April 16, 2012 A New Companion

Sup fam!!
this week went by fast. I guess that's what happens when you're enjoying yourself! Yeah so I got a new companion, his name is Elder Lescano, de Argentina. He's very quiet and timid. I'm hoping it's just because he doesn't know me or anyone else. The pics that iIsent are of me and him, today. It's kinda rough being comp. mayor, but I guess it's alright haha cause i get to make all the decisions ;) nahh. I told him the day that he came here that this is the work of both of us together and his opinion and values are just as much as mine.

Elder Lescano & Elder Pinegar April 16, 2012 Tumbes, Peru

 As for investigators, we're working with two children, one boy (Carlos) of 11 años and a girl of 15 (Lucerito). She likes the diminutive on her name cause she looks like shes 18. I was kinda surprised when she said that she was 15. Anyways, how we met her is that one day we were walking and she came up to us and asked what we do, so naturally we explained it and she went to the church. She lives with her mom who is the boss at the bar, which is their house too. It was kinda interesting to teach with all the people that are yelling and screaming, but she understood. Now all we need is permission from her mom ;) Also we're working with another family that we put a date for this 29th and they accepted, well see about that, she likes to listen more that she likes to act. but she has gone to the church too, so they are progressing.
Also, we ran into a guy that has listened to the missionaries before, and we put a date with him also for the 29th, but it's hard to find him, we have to help him go to the church this Sunday. He lives in another city but is here on sabado and domingo. He's a great guy. Yeah, so that's the progress in the mission that we're having here. The spanish is definitely getting easier haha, and that's not a joke, but there's still one guy named Elder Sly--he has 19 meses in the mission. that speaks dang good, I gotta say, perfect Spanish, but I'm catchin up haha. So that's the story with me this week, it's all been good here. Love you all so much, and thanks for all that you guys do!!!

Elder Pinegar

April 9, 2012 Easter in Tumbes

Sup fam!!!

 

So not too much happened this week. We had a baptism fall through and that was a bummer, but what can ya do. I kinda knew that it would fall through, so I wasn't strung out. Anyway, this week went by fast and I didn't take any new pics with the exception of the act of Christ....don't know how it is in English haha. I think now that I have officially prayed more in Spanish than in English for my entire life haha. I tried to pray in English, and I didn't have words and kept on reverting back to Spanish haha but its all good, that's how it should be!!! 

So changes are today and mas probablemente mi compañero will go, considering the fact that he has 3 cambios here, but ya never know! Anyways, we ended up getting along well, this just goes to show that you shouldn't judge. I'm not saying I'm perfect or anything--but getting closer haha.  Hope you all have fun in the good ol' wherever you are.  Be safe and just know that I'm dying of heat, so enjoy the frío (cold).  I'm all good and doing well. 

Just wanna give a shout out to all my friends that never left my side and always got my back, so if you receive this, your are one of them. My truest friends.......and to the family, just know that I will always love you guys. Keep Bek on track with the boys, and tell Nick congrats on getting his mission papers closer to going in. Much love to all and I hope and wish and want the best for all of you, remember what you are and who you should be!!!!!!

 

sinceremente, 

Elder Pinegar

 

Oh and Mom thanks for all the goods that I received. I got the 2 packages and loved them!!!!!!!! Thanks sooooo much, you're the best!!!!!!! Dad don't worry, you too!!

Easter Celebration on the streets of Tumbes - April 8, 2012

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.