Monday, October 27, 2008

Just Another Amazing Week in Peru

This week has been amazing. To start off all the missionaries in Lima were shipped off to the ccm (that's the missionary training center in Lima) on Wednesday and we got to hear from Elder Christofferson and Elder Acosta of the Seventy. He talked about the differences between people in this world. Those who get baptized, and those who don´t. He talked about exactly how they chose missionaries. My favorite though was when he talked about us being his companions. He said the seventy were companions to the twelve, and we were also their companions... I don´t know... you had to be there. He spoke perfect Spanish, and after we all got to shake their hands!

The missionary work´s been tough since we've been in this area because we didn't have much to work with coming in. Finally we started seeing things happen this week. We committed lots of people to baptism, and had a good turnout on Sunday. I was so happy. The best though was one appointment we had with a contact. We taught him about the restoration, and asked him to pray and receive a witness for himself, and if he did, commit to be baptized... he said he already knew it was true so he needed to be baptized. That happened on more than one occasion this week. Of course we stressed the importance of prayer to obtain a sure witness...

We were just walking down the street a couple days ago and an old man was standing next to the sidewalk with his cane in the air. As we passed by we greeted him, but then he greeted me back by hitting me – HARD- with his cane! It was interesting because we saw him at least five times in different places that day. I swear he was stalking me...waiting for the opportune moment.

I started the Book of Mormon again under the direct orders of President, even though it´s the third time I will have read it since being out. Elder Christofferson talked a lot about the importance of the Book of Mormon. Now my companions and I always carry a book of Mormon in our hands everywhere we go. I've found it´s one of the most powerful contacting tools. At the start of my mission I kind've liked to tell people how our message blesses families, the church is restored....but most people here react differently to the Book of Mormon than anything else.

Anyway, I was sick all last night off something so we´ll see how today goes. We get to go to the temple tomorrow I´m so excited. The Spanish is coming along just great, with lots of study of course so I think I´ll go through the Spanish session tomorrow.

5 comments:

Andy said...

I wish I could have seen that old man hit him. I would have died laughing.

Don Layton said...

None of us want to see you dead Andrea, so it's probably best that you don't visit him in Peru.

Andy said...

haha okay fine, but I think I told you before, if I change my major to engineering I could study abroad in Peru instead of London. hahaha

SJacobus said...

Okay I'm kind of with Andy. I know it shouldn't be funny, but my first mental picture was of a tiny little old man with a cane chasing after your tall lad. You can see why I'm trying real hard not to laugh.
Sounds like the work is going good. Give Elder Layton our best.

Don Layton said...

That's okay Suelynn. I'm his dad and had the same funny picture in my mind. I don't know why, but there's just something funny about an old person beating on a young person with a cane. I suppose that it's probably because you know that they can't really do any damage.