Week 23 - March 11, 2017: Attitude

"El Trio" Elders Gemin, Moore & Jackson

 

Yeah the eye thing isn’t a problem but if I feel any pain whatsoever I take my contacts out and wear glasses. Yeah the grudge gene is a huge thing in our family LOL. The KFC story was funny we didn't even buy KFC that day I don't think we even ate there - I think we went somewhere else LOL. That’s cool that Eric got that operation - he's young and fun so idk maybe the old guys have fun stuff to do LOL. 

I think attitude has been something I have been thinking about a lot lately too like I might stay here another change and maybe I have this “make it to the end of this change” attitude. It’s hard for me because we can’t do much. People say we can go visit them so we try and they just aren't home or something happened. Like it’s just frustrating. We knock tons of doors but nothing. I just need a new area. I’m ready to go but I gotta keep pushing and have that good attitude. It's tough but it's good. I had a good talk with Jackson so that helped. I just have to stop focusing on me and try to help these people. I will grow when others grow. It’s just something I have to focus on doing. 

We didn't really have new investigators this week but the ones I have are cool. we work a lot in the other guys’ area mostly for contacting and stuff so its hard to find new people for me. church was cool got to share my testimony about the atonement and that was pretty good. I think my knowledge of that has grown the most. It’s crazy how many scripture references there are for that. So we are in a branch and we just go to our church we have 70ish members that have assisted lately. Its really declining I don't know why they have had some meeting about it retention is a real big problem here.  

So here they just go at it then they have a kid and if the dad stays they live together but like 1 in 10 people are married. It’s rough because the dad’s always working and so we only find ladies, so its hard to find families to teach. I think in total I’ve taught like 3 families but when you have families its always the dad you have to worry about. The wife is always willing to do stuff. It’s tough. Our branch president is president Celcio. He's cool but he's like 90 years old LOL.

One more week till transfers. I'm more than ready but I don't even know if I will get changed to be honest because I know the area so yeah it might be one more - who knows? 

I think BYUI will be great for Meagan.  Center Square is great for freshman and just fun in fall. I think she’s done with high school. I'm doing good I just think I need to be obedient more. I feel like sometimes we do stuff we shouldn't - nothing huge but like the tv will be on or stupid little stuff and we have seen the consequences. Me and Jackson had a good talk about it so we are really trying to be obedient. It’s really me and Jackson working. Elder Gemin works hard one day and the next he doesn't do anything, so its tough, but we just gotta work.

I love you tons - no crazy stories this week sorry but they will come.

Love you,

Parker

Week 22 - March 6, 2017: Rioja Carnival

Treats from Home!!

So yeah I got your package with the shirts in it like Friday but I didn’t get any other so you could write the lady. I’m doing great this week was tough at the beginning because it was just a lot of responsibility I had to lead the lessons really with my investigators but it went well and worked out great. We had a tough couple days because Elder Jemin (Elder Jackson’s companion) was kind of grumpy because he was leading the blind a little and was just not happy so me and Jackson took over and just led and talked the whole time it was pretty great but Jemin apologized the next day and we’ve all been great ever since. Yeah nobody is coming for me I got 2 more weeks with Jackson and Jemin were everywhere in Rioja. It’s cool leading myself and having responsibility it kind of pushes me so that’s good. I’m trying to focus on people and what they need because I know the lessons but each person is different. It’s been a great week really. Ok so the funny thing this week that happened is we started fasting Saturday at like 2 and we went strong for like 2 hours and we taught a lesson and I made a joke about popcorn and so guess what they made popcorn totally forgot I was fasting after five fists of popcorn Jemin looks at me and says we’re fasting idiot. I had the biggest eyes like oh my gosh I’m a freaking idiot so Jackson and Jemin are dying but ya boii isn’t gonna let this popcorn go to waste so finished it and went and said a prayer in the lady’s room and started all over it was pretty funny Jackson and Jemin still give me crap. 

That’s great that Meagan is going to the I so is Jackson he told me this week so operation get Jackson to the I is complete now operation get king to the I is a go. I thought Alex got like a job till the end of the school year. I’m doing great mom I’m having a ton of fun and the food is so good thank you so much it’s good to know your parents love you sometimes lol. It’s not that hot here but there are somedays where it gets up there. . that’s about it the thing is mom I just have fun because of my stupid little jokes that I have with people like there are fruit venders here and we just make fun of how they talk and stuff like one big joke is “4 eggs for 1 sol [Peruvian dollar]” so we will just ask people if they have heard the good news and talk about “4 juevos por un sol” and it’s just stupid stuff but it’s so funny. I’m doing awesome my Spanish is definitely growing. 

Yeah the jerky is the best! OK another story I just remembered it was carnival in Rioja and we still had to go out this was today, but everyone in the whole town was just crazy lot of drunks but they just throw water on everyone. So we left the house and first thing Jemin the Peruvian gets pegged with water so me and Jackson start dying. We teach a lesson and go to dinner then Jemin has to potty so we go back to the house and I unlock the door go in and just water gets thrown all over Jemin. Jackson avoided it but Jemin got soaked it was so funny and we had to stay in the house they were partying in the street and had like a huge tree in the road it was weird but so funny they tried to throw water at us but we were to high it was really funny.

The tri-comp is lit. It’s kind of hard for everyone to talk but it’s really fun me and Jackson are having so much fun we just joke around all day its awesome. The week was good the investigators are still the same we didn’t get any new ones but I think we will this week. Church attendance was terrible for both of us. I feel a lot better but like my mouth hurt like just the inside I don’t know why. It’s been like that but I think it’s getting better. I got moms package so ya boii is eating good and Jackson got his so he got all candy we are eating real good. P-day last week was pretty chill we went to a jungle place but it was flooded so we just chilled and ate ice cream - it was pretty fun. We play a lot of chess. The weather is great here I’m going to die when I go to Iquitos though lol. I’ve given my testimony multiple times but ok this is the weird thing - in Spanish I don’t cry! I’m like mom too like even in a lesson I still haven’t cried there have been times when I have felt the Spirit super strong and haven’t cried it’s crazy I think its Spanish versus English thing -I don’t get it. We teach a class just for the investigators and for recent converts and we are in there and they have like an 18 year old kid lead it and we are just there to help. We are a branch so it’s not a lot of people. I feel like my Spanish is definitely growing but it’s still tough I can understand basically everything like some guy told me a pretty long story and I got it for the most part few words here and there but I’m getting there. I’m doing great Jackson is so much fun. Love you tons.

Elder Moore and Elder Doloriert

Week 21 - February 27, 2017: More Responsibility

Zone Conference in Moyobama with President and Sister Li

This week was really good! It was fun and it was just my mood so I think I just always need to have that attitude. So big news: Elder Doloriert’s gone - I’m with the other two. He went to the mission office. He’s the financial secretary now. So I have a lot more responsibility for a little while. This whole week we have been meeting with members to help me, for Doloriert to say goodbye, and trying to get the investigators ready to commit. It puts more responsibility on my shoulders, but I think I need it and I’m ready. I feel like I have a really good relationship with the members so it’s gonna be fun - gotta rely on them a lot.

I’m not sick anymore so I’m doing great just had one bad week, but it happens.

We had a zone conference - that was fun. It was cool to see President Li and stuff. He is super chill. Our interview was cool - it was as a companionship. We went out and worked in the night. The next day we had a meeting all day that was cool - did a center of strength thing so everybody in the zone went and contacted around the church - it was fun. The church flooded this week so when we got to church we had to help with that. It was pretty crazy, but pretty fun. We haven’t had a lot of success, but the thing is we are trying, and so I just gotta keep thinking of what I can do and not worry about numbers. I’m doing better I think this change of pace will get me through, I’m excited - lots of pictures this week. Did Meagan get accepted or we still don’t know? How’s the baby?

Love you tons.