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

Lots of Questions... and Answers!

Hello family!!

Holy smokes, every week goes by faster...

This week was another great one!! Sadly our zone couldn't follow the weekly baptism streak, but we will be back before too long. :)

to answer some questions:

Does your companion speak any English?

Very little, he is studying but just phrases here and there. But we are working on that during language study.

Do the people you teach speak any English?

Just "hello" "wasunam" (what's your name) and "howaryu" (how are you). haha but almost all college students study English and are getting a very basic hold of it.

Did you ever buy a pair of shoes or are you just down to one pair?

I actually repaired them, and so the 2 original pairs are still kicking and looking great!

What is your typical meal at lunch?

Rice with Chicken maybe with some vegetables on the side with chicha morada or lemonade to drink is the typical meal. Sometimes you get like spaghetti instead of rice, or sometimes another side of papa a la huancaina.

How far do people have to travel to attend church?

The farthest away would probably be like 15-20 minute moto taxi ride...

What is the favorite sport in Peru?

SOCCER, or as they say here, FUTBOL.

Do people follow U.S. sports or is it mostly soccer?

very few people if any. US sports expands mostly to the use of Yankee caps as well as Chicago Bulls wear around here... haha

How big is your zone and what kind of an area does it cover?

This zone has 3 wards and 1 branch, there are 2 zones within the Stake. We cover a rather small part of Piura city, but we also have 2 small cities outside: Chulucanas and Morropon.

How often do you have zone conference?

About once a month.

Do you have to conduct the zone conference or does the mission president do that?

We do. We have special zone meetings for interviews and also multi zone meetings and normally that is where President takes part and plans the majority of what will be done. But the monthly zone meetings is what us zone leaders want to teach according to what we learned in our leadership council with all the mission zone leaders, assistants, sister trainers and the mission president.

What is the neighborhood you are living in like?

its a more upper class part of Piura, mostly residential. Calm, ready to receive the gospel. :)

Best or most interesting thing you've eaten this week?

hmm... well actually best thing I will be eating this next week: BAGELS!!!!! I have been looking for those things my whole mission and I found them today! I bought classic and also cinnamon raisin and I bought cream cheese so I am so excited for breakfast this week! :)

Happiest moment of the week? :)

hmmm... This week I got to go to Morropon! We had exchanges with the missionaries there so I got to go visit this little bitty city. It is a really small branch: the missionaries there are the 1st and 2nd councilors of the branch presidency... but it was really awesome. From the rain it is now super green there!! It reminded me a lot of Tambo Grande and I was able to give suggestions to these missionaries from what I learned from my time there. That was a lot of fun being with Elder Huaranga, a super awesome missionary from Huanaco, Peru. He cooks a stellar dinner and they are doing some great stuff there in Morropon.

There is a lot of stuff told!! I dont know what else to say.... haha

all is well!!! I am happy and having a blast!

Well, gotta go!! Love you all!

Elder Russell

Time is Just FLYING!

Another week come and gone!! How fast they fly but it went really well!!

And I remembered by camera!! 

And today we went to SECHURA!!! We went sandboarding as a district. We didn't get to stay around or say hi to any old friends, but I did see the Hermana who washes the missionaries clothes and I waved from the truck. But that was fun! So I got videos and some pics.

To answer questions:

Do you have any investigators coming to church?

Yes!! This week a member brought 2 new friends to church and we are going to start teaching them on Tuesday! Also R and K came to church! They are our progressing couple. They LOVE the Book of Mormon and it is changing their lives. We just need to get them married. But they came to church and they are super awesome.

Do you have a good mission leader in the ward?

Yep! He has about a year and a half with the calling but we help him out. He is a nice older man and always happy. He likes his calling and helping us out.

Do you get to eat any fresh fruit this time of year?

There are always lots and lots of Lemons. So Lemonade is a really big thing here. Oranges and Bananas also I have been eating recently.

How far away from the ocean are you?

Like an hour away -- about 40-45 miles I think.

Do most people there have cars?

Some, mostly everyone just has a moto taxi. And you can forget about trucks. In this ward I have met the first member to own a truck in my mission...

Where do most people in this town work?

Transportation, Construction, or the marketplace selling are the most common. Then you get the special jobs that vary.

Now that you've spent some time there...what is your favorite thing about Tacala?

EVERYONE is awesome!! Really receptive! We found 8 new investigators this week and hopefully we can help them all get on board to get baptized!

What can you tell us about your new Pensionista and her family?

She is named Dorina. She is awesome!! Good food and pitchers always filled with ICE COLD drinks! Which is my favorite part of lunch.

Favorite Peruvian thing this week?

hmm... Service projects! Getting to help fortify the lower class houses is always hard work, and I like taking off the collared shirt for a couple hours here and there.

Did you have an activity with your Zone today? If so, what was it?

Nope, today was a district activity! SECHURA!!

Well, I don't have too much time... But this week was great! We are really starting to get some people to teach and help progress! And our Zone is awesome!! Hopefully, if all goes well, this Zone can baptize weekly! And that is something to be very proud of! And also Reactivating. I think we can also "Rescue" weekly as well in the Zone, which is also super awesome. To "Rescue" someone, you have to teach them the 5 mission lessons, they need to attend church at least 3 times, and they need an interview with the Bishop. In other words, we need to reactivate them. This week we reactivated K, whose cousin is a recent convert. So that has been fun!

We are working hard and flying around! And holy smokes time is just FLYING!!!

This week I got my hands on one of those Church Administration books, the one that talks about Ward Council and the Work of Salvation, and such. And with that new knowledge we are starting to help out the Ward Mission Leader and the ward council a bit more effectively.

I am having a fun time!! I am now in Alma 43! Hopefully I can finish within these next 4 weeks, I need to start reading faster!

When does this other Peru Piura missionary leave?! Will I get to know him before he goes out?!?! That is so awesome!!! This is the best mission in the world!!

Have a great week!!! Love you all!!

Elder Russell

Saying "goodbye" to friends in Lopez Albujar

Baptism in Tacala

P-day in Sechura!

The Church is True!

Hello family!!

Holy smokes, I am so sorry, I forgot my camera AGAIN!!! Right now I am going to write it down in my agenda for next week. I got lots and lots of photos. House construction, Baptism, my new apartment, all that jazz you want, Mom. :) Sorry I forgot!!

Sheri and Mom, you both guessed pretty well about my new area! Almost half of it is actually paved roads, it is the highest living class I have proselyted in actually. It is a nice place and lots of quality visits!

The ward is strong. Around 130 people attend more or less every week. There are 800 members in the directory, but that is a current project in the ward: clean the directory up. Because there are LOTS who have moved, who don't live within the ward boundaries (like addresses in Tambo Grande...? haha), but the ward is strong and awesome. Lots of potential and we are going to make it even STRONGER! :) I LOVE working with ward members and leaders now.

Yep, we had a baptism! He is really awesome. He apparently has come a long way and the whole ward seems to love him. He is super educated in religion too, for example Elder Miller was teaching the offices of the Priesthood and F started explaining why it would be called the Melchizedek Priesthood and talked all about who Melchizedek was, we were all astounded! He actually reminds me a lot of my piano teacher in Massachusetts (Mom, you'll remember. I forgot his name... Nathan? But who was originally from Utah?) He has the same kind of personality. haha :) So that was great, and the other missionaries are actually teaching his Dad too! so that has been awesome. 

Pictures to come! :)

Most interesting thing you've learned about your new area?

hmm... that there is always more to do! The area is hard to master the directions because there is no rhyme or reason to the addresses...

Something I have learned while being here is the power of working with members. Pretty much all recent converts here were referrals, so we are going to keep working hard with those.

Funniest experience of the week?

hmm... I got a story about how I now have a new nickname in the zone: Carusel (carousel, in English). But how that came to be I would have to explain through a verbal explaination. So in May, or when I get home, remind me about that and I will expain. :)

Qualities you admire about your new companion?

Elder Montero is awesome. He is such a happy dude. At first I was really silent in the apartment but now I have broken myself in and we are always laughing. But this week we held a Zone Conference and he was getting a little stressed because we had forgotten stuff but in all his stress it just makes him laugh and smile MORE! Like when I get stressed I can get angry or offensive but he never ever leaves his happy loving and hard working mindset. So I know why I got put here, I could learn a LOT from him. :)

Well, I don't have much time... But I love you all!! The church is true! Have a great week!

Elder Russell