Week #11 in Peru

Dear Family and Friends,

I had an amazing week. First off, our reunion con Elder Nelson was amazing. We got to hear from him and His wife. They had so many great things to say. They talked about Missionary work obviously. But they also talked about Family History. They talked about how the people we are teaching have family on the other side of the veil, who are really want us to teach there family, so there names can be found and entered into the temple so they can recieve their ordenations like baptism. It is wierd to think when we baptise a person or a family, it is possible we are also helping that person or familys ancestors recieve there ordeneses in the spirit world. Elder Nelson told us to think about who is praying and hoping for us all the time. First of all our family and friends, not to mention the other 15 million members. Missionaries are prayed for in the Temples everyday. He told us the Prophet and Apsostles pray for us everyday. He told us the Ancestors of the families we are teaching are right there with us hoping we can teach there family the Restored Gosple. Elder Nelson told us there was one more person who was hoping and praying for us. You probably guessed it. Our Heavenly Father!!!!!!! These people in Peru are also Children of our Heavenly father. In fact every human being is a child of God. And God loves them so much, every single one, the nice ones, the mean ones, the tall ones, the short ones, the ones in the Estados Unidos, the ones in Peru, He loves all of them. And it says in the Scriptures, that His work and His glory is to bring to pas the immortality and eternal life of man. Becasue Jesus Christ we are all promised Immortality. How amazing is that. We don´t even have to lift a figure, and we are promised that we will live forever!!!!!!!!! Tambien por medio Jesucristo Eternal life is made possible. God wants all of his children to have Eternal life, to live with him forever. And if God wants this for all of his children, well that that shows how important missionary work is! God is right there with all the Missionaries. He wants us to bring his children back to Him. And I know God is helping the missionaries because he wants all of his children to return to Him. Anyways that was one thing I learned from Elder Nelson and his wife. It was an awesome experience. I even got to shake his hand, and tell him my name and where I was from. He said hello, my name, and pleasure to meet you. I definatley know he is an Apostle of the Lord. I know Thomas S. Monson is a Prophet, and all of the Quorum of the Tweleve are Apostles.

Anthonio our Investigator is doing good. He didn´t go to church this week, but every now and then people miss church. I found out this week Antonio and Graciala are making plans with the Bishop to finally get married. Which means after they are married we can baptise Antonio! I also found out Graciala served a mission and then went inactive. I knew she went inactive but I didn´t know she served a mission!!!!!!! No wonder she knows everthing!

We did a giant zone change. So everyone got new companions for the day. I got to go with Elder sevela from southern Peru. His area is like 5 minute drive from mine. It is the area with the Giant Jesucristo statue, like the one in Rio de Janero, but smaller. I got to hike up to it but I didn´t have my camera. We actually weren´t allowed to have our cameras in that area, becasue it is super poor and well you don´t bring nice things to a poor area. It was really cool to see though. And I had a cool experience.

We were walking in the dirt road, trying to hurry somewhere... and a women calls for me. I look at her, and she says you are really tall! And I say yes I am. and then she asked if I could help her because I was tall. She needed a lightbulb changed. She went to get a chair for me, but I didn´t even need it. In fact I didn´t even need a new lightbulb, the lightbulb had just became unscrewed a little and needed to be tightened and it worked. The women acted like it was a miracle, but it wasnt. After I told her who we were, and what we were doing. She agreed to listen to our message. Two of her three sons also joined it. After she even agreed to let us come back. Unfornately I was only in that area for a day, so I won´t be returning, but other missionaries will. And I am so happy that we could bring her family the gospel.

We had 8 other new investigators. Two are contacts we knocked on there door, and 4 of them a member took us door to door to meet her friends. 4 of her friends agreed to take the lessons. We need more members willing to share the gospel!!!! I am so grateful for that Sister. The other two we met when we saw a bunch of youth members hanging out at a park with there friends. I was pretty nervous to go and talk to them, but we did, and two of them agreed to have us come over. And not only did we go over, but the lesson went really well. They accepted the Book of Mormon and said if what we said was true, they would get baptised.

Well I just want to say thanks so much. I feel all of your prays. I hope you all have a great Thanksgiving. Sorry no Pictures this week. The computer is being wierd. I just want to say I am so grateful for my family. I love them so much. I am also grateful for all of my friends. You guys have helped me so much. I am also so grateful for Missionary work. I have so many friends on missions or planning to serve missions, and I know it is the right thing. This is what the Lord wants us to do. He wants us all, Missionaries and Members to be engaged in the Work of Salvation. I know with the efforts of Members and Missionaries more of Gods children can be brought to the truth of his Gospel. I am so grateful for my Father in Heaven, and His Son my Savior and Redentor Jesus Christ.

Love,

Elder Peabody

Week #10 in Peru

Dear Family and Friends,

First off things are great, and I am enjoying the emails! I will check for letters on Thursday Gen, and let you know if I got your letter. 

So I am not sure where to start but this week I saw the biggest Avacodo I´ve every seen. I commented on how big it was and so Hermana Ingrid, a member in our ward, gave it to me haha. We had dinner at a members and the mom Hermana Rojas loved the color of my hair so much she wants me to give her some of my hair... haha. At another members we ate at, the daughter couldn´t stop laughing at me because my spanish isn´t that amazing. I didn´t mind since that is what I do is laugh at myself when I mess up spanish. On Thursday we went to the Young mens mutual at the Mission leaders house and taught about Missionary work. It was cool, and we got food after. It wasn´t food I really wanted at first. Yah it was Cow Heart... It was actually really good, and I ended up enjoying. I guess it is really expensive here in Peru and a lot of people really like it. While we were cooking it, neighbors kept coming out and asking if they were going to sell any. 

We have a new investigator! Stephanie, who is Daiseys Niece. Daisey is also an investigator, but I think Stephanie is more interested. Anyways we taught her the Restoration, and she listened really well and had a lot of questions. We had another lesson with Daisey and Stephanie, and we gave them a Book of Mormon and talked about praying and reading to know if it was true. They asked how will they know if it is true, and we taught them the Fruits of the spirit were peace, joy , calmness and other good feelings. And after Daisey said she felt ´´tranquilo´´  which I think means calm when she read the Book of Mormon with us. I felt the spirit really stong and I know the could feel it too.   Unfortunately they couldn´t go to church. But we did have three investigators come to church. Anthony who has been coming. And then for the first time Eric, who is a recent convert and is 14 yrs old, mom and Grandma came!!!! I was super happy. 

So another Elder in my apartment got really sick. We brought him to our Penchinista or Cook because it is cooler and she doesn´t mind taking care of Missionaries. After he still had to go to the Clinic, and since his companion didn´t know where it was, my companion had to take him. This left me with the Sick Elders companion. I had to lead. Lets just say we may have knocked on the wrong door. Anyways Elder Ramos found out he has an inflammed intestine. He will be fine, he just can´t eat certain food. 

This week we also had a Meeting for the Gringos or North Americans only. It was just about a new book about adjusting to missionary life since we have less time in the CCM or MTC. It was cool, ut even cooler was I got to see all my old district from the CCM or MTC. 

So people here dump water from there upstair windows to keep the dirt in front of there homes from flying away. And one night after dinner a women almost dumped the water on my companion and I. I could feel the water splashes! 

Well I know the Church is true. And even though Missionary work isn´t easy, it is great, and it is the Lords work. Sometimes I ask why isn´t this easy, or why hasn´t my area had a baptism in 4 months, and I think of Elder Hollands booming voice saying ´´Missionary work is not easy because Salvation is not a cheap experience. Why would we think it would be easy for us when it was never easy for Him´´ And then I am reminded of our Savior. It wasn´t easy for him. His path was the most difficult. As Missionaries, as Members of His church, we must all be willing to walk a small part of the path that He walked. Anyways that is my lesson for the week. If things are hard, remember the Savior and how much harder it was for Him. 

Love,

Elder Peabody

Week #9 in Peru

Dear Family and Friends,

So much to say... but not a lot of time. That is basically the story of my life on a mission. We are always busy and always have something that we need to be doing. Well I guess first off thanks for the emails. I really enjoy them. I guess I should just tell you guys now, but I am  getting fat in Peru.... Left the United States weighing I think 145lbs and well I now weight 163.14. It is because every meal we have like 3 courses... Breakfast we always get a hot drink usually this chocolate oatmeal drink or an apple cider type oatmeal drink. Then we always get a smoothy, a different fruit every day. Then we either get cereal and yogurt or bread with ham and cheese. Then for lunch we always get a soup and then the main course of rice, veggies and meat. Luckily at dinner she lets us pick how much we want, but even after eating all that food I seem to be hungry probably becasue all of the walking I do. 

This week was good. Remember Anthony. Well he isn´t sure if he want´s to continue going to church. I guess he said his little boys teacher found out that they are going to the Mormon church and started to be mean to there son. Since most people are catholic, if you aren´t catholic you can be bullied. And yes it isn´t illegal for the teacher to be mean to Anthony´s son at school. It isn´t right but we are in a different country. ANyways me and my companion decided to share a message about Joseph Smith and his trials. And we shared some scriptures on Trials. The Mom started to Cry. I didn´t know what to do, but my companion just continued on... We are working on getting them married so Anthony can be baptised.

Oh I have known for like 3 weeks and I keep forgetting to tell you, but Elder Nelson from the Quorum of the 12 is coming to Chiclayo on the 20th. We get to listen to him talk in the Mission home, and shake his hand!!!! I am super excited and have been trying to spiritually prepare to hear what he has to say to the Missionaries in Chiclayo. My cooks daughter works at the hotel the General authorities stay at, and she says Chiclayo has never had a member of the Quorum of the Twelve before so this is awesome. I had perfect timing.

And Daniel, congrats on your new Job. Thanks for emailing me. I am trying to send post cards from Chiclayo, so if you send me your address I can send you one! And I have been hearing about you from friends. Keep up the good work. There is something my Mission President said that I really liked. Have Faith in Christ, and Belive in His timing. Things will work out. Just give yourself some time and work really really hard. Thats what he told us when someone said they weren´t getting any baptisms... If you have anytime Daniel you should open up a scripture. They are so comforting. They have been super comforting to me. Read Pslams chapter 3 verses 5 and 6. I shared that with the investigator who was having a hard time. There are so many other scriptures that are just so awesome. And Prayer is really awesome to. As a missionary I find my self praying all the time. I have marks on my knees from praying on the hard dirty ground of my room... No matter how much I sweep it dirt just finds its way into every inch of my apartment. But anyways the scriptures and pray have been my best friend.

Hey Mom. If anyone trys adding me on facebook that you don´t know, go ahead and add them... 

Sorry no pitures again this week. I have no time to attach them. It took me like 20 minutes to load the computer

Love

Elder Peabody

Week #2 in Chiclayo

Dear Family and Friends, 

Thanks for all the emails this week. I enjoy hearing from everyone! Mom I finally got your letter you sent the day after I left, as well as the Dear Elders from Rachael, Gina, and you Mom. I enjoyed them so much. I also got Ashleys Post card from Las Vegas. I really enjoyed them.

This week has been great. I think I am getting used to the dust. I don´t cough as much. All 3 of our old investigators I mentioned last week, are doing great. They all have the same problem, they aren´t married but live with there boyfriend and girlfriend. They all have kids so they just need to get married. They all want to get married, they just keep saying oh maybe in Febuary. We got some new investigators. It is actually a pretty cools story.

We have this recent convert who husband has been a member for longer. He is the one that is in the wheelchair because he got shot like 4 times. Anyways we love teaching them more about the gospel, and doing any service we can. One day we were able to help her fix her roof. It was just a small service project, especially since I was so tall and could reach the roof and adjust it so there were no holes in it. But as we were leaving my companion and I decided to ask if she had any friends who might want to hear our message. She immediately went to one of her friends house and invited her to hear our message. She actually liked our message and we are going to go back and teach her more. She did the same thing a few days latter. She knocked on her neighbors door, told them these are missionaries from my church, and then left us!!!!!! Luckily the people were really nice and wanted to hear our message. It was a family of three, a mom, a dad, and a 19 year old son. We left the 19 year old son with the Plan of salvation pamplete to read. Usually investigators don´t read them, but we ran into him on the street and asked him about it, and Freddy totally read!!!!!!!! I am excited to go back. We also contacted some old investigators. One named Juan seemed to really like our message, and when my companion told me to invite him to be baptized I was terrofied. I invited him, and he mumbled something like yes. I was pretty excited after that, but then I found out he didn´t really understand me, so I said it again which was pretty emberrasing, but his answer was the same. He said yes he wants to be baptized. 

Anyways I have learned that Members can be our greates tool. Especially recent converts, and Investigadors because they tend to have many friends of different faiths. Members seem to know people who are ready to recieve the gosple. 

Hey mom tell Brother Lewis thanks for the Letter. I really enjoyed it, and I am going to use his story of Elder Woodruff in our Zone meeting tommorrow because I have to teach... in spanish.

Krista thanks for the Email. I am happy you enjoyed Europe. I would love to visit Europe one day, but for now I am happy with Peru. 

Zeithel also thanks for the email. I will definately add you to my email list. 

Bishop Draughon thanks for the forwarded emails from the missionaries in our ward. It was awesome. 

Mom you should email me some stuff you know about catholicism. I remember a few things you have said. Also if you got my letters, there is one for the Priest Quorum, if you could please give them it that would be awesome!

Alicia I hope you start to feel completely better, and good luck with picking classes. I won´t be doing that this year. 

And Tara thanks for the email. No sloths, in fact i don´t think they are in Chiclayo at all, but my Penchonista said maybe in Jaen. So if I ever go to Jaen I will keep a lookout. Or i will just have to come back to Peru after my mission and visit deeper in the Amazon Jungle. I want to come back anyways and go to Maccu Piccu. 

Stephanie sounds like you enjoyed Cross country. Sounds awesome. And it is your birthday soon so have a great Birthday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

Ashley, thanks for the Post card. I loved it. And congrats on your new job. I hope you enjoy it, and good luck with Esmae. And yes I would love to hear from anyone.

Sorry no pictures this week. 

Have I told you about the showers. There is no Warm watter so they run an eletrical wire from the outlet to the head of the shower and it heats up the water as it comes out. It sounds scary, but it works, and I have a warm shower. 

Oh and Happy Halloween. For Halloween this year I was a Missionary... I had fun thought. They don´t really celebrate it here in Chiclayo, but they know about it. Our stake had a dance festival, and I got to see a lot of different Peruvian dances. It was the coolest thing ever. Even cooler it was all the youth! They all seemed to be pro dancers. 

Well I got to go Preach the Gospel. We have an appointment with Freddy and his family, and I have to go get dressed since we were playing soccer today. We are going to teach Freddies Family the Plan of Salvation and hopefully commit them to baptism. 

Love,

Elder Peabody