5/26/2014 Email

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 (: