March 14, 2016

Well, it's been a pretty good week!!!   Starting from where we left off....

Monday night we got the call we had been expecting.

"Elder Tonga will be going to San Martín, and Elder Winn will be receiving Elder Villarroel".

So, Elder Tonga left, and I'm now with Villarroel. Despite the fact his name resembles that of a past companion of mine, and they're both from Argentina I assure you they are nothing alike. We get along perfectly and we both look forward very much to helping the zone meet their potential as missionaries. It's great.

Aside from that things have been moving along quickly!!! Elder Robbins came on Thursday and spoke to us and two other missions. He talked about the importance of obedience, our roles as missionaries, and how we could better help all those around us. It was great!!! Afterwards we had a leadership meeting with Elder Montoya (of the 70). It was.....a learning experience.....hahaha!  Let’s just say that I'm glad I've been going about things right!!! Hahaha, I'm sure it was a much less enjoyable experience for some of the other Elders. He also talked a lot about obedience, and about some of the specific problems that we're experiencing here in this mission.

After that, on Sunday we had a video conference with Elder Alvarez (Area 70). Which was also a.....learning experience..... something that I have learned, is that while I may be able to sit through, and participate in a meeting....that in no way means that I enjoy them. It’s incredibly easy to feel inadequate with one of them talking to you, calling out all of your flaws......but, I guess it's a learning experience.

So that's been fun....ish. and then we've been working a lot with the investigators in our sector.....President Larson has asked us to reach a goal of 11 baptisms this month (compared to other zones, and other times in the mission, that's actually relatively low). It should be attainable, however the zone has a few problems.....and it appears as if 6 of those 11 baptisms will need to come from our sector.....Which is a lot of pressure....and a lot of stress.....but that's ok. I know that with a lot of fasting and prayer, we can get it done.

So that's been my week. Lots of meetings. Lots of wearing gross worn out suits. Lots of stress. Lots of prayer. Lots of fallen through meetings with investigators....And Lots of happiness.

Because in the end, happiness is something you choose, not something that results from what happens to you.

😁

I hope you're all doing great!!! Because I am!!!

I'm looking forward to a lot of hard work this week!!! Love you guys!!!

Elder Winn

March 7, 2016

I'd like to start off by stating why I've come to love the mission so much.

Before my mission I had looked forward to it with a hope to learn and to progress. I saw it as yet another learning experience in my life. I thought I would be able to really look inward and re-invent myself. That after two years I would come back, and be a completely new and better person thanks to all that I had learned; however, upon entering I quickly learned that it was kind of hard to focus on me..... I found that when I focused on what I needed to do and how I could improve. I often felt completely crushed when I realized how much I really would have to change to become the person I wanted to be. It seemed so far out of reach that I contemplated settling on where I was. I saw how well others were doing, and with my competitive mindset, well, that just meant I wasn't doing as well as them.

But then I stopped focusing so much on my problems. I didn't focus on my defects, my flaws....but I didn't focus on my strengths either.....I just stopped focusing on me.

President Hinkley's motto: "Forget yourself and go to work", Became personally meaningful. Matthew 16:25 spoke to me with such force that I couldn't do anything but re-read it again and again.

"For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it"

It doesn't really matter if your life is good or bad.......In comparison to the life plan God's got laid out for us.....our plans really aren't that great....

And as I started to realize that more and more.....I stopped worrying about what I was doing wrong......instead I just focused on how I could help others.... And what I learned has been phrased perfectly by Tagore

"I slept and dreamt that life was joy. I awoke and saw that life was service. I acted and behold, service was joy."

I have absolutely loved my mission, because I have learned firsthand that the best way we can improve, the fastest way we can change, and the most fulfilling thing we can do. Is serve.

That being said: This has been a pretty excellent week!

Marcos got baptized this Saturday!!!! It's been great being able to teach him and share the gospel with him!!!! His Mom will also be getting baptized this month!!! I look forward to teaching them for the months to follow.

....then the not so fortunate news.

Zoraida and her kids have postponed their baptisms......Her ex-husband talked her out of it.....and it looks like we won't be meeting up with her for a few weeks or so......but oh well. We'll just keep praying for her!

We've had the opportunity to do a lot more interchanges this week!!! I got to know some of the Elders in the zone better! But most importantly I got to serve them.

So that's been fun!!!.....

And yesterday a miracle happened.

We were pretty tired, it was 7:30 and it was still pretty hot out. We had to make some calls to the zone and so we sat on the curb.....I suppose we looked pretty pathetic, because not long after we hear

"Hey, you guys want something to drink"?

We're a little confused (because he's not a member and usually only members say that).

We accept and He and his wife let us in....They give us some ham sandwiches and we start talking. They've got a daughter in Utah (to express the rarity of that I think it's worth noting He was the ONLY person in my ENTIRE mission to have family in Utah who aren't members). He said all the people there were trying to convert her. We laugh, we share some of our beliefs, we pray, they invite us back for dinner Saturday.

I'm probably really downplaying it. But it's probably one of the most awesome things that's happened in this sector!!!

So....in short.

It was a pretty good week!!! We'll be hearing from Elder Lynn G Robbins this week!!! So that should be cool!!!! I'm doing great and I love you guys!!!!!

-Elder Winn

Picture #1 and #2  Marco's Baptism

#3                          The Zone

#4                          Selfie (mom requested)

#5                          Spike-a-pillars

#6                          Peruvian bottle caps

Ladies and Gentlemen......

LET’S GET READY TO BAPIZZZZZZZZZE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This week is totally it!!!! Marcos will be getting baptized at 5 this Saturday and Zoraida and her kids at 7!!! It will be great!!!

They've both come quite a ways! I'm so happy for both of them and I know they'll make incredible members!!!!

We've been walking over every square inch of our sector looking for investigators! It's probably the first sector I've been in where there's actually a lack of people to teach (something that I realize has been an incredible blessing up until now). But even so, we're still finding incredible people! Take Lucero for example! She was a reference we'd received about 3 weeks ago, but she was never home.....after passing by for about the 80th time we hear a young woman answer the intercom! She let us in; we talked with her, her sister, and her father. They're a wonderful family and Lucero and Estrella (her sister) are very interested! I know you'll be hearing a lot more about them!

Other than that, the work steadily continues!!! We've done interchanges with all the elders in the zone! (Which sounds like a lot, but it's really just 4 other companionships). Our zone's incredible!!! Each and every missionary has their own incredible story of how they became converted, what they've had to overcome, and why they came out! Missionaries are the greatest!

On a different note, I've recently been studying a lot on pride. One of my favorite quotes is from Elder Bednar, during a devotional he stated that "all sin is a result of selfishness"..... I began to think and I realized.....no wonder a perfect Charity (the opposite of selfishness) would be so desirable......As I read more and more about pride and how to avoid it, I read: "Humility is not about thinking less of yourself, it's about thinking less about yourself".

This has honestly been one of the most striking lessons for me in my entire mission. The key to becoming Christ-like, lies in not thinking about ourselves. Every possible sin can be avoided just by thinking about others first. It's incredible.

I have had many moments like this.....and all because I started studying the gospel. It's the fastest and most effective way to happiness!!!

I'm doing great and love you all!!!!!

Stay safe!!!!!!

-Elder Winn

Hey Everyone!!!!  This week was another great one here in Precursores!!!

To start off we got 4 new investigators yesterday!!! Just because their friends invited them to church! When we walked into our Gospel Principles class we were greeted by 4 new smiles, each one of whom lived in our sector! They said they had been invited by their friends and would like to learn more!

They call this ward the ward of miracles, and it's been pretty easy to see why!!! Since it's a very wealthy sector, tracting doesn't do much for us, instead we have to work a lot with the members, and the missionary work's been going much faster than any of my previous sectors.

Almost routinely we are greeted by new investigators in the church (all of whom have been invited by, and are accompanied by a friend!

It's amazing!!!

Other than that we've been running in the mornings. It's terrible. I haven't run this much in like......ever I think.....Hahaha and it was all going well until I got a head cold Friday, so proselyting wasn't the most fun Saturday and Sunday, but I'm feeling great now!!!

Today we played Volleyball as a zone, and ate Papa Johns!!! It was pretty fun!!!

So.....that's honestly it for this week!!! Ricardo got baptized in La Perla!!! I couldn't make it, but I'll attach a photo!!!

So just a quick update on our progressing investigators.

Marcos- Doing great, it's just that he's been attending a different ward (his girlfriends) lately; we’ve got stake conference this weekend, so his baptism should be for the 5th of March.

Elizabeth- Sister Elizabeth was kind of a surprise!!! When we first started teaching her and Marcos (she's his Mom), she adamantly stated that she was catholic and would not be changing in this lifetime. However and time progressed, she has faithfully attended every week since the first. She is now praying to receive a testimony, and will most likely be baptized with her son on the 5th.

Zoraida-Carlos-Diego- Zoraida and her kids are absolutely amazing to teach, they're all very attentive, and excited for their baptisms the 5th. Carlos even went to the young mens campout this weekend!

I'll be sure to keep you updated about all new people we begin to teach!!!

The work is going great and I absolutely love it.  I'm doing great and I hope you are too!!!!

-Elder Winn

Picture 1 and 2:  Gnarly tan line…..also I was sick…does it show?

Picture 3 and 4: Here’s me and Tonga about to PREACH THE GOSPEL!!!!!!!!

 

February 15, 2016

Thank you dear family for the package!!!! It was great!!!!

This has been a pretty good week!!! We had another lunch with the Aunt Jana family (I've taken to calling the Rojas family that because their lunches are *almost* as good as Aunt Jana's Sunday dinners). It was a BBQ. Steak, fries, salad, Sausage, and some other meat I have yet to identify (don't worry it was delicious....therefore not octopus chicken).

We've had some incredibly good luck with our investigators this week!!!

We've been in kind of a rut with finding new investigators lately....but I'm starting to think that may just be a sign to focus on the ones we've already got first!!!

So first off.....Marcos didn't get baptized (again....) He was hardly home this week, so we didn't have the opportunity to teach him......we've put a firm and final date for March 5th (it would be the 27th but we've got stake conference that day). That's also when we're planning Zoraida, Carlos, and Diego's baptisms as well.....so that should be a good day!....anyway....back to the good luck!

This week Zoraida AND her kids came! And so did Marcos's Mom, Elizabeth. She's actually came the past two weeks along with Marcos, but this week she came on her own!!! We didn't even have the time to pass by and invite her this week!!! She just came!!! She said she feels at home here.....She plans on coming for many more weeks and will likely be getting baptized the 5th as well!!!

Hahahaha anyway.....that's about it!!!!!!!!!!!!

Multizonas are this week!!!! It should be fun!!!!

I know the church is true!!!! I hope you all know that!!!!

I'm doing great!!!!!!

Love you!!!

Elder Winn

Well...I'm sorry to say it, but among the pictures you'll be getting today Marco's baptism won't be one of them!

His girlfriend’s mom died this week so he wasn't home.....we couldn't teach him anything this week.....which is ok, because that really just means he'll be getting baptized this Saturday!!! Wooo!

And Zoraida had a really cool experience last week!!! (Zoraida is hilarious, and lots of fun to teach. She has three kids ages 16, 8 ,and 2).

So anyway, she really wanted to get baptized when she first met the missionaries, but then her ex-husband gave her a bunch of anti-mormon literature and she stopped answering our phone-calls....after a few weeks, she came to church and mysteriously said "If it wasn't for prayer I wouldn't be here right now".....

We didn't really know what she meant, and she didn't explain until the next class.

She told us that she was reading in her bible (in the book of Judith....so a Catholic Bible) when she read something along the lines of "Why have you abandoned my servants when all they wanted to do was help you"? She said it impacted her a lot.....so she did a complete 180 apologized and asked us when she and her family could get baptized. Sweet.

And we've got a 9 year old girl.....Sasha? I think....we're working to re-activate her family and baptize her and her 8 year old brother....

And Jessica.....who was progressing perfectly until her husband begged her not to get baptized.....I'm still not sure what his deal is.....that will probably be this week’s homework.....

Anyway, the new sector's great!!! And Elder Tonga's awesome!!! It's really big (comparatively. I’m just realizing that when I say big I'm talking like......10 city blocks......)....and we don't even live in it....we live like 10 minutes away! (Which I once again realize....is not that much....).

We walk a lot.....I'll probably send you pictures of my feet.....they're gross.

Now that I think about it....no one's home that much....but we still have success....so that's good!

Anyway.....I'll close with last night's experience.

9:30- arrive at home. It's Sunday, we have to call the District Leaders for their reports, and then sum up the zone numbers

10:30- Almost finished, Elder Tasker still hasn't finished talking with his district.

10:40- Door to our bedroom slams shut, we're still in the study room.....it was probably the wind, I'll worry about it later.

10:45- Elder Tonga realizes he left the keys in the bedroom, meaning we can't get in unless we climb in through the window (which is about 5 feet from us, but 50 feet from the ground)

10:50- I consider the possibility of climbing through the window

10:50 (10 seconds later)- I consider how mom would react if I did that

10:51- I tell Elder Tonga to think of a way to open the door

11:15- Elder Tasker finishes talking to me, I finish the numbers.

11:30- It's now too late to talk to the landlord

12:00- after every possible strategy, we call it a night

12:30-The table is now pulled up next to my desk, my laundry is now my pillow, I use the spare blanket. Elder Tonga uses the drapes as his blanket

1:00- lights out.

So......I did not sleep so well last night.....Hahahaha But it was quite the story!!!!!

All's well here in Maranga!!! I'm loving it!!!!!!

Much love,

Elder Winn

First two:   Dave's poor feet-he's such a hard worker

#3              Where he slept last night

#4              Elder Tonga-new companion

#5,6,7        View in Lima

#8              Their bedroom--definitely not how I taught him to keep his room!  BOYS   :)

P.S. We got the spare from the landlord this morning…..

February 1, 2016

How are you guys doing???

I'm honestly sure it's not as good as I'm doing.....Like not even close.

So let me tell you why.

I'm no longer in Callao! (well, I actually am....but it's not even the same.....like at all.). I'm in Maranga with Elder Tonga, from Highland Utah!!! He's the best!!! We've got 22 missionaries in our zone. 12 Elders and 10 Sisters (which should tell you how safe the zone is), and they're all super awesome!!!!! I honestly have fell in love with this place. Here's what's new:

-The members are very mission-work-oriented. In our ward it's us and the assistants to the President, so they've had a series of experienced, hard-working missionaries. They love to help us.

-They also love to feed us. I've eaten some of the best food in my mission the last few days! Whether it's in a restaurant or in a members house. It's a marked improvement from what I've been eating the last 18 months.

-We exercise daily. Although this is something I should have done in all my sectors....it's not something I did that well. But considering the fact that Elder Tonga's going to play for the U in 4 months, he's got to get BIG, and since I get the same amount of exercise with a lot less protein, I'll get a lot smaller. Which is fine by me.

- Elder Tonga and I are zone leaders, which means as well as normal missionary work, we're in charge of helping out the other missionaries meet their goals. Something I feel super inadequate to do, but I know the Lord will help us.

-I arrived to a sector that was ALREADY HAVING SUCCESS something that's NEVER happened before. Which means there was a baptism the 30th, there will be one this week, one the week that follows, and three on the 20th. So that's amazing.

I'll have to send you pictures from my house. We live on the 6th floor. I can see every other one of my sectors. It's really cool.

The only downside to everything is that we just barely moved in.....so we're still sleeping on the floor until they can get our bedframes in.....actually....the house has a few problems.....but at least it's clean.

Anyway....it's looking like I won't be able to send you guys pictures....sorry!!!!!! But I'll send plenty of awesome ones next week!!!

I love you guys!!! I'll let you know about Marcos's baptism!!!

Wait......did I tell you about Marcos?

Ok. So, Thursday, we're walking around, and we get a call.

Marcos: "Elders from....uhhh...Precusores?

Us "Yes"

Marcos: "Uhh I had a meeting scheduled with the other Elders....can I come pick you guys up"

Us:"Yeah....sounds good"!

He came and picked us up about 5 minutes later. After talking with him for a few minutes, we learned that he had talked to the missionaries for a few years.....He has been actively going to church for about 4 months. He wants to get baptized.

So our job this Saturday is just to make sure he gets what he wants.

So that will be awesome!!!

I'm doing great!!! I love you guys!!! I'm doing better than I ever have been before!!!! 

The Church is true!!!

Elder Winn