May 13, 2012 - Mother's Day Skype

This week we were lucky enough to get to skype Elder Pinegar on Mother's Day. It was so much fun to see him and talk to him. We hooked up our laptop to our television so we could see him better.

Our Skype set up for Mother's Day May 13, 2012--audio was quiet--but picture was great!

Look at that smile! It's blurry because of the big screen--didn't think to take one of the computer screen!

He looks skinnier--since he says that the menu consists of chicken and rice and rice and chicken--not to mention he walks everywhere. He had a hard time speaking in English. Remember, all of his companions have been native Spanish speakers from Peru or Argentina, so he would talk to us for a few minutes then slip into Spanish--until someone yelled out "English, English." He has a great accent and conjugated his verbs as he would in Spanish as he spoke English. He kept telling us it was very hard to speak English...and yes, he dreams in Spanish now. He called us from a public internet cafe--so there were little kids jumping towards the camera in the background and a lot of music playing. He said Mother's Day is crazy in Peru and there is a lot of music everywhere.

A lot of the family came over to talk with him. We had a surprise visit from his newest cousin, Damian Jones (16 months) and Uncle Jeff. Uncle Shark took pics for us. We even put his good friend, Geoff Wilkinson on speaker phone so he could say hi since he had to work that day.

A captive audience. L-R: Grandpa Cato, Grandma Jacque, Stephanie, Jared, Bekah, Amanda Jex, Nick, Liza Doughty, Spencer in front. Chris Jones aka Uncle Shark took the pic.

He talked to Nick about not judging people and just loving them. He told us his favorite part of his mission is teaching about the eternal nature of the family and how important it is. It was nice to hear how much he had grown to appreciate his own family and how much he loves us. He also told us his hiking excursion where he got lost was a bigger deal than we knew--He thinks they might have hiked right into Equador. He's happy and doing his best. He held up a Spanish book with antonyms and synonyms in Spanish. That's Alex for you--always a student. He wants to master his Spanish. Of course his little sister cried seeing him. It was an amazing day and the best Mother's Day ever.

Posing with Elder Pinegar - Jared, Amanda Jex, Bekah, Nick & Spencer

He also told us he's getting a new mission president in July who lives in Santaquin, UT--about 40 minutes from us. So we looked him up and we're going to go to his farewell and meet him before he heads to the MTC and Peru to see our son. We're pretty excited.

President & Sister Rowley - Alex's new mission president starting in July 2012

Here's what the church news said about them. Chad Alvin Rowley, 52, and Lisa Rowley, six children, Peru Piura Mission; Santaquin 1st Ward, Santaquin Utah North Stake. Brother Rowley serves as a stake president and is a former high councilor, bishop, counselor in a bishopric, Young Men president and missionary in the Argentina Rosario Mission. General manager, Payson Fruit Growers. Born in Provo, Utah, to Claude Alvin and Karen Joyce Rowley.
Sister Rowley serves as a ward organist and a ward missionary. She is a former Relief Society president, Primary president and counselor, counselor in a Young Woman presidency and Young Women adviser. Born in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Robert Alfred and Mercedes Celia Harding.

It was an exciting week and we look forward to every Monday when Elder Pinegar writes us.

Love,

Stephanie Pinegar -- Missionary Mom to Elder Pinegar

May 7, 2012 - Baptisms, Moving and Zone Lunch

Dear Familia,

This week I ended up getting the package and I loved it!!! I'm doing good here and trying to recuperate after a long day of movin, haha and last night I didn't sleep at all cause the neighbor left the light on and at like 4 someone was yelling and pounding on the door for 2 hours--how great is the mission! haha oh did I mention that we moved, I hated the other place that we were in, so I talked with the president and we moved.All went good with that and i finally separated myself from Elder Castillo haha after 8 months in the mission with him! haha we still get along great!

So about the work here this week, all went well and it turns out that the family that we were working with isn't going to baptise themselves. but it's all good. We're working with another girl named Zoila that is getting ready to be baptised this 13 after church and another boy named Juan is getting ready for this 20th. That's who we're working with this month, and we're hoping for more!!!

It's going good here, and this p-day was actually fun! haha We got together as a zone and had lunch in someone's house on the 4th floor and what not! It was awesome!! There are 30 in the zone from 12 different países (country). It's pretty interesting to see all that happens between us, all the different ways that we grew up and our different habits, but we all get along good!

Elder Pinegar May 7, 2012 P-day in Tumbes

A view of Tumbes, Peru from the window - May 7, 2012

Peru Piura Mission - Tumbes Zone Lunch 30 missionaries representing 12 countries - Tumbes Peru May 12, 2012

Yeah so that's all for this week! Don't forget that at 6pm Sunday the 13th I'll skype home great! peace!

Love,
Elder Pinegar

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