Interesting Buffet

This week I have eaten some pretty crazy stuff. It`s been aninteresting buffet. Some members invited me and my companion to some food in the street, so we accepted. We ate cow intestines and cow utter. Yes, that`s right, cow utter... It wasn`t my favorite. The next day, our pension gave us lomo saltado which is kinda like beef and brocoli but with tomatos and onion, but the beef was replaced this time with pure chicken liver. My companion loves it. I ate it as fast as I could to get it all down. We`ve been seeing our investigators that were progressing start to go astray as the investigators that haven`t been progressing start to progress. Edson didn`t come to church this week, nor did Edwardo. Edwardo, has been reading the book of mormon, and recieved the answer that it`s true! He read a passage that impacted him, and now he just has to find a way to come to church because he`s taking english classes in Cusco. We have been teaching a 17 year old named Elvis also who was baptized, but never confirmed and wants to take the lessons again. He attended this week, and we`re hoping to teach his family this week. We had a lesson with the Yuca Family, who recently started coming back to church. Mario Yuca the father, said that now that he`s back, he is willing to accept whichever calling the receives. He was called as the first counciler of the Elder`s qourem and gave the lesson in priesthood. He lives humbly on the mountain with his family, and works in the fields, but has so much love and confidence in the Lord. I love you all and know that I`m out here because of the example you have all given me. It`s amazing how much diferently you see the world when you start to see from your heart. The spirit guides us in even the smallest things, just trust in Him, even when it seems ridiculous. LOVE YOU MOM!!! 

Elder Jeffery

Talent Show Pic

Puñui Manta Kashanki

There are a million things that happened this week, and I do`t even know where to start honestly! Last Monday, our investigator, Edwardo was pondering about the book of mormon, and after honestly seeing many miracles that are happening in his life, and the testimonies he`s seen, still had doubts in his heart that this church is true. So, he opened the book of mormon and read 3 nephi 2:1. That did it for him, and decided to believe the Book of Mormon is true. When we had the next lesson with him, we challenged him to be baptized the 19th of September, and he said that he was going to say no, but in his head something started yelling, Si! Si! Si! so, he accepted! This week more than anything, my testimony of the Book of Mormon has increased. We have been visiting a man and his family for a while now, and were impressed to simply read with them from the begining the book of mormon. His name is Miguel Mamani, and his wife, Rosalina, son Jon, and daughter Melisa, all went to church this Sunday!! Woah, it was so Beautiful to see them there, and they have already made many friends with members. They have recently, 3 months ago, moved here to Calca, so they are excited to make friends. Yesterday, we had a heart touching experience. We were going up to some ruins with a member of the ward, along with four other Elders. She works up on the mountain above the ruins where there`s an elementry school of children who don`t have parents, or who have very little money. It`s amazing, and heart breaking. There`s a  12 year old girl at the school who cooks, and works in the field, feeding the animals for her two younger brothers. We ate breakfast with them, and played some games. We ended up staying there for a few hours doing a service project moving timber up the hill, and all grew to love these children. They said, ¨Come back for Christmas please!!!¨ They all speak Quechua, and most speak Spanish fluently. I`ll send a pic. The sad part of this week was that we had to change pensions. Sister Lady has been honestly such a blessing and such a great help to us as missionaries! But, we had to change pensions because we can`t pension with a young woman in the house hold, and we felt impressioned to accept the invitation that Sister Ana gave us to  pension in her house.

I am so thankful for the Gospel. It`s sad to see return missionaries here in Peru and surely in all parts of the world that return to their houses and become inactive. If we keep the Book of Mormon in our daily lives, and continue make an effort to live the precept that it teaches, our path to salvation will stay straight and narrow. I testify that the Book of Mormon is the word of God and like Joseph Smith, know that a man can grow closer to our savior Jesus Christ by living by it, than any other book. I love this church and love my family. I know WHY i`m on earth and WHERE I want to go thanks to the fullnes of the gopel that has been restored on this earth. LOVE YOU MOM

Elder Jeffery

I´m thankful to know that even when the hard times come, He´s there

 I would first like to say that american food is gross. I ate Papa John´s today, and I´ve got a stomach ache so, I think I´ve turned Peruvian... 

This week to be honest has been frustrating, but the work moves on. It´s so sad to see people who have so much potencial in God´s eyes be blinded by their doubts or trials. I´m thankful to know that even when the hard times come, He´s there to tell us it´s ok, and help us to understand the Atonement more fully in our lives. 

Edson had his baptismal interview but still has a few problems with the word of wisdom, so his baptism will have to wait. He´s a great soul with intentions to follow Chirst in his life. He was nervous to have the interview, but after I saw him take a huge breath of relief. We also had an amazing experience this week. We had gone to all of the appointments and NOONE was there, so we went to all of the plan B´s and still Noone. We had the opportunity to have Elder Uceda from the seventy come visit us, and his wife said something that came to my mind in this moment. She said, You always have a plan C, and that´s prayer. So, Me, Elder Aguilar, and our misison leader, Daniel sat down on a bench in the town center and said a prayer. A family came to my mind. We´ve been teaching them for a few weeks. The mom, Soraida and her 12 son, Benjamin are less active members and her 17 year old son Edwardo and husband Percy are not members. Edwardo is reading the Book of Mormon and wants to know more. When we got to the house, they invited us to help them to cook the food and eat with them. We couldn´t resist the offer... haha so, we cooked witht hem, and started eating. Elder Aguilar had previously put his USB in the tv, and during the dinner, the tv. turned on unexpectedly and started playing a video. We all looked around to see who had turned it on, but when we realized that the remote was on the other side of the room on the couch, we all looked in awe to see the video. It was about trials and how we need to keep pushing forward in hard times. The mom teared up as she said that she knows there´s a reason the television had turned on. 

Love you MOM and FAMILY and the pictures were beautiful except the fact that Ezra seriously should STOP growing!!!!! Please Ez, just until I get home. LOVE YOU ALL!!! 

Elder Jeffery 

Talent Show Update

It blows my mind that Curtis has his mission call, that went by SO fast!! Woah! Well, I wish him the best and know he will do great in wherever he`s going! Well, the talent show turned out a hit! We had about 70 people there. Our goal was 100, but we ended up having quite a few non-members and investigators that came. I`ll send the picture of `los beatles` I didn`t end up doing anything with gymnastics because there were so many acts and not enough time, plus I did a standing tuck with a backhandspring the other day, and my whole body hurt after so, haha it`s probably a good thing. Glaciar looks beautiful! I have some news about Machupiccu... I was too late to advise the mission that I would be going up with the group because I didn`t know if it was sure, and so I won`t be going this month. But, it`s alright because Elder Aguilar can`t go either, so we just see if next month, or maybe I go at the end of the misson? I`m not sure.. But I did want to ask if I should take out the money and save it, or if you could just take it back... I don`t know how it works really.

This week a miracle happened. Our investigator Edson has been so prepared for baptism, but something in his life has been stopping him to accept a date to be batized. This week we prayed and fasted for him to be able to tell us what was going on so that we could help him take this crucial step in his life joining his family by joining Christ`s church. We had a lesson with him, and he told us the usual that he`s sure that this is the true church, but isn`t ready right now for baptism, but with the spirit present me and my companion we able to ask him a few simple questions and out of no where he told us what was happening. We set a baptismal date for the 8th of August and he accepted. We are so excited for him, and know that he has truely had a change of heart through the weeks we have taught him. I know that fasting works. It`s amazing how instant the answers come. I personally have been asking and fasting to know how I can be more responsible and become a better missionary. Surely, this week we had a district conference where I made a list of things that the speakers said directly to me of how I can become a better person and missionary. It`s a blessing to know that we are not here on this earth to be perfect, but to learn and grow. I have a testimony that if we humble ourselves and ask God what we might do next, and plan to do it, that he will show us what we can do to improve. We then must pray to him, thanking him for the task and asking what we must do next. Thank you Mom for all of the thing you have taught me. Have a great week!! 

Love, 

Elder Jeffery

Calcafronia

Pitusiray A mountain Calca

Righteous Dog

Hummmmmm what wierd stuff have I eaten lately..... I ate guinea pig yesterday, cow´s heart last week, anndddd yeah, I don´t know it´s all normal to me now so... There are dogs here in Calca also, just about the same as Cusco. There´s one family that come to church every Sunday, and their dog always follows them and stays with them the whole time. It´s the size of bibble, so it just kind of chills under the seats. Pretty rightous dog if you ask me. 

This week we have a talent show in the branch. We set it up with the branch president here to try to bring the branch together as leaders, and show Calca that we CAN do big things! I want to do gymnastics in the show, but who knows how much I can do still.... I´ve got my standing tuck still, but I´m sure my full is completly gone. Oh well.... I haven´t gained hardly any weight, but I´ve lost all flexibility. We have awesome members that are going to do sketches, dances, riddles in Quechua, singing and playing instruments. Daniel (our mission leader), Elder Aguilar, me, are going to sing a song with Frederick playing the guitar. We call ourselves ´´los beatles´´ It´ll be a great activity to bring investigators to get to know the church and what we can do. After, we´ll go to every room of the organizations to talk about what we do as members of the church and way the church is organized. Our goal is to have 100 people there to see the show. 

We have been working with a lot of new and old investigators. One is a young man named Elvis. Elvis was actually baptized but never was confirmed. We have had one lesson with him, and he says we wants to change his life. He has bad influences as friends. He has a great heart, and we hope to help him come to know that he truely can change his life. 

I´m glad that I have these two years to really become converted to the gospel and start the spiritual roots that are completely necessary to stay strong even in the hard times. I learn every day more of pacience, faith, and why it is so important to be worthy of the Holy Ghost. I have much to improve in my life, but I have a testimony that we truely can change in the way that our Father wants. I am thankful for you Mom, and also Dad for the many ways you have helped me to prepare me to come here to serve. It´s the best gift you´ve given me! 

Have a great vacation MOM! and FAMILY!! I hope you meet lots of Canadians eh, and can´t wait to see the pictures! Love you family and friends!! 

Elder Jeffery

Faith and Humility

This Saturday we were walking back from ward council with our pension when we saw giant fireworks in front of us. My pension said ´´´look it`s for your country!´´ That`s when I realized, at the end of the day.... oh, it`s the 4th of July. I´m sorry Americans, I have failed you this year. Turns out the fireworks weren`t for the 4th of July, but it was cool to have a show, and be reminded in Spanish that my country earned it`s independance that day. So, happy 4th of July! 

I have been learning more than anything these past few week about Patience. This week has definatly taught me patience. Not all of the plans we had fell through like we would have liked them. But, as I study and learn of the divine virture of patience, I`m learning that it takes two things to be patient. Faith and Humility. It`s simple, but hard to follow at times. This week has helped me learn to love the plan of salvation a little more. There was a planned meeting with the branch to figure out a talent show that we have been planning with the members to help us receive references by the members bringing people to the show and also to help the branch learn how to work together. The meeting ended up not happening and the people that did come were a few less active memebers and their non member friends that we had invited. So, we ended up watching a video and talking about the plan of salvation. One of the less actives said that her brother had recently passed away, and had been focusing on that he was gone, and hadn`t thought about where he really was and the opportunities she had to help him receive the ordanances he needs. She ended up coming to church this Sunday! I`m glad that the gospel can change us and sometimes simply remind us of things we already know to bring us comfort. I am glad to have a family that loves and supports me in this work. I love you MOM!! Have a great week!!!! Love you family and friends!! 

Elder Jeffery