6/16/2014 Email

From: Camille Weller [mailto:camille.weller@myldsmail.net]
Sent: Monday, June 16, 2014 11:43 AM
To: Melissa Wheatley;

Subject: Feliz Dia De Padre!

First things first, happy fathers day to all those padres out there, and all those future padres as well (: Yesterday was kind of cool because we got to focus on the most important father we have which is our Heavenly Father. I feel lucky and blessed to be able to serve Him in this time and to become closer to Him as well. Well this week was probably the most interesting week ive had so far, things just keep getting better! haha i should have been more carefull when i told Hna Stone on monday that nothing super exciting has happened to us in a while.. careful what you wish for. haha 

Monday we had our FHE with the branch, one of the investigators offered to have it at her house and it ended up only having one room so we all just piled in there and had a good time(: fifteen people in one room.. felt like a big family!
Tuesday we had district meeting and i had to teach a little lesson about charity. That one always seems to bite me in the butt. I used President Monsons talk "love- the essence of the gospel" from last conference and i learned so much(ill probably share some quotes in a minute). Charity is sometimes really hard but if we turn to the Savior to help us develop this attribute it will come little by little. This is what preach my gospel says about it..
"Charity is a gift from God. The prophet Mormon said that we should “pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that [we] may be filled with this love” (Moroni 7:48). As you follow this counsel and strive to do righteous works, your love for all people will increase, especially those among whom you labor. You will come to feel a sincere concern for the eternal welfare and happiness of other people. You will see them as children of God with the potential of becoming like our Heavenly Father, and you will labor in their behalf. You will avoid negative feelings such as anger, envy, lust, or covetousness. You will avoid judging others, criticizing them, or saying negative things about them. You will try to understand them and their points of view. You will be patient with them and try to help them when they are struggling or discouraged. Charity, like faith, leads to action. You will develop charity as you look for opportunities to serve others and give of yourself."

Anyways thats somthing me and my companion are working on right now! and i still remember a challenge we recieved in the MTC to pray for charity every single day of our lives.. i truly think that has helped me in my mission to pray for that and to remember how important charity is.

Wednesday we went to a nearby town called YANQUE, one of our favorites(: we went and had lunch with a member that lives there but usually is in arequipa! She made us aji de gallina.. probably my favorite peruvian dish... so yummy! Her and her husband are so awesome! Her husband has really bad perkinsons disease but still goes to church every week. Such a cool example of enduring to the end and giving all we can to the gospel. That night we had mutual and were supposed to have the youth learn how to make a dinner but they all ended up going to a talent show that a school had so me and Hna stone learned how to make a peruvian alpaca lasagna thing..  then they all came later and ate and hung out... i guess thats better than not showing up! were moving forward people haha

Thursday we had weekly planning, always a good time, and then did a service project for one of our investigators.. well theres actually 2 but there twins so its kind of like one.. anyways their opening up probably the nicest appartment building here in chivay so we helped them paint and clean and got to feel like we were back in the states for a couple hours. then it was back to the real world of chivay.. we visitied Brendas dad Angel to see if he had softened his heart at all and basically he just kept asking a bunch of pointless questions like did we come from God or apes, and if Jesus had a family and kids, and why people are black and all sorts of off the wall questions but somehow we taught him the whole restoration and were hoping that he learned something.. at the end we asked Hna Brenda to share what she thought and the first thing she said was "i want to be baptized. " then her dad immediately resonded "with time" and then found an excuse to leave and thats where were at..were kind of frusterated because she is so awesome and ready to be baptized but were just trying to be patient and trust in the Lord and in His timing. 

Friday was the craziest day ever! first off in the morning my companion got pretty much robbed 50 soles.. that was a fun time trying to tell the lady that she gave her the wrong change... anyways that was a good lesson on patience.. im telling ya.. dont pray for charity or patience if you dont want to be faced with the experiences that will help you gain that.. haha

then we had our big game night that was AWESOME we had a ton of little kids and youth that came and so we split it into 2 parts, the first hour was for the kids and then after that was for the youth and adults. we had a ping pong tournament.. me and hna stone almost won.. then we had a bunch of minute to win it sort of games, everyone was so into it it was a blast. Then that night we had a pretty intense experience which i cant really share but nothing happened to us missionaries we just had to help out some members with some stuff.. all which made for a night of practically no sleep. but then came...

Saturday! we had our first baptism as a companionship here in Chivay!! Victor finally got baptized and insisted on doing it at 6:30 in the morning... you gotta do what ya gotta do right??? It actually turned out really cool! Him and Edith one of the elders investigators both got baptized and we did it at the hot springs pools here so the water was super hot for them.. the only downside was the three people swimming in the pool... awkward. But besides that we had quite the beautiful white morning (: It was so cool because you can just see the new light that has come into his eyes. I love that about the gospel, it brings a new joy and happiness to people that most of the time they didnt know they were missing. I just love this Gospel!  Afterwards we went and made breakfast.. Egg, hotdog, mayonese sandwiches... gotta love peru! (: Then we had the movie night at the church and made chocolate chip cookies... best idea ever!! tasted like home(:

Sunday was a good day, like all sundays(: Victor and Edith got confirmed at church and then we got to teach primary again... definately learning patience there (: then our branch counsel was awesome! we talked about a bunch of callings that are going to be filled this week and we all just got even more excited to watch this little branch get more stabalized. We also had a mirace to our prayers about priesthood here, a random guy came to church today.. come to find out he had moved away a couple years ago but just moved back and is already ordained an Elder and is awesome! Miracles do happen(:

This week went by so fast.. it seems like each day goes by faster and faster. Ive been reading and studying the book Jesus the Christ and this week couldnt put it down.. every spare minute i had i picked it up, i got to read about the crusifixion and resurection and everything inbetween.. i have loved reading this book and this part made me love it even more.. i felt like i was there.. like i saw the whole thing and it has given me such an apreciation, even more than i had, for the sacrifice he made for us.. for all that he went through and experienced.. i cant even explain how greatful i am for his love for us.. the love that i feel each and everyday not only the love He has for me but the love that he has for each one of heavenly fathers children. i think it was cool that i read both that and studied charity because i think they go hand in hand. our Savior was the perfect example of Charity and love, and if we truly love him we will try to show that same love and charity to our fellow brothers and sisters. Here are some of my favorite parts of President Monsons talk.. sorry if theres a lot but its all so good! (:

We cannot truly love God if we do not love our fellow travelers on this mortal journey. Likewise, we cannot fully love our fellowmen if we do not love God, the Father of us all. The Apostle John tells us, “This commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.”³ We are all spirit children of our Heavenly Father and, as such, are brothers and sisters. As we keep this truth in mind, loving all of God’s children will become easier.

Actually, love is the very essence of the gospel, and Jesus Christ is our Exemplar. His life was a legacy of love. The sick He healed; the downtrodden He lifted; the sinner He saved. At the end the angry mob took His life. And yet there rings from Golgotha’s hill the words: “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do”⁴—a crowning expression in mortality of compassion and love.

There are many attributes which are manifestations of love, such as kindness, patience, selflessness, understanding, and forgiveness. In all our associations, these and other such attributes will help make evident the love in our hearts.

Every day of our lives we are given opportunities to show love and kindness to those around us. Said President Spencer W. Kimball: “We must remember that those mortals we meet in parking lots, offices, elevators, and elsewhere are that portion of mankind God has given us to love and to serve. It will do us little good to speak of the general brotherhood of mankind if we cannot regard those who are all around us as our brothers and sisters.”⁶

To my mind come the words of the scripture: “Charity is the pure love of Christ, … and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.”⁸

Brothers and sisters, some of our greatest opportunities to demonstrate our love will be within the walls of our own homes. Love should be the very heart of family life, and yet sometimes it is not. There can be too much impatience, too much arguing, too many fights, too many tears. Lamented President Gordon B. Hinckley: “Why is it that the [ones] we love [most] become so frequently the targets of our harsh words? Why is it that [we] sometimes speak as if with daggers that cut to the quick?”⁹ The answers to these questions may be different for each of us, and yet the bottom line is that the reasons do not matter. If we would keep the commandment to love one another, we must treat each other with kindness and respect.

Of course there will be times when discipline needs to be meted out. Let us remember, however, the counsel found in the Doctrine and Covenants—namely, that when it is necessary for us to reprove another, we afterward show forth an increase of love.¹⁰

I would hope that we would strive always to be considerate and to be sensitive to the thoughts and feelings and circumstances of those around us. Let us not demean or belittle. Rather, let us be compassionate and encouraging. We must be careful that we do not destroy another person’s confidence through careless words or actions.

Forgiveness should go hand in hand with love. In our families, as well as with our friends, there can be hurt feelings and disagreements. Again, it doesn’t really matter how small the issue was. It cannot and should not be left to canker, to fester, and ultimately to destroy. Blame keeps wounds open. Only forgiveness heals.

Love is expressed in many recognizable ways: a smile, a wave, a kind comment, a compliment. Other expressions may be more subtle, such as showing interest in another’s activities, teaching a principle with kindness and patience, visiting one who is ill or homebound. These words and actions and many others can communicate love.

Dale Carnegie, a well-known American author and lecturer, believed that each person has within himself or herself the “power to increase the sum total of [the] world’s happiness … by giving a few words of sincere appreciation to someone who is lonely or discouraged.” Said he, “Perhaps you will forget tomorrow the kind words you say today, but the recipient may cherish them over a lifetime.”¹²

May we begin now, this very day, to express love to all of God’s children, whether they be our family members, our friends, mere acquaintances, or total strangers. As we arise each morning, let us determine to respond with love and kindness to whatever might come our way.

Well he says it better than i ever could... i know that being kind and loving is very important and that a lot of our brothers and sisters that we pass by everyday need words of encouragment and love.. as a missionary that is what we do all day long.. but as sons and daughters of God and part of this big heavenly family it is our duty to help our brothers and sisters on this sometimes trying journey. I love this Gospel, and i love my Heavenly Father and Savior Jesus Christ, the best way i can show that is through service and charity to others. So my challenge this week to you all is to pray each day for charity and to look for oportunities to show it (: 

Have an amazing week!!!! 

(:

Hermana Weller