October 22, 2011 - The CCM in Lima, Peru

This must be an international sign

The Lima Peru LDS Temple

Elder Pinegar with his companion, Elder Cruz in the grey suit and other CCM Missionaries at the Lima Peru Temple

The CCM in Lima, Peru

Alright, so I've had the chance to be in Peru for  a few days now and it's all really new. We have chicken and rice basically every meal.  I think that's going to get old ! haha I taught a couple Latinos how to play basketball today; it was fun! I'll try to get some pics to you. We also had a chance to go tracting on Saturday. It was my first experience with real people, people that did and did not want to talk to us. The first ten houses that we knocked, I was talking first in somewhat broken but audible Spanish. I said ¨buenos dias, ¿como estas?, waited for an answer and then said : somos missionero de la inglesia de jesucrsto de los santos de las ultimas dias. temenmos un pocito mensaje sobe jesucristo y como el es puede ayuda nos con nuestros problemas. The typical answer was occupado, or go away soy catolico! It was kinda terrifying to have people slam their doors on us. Some of them were frightened because I'm so big, literally twice their size. It's all good though. We were able to get appointments for 2 people in 2 hours so it was good. The people that were willing to listen were very, very open about what they thought, kinda like me, openly stating that they think we are wrong or right.

We got to go to the temple on our P-Day today. That was cool. I tried to send some pics for you guys. Hope they went through the email alright. Everything is slowed down in South America. The temple sessions are even slow haha but it was nice. It's humbling to see what kind of devotion these people have here in Peru.  They care and love every one of their members. The Spanish is coming along well. I'm actually able to understand people when they talk fast! But basically, you have to here or you'll die. haha It's gonna be crazy in a week when I'm teaching people and telling them to change their lives in broken Spanish haha. My companion is Elder Cruz. He weighs in at a hefty 90 pounds and is probably Amanda's height. I could curl him like a weight if I wanted. haha He is from Ecuador. He chops off like half of every word that he says. It's kinda hard to understand him and plus he talks really quietly, but it's all good! We get along well. He really shines in the lessons because it's a given that he can actually speak! Anyway, lemme know how Lake Powell was and hit me up with some pics alright!! love you guys!!!  Ask me some questions if you want, so I have more to talk about!!  I'll probably be sending my sd card home around Christmas, so consider that my little present!  Love you guys alot!!

-Elder Pinegar

Lima, Peru - He's not in Kansas (UT) anymore!! Oct 13, 2011

(Emailed the night he got into Lima, Peru)

Alight, so I rolled in at about 11pm last night, tired and exhausted but excited to approach a completely new world that I have never before seen. The excitement when we touched down went up and down my spine like a static shock. It was almost overwhelming. Quickly we exited the plane grabbing our belongings, then stepping out into an all Spanish country with foreign writing on the wall! haha I didnt know what to expect. The airport was nice, and the bathrooms contained within them granite countertops! I had the opportunity to explain to some people last night what my purpose was. They were on a church mission, going to repair a school for their church. They said they were here 3 months and expected us to say about the same. When I said two years, their jaws dropped, and they immediately became enthralled in every word that came from my mouth. They knew something was different about us from that point forward. Immediately we were highly respected and admired for our beliefs.

I will say i was officially the tallest person in the airport, of thousands. haha truly a standout champ! Walking out the the airport made me feel famous, surounded by literally thousands of people lined up (although they weren't looking for me) it was cool. I felt famous! We grabbed our bags and headed for the bus. As we ventured across the street, foolishly, I walked onto the crosswalk thinking all would be well. I was wrong. The cars in front of me kept going with horns blaring and yelling foul words. I knew I was not in America! haha As we boarded the bus, the feeling of being in Peru was finally setting in. The dim lights lit the poor yet entrancing city. I felt an odd comfort, similar to that of doing well on a test. After loading our goods onto the bus, I was immediatly spoken to by a little man from Peru. He was in charge, being the age of 26 and speaking rapidly and confusing me. I walked into the room where my roomates were, being quiet as not to wake them. It was a 6-bed room, tightly spaced. I looked out the window and in the dark, misted night, I saw a beautiful fountain gracefully spewing water. I was entranced. I laid my weary head to rest on the lumpy bed that was oddly comfortable. It must have been from the long flight that I had just finished. Laying there, nearly asleep I was rudely awoken by a monkey screaming outside haha This place is awesome!!!! I am going to love it!! I tried to be descriptive!!  All i have to say is that it's new, poor and AWESOME. Basically culture shock. It's very nice here. There are about 100 people that are in the CCM (MTC in Peru). Across the streets are shacks. This is somewhat humbling. All of the people I knew before were exited to see us again. More fellow Americans! haha Anyway, I think we get to go tracting on Saturday, but I'm still not sure, because I haven't gotten a schedule yet. We had to get up in the early morning but it's all good because I got to sleep. I can upload pics here, so I'll be doing that next week. Watch for them! ahha Anyway, my companion doesn´t speak a lick of English. It's hard to communicate, but I try!! haha
Love your guys!

Elder Pinegar

October 11, 2011 - He's on his way to Peru!!***

Hi Family,
Alright, well nothin new this week, but today we do get to leave the Cage and go on a field trip to the podiatrist! We have to get his (Elder Lamay's)  foot looked at again. He tore some ligaments about 6 weeks ago and its finally starting to look better.  He can actually put weight on it again!!! What a feat!!! Anyway,  I'm lovin my new companions, Lamay and Ward. Both are nice. Lamay is the one with a foot problem, We call him the golden ticket, because he gets a rides everywhere!! haha and Ward is awesome.  He's 6 ft. and 120. Sometimes we call him skeletor! haha but im working with him to put on weight.
We've been in the process for about 4 weeks now (even before we were companions).  So I'm pushin him. He's put on 7 pounds as of then and the next weigh in is tomorrow!!! The main goal on that is to drink alot of watter before!!! hahah Anyway I goth both Nick's and Spencer's letters. I appreciated them both!!! Nick, I love you, chin up!!! Remember that always!!! Nothing can bring you down unless you let it, and that goes for the rest of the fam!! Anyway I kinda want some halloween candy!!! twix, 3 musketeers fun size of course!!!! and Mom, I'm sorry to hear that you have gotten sick! I hope your doing better!! Anyway the Spanish is still coming along, any tips? I can undertand everything that is being said, but I'm only one month away from my origonal goal of fluency at the 3 month mark! Times tickin! DAD what did you do to get it down better, drill verbs? or what! I was expecting immersion by now,  but that probably wont happen for a bit! Ohh speakin of which,  I get my travel plans this week sometime! any ideas on where I might go?! haha its kind of like christmas! Ya know the anxiety. haha I keep sayin Colorado, but my other two companions laugh and then rage, because we dont have snow gear!! or another place would be Florida that would be chill, because its like the best time of the year there right now!!! Anyway, I basically shave my head here. It's new, but I'm tryin to pull off my new look with all the lbs. I've picked up. I'm doin alright!! Anyway, this is about all i got this week! Hit me up on something that is new! love you guys stay strong!!!
-Elder Pinegar

PS: Espanol es no difficil, pero es difficil para me a hablo acerca de las cosas que yo quierdo. durante nuestro leccions es facil a incorperar el evanhelio en lo, pero cuando yo quierdo usar otra palabras no tego mas entoses uso mismo plabras tiempo despues tiempo no me gusta, papa porfavor ayuda me!!

 ***(We just got word that Elder Pinegar's visa came through! He is leaving for the Lima Peru MTC (CCM) Wednesday, Oct 12, 2011 at 5am. He is sooo excited!! He will spend 2 weeks in the CCM then head for his mission in Piura.) -- All letters should now be sent to the Piura Peru Mission Home.

OCT 4, 2011

(This is a combination of emails and a letter)

Familia!
Primero, me gusta mi familia mucho! Yo quiero que ustedes sapan este! (I'm trying to use present subjunctive) ?Come estan ustedes? Yo oigo que Nick y Jared acabaron el (garage?). !Que Bueno! Entonses, el con es similar semana despues semana. Pero esta bien, esta el es trabajo de nuestro Salvador.

Alright, that's enough espanol for now. Haha. I love you guys! Dad raged that I didn't send him a letter and threatened to withhold goods if I didn't write to him! :)  So here it is Dad--Just for you! :)...(and the rest of the family). The MTC is the same week after week, pero estabien porque nostoros appendemos a lot when we all teach each other. We kind of feed off each other! It's good. We're all doin Good. I loved the stuff you sent, it was needed! Anyways, How was Park City? How is Spencer, Bekah and Nick? Hope you guys are all doing good in school! Hope the fam is getting along! Tell Granny I love her. Hope she's doin' alright! Oh and please tell Heather thanks for the Dear Elder! I loved it!

Family truly is the center of happiness. It is the reason that we get up in the morning, and the reason that we sometimes do not sleep well at night. It is the center of God's plan. That is the first discussion that we teach. I just want you guys to know that I love you, that I love my family, all of them. The Elders that are here at the MTC love their families to.  We don't often get to talk about it, but when we do, there is a radiance that fills the room, not a light, but a feeling of joy. The MTC is tough, but I'm beginning to finally realize my purpose. haha We are progressing and trying hard, we're losing another one of the elders to Peru, my companion. His visa came through yesterday, and he leaves tomorrow morning at 5am. I'm grateful that I was not ever spiteful or rude to my companion, I truly do have a real sense of love for him, a brotherly bond. I'm sad to see him go, but I know that he will make  a difference in where he goes and what he does. He is solid! I'm getting reassigned into a trio again with some other elders, its kind of tough, but good, change is good. I decided to put myself in the most strict group so that I can learn a little bit of self discipline, and so that I can help them loosen up! So basically these will be the 4th companions that I have had haha. That's pretty crazy considering usually you have one for 3 months at a time!

Anyway, I saw the garage, it's lookin' fresh, 'bout time to haha. Anyway I hope all is going good with school. I hope that my dear brother is doing well. I haven't heard from him for a while. Nick hit me up. Gimme the dl on whats goin on! Spencer, your a champion, those two men look very happy to be surrounded by your happy mood and great personality. (We sent Alex a pic of Spencer patiently waiting for Stephanie to shop surrounded by these two old men waiting for their wives.) Bek, keep doin work i like the letters you write, tell Spencer to hit me up and tell me a little about his life. parents- you're great, remember that I love you. Can't wait till I actually get to change lives! DO WORK!!!


Approach everyday with a happy attitude. That's what I have to do here or otherwise it's hard. haha Life is what you make it, not what someone else makes it for you. You have the power to be happy. (This is advise he sent his girlfriend, Amanda).

Love,
 Elder Pinegar

SEPT 27, 2011

Familia!
Thanks for all the goods!! (box)  Please no more cheeze balls! Ha ha. It's cool that Spike (Elder Eric Moreno) really loved his mission. Tell him I say hi. Granny--Just know I love you a BUNCH!!

I'm actually starting to kinda enjoy the MTC, although it is an extremely large mental and physical roller coaster. I think I'm enjoying learning to love others for who they are, So about my companion, he's a really great guy, able to listen and put up with the attitude I give him sometimes. Haha. He has a girlfriend waiting for him too. He's serious about it! Just like me! :) Thanks for the uplifting speeches you guys give, they help! Anyways, things are still basically the same at the MTC. There's not much to do so we study ALL DAY which kinda is hard, because that's not what we will be doing in the field. Can't wait to help people!!

Love you all. I'm glad to hear that the garage is coming along. Send me pics when you're done

Love,
Elder Pinegar