I love you guys!!!

Well, I hope this letter finds everyone well!

Personally I'm doing great!

Well, to start off on a good note, I'm moving up in the mission world! I'm no longer Junior companion! I was informed Sunday night that I would be training a new Elder this change! I'm excited, and extremely terrified! I think I'll do fine though.....

I guess we'll see!

Also, this past week on Saturday we had the "White Night" where 7 people in our district were baptized the same night (Olinda included). It was amazing! I've got a lot of pictures, and I'll try and get them to you guys eventually....it's kind of hard to send them..... Anyway, it was fantastic, and you could really feel the spirit, it was one of those moments you just don't ever want to forget!

Also, this month we broke the mission record of baptisms in 1 month! We had 102 baptisms this month! and our zone had 1/4 of them!

The work is going along great!!!

Merino was sick a couple days this week, and we've been saying goodbye to his old sectors so there's not a ton that's new....

But I'll make sure to tell you all about my new companion next week!!

Love,

Elder Winn

Monday February 16, 2015

So, first off I'd like you all to know that life is good down here in Peru and I'm doing great!

I thought that today I'd tell you guys about a few of the differences there are between everyday life here, and in the states.

First off, there are two completely new modes of transportation. The first is the Mototaxi. Which is a flimsy metal frame they build around a motorcycle to fit more people. They are fantastic. They'll take you just about anywhere for $1.

Then there are the convy's Which are like busses, but smaller, and from what I can tell, they don't have to obey any safety requirements, or traffic laws.....and they travel a specific route (more or less). But they only cost about 15 cents.

Also, they don't have what we would call "stores"....they have giant shopping malls (which are few and far between) and then they have small, family owned stores that sell the exact same items, for the exact same prices. I had the idea of taking a picture of everyone I saw on the way over here, but I saw 17......they're everywhere, you don't have to walk more than a block for most necessities.....but if it's a luxury.....it's hard to find just about anywhere.

They don't pay by the hour here....they pay by the month. And usually it's like a 60 hour work week.....minimum here is about $1.35 an hour.....and that's being generous. So, it's hard for a lot of people to make a living here.

huh....that was kind of a depressing note to leave off on......oh well.

Anyway we had interviews with the president this past Tuesday.......I think the president either really likes me, or really doesn't. There is no middle ground. Hahaha I'm honestly completely lost.....but either way the interviews seemed to go ok....

Other than that, we had P-day on Wednesday last week, we had a giant water fight in the stake center, and then went to see that water show thing with the lasers. You'd think the missionaries would be the last group of people to have a water fight in the stake center.....but somehow it happened......hahaha it was fantastic!

I'm doing great! Love you guys!!!

So, one of you was praying super hard for me on my birthday!!!

That day, we found a woman who had been looking for Mormon missionaries for a couple months, and wants to be baptized! Which I thought was great (I don't think there's a missionary who wouldn't....) but even better than that, we went to an investigators house and taught him, his wife, his daughter, and new to us this time, his sister, who is about 60 years old and completely blind.

Anyway, the lesson went great, we gave her a book of mormon, and noted her address for other missionaries who live closer.....anyway, a few days later, we went back to the house, and she was still there. Turns out she had been coming back to her brothers house the past few days in hope that we might come back.....she said she wanted to know more, so we taught her more and invited her to the temple the next day, and she accepted! Anyway.....Not only did this blind woman feel that what we were telling her was the truth, but she accepted to go with us in a bus to some random place only a few days after we met her......

Anyway the point is, she told us she wants to get baptized, and as a result of the incredible amount of faith she has shown, we've got special permission to baptize her this saturday, even though she's only known us for about 2 weeks.

I know that whatever I write in this letter won't do Orlinda justice, but she has more faith without her sight, than anyone I've ever met with it.

(Also, she only went blind about 6 months ago, so she can't walk without someone helping her, so I walk with her everywhere and she just holds my arm and lets me guide her.....it's pretty much the most adorable thing you could imagine) 

So, long story short, We've got a baptism this saturday! Life is going great!!!

Aside from that.....not too much is going on! The work is going along great! And I'm super happy!

I love you guys so much! make sure to ask me questions if you have any!

-Elder Winn

                                                              Cristo del Pacifico

 

 

 

 

 

Best meal in Lima so far (according to Dave)

Well to start off, I'm finally 19!!! Which actually doesn't really mean a whole lot.....

But it was a good day! I was given a tie and a poster of frozen by my companion (Which was actually a great gift even though it might not sound like it), and then I had this wonderful experience!

.....there was a random dude who sells harmonicas on the street, and walking past one day I said the Spanish equivalent of:

"Good sir, I have always wanted to play the harmonica, and seeing as it is my birthday I would like to purchase one of your fine wares"

To which he replied

"indubitably good sir, let me move aside this rubbish and show you something from the finer collection"

He then pulled out a magical box which contained a $50 harmonica which I then immediately bought.

And I have not regretted that purchase for one instant.

And even better I only had to pay $30 for it because it was my birthday!

Well that was that..........and then just recently we heard that another ward would be taking some of our ward, which didn't seem like too big of a deal until they took that part directly out of our sector.....so we lost Patricia and Cesar who we had just got and ready for their baptisms.....but oh well.....

Other than that....not much is happening! We're finding a lot of new people...but not working too closely with any people in particular that I haven't mentioned yet.......I'll fill you in as soon as I have something to fill you in on.....

I love you all and I hope you're doing great! I'm doing just fine!

-Elder Winn

 

 

 

 

 

First 2 pictures are birthday

Second 2 are almost his entire mission

 

 

 

Pictures 1 and 2~~~~Baptism of Juana and Carlos

Pictures 3,4,5,6~~~~Wedding of Juana and Carlos

Pictures 7,8,9,10~~~Zoo and hamburger Dave bought on the street for $2

                              Sea wolf (Dave has no idea why it’s not called a sea lion)

Picture 11~~~~~~~Last picture with Villarruel

Pictures 12,13~~~~New apartment

Picture 14~~~~~~~View from new apartment

 

 

 

 

 

On Mon, Jan 19, 2015

Yes,  but It's a good story.

Wow.......

Well this was a hectic week!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We'll start off where we left off.

Last Monday night I was anxiously waiting for the call from the zone leaders where they would hopefully tell me I had a change. The hours kept ticking by but the call never came.... Then at 9:00 they called. They happily informed us both that we would be staying!

I was completely distraught.

I had no idea why on earth I would have another change with my companion. We didn't get along, it was hard to feel the spirit with him, and he hated me!

I thought that it couldn't possibly be right....but they assured me it was.

Villarruel went to bed, and I stayed up to think things over......as I was thinking it donned on me that I wasn’t going to have this change no matter how I felt about it. I may as well be happy about it.

Anyway; after a good deal of time, I accepted it. I was happy I would be staying another change. I resolved to improve and to not care what he said.

I would be happy no matter what.

Then I went to the changes meeting. My companion was shown with someone else, everyone in my zone looked to me, because they knew I didn't have a change. Then a little later, my picture was shown with someone in Rimac.

After the meeting we went up to the President and asked him.

Apparently in the chaos of the changes 2 Elders had not been told they had changes, Me, and Elder Pearce (The kid we met in the airport).

Anyway; long story short......

Here I am! In my new Zone, Rimac! It's not too far away, but it's really different! It's very green, and very big!

Aside from that I got my new companion Elder Merino. He's got 23 months so don't get too attached to him....But, he's great!!! He's a normal person who doesn't hate me for no reason, so we get along great!!!!!!

The only downside to all of this is that I don't know much......So street names, addresses, investigators.....will all have to wait until next week, but I have included pictures!!!

Well team. The wait is over. I no longer have Villarruel as a companion, and life is great.

Looking back, I'm sure the changes not being announced had a reason....I had to accept that I would do the Lords will no matter what.

Anyway, I hope you can all do the same! I love you all!!!

-Elder Winn

 

 

 

 

First off; Carlos and Juana are all ready for their baptism, it's the 16th! Their wedding is the day before at 5:00. I can't believe it's so close! It's seemed so far away for so much time. And now all of the sudden it's here! Carlos wants Elder Farias to come back and baptize him, and Juana wants me to baptize her! I couldn't be more excited!

 

In other news; I think I'm heading out tomorrow!!! I won't know for sure until tonight, but everyone thinks that I'll be heading out! I couldn't be happier!

I will get to come back for the baptism of Juana and Carlos though.

More than anything, this change will give me an opportunity to look back. I did a lot of things right in this first sector. There was a lot of success because of the amount of effort that we put into it. We could feel the spirit in the lessons, and as a result we changed lives.

But of course, at the same time; there's a lot that I can improve.

In this next change I'm going to talk to more people....historically I've been afraid to talk to random people in the street (or anywhere really) and that's something I want to change.

More than anything I want companionship unity this change. I honestly feel like the work was really hindered by the lack of unity we had as a companionship. We hardly ever got along, and as a result we couldn't teach with the power we wanted to.

Anyway, more than anything, I want this change to be just that, a change.

 

Thanks to all of you for your support. I love you all and I hope you're doing great! I promise I'll send pictures next week!!!

Love, Elder Winn