Life Decisions

Hey Mom, Dad, Nana, Eric, and Curtis and anyone reading this...

This Week was fun! We worked hard. We've been having a hard time getting people to church. We literally have to drag them out of their houses…. But the investigators are doing well. We have a family that will get married on the 20th of June. A new family came to church yesterday Dante, Aide, and their daughter. The great thing is they're already married. They went to church one time before but their schedule is crazy and we got permission to teach them at 9 at night because it's the only time they have, so we'll see what happens!

Earlier this week we had interviews with President Perez. He's a great president. He always gives me scriptures to memorize or read. He gave me a scripture way different than normal this week. It's Doctrina y Convenios 128:15...I learned a lot.

So before I talk about the mission something kind of funny happened this week. I have a stalker. We were teaching a girl named Jenela a lesson three days ago and when we left, her dog Shadow followed us. We went to dinner 20 minutes away, and the dog was still with us. At our Pension's house there's a girl dog named Buddy and I jokingly told my companion that Shadow and Buddy could be novios. After dinner we walked to our room and Shadow followed. The next morning we were eating in our pension again and I looked out the door. You can probably guess…. He was outside, with his friend Buddy. Then this morning I went to our fourth story window and looked down…. Shadow was standing by the door. What's his problem! I never gave him any food or anything he just started stalking us. Weird.

I think I told you a little about this area… Ermitano is cold, like all of Lima. Not much sun, but a lot of sunburn. Our area is full of Labyrinth and is just like the stairs on Lord of the Rings! It's almost straight up in some parts and the houses are all put together so it feels exactly like a maze most of the time.

This week we've been teaching a girl named Alexandra. We have permission to teach from her mom but her dad is VERY Catholic and believes his daughter has to be Catholic too. He locked away her Book of Mormon, but luckily her Uncle that lives right above her is the Bishop. We left a Book of Mormon in the bishops house so she can read. She's really the best. Alexandra's only 12 but has one of the strongest testimonies I know. Her mom and dad split up because Alexandra wanted to be baptized and the mom was giving her permission. Her parents weren't married in the first place so it was a good thing as far as I'm concerned but what we really want to do is talk with the dad, something we've never done. I guess he leaves really early and gets back at around 11. If it weren't for Bishop, Alexandra and her little brothers would be alone all day! We've been talking to her mom and I have high hopes for her making some life decisions that will help her family. As for Alexandra, she says "The only thing I want right now is to be baptized in the true Church of Jesus Christ".

Well, Independencia has turned out to be a tough little area but we're holding out. I love being close to the offices. It only means I get my letters and little packages with candy every week! YES! And my Zone Leader Elder Barba sitting next to me right now just reminded me it's my 11 months! Kind of sad….. Missionaries run out of time so fast.

Grandma Chiechi!!!!! I LOVE YOU SO MUCH good luck with everything and I'll be praying for you and Grandpa. I know everything will be all right. I wish I could be there but just keep being strong.

LOVE!!!

Elder Layton

It's Deja Vu All Over Again

Gwen Rich received pictures from her son Landon a few days back. She forwarded on some of the pictures with Sean in them. THANKS SISTER RICH!!

The letter today was great. It's posted below.

All LDS missionaries perform regular service. Shown below are Elders Rojas, Layton, an unknown Elder, and Elder Rich.

Elders Rich and Layton

The Pucallpa Zone


Elders Rojas and Layton in Pucallpa


This was a skit put on by the missionaries in Pucallpa. We don't know what it was for or why the missionaries were involved, but it looks like they had fun.


Elders Layton and Rich

Dearest Family and Friends,

This week was great!!! It was a little out of the ordinary cause I had an emergency change and now I'm back in Lima. I don't care. It's the same work and I'm eager to get to my new area. I say new area cause right now I'm in the same Puente Piedra that I started in. The same pension, Hermana Silvia, and I loving it. I'll be leaving here at the change almost for sure so I'll let you know.

I had the best experience ever. When I think of Puente Piedra the first family that pops to my mind is familia Romani. They were a family Elder Acevedo and I found about a week before I left here. They came to church but I never knew what happened to them. Thursday was my first day here from the Jungle, and we were walking by the church. There was a group of members getting ready to go to the temple. They were part of the members going to the temple!!!!!! That is happiness. I gave hermano a hug, and he was pretty excited to see me since I was the one to start teaching him. I guess the missionaries after followed up and they got baptized really quick. I can't really describe it. It was just the best reunion ever.



At church I bumped into all the first members I got to know. They gave me a hard time because they all remembered how I barely spoke anything when I was there the first time. It's weird now cause I can get to know them better. I saw some members I knew from Pucallpa. The nieces of Leyder and Romi that we married and baptized go to church here. It was cool.

My companion for the couple weeks I'm here is named Elder Gomez. He ends in November so he has a lot of time. Just to let everyone know I've never been happier. We're working hard and working with references so we might even get some more baptisms before I leave (We baptized 3 this week). I don't really miss the jungle. I mean, the air's a little better over there but we do the same stuff.

I was able to make a CD finally and I'm sending it out today for sure. That's the awesome thing about Lima. Things aren't ridiculously expensive. I can send letters again!!!! Well keep writing. I love you all very much. Keep reading the scriptures, praying, and growing!

Peace, Elder Layton

Chilly Lima

Hi People,

Im in lima!!!!!!! finally. i just came from the airport, saw a bunch of, well, things Ive never seen before, almost died in a taxi the entire ride to the mission office, and now im here just waiting for president to show up. hes going to be here at 830,oh man!

im right here with a bunch of cool missionaries...landon rich included (hes a big deal everybody) and i have no idea whats going to happen next. i think theyre going to let me sleep a little tonight since ive been up for who knows how long. i have a bunch of really cool missionary stories from the airport too ill spill em all out later. i dont know how much time i have. yeah.... thats basically it. its kindve foggy here which i wasnt really expecting. not very hot. anyway, i love you all and will be praying for you.

Heading South For the Winter

It's finally time...

We got the phone call tonight. Elder Layton called to inform us that he had received his notice that he leaves for Peru tomorrow morning. His plane departs at 10:40 A.M. He wasn't even sure yet where his connecting flight would be.

It was so SWEET to be able to speak with him. Our love has grown for him, and we can tell that his has for us. A mission is, without a doubt, the best thing that can happen in the life of a young man. He was a great kid before. We're already seeing him develop into a man of God.

But the time has finally arrived. Elder Layton will be in Lima, Peru tomorrow. He's definitely excited and so are we. It feels like now he will finally be doing what he was called to do.