Week Eight - Yard Work

 

Elder Doloriert and Elder Moore

This week was pretty cool it’s crazy how fast it goes by.  My Spanish still sucks. I feel like an idiot when I read Spanish because I’m a pretty good reader but Spanish is just so different and I look retarded when I read to people. The spiritual experiences keep you going but it’s tough. I get down on myself because I just can’t understand people sometimes but during the lessons I’m good.

I was thinking about Thanksgiving during the day but it’s weird how you just don’t focus on it. We didn’t do Thanksgiving but we eat chifa all the time which is like fried rice. It is so good like I could eat it every meal. 

We teach about 12 lessons every week and people are super receptive to it but its tough some days because you’re always doing something. We had one new investigator but not a lot of success.

We did a service project this week but it was just another name for “yard work.” We made it fun but I got sunburnt so ya boii is getting tan. We got coconuts for doing it so that was pretty good. 

Coconuts for Service: Elders Moore, Doloriert, Gutierrez and Jackson

So earlier today we were just chillin eating breakfast and our pensionista just leaves with a broom and she smacks the crap out of this rat thing. It was freaking huge and she just killed it, skinned it and we might be eating it later. The people of Peru are lit.

My comp is awesome and it’s great having Elder Jackson. Love the guys I’m with. My apartment is like a kitchen and desks and then 2 rooms with bathrooms It’s actually super easy to wake up. It’s weird like I wake up before my alarm but just starting to actually do stuff is hard. We have a “rama” or a branch. It’s like 100 people super small and super different - like dogs walk in sometimes and just chill.

The new area is cool people live in like just cement houses. It’s weird - some have dirt floors and some have cement. People are all just farmers here. They go out to their chakaras and pick stuff all day. It’s kind of sad like I can’t figure out what these people look forward to every day. There are cars but it’s just motos mostly. Food is either really good or like I wanna puke bad but I get through it. The people are super nice and don’t really try to sell you stuff. The weather isn’t bad at all here. It’s weird that were getting close to Christmas and its heating up. It’s exactly like the town in Mexico. 

Addison is super cute. I miss all you guys but I’m doing great out here not crying in my pillow every night so that’s good. Love you guys tons.

 

Elder Doloriert and Elder Moore

Week Seven - Rioja "The Dream Spot"

Parker's first area is Rioja in the Moyobama zone.  It is in higher jungle closer to the Andes.

Plane ride to the mission

So we left the MTC and went straight to Iquitos. That place is the hottest place known to man! I stepped off the plane and was soaking wet. It’s so humid. 

The mission home was cool it was the biggest group to ever go to Iquitos. There were 21 missionaries total.

I’m in Rioja and my companion is Elder Doloriert. He’s super chill. He’s from Lima but he speaks perfect English. It’s great but he knows how to make me work and to speak Spanish. It’s crazy how much you learn every day, but it’s still not pretty. The people talk so fast and some people mumble so it’s super hard but it’s chill.

Ride to Moyobama and Rioja

These first couple of days were kind of hard but it’s been fun. The language is coming but it takes time. We’ve taught like 10 lessons! The people are so receptive. It’s crazy how strong the Spirit is and when you don’t worry about yourself the words just come. 

Rioja is super nice - it’s not nearly as hot. People call it the 'dream spot' because it’s actually cool at night. Elder Jackson, one of my buddies from the CCM, is with me here. It’s so cool to have someone going through the same stuff as you. We have a pensionista who cooks for us. The meals aren’t that bad but I’ve mastered the “pill technique” where you put it in your mouth and then chug your drink. Its hard some days but it’s mostly because I get down on myself and the language.

The CCM was lit I made so many friends and met so many cool people. We went it Iquitos for like 2 days and some people stayed there but I went to Rioja (it’s right next to Moyobamba).

My apartment is small - 2 desks and 2 beds. The shower is like a faucet - no shower head or hot water but it’s not bad because you’re hot all the time. It has only rained once. I was only able to take one suitcase with me - the Timberland duffel - but the moto car burned a hole where the handle is that pops out - so no big deal. But that was like the first day - it was kind of funny. 

There is a branch here, not a ward. I’m in the jungle - it’s crazy there’s like moto cars. It smells like Glenwood just because it’s like dirt bikes. There are a ton of dogs here. The people are so nice. It’s super poor here though like some people have dirt floors - it’s crazy. But I haven’t felt like I’ve had that culture shock yet.

It’s crazy though you are working 24-7. I’m having fun (you have to make it fun too). Just gotta get lost in the work. I haven’t got sick yet - knock on wood - so I’m good - just gotta keep going.

It’s crazy how fast it’s been. I love you so much.

Elder Moore

Elder Moore and Elder Jackson in their new Rioja Apartment

Rioja

Rioja from the apartment window

Week Six - Iquitos!

Parker traveled by plane to Iquitos this week and did not have time to email.  This mission home gave them some paper to write a letter, which they scanned and sent to us - see picture.  Below if a transcript (Punctuation added by Dad).

I just got to Iquitos today.  It’s so hot and so humid here.  I got off the plane and I was drenched!  The last couple of days were awesome in the CCM.  We met President Li and his wife today – they are sweet and really nice.  

 I don’t know where I will be in my mission, but I’m in Iquitos right now.  I’m scared but I know I’ll be fine.  It’s just gonna take some time.  The Spanish isn’t great but it’s enough to get by and teach.   

The district in the CCM is so tight it’s gonna be hart to see them all go.  The people are so nice – they are just  accepting and helpful.  

I want you to know that I love you guys tons and I’m always thinking of you.  I know it is going to be tough for a little while but I just gotta push through and keep working. I love this gospel and I love my family.  It’s crazy how much they go together.  I know that I will be with you guys forever.  I know this is where I need to be and that I can do all things if I rely on Him. 

Tell Blake I love him too.  I love you guys so much and I’ll talk to you as soon as I can.

Elder Moore

Week Five - The Lord's Team/El Equipo Del Señor

Elder Moore in front of the Lima Peru Temple

  

The basketball hoops are up! We have el equipo del señor [The Lord’s Team] and we’re 3-0, so we’re cold.  Not too much happened this week - one of the girls [sisters] called us out for not looking at them because we don’t talk to them. It’s pretty funny because the whole district treats them like the plague. I’m having fun but it’s getting real. I leave next week to Iquitos so it should be lit. Yeah - that just hit me all last week. 

It’s not that humid in Lima so I think I’m in for a surprise - but I mean it’s still pretty hot here. I’m excited to go out but I’m scared too. My Spanish can always be better but it’s just got to be tested. The days just kind of meld together but it will be an experience. It’s weird to leave everything and just focus on the people and the Lord. I’m happy to be here but the CCM is getting old real quick. I’m gonna miss the people I’ve met and I really hope I can email them when I’m out there. I’ll see these guys in college I know it. I love you guys so much but I know this is where I need to be. I think my district is just a really good group of guys and we’re all going to the same mission which is awesome. 

I struggled with the Spirit a little this week. You just have some days where you don’t have the Spirit in your lessons but the next day you have the Spirit so strong it brings you to tears – it’s crazy. You just have to learn how it works with you. I felt it super strong when I was talking about families. Even though I’m not with you guys right now that’s nothing in comparison. Yesterday was crazy when I talked about the plan of salvation. I was in tears - I knew what I was testifying was true. I’m so happy for that and that’s the stuff that has to push me through when I struggle with the language or my companion. It’s crazy being around the same person for so long - you just learn to let things go. There’s days that I struggle but you just got to push through and thrive on the little things. I know I need to be here I don’t know why but I know.

The temple was great - the Spirit is always there. We have so much butter and jam it’s ridiculous - like the ladies started taking it away in the morning - and all my pants smell horrible because the butter sometimes leaks in your pocket. I haven’t gotten sick again but it wasn’t that bad when I was. 

The people I’ve met have already affected my life. I’m scared to go out but it’ll be fun - just scared of the unknown and the language part, but you have to go fail before you can be great so not too worried. I just know it’s going to be tough. I love you guys so much and when I teach about the plan of salvation I’m so happy all the time. I’m so glad we can be together forever I’m scared of that forever but you just have to trust him and that’s the best gift he has so it’s going to be lit. 

That baby is getting huge!  That’s crazy that Trump won - I was pretty sure he would. I miss Idaho I just want to snowboard!

Love, Parker

Peruvian Scripture Cover

Elder Moore and companion, Elder Whitehead