November 24, 2014

Hey everyone! I hope you're all doing great!

As for me, I'm doing great, and loving Peru!

As you can probably guess from the somewhat alarming subject line.

I've been closer to a drug deal than you have.

Hahaha, this past Thursday night we were walking along one of the streets in our sector, when we saw David, one of our investigators standing in the street with some friends.  We went up and were talking with him and the rest of the group, when one of the other guys excused himself from the group, turned around, talked to another man, handed him a bag, received a whole lot of money, and then turned back to join our conversation.......

Now, I hate to hastily judge people.....but....I think he was a drug dealer. Now it could be the sketchy friends.....and place, or the various pairs of shoes suspended on the telephone wire above our heads.....or the very distinct and powerful aroma of marijuana......but for whatever reason I think he sold drugs.......Anyway we promptly said goodbye to David and left, I then turned to my companion and gave him the oh so unique look of "Hey, we're two missionaries who were just in the middle of a drug deal, right" and he gave me an affirming nod as we went to our dinner appointment.

.....hahahaha aside from that wonderful report. Things aren't too bad! We've had some trouble with the marriage of Christian and Angela....but they've got a definitive date for the 13th of December.....other than that things have just kind of slowed down......But The work is still moving along!

More than anything this week was a time for me to grow. As I'm sure you know my companion and I haven't exactly got along great, but this week I've been trying really hard to try and get along regardless.....and it's working quite nicely!....I think he's kind of realized that he's been the cause for a lot of contention and is now trying to fix it.....so companion wise....things are going great!

HAHAHAHAHA Mom, don't read this next story.

So, last night, we were on our way to Christian and Angela's to talk about their marriage some more, when all of the sudden we hear *pop* *pop*.....which is fairly typical in my neighborhood, as people are always lighting off fireworks.....but these fireworks were really close...and more high pitched than usual.....so we looked over to see a crowd of screaming people and a motorcycle. The motorcycle hits the gas, and two people fly by..... a couple seconds later 2 cops on motorcycles and another 3 cars fly by.....after 20 seconds an ambulance pulls up to the crowd of people.....

I turned to Villarruel in complete awe, knowing full well that we had witnessed a drive by shooting and a police chase......I look at him and open my mouth to say something, but before I can he laughs and says "This is why we don't leave the room after 9:30"

YES!!! I did get my package! It was fantastic!!! Sorry I didn't tell you earlier! I got one from you guys, and one from Alyssa! I got them 2 weeks ago! It was fantastic! Thanks!

No....We might buy some extra food and eat it....but it's an American holiday.....they don't really have it here.....

Hahaha if you think that place is a dump, you should see my city! HAHAHAHA....really though....kind of disgusting....mom wouldn't leave the hotel if she was here! Haha  Love you lots!!!

hahahahaha I love you all so much!!! I'll send pictures next week!

-Elder Winn

November 17, 2014

Well, I'm terribly sorry to say it, but another uneventful week has passed by!

Not a lot of people were home this week, so we struggled to get the few meetings that we did get.

Oh well. That didn't necessarily make it a bad week.

I accomplished a life goal. I finally learned how to solve a rubix cube this week. Haha, you'd be surprised what you can learn over the course of a week in the 20 minutes you have before 10:30 each week! Haha my companion Elder Villarruel taught me......while he's not exactly the most compassionate teacher, he did teach me, and I can now successfully solve that hellish cube.

OOH! First earthquake I've ever felt this week!!! It was super cool! We were in the house about 7:50 waiting for our dinner appointment when we both kind of felt the ground move. Elder Villarruel and I looked at each other and before I could ask what happened, the ground shook even more! I thought it was about the coolest thing ever! But Villarruel brought up the point that we were on the first floor of a 5 story building........constructed in Peru......so we went outside pretty quickly.....and after 5 minutes of uneventfulness, we went back inside.

Earthquakes are cool.

Despite being overall unsuccessful this week, we did find a new investigator!

His name is Whiston, he apparently took the discussions a few years ago! He has a strong testimony of the Book of Mormon and says he wants to be baptized! I'm excited, but I know that often times investigators like this have some sort of problem with the word of wisdom, or one of the other commandments....but either way I know with a little help, he'll be a great member one day!

I'll leave you with a random fact, more or less to show you guys that I haven't changed too much, and am still the fountain of random useless knowledge that you all know and love.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferdinand_Demara

Here you can read about this dude.

He (having no medical training whatsoever) masqueraded as a surgeon on a Canadian Navy destroyer. He had to perform lifesaving surgery on 16 Korean combat casualties. He memorized a general surgery textbook 15 minutes before operating. All of the patients survived.

I'll explain the pictures later today! Love you!!!!!

Well The one picture is with me and Isaguirre.

The other one is a baptismal photo....

The other photos will have to wait.....I left the camera cable in the other internet place.....so I'll have to send the rest next week.....but I'm glad I got two out!!!

Love you lots!!!

November 10, 2014

 

Well. This was a fantastic week!

 

As you know, Patty and Piero's baptisms were this week,  so we went to ask them if they had any questions or concerns. Their only question was who would baptize them, we suggested their uncle, because it's usually better when a family member or ward member performs the baptism. Patty thought that was a great idea, but Piero really wanted me to baptize him. Haha so I happily agreed!

 

This Saturday was the first baptism I've ever done! It was incredible! It was a great meeting with a lot of family and friends! Patty's non-member parents came and said they would like to take the discussions! Anyway, it has been really amazing to see the change in their lives that the gospel has brought.  It makes all the hard days’ worth it!

 

Aside from that, Christian and Angela got their papers for their marriage! They'll be getting married the 28th and they they'll be baptized 2 days later on the 30th!

 

Ugh.   And as we were on our way to confirm the marriage date of Christian and Angela, we encountered a man who said he would like to learn more about our church. We happily consented this desire, but, as we began to teach him, he began to ask questions.....hard questions.....the kind of questions you'd need to study to be able to ask about.....anyway after about 5 minutes of this he noticed that I was stammering, he then exclaimed that I was having problems speaking and was obviously wrong.   It was then that my companion asked him if he knew where I was from, he ventured a guess ".....Mexico"?  to which my companion essentially replied " No, he's from the United States, he's got 2 months in this country, he hardly speaks the language".......the man then profusely apologized to me......

And proceeded to berate my companion with questions.

But then he slipped up he said "and this prophet Nephi, he's the son of Lehi, right"....Then we knew for sure, this man had clearly studied up on the book of Mormon just to attack us. We told him that if he knew that, then he knew the truth, and when he was ready to embrace it, we'd be there, but until then, he'd better leave us alone.

We then shook the dust from our feet, and continued onward towards Christian and Angelas.....

 

Well aside from that instance, things are improving, and I'm really happy down here! Love you all!

 

Elder Winn

 

P.S. I suppose the reason I included that story about the man was to illustrate 2 points, first off. That dude didn't realize I was from the states for a solid 5 minutes, that's pretty good, right? And 2nd. There are many willing to accept this gospel, and there are many willing to oppose it.  But regardless; as missionaries we need to show the same kind of love, and willingness to help to all of God’s children, not just the nice ones.   :)

 

  (the following is Dave's response to Steve's letter)

 

"We had one roll called the "Fat Ass"  and it was delicious."

Hahahahahaha I first and foremost want to tell you that this is probably the best line I have received in an e-mail thus far. I am in your debt, Dad

Well, it's not exactly a maid......We have our pensionist. Whom we pay something like $45 a month to, in exchange for lunch for a month (With the exception of Saturday's and P-days) and then we have a different ward member who we take our laundry to once a week and we pay her something like $15 a month.....and that's about it!

Oh! We go to her house.

Love you!!

Wow!  It was a busy week!

1st off, Patty and Pierro are finally ready for their baptism this week!  It's incredible to see how much the gospel has changed their lives!  They're so much happier and a lot closer as mother and son now.   It's really amazing to see!   Other than that first, I gave my first blessing in Spanish this week!  It was to a 158 year old woman (or so she appeared) because she was having a lot of health problems.   At the ever so persistent nagging of Villarruel, I reluctantly informed her in my broken Spanish, I would give her the blessing and my companion would do the anointing.  I am so glad that the kid nagged me.   Because in that moment I was giving her a blessing, I suddenly knew every Spanish word I would possibly need to know.  It was a truly amazing experience!

Aside from that.   I also taught my first lesson to the district! It's only 9 other missionaries, but it's a lot scarier when they all speak better than you........and know more than you......and despise being at the meeting because it's ridiculously long and boring......Regardless, I taught a lesson about the mission objective and why it's important.  I ended my 45 minute lesson with D&C 16:6.  I'll let you look it up on your own, but it completely sums up missionary work and why it's important.  It went really well!  And I think for a couple of minutes there everyone didn't absolutely despise the fact they were there!

This brings me to my next topic.   Jesus the Christ. This is where I got the bulk of my material for my lesson, and let me just say.   That book is amazing. If any of you reading this e-mail haven't read that book yet, I highly recommend it. The amount of detail in which Christ's life is described is incredible!

Now, finally. I'll leave you with the highlight of the week.

We were eating dinner in the house of a member. We were eating what I think was pork (she told us pork, but I had my doubts) and drinking Inca cola. When someone knocks on the door (Which was really the least of our concerns seeing as we were torn between wanting to dissect our food and find out exactly what organs whatever we were eating once had, and just eating it anyway because we were so hungry). Well, at the door were two Jehovah’s Witnesses, who were declaring that this house needed to be protected from the evil missionaries spreading lies, even the awful Mormons who sacrifice children on Halloween (yes, they sincerely believe that).   Yeah, so the sister just lets them in so they can see us 4 happily smiling and waving, mouths half full of mystery meat.   And it was the darndest thing. It was then that they realized that they had said the wrong religion, and it was not in fact the Mormons who sacrificed children, but they had mistaken us for someone else.   Well, after declining our invitation to dinner, they left.   Huh.....

I love you all so much!  Stay safe!

Elder Winn

Pictures:  The one outside is with villarruel, my companion,