August 27, 2012

Hey mamita hermosa :)

Thanks for the letter, you guys sound pretty busy. I hope everything goes well!

But i apologize that im not sending anything kinda long today. I was able to catch dad and do a little bit of email chatting haha. And these pictures are being dumb lol. but dont worry, next week I´ll make up for the lack of email this week. I´ll write twice as much next week, full of weekly missionary things that might not be very interesting haha. 

Love love love ya

Elder Lonsdale

August 20, 2012

Hello family,

Thanks for the pictures, I really appreciate it. My imagination just doesnt to justice sometimes. Wow Peter looks so grown up. You will be handing him a licence and car keys soon. And thanks for the picture of jared, he looks all good and returned, yup, he´ll be married in no time. 

Congrats Jocelyn on the new child! She is so goodlooking, just like her uncle in peru.....and her parents. But just one question, the name, Eloise, I have seem to have lost my english pronunciation skills and so im not sure how to pronounce her name, I know how to pronounce it in spanish, if that counts for anything. And that is pretty neat about the breast milk donations and organization. I guess my state of being a man has blocked my understanding that an organization would even exist. But thats great, my new niece needs a lot of nutrients. But i know shes in good hands. 

West coast trail? Umm….YES. I had the chance to do the Juan de fuca trail, right below, with andrew and mike,  and that was a blast. So sign me up for the west coast trail.

This week was good, we were able to have some great quality lessons, where we could really feel that we were teaching the person, not just the lesson. And thats always the goal right? The gospel of Jesus Christ is so big. I know that sounds wierd but it is, haha. But simple too. Beautifully simple and simple beautiful. Each day as we teach different people about this plan god has for us, I learn something new, what a blessing.

Love you all!

Elder Lonsdale

August 13, 2012

Hey family,

This week was a good week. We were able to find some great new investigators to teach, so thats always a battery recharge. Here in San Pedro/ Northern Peru, there is actually quite a few religions; Jehovah´s Witnesses, Baptists, Seventh Day Adventist, etc, and literally Millions of ´Catholics´ lol. We are very grateful for all of them. They prepare people for the truth by helping strengthen their relationship with God. But the tension/ ¨competition¨ that these other religions like to create is quite entertaining at times. We have some very strong Catholic friends that like to tell us that we are completely wrong and teaching blasphemy, and we have had Jehovahs witnesses knock on our door during morning study quite a few times. Seeing them go all nervous when they see us is quite funny. I remember before I got my mission call Bishop Heninger told me to start studying up the new testament also, just in case i got called to the bible belt in the states. Well, I wasnt sent to the states, I was sent to the bible capital lol. I´ve learned so much of the bible since I arrived, and have grown to really appreciate it, and it as strengthened my testimony of the gospel we declare. We had the chance to teach the restoration to a Jehovahs Witness this past week, and as I explained joseph smiths first vision I felt the spirit work through me to testify to her, And I could see that flicker in her eyes when the spirit spoke to her heart, as she intently listened. It was a really great reminder of how powerful the message is. Its something Pretty darn important :)

We were also able to work in another area that opened us reciently, a people called, ¨Ciudad de Dios¨ (City of God). It was a nice chance to visit Kolob....ha....ha....ha. yeah.ok

We were able to do some interesting service as well. There was going to be a birthday party, ( a big deal here) and so a member bought a sheep from a nearby friend who has many, and needed help making it into something ready for his wife to cook. YOu can probably imagine,...but just in case! I shall send a picture!

Love you all so much, and appreciate all the love, prayers, and support that you guys offer. Know that Youre in my prayers!

Elder Lonsdale

ps: Darren! I need to see pictures from weddings, I've heard they are awesome lol

August 6, 2012

Hey Dad,

Sounds like a blast. Those jet skis sounds like a great idea for when I get back, huh huh, dont get sick of them haha, dont worry you have time to buy a couple :)

Things are alright here in San Pedro. We are trying hard to work with the ward, doing all we can. We decided to have activities every Friday to get things started, so I´ll let you know how that goes. 

Just working away. I apologize for the lack of information/stories of investigators. I´ll try to improve that. But know that I love you guys. The work of the Lord is incredible. How it changes and edifies the receiver and the messenger. ¨The purpose of the gospel is to make bad men good, and good men better, and to change human nature.¨

Love YA!

Elder Lonsdale 

July 30, 2012

Hey family.

Wow, I feel like whenever I read a letter from home a million things have happened, I can't even keep up with it all haha. But I hope all is well, trials and blessings, thats life right? My new companion is Elder Ramos from Ecuador. He´s great. If a black guy from the hood spoke Spanish, he would sound exactly like my companion lol. So I just might accidentally on purpose adopt my companions accent, just for fun haha. At first it was a little hard to understand him, but as my gangster side has come out more, our soul brothership has grown to the point where we understand each other. OK enough about that.

This week was good, a little tough at times. This branch is awesome, but needs a little more help than us missionaries can handle alone. Ive been able to see how crucial unity is in a branch or ward or any organization. Ive been able to see what happens without it too, and its not so great. ¨If your not one, your not mine¨¨ (or something like that in english) But we keep working, and doing all we can. 

This past week we had the Peruvian Independence Day. It was interesting, it felt very much like Canada Day, seeing that out flags and colors are pretty much identical haha. But there was a parade, lots of drinking, and all that jazz lol. Hard to teach drunk people but for some reason many of them insist on being taught the word of God while intoxicated. Frustrating, but sometimes quite entertaining. 

Well, I pray you guys have a good week. I love you all and pray for you always.

Your missionary

Elder Lonsdale