February 4, 2013

Hello Family

First of all, thank you so much for all the support and love that you guys always send to me. It really is such a blessing to open up my email every lunes (Monday) and receive so much positive energy directed to lift and motivate me, even when there are challenges that happen over there, there is always love and support that you guys spare for me, and I am so grateful. 

This week was a blast. Me and my companion were able to have a really great motivating Leaders training meeting to start off the week, so the rest of the week was surge of concentrated hard work in our area (the days we were there). It felt really good to focus our efforts for a bit on what was happening in our area. Finding new investigators, teaching current ones, visiting and helping members, and all that jazz. We had a couple more lessons with Ronald, (who, by the way, is attending church, reading the scriptures, praying, hanging out with members, keeping the commandments; being pretty much a member of the church), which was great. We almost always end up reading about what he has just read and answering questions that he has which is awesome. We still don’t have permission from his parents, but tonight we have a little Noche De Hogar (FHE) planned with his family to try to help them feel the spirit and comfortable to ask questions and make comments so we can help them know a little more about the church. We are praying that all goes well!

Today we had another super pday. We headed off at 4 in the morning again to Gocta. Remember Gocta? The huge waterfall? We went about 5 months ago and we were able to go again with all the missionaries who hadn’t gone before. 3 hours travel, and 2 hours hiking. Again, it was incredible. God´s creations are so amazing! All went well, we are little wiped, but all is well. That’s why we are a little late today writing.

But it sounds like you guys had a great week too. A super dinner with Elder Snow, and an impressive stake conference? Sounds like a blast. Also, thanks mom and dad for always telling me a bit about how Daniel and Krista are doing. I always enjoy hearing about what they are up to. Krista = cello!? SO COOL! And Daniel doing exercises to get bigger? ALSO SO COOL! Haha, Krista will have to teach me cello one day, and Daniel will show me how to get muscles and burn off this mission fat lol.  But I'm glad to hear that you guys are doing great. I love you so much and am so grateful for all that you do, for me, for others, and for the Lord :)   

Your Elder Lonsdale

January 28, 2013

Hey fam  of mine

Sorry I'm a little late today, we  had to travel to Chiclayo for the zone training for the month of Feb.  We also traveled to an area called San Ignacio a couple hours away to do some baptismal interviews on Friday. Wow, I never thought I´d travel so much, I feel like a rock star or something haha. So this past week was a bit of a blur. 

But we are teaching this awesome young man named Ronald, a friend of some members here in the ward. A really friendly, bright kid who has so many desires to know the truth. He has this desire to learn from the Book of Mormon like I've never seen from an investigator before. He is so captured by the story of Nephi and his family and said he can’t stop reading he enjoys it so much. That really helped me see even more the value the scriptures have for us, how much we can learn from and enjoy the scriptures if we have the right attitude. I love trying to see the gospel from the eyes of an investigator, it really gives you a whole new perspective that helps you help them understand it better. Also, after we invited him to pray if what he is reading about is true, he told us about a powerful, quiet spiritual experience that helped him feel that what he is learning about really is the truth. It strengthened my testimony even more that anyone who really wants to know can get an answer. Not from the missionaries, or their member friends, but from God, through His spirit. It’s a promise, and Our Father doesn’t lie. J  But the only impediment that might cause some bumps in the road might be some permission from parents. We some really great help from member friends of his parents, so I’ll let you know how that goes, thanks for helping with your prayers!  

That’s one hard thing about traveling a bunch, we don’t get the time in our area with our investigators like we would like. But its ok, we just have to learn to use our time even more efficiently and make sure we are keeping our diligence levels up there.

It sounds like you guys have had some crazy weekends, and will have….haha. Baptisms for the dead? Daniels first time? Wow! That’s awesome! I'm so proud/happy/jealous. I miss the temple so much, what an amazing blessing, the Calgary temple. And it sounds like you guys had a really great crowd of youngins over for dinner lol, sounds like a blast. 

Well I have to go, sorry for the little email! I love you all sooooooo much!

Elder Lonsdale

PS I remember that talk mom that we had in Hawaii, I was thinking about it this past week, thanks for helping me understand :)  

January 21, 2013

Hello there,

I'm sorry I didn't write yesterday, we had a big p-day and we didn't get back in time to write, so we have permission to write for a second this morning before our missionary meetings. For a long time we haven't gone to any big tourist sites, and the missionaries have really been wanting to, so this weekend we did all the planning and arrangements to go to Kuelap. Kuelap is a huge ancient city up in the mountains. Made thousands of years of ago and took about 800 years to make. I'm sure you can look up some pictures on the internet. Its kinda like a mini Machu Pichu. It takes about 6 hours to get there, so we got up at 3am and left at 4. 12 hours in a traveling van with 18 missionaries ( the elders in chachapoyas didn't go) was a little long but Kuelap was amazing. HUGE; and so old, and so cool. Just imagining the ancient civilizations made my imagination go wild. Can you imagine the stories those huge walls could tell? wow. I'm sure we would hear the Book of Mormon lol. It started raining pretty hard, and being waaaaaay up there in these ancient ruins in the rain... awesome. There was a tourist from Canada there, I had a little awkward chat with them, that was cool, they actually grew up in Edmonton. The first white person Ive talked to in English that isn't a missionary, here in my mission. Lol.

Well, Im sorry for the lack of email, I really am, but next week will be better :) Love you all so much!

Elder Lonsdale

January 14, 2013

Hey there,

A little bit of a hectic week again this week with the transfers, missionaries leaving in buses arriving here at the buss station. Woot,sometimes its a little crazy because missionaries have to stay here in Jaen with us in our apt or rooms of other missionaries because we cant travel at night. Its fun being with the other missionaries and spending time with them because when they are a distance away we don't see them as much as we would like. Me and my companion did some more traveling this past week, we accompanied an elder with his new companion to chachapoyas, and to do another training for the new month of Enero. Oh yeah, about that, before I forget, lol, me and my companion are the zone leaders here in Jaen, since November, when I changed areas from Bagua Grande to Jaen. I had had some time as district leader starting in San Pedro, and now I'm here serving the missionaries in Jaen. It has been a huge learning experience. Learning how to love a big group of missionaries and try to help and motivate them to achieve their purpose and have success. It really is true, the fact that a mission prepares you for life. I found out through some hard companionships how essential communication, humility, and love is to make a relationship work. And now, making decisions with somebody to help a group of people in what they need. Talking about how we can help the zone better, how we can be better examples, how we can help each missionary be more obedient etc etc, its like a family, lol. I'm not saying my companion and I are a married couple, but I'm learning how to work together like one :) But that's why we have been traveling so much.  Its really great to be able to visit the elders in their  areas when they are at and help them however we can. Its a lot of time in a car or bus but the view is always amazing, some places are jaw dropping, deep in the green Peruvian mountains, woot. I try to take pictures, but I'm sorry, they don't to it justice. You will just have to come see for yourself someday, but don't worry, I will be more than come along and show you around :) As for your question mom, we don't drive. Its a mission rule,kinda sad lol so when we travel its always in bus, van, or a travel car.

I am the only Canadian in the mission. For me, that is a testimony  that our mission calls are by revelation, another proof that I am supposed to be here in Peru, that this mission is for me haha. But yes, the jokes are abundant at times haha. Oddly enough mostly from the latino missionaries, joking that Canada is another state, and that I'm from the states. I think it started from some american elders but the latinos have a lot of fun with it. One elder asked if it was true that there are more cows than people in Canada, so that has been the most recent. It can be pretty funny at times, lol, and I laugh along with them. 

Grandparents to Hawaii? That's awesome, I hope they have a blast, they deserve it.  And Daniel with braces =cool. Daniel with attitude= not so cool haha. A little boy with a big attitude. We will have to do something about that lol. And tell Krista that she will have to teach me to ski some day.

Well family, I'm so grateful for your love, prayers and support. I cant be there to show you my gratitude, so I show my thanks and love through my work. Thanks for being such an amazing example and strength for me. I know that this is the work of the Lord and that He loves each and everyone of us so much. And finding that love can change someones life, I've seen it. I love you all!

Elder Lonsdale

January 7, 2013

Hey Family,

Thanks so much for the emails. .

I apologize for the shortness of this letter, after Dad even thanked me for the longerish ones lol. Grandma asked for a little bit about mission preparation for a few talks they are going to give. ( I'd have to say that one of the most important things someone can take on a mission is a testimony of the Book of Mormon. And the only way to get that is by reading and praying about it. It really is the most important tool, accompanied with the spirit, to conversion of the restored gospel. It really is the Keystone to our religion and has helped me so much in my life that I want to share it with everyone around so that they can receive the blessings that I've received.) But yeah, the mission area has also sent a couple of pages to all the missionaries about emotional health and we need to read it to make sure we are emotionally healthly, that's important lol. But I shall print it off also, and your emails that I got today because I would like to analyze them a bit more in depth and in a more relaxed place haha.

This week my companion and I were in Chiclayo for a couple of days and then we came back and I went and picked up a dropped of a missionary in an area 2 hours away(but a Pervian paradise) that was ending his mission. We said some goodbyes to some other missionaries due to the transfers this week, and that was a little sad. You grow to really love some missionaries and its hard to say goodbyes to good friends. But life moves forward offering you new experiences and  growth and the Lord needs them helping other people right now :). I'm sorry if this is a little confusing…..lol. Transfers this week. Elder Uriarte and I are staying together another transfer, I'm glad. We enjoy working together and are learning a bunch together. This week we have to go to chachapoyas again, but we hope we`ll have a bit more time in our area to be able to work with our investigators lol. The work moves forward!! Woot! Haha

Well I have to go, I hope all is well as you move back into the routine of life and make your 2013 goals!! As for being canadian and why we`re traveling….next week!! Sorry!

Love ya Elder Lonsdale

January 1, 2013

Hola mi querida familia

¡¡FELIZ AÑO NUEVO 2013!!

It was so great to be able to see and talk to you guys on Christmas. I enjoyed hearing about your lives and whats been going on, and it was also great to get to know some people a little bit better that I didn't know before, like Eloise and Brett.  Technology is really a huge blessing. I hope you had and an awesome Christmas in the snowy mountains. We had a great Christmas here in the sun, and talking to our families was the highlight. You guys have this interesting power over missionaries. Well, families in general. A power when used right can motivate and inspire a missionary to work harder in the Lord´s work and try to do his very best. And when used differently can make a missionary have his head in a different place other than the area where he is serving. But all in all it really depends on the missionary and where he wants to put his thoughts. But don't worry, you make it easy for me to keep my thoughts on where Im at, because I know that you´re right there  cheering me on in what Im doing and why im here. Thanks family :)

Well this week was a little, well, tough in respect to the work. Hardly anybody had time to listen to us, due to family being in town, traveling, being drunk, doing other things, etc etc. But that's just what happens this time of year with Christmas and new years being so close together. Our New Years was pretty chill. The whole stake had a big party but we had to be in our rooms at 9:30, so we had our own little party lol. With snacks, card games (SPAZ –very funny) and watching the fireworks, and a normal pday today. Hardly anything is open so we finally found an internet café open that's why we are a little late today.   

Things here in our area have been a little different in comparison to the rest of my mission. Me and my companion are often traveling to receive training, and then to give training etc. For example this week we are going to Chiclayo and wont be coming back until Friday. This time out of our area takes away a lot of time with investigators we are working with and results in a slower spiritual progression. So I´d love to put a cool experience here… but I'm sorry but that will have to wait.  But I'm super glad to hear from Uncle Deryle and Zach! That was great. But it makes me a little sad that I don't have time to write EVERYBODY I know and tell them how much I love them and share neat uplifting thoughts and experiences….but alas. I'm trying and I'm praying for all my family and friends, I hope you feel my love.

Well family, Happy New Year, 2013 will be a great year if we make worthy, specific goals and have the true desires to achieve them. Keep the faith!

Elder Lonsdale

PS: Unexpected mission call? COOLEST present ever.

PPS: Zach teaching in the MTC!!?? SO COOL, dream job.

December 17, 2012

¡¡FELIZ NAVIDAD!!

Hello there my wonderfully awesome family, how is the Christmas season
treating you? (Sorry for not being able to write you Monday, we had a
change of pday this week because of our avitivity with the president. )I
hope all is well, is there snow? I tell people here when they ask that yes
there is snow in my country right now, and they are like ´WOW! A real white
christmas? Get outta town!¨ ok, maybe not quite like that…but Im sure you
get the Idea. Christmas season so far here has been pretty great. Nativity
scenes, some lights, our Christmas activity today with the mission
president and his wife, (That was a blast, we had out activity early in the
month due to the fact that we can't be with the majority of the missionaries
in Chiclayo for the big activity 25 because we are a little farther out
there.  (breath)) But it was a blast, good food,  funny skits, games,
presents. Etc etc. Where was I? oh yeah, navidad here, well I think its a
little harder to remember its christmas after years of snow, telling you
that its christmas time, but a tan or a sunburn work too. J

Oh before I forget,… this year we wont be able to have a `pre-call`, so I
won't be calling out of the blue like I have the past couple of times (Dad:
`Derek!? What the?!` haha) …. and we wont be having pday on Monday because
Presidente Risso wants to make sure we are proselyting all the time we can,
or doing service, and so our p-day will be on Tuesday the 25, the day where
working will be a little more difficult. SO. I hope we can make all the
arrangements now…my companion is going to call his family on skype at 4pm
peruvian time, and I am going to call you guys at 5pm peruvian time. I'm not
exactly sure what the difference is over there with daylight savings and
stuff, but I'm sure you guys know J We will be able to talk for an hour. 
I have forgotten, but I will get a chance to check my email on Tuesday to
grab that info from you guys and see if you guys have anything more to add
to the plans before I call you…..how does that sound? Great.  5pm, in Peru,
1 hour, I will check my email before I call. Im excited to see your faces
and talk with you. J

Well I think that is all, about the call…. This week…..went well, it as an
interesting week. We didn’t have much time working in our area, and we did
lots of traveling, 6 hours to Chiclayo, and back, and then after one day me
and my companion traveled to an area called Chachapoyas, about 3 hours from
Jaen. (funny story, they told us that Chachapoyas is cold, and to bring
sweaters when we came. I, being all full of Orgullo, was like pfft, cold?
Im from Canada. So I didn’t bring a sweater or anything. Im not sure if
just being in HOT areas for the past couple of months broke me, Or If it
was just really cold in chachapoyas, because it was COLD there haha, I
haven’t been cold like that in a long time lol) anyways…. I´ll leave some
other stuff to talk about next week lol.

Please thank Nana, Gerry Clark, and G G Mendenhall for the overgenerous
money gifts, I really appreciate it. Its about time to buy some new clothes
haha
gotaa go