Hola!

Well I think that right now I am on a Spiritual high. We just got back from the Temple.  There wasn’t enough space in the room to do a session, so my comp and I did initiatory work.  We  were going to also do some sealings.  But, they were short a couple of workers to do a couple things so we started doing initiatory, and then while inside we had to wait about 35-40 minutes while the workers helped out in other areas.  It was alot of good thinking time..... I feel wonderful when I’m in the Temple. I love it.

One of the elders of our Zone that was going to train didn’t receive a companion.  So he was with us as a trio.  He went to Iquitos on Sunday, so we are now short 2 missionaries in the Zone, but he was happy to go to Iquitos.

This past week my comp also was a little sick for something he ate and so he was down for a day.

On Friday we had a Zone conference that went really well, the assistants to the President taught us and I learned alot. :)

We have found some new investigators this week, one of them is another family, and one is a Dad that is separated from his family right now.  He told us that he wants to change his life, that he has a problem with alcohol, but that he wants to change. 

I feel very blessed to have such an amazing family in my life and to have the restored gospel as well.  It is interesting to know that we always have the opportunity to choose. We can choose to follow the gospel plan, or we can not, we can choose to obey the commandments, or we can not. God has given us the freedom to choose, and I have chosen to share the Gospel, to do God’s will. It’s amazing to me the blessings that one receives while sharing.  In the world’s view, the more you give means the less you’ve got. With the Lord is the opposite, the more you give, the more you’ve got. But it all depends on us and what we choose. 

Christ lives and hears our prayers!!

Love Elder Joe.

HOLA!!!

This week we have had some fun!!! :) On Monday we went to Chiki’s to eat as a Zone. On Tuesday we had to pick up the Zone Leaders from Moyobamba (the jungle) to sleep over in our room.  On Wednesday we had the Zone Leaders Conference. :) Then, on Thursday night we had to pick up two Elders that are finishing their missions, Elder Moore, and Elder Smith. So all week we have had other people sleeping in our room!  On Thursday we also gave service to a member in the morning, fixing his roof, and on Friday we gave service sanding down a room to be painted. On Saturday we planned for this week and the new changes and yesterday we taught a family that is really awesome!!!!!!!  So our week has been really busy and so many things have been happening that I was going a little crazy this week. :)  But, such is life. The craziness continues as a new week starts and today we have to set up a new area in the zone.   Tomorrow are changes......... I am way excited to work this change and to see what we can do!!!!  I will finish here, but three elders are leaving the zone. :(  So we still have a lot of work to do.  The work is moving along and we are focusing on the families, and working hard to find 4 families that will be baptized.  We are looking for the families that the Lord has prepared for His work.  Families are Forever!!!!

My favorite food if it is food food, is Aji de Gallina, and if it’s a dessert, then alfajores!!!!  And my least favorite would be……...burnt kidney!!!!!

Well, I know that the Lord has formed again on the earth His gospel and I am so excited to be part of this great work!  We have a living Prophet on the earth today, and he is the Lord’s messenger to guide us in our path. I love the gospel and the many blessings that it brings in my life.  I love the Lord and I am happily serving Him.  Life is awesome!!!  I love you all soooooo much!!!!

Love Joe

Hello from under the equator and in PERÚUUUU

This week went well and we had an awesome baptism. Her name is Mabel.  A couple of months ago her foot got run over by a motocar, so she is using crutches still and the water was really really cold!!!!! I baptized her, so we entered the water and we were both a little chilly.  When I baptized her, her foot left the water.  We had to do it again, so we put a chair in the font and she sat on it, and when I went to baptize her, she didn’t even go under...…  Sooo, I kneeled down in the water and she sat on the steps of the font and she was baptized!!!  It was awesome!!!!!  Third time was the charm...... :)  Then she shared her testimony and couldn’t get it all out because she said that she felt a peace inside, and then just started to cry.  That moment was soooooo special and the whole room was quiet. Awesome!!!

We have also found two families this week that are great!!!! One of the other families that we are teaching accepted to be baptized on the 23rd!!!  The work is progressing!!!!

My companion and I cover more than one ward, but we don’t work there always, just with references.

I have seen Elder Wood, from North Ogden, in my area a couple of times.  He looks good!

Our visit to Parque de la Imaginacion was awesome!  There was an earthquake room that shakes, a giant piano, a big bubble maker, an electric chair that works, a human gyro, a room that rolls and makes you dizzy, a giant human heart that lights up, and a couple of other things.  The photo’s I sent are from the Imagination Park.

I know that this is our Savior’s church and that He is at the wheel today, guiding and directing us.  I love the work and am excited to endure to the end!!!!!!

Also I found out that I will be finishing the mission here in my area right now!!!! And it is fine by me!!!

Happy 4th of  JULYYYYY

Love, Joe