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February 3, 2014

 

It is so cool to see pictures of snow. Most of the people here have never seen snow. I am happy that I don’t have to be in snow right now! Some days it gets pretty hot but i am happy=)

 

This week was good. We have been working a lot with less active members and investigators. The members have been a great help this week. A testimony of a member goes a lot farther than a missionary lesson. We still do not have a misión leader so we are working lots with the bishop. I think the more we talk with him the more he finds that we need a Ward misión leader.

 

Right now in Peru is the time of Carnival. Basically it is a month long water fight. People will hide on the top of their houses and when people walk by in the street they throw water balloons and water at them. So it is interesting. We feel like we are in a battle field walking down the street, it is pretty fun. But, as missionaries I prefer not to get wet. One day this week we were sitting on the street corner planning for a few minutes and the second that we got up and took a step a water balloon fell right where we were. God protects us every day… even if it is something as little as a water balloon =)

 

One funny thing, my pensionitas grandson Aaron is a bit crazy at times. He has lots of energy and is always getting into trouble with Hermana Doris (my pension) anyway.. I taught him how to braid my hair and now he doesn’t get into trouble! Whenever we are there he practices braiding my hair into different types of braids. It is pretty funny. He is 9 years old and is a funny kid.

 

Most spiritual thing would have to be just seeing the Lords hand in this work. When plans fail and then we come in contact with people that really need our help. It is awesome. To answer your question, yes every day i feel like i need more structure and rules haha. But little by little i get used to it and hardly notice the pigs and chickens that are following us =)****This is the question that I asked TaraLyn When I have visited south American countries I sometimes feel like there isn't any law and order to everyday life. For example: chicken, pigs, and stray dogs wandering in the streets. Or children everywhere without parents and not in school. Or cars driving around without having to follow any rules of the road. Do you feel that in your everyday life?*********

 

I love being a missionary. I hope that i can figure out how to help this area grow and have success!

Love you all bunches! Thanks for your love and support

Te Quiero mucho!

Hermana Jones

 

 

 

February 10, 2014

 

Things have been going pretty good. This past Monday we had a p-day with our zone. We were going to play water balloon volleyball... but ended up playing carnival instead. I was soaked. I wasn’t really sure how I felt about it because I really wanted to play water balloon volleyball haha.

 

The rest of the week went pretty well. This Monday we were going to get all of our investigators and bring them to family home evening. We were in the very top of the mountain and it started pouring rain. We could hardly see where we were walking it was raining so hard. I loved it haha. I was laughing super hard. My companion didn’t know whether to laugh or to cry, but she ended up laughing with me and it was really funny. We got to the bishops house soaked, without investigators. The bishops wife let us barrow her clothes. It was a fun night.

 

We are teaching a lot of young women that are around 13 years old. They are super cute. I hope that they keep progressing! We also got a new district leader. He is awesome and is very supportive. It makes the work a lot easier when your district leader is awesome haha.

 

This Sunday I gave a talk in sacrament meeting about how the Lord is hastening his work. After my talk the 4 missionaries sang called to serve. In the last verse the bishopric joined in and the whole ward joined in and stood and sang. It was awesome. I hope that we can have more success working with the members. Also one of our less active members that we have been visiting passed the sacrament. I about cried I felt so proud of him. Miracles happen every day!

 

Big news!! After 6 months in the mission... my shower has HOT WATER!!! We are stoked. I feel so blessed =) also... I ate chicken feet this week. I am not sure how I feel about it. It tasted good it just freaked me out that I was chewing on a chicken foot.

 

Anyway, that has been my week =) things are going really good. I love being a missionary!

 

I have 1 year left on the mission! Ah where has the time gone! =)

Lots of loveTe quiero muchoo!!!

 

Hermana Jones

 

 

February 17, 2014

 

I have been amazed at how the Lord prepares us for situations like this. I know that the things that I have gone through in my life were to help me prepare to help my companion. It is really quite beautiful how that works. Anyway, she is doing great and we are happy.

 

This week it has been raining lots... which means i get to wear my rain boots!! =) and it means that all of the streets are basically mud. haha But it is all good.

 

We have come in contact with a few new families. We are excited about teaching them. I think the hardest thing for me is letting go of investigators because they are not progressing, but little by little as we find new people it gets better. We are preparing 3 young women for baptism! They have a baptismal date for the 1st of March. We are working hard to meet that goal.

 

My companion loves learning English. So we have been working hard on her English skills... it has helped me remember English =)

 

With all of the families that we have been visiting we have seen a lot of broken families, where the father drinks and gives no thought to his family. It is really quite heart breaking. But I know that through the gospel these families can have hope. One of the most spiritual lessons we had this week was with Freddy Calderon. He is a father of 3 girls. One of his daughters is a member and has put in her papers to leave on a mission. He was really sad and had a lot of doubts about his daughter leaving on a mission. We were just passing by and thought we would share a message about the plan of salvation then he opened up about his feelings about his daughter leaving. We shared our experiences about leaving our families and meeting and helping others, he started crying... and so did I being the Larsen that I am =) I know that the decision that she made to leave her family and serve a mission will change not only her life, but her father’s life. I hope that i can be here to see his heart change.

 

Anyway, that has been my week! We are going to be going to Tingo Maria this week to visit with President Henderson. So today we are having a normal day with time to write families. I love you bunches!!! I hope you are having a great week. I think about you all often and I am so grateful to have the family that i have. With parents who are loving and with siblings that get along and love each other. I am so blessed!

 

Love you!Te quieromucho!!

Hermana Jones

 

 

 

February 24,2014

 

 I just love and miss you guys lots! But don’t worry I love it here in Peru too! haha

 

This past week was a really off week. Monday we had a normal day (except for internet) and we had p-day on Friday. We had plans to go to Tingo Maria but because of the rain it was probably better that we didn’t go. (There are lots of dirt roads so it might have been a little dangerous.) So instead we had a huge zone conference with 3 zones. The mission rented a place that has 2 soccer fields and a volleyball court. The Elders rented out one of the soccer fields just for the Hermana’s. We felt special... okay actually for me I felt obligated to play haha. But it turned out to be really fun. I ended up being pretty good at it. (my defender skills from middle school came back) haha but we only played with sisters. The only bad part is that now my legs are super sore and I have 2 huge bruises on my leg. But it was worth it.

 

It was really fun to see the different hermanas and elders from the different areas. We had quite a few there from our group in the CCM. After soccer and other sports were over we went to the chapel and watched Brave. It was fun. The next day we had a zone conference and President Henderson spoke to us. It was really good. He spoke about how to be a Preach My Gospel missionary. I loved it. We then had divisions with the other missionaries. I went to another area with another Gringa from Arizona. It was super fun being able to speak in English for a little bit. I am back in my area now and we are happy. I like exchanges because we get a little break from the area and a fresh new start.

 

Our area has been struggling a little bit. So this week we decided to fast. A few of our investigators that had a baptismal date decided that they did not want to be baptized or have the lessons. I was on exchanges when that happened... but then the next day one of our new investigators that has been attending church for the past two weeks has told everyone that she wants to be baptized this week!! Miracle! We are working hard to get her prepared.

 

 We have a ward mission leader!!!!!!!! He is 19 and is about to go on a mission. So this Sunday My companion and I met with him and helped him understand his calling. We are planning on working hard to train him for this calling. The elders in our ward are also our district leaders. They are awesome. They have been super helpful with the ward. They are really bold and work really hard. Our areas are pretty big. Right now we are going through the ward list and updating the directions. I love getting more organized haha.

 

Any way things are going great. I have been reading lots in the conference ensign that you gave me. I love it. There are so many talks in there that have helped a lot in this area. There are a lot of women here that we have been working with and letting them know their role as women and mothers. The family is so important!!!!

 

Te quiero mucho!!

Hermana Jones

 

 

 

 

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