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