Sept 16

This week was great because it was the first week that I really got to work in my area. the past couple weeks ive been in Lima and away from my new area. we found a house and its pretty nice. It has a kitchen but were not allowed to cook so that sucks. Yeah, we do kind of leave the scary stuff out. Sorry mom but everything is rainbows unicorns and lolipops here. just perfect. My new area is called Chen-Chen. there are no paved roads in Chen Chen. its not even worth it shining my shoes, which are holding up good by the way. almost all the houses are made of estera and the people are pretty humble. we found a couple good people this week and we´re hoping that they can come to church and progress.

Three days ago I completed 7 months in the mission and am now the oldest missionary in the zone.  I love my companion more and more everyday.  We´re best buds.

Make sure you tell the Burtons that I love them. Seth turns 18 in November right? tell him to get on those papers and come join me in Arequipa. Im super stoked that Boyd is going on a mission.

Im glad it rained there. I miss the rain. Alot.


Elder Haskell

Sept. 2

INA IS DONKEY!? 

THATS awesomE!!! Pictures of the prom dress please!! How are the Williams?  I hope everyone is doing okay!! will write a letter and send pictures today! i have a sweet computer because im in Lima doing legal stuff again. give me thirty mins. :)

Well, 

I feel like im going through a rough time in my mission and really not finding a lot of time to work like we should be working, for example in the past three weeks I've had 4 Full days of work without interruption of meetings and traveling. They closed my branch and taken away the largest part of my area, which has been reduced down to two blocks by seven blocks, I can't help my recent convert who i love very much because he lives in the area that they took from me, im just waiting for me to get changed to another area. I don't know i feel super burnt out. My companion is awesome and he helps me a ton. hes ready to be on his own and maybe even train new missionaries. I feel like im waiting for the next thing to happen and its not happening yet. maybe im not giving my part to the lord or failing in something but well see what happens. 

Thanks for keeping me up to date on whats happening at home. I´ll still be in Lima tomorrow and spend all of Wednesday moving to a new room and organizing my new area. so this week is pretty much shot but I hope that we can progress and find someone who will progress in the gospel and have a real desire to repent of their sins. Faith unto repentance is so ridiculously important. maybe I´ll try to teach that better. 

I met an Elder who is from Alaska. He lives two blocks away from Enendorf air force base. pretty cool guy. 

hopefully better news next week.

Elder Haskell

Aug 27

This week has been pretty slow, We went to Ilo and received some sort of training from (my mission President) but I was really confused, He told us that we had to think outside the box to have success in the mission field. in his Spanish he said that the box is PMG and the white handbook.... weird.

Training is going good. were a little concerned because they might close our branch and our area in a couple weeks. little concerned for my converts and friends here.

Aug 19

Well, this week was pretty fulfilling.  We found four or five people who I think can progress, If only I can get them to come to church!! No baptisms this week, Sad face.

I think were going to have a Zone Conference this week, so I hope I can learn how to be a better missionary. The best way to learn is to make mistakes, I think. That's what Magic School Bus taught me. I didn't take any pictures this week.

Oh, I completed 6 months in the mission. That was really fast. The past six months I've really learned alot and gained an understanding of the atonement. Its pretty sweet to think that I have a Savior and a Redeemer. I've come to love Jesus Christ. He is my friend and my teacher.

I got to speak in two different sacrament meeting this week. The branch president decided it was funny to surprise me. haha. -_- I can now improvise in Spanish.

The switch from English to Spanish is complete. My brain works in a completely different way now. we have English classes and I cant even teach  or spell words correctly anymore. I've given up with our germanic estupidese.

Aug 12

Its not too difficult to train a new missionary, Especially since he knows how to work with the members better that I do. He just struggles with understanding all the doctrine. but we're working on that ;) Its a great learning experience for me too. I see him try to copy everything I say and do so I have to set a good example when it comes to obediencia con exactitud(obedience with exactness).

This week is pretty normal. nothing exciting. Were struggling to get people to church. as always. its time to try something different. time to pray for inspiration. I think Ill ask bishop clove for help. along with elder stamler and ruelas. and frank.