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