HOLA!!!

I do know that everything we are taught in the Restored Gospel is true.  Thanks for EVERYTHING!

This week we had a zone conference, and the week went well. We visited 2 elders in our zone to help them in their area.  While I was in the upper area of Magnolias, we had to go up to the last houses on the mountain 2 times.  I think it was the highest up that I have ever gotten in Lima, pretty cool.  Also, the Cerros (hills) have changed color now and are green because it’s misty up there and there are little plants growing. I also ate three lunches that day, man was I stuffed!!!!!

On Saturday we had the baptism of Genesis’ sister Pamela, (Genesis is the wife of one of the families that we baptized a couple months ago), it went very well. During the service they both shared their testimonies and I think that almost everyone in the room had tears in their eyes, it was an awesome feeling of the truthfulness of what they were saying.  They really are converts to the gospel.  On Sunday I got to confirm her, and it went well.  We also talked in sacrament meeting and that went well.  We are working hard to help the families we are teaching be baptized.  I love the work, and I love being a missionary.

Have a great week!

Love Elder Joe!

HEY HEY HEY!!! FROM UNDER THE EQUATOE!!!!

Well the week went well, and I didn’t get to eat *cuy, but that’s ok. (All the cuy’s were still babies so they didn’t do cuy).  I did have pizza and another cake..... so that was good..... and my comp smashed another egg on my head.... TRAITOR!!! Jajaja it’s all good.  (The Peruvian birthday tradition is to make a “cake” on the head).  They also gave me a ‘King Kong’, it’s a dessert here that is made from a hard bread with pineapple jam and date jam and Manjar (caramel) in the middle.  IT IS GOOD!!!!!!!  I will bring one home for you to try!

This week we had a family attend church.  They will be baptized on the 20^th!  This family has prayed and received answers.  There were also 9 investigators there, it was awesome!!!!!!!!!  The work keeps moving forward!!! I love it soooooo much!!!!!!!!

I also felt the Spirit’s influence yesterday in fast and testimony meeting.  I wanted to get up and bear my testimony, but there was a line, and so there wasn’t time at the end.

We are keeping up the work and everything’s going good.  I love the Lord’s work and have seen His hand in many ways, especially changing lives. It truly is a marvelous work and a wonder.  I am thankful for all the blessings that the Lord has given me, I love the gospel!!!!!!  I just feel pushed to finish well, and to do my best until the end.

I love the work!!!!!!!! Endure to the END!!!!! Fidelidad Hasta el FIN!!!!!!

Love,

Elder Joe

*Guinea pigs (called cuy) were originally domesticated for their meat in the Andes. It continues to be a major part of the diet in Peru. Guinea pig meat is high in protein and low in fat and cholesterol, and is described as being similar to rabbit and the dark meat of chicken. The animal may be served fried (chactado or frito), broiled (asado), or roasted (al horno), and in urban restaurants may also be served in a casserole or a fricassee. Peruvians consume an estimated 65 million guinea pigs each year, and the animal is so entrenched in the culture that one famous painting of the Last Supper in the main cathedral in Cusco shows Christ and the twelve disciples dining on guinea pig.

Pres. & Sister Blunck with Missionaries in Lima

Feliz Cumpleaños a ti!!!  Wooooo Hoooooooo!!!

This morning I was given a Peruvian birthday!!!  Which means...... that they smash eggs on your head, and then they put a bunch of flour on top!!!  They have fun with it.  Last year I got out of it, because it was Sunday and nobody knew til the day before. Well, this year they knew, and soooo you can look at the pictures to see what happened.

Today we are planning on going to the center of Lima to a museum or something as a Zone, my comp knows all the info on where we are going.

This week was great!!!  We had the new Elders from the CCM doing the practice proselyting in our zone on Saturday.  We went with them to work in our areas for a day, and I felt like a new Elder again!!!  It was fun to work with them a little, and to remember when I had just barely gotten here and didn’t understand anything that they were saying to me. They found an awesome lady that has passed through a couple of churches, but still has doubts.  So we answered some of her questions, and now Elder Geronimo and I will be passing by to visit her again. 

When we were finishing up the proselyting, I invited the Elders that I was with to a mil-hojas (NOTE: Mil hojas means a thousand 'sheets' or 'leaves' (in this case, layers of pastry), and there are almost a thousand South American interpretations of this classic French dessert, the napolean. This dulce de leche variation is quick and easy, looks beautiful, and is simply delicious. Serve it with fresh fruit, or dress it up with a layer or two of pastry cream. Some people like to roll the edges in coconut.  Spread some extra dulce de leche around the the sides to help the coconut stick.)  They thought they were in heaven, especially Elder Alley, from Texas, he just said “Mi Gusta!!!!!” (I like) about three times. It was cool to be with them.

The Lord has given me many blessings and I am happy right now!!! I love the work!!!  How sweet it is!!!

What more can I say?  I’m thankful for the Gospel plan!  I know that we are in the Lord’s hands, we just have to trust in Him!!!!!!!!  This is His work, and we are His servants!!!  I know that this is Christ’s church, and that all of it’s teachings are the Truth.  HE LIVES!!!!

Love Elder Joe!!!