August 24, 2015

Hey everyone!!! I hope you all had a great week!!!

Things have been going alright down here in Peru!

First and foremost.....

ELDER BEDNAR IS COMING THIS WEDNESDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Everyone's going insane. He's coming to talk to us, the east mission, and the north mission....and I think the MTC here. We've had to read a bunch of talks and PMG (Preach my gospel)  and scriptures......ugh.....so many scriptures......but it should be great!!!!!! He's going to talk about faith (or so I imagine, based on the astronomical amount of faith related text I've had to read as of late).....

Other than that, our mission president’s wife has asked each of us to write 5 things down every day that we can thank God for. I would like to extend to each of you the same invitation. In the short time I have been writing it has helped me to develop a deeper sense of gratitude for my Heavenly Father, and all that he has given me.

And......best part of the week. This story:

So, Tiger and I were walking along just loving the fact that nobody was home and it was about 90 degrees outside, when he bursts out:

"Nobody's home, I feel like we're just walking in circles, do you even know where we're going? Do you think about where to go, or do you just act? How can I know that the spirit's even guiding you at all"?!

So I say

"No, I know where to go; just.....you have to keep on going"

So we continue contacting/trying to find people/knocking doors for another hour or so until he says:

"Ok that's it, we're going this way"

And at this point I'm fairly fed up his complaining and really don't want to follow him, so I say "No, we need to go this way, trust me".

We walk another 2 blocks or so, and get to my goal: The ice cream shop.

I buy two ice creams, one for each of us.......

And he just stares at me with that oh so specific look of:

"This is how you're going to try to make me feel better? I hate you"

When out of nowhere the lady who sold me the ice cream informs us that her husband is sick and would like a priesthood blessing.

That their whole family are members of the church and they would like to know more.

And that they would like to learn especially about baptism.

It completely blew my companion (and me) out of the water. They're like the perfect investigators.

Anyway, long story short; me buying ice creams resulted in two baptisms and a humbled companion.

I love this work; I can truly say it is a work of joy.

I love you all!!!

Elder Winn

 

First picture is of the ice cream bar from the above story-just like Dave to take a picture of it.

Second picture Elder Winn with a future missionary

Third picture new Seahawks jersey---he knows his Dad well

Final picture is of Elder "Tiger" sleeping (I mean studying)

Well first off, we'll go back to last p-day.

We went to Larco Mar with Elder Sanchez (my zone leader from Rimac) to say goodbye, because it was his last p-day in the mission.

So we played pool and just hung out.

Then we got home and got the transfer calls, and while not entirely unexpected, everyone was still sad to see Ango go. He was a great companion and taught me a lot, we got along really well and I'll miss him! He's in Palao now, so he didn't go that far.

Now, what I'm sure you've all been waiting for.......my new companion is........

Elder Aroni

He's from Cuzco and he's been out about 6 months, he came in the same time as Elder Slade. He's a really enthusiastic teacher.......like......REALLY enthusiastic. I call him Tiger, mostly because of the amount of times I've had to say the spanish equivalent of "Easy there Tiger".....but overall he's incredible! He invites everyone to be baptized.....usually in the first 5 minutes, and he as a remarkable ability that allows him to talk for approximately 5 minutes without taking a breath (much like the one Maria from Rimac had)......overall though he's great!

Other than that Elder Bates stayed! I don't know if I've written much about Elder Bates, but he's the best. He's from McCammon Idaho and is pretty much the coolest guy ever. He's 99% the same as Elder Slade, and we've been friends ever since I got here. Anyway he stayed in the zone......even though he's technically served in the same sector for 10 months now.

Now something weird/awesome.

In the reunion I heard that Elder Slade got changed, but not where, then the next day when we went to the zone reunion.....guess who showed up? So after celebrating Slade's arrival to Condevilla, I asked him what sector he was in, he said "V", not only was he here with Bates and I, but he was sharing the same house as Elder Bates!........then my brain made the connection.........Bates had stayed with his companion.........and Elder "V" had stayed there.......which meant.........

Elder Slade and Elder "


V" are now companions.

So that's weird.

Anyway. Other than that things have been going great! We've been knocking doors like crazy, and as a result have found several new investigators. We taught a record amount of lessons this week, and have placed 3 people with Baptismal dates.

Things are looking way up!

I'm healthy, happy, and trying to keep Tiger under control.

Having a lot of fun! Love you guys!!!

Elder Winn

 First and second pictures are with Elder Sanchez

Inscription in the hat Elder Sanchez gave Dave

New Companion "Tiger" Elder Aroni

 

August 10, 2015

 

Sounds like you guys had another mildly interesting week!!! Love you!!!

 

Hope you're doing great!!!

 

Anyway....I'll start off by telling you what I'm sure you all want to hear. Yes, the baptisms did take place, and yes the Dad signed everything he needed to, and yes it was a truly wonderful spiritual experience that none of us will ever forget.

 

Really though, it was pretty awesome to see it finally happen!

 

So, in the end we ended up talking to Juan for a combined total of about 15 hours for that signature, and probably 50 plus if you consider all the prayers, fasts, and thoughts that went toward it, and so I mean it 100% when I say it's one of the most miraculous experiences that has happened in my entire mission.

 

In the end I baptized Karla (14) and Ango baptized Danitza (13) and Yessenia (19), and each one of them couldn't have been happier. After their baptisms they each bore their testimony........It was such an incredible feeling to know that through my efforts, the Lord was able to endow them with such an incredible and pure testimony of Christ and his atoning sacrifice.

 

It was amazing.

 

Until the next day....

 

I don't know if it was the ice-cream, the pizza, the soda, or the fact that I'm living in Peru, but something was not very happy with my internal organs.

 

Sunday morning was absolutely terrible. Elder Ango and I were completely dead......We ended up going to church for 20 minutes, just so we could see the confirmations of the  girls......and then pretty much slept and puked the rest of the day away........

Although I feel fine now!.....so that was weird.

 

Other than that we had a ward mission night this week, which turned out to be pretty great, even though only like 12 people showed up. We watched a video about baptism, and then played charades! We had an Investigator named Saida come. She asked a lot of questions about baptism, and seemed interested in learning more, so we'll see what happens there!

 

Also, fun fact, if you pronounce the name "Saida" (Sigh-duh) wrong it will come out as "Sida" (see-duh) which means "AIDS" so......I definitely called her AIDS.......several times.

 

Regardless, I've got faith it will all work out....hahahahaha

 

Things are going great! I'm happy and healthy! Changes are tomorrow, so we'll see what happens!!! Love you guys!!!

 

          Chicken Wings!!!   We ate at Tony Romas this week.

"F" Family, 1 year and the rest of the week

Wow. This has been such an exciting week!

To start off, this 30th of July, I have officially, in every sense of the word; reached 1 Year How crazy is that!?!?!?!?! I literally haven't seen US soil in 1 year!!!! It's so amazing to think that a year has already gone by, although I'm sure Mom will refute it, I feel like I can say it really did just fly by!

And to mark 1 year successfully completed. We had a miracle grace our sector.

Although up until last week the "F" family had been perfect, this past week we came to realize the magnitude of the problems that they had.....as it turns out, their father Juan, is an alcoholic, and that his wife and children are terrified of him.......their home life is not happy at all......and on top of all of that, he wouldn't grant the permission we needed for his two youngest to get baptized.

Everyone was heartbroken.

Elder Ango and I prayed about what we could do, we talked to the bishop, the mission leaders.....I worried about them as if they were my own family!....then after much prayer and reflection, Elder Ango remembered a Mormon message he had seen once about Esther and about bravery. We watched it with them, and invited them to really testify to their Father, then we all knelt in prayer and fasted together.

Yesterday, Danitza told us that after a lot of praying on their part, and with a lot of courage, they asked their father for his permission.....which he gave.

In an e-mail I can't accurately represent the story in its entirety.....but it was truly a miracle. We're now working with Juan towards his own baptism and sealing to his family. And the three sisters will be baptized together this Saturday (for reals this time).

Hahaha other than that, I got a replacement magnet for my plaque (I lost the original magnet like......7 months ago) so that was exciting!!! And the sweater I'm wearing in the picture is new! The Reyes family gave it to me.....along with 2 shirts........and a suit......they're pretty great! We took Sister Reyes (the pensionist) and her family out to dinner the 30th to celebrate her birthday (also my 1 year mark), at a restaurant called "Norkys"......it's pretty nice here......but in all reality it's like KFC, It cost me a grand total of $15, and Ango $15. Not too shabby for a chicken and a half, 3 skewers of cow heart, fries, cake, soda, and salad.

That's about it though!!! Things are going great, but I think Ango will be headed out the 11th, we'll see!!!

Love you guys!!!

-Elder Winn

 

                                     Bottom  2 pictures are of his pensionists kitchen.