The Return to Puerto Maldonado and CHRISTMAS!!!

Hola todos!

So, the opening joke will be by Elder Fincher.

When I get home, I'll open a restaurant and name it, "Oh! What's that place's name?" So that when people ask where people want to eat and they respond with the name, the person asking will be confused. I'm funny. :P :D

The results of the week and spiritual things will also be given by Elder Fincher

The sector is doing fantastic! We're finding a lot of new people and we're having a lot of lessons, it's going really great! We have an investigator, Hermana Almendra with a baptismal date for the 14th of January and we're working with others for their baptismal dates as well.

The temple is clean. The Spirit resides there. If it were dirty, it couldn't. How is our house? How is our room? Can the spirit reside there?

This is why as missionaries we have a day each week to prep, including cleaning. I strongly invite everyone that you can take the time each week to clean where you live so that the Spirit can live with you and bless your life.

Also, Marion G. Romney in April 1980 gave a promise in regard to the Book of Mormon. That also deals with the Spirit dwelling in our homes.

Ponder this for a moment, this Christmas season (as well as every other season) we have the opportunity to invite the Spirit of God, the Holy Ghost, a Member of the Godhead into our homes. Ponder on these two methods that God has given us that we can have this great blessing in our homes, to testify to all who enter that Jesus was born and has atoned for each and everyone of us, and we only have to do a few things so that the Holy Spirit can be a resident in our houses this Christmas season.

I invite each and everyone of you to ponder the blessings you will receive as you act on this knowledge, and then to act on what that means.

Have a fantastic week and a very MERRY CHRISTMAS!

--

Hurrah for Israel!

~Elder Fincher

Cusco! Conference and vacations?!?

To start out this week, it's been interesting. We had a couple appointments Monday and Tuesday before coming to Cusco. The conference with Elder Godoy was fantastic! The thing I like most about conferences is the boost to our vision as missionaries; like climbing the mountain, seeing the whole view, and then going back to the trenches and working. Then today was also good, it was really fun at the Christmas lunch! Between those two days we did a little bit of contacting and ran into some members, 2 missionaries that just finished the mission touring with their families. We visited a couple places too since we didn't have any appointments, it was good, but it'll be really good to get back to working in our sector.

Not much happened in the sector, but Sunday we got a call from an investigator saying that her mom is okay with her being baptized now! Once she reaches 18, but that's in a month, so that was awesome! Here in Cusco we contacted a couple different people in the Plaza de Armas and nothing else, not being in your own sector is hard.

It felt like Christmas this week! Because we came to Cusco, and it's cold, it's kind of nice to feel like it's Christmas like that, :D

Let us know how the conference was and the bus trip too.

The conference was really good, Elder Godoy talked about a couple traps that we can fall into as missionaries and how to resolve them. He and the Herreras answered a couple questions that we had. And like I mentioned, it boosted the vision to be able to know and remember why we're here.

The Christmas lunch we had today was great, all the zones (other than Sicuani, Juliaca and Puno who'll have their own) did a video, choral and sketch. We had the best video in Puerto according to President Herrera, and Andahualas (I think) had the best sketch. I think the videos will be put on the mission blog. Which I don't remember what it is right now, but I think I sent it at one point.

Anyway, out of time, but have a great week, I'll be writing from Puerto next week. Be great and remember who you are!

--

Hurrah for Israel!

~Elder Fincher

Short week

Hello everyone,

This week is already at the end of time, so sorry, one question, no more.

Do you have any baptisms lined up?

We've got one person with a baptismal date.

Good work happening here, but we're off to Cusco for a conference and Christmas dinner for a week starting Wednesday.

Be good, live the Gospel. Love and serve Christ!

Hurrah for Israel!

~Elder Fincher

Thanksgiving in Puerto

Hola a todos!

Esta semana me encuentren con un poco mas de tiempo, entonces, voy a compartir un poco mas. :)

Yet again, I'll let you translate the Spanish. :) Sorry, but it's cool. :D

I was asked questions, so I'll answer them:

I know it isn't a holiday there, but did you do anything different for Thanksgiving on Thursday?

Yes. Our pension, Sister Nadine, knew about Thanksgiving already since other missionaries have celebrated it in the past with her, so, when I told her Tuesday that Thursday was a special day, she knew already. We did a little thanksgiving before eating and I told the pilgrim story. Photos of the rica comida. (delicious food)

How different are things there than in Sicuani?

Very. Weather, people, and really, not much. The people are the same but yet different, I think the branch here is a little bit more into missionary work than the ward, but we all pass through seasons, we're doing a lot here though.

Do you have a "mom" who helps with food and such like you did there?

We still have a pension, one for breakfast and lunch, another for dinner. Breakfast is delivered and the other two we go to their houses.

Is it only you and your companion or are there other missionaries there too?

In our room it's us two no more, different, but I like it. I think you can bond easier.

Which branch do you go to or is it multiple? 

We go to Puerto. We share the building with Tampopata.

Other things, The sector is progressing. We have a person with a baptismal date already and we're working with others. Lots of less actives, for the first time in the mission I'll see how we help rescue them. We're contacting pretty well and finding more and more people each day. It's going really well.

I'm doing good over here in Puerto Maldonado, with my goals that I'd set in Sicuani to become more like Christ by developing Christ-like attributes I'm progressing well. While I left Sicuani with more or less 10 whole points out of 220, now I have 26, I'm finding more goals to put to be able to see how I can improve and keep becoming more like Christ. It's really satisfying to be seeing the progress that I'm making. But it's not just me, I'm seeing a lot of help from many people, especially Christ.

Our companionship with Elder Quevedo and I is fantastic! He's helping me a ton with developing into a better missionary and a better person. He really cares for me and is showing so much charity. By his help directly and indirectly I'm seeing how I can improve, I'm trying to help him with English and the things that I know better than he does in other areas. We're doing an inventory each night to see how to improve each day and it helps a ton! The thing that is really special for me is that he accepts me for who I am, but sees my potential, so he helps me. I need to learn how to do the same. But we're all capable of improving and being better, each day. 

Let Christ be your friend, let Him help you when you're down and when you need a friend. He's always there and understands us completely.

Remember to be grateful.

--

Hurrah for Israel!

~Elder Fincher

PUERTO!

Hola!

This week went faster at internet, I don't know what happened. My hands might be affected by the heat, I'm not sure.

But a little bit is this.

Elder Quevedo is my companion now. He was in Vallecito when I got to Sicuani. I've sent at least one picture back when he was there. He's super great, we're both doing our best to support one another and to do the work. We're opening the sector after a sister finished and went back home. Her companion was a mini missionary I think, so we're opening it again. From not much to work with, so it's interesting. But we're making progress. And we had a lesson yesterday! With members even! There's lots of trees, it's hot, it's like Lima, I'm adjusting well, but air conditioning makes you sweat more when you leave it. Last night we slept in 27 degrees C or more. Or 80 more or less F.

It's great here. Hot, but great! The members are fantastic! We're working hard and will have visible fruits soon.

Ask me questions to answer for all.

Love you all! Overcome your challenges with Christ! Be willing to change and become better people! Be the child of God that you are!

--

Hurrah for Israel!

~Elder Fincher

Transfers!!! La selva!

Hola a todos!

Espero que su semana fue lo máximo y que la siguiente será lo mismo o mucho mejor!

I hope that your week was the best and that the next one will be the same or so much better!

Things are changing here. I'm heading off to the jungle and my companion is going to have the old medic as his companion and we had a baptism this week and there's so much going on! It's awesome!!!

So yeah, first, good week. Good lessons. Baptism on Thursday so that the family of Hermana Anel could be there. (I constantly learn how to spell names correctly, especially when I put them in the baptismal record) The internet died for a minute just now, but thankfully gmail saves automatically. :D

So yeah, I'm heading out to Puerto Maldonado, in the beginning of summer, but the Lord likes to try His servants, sometimes by fire. :D It'll be fantastic! But I knew there was a reason that I decided to keep wearing long sleves here even though I could have worn short sleves for the heat. It's about to get a lot more.

I kind of wish I could stick around here in Sicuani, but I know that I'm leaving a ton of great people for my companion Elder Yangali and his new companion to help out. And I'm off to help more people in the jungle! It's actually the place that my first trainer, Elder Wilde started his mission.

I'll be packing today, but I'll also be prepping photos with testimony. A little for you guys is that Jesus is the Christ. He is the son of God and performed a perfect Atonement for all of us to be able to return to live with our Heavenly Father and Him, being as they are after this life and being perfected. The Plan of Salvation is so amazing! It's the Plan of Happiness and how we can be happy no matter what happens, because Jesus did the Atonement, we can repent, we can be saved. We just have to act.

--

Hurrah for Israel!

~Elder Fincher

Interviews and Stake Conference

Hola a todos!

Espero que su semana pasada fue muy bien, que muchas buenas cosas han pasado y que están aprendiendo mucho que está ayudando a ustedes y ellos quien les rodean.

I'll leave it to you guys to translate the first paragraph this week if you want to know it. :D

For us here in Sicuani, this has been a good week. We've had a lot of lessons to help people understand the Gospel of Jesus Christ more, because it brings us blessings.

Stake conference was yesterday, it was really good, focused on the Sabbath a lot. President Herrera was here for interviews and the Stake Conference, it was great, interviews helped us to lift our spirits even more, have more unity and just go for it.

Also, Anel is getting baptized this week! WHAT?!?! Yup, she passed her interview yesterday and now she'll be baptized the day that they decide on. Her mom will luckily follow as well and their family will have the blessings of the Gospel more abundantly in their lives.

Sharon and Ener as well are doing well and super interested. Life is good here, working on becoming more like Christ, but it's a great adventure.

Live the Gospel, it's how Christ blesses us. Be the amazing child of God that you are!

--

Hurrah for Israel!

~Elder Fincher

Keep going

Hola a todos!

Espero que su semana fue tan bien esta ultima, y también que han aprendido muchísimo, pero por medio de un medio tranquilo, viviendo el Evangelio.

I hope that your week was so great this last one, and also that you've learned so much living the Gospel!

This week has been a real ride. Yesterday we decided with the sisters in our sector of Sicuani that we'd split our area so that we can focus more and not walk from one end to the other end all within the same day, multiple times. So now we've got our side of the river as well as behind the hospital, they've got the rest. We're giving them a lot of the people we were teaching, but we all feel that it will be for the best, that the Lord will be able to work more effectively now.

Last Monday we had a 4/5 zone activity (sorry Espinar) it was really fun, we played a few games with the fútbol and volleyball. And for the people that went to the school I went to, we also played Koosh! That was fun to play again, the other missionaries liked it too, other than Elder Sanabria won three times in a row. But that was a fun activity, at the very end the food finally was cooked, next time we might bring gasoline to start the fire... Or different charcoal, we'll see... :D

We've got a lot of people progressing, Sharon and Ener whom we found last week are really interested. Edith and Annel her daughter are also progressing well for baptism, they really want to be baptized, just lack a couple requirements like all the lessons. Other people are going good too, but we're giving a lot to the sisters, it helps us remember before we get transferred that they're not "our people" rather they're the Lord's.

I'm learning to be more humble. We can be something, such as humble, or nice, or charitable, but we need to remember that until we are perfect like Christ, we still have to improve. Which means we can recognize an attribute of Christ that we are developing, that we've developed more than others, but that we still need to develop.

The thing that's always been the test, is to put in practice the things that we've already known. When we came to Earth, we had already known everything we needed to, but we forgot it all, according to the great and grand design of Heavenly Father. And here in the Earth, we learn a lot, but the task is to put it into practice, just like it's always been. We can do it, we just need to actually do it.

So, I invite you that you can think of one thing that you can do to act this week. And do it.

--

Hurrah for Israel!

~Elder Fincher

BAPTISMS! And MIRACLES!

Hola a todos! Amigos, familiares y a los demás!

Esta semana fue muy, muy bien. Recibimos muchas más cosas y nuevas normas de excelencia todavía. Pero nos ha ayudado todo esto!

This week was very, very good. We received more things and newer standards of excellence still. But it's helped us, all of this!

The sector Sicuani is good. We had two baptisms this week! Two brothers in the young men, we're super excited for them. We've had a lot of great lessons this week. Really, things are going really well, just a little bit more on our part and it'll shoot off!

Yesterday a really cool experience that we had was we were in the fields that we have in Sicuani, my companion had been feeling that we should go over there since no one had ever pretty much, that there were and are families that need us, we went there and as we were about to head back to the more city-like area because of the rain I felt that there was someone that needed our help. Maybe because of the rain or something else. Anyway, we went and hide under a tin hut until the downpour stopped, I wasn't feeling so strongly anymore and asked if we should head back, but we decided to go and find who had been in need of our help. We came to a house that I felt prompted to go to, knocked, nothing. Then Elder Yangali said there was a sister in a small shack that was nearby, we started off, then I felt that it was in the other direction, like it had been from the main road to the small house. We went over to where two people were talking as one of them was about to head off with his motorcycle. We told them that we were prompted to come over here because someone needed our help. We said that we were missionaries and had a message that is very important that we'd like to share, and if there was any physical needs we could do that too. They invited us in and we shared about the Atonement and that through Christ and living His Gospel we can change, we answered some questions and had a fantastic lesson focusing on them. Then we invited them to pray and read the scriptures, then we set an appointment for Saturday and left. It was an amazing, spiritual experience.

And on Saturday we had the baptism of Oseas y Obed. It was really special, the spirit was strong, I didn't know what to feel, but it was good, the spirit was there and everyone felt it. Their parents were able to attend as well.

All in all, we're doing great. Elder Yangali and I are having a lot of success in many areas, spiritual, personally, in our companionship and in the work. It's great.

Go study the Book of Mormon. Don't just read it, study it. Do it now, you have access to https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm?lang=eng if you're reading this blog, you probably also have scriptures in your house. Go read it now, have a question you need or want answered, I promise that if you do as Moroni says about prayer, real intent, sincere heart and faith in Christ, you'll find the answer in the scriptures just like we can while praying. God talks to us through the scriptures, we talk to Him through prayer. He also gives personal revelation during both. Go now, read, and yet more, study the Book of Mormon, and you'll find the answer you've been seeking.

--

Hurrah for Israel!

~Elder Fincher

Progress, keep making life better!

Hola a todos!

Cuando servimos a nuestros prójimos, servimos a nuestro Dios. Y crecemos en una manera bien grande.

When we serve our fellow men, we serve our God. And we grow really good many ways.

This week has been good, we had a lot of good lessons. We didn't have with Osias, Obet or Darwin sufficient to be ready for their interviews this weekend. But they should have themselves ready for this weekend to interview and then baptism on the 22nd! That's some exciting news! :D

And I've been being challenged in my patience and love from any angles recently, but as I've looked back, I have seen that there's been tremendous progress! That's nice to see. :) We're working hard to use time very well and help all the people here.

A cool epiphany that I had during a lesson is that I always like to look at potential progress as how much better life could be, and it's awesome already! We're not going to be perfect, or even get close in this life. But each step we take in that direction is one step further into a better life. Life improves the more we follow God.

Read the Book of Mormon, find a couple things that'll make your life better than it already is, then let me know how it goes. :)

We're off to  Cusco this week for a multi-zone conference, going to go find things that I don't have yet that'll help me have a better life as I implement them. 

Hasta la próxima!

--

Hurrah for Israel!

~Elder Fincher

Conference!!!! (what else would it be?)

Hola a todos!

Si no han tenido la oportunidad a escuchar a la conferencia general, yo recomendaría que lo haga, fue lo máximo!!!

If you haven't had the opportunity to listen to the general conference, I would recommend that you do it, it was the best!

And if you did have the opportunity to listen, go back and review it, that's how we learn the best, reviewing. That's why we read the scriptures everyday, pray everyday and go to church each week. A review of the things that matter most in life. Also why we have conference every 6 months, to review the things we need the most today. Review in the meantime too!

I'm not going to write what all the talks were, that's your homework. ;) But a couple things that I noticed were like others have already said, prayer, that was a big focus. Make it meaningful and do it. It's talking with our Father in heaven, how awesome is that!?!? We get to talk to a God, we have the huge chance to talk the creator of the whole universe, and He tells us to talk to Him each day to remind us of His love.

Repentance, keep reading, don't let that "scary" word keep you away from one of the greatest blessings that God has given us. As was said, "repentance isn't a back up plan in case our plan to live perfectly doesn't work out," that went out as a valid plan very early in your life, sorry, but that's the case with everyone that's ever been here except for Jesus Christ. But, because there is that exception, Jesus Christ, because He was and is perfect, He could and did pay the price for our sins.  He made it possible to constantly return and become more like Him. And if we do it how He established, we'll repent daily, then as another speaker said, we'll go to the church each week to participate in the ordinance of the Sacrament, renewing all of our covenants with Him, saying that this week we'll do a little bit better, realizing that it'll take a long time, our whole life, but that it's possible through His grace, we keep falling, but as President Uchtdorf said a while back, it's not the times we fall that count, but rather the times we pick ourselves up off the ground and go forward again." It's the way of life, choose to remove the things that are making you sad (sins, and other things mentioned in another talk) and experience the JOY of the gospel! The JOY of Jesus.

There was so much more in the conference, and this week was great for us here in Sicuani, but I'll just leave you here and invite you to go and read, go and watch and/or go and listen to the voice of God's prophets today. I had the chance to listen to their voices for all but the Priesthood Session, the words are the same, but the voices add the emotion that the prophets themselves have. If you're reading this you probably speak English, take advantage of the huge ability you all have to hear the same voice of the prophet.

Hasta la próxima,

--

Hurrah for Israel!

~Elder Fincher

Good Week

Hola a todos!

Esta semana estaba un poco enfermo, pero la obra avanza!

This week I was a little bit sick, but the work advances!

It was really good this week.

Great lessons. Elder Yangali's birthday. Drinking the waters of San Pedro today. A Family History event yesterday. And I don't want to write more because I'm hungry. But, I like to testify, so here it goes.

Fantastic district meeting last Monday! We talked about testimony, and how we can constantly bear testimony to ourselves, as well as others. Like I'd mentioned last week, each day telling myself that I'm a Representative of Jesus Christ, An Instrument in God's Hands, etc... It helps me to have that testimony and knowledge of that truth. Because while we can strengthen testimonies while praying, studying the scriptures and listening to other's testimonies, Brigham Young said that the time we grow our testimonies the most is when we bear them. So I invite you to bear a good testimony to strengthen it, about the gospel and about yourself. Christ never downgraded anyone, He always uplifted. We can do the same for everyone around us, even ourselves.

Tuesday we put a baptism date with Mirian for the 15th, we're going to help her prepare ot receive the blessings of the gospel!

Wednesday was good, when I first was feeling a little under the weather (it's also raining frequently now) We taught a family! Willy and Julia, reference from Hermano Washington, we visited with Hermano Condori. It was awesome!

Thursday we cleaned the patio of Hermano Washington, his wife was in the hospital for the weekend, but is doing much better now. We decided to help them out though and they have a much cleaner patio now! (patio: place inside the walls of the house that's what we normally have our backyard for, sees the sky)

Friday we had a fantastic English class due to a game Elder Yangali taught me, I'll share it when I get home, but it's this "Caballero, dice el caballero que le pase el lapicero al siguiente caballero" And you do it super fast, and in English, and it's missionaries, and if you screw up you're an animal, then have a sickness, and then a defect and then you lose all the way.

It was also Elder Yangali's birthday and that was fun. we threw a small party that was great, he was really happy!

Saturday Vallecito had a BAPTISM!!!!! And I had the honor to be the one baptizing. My first time in my whole life, 3 times with the first being because of not bent knees is pretty good I think. :D But Sister Evaluz is now a member of the true church of God and receiving the blessings of baptism. So amazing!

Sunday was good. Darwin came to church! and We had a good family history event. Then a lesson with the family Condori.

Live the gospel, bear your testimony, share it with yourself, then build up until you're sharing with the world!

--

Hurrah for Israel!

~Elder Fincher

LIMA!

Hola a todos!

Esta semana fui a Lima! Wow, que chevere es esto?!? Sí es, pero no para la clima, solo nubes. Sin embargo, chevere.

So, this week I went to Lima! That was cool! Cloudy, but it was refreshing nonetheless.

Monday we went to Machupitumarca, that was fun, it wasn't the Mountain of 7 Colors like we'd planned, but everyone made it, which is a concern with the other. And it's still giving me material for District Meeting, so we're good. It's cool at Machupitumarca, ruins, a chance to wear my chuyo, which is actually very comfortable. Good pictures and great missionary bonding.

Tuesday I got ready to head to Lima. We also had a lesson before I left, good one too. Wednesday we flew out at 5:40ish in the morning, arrived at 7. Went to immigration, had breakfast then entered and did our stuff, left to the airport. We ate pizza in the airport, roughly 19 bucks each of the 5 pizzas. So, pretty normal for Papa Johns. (yes, there's a Papa Johns in the airport) And then everyone went with someone to look for dessert. Elder Boelter and I (that's right, I saw my MTC companion again!!! And all the rest of our group! just not a great picture with everyone) We were looking at Dunkin' Donuts (that one too) there was a guy at the counter eating his donut and coffee. He also had a spiffy hat, glasses, polka dot bow tie and a blue suit. Yup, a blue suit. Eye catcher, right? So Elder Boelter mentioned that he looked interesting, we kept looking at the prices and waiting to order.

Then this guy started talking to us, told us to come over and chat a second, he had a couple Latino buddies with him, one born in Brazil and I don't know the other guy where he's from. Elder Boelter asked what he was doing in Peru after we established that we're missionaries for two years. He said the last time he was in Peru he was on the mission, but converting people to Catholicism. And then he started telling his friends that the Mormon Program is something amazing, that young men, go around the whole world, sharing their beliefs with everyone. Then he joked that we're not actually elders, I joked that yup, that's right, we're joven ancianos. Or young ancients. He then asked what we were going to get, Elder Boelter said Muchkins (donut holes) he asked how many we needed, 10, then he told one of his friends to buy us how many we needed, his friend then started saying, "okay, how many munchkins do we need, let's go get them."  "He's my papi, he's got all the money"  said the blue suit guy.

Then the sisters came up and he told them, "Guess what, these elders just found four sinners!" (there was an airport guy too) They were confused, but we talked a little bit more, they realized that they were buying us donuts and by the time the purchase was done almost all the 13 missionaries that went to Lima were there with us. They gave us the donuts and we said thanks, I said it was our turn as I handed them contact cards, he started translating the first part then bid us farewell and that if we ever need anything agricultural to get in touch with Alltech. I wouldn't be surprised if they own this company that I've never heard of before. That was a very cool and probably once in a lifetime opportunities. (he gave me ideas for when I grow up too :)  )

Then we went to fly out, ate the donuts, played English Jeopardy a little and went to Cusco again. Then came back to Sicuani Thursday morning. Elder Yangali's shoulder bag had come. He was happy.

 We set a baptismal date with Osias for the 24th, we need to move it for timing because of interview that he lacks and stuff like that. But then Yesterday we set with his brother Obed for the 8th. Conference is the 1st and 2nd, so it's not possible to confirm him on Sunday.

Friday we planned for next week, good English class too, hangman. Saturday we did service for the EQ president, helping make ice cream, I ate 10 roughly, because if they break they don't sell, and yes, we did our best to keep them good, it was disappointing to a person like me with a little OCD to break them. It was so good though! Elder Yangali and Elder Augat at the end had a contest to see who could have their hand in the water that's -20C the longest, Elder Yangali won, something like 15 seconds. Crazies.

Sunday was good, like I said, we visited Obed and had a good lesson with the Condori family.

Now, like I appreciated a friend on their mission doing, now that I've been out for 5 months today, I'll list 5 things I'm glad I did before the mission.

1. Lived the Gospel
2. Graduated seminary, went to institute
3. Went to the Mission prep class
4. Read the scriptures and prayed everyday
5. Studied the language

And 3 things I wish I'd done:

1. Learned to pray more sincerely
2. Learned more about my mission
3. Developed more the key Christ-like attributes

Read the Book of Mormon, be good, live the Gospel.

Hasta la próxima!

--

Hurrah for Israel!

~Elder Fincher

Remember who you are and what you're doing here

Hola a todos!

Espero que han experimentado un parte del Evangelio esta semana y que su vida está mejor por esto. También, recordad que Dios nos ama y quiere nuestro bien, solo necesitamos permitirle.

And so, English time, I hope this week was fantastic and that you got to use the Gospel in your life, remember that God loves us and that He wants our good, we just need to let Him help us.

It was great for us here in Sicuani. Elder Yangali is growing super great, and after our companionship inventory on Friday (for the zone meeting) we have a much better relationship. For future missionaries, plan to ALWAYS do your inventory at the end of weekly planning, it keeps the relationship livable (as witnessed by many missionaries) and it improves it week to week as you do it. For returned missionaries and a los demás, (everyone else) I recommend reading how to do an inventory as found in Preach My Gospel chapter 8 in the middle of the chapter, then do it with those in your life that you spend a lot of time with and/or that you want to improve your relationship with them.

Monday was great, P-day, I sewed my PJ pants that had had a huge hole in them, then we had a great District Meeting talking about pioneers in our lives, in the Gospel or lives or whatever it may be, and how they can help us live better now, even with what they've already done. Think of one, what did they do? How can they still help you today? Example? Council? Something else? They are amazing, our pioneers, they keep helping us, and we can follow their example and be pioneers for others.

Tuesday, A couple good lessons and English class, we learned the Alphabet, and the song! I've offered to the missionaries that any Latino that can learn it will receive a premio, or reward. Simple, but there's been two so far, my companion Elder Yangali and Sister Soto. I'll also get the Gringos who help their companions something too.

Wednesday, English class for missionaries, same as last night, ABCs. We also had a lesson with Darwin, and he's a lot more ready and understanding more about baptism and how it's not perfection, just the first step. It's great and amazing to see people progress. October 8! We also met with the Stake President to coordinate a little, we've got more ideas and plans now.

Thursday, We did more prep for the Invasion tonight, where we sent missionaries with members to look for and visit with less actives or find out that they've moved, stuff like that. We got more ourselves, but the Invasion got 10% of the whole directory!

Friday we had a zone meeting. Some announcements to remind, some with new stuff. The standard of excellence has changed from 1 baptism per month to 2 with one being a male more than 18 years old. It'll be a little hard, but we can do it! Then we had a mission night and taught the plan of salvation with a game, basically this: Choose between Simon 1 and Simon 2. I was Simon 2 Elder Yangali Simon 1. He played fun games and offered at first to give good rewards at the end and fun during. I just offered Sublimes (chocolates) and big boxes of cookies. I had a couple people come to me and we played Simon Says, (Simon Dice) and they had a good bit of exercise for the night... ;) Pick up the chair, pushups, jump, turn around.... etc... Simon 1 played fun games.

At 3 times I said that whoever could bring 1, then 2 then the most people would win the boxes of goodies. So a little chaos, then a winner, when we had two winners we gave them their boxes... of nothing. They didn't like that, but kept playing anyways. I think I said I had one more, with "Verdaderamente tiene algo"(Truly has something) We keep going until I thought the time was right, told them to bring more people and then the person won the box, with truly something in it, AIR! :D ::D :D *diabolical laugh, hahahaha :D :P* We then explained it all, including when the Sisters had offered repentance for those who wanted, we asked the whys of what they did and what they learned. Then Simon 1 gave everyone some really goodies. It was great! Now, for you guys, ponder on that and what can you learn? What are the whys?

Saturday we had 5 lessons!!!! A goal I've had since July I think, that was happy! We also learned that we wouldn't be able to do our plan to go to the Hill of 7 Colors today, that was very sad a discouraging. The Assistants dropped by for interchanges with the zone leaders. It was fun to have them here and we learned a couple good things.

Sunday was good as well, a couple families, always great. Keep smiling, keep learning, and despite discouragement, keep moving and trusting in God and His will and timing, He'll always help you, just ask.

Today we did get to have a p-day of the Zone, we went to Machupitumarca, photos when I can upload them, and then apparently tomorrow I'm off to Lima to finish my validation and immigration and all that.

To end, the thing that really helped me Saturday night, because we got plain out discouraged with the reasons and fact that we couldn't go to 7 Colors today, but something that helped me a lot was a habit I have, where each morning and each night, even if I don't want to, and I did not want to Saturday night, I declare to myself who I am, I am Elder Fincher, I am a Representative of Jesus Christ, I Work Willingly and Diligently, I have Charity and Patience for Everyone, I Teach Repentance and Baptize Converts, I Find Joy in the Service of the Lord and I Speak Spanish Clearly and Fluently. That helped me a ton. It has also helped me improve my focus and who I am, improving myself. I invite you to find your own Declarations for your life, they'll help you. Take a look at 3 Nephi 5:13 or the Title of Liberty for examples, and think about your life for ideas.

Hasta la próxima!

--

Hurrah for Israel!

~Elder Fincher

Keep moving forward

Hola a todos!

This week was good, I was a little weighed down at times, it's actually really surprising that it's taken this long considering all the responsibilities I've taken at a time and what not. But we keep up the Lord's work here in Sicuani, and now I'm feeling a ton better, once we'd leave and teach I'd feel great, but the mornings and nights were a little off. I think partially because my schedule was thrown a little off and I was just a couple minutes out of line, but now I'm back on schedule and back to feeling good. D&C 88:124 is real, apply it to your life to be blessed.

And how the week went down. Monday we played soccer in a park, I got a little stressed out because I felt very out of control and had things to do still. But then as ended up being the topic in the district meeting, I looked for the good in the situation. And I had a fun time playing, I wasn't going to die for not doing the things I wanted to, I have good health and on top of it all, I had a great key for what to talk about in district meeting. Look for the good despite the trials.

We studied some people in the Book of Mormon that we all look to as examples. Alma 26:30, D&C 122:7-9, Moroni 10:34 And Nephi in many cases, the people of Jared as well as those of Alma. All are examples, but they all had tremendous trials. Look for the good and gratitude always.

Later that night we had a lesson with a LA family and a friend of theirs, we'll visit again this Wednesday, it was great. Then Tuesday we set a baptismal date with Tony! The 8th of October! We wants to go with his family if he does get baptized, but that's the point of the gospel! With your family! A couple other good lessons too!

Wednesday we played Jeopardy for English Class, here's a picture of the topics and answers. No one got jousting for 500 for Sports. Or Cricket. Oh well, :D We also set the same date for Darwin! He hadn't accepted back in June for not feeling ready, but now he's willing to try for a date! YAY! We're helping people! Also another lesson with Monica, she's really opening up to us, really shy, but now more interest.

Thursday, We had a lesson with a reference from yesterday, Carmen right next to Sonya & Vicki. She is really interested, just doesn't have the most time, has time, just not a ton. We're going to help her receive the blessings of the Gospel! Also with Monica again.

Friday, a lesson with someone we found while looking for references. It was so loud though from construction, we'll visit more though. And then we planned a super-duper-amazing Mission Night, but we couldn't have it because they cleaned the chapel for a Seventy that came Saturday, we were quite discouraged, but the time works out super well! Because we're going to have a huge activity to visit members this Thursday, and they'll all invite to this Friday night.

Saturday Marco was there when we visited with Candidad! They're becoming more and more interested, they just need a cook super bad for their restaurant. Erica as well and the Family Olivera and later the Family Condori. A really great day!

Sunday good church meetings, attendance before the Sacrament was up, but in total maybe a little down. After ward council we helped update some people in the directory. We've been searching out people to get an idea of who we need to find as less actives, we're almost done with the whole of it for Thursday to be better.

That was this week, we're still learning, we're supporting each other, but seriously, Elder Yangali is super awesome! He has the fire burning a forest fire! He's from Huancayo, but lived in Spain for most of his life since his mom is from Spain. But he's been in Peru recently and a member of 1 1/2 years. Super amazing!

Hasta la próxima!

--

Hurrah for Israel!

~Elder Fincher

The Best Week Yet!

Hola a todos! Familiares, amigos y a los demás!

Espero que sus semanas esta ultima fueron muy buenas y exitosos!

This week has been a ride, but wow, has it been awesome!!!

First, Monday the BIG NEWS! Already recounted that last week. After emailing was packing and a party with an awesome spiritual ending for district meeting.

Tuesday, sent off Elder Cubillas to Cusco at 8, then Trio and studies, 10:30 sent off Elder Quevedo somewhere, and then a different Trio of Elder Falslev and Elder Chang. Rescheduling the many booked citas for Tuesday and Wednesday. Most were good to move. Then at 5 off to Cusco with Elder Falslev, Elder Valensuela from my CCM group and Sister Davis, all training! Sister Nuila to Santiago.

We arrived and ate dinner, I have eaten some very amazing waffles in Peru now! And then spent the night in the room of the office like my first night, that was an interesting turn around.

Wednesday we ate breakfast, talked, studied and mostly waited for the training to start and to get our new companions... Then they came. And we waited more, then we started. Great training to start, but we were dying the whole time waiting to know WHO!

And finally they assigned us, I was the 2nd to last Elder to get my companion Elder Yangali! He's from here in Peru, from Huancayo, member of 1 & 1/2 years, super chevere, super animated to work and excited and really just the best! He's already got a lot of experience having been a ward missionary and is super, super ready and excited to work!

Then later Wednesday we planned for the week and ate at the Carbone, really good fries and chicken. And again slept in the office's room. Another start to a mission in the field!

At first I was really emotional as they say here, just full of every emotion, then anxious, then calm, then a little worried and now I know that it'll be awesome, I just need to keep leading like becomes a missionary. We really had the best week so far in my mission time!

Thursday we traveled and unpacked, studied and then had a great lesson with Erica's brother Daniel. And my first time calling the district to checkup in the middle of the week went well, I think my face is a little long for the cell phones, but I'm figuring out how to use it dispite the distance between my ear and mouth. :P

Friday was the first normal day this week as far as the start of the day goes, wake up, eat, study. Then English class where I used a couple ideas that Hermana Herrera gave me in Cusco to teach English. "What am I doing?" Then to make a choice between two options and move to this or that side of the room. And then in the afternoon we had a lesson with Tony, he's interested and we're helping him. Then we had a mission night at 7, Jeopardy with Prophets, Scriptures, Places, Scripture Mastery, People in the Book of Mormon and Family Relationships. And if the one team missed, the other team got a chance, and if they got it right they got to throw floor in the other teams' faces. It went calm to start, then..... Here are some pictures..... It was awesome though!

And Saturday we had 4 lessons! Candidad and Marco, Luzero, who now has a baptismal date for the 1st of October! As well as a new investigator Monica! We'll figure out later when to move it to since we forgot conference... But we're super excited to invite these people to come to Christ more fully and quicker! Also a lot of contacts!

Sunday was grerat as well, church was good, we talked to the youth about the importance of the family and family history work. Then we finally got our Ward Misison Plan made up to have activites to activate and visits to retain. Yes! Plans!

Later we visited with a member who has a lot of less active family to help them, and later with the Bishop and Hermanas, planned some things we'll be doing. Also in Ward Council we planned for an activity with all the missionaries in Sicuani proper to help the ward. And to end the day with the family Olivera. Great lesson on service.

I'm really learning to look for the good, we'll always fall short, but with Christ we can conquer!

Hasta la próxima,

--

Hurrah for Israel!

~Elder Fincher

BIG News

Hola a todos!

Espero que todos ustedes están muy bien!

This week has been good. We had good lessons, good English classes, and even a Ward Council Inventory again.

Now, I'll assume that first you want to know the BIG NEWS! Well, first, we had interviews on Thursday, that was awesome and it's amazing to see how with really less than a day's worth of time interacting with President Herrera, I trust him so much! He's called of God, crazy to think that we are too.

Also, we had a Zone Conference on Friday, really, really good! The Zone Leaders, Elder Urrutia and Elder Augat know what they're doing, and the Lord helps us when we just ask.

Now, BIG NEWS! Our Ward Mission Leader is moving to Cusco!!! WHAT?!? How can our awesome Hermano Ronald leave us and go to Cusco!?!? It reminds me of my first Deacons Quorum leader when he had to leave to Idaho for his life, but I understand more now. He's got a lot he's going to do in life!

Oh, also, today we got the letters for the transfers. Nothing too out of the ordinary, Hermana Nuila is going to Santiago, Hermana Davis is going to train. Hermanas Allen and Chavez will stick around this time. Elder Augat and Urrutia are staying too. I'm not too sure about the rest of the zone, some are staying, some are going, some are training and others are going to have leadership assignments.

And what? You want to know about me and Elder Cubillas? I haven't said anything yet? Okay, I'll stop being sarcastic and get to the point really fast now. Anyways, the weather has been getting a lot warmer, I'm not wearing a sweater right now, and it's also getting a lot more rainy and windy. Not too bad, but it's interesting at times.

Okay, for reals now. We had an awesome lesson with a new investigator in their bookshop on Wednesday, then Saturday again with Candidad. We reached our goals for baptismal invitations and family history taught, coming close on a couple others.

Now I don't have patience with myself anymore.......... Oh, the ward council inventory was awesome! Last week everyone loved it! And this week people thought it was great again. Really to just get down to stuff, in a positive manner, it's awesome!

Alrighty, Wednesday night we had a lesson with an investigator and Sister Tanja, it was really good and Erica, the investigator with her shop is interested. We're excited to keep teaching her!

Thursday night for the interviews and conference Esprinar Elders were here, so we got paired in a trio for the night since they're in a trio and needed to do something. With Elder Flores, we helped a little bit with family history.

OH! OH! Okay, here we go. Friday is the birthday of Hermano Ronald! 35! As you can see in some of these pictures, another custom here in Peru is to smash CAKE in your face, not just EGGS on your head. It's fun though. I have had cake smashed in my face before, it is really funny. But eggs, a little less. Still funny, but yeah.

Yup, I can't think of anything else to say now before I mention the fact that for this transfer Elder Fincher (me) is going to be staying here and Elder Cubillas is going to be heading out to Inti Raymi as Zone Leader!!! WHAT!?! He's going to be awesome though! I'm excited for him. And he's excited for me, because I'm going to be District Leader AND TRAINER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! There's a reason it says on the trainer's part of the first 12 weeks that the trainee should be able to train right after the first 12 weeks in the field.

It's so crazy! And yet I know I can do it, definitely with the Lord's help! He knows us perfectly and ask we ask Him, He'll help us with our responsibilities. I kind of knew that something crazy was going to happen, but the only thing I let be real in my mind was that one of us was going to leave. Well! It's a little bit more than that. I'm super excited, and the only bad thing is we'll have to reset some citas that I'll be in Cusco for, but it's going to be fantastic. I'm so glad that I've been working on diligence as a Christ-like attribute to develop recently. It is going to help me so much, because I'm going to have a profound influence on this new Elder, and I want it to be the best possible.

So, the Lord will prepare you for what He will call you to, listen to the promptings of the spirit and you'll be guided to do the things that will give you the most preparation for what is coming.

Listen to the Spirit and read the Book of Mormon. :)

Hasta la próxima!

--

Hurrah for Israel!

~Elder Fincher

I'll start from the beginning

Hola a todos!

Buenas (os) whatever time you read this, it's different in both languages! :D

Well, I'll start from the beginning of the week. Monday I realized that I was stuck in a little bit of a rut in how effective we've been being as missionaries. And I was expecting someone else to drag me out and move me instead of doing stuff on my own. I'd been doing things, just not to the extent that I should be as a servant and representative of the Lord. So I've decided to start being more proactive and doing things of my own accord and being a leader too. Because even though I'm just the trainee in a companionship with the District leader doesn't mean I can't lead too. Or help my companion be motivated, it's hard to motivate yourself alone, so to have a companion to help you helps a ton.

This is just one more evidence of how amazing the Atonement and sacrifice of Christ was. He was given His time from His Father, but He could have been reluctant or lazy, but He wasn't, because He has a perfect love for us that He just needed to know when His time was. And then He did it. He is the perfect example.

All our citas feel through on Tuesday, but we still had an activity with the District where we all contacted in one sector to help those missionaries get more contacts and references quickly and more time for lessons. We also had our English class for the third week. How to pray. Here's a picture in case you wanted to learn Spanish. (o quizás hay un Latino leyendo esta blog y quiere aprender Inglés) These classes have been going well, and I've been finding interesting comparisons with teaching people in lessons.

Wednesday we had a lesson with Hermano Deivis and Ronald joined us as a member. Deivis is going through some rough times, but we're doing our best to help him with the peace and comfort of the gospel. But we can't make him accept it or do it. It's a personal decision we all have to make ourselves. We'll be blessed to do it.

Thursday I was a little under the weather in the morning, but by the middle of the day I was fine, determination is powerful! We did the contact boost for our sector like we did for the Sisters in Vilcanota Tuesday. And we got a new investigator! Erica who has a shop on 2 de Mayo, a bigger street. She seems at least a little interested and we're excited to help her in her life with the Gospel.

Friday is rained a little bit, but we were in the house and then it passed. A lesson with the Family Arteaga. We talked about the OLA or PAR Orar Leer Asistir-Pray Attend Read. And these three things help a ton in our lives because they keep our spiritual cup filled. Find, or even better, make time for yourself to do these three small, very powerful things.

Saturday we had a lesson with Candidad again, she told us a couple problems her family is facing, and now we know how we can help better. But her and her husband Marco are almost progressing, they just need to read the Book of Mormon for themselves between visits. They're interested, just hard on time right now. We also had a lesson with a couple people in their Libraria or craft store/bookstore. They're references from a member who has the next shop down the street. Rouse and Yanet (pronounced Rose) and they're interested! We also planned an activity for the leaders to have Sunday night. A Ward Inventory like Companionship Inventory.

Sunday Elder Cubillas after church had his first Baptismal interview that he conducted. The sister passed and will be baptized on Thursday! Go Sicuani Sisters! Share the Gospel! We also had this Ward Inventory, it went really good for what we saw, but we started a little late and had to leave because Elder Augat left to Machu Pichu for today and so Elder Urrutia needed a companion. I still don't know how it went after we left! So you'll just have to be satisfied with:

We started out with cake and hot chocolate, had a couple laughs at funny stuff. (the 2nd councilor in the Bishopric as we were finishing up asking if anyone else wanted more cake or chocolate told the sister that I wanted more, and then more and then more. And it was good carrot cake, more fresh carrot and good hot chocolate, but it also really helped get everyone laughing at something. :D including myself!) Then we moved on to singing songs, first, everyone picked one with a group of 4 and we all sang at once in grand disharmony! They were told to sing to try and be the loudest for us missionary judges. (I sang Called to Serve in English and won everyone out almost, at least over any group) :D  And then the point, no one could understand anything because they were all trying to win out. Then we sang one hymn together and it was really good sounding. Then a whiteboard with one point, what can you see? This finished, but think about it. what's there on the whiteboard? Answer next week...

All in all this week, if you count the contacts we had that transferred to the Sisters during the activities as well as the ones transferred to us and the others during the week, we had over 100 contacts this week! A goal I'd put down the 20th of July. If you put your mind to something and focus on getting it, and it will help others, it'll come to you!

Read the Book of Mormon, find something awesome today!

--

Hurrah for Israel!

~Elder Fincher

We're all imperfect, but we're all worth something!

Hola a todos!

Espero que todos ustedes están muy bien!

This week has been good, we had some great lessons. Wednesday: One with un joven Osias and some of his friends, they all accepted baptismal invitations! We're going to meet with them after English class on Tuesday, Osias and his brother Obed are waiting for their parents to be there before baptism, but I honestly think they would get baptized right now but for that, we'll make sure they're prepared though.

We have another awesome investigator! Mirian who works at a bookstore just down the street from us practically, she's interested and accepting of the Gospel, pretty much golden! She also lives in Vallecito, so we have to pass her to the Sisters tonight, it's helped me understand that when someone gives you a reference, and they tell you the person is awesome. they're 100% dead serious about it. And thus you'd better go and teach them with all your efforts! It's a really good lesson to learn, because the people that are in the Area Book are this kind of person to someone, and really, everyone in the world is this person, maybe just not in the same situation.

Thursday: We're also teaching Tony, we found him while Elder Wilde was here, because we went to check out a polo store and set up a cita with the owner. He's also interested. One more evidence that everyone is able to be interested in the Gospel.

Friday: We received a reference from a contact and had a small lesson with someone else in the same shop. We'll meet with them again this week. We also had a lesson with a contact. Despite being really old, the husband Americo and his wife seem to be interested at least a little bit. Old sometimes means I'm just going to laugh at you Gringo/Missionary, but not always, and if you have that attitude, that's what you'll get. The positive attitude brings more fruits of all good things.

Saturday: We had a District activity where we contact in one sector to help find more people, the Sicuani Sisters today and they got some citas from these contacts. Then we had a lesson with Marco y Candidad. They're a couple that don't share a religion yet, Catholic and Evangelist or something, He is really excited about the Book of Mormon! So, that's awesome!

Sunday: Fast Sunday, Saturday night I felt a little, little hungry, like when you miss a meal, but I felt good about a good day, just a little more tired since I woke up with an upset stomach from something I ate Friday. But other than tired I felt awesome. The Lord blesses us for our sacrifices! And we also had superb success with some of the people we were fasting for, there's power in fasting. We also were able to help a little with someone that was having questions with Family History. Another fantastic topic.

I'm working on Diligence right now, and Elder Cubillas is awesome and helping me with it. It's really easy to slack off when you are in charge of your own life, but we're called to serve with ALL our heart, might, mind and strength. So while I'm learning that I'm not, won't be and won't come close to perfection in this life, I'm also learning that God doesn't expect us to be perfect. We're commanded to be perfect, but in this life, perfection is a direction, not a destination. Remember that we can do our best and keep repenting. Just keep on keeping on! "A saint is a sinner who keeps on trying."

Until next week! Ciao!

--

Hurrah for Israel!

~Elder Fincher

Exciting Developments, Cooking and Birthdays!

¡Hola todos!

I hope you've all had an awesome week and that everything is going fantastic!

First thing on my mind right now, it's my birthday today! Yay! It started out a little interesting since the other missionaries ended up in line for the shower before me, so I had to eat breakfast in my PJs. And since we'd cooked our own food these past couple days the Hermana Meri wanted a picture to see the difference in our skinniness.

So after breakfast we went into the courtyard, and started taking pictures. Then as I'd heard in the CCM happens here in Peru, I got beaned in the head with eggs from the other missionaries!

FELIZ CUMPLEAÑOS! That's how they say it in Spain, Froehlicher Geburtztag, in German it means the same. Smash an egg on your head! Peruanos do it too. But anyway you say it, it means Happy Birthday to you!!!

And here's some pictures and a video of my singing this other version of the popular Primary song.

So after that I went and showered, which is why the others hadn't let me before breakfast to get my missionary clothes eggy. So, that part was nice. And I really can't help but laugh about it, it's hilarious. *Taking pictures, smiling....* *My head gets shoved down and the others are laughing as... they smash eggs on my head* Pretty much my brain in the moment.

But we'll be having lasagna and pansuta pizza today, which was planned before the Hermana knew it was my Birthday today, so she knows, without knowing, she knows.

The next thing to mind, yesterday Darwin came to Church!!! YAY! He's an investigator that has his warehouse in the next sector over, but lives in Sicuani sector. He is very intelligent, and when he decides to do something, he does it. So the key with him is to teach the doctrine, that correctly understood will have him desire to keep the commitment. (really the same formula for everyone) He just doesn't feel like he's ready for baptism. We're helping him though.

We also taught a couple ladies this week and they have baptismal dates!!! That's what helps the missionaries and investigators to teach more often and with more commitment. The 3rd of September is their goal right now, we're going to go forward teaching them and hoping, praying and fasting that they can do it. Because they have interest, they just need to work and pray to know for themselves, just like the rest of us.

And the other thing is, we cooked for ourselves these last couple days because the Hermana Meri went on a trip for the Independence Day of Peru, the 28th. It was really good. We got 5 out of 8 as planned apart, from just Fettuccini Alfredo and not Chicken Alfredo. Crepes, Carbonada, Stir fry. Then eggs and bread for breakfast, Fettuccini Alfredo, and dinner for me was trek cooking, instead of tacos I cooked for myself with the failed taco balls some flaky tortillas and biscuits. Like trek, good memories. Then breakfast burritos without tortillas and pancakes al final. Because the Hermana Meri got back before dinner. Elder Augat cooked a lot of the meals, and I did the pancakes and stir fry.

It was all really, really good. But it helps us appreciate the service that the pensionistas do for us, they save us a lot, a lot of time and hassle with cooking for us. Appreciate the people in your lives that help save you time. Appreciate the people that are becoming better. And appreciate the new experiences, enjoy every moment that you've got that raw egg on the top of your head! There's something to be learned and/or enjoyed from every experience.

Read the Book of Mormon, it's got so much more in it than we can imagine or think it has, it's not just stories and it's not just scriptures. It's stories and scriptures, the word of God specifically for us in these days.

Hasta la próxima semana!

--

Hurrah for Israel!

~Elder Fincher

Another Conference!

Hola todos!

Qué tal? Todo bien?

I hope that you're all fantastic! This has been a good week.

We were just about to move into companionship study Wednesday morning, when we got a phone call from the Zone Leaders who were in a zone leader meeting for the whole mission in Cusco. Turned out that we were going to Cusco for a Multi-zone conference! We were quite shocked and a little bit disappointed to have to cancel appointments, but it was an awesome conference! We also got most of the appointments rescheduled. We talked about how we need to teach repentance and baptize converts as well as some other awesome topics.

Last night, our last contact of the week we met a single father, and talked with him a little bit more than others, about prayer and how the Gospel can bless his family. He said that we were angels to remind him that he can pray to have a relationship with Heavenly Father and feel less alone. It was really neat.

Always remember that the Lord's promises are sure. When He promises, He will fulfill. We can look in the scriptures to find promises that we can fulfill our end to be blessed. Also in the conference we talked about principles, eternal truths that we can apply to our lives. I studied this morning in the Book of Mormon and realized that the notes I was taking were mostly principles, they're COOL! Go find some awesome principle to think about and act on this week from the scriptures. The Book of Mormon has a ton!

Hasta la próxima semana!

--

Hurrah for Israel!

~Elder Fincher

Transfers and...

Hola todos!

This has been a interesting week. I'm not sure that there's really a "normal" week in the mission, but there are more different ones, like transfers week! Elder Wilde got transfered to Puerto Maldonado, again! That's where he started his mission, and probably where he'll finish. He's also Zone Leader now.

My new companion is from Huánoco, it's here in Peru, north of Lima, I think. He is fantastic! We work really well together and we're going to get a lot done here in Sicuani. I'm a little sad to see Elder Wilde go, but tranfsers, like callings are always for a reason. Elder Cubillas is his name. It's normal transfers. And tomorrow is my 3 month mark!?!? It hasn't been as fast as the CCM, but it's still been a little quick.

Even though he got here on Thursday we've already gotten a lot done, we've had 43 contacts, 38 references asked for, a sacrament program! And we're planning how to and working with the leaders to help those who are here to help as well.

We had a sacrament program! Check it out! :D No wards or branches here in Peru or at least Cusco have one, except for Puno Central Ward and maybe a couple others. We're progressing well to becoming a normal strong ward.

Also this week we had a couple really great lessons, one with the family Arteaga and the other with a recent convert Yadira. We talked about the Atonement with the Arteagas and the Book of Mormon with Yadira. There is so much power behind inspired questions!

Why is the Book of Mormon important?

How is it side by side with the Bible?

Why is Jesus Christ so important?

Answer these for yourself.

We asked a couple of these inspired questions in these lessons and then commited them to read the Book of Mormon.

So, do you know why we should read the scriptures? Mosiah 1:5 (4-7) will help answer that one too, but think about it and the blessings we receive.

Read the Book of Mormon, there are so many reasons to, and just to mention a few, our knowledge will grow and we'll come to know (conocer) our Savior more.

Have a great week everyone!

--

Hurrah for Israel!

~Elder Fincher

Transfers!!!

Hello All! This week is transfers!

I'm going to have two "dads" in the mission! Elder Wilde is going off to Puerto Maldonado again, he'll probably end there, where he began. And I'll be companions here in Sicuani still, with Elder Cubillas. We don't know too much about him, but give me some questions to answer next week and you'll get the answers.

This is a crazy moment, apparently training used to always be in the same place with the same trainer for everyone, but even Elder Boulter, my MTC/CCM companion had an emergency transfer with his companion to Puerto with all the other emergency transfers.

This week though, it was great. Yesterday and Saturday we had a senior couple here, the Poulsens. I think they're from Utah. We did a ton of Family History, and I helped a lot of people get started with their family history in FamilySearch. I didn't think I knew a lot or how to teach FH, but I know a lot more than I thought, and more than most people here, missionaries too. I get the idea. But I get the opportunity to help teach people. We might do an indexing class since I taught someone last night and other people are interested.

I think the coolest thing about this family history time, besides the fact that it's awesome and everyone should do it, the cool thing for me is that I was speaking Spanish very well. I can speak Spanish well. But Sunday and Saturday I was blessed with the Gift of Tongues! It's real!

And then on Wednesday we had intercambios, exchanges, I think in English. I was with Elder Urrutia and Elder Wilde was with Elder Fritz, who now is the Gringo Assistant to the President! Elder Urrutia "killed" his companion (was with him as he ended his mission) and then his next companion transferred to be the Assistant to the President! He's doing alright though, we've just got a trio until his companion arrives, and then Elder Wilde leaves Wednesday morning! 7 AM!

Anyway, exchanges were good, it showed me that I know my sector or area. And that I can teach. Elder Urrutia just kind of gave me the wheel, at least partly because he didn't know people, but it was a good opportunity to learn more about being a leader.

The other cool thing this week, Monday we didn't have p-day.

We also had a conference with our new Presidente Herrera, which was p-day instead. We all went to Cusco and here is the picture of the missionaries that were there. It was good to get to know them, they're really cool and ready to be the new Presidente and Hermana of the mission. And apparently they'll only be around Gringo Elders in the mission until more come.

Elder Wilde and I stayed the night with the Assistants and Zone leaders of Inti Raymi. We'd planned on heading back, but no buses and lateness said no. That was fun. The best part is that during that trip I found out that I shouldn't eat granadillas, because they clear you out, and it hurts. So yeah, fun bus trip to Cusco, but you learn and grow and look on the spiritual side of things and learn that your sour experiences are but a moment that you'll forget the pain within a day or less, usually. Everything passes, but charity will remain and happiness too. Be good and happy. :)

Go study Moroni 7:45 and around it, but that verse is powerful.

Read the Book of Mormon and I'll talk to you all next week!

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Hurrah for Israel!

~Elder Fincher

Vamos Adelante!

Hola todos!

I hope that you are all fantastic!

This week has been great for us here in Sicuani. We accomplished a lot of our weekly goals this week! Which is great since they're really high. We had 62 contacts! We needed one more before heading home last night, and we were contacting someone, but they ended up being a less active, or member, so they didn't count. So we had to find someone else. We ended up contacting a group of three people, so we got our goal! And we were only one short of asking for references, we got 47/48.

We had another lesson with Darwin, he wasn't reading the LDM, so he's not progressing right now, but we plan to help him change that and come to church. He was traveling this weekend, but he actually asked about fasting, so we encouraged him to fast for answers and that we'd fast with him.

Fasting is so interesting, you might end up really tired, but you can keep going, and I wasn't hungry Sunday, I was a little hungry Saturday night, but the power of our spirits when we go without food for a purpose to help others, it's powerful! And it's always worth it, so many blessings from it.

Last night while updating the area book I had to move Ayben to old investigators section. That was really sad. Because him and his 3 brothers have restaurants and they move around between them for each month, and it's a new month now. But come October we'll be back with him we hope! We're trying to help him get with other missionaries in Cusco right now though.

We had a lesson with the family Mamani, Shon and Ingrid are the kids who want to be baptized, but with their parents working out of the city Sundays and not being able to attend with them they can't yet. We talked about the day of rest or day of the Lord, (Día de Reposo, Día del Señor as it's said here) and they said they've been thinking about how they could find something else to work here in the city. And that would allow them to attend church with their kids. It's also really special when the Spirit tells you to say stuff, it's powerful.

We're also working with a family Arteaga, their son has autism or something to where he acts differently. But his spirit! WOW! They've been attending church again and we're trying to find ideas to help their son make it through without being too disruptive, also helping the ward understand more. If any of you guys have ideas here, they would be welcome. :) 

The Gift of Tongues is real. And yesterday we talked about Gifts of the Spirit, and I think a large part of them is kind of like the parable of the talents, you have to work towards it to have it. And you can develop ones that you may not be the strongest in. Just like a muscle.

Today we're off to Cusco in a little bit to have a conference with our new President of the mission, Presidente Herrera. It'll be exciting to see how that goes, should be fantastic!

Go to church, read the Book of Mormon and pray about it. then keep doing those things, you'll gain more wisdom and be happier. I'm experiencing that and it's how the Lord works. Commandments are the price for the BLESSINGS behind them. If you were to buy a polo, you'd need to pay for it, same with BLESSINGS and commandments, the prices are fantastic actually, just do this little bit and a BLESSING, and this other small thing, BLESSING! Just do these little things and HUGE BLESSINGS will follow.

 

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Hurrah for Israel!

~Elder Fincher