Dear Family,
Everything is going well here in Vitarte. We have been busy going to all the references that the members give us, which is super good. Yesterday was a little disappointing though because not a single one of our investigators went to church. It's been slow trying to start the area, but soon we will be caught up. The barrio is really strong, and helps alot. We had ward council for the first time in my mission. In Huanuco, one of the barrios had it once the whole time I was there, and the others, never. But I guess it is hard when there isn't any leadership. It was great, and the bishop spoke on how to help new members. They recently called 8 ward missionaries, and we are going to make them work.
This week we were walking home from an appointment that fell through, and a little girl ran up to us and said that her dad was calling us. So we turned back and found the guy. He said that this son had been going to church with a neighbor boy and recognized us when we walked by. The family is interested in the church, and the Dad told us he wants to change and have more religion in his life. We are really excited, and we are going to visit them tonight.
This week we moved into our new room. They recently painted it, but they painted it yellow, brown, and maroon--a color scheme I'm not a huge fan of. Hermana Leyva said to paint it again, and when she says something, it goes, so it will probably get painted. The pensionista is good. I think for the first time in my mission, I had a day without eating any chicken. Instead, we had hamburger. She tries to cook healthily, and I like it. And I've been feeling a lot better.
The weather here is cold! Whoever told me Lima was hot and it never rained was misinformed. Yesterday it was cold and rainy, but it's always like a misty rain. I am making good use of my coat, Mom. I think winter should be ending soon though.
I'm glad to hear the family is doing well. I still haven't received any mail through the normal mail system. I don't think it's a good idea to send anything to my street address, but I was thinking that maybe you could send something through DHL. I don't know if it is really expensive or not, but then it wouldn't be going through the Peru mail. How is BYU's football team doing?
Thanks for your love and support. Love,
Sarah
PS Did you get my letter home? I sent it last week I think. And it has some good pictures. It's a good letter too.
PSS I got a letter through normal mail from Emily. She said that Dad announced in church that I have severe intestinal problems.
Monday, September 29, 2008
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Monday, September 22, 2008
Dear Family,
I am here in Vitarte, in the barrio Tilda. What a change this is from Huanuco. Our neighborhood is mostly middle class, there are paved streets, the lady who is going to wash for us has a washing machine(!) and we have water and electricity regularly. The trip wasn't bad, except for my comp, she threw up the whole nine hours. The trip is pretty through the high parts of the Andes, so I enjoyed it, plus there was a little bit of snow or hail on the ground, and the Latinos got all excited.
We are living with the other set of hermanas in our zone until our room is ready. I don't know if you heard, but all the North American missionaries got taken out of Bolivia because they are on the edge of civil war. They got divided up to go to the 4 Lima missions, so we have an abundance of North Americans. I'm having fun because for 5 months I didn't see another gringa, and now I'm living with 2, one from my mission, and her comp from a Bolivia mission.
We are opening an area, and we only have 1 ward. It is a big change from my three branches in Huanuco. They were struggling to have more than 40 or 50 in Sacrament meeting and there were only 2 priesthood holders to bless the sacrament and 1 to pass it. The barrio Tilda is stronger than Mount Vernon I think. They gave us lots of references Sunday, which is great. I think they are afraid if there aren't baptisms, they'll close the area again.
I really don't know much about Vitarte. I am enjoying the luxuries of living in a city though. Saturday, the pensionista made Kraft macaroni and cheese. I did hear that there is a supermarket, and I am excited to go. The problem of Lima is that it is really polluted. Usually you can't see the sun except for about two or three hours in the afternoon.
I already realized that I'm not going to get better in my health. I just keep working. And there aren't any moscos here, so they don't bother me anymore. Hopefully by the time I go home, the scars will be gone. And I got rid of my headlice. I still haven't got any mail. Maybe people should stop sending things for a while. This week it might be because I'm in a new zone. But where does all the mail go that's in my name?
I'll keep the family in my prayers. Did Ben have any sort of insurance on his truck, or did he just lose a bunch of money? And I was really happy to hear from Dad, but can you remind him gently that I can't receive email from his address? If I have time, I'll write a little email to send to him. Thanks for your love and support, and your letters and packages, even though they don't arrive.
PS--I just wanted to tell you that I just got three letters, one from you through Dear John, one from Jo, and one from Carolyn through Pouch.
Love,
Sarah
I am here in Vitarte, in the barrio Tilda. What a change this is from Huanuco. Our neighborhood is mostly middle class, there are paved streets, the lady who is going to wash for us has a washing machine(!) and we have water and electricity regularly. The trip wasn't bad, except for my comp, she threw up the whole nine hours. The trip is pretty through the high parts of the Andes, so I enjoyed it, plus there was a little bit of snow or hail on the ground, and the Latinos got all excited.
We are living with the other set of hermanas in our zone until our room is ready. I don't know if you heard, but all the North American missionaries got taken out of Bolivia because they are on the edge of civil war. They got divided up to go to the 4 Lima missions, so we have an abundance of North Americans. I'm having fun because for 5 months I didn't see another gringa, and now I'm living with 2, one from my mission, and her comp from a Bolivia mission.
We are opening an area, and we only have 1 ward. It is a big change from my three branches in Huanuco. They were struggling to have more than 40 or 50 in Sacrament meeting and there were only 2 priesthood holders to bless the sacrament and 1 to pass it. The barrio Tilda is stronger than Mount Vernon I think. They gave us lots of references Sunday, which is great. I think they are afraid if there aren't baptisms, they'll close the area again.
I really don't know much about Vitarte. I am enjoying the luxuries of living in a city though. Saturday, the pensionista made Kraft macaroni and cheese. I did hear that there is a supermarket, and I am excited to go. The problem of Lima is that it is really polluted. Usually you can't see the sun except for about two or three hours in the afternoon.
I already realized that I'm not going to get better in my health. I just keep working. And there aren't any moscos here, so they don't bother me anymore. Hopefully by the time I go home, the scars will be gone. And I got rid of my headlice. I still haven't got any mail. Maybe people should stop sending things for a while. This week it might be because I'm in a new zone. But where does all the mail go that's in my name?
I'll keep the family in my prayers. Did Ben have any sort of insurance on his truck, or did he just lose a bunch of money? And I was really happy to hear from Dad, but can you remind him gently that I can't receive email from his address? If I have time, I'll write a little email to send to him. Thanks for your love and support, and your letters and packages, even though they don't arrive.
PS--I just wanted to tell you that I just got three letters, one from you through Dear John, one from Jo, and one from Carolyn through Pouch.
Love,
Sarah
Monday, September 15, 2008
Dear Family,
I'll hurry and write my letter and send it. My letter last week was good though.
This week has been hard because in our interviews the week before, Pdte. Leyva told my companion that she would be transferred, so she hasn't really worked much this week. I was sick the day of the interviews, and the Pdte. took me to the doctor after he finished with the interviews. The doctor gave me a strong antibiotic and something to reintroduce bacteria to my stomach. I have been feeling some better, but I don't think the medicine did much. After more than a week of eating soup I was glad to finally eat real food.
Pdte. Leyva is thinking of putting all the sister missionaries in Lima, so I might get the chance to close my first area.
Yesterday we had 7 investigators at church. 4 of them are not married but living together. 2 of the others are going to be baptized this month. We also received a golden reference yesterday of a 92 year old man who has been attending church in another area. We haven't contacted him yet, but I am excited.
Yesterday instead of doing the choir, all the missionaries in the zone trained in a meeting about missionary work for the two stakes here in Huanuco. My comp and I trained the leaders of Primary, RS, and YW. It went relly well, and later the stake president talked about the importance of retention. It was much better than doing the choir, which I am not enjoying much. The youth only go for the refreshments, and the stake president wants them to learn more songs and to sing the different parts.
I got the Scoresby family newsletter today, but nothing else. If anyone else is thinking of sending something, I would really enjoy a jar of peanut butter, knee highs, and shoe inserts. So
I just found out that I am being transferred to Vitarte in Lima. I am going to open a new area for hermanas, but with the same companion, Hermana Espinoza. I am a little disappointed to have the same companion because we don't get along super well, but hopefully we will do better. It will be exciting to have a new area.
I'm going to send the letter and later try to send pictures.
Love,
Sarah
I'll hurry and write my letter and send it. My letter last week was good though.
This week has been hard because in our interviews the week before, Pdte. Leyva told my companion that she would be transferred, so she hasn't really worked much this week. I was sick the day of the interviews, and the Pdte. took me to the doctor after he finished with the interviews. The doctor gave me a strong antibiotic and something to reintroduce bacteria to my stomach. I have been feeling some better, but I don't think the medicine did much. After more than a week of eating soup I was glad to finally eat real food.
Pdte. Leyva is thinking of putting all the sister missionaries in Lima, so I might get the chance to close my first area.
Yesterday we had 7 investigators at church. 4 of them are not married but living together. 2 of the others are going to be baptized this month. We also received a golden reference yesterday of a 92 year old man who has been attending church in another area. We haven't contacted him yet, but I am excited.
Yesterday instead of doing the choir, all the missionaries in the zone trained in a meeting about missionary work for the two stakes here in Huanuco. My comp and I trained the leaders of Primary, RS, and YW. It went relly well, and later the stake president talked about the importance of retention. It was much better than doing the choir, which I am not enjoying much. The youth only go for the refreshments, and the stake president wants them to learn more songs and to sing the different parts.
I got the Scoresby family newsletter today, but nothing else. If anyone else is thinking of sending something, I would really enjoy a jar of peanut butter, knee highs, and shoe inserts. So
I just found out that I am being transferred to Vitarte in Lima. I am going to open a new area for hermanas, but with the same companion, Hermana Espinoza. I am a little disappointed to have the same companion because we don't get along super well, but hopefully we will do better. It will be exciting to have a new area.
I'm going to send the letter and later try to send pictures.
Love,
Sarah
Monday, September 8, 2008
Monday, September 1, 2008
Hi Mom,
We had Edelmira's baptism this week. It was great to see someone we have worked with for so long get baptized finally. The others in that group are not progressing due to not being married and in the family that is married, the dad won't give permission. We are working with new investigators trying to get them to pray and come to church. It looks like September could be a slow month in the area.
Yesterday I taught youth choir again. There were a lot of kids, at least 50, and I was trying to play the piano and lead at the same time. A girl that returned home from a mission the same time I got here helped me, and it went well. Plus, the stake approved a budget for refreshments for the choir, so everyone was a little more happy (except the pianist, who was not invited to participate in the refreshments).
I was sick yesterday and Saturday, I'm pretty sure with the same thing as before. I'll probably have to go back to the clinic. But, last night the pensionista made a remedy for me of egg white, oil and celery, and put it on my stomach to take out all the bad stuff. Then she covered it with newspaper and tied it on me with a cloth. I'm not quite sure how the germs get taken out, it has yet to be tested by the scientific method, but I do feel better today. I slept horribly though because my stomach hurt in the night and I had newspaper tied around my stomach.
I'm excited that BYU is ranked so high, but I doubt they'll stay. Who is the quarterback? And do they have the same kicker that couldn't ever make anything? Keep me posted.
Love,
Sarah
We had Edelmira's baptism this week. It was great to see someone we have worked with for so long get baptized finally. The others in that group are not progressing due to not being married and in the family that is married, the dad won't give permission. We are working with new investigators trying to get them to pray and come to church. It looks like September could be a slow month in the area.
Yesterday I taught youth choir again. There were a lot of kids, at least 50, and I was trying to play the piano and lead at the same time. A girl that returned home from a mission the same time I got here helped me, and it went well. Plus, the stake approved a budget for refreshments for the choir, so everyone was a little more happy (except the pianist, who was not invited to participate in the refreshments).
I was sick yesterday and Saturday, I'm pretty sure with the same thing as before. I'll probably have to go back to the clinic. But, last night the pensionista made a remedy for me of egg white, oil and celery, and put it on my stomach to take out all the bad stuff. Then she covered it with newspaper and tied it on me with a cloth. I'm not quite sure how the germs get taken out, it has yet to be tested by the scientific method, but I do feel better today. I slept horribly though because my stomach hurt in the night and I had newspaper tied around my stomach.
I'm excited that BYU is ranked so high, but I doubt they'll stay. Who is the quarterback? And do they have the same kicker that couldn't ever make anything? Keep me posted.
Love,
Sarah
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