April 30, 2012 - HAPPY 20th BIRTHDAY!!!

Dear Familia,

Yeah, so this week was a little bit long! haha I gotta say that first thing!!!

So to start off, we worked hard with the people that we thought were going to progress, but it turns out that we had to drop a bunch of them. We ended up knocking doors a good portion of this week to look for new investigators. We ended up finding 18, but of those 18, 1 or 2 will progress. I mean statistically speaking ;) Yeah, so that was the majority of this week, knocking doors. We've got a good family that I hope will progress, but she's not married.......

This week was kinda crazy with a baptism too. We baptised a girl of 15 years that is called Lucerito. She looks like she's 18. She made this decision all on her own. I was kinda wowed with her determination. She was the one that approached us in the beginning, and we thought that she was a ¨snake¨ that's what they call 'em in the mission, but it turns out that she really wanted a change. Her family didn't want her to be baptised, but she did it anyways. I gotta say that she has been more of an example to me than I have been to her. It's incredible how the gospel can change a life or 2 ;)

Lucerito's baptism... Elder Pinegar & Elder Lescano

Yeah, so for my b-day the young adults threw me a  ¨surprise¨ party, but it wasn't a surprise because I knew haha --but I pretended like I didn't know.  They made me a cake.....then slammed my face in the cake haha, its kinda tradition here to do that. But they really helped me to enjoy my age, cause I'm no teenager anymore....20 years old haha wow!!

Happy 20th Birthday Elder Pinegar!! April 30, 2012

Celebrating 20 years with the Young Adults of Tumbes - April 2012

So that's the highlight of this week, oh and today we had a water fight at the church, because as you all know it is extremely hot here! As for the package, I'm sure it's here and I'll be picking it up this Thursday, so it will be a surprise!! haha I'm really looking forward to it!!

Water Fight with with ward! April 30, 2012

Oh and for this Mother's Day dealio, yes, I will be using skype and I'll get that all planned out for this 12-15 of May. I'll probably be calling in the evening, I don;t know the time difference there but that's your job to figure out k?! haha but let me know when is the best time to call so that I can see everyone k?! great! yeah so I'll see ya guys face to face in about 2 weeks!!

sinceremente,

E pinegar

April 23, 2012 Alex the Arab??

Dear Familia,
So this week has been good. First off to answer your questions, yes, I'm still living with Elder Castillo and his companion, we get along pretty good most of the time. I know him very well, and we have an excellent relationship. Second, yes, we have a pension but she doesn't even come close to how the meche in La Union cooked, by far was the best that I've had haha ;) The food here is basically the same, rice and pollo. haha I don't think that will ever change.

Yeah, so for this week, this week was good, but we ended up having to drop a lot of investigators cause they aren´t progressing. So we have been looking for new people to teach, and ya know what that means, (tocand puertas) or knocking doors haha. I still can't decide if I like it when someone calls me Satan or not ha ha but its all good cause the salvación is personal...;) yeah, so my companion and I are getting along well, and I'm starting to become accustomed to the stress and what not.

So about the pics, I'm gonna start with the one where I'm dressed up as an ARAB. We had a night of talent shows in the church this week and the missionaries (6 of us) had to come up with something to present. So we did a sketch about an Arab that came from far away and could change the size of things, like a small water bottle to a big water bottle, we had a machine...that had all the things that were bigger inside, and we ended up having a lot of fun!! The ward here is finally starting to help us and they are making a difference. They make the work here fun at times ;)

Elder Pinegar as the magical Arab that can change the size of things - April 2012

 As for the other pics, we decided to go to a beach in Tumbes, called Bendito. It was pretty trashy, but we had a good time playing soccer and what not! And at the end, the family that we had been teaching (fam. salas) showed up, and I was able to set an appointment with them to set up there baptism....I HOPE! haha 

The missionaries at Bendito Beach in Tumbes April 23, 2012

Elder Pinegar & Elder Lescano Bendtio Beach Tumbes, Peru April 23, 2012

Oh yeah, so there's a jovencita (little girl) that we have been teaching that's called Lucero, we're gonna baptise her this week on Saturday!!! So that's the good news for this week!

Cooking up some fun! April 2012

Elder Lescano, Elder Pinegar & Elder Castillo taking their turn at cooking April 2012

Anyways guys, I love you all..and make sure that you send this to Amanda's mom and let her know that yes,  I have been receiving her dear elders yeah!!!

k great peace!!


Elder Pinegar

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.)