April 3, 2012 - Lost in la Selva

Dear Familia,
Yeah so this week was good, we had a baptism of a kid named Marcos Dadi (16) years old). He's great, he's got a great personality and was ready to be baptised that's for sure!!!! Anyways this week went pretty fast haha, but that's good! Everything is going good and were having fun and working hard, by working hard I mean that we basically walk all across Zarumilla which is like twice the size of La Union haha. We literally sweat all day, and when we go in and actually get to sit down and teach, we continue to sweat! We're teaching a lot of people right now and working with a family that the mom wants to get baptised but the dad doesn't want to do anything.  I told my companion that we should drop them and not teach them anymore cause I don't see progress, but he wants to stay with them, so were staying with them.

So about conference.....it was interesting to listen to it in Spanish haha. I gotta say that it is way better in English haha, and they had a small room where all the gringos could go to listen to it, but I chose to listen in Spanish, and yes, I understood all of it haha --Although I wasn't really surprised. We only went to the priesthood session and the first part of the conference on Sunday, the rest of the time we worked. I liked the talk about not judging people, (not that I judge) but just that I can see the good in people, I think that's what the point of the talk was. anyways, the conference was good!!

yeah, as for the fotos, these are in the selva (thanks grandpa for helping my español haha ). It's on the frontier of Ecuador and it is really cool. I took pics, videos and what not so it's all good and choreographed haha. We got lost in the selva without water or food. We were there from like 8am to 6pm all without water, sweating our guts out! haha Luckily we found a small pueblito, and they helped us out. We ended up getting back safely.

Wish Nick a latehappy birthday for me and let him know that I love him!!!

As for the packages, the packages that you guys send are fine and arrive without harm, but stick to those types, don't send boxes, cause that is what they open, but yeah they make it fine!!!

sinceremente,
ELDER PINEGAR

*We were a bit worried when we didn't hear from Elder Pinegar on Monday--but this letter explained why we got a late letter.

Trekking in the Jungles of Peru before they got lost

Elder Martinez & Elder Pinegar enjoying P-day April 2, 2012

You all recognize this pose by now--April 2, 2012

P-day Jungle Excursion = lost--Where's the water? Where's the exit?? April 2, 2012

March 26, 2012 Busy & the Beach

Elder Pinegar in his favorite pose at the beaches of Tumbes of P-day 3/26/12

Sup Fam!!

So this week has been good, I'll tell ya right now that it was a week of work! haha We did work! We've been teaching everyday and actually have a lot of potential investigators for bautismos, although there is only one that is fijo for this semana! We're trying our best to baptize and the Lord is blessing us! We're doing good and getting along between companionships in that aspect as well.

Elder Martinez & Elder Pinegar finally see the Pacific Ocean in Tumbes March 26, 2012

Yeah, so the pics that I sent are just a touch of the beach in Tumbes and how it is. haha I wanted to stop in for a dip for just a second haha!* So this week is going to be different with conference. As for the broadcast, it live as far as I know but it's traducido en enspañol. It's interesting how the church works with us in this aspect as missionaries. I don't really have a whole ton to say this week, it just went by fast!!!! but thats good cause it means that were working hard!!! Anyway, I hope I have more to say to you guys in April! haha yeah time is goin fast, im  glad for that! ;) Just know that I love you guys and that I am puttin in work here in Tumbes!! This will probably be one of the most succesful areas in the mission, but who knows!!!

Good luck Spencer at the state dealio and as for stuff in the package that your gonna send, make sure you put in dental floss, cause the floss they have here is terrible. Also, if you could throw in a couple fine-tipped zebra pens,  I would love that!!!! (zebra is the brand)**

Enjoying the beach in Tumbes on P-day, March 26, 2012

The rain is starting to come to an end here, but when it rains, it rains hard. I'm talking inches haha the streets are rivers haha! But it's all good--oh and to answer your question, yes it's humid!!!!! HOT  I sweat from the moment I wake up to the moment a acostarme. (sleep)

Yeah-- It's hard to write all the details haha but today one of the missionarries that I know got robbed at gunpoint--yeah I know chill....I dare someone to rob me!!!!!*** yeah, for next week I'll try to be more detailed k?

much love to all of you!!!!!!!!!!

Notes from Mom
*Missionaries are not allowed to go swimming
** His biggest requests are floss, pens, American candy and $20. Wouldn't it be nice if all our kids could ask for so little. :)
***Scary to be robbed at gunpoint--but guns are still scarier than a tall Americans--be careful Elder!!

Watch out bad guys--The Elders have some moves!! 3/26/12-Tumbes

March 19, 2012 - A Wedding & Baptisms

Hi family,

Wedding #2 - A great day! Tumbes March 2012

So this week was great! To start off, we married a couple! That's two that we have married in the duration of my mission!

The happy couple - Tumbes March 2012

So the same day that we married them (which is a real headache haha gotta say that), we ended up baptizing them, but there was not water in the pila (font) and the water pump broke too haha. So we decided to call a big ol' bus and drive to a river. I don't know if you can imagine a bus with 60 people driving to a river to see a baptism, but it was legit! I included some pictures of it!

Baptizing the newly married couple in the river - March 2012 Tumbes

Baptizing in a river - Tumbes March 2012 - At least the water is warm!

Alright, so when we arrived in the bus, it started to pour rain, jungle type rain, I'm talkin' heavy! haha but it just added to the experience! It was surely the only time that it will happen in the mission!!!

So me and my companion are getting along good and what not, and we and working hard! Anyway, that's the storyline for last week! we'll just have to see what this week brings us!!!!
sinceremente,
Elder Pinegar

PS: thanks for sending the packages. I appreciate it and just a saludo a la familia les amo son lo máximo. take care!!

(Jared said he also baptized in rivers in Peru--and that Alex will probably do this again someday. Luckily the weather averages 90 degrees each day in Tumbes and cools down to a balmy 74 degrees at night--so the water wasn't even kind of cold--just very dirty.)

March 12, 2012 FINALLY THE JUNGLES OF PERU

Hi Familia,

Baptizing Ernistina (85) in Tumbes March 2012

Yeah, this week has been good, and we had another baptisim here in Zarumilla. Her name is Ernistina, a woman with 85 years. So we're doing good here. Tumbes is much more beautiful than that of La Union. Here it is jungle (celba is Spanish).

In la celba of Tumbes March 12, 2012

Me and my companion are getting along, gratefully haha ;) We're working hard and have a matrimonio planned for this week viernes (friday) haha. Yeah, second marraige, this will be good! Anyways, it's good here and were doing work! My companion is from Argentina and kinda looks Chinese. The people here call him chino haha. Sometimes his language is a little bit hard to understand cause he talks with a jhhhh. Ask Dad. He knows what I mean, but its muy distinco. Anyways, all that and more. We're puttin in work and sharing the gospel with every person we know.

Happy birthday Bek!!! haah 16...I remember that day... haha careful driving, I got in an accident in the first 6 months haha ;) Love you all so much, and I pray for you guys too! Keep it real and keep sending me the pics! I like that!!!!

ohhh and things a need in a package:

dental floss, (glide-its green and dad uses it)
20 dollars- I'm on the border and can change money here really easy hit me up with some flow....I'm down a bit haha ;)
skittles (candy or something that is from America!)
yeah that's about it.....





Love,
Elder Pinegar

March 5, 2012 - SURPRISE!! NEW AREA AND COMPANION

Elder Pinegar, Joven (9) and Elder Martinez Tumbes March 2012

Elder Pinegar & Elder Martinez Tumbes March 5, 2012

Dear Family,
Yeah, so this week has been a little bit crazy, but I've been pullin through. So I told you guys that I wasnt going to have cambios right? Well someone screwed up  and when the president was announcing the cambios he said my name and said that I was going to Tumbes Zarrumilla. Yeah, that was a shock considering that I didn´t have any of my things haha. So I went back to the room after talking with the leaders of the zona and e dijeron que nesisitaba irme to my old area and got all my stuff packed up. They told me to come back before 5:30 pm. I left with another missionary, and we went there and came back. Turns out they left at 4:30, and we had to go solo haha. That was alright... We got to tumbes at 3am and I got to sleep for nada mas than 3 hours.

My new companion is Elder Martinez. I got put as senior companion. I hope I get along with him alright.  Yeah, so another thing, haha... I got sick this week, and I have had diarrhea for 3 days straight. I  sure hope I dont get sick....haha.  I'm working hard here.  I am going to learn to love my new companion.......with time haha ;) but yeah pray for me. I need it a little bit. So we have two companionships to a room, and it just happens to be that I'm with Elder Castillo again haha but this time he isn't my companion, but it's all good. We're puttin in work haha. Also we had a bautismo this week, un joven de 9 añitos. I sent a pic of him, but this area has alot of room for potential, and I think we'll do good here. But it is HOTTT--freaking hot!!!!!! It's 5minutes from the border of equador.

Anyways, love you all sooooo much!!!! oh and Bek, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and Spencer, GOOD LUCK BUD!!!!!!!!!!!

Love,
Elder Pinegar
** Elder Castillo was Alex's 1st companion in La Union.

february 27, 2012 - 6 Months

Some of the "weird traditions" of Peru - As Elder Pinegar says - Piura Feb 2012

6 month tie burning (glad to see the paper on the ground)Feb 25, 2012

Ready for ignition - Piura Peru Feb 25, 2012

Yeah, so this week was a little crazy, but it was all good. We all have been enjoying ourselves here, and working hard. We had to drop a bunch of investigators because they weren´t progressing, I don't know if I was more mad or what but that's the mish right? Anyways, so church was chevre. We had 2 investigators that came, to end the dry streak of nobody that would go. This family I hope to see progress, I talked with the dad who was drunk later that night and just listened to him bash the church  and all the missionaries that are here. He kept calling me rich and a little more. I got a little frustrated, but I kept my cool. He harassed me about my clothing and apparel, so I kindly took off my tie and set it on his lap, telling him that he could have it as a gift......that's when the la boca se caó and he started to listen a little bit..

Yeah, so today we had changes, and I thought that if anybody was going to go, it was to be me. But apparently not. My companion is going and I am staying here another month and a half. This week has been good! I hope you got the email about the change of addresses (for sending packages). As for now, that's all that happened this week haha! keep it real fam, and Bek! happy birthday next week! Be good and don't get in any car accidents. (Bekah turns 16 March 8)

Love,
Elder Pinegar

February 20, 2012 -

Piura Peru Elders--Feb 2012

P-day in Piura Feb 20, 2012

hey fam!!!

so I guess that a lot is going on. Nice to hear that life is giving us the switchside a bit. Glad to hear that basically everyone is getting married haha yeah....cool to hear that Mandy (Alex's cousin) got married. Good for her. Give her my saludos. I'm glad that Nick's got my back! Tell him thanks for that. Ya know helping me out a bit since I'm like 3000 miles away haha... lejos ya i know! and for the DeMilles, great for them. (Alex's cousin Emma is engaged too!)

Yeah on a more happy note. were doing good here, but it's just a little bit dry on baptisims, no ay nadie que wants to come to the church......but we keep the chin up and walk with a strut, we know that God's got our back. As for my companion, we are doin good, but Elder Stephenson, the elder that I have been with since day one, got changed this week. He's going to be the new financial secretary. So I'm guess that if you want to send packages, you'll need to send them with his name instead of the name Elder Swazy....but I'll give you a little bit more on that in the next letter.

Thanks for all the support that you give me. I don't know what I'd do without you guys......yeah I complete 6 months this week haha kinda crazy but muy pronto será un año and yeah but its all chevre and what not haha. Just know that you guys are always in the back of my head. I love you all, and when I have a down day, I just think of ya´ll and what family means! Thanks for every thing. and yeah I got the package with the pics, I loved it! Thanks for being the best!!!!

Love, Elder Pinegar