July 23, 2012

Dear family,


Wow, Jocelyn can pull off the bald look almost better than dad. And as for Isaac,....its just a matter of time......But jocelyn´s melon wins the
good looking prize. :)


Happy Birthday Heather! And a congrats to the Emma and Mike couple! Woot,

Well, last night the transfers came and we were both surprised to hear that Elder Linares is being transferred, and not I. Quite strange, we were both preparing ourselves mentally for the opposite, so its a little weird, but I
don't mind, San Pedro is a great place, with lots of potential. Its just our responsibility now to help it reach it´s potential. But it is a little sad seeing Elder Linares leave the nest,(sniff sniff) But He has to fly one day
right?


Thank you for the package! A very much anticipated Ensign, and very appreciated candy. Our pension family enjoyed the pop rock candy, haha, very entertaining, to watch. I also received a package from the Activity
Day girls which was awesome, if you could please thanks Sister Muirlaslo that would be great, I had fun teasing my companion that 9 girls wrote me
letters.


My birthday was great, a pretty normal day. But we ate lunch with a family that prepared a cake and we sang, it
was fun. I avoided the traditional breaking-eggs over the head for your birthday lol,well, for this year.....


Thanks for the updates, love and support, I can really feel it. There are always ups and downs but its all worth it :)


Love you all so much,
Elder Lonsdale

July 16, 2012

Hi!

Hello family, thanks for the updates. sounds like Grandma has had an interesting few weeks, what a trooper. I'm praying for her and Jocelyn, send them my love....but in Spanish please. 

This past week was great, we were able to go to another conference in Chiclayo, for new missionaries and their trainers. It was great, they emphasized the importance of our gospel study on this 12 week program, and as missionaries in general. As we usually do, we came back with the fire to study like never before haha. I was able to apply it to just being a member of the church too, funny enough, and how important our gospel study is. In doctrine and covenants it says ¨A man cannot be saved in ignorance¨. That's pretty clear. We have to learn ALL we can here in this life, in school, life, the gospel. I imagine that we will never stop learning, might as well get used to liking it right? But, even better than Liking it....Loving it. Learning, its pretty important. 

At a baptism we had this weekend, we were able to learn some patience with the members. From Saipan I was able to be exposed to it, and here its pretty bad, its like Mormon Standard Time, times 3. Our investigator Gloria (one of the best investigators ever)  arrived on time with some of her non member family, but the thing was....the members were a little very late. In the end the baptism was awesome, lots of people, support, but yeah....almost perfect, we are going to work on that :)

I was told that a package arrived for me, so I´ll get that tomorrow, THANKS! in advance. And please thank Nana for me! 

We have transfers next week so I´ll keep you updated! Love you all!

Elder Lonsdale

PS Dad´s garage band being shut down by the cops.....hahaa good times!

July 9, 2012

Hi fam.

Wow, what a blessing you guys received, we´re always being watched over huh? :) A 2008 Mazda 3?! Yup, more proof we are always blessed haha. Don't worry dad, I´ll accept that when I get home. Then you´ll have the chance to buy your Porche. 

This week was really great. We made some awesome progress with some key investigators. Just another slap-in-the-head reminder of how important the members are in missionary work. (Don't you guys ever forget that by the way). We were able to do some exchanges within our zone too, for just a day, but It was neat working in another area and seeing the work roll in a different part of the region. Every time we do exchanges I learn something new, either from the missionary I'm working with, or the investigators, or member we are teaching....and sometimes both. Learning is amazing. I have grown to love learning more here on my mission. 

It was interesting, sometimes people have trouble imagining or comprehending another life after this, but recently we were talking with one señor who, (his wife passed away recently), when we taught this idea of life after death he already believed it, He basically taught US the doctrine of spiritual evolution, and how our spirits will continue learning and growing even after this life. We got a long way to go before we can obtain Exaltation. It really made me think and reflect on our personal potential. It was a personal motivation for me, to make sure that I am doing the right things to help me progress towards the goal, and a motivation to help other people reach it as well. Yeah, that was a thought I had this past week that I thought I would share :) 

My companion and I were walking to our pension the other night when my companion stopped dead in his tracks and said, ¨WHoa¨ ) a very deep statement, but he pointed my confused gaze towards my feet, where very near was a tarantula, about the size of of a hand. So, of course, we took it in a bag to show the world and take pictures haha, it was pretty fun. 

Love you all

Elder Lonsdale 

July 2, 2012

Hello,

Sounds like you guys are always moving 100 miles per hour back there at home haha. But I appreciate the fact that you still spare some time to let me know how you doing. 

About Daniel.  Sometimes its sad to see here the people who need that type of help and receive little or none. But our Father in Heaven is watching over those celestial beings and knows how they can bless the lives around them. 

Wow, grandma and Jocelyn are such troopers. Im glad to hear that they are doing well and are kept in the watchful care of loved ones. It helps me not worry, and know that they are in  good hands. Garden, kayaking, stampede.

Sounds like summer has hit full force lol

Things here in San Pedro are great. This week was filled with some great ups and some good learning experiences. Me and my companion were called to a meeting in chiclayo with a bunch of other missionaries from the mission, all from areas with small, struggling wards or branches to learn how to help these wards and branches grow and function more efficiently. It was really great, we learned a lot on how we can help our area, and work better with our branch. Although I dont know if I will be able to see the fruits of our efforts in my time here in the branch, we are going to work hard and do all we can to help out our little San Pedro Branch.

A little low in assistance but its got a lot of heart :)

Today for P-day we didnt meet up with the zone, but we had a ¨free P-day¨ In our areas. So we called up this member who has been inviting us to go out and check out some other incan ruins and look for ¨shakiras¨, pieces of old incan necklaces and artifacts like that. So we headed out bright and early with him, over sand dunes, fields and peruvian forests. It was awesome. I Kept thinking how it would be great to bring Dad out there, I think you´d enjoy that. What do ya think? Yup, lets go someday. Hopefully I can bring back a homemade necklace as proof haha.

Last week out pensionista greeted us with a lovely surprise for lunch, Hairy cow feet. Woot.  As we walked away we were spitting out little hairs still haha.......yup

Well I love you all so much. Keep the faith, keep enduring! 

Sincerely 

Elder Lonsdale

June 25, 2012

Hey family of mine,

Sounds like there were some ups and downs this past week. I hope you are all doing alright. I wish I could give some awesome perfect advice, .. but we will leave that to the more experienced. Just know that I love you all and pray for you always, and not only me and my companion, but the members and the people we teach mention our families too in their prayers. 

I am so very jealous of the temple celebrations that will be coming to pass in calgary soon. The finishing and dedicating of a temple is definitely something to celebrate. I dont quite remember exactly the quote, but elder Packer said something like , that every temple completed shakes and tears down the foundation of Satans power and strengthens and enlargens the Kingdom of God on the Earth.... or something to that sense, but it was really powerful and so true. haha

Yesterday we had our branch conference. It was great, and we had a great turnout of 89, our goal is 100 as a regular number. Slowly we are getting there. They wanted to have a choir sing a number at the conference, so we agreed to join in. When they found out that I could play a couple hymns, they dragged out a keyboard they have stored away and elected me pianist/director. haha, it was pretty funny, it went well concerning the fact that I dont think they have ever had a choir. But I enjoyed it.

Thanks for the support, our investigators are doing well :) 

I hope everything is well, sounds like summer is about to break loose over there haha. 

Thanks for the games mom! We will definitely be using them in FHEs, activities,....p-days in our room with my comp lol. 

My companion has told me that I have been talking in my sleep a bit. Thats weird. and its in spanish he claims lol. Thats a first.

Tomorrow me and my companion are going to chiclayo for a conference or a meeting or something, we arent quite sure, we just follow directions. But if its something really neat, dont worry, I´ll tell you all about it.

Thanks family, Love ya so much. Keep being the best family ever. Keep the faith. Keep being good looking. Keep smiling :)

Elder Lonsdale

June 18, 2012

Hello 

Im glad to heat Jocelyn is doing well. Popping out a rib isnt something that happens everyday. Well, thats what I thought until I heard that Jocelyn did it twice, lol, woot. She really is a trooper isnt she? Very impressive :)

This week was better, thanks mom, we did have more sucess with our investigators. I feel your support and prayers from home. Theres no time to get yourself down in the mission, we dont have very long as missionaries, and wasting that time is DUMB. -lack for a better word- UNWISE, maybe that will do. Yes, easier said than done, but its possible. Everything is!

Well, winter has set in here,....winter as in it is just a bit more cloudy some days. lol. But its good. friday night we had an activity, Noche Misional. Missionary night, where the members come, bring friends (idealy) and have fun and where people who arent members can come and enjoy a bit of fun and see that we ¨mormons¨ are relativley normal. It was fun, we ended up playing some games and stuff, like Looky Looky Up, and ¨do you love your neighbor?¨ , Which they Loved, and I was reminded of the endless supply of awesome games that you have mom, and I was wondering if you could please send me few game Ideas, or many haha. They are awesome for FHEs and Activities, and we can only play the same games so many times haha. we would really appreciate it if you have a few spare minutes to send a few ideas :) thanks mom.

I love you guys so very much and always am praying for your well being. I sustain you guys too mom :)

Love

Elder lonsdale

June 11, 2012

Hola querida familia, espero que todo está bien con ustedes. :)

It sounds like you guys are doing just swell. I know Jocelyn is being blessed beyond comprehension, and that miracle tumor idea is genius. I knew Brett had good looks AND good ideas. We are praying here in San Pedro for jocelyn and you guys, me and my companion know that if we pray like everything depends on the Lord, then get up and work like everything depends on us, He will bless us, and the people we pray for;families, investigators, members, the WHOLE world.

This week was at times a little tough, but those are the times where you learn the most right? Sometimes when you work hard, you need to realize satan is working hard too. Its our responsibility to give and show our investigators the tools to win the struggle and temptation. seeing people come so close and then take those steps backward isnt easy, and thats when discouragement wants to creep in..BUT! That weakens your effectiveness as a missionary, and as a spiritual vessel. So me and my companion are NOT going to feel that way. We decided that we just have to work harder and keep moving forward. And the Lord will bless us and the people we teach, sometimes we might be able to see those blessings in plain view, but they are there. 

Other than the tough times, this week was great! We met an 96 year old lady who is just hilarious, a blast to teach her haha,

I love you guys, thanks for the prayers and support, have a great week,

Elder Lonsdale  

June 4, 2012

Hello,

Thanks for the updates about jocelyn, she sounds like she is doing amazing.  I was right there in spirit with you guys and the ward during the fast,  and we can see the blessings from the prayers and fasting for sure. I know she is in the best hands possible, in every sense.

This week was really great, we were able to find and work with some really quality investigators. Being the missionaries that the Lord leads to find that prepared person is such an amazing feeling,  knowing that you are being an instrument in the Lord´s hands is priceless. But we cant do it alone. Like we told an investigator yesterday who felt something she had never felt before, we arent two, walking, talking with people, we are three. The Spirit is the one who does the converting, we just present the truth and let the spirit touch their hearts. Converting people yourself is really hard, and has no lasting effects, we need to have that third companion with us always. I know that we can apply that personally as members too. ¨The Holy Ghost is the power by which we are changed to become like God¨ , if we truly understand that, why would we do anything to put that presence in our lives in jepoardy?  Something ive been thinking about this week…..

I hope you guys are all doing well, I understand things are a little crazy right now, but know that I love you all and that you are in my prayers. Things are great here in San Pedro, thanks for your prayers and Love!

Elder Lonsdale

PS: Yes, that picture is of me and a monkey…….be incredibly jealous.

May 28, 2012

Hello family,

This past week has been a little crazy, like I mentioned last week, we had to travel to chiclayo for a multi zone conference, which was really great, and my companion ended up staying there for the rest of the week because of a weird hearing problem he has been having, so I was in another area with another missionary for most of the week. All in all, we are back here, safe and able to hear properly. 

Thank you so much for your prayers this past week, we had one of the most amazing baptisms I have ever seen. With tons of support from the members and everything happening according to plan. Esmeralda was baptized, and Delma was able to attend and watch and feel the support from the members, exactly what she needed, thank you so much for your support and prayers!

Thank you so much for the updates from the fam and about Jocelyn. I know you guys are doing your best and even from Perú I know the Lord is watching over Jocelyn and the family. You are always in my prayers, and I would love to join in the family fast this coming sunday, thanks for informing me. I will be right there with you all in spirit. 

Me and my companion are trying hard to help this little branch, and little by little we can see the fruits of our efforts. Little branches arent always super strong, but they really do have a lot of heart, and I´ve really grown to love the people here in this Branch in San Pedro. Not to mention the investigators, like I´ve mentioned, that part is inevitable :)

I am so happy to be here serving in Peru, I know I have been called to serve in a place specifically for me. God knows us all so well:) 

Love you my dear family!

Elder Lonsdale

May 21, 2012

Hey fam,

How are you?

I apologize. I dont have much time today. We got back from our p-day with the zone a little late. We went out to some Inca ruins out in the middle of the desert, with a member guide, it was so cool, dont worry, i´ll send you photos, but sadly, i dont think they will do it justice haha. Also, tonight we have to go chiclayo for a multi-zone conference tomorrow, so we are a little rushed with that too, but its all right. Im sorry I dont have much time to share some of the cool experiences this week but know that I love you and im well, :) I hope you guys are too. 

Love you, 

Elder Lonsdale

PS: If you could please mention Esmeralda and Delma in your prayers this week, They are some investigators that have their baptism scheduled this weeked and  and that extra faith from home would be very helpful :) THANKS!

May 7, 2012

Hi family,

Wow, I wasnt expecting anything like that when I opened my mail today. Thats a little scary, I hope Jocelyn and you guys are doing alright. I loved Jocelyn´s attitude in her letter, putting all their trust in our Father in Heaven. I wanted to say YEAH. Thats MY sister, willing to take on whatever comes. An inspiration for sure. Dont worry, Jocelyn and the family will be in my prayers. If there is anything I can do, just let me know. I´ll be praying for sure. Please keep me updated. God tries His people, because He knows what we can take, and we need to learn that too. A smooth sea never made a good sailor, right?

Well we are here working and learning tons together here in San Pedro. Working with a new missionary is really great, and you learn a lot for sure. Elder Linares, from Argentina is my companion. He is great, and has tons of potential. Its funny, seeing the new missionary things, like White shirts that are actually white, shoes always shined, caring about how he looks haha. Quite entertaining. 

Well I love you all, you are in my prayers. Talk to you next week!

Elder Lonsdale