A Little Rain

Hello Everybody!

So my week was good, still working hard with Elder Bravo here. We had a couple of baptisms this week and 3 of my favorite experiences this week. I can’t really explain to you all why they’re my favorite experiences because really it’s a “had to be there” thing so I’m not really going to try to explain them, but I’ll probably mention them….maybe….

So I’ll start with the one from Thursday morning. So we finish our weekly planning that morning at like 12 and have an appointment with an investigator about 8 blocks away, so not too far but still a good walk from where we were. At that time, it started raining a little bit, but I didn’t think too much of it because it’s Iquitos and there’s almost always rain, imminent rain, or it’s just stopped raining.  The alternative is:  blistering heat. So we left and I thought it would be nice and light so I didn’t bother with my raincoat. Then, the moment we got into the street, a torrential downpour came and I could not see a thing. Literally.  In about 10 seconds I was completely soaked through all layers and even down into my waterproof boots. Then we had about 7 and a half blocks left to walk, and the rain didn’t stop. It was actually a lot of fun, I’m not going to lie.  There was only one problem…my planner. Got absolutely destroyed with water and couldn’t use it for a few days. But we got there and taught the lesson, still completely soaked. It was awesome.

On Saturday, we had a baptism of a family…kind of. The dad and oldest son didn’t want much of anything to do with it but we did get the dad to come to the baptism, hoping it would motivate him. (It didn’t yet) But the baptism was awesome, even though we had one priesthood holder show up to the baptism with about 30 women and children. Luckily, that 1 priesthood holder was part of the bishopric. But it was somewhat interesting because both Elder Bravo and I were baptizing so I had to serve as witness with a towel. These wards are very different than those of the US. Just not as strong, especially in terms of the priesthood. Now for the part that was awesome. After the baptism, they bore their testimonies about how amazing the church is and how it’s true. But the older daughter broke down and just said that the church and the gospel are just answers to the prayers that she had had for years. It was really powerful. Hopefully the dad will open up and really start to listen to us.

So I know I told you that there were 3 experiences. But I’m not actually going to tell you about the third one. ..at least not yet. I can’t really explain what happened but it was the best and I will just say that when people are prepared, they’re prepared, even if even they don’t know it yet.

I love you guys and I love being here.

Elder Peacock

P.S. we had a training with President Blunck on Monday which is why I didn’t write that day. I’m not dead.

Peru Care Package #2

Well, in the absence of a letter thus far this week from Elder Peacock, let’s take a peek at what was in the package we mailed out on May 16th. 

This is my favorite part.  Guinea pig tshirt (in honor of his exotic diet).  I love it so much!  Totally practical.  I’m so afraid it’s going to get stolen out of the box, so I made Bryce put it on for a picture so at least we can send him the picture if it doesn’t make it. 

• A journal that his older brother picked out.  When Justin was on his mission, he made a book of pictures—all of his baptisms and each of his companions, including pertinent facts and stories, etc.  It’s a great idea and Tyler wants to do the same thing but was having a hard time finding one that would work well.
• Inside the journal are some newspaper clippings of things he might find interesting.
• An “expensive” tie…from Ross Dress for Less.  Missionaries love ties.  I stocked up so I can send him one in each package.  This one replaces the one he burned at the 6 month mark.
• Cinnamon.  He was lamenting how expensive it was.  99 cents at Target.  USA! USA!
• Pop Tarts.  Umm, no explanation needed, me thinks.

• PB & J.  It’s the simple pleasures that are missed.

• Tyler loves legos.  I figured it might be fun to give to kid he’s teaching.  I like to send little toys at Christmas time to give out.  It makes the missionary feel like Santa Claus!  That feeling is totally better than getting stuff they really don’t need anyway.

• Good old American junk food for filler.  Sometimes there just is no substitute.  AND, thanks to all those preservatives, I know it will all be just as good in 3 months when he finally opens it!

Total value of contents:  about $100. 

Cost to mail to Peru:  $77.95

I love him, but he’s not gonna get a lot of these.

Placentero Nos es Trabajar

[Translation:  “A pleasure it is to us to work” – it’s a hymn that was written by a Spanish speaking missionary and is only in the Spanish version of the hymn book.]

Hey everybody!

First of all, Happy Birthday Justin!! (Also Kylie…) This week was good, we’re working like crazy and it’s awesome. There isn’t really one experience that stands out in my mind to share with you but it was an awesome week.

[This picture is of the traditional “burning of the tie” at 6 months in the mission.  He told us during our Mother’s Day call that he chose the wrong tie for the the job—it refused to burn, hence the additional flammable objects added to the pile.]

This week we found quite a few people with the same answer when we invited them to be baptized: “I would but I feel like I won’t be able to follow through with it after the baptism”. Some of those people were just saying that because they don’t know how to just say no, but some of them were very sincere with it, and actually want to make changes in their life, they just don’t know how to do it. So I thought a little bit about it and something very interesting about this gospel is that it’s not just a baptism and then you’re done with it and off to fend for yourself. It’s a cycle that continues for your whole life and get’s stronger and stronger every time we go through it. Faith, repentance, baptism(sacrament) followed by receiving the Holy Ghost to guide you in your life. It’s something that has been apparent from my time here for sure. I’ve been here for a good couple of months now and I can see the difference in the lives of the people that live this gospel and the lives of those that aren’t really all in and then those that want nothing to do with it. Those people that go all in and really live the gospel are just so much happier it really isn’t even close. When we put in just a little bit of work to obey God he gives you what you need. Just try to imagine what you can receive if you really just give him all.

So working with Elder Bravo is definitely different. He carries around a huge fan with him everywhere and likes to sing as he walks. It’s somewhat entertaining, although at times a little over the top, I think he just likes attention though. But we found quite a few people last week that are pretty awesome and I think this kinda has to do with the above: When we give a little bit we find some success and get some help. But when we give it all we’re going to get a whole lot more. I know that this work is the work of the Lord and that no matter where you are or what you’re doing, he wants to help you. Just ask yourself how much you’re really doing for the Lord, the more you give, the more you’re going to receive. I can tell you that because I’ve seen the differences not only in my work as a missionary but in the changes of investigators. When they give to the Lord, they receive blessings exponentially.

Love,

Elder Peacock

“No me jactaré de mi mismo, sino que me gloriaré en mi Dios”

[translation:  “I will not boast of myself, but I will glory in my God”, from Alma 26:12]

Patience is a Virtue?

Dear everyone,

So first, it was great to get to talk to you yesterday and even though you guys couldn't see me [on Skype, he looked like a painting—most of the time like a Monet, but occasionally like a Picasso] l, I could see all of you pretty well...as long as the call didn't drop out. [which it did several times] I could even see Justin and every once in a while I saw Tori's head pop into the picture [they were on the iPad, sitting on a pile of couch cushions].  I hope you were able to hear at least part of one of my goodbyes because the internet and the phone kept dropping out and I couldn't tell if I actually got through to you or if you could hear me...So, if not, goodbye and I love you guys.  It was however, very strange to actually speak English.  Usually here, if I'm speaking English it's a phrase or very Spanglishy so I'm sure you noticed a phrase or 2 in Spanish even though I don't know that I recognized it.  Has my voice changed at all? I hope I don' sound like Pedro like Justin did when we talked to him on his mission.  But yeah, anyways it was good to get to talk.

So yeah, things with Elder Bravo are awesome.  We walk everywhere which will help me a lot because taking motos everywhere was getting a little boring.  He's awesome and we're working hard.  This will help me to lose weight like I'm supposed to in South America.  Even though the members feed us a couple pounds of rice and a couple of chickens at lunch.  But things are going really well here right now, although I'm still trying to get the whole District Leader thing figured out which is somewhat difficult with just a lot more responsibilities and things that I have to worry about, especially because I've never seen what a DL does, but I thin I've got the hang of it with the calls, interviews, permission, etc...  Definitely pushing me but it's good.  Patience is a virtue.  I actually do think I've got it down more or less though.

So we have a rule that we aren't allowed to teach any lesson without an adult male who is part of that household present which at times is difficult because the men are almost always working.  We have a little bit different problem with this other family.  Dad, mom, son (20), daughters (17, 14)--the daughters and mom go to church, read what we leave and pray.  The son is indifferent and often not there.  The dad, however, will listen but he is Catholic, he is Catholic, he is Catholic.  We have taught them a few times and he just won't do anything we invite him to do, but his wife and daughters do everything, so we're not going to stop visiting them.  On Saturday, after the baptism of Hector (That guy is awesome!! sorry I'm not telling you more about him) we went to see if we could get the dad to come to church the next day by talking to him again about the restoration and getting him to pray about it.  I don't think I've been more forward, or clear than in that lesson, ever.  I basically told him that he has to pray about this and then be willing to change to live in accordance with God's will and to forget his own will.  I used more words and scriptures and things of that sort (in Spanish of course) but I feel like that is something that has really changed in me. The ability to just be direct and bold with people.  I thought I saw a change in him that night because in his prayer he asked to be humble enough to change if he needed to.  He did not, however, come to church with his wife and daughters.  He just wouldn't come out of the house. Patience is a virtue, right?

I've also heard people say that on their mission they stop worrying about themselves and start worrying about what they want for others to do or have.  I actually see it a little bit differently.  The things that I want, that are important for me are really just the things that I want for others.  It's not that I've forgotten myself, it's that my desires have changed to be for others.  I guess that the difference is slight at best but I thought that was interesting.

Love you guys!!

Elder Peacock

Time is a Fickle Friend

First of all, What does fickle mean? I know it's a phrase but I have no idea what I'm actually saying here...Anyway, this week was interesting and I noticed that a lot of the stuff happened this week had to do with time.  And another question, what did I do with my time before the mission?? I will invite each of you to think of what you do with your time and to just make sure you focus on the most important thing and be productive.

First off, my watch died...not the battery but the whole watch just doesn't work which makes life very difficult as a missionary because I don't carry around a cell phone or any other means of telling time without my watch (aside from my comp).  So that was somewhat annoying but I'm working on the whole watch situation now. 

Then, last week was the last week of the transfer and there was one Elder and one Sister finishing their missions from our zone of 10.  Both of them had been in the zone since I started here and I could just see how weird their last week of the mission was.  It was weird to see them go for their "transfers" when you know that their just going to their homes and you're not going to see them again.

Then, this Saturday we got a call at night and got told that our changes got moved up a day and that we would receive them on Sunday and make the changes on Monday (one day earlier than usual) and that was somewhat stressful because we had to shift some things around and now we have P-day today instead of Monday again (just for this week).  But after 3 changes together in the same area (abnormally long for the mission apparently) we got changed.  Well, Elder Duran got a change to Lima to stay in that mission and I'm still in my area now with Elder Bravo.  Elder Bravo is from the group that I entered the field with so we were in the MTC together and he's from Santiago Chile.  He's awesome and it's going to be great.  I'm also now District Leader, which was a huge surprise and should be interesting.  Should be a good transfer.

Also, today is my 6 month mark, which is weird.  I don't feel like I've been here for 6 months yet...

I love you guys and thanks for everything!!

Elder Peacock

PS Mothers day this week [that means a phonecall/Skype!!]