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

Faith Is Where We Start and It Grows Until We Know

Dearest Everyone! Hi, how are you? President came on Friday of course we learned a ton. I received all my letters too! Yeah, thanks everyone.

This weeks been a crazy one. We've had a little too much fun but it´s been probably the best time in my mission by far. Numbers don't really matter but this week we had a high of personal goals and lessons for the mission. It's been the best!

Zulma who decided to get baptized on Saturday didn't show to her interview... which was devastating almost, but she´s going to get baptized. We baptized both her kids so she's got to be thinking about her example as a mother haha. She's great and comes to church.

We had a ton of newbies in the church yesterday which was GREAT. A less active I didn't even know existed came with his sister and she wants to be baptized....that was a first, but I'll take the challenge. Really the Lord is blessing us. The lessons have been crazy.

I don't know if I told you about the time a bat flew in during our lesson and tormented the family we were teaching, but it happened again yesterday. And if that wasn't enough we were interrupted during a lesson for the birth of a bunch of baby cats. So yeah, I got to witness the birth of a kitten which was new to me...... cool. I took pictures but I'm thinking about erasing them cause they kind've don't give good feelings. But enough about that.

I've been studying the atonement a lot more. Because everything we teach has to do with our purpose I've been studying faith in the atonement of Jesus Christ. I remember a long time ago in a galaxy far far away I asked my Dad, How can I know that the church is true for sure? Being the dad that he is, of course he showed me Alma 32. Since then I've found that faith is really where we start and it grows until we know. Here in the mission we don't need to convince anyone. We just show them to trust the Lord and have true faith until it leads them to begin making covenants with the Lord. I would love to talk more about that but I'm out of time....ugh.

I love you all, Elder Layton

(A second email followed...)

Oh yeah, Elder Rojas wants to tell you guys to send lots of sweets. that´s what we want in packages anyway. Specifically he says to send Hershey milk chocolate bars....yeah.... also if Andrea was wondering why I haven't sent her letters for a long time it's cause I'm extremely poor, and I'm working harder than ever and not cause I forgot about her. She'll understand. LOVE YOU PADRES!!!! Nana, Eric, Curtis.