviews with the President. During all that time we did Area Book Revisions, and we learned a whole lot with that. We are focusing a lot now in the mission too in helping people keep commitments. We have started a few new things with the Area books. And interviews are always great with President Rowley. We talked about a couple good ideas that I am going to really get to work on, especially in finding families to teach. So that is awesome and I am pumped to go!!

Then Sunday calling home!!

Maybe it doesn't seem like too much going on, but I feel like I did not get enough sleep this week!! haha hopefully we can go take a nap today for P day. :)

Well all is well!! I am downloading photos of the Trujillo Temple to show off to people. They are on LDS.org, check em out!! :)

Love you all, have a great week!!

Elder Russell

With Elder Montero

All is Well in Tacala!

Hello!!

Another week... wow!

Answer questions:

Do you still wear a hat when you are tracting?

No, I actually gifted it to another elder who needed it more than I do. Here in my area it is a bit more urban too, and my hat for a more rural setting...

How do you keep from getting sun burned?

sunscreen!! Yes, I do use it.

Do you drink the water anywhere you go or do you have to drink bottled water?

A little bit of both. Lots of people when they give you water it has either been boiled or it comes from one of those large jugs of bottled water.

Does any of the food make you sick or are you able to eat about anything that you want to?

At this point I don't appear to have many problems. This mission has rules against eating ceviche, pork, lettuce, or strawberries. Ceviche could probably get me a bit sick if it's not well prepared.

Do you think you will stay in the area you are in for the rest of your mission or do you think you will be transferred another time?

It is pretty sure I will be here until the end of my mission.

Do you know how many converts the mission will have in one year?

I am not sure of that number actually... I will look into that. :)

How many missionaries are there in your mission?

hmm.... something around 200 I think

Do people have pets like they do in the US?

yeah, dogs, cats, chicken, ducks. But they aren't as pampered pets here as they are in the US.

Do most of the kids graduate from high school and do people get a chance to go to college or do they have to go to work?

It is a lot like the US in that aspect. Pretty much everyone graduates and a majority seem to go to college.

The most unusual thing you saw or experienced this week?

hmm...honestly this week was quite regular, nothing too new for me at least. Maybe I am just used to the culture by now. haha

What upcoming thing/event are you most looking forward to?

This week is going to be crazy with lots of stuff!! So I am just looking forward to a full week of adventure! 

This week was great, we got some new people to work with! We got a new progressing investigator, who attended church with us yesterday!! He is super awesome and the ward members were great with him! He already has some good fellowshipping there. He is doing great.

One thing this week I liked is that we have had several lessons where we have taught the doctrine spot on. There are moments where you teach the lesson and the investigators understand and all you have to do there is give them the opportunity to accept it or not. As missionaries you have done your part, it all just depends to them. Then when they accept or not, you can still feel confident that you did what you were sent to do. Despite the occasional rejection, you feel good when you do your part!

We are helping the ward prepare a Mother's Day Activity!! It sounds like it is going to be a little talent show/presentations, then a dance, then little gifts for the mothers. We aren't going to take much part, but we are helping the ward get it all set up.

Well, I love you all!! All is well here in Tacala!!

Elder Russell