From: Camille Weller [mailto:camille.weller@myldsmail.net]
Sent: Monday, May 26, 2014 11:06 AM
To: Melissa Wheatley;
Subject: 14 meses en la mision!
What an amazing week!!! We got the two new elders here on
monday, Elder Boyd who has about 10 months in the mission, he was actually in
my zone in arequipa and Elder Galarza who is ending his mission this transfer,
hes awesome though! they both are! Elder Boyds dad is actually the prophets
body guard and so we have been doing morning workouts with him.. hes killin us
but hey thats what we need! It actually helps us a lot to have more energy
throughout the day!
Lots of things are changing up there with the branch (all
for the better) we spent a lot of time in meetings this week, planning out a
bunch of activities for the branch and also for mutual. Planning family home
evenings with different members for each monday... And some more time looking
at the members that we can get into callings. Everyone is super excited to get
working and get things changing for the better up here.. its time to get this
branch growing! (:
We had a special visit from Hermana Robinson this week, shes
our sister training leader and her companion was super sick in arequipa so she
stayed at the mission home to recover and we got to be in a trio for a couple
days. She is amazing and we learned so much from here, plus it was cool to
watch her reaction of the city of chivay, reminded us of how we first felt when
we got here, how different everything is and how lucky we are to be here!
We had lots of fun things this week as well! One of the
schools here had its anniversary and had a bunch of things going on! Thursday
they did a preview dance thing in the plaza, its fun because a bunch of our
english class students were in it and also junior and some other members, they
all run up to us and give us hugs, makes us feel pretty special (: Then on
friday they had their dance competition... best day ever for me!! (: i loved
it! they all had the cutest costumes and little dances(by little i mean each
one was at least 8 minutes long.... haha) and the culture here is just so cool!
i wish we had more things like this in the good old USA. It was fun to watch
the members and some of our investigators too, everyone kept asking us to take
pictures for them because they dont have a camera of their own! Happy to serve
in whatever way (: then on saturday they all got in their school uniforms and
did a cute march parade thing around the plaza... gotta say it again. i love
this place.
Well heres an update on our investigators.... Brenda and her
Little brother Junior are still golden.. both have such strong testimonies and
desires to get baptized.. but sadly their dad wont give them permision..not
only that but he tells them things all the time that arent true about the
church.. its hard but all we can do is pray and hope that he softens his heart.
We fasted with Brenda this week while her dad was in arequipa.. he got back and
didnt say much and is now back out to arequipa.. were hoping to catch him when
he is back and get to talk to him. More than anything we just want him to feel
the spirit and know the things that his kids are feeling.
We have also been working with a new investigator, Victor
Hugo, he is awesome. He owns hot stone pizza and is basically alone here in
chivay.. he has had a rough life and actually lived in Georgia for about 4
years so he knows english very well. We left him a pamphlet not thinking too
much into it and he ended up asking if we could teach him more about the
preisthood. He understands everything really well and knows the bible better
than i do. He came to church on sunday and loved it.. he was taking notes,
singing and the elders and some members even thought he was a member just
visiting... Hes THAT good (: He accepted to be baptized and is super excited,
we just need to get him his interview and teach him a little more!
We also met a set of twins that have a cute little cafe
thing and they are so ready to listen and to learn, theyre awesome! We just need
to work with them this week and get them coming to church! they both already
know a little bit about the church and one of them was even wearing a BYU
appron and didnt even know what it meant. haha escogidos!! (:
Well what can i say, we've got a lot of work to do up here..
we've got good, progresssing investigators and are getting the members more
involved and active in the church. We're really focusing on finding the
priesthood holders here and getting them back to church so that we can get the
callings filled and the church here more established. We could use all the
prayers we can get!
I just want to share with all of you that i know that the
church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints is the only true church upon this
earth. I know and feel this everytime i testify of it. In the church we learn
about the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ and if we follow its teachings
we will be more blessed and have more happiness than we could ever imagine.
Listen to the Prophet. He is a man called of God to guide us on our
journey here on the earth. I know that Thomas S. Monson is truly a
prophet and he tells us the things that our Heavenly Father wants us to
hear.
Mosiah
2:41 And
moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed
and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For
behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual;
and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received
into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of
never-ending happiness. O remember, remember that these things are true; for
the Lord God hath spoken it.
my
favorite part of that scripture is "remember, remember" sometimes
all it takes is for us to remember the things that we know.. our testimonies,
our blessings, and that we are truly sons and daughters of God. Remember.. that
he loves us and will lead and guide us and bless us IF... we remember him... .
If we keep the commandments of God we will be blessed and happy. I know that
that is true.
Love
you all! your all in my prayers and thoughts! have a great week (:
Con
mucho amor,
Hermana
Weller (:
