On Wednesday we had our zone conference. I got all of
my letters!! It was seriously like Christmas. Some other the other
Gringos also got letters (one Elder had his family send him taco bell hot
sauce). I felt so great reading them on the Cambi back to Pueblo Nuevo.
I am especially grateful for all that Becca wrote, it really boosted my
spirits. In the zone conference one of the Elders had me stand up and
talk about how to find investigators and fellowship investigators with
baptismal dates. I was so nervous because even though I can understand
everything pretty well, I am not super confident about my speaking. I got
up and was surprised how easily the Spanish came to me, the gift of tongues is
something so real. When I sat down one of the Latino missionaries said my
Spanish was perfect (He was just being nice) but I know I can do anything
through God, who strengthens me. I just want to emphasize, that this
wonderful work would not be possible without Heavenly Father assisting every
missionary everyday.
I'm starting to love the culture here. The other day
we went on a run through the chacras (the farms here) and it was funny to see
people give me looks like I was just a little out of place. I am legit in
a farming town, everyone works on the chacras. The other day we were
eating rooster at a members "house" and a rooster started running
through my legs. The member, Hno Huaman, told me that I was eating his
brother. They had so many animals, including guinea pig, and invited us
to come back for cuy (guinea pig). In Peru there are also street carts
with meat or bread. They do not mess around in the bakery department.
Also there is a dessert here called masamora, which every Peruvian loves.
It is this purple goop stuff that just looks like a booger, I am starting
to get used to it. Also they have crackers here which are like Ritz but
they are called Kraps.
Every addresses each other by there first name, por ejemplo
our land lord (Segundo Garrido) we just call Hermano Segundo. I love this
because I know that this is the same way Joseph Smith addressed everyone.
When you sneeze here instead of saying bless you people will say
"salud" or health. And if you sneeze twice people say
"amor" (love) and "dinero" (money) for a third time.
My companion always sneezes twice and then fakes a third sneeze because
he wants to be blessed with dinero. My companion is great and we are
starting to strengthen our relationship as I become more acquainted with the
language. Latinos look at rules a bit differently then we do in the
states. They are more "guidelines" here, but I follow all the
rules that the mission president and the white handbook say. Though from
what I have heard/seen we have a very relaxed mission in terms of rules, which
is the opposite of Sam's mission.
I have found that teaching by the Spirit is way more
effective than teaching with a silver tongue. The Spirit can pierce the
heart of any man who is humble. As I become more confident with teaching
I try really hard to feel the spirit in every lesson. One of our
investigators, Marco, is about 20 and has a baptismal date in setiembre.
He is super humble and I love teaching him because he is so patient if I
mess up a word or conjugation. I actually love teaching youth way more,
because they seem more willing to change then people more set in there ways.
Though we do have one investigator, Hno Jorge, who I love. He is
about 40 and he has such a strong testimony. He attends church regularly
and prays often. The one obstacle that he has is that he needs a divorce
and then needs to get married to his current partner. We have a lot of
investigators and recent converts we meet with everyday. I love being in
the homes of those we teach, there is just something about a home (no matter
how humble it is) that brings the Spirit.
Te Amo
Elder Perryman
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