January 2, 2012

Thanks for the family letter, very original haha. When I pulled it up my companion was like whoa whoa is that Facebook? lol, I assured him it was just my family being creative.

Well its a new year! FELIZ AÑO NUEVO! New years is HUGE here in peru. They have this tradition where they make these scarecrow things called Muñecos, where they use their old clothes to make the outside and then stuff it full of hay and firecrackers and stuff, and then at midnight, along with more firecrackers and fireworks you can imagine, they light their Muñecos on fire in the streets, as a symbol of leaving behind the past and starting a new year. We got to make a missionary muñeco with some members on New Years Eve, but sadly we didnt get to see him go up in flames. Our mission president let us missionaries stay out a little later in the houses of members. But between that time and midnight it was a little hard to sleep, so at 12 we took a look and the city was pretty much on fire, with fireworks galore and burning muñecos in the streets, noise and smoke engulfing the entire city haha. Yeah it was quite a sight.

Other than the local festivites this week was pretty normal. My companion and I decided to make our street contacts with more quility, where we can gain trust with the people we talk to in the street. Where we actually talk with people and see them as people and not as just numbers, and not give them the whole memorized, Hi. We´re missionaries from the church.... The people here will practically treat you like family if you can gain their trust. Which we saw this past week. We were searching for a referrel and found his family in the house instead and began talking with them and showing that we care about them, and they invited us to eat lunch with them a few days later, and since then we have been teaching this strong family that treats us like we are family and really want to hear our message. I know its not always like that, but it really is a testimony of how we need to show these people that we care, and truly desire their salvation.

One other thing I thought I would share is that I had the opportunity to try Cuy, which is guinnie pig.. It was actually pretty good. A little hard to eat civilized-like, but who really wants to be civilized when you are eating a big huge hamster? yeah, I rest my case. But also, guinnie pigs; Bald, and dead, are probably the ugliest things you´ll see. I decided that they are definatley cuter alive......... with fur,....maybe even tickling my nose. but Maybe thats just me, haha.

Yup its getting hotter here in Peru, chiclayo at least. we were playing soccer with our investigador and some of his friends today, and I think I actually got burnt through my shirt......haha now thats a first, and probably not the last. Now that i think about it, im not quite sure why im telling you this, but OH WELL! you are my family right? I can tell you anything! :)

Alright, honestly its really wierd to think that Alan is home, and even weirder seeing those pictures of him haha. Wish him the best for me, in school and getting married.

Well family, its a new year. New things to learn, new things to experience, and new things to become. I'm so grateful for the opportunity we have to continually grow and strive to become more like out Saviour. I know I am so blessed to be here on my mission and I love it so much,. Im also so blessed to have a family like you guys, and I love you so much ;)

Elder Lonsdale

December 26, 2011

Do you ever get that feeling, when your sending someone an email, and its like you just talked to them yesterday? J

It was awesome to be able to spend some time with you guys yesterday, you all look so good might I add, Daniel and Krista so grown up, mom and dad looking younger everyday, and Isaac and Jocelyn looking more Japanese every day…..I dont really know what that means but dont worry, its a compliment.

I'm glad you guys all had a good Christmas, what a special time of year, to be able to remember the birth and life of the Savior and what incredible things he did for us. What a blessing Christmas is here in the misión, to have the opportunity to help people feel the true meaning of Christmas and help them bring the Saviour a little closer to their hearts and homes. Kinda like Saipan the rain on Christmas kind of reminded me of snow which was neat. And its funny, you can tell that it doesn't rain a whole lot here when people can tell you the exact dates of the three days it rained last year haha.

It really is an amazing blessing to have such an awesome supportive family at home, it means that I can have my whole self here in the mission without having to be stressing about my family at home. Knowing that you guys are strong in the faith and know why Im here in Peru sharing the góspel is such a blessing.
Elder Lonsdale

PHOTOS!

December 12, 2011

These past few weeks have been hard for me to sum-up, I'm learning so much and I dont know where to begin sometimes when I want to tell you about it haha. Me and the new missionaries I came with are on a program called The First 12 Weeks, where, because of the increased amount of new missionaries, they need more trainers. So this program is where new missionaries stay with their trainers for the first 12 weeks and are on a program to help them be prepared to maybe train new missionaries in the field after their first 12 weeks. Some older missionaries have said that its kinda like all the things you learn in the first 6 months crammed into the first 12 weeks haha. At times it stretches you and really puts you out there as a new missionary but it is a great program. Being able to become, hopefully, a more effective missionary is great. Im learning so much, and my companion is really the best. I dont think I´ll be training anytime soon though, I still have lots to learn and not to mention the language too haha.

One of the things I´ve noticed as a missionary is the ability you develop to see people´s potential. The potential that they have as individuals, or families, to progress and grow closer to our Father in Heaven. One lesson we had with an investigator, her toddler, and her less active "spouse" was really eye opening. We were there all kneeling together in and opening prayer and I was able to see the potential this family had, kneeling together as a family, I almost got emotional, it was pretty powerful. It was another motivating moment for me I guess, to help people come unto Christ and recieve those blessings that he is wanting to give them.

I know that the Lord loves each and every one of us, and He sees us as what we can become, Like our Father in Heaven, and we need to remember that too.

Elder Lonsdale

December 5, 2011

Whoa, is it December already? Crazy. Feliz Navidad!

(High pitched girl scream of excitement) Christmas is pretty similar for the people down here, gifts, little fake tree,. Except the Idea of a white Christmas is an unfamiliar concept haha But a great time of year for us missionaries because this is the time of year that people are more likely to turn their thoughts to the Saviour, and are a little more receptive to our message about Him. - Also, you wanted to know about our apt? well, its really just a room. Ours is actually pretty big for missionary living quarters here. We keep it pretty neat and tidy, but the dust and dirt is a little hard to control at times. The dirt is a little inevitable with the dirt streets and all, but its all good. The bathroom was a little bit of a shock my first day, but now its pretty normal haha. Our shower is more like a dribble, and we are lucky if its nice and warm but in the end, we don't really mind. Who needs to shower anyway? We dont really have problems with bugs. Just the average cockroach every once in awhile. - And the weather,...well not to make you guys feel bad or anything but its pretty warm haha. The seasons are opposite here, so the hottest months are during January and Feb. So I´ll let you guys know how that goes =).

I am so grateful for the opportunity I have to serve in Peru. I am learning new things everyday. Things that I want to apply, things that will help me be a better missionary and a better teacher, At times it seems like there is too much to learn and get down as a missionary. But thankfully the Lord gives us a couple years to figure things out =) I am so grateful for you guys and your love and support. I love you all and I know you are doing what the Lord wants. The gospel truly does bless families.

Elder Lonsdale

November 28, 2011

This week was good, sadly Junior wasn't baptized. Not yet at least. He has an anti-mormon uncle who kinda gave him little talk and filled him with a few doubts and stuff, which is unfortunate, but he still wants to meet with us which is excellent, and what we can do now is help him with his testimony of the Gospel and the Book of Mormon. We just gotta love and support him. And sadly we had some unfortunate talks with some other investigators also, just lessons where you can see that they are taking steps backwards and away from Our Father in Heaven, and that is never a good feeling. But now me and my companion know that we need to work harder and be better at addressing their needs. The Spirit really is key in knowing what investigators need to hear. Well, the Spirit is actually key in EVERY aspect of this work, and what a blessing it is to be learning how to follow the Spirit and feel it influence your everyday choices.

Have I mentioned cool our branch is? Well there ya go! This past Sunday me and my companion had talks. They went pretty good, except for the fact that we prepared 10-15 minutes, and due to an interesting event, which I will talk about soon, we only got 3-4 minutes, and we had to do the whole ´panic and cram your talk into 3 minutes,´ or the 'only the most important part' thing. We had only a little time because the bishop called up a young woman from the congregation up to the stand, congratulated her, and handed her a big white envelope which was her mission call. (she had sent in her papers a few weeks earlier), and there on the stand he handed her a pair of scissors....yeah! I don't know about everyone else there, but I was freaking out a bit. Wow, thats crazy! She was pretty emotional and all, she opened it up and read out her letter, and bore her testimony. A little different but pretty cool that she shared it with everybody. She is going to Chile. Wow, I don't know if I could have done that haha.

Elder Lonsdale