Another Brisa Baptism + Jhonny Guzman's Progress + Tons of Investigators = Perfect Week

GOOD MORNING FAMILY!!!!

My nephew Trace is a studd. 6 months old today. Thanks Christie for the pictures!

This week has been perfect! We baptized another Brisa....this time Brisa Quispe. It was a great baptism. We're teaching her mother but first she has to get married. We've never actually met the husband because he's never at home, but Brisas mom Pilar is progressing. She went to see the confirmation of Brisa yesterday and everything. We had a ton of investigators in the church yesterday actually so I'm excited about that.

I'm officially older than 2 decades....which is kind've depressing-exciting. I did eat cake though...a lot of it. They have the wonderful tradition here of shoving the entire cake into your face, and then taking pictures.... crazy Peruvians, crazy Vasquez Family!!! Yes, I'll get you the pics haha...

That's cool you saw Katie Maloney. The last time I saw her was in the Bend High prom when I went with Valerie Sutton. I think my freshman year I just disappeared without telling anybody I was changing schools, which is really funny, I think.

I had another amazing experience yesterday. You can't imagine what it feels like to go on splits with one of your converts. Jhonny Guzman went with me again yesterday and everything, and even though he only has a little more than a month as member he teaches really well. He likes reading the Book of Mormon in his spare time...apart from practicing Taekwondo, haha.

Jhonny's had a really hard life. Right before he was baptized, he lived with his parents. They never were really there anyway, but lots of times at the ends of the weeks his dad would come home drunk wanting to punch something, so you can imagine that Jhonny got in the way sometimes. Being 17 years old he decided to move in with his aunt and cousins who are all active members of the church and that`s where I found him. He was ready to have a better life!

Being a missionary is the best. I'm being blessed every day with tons of experencias. I know my letters are so full of exciting details too. It`s my strong point. I'm sure I'll get my birthday package this week! Kelsey I'll see you in BYU!

Nos vemos familia, los amo mucho!!!

Elder Layton

Baptism of Brisa

BUENOS DIAS FAMILIA Y AMIGOS!!!

My companion is from Bolivia!

Elder Garnica is the best. He has a million stories to tell me all the time. It's just great.

I can't believe dad is 48... I don't remember when he turned 40. 2 more years dad! 2 Years will go by really fast believe me.

We had the baptizm of Brisa on Saturday. She actually did it finally!!!! The first two times she was too scared of the water. Jhonny Guzman and Jaquin got the preisthood yesterday! We went on splits too. It was an incredible experience to be able to go out teaching with my convert on his first day as priest. He had a ton of questions about everything. About the church, about the mission, about girls. I helped him out with the first two and explained to him the secret of the third. Luckily I've learned more on my mission about that topic than any other time in my life.

So we have several baptism dates we're working with and many families that we're visiting. My goal this change is just to really focus on finding families. Today we're going to hike a huge hill with the whole Zone to burn our sins that we write on paper and put into our Olympic torch to get the whole zone pumped up for the new transfer. Haha, the new missionaries are really awesome here. Almost the whole zone changed. Of course the Earls are still here with me but everyone else is new. I have an elder in my Zone named Elder Curtis Harding. Finally I have a gringo to hang out with on pdays. He has 5 months in the mission.

That was awesome to see Logan. He doesn't look too different. I'm just jealous Nana got to hang out with him and Jacob!!!

I have to go.

I love yous!!!

The Gospel is True.

Elder Layton

The Mad Monkey, A New Companion, and More Succcess

Hello!

(We read on another missionary Blog that one of the monkeys left with the pensionista in Pucallpa had died. Worried that it might have been the one that Elder Layton left, I did some checking...not the same monkey. It turns out that Elder Layton's monkey is alive and well...other than the fact that it won't let anyone hold him. Below, Sean gives us his theory as to why the thing is so disagreeable.

To start out I'd just like to say that first off, my monkey is angry because he just feels lonely and scared because I've been away from him so long. Of course he's still alive and healthy because he eats well, thank goodness. I heard he needs a passport to come home with me... how much is a monkey license anyway?

This week has been great. I'm tired but in a good way. Actually I'm just tired of sitting down typing stuff. Today we have to do a report of all the converts in the zone for 1 year which will take a long time. It's my first time doing it, because the last time they did it was in September. It's fun!

Yesterday my companion and I talked in church along with the missionary Joel Vasquez that just got home. I talked about prayer and my companion about repentance.

On Saturday we had two baptisms!!! Martha and Jhonny!!! Martha was really happy. It took two attempts to baptize her but she left the water beaming. Her whole family was there and they all were way happy. She's an older woman but she does have a boyfriend that lives in another part we're teaching. He has to get divorced first before they can get married.

Jhonny Guzman on the other hand has had his eyes set on getting baptized for a couple weeks now. He also knows that he's going to serve a faithful mission in a couple years. But I've also given notice during our lessons with him that he has his eyes set out on something else. A girl. Not just any girl. The daughter of our bishop! It was actually the constant texts he was getting during our lessons that sparked my interest. Anyway, it was very "precious", 'cause after the baptism she went over to congratulate him and they shared a nice long hug together. But I'm glad he was baptized for the right reasons.

My new companions name is ELDER GARNICA!!!! His brother's also in our mission, but he's ending along with my companion Elder Rodriguez. I knew his brother very well. I was in the same zone as him many times. But the Garnica that`s going to be my companion i don't know very well. He's cool im sure! So that's all I know... of course I'm staying here in INDEPENDENCIA!!!! This month we have a goal to beat this zones record. Independencia's overall record is 33 confirmations as a zone in one month.... which of course is extremely low for the mission, but I know we can do it.

Well, that's all the time I have to write. I would like to add a thought....but maybe I could just add an invitation. That's better. Read your scriptures. Say your prayers.

Have a wonderful week!!! I love you Mom, Dad, Nana, Eric, Curtis, Grandpa y Grandma Chiechi/Layton, Uncles/Aunts, Cousins, Nephew (Christies baby), and all my great friends!

Sincerely,

Elder Layton