July 9, 2012 - New Missionaries on the Block--Fueling the Gospel

Elder Yanez & Elder Pinegar in Talara/Negritos July 2012

Familia,
So that's pretty crazy about the fire* and what not, but it doesn't really surprise me after reading apocolipis (Revelations). It's pretty crazy to see what Paul foretold about the signs of the second coming. we truly are in the final dispensation and possibly very near to the opening of the 7th seal -see Revelations- it kinda give me chills, but man does it make me want to be clean and worthy haha ;)

yeah so the downlow on Negriedos, it's desert, desert, and more desert! But that's all good! The people here are different, and its gotta be one of the harder areas that I have been in, knocking doors does not work, and there is no one outside, literally no one. This is when the creativity comes into play and what not, and ya´ll know me, I'm a little bit creative. We found out here the secret is references (así es en todo la misión) but between that and a little bit of faith and prayer it looks like we'll have success.....I say that cheerfully but Negreidos was an area that was closed for 15 years...and reopened this January!

So me and my companion are getting along great, and we're putting in work here. He is the 3rd comp from Argentina and is great! We had a little joke going when we went to visit a member that works in petroleo (all the people here work in that). He put on the work gear and I made a joke that I had to work with him like that because he was hazard (you guys probably wont laugh, but I did, so did the members.)

So as for investigators, we are looking for new ones and working with older investigators. the area is 4 pueblitos and is a 1 1/2 of desert between every one (so we go in motto) haha ;) Ya know me, I can't walk that kind of distance in the sun!!

Dad, I don't know if you would have any ideas to find new investigators, or anyone else that has an idea, lemme know what you guys come up with this week k?! Oh, and the reason that it is so hard to find new people to teach is cause there are about 20 (not kidding) churches evangelicas, and that really cuts down on the number when there are only 4,000 people in the 4 cities combined.  But we did have two people come to the church this past Sunday, a catholic man, and his wife, who is evangelista, they both stayed the 3 hours and really seemed to enjoy the whole dealio. Oh, and the church is a house church, we teach on the first and second floor, it's interesting to see how the church starts in the beginning!

yeah so as for this week that's about all, I'm doing good, and just know that i pray for every single one of you that are receiving this. I'm glad that you' re all safe and what not, and I'm grateful that you guys thought of me as you enjoyed Lake Powell,,,,,,,hope to go there in year that comes!!! ;)

Love, Elder Pinegar

PS: no keys, push to start (automático yo so finático jaja ;)
*Alpine had a horrible fire the week of July 3. It started pretty quickly and raced up the mountainside. Luckily we were only evacuated a few nights. No homes were burnt--The fire got closer to our mountain--but did not reach us. We are are home and safe. We have a new respect and gratitude for firefighters--especially those who went right into the flames to keep us safe.

July 2, 2012 - Cambios to Talara-Negrieros

** Our family was out of town this week and didn't get a letter off to Alex--this is a letter he wrote to his good friend-Amanda Jex.

Sup!!!!
So my family didn't write me this week--haha. Oh well, that's alright, I'm over it!!! haha
So that's good that you have been going mas o menus alright, That's terrible that you had to go to the dentist and what not, but that's life as we know it ya know?!  Everything has its ups and downs, positive and negative reactions. I'm starting to realize that more and more the longer that I've been out. haha I've been reading certain books that have really helped me fortify my teaching. My Spanish is growing and my vocabulary is.....decent. I can't say good, but decent! haha

So the buenas nuevas.....the old president went home on Saturday, the same day the new president arrived, it was a pretty hectic cambio and the whole mission was full of anxiety! But that's how life is when there are drastic changes.

My new compañon-Elder Yañez: He is awesome and the third comp that I have had from Argentina, so I'm used to the ll that sounds like sh. If there's a question about that just ask anyone that speaks Spanish, and they can help you out. He's from Salta.  He basically told me that it is a city that is encircled by mountains, and it is very toristico and the best  place in Argentina....figures.  I always say that I love my city town and people too...but I think that I believe him, given the description that he gave me! haha

My new area- I'm in Talara, It's one of the richer places that I have seen, It's because there is petroleo here, and the people actually have work! I'm in a place called Negreiros. It's about 15 minutes east of Talara and its nothing but dirt. I've seen 3-4 arbols (trees) the whole time! haha but that's chill. The people here are also much tougher to teach and find, but my companion has no problem telling them that they are confused! haha We are going to teach a little bit more harder and firmer... 


Basically I'm doing good here and hope that you're doing good.
Yours Truly,

Elder Pinegar

Sister Chipman & Pres. Chipman (outgoing Mission President) with Elder Pinegar & Elder Yañez June 2012

June 25, 2012 - Loving the People

Dear Familia,

So this week was really good, kinda stressful, and full of many activities! So I'll start with the baptisms. We had 1 baptism, the one of Asbey. He is really happy and so was his mom.  She's a sweatheart. It's gonna be hard to leave them.  Unfortunately, the others didn't get baptised quite yet, but we put another date for the 20th of the July. The mom wanted Ashley to be baptised with her brother, but she wanted to have more time..... The mother Ashley wants to talk to us, so before I leave from Zarumilla we're going to visit her. It's tough to go. We're finally starting to have success. At least Elder Lescano will be here to solucionar todas the things. He told me yesterday that I helped him change as a person and missionary. I responded with, "Well that's my job" hahah ;) Our relationship has grown, but it will be nice to have a change.

The Aponte Family and Asbey's baptism June 2012 - Elder Pinegar & Elder Lescano Zarumilla

I sure hope that everything goes good here. I finally learned to love the persons that I'm teaching. There are 4 baptisms planned for this cambio and much more that will happen. We worked hard and are finally seeing out fruit!!!! But now I'm going to another place that probably doesn't have success, but I'm gonna give it success!!!!!! haha

Yeah, so that's basically the down low on what's passin in the mission and what not!!!! Take a ton of pics at Powell and make sure to put them on the memoría so that I can enjoy your experiences!!! Love you all, and just know that I'm doing well. I've been sick for 10 days**, but I'm doing well!!!!


Love,
Elder Pinegar
 **(note from home) Remember that pizza Alex sent a few weeks ago saying he hadn't eaten cheese in 10 months--Jared saw that and said the only time he really got extremely sick on his mission to Peru was after he ate cheese--wondering if the cheese made him sick?

P-day with the Elders Zarumilla June 2012

Elder Vera, Elder Lescano, Elder Pinegar, & Elder Scanciani

Elder Vera=Ecuador, speaks English perfectly, but I don't-- so we talk in Spanish. He's great!!

Elder Lescano=Argentina-- He's great as you all know.

Elder Pinegar=The best of them all!!!!! hahaha

Elder Scanciani=Uruguay,  I always give him a hard time saying that Uruguay is provincia of Argentina. hahha He is awesome, my personality but in Spanish!!!

June 18, 2012--Upcoming Baptisms in the Works

Elder Lescano, Elder Pinegar & another cute Elder at a member's home June 2012 Tumbes

Sup Fam!!!!

This week has been a good one. We are finally putting fechas with the personas, and we are starting to see the work of the Lord coming to pass. The family that we have been working with came to church again and nos dijeron that they like the church a lot. They have testimonies and are becoming firm. Unfortunately, the mother of the family can't be baptised because her husband was married to another person before, and he has to get divorced from her primero, but I always encourage her to keep on going to the church and what not. She has tree children 18-Ashley 13-Asbey and 8-Arleny.  They are all great and really happy when we come by. They love to talk, and I feel like I'm with my family when I'm with them. haha I can even joke like I always do. Anyways, they have a date for this Saturday, and I'm hoping that it goes through because cambios are this Monday 24. I think that everything will go good with them, and I hope that they just accept to be baptized. They have been our focus the past 2 weeks.

Also, we put dates for 2 more jovencitas (young ladies) to be baptized. They are from a member menus activo.They are great, and we're gonna let the new missionaries that come into the area baptise them. haha but it's not my work......it's the Lords...this is where the humility really comes into play! haha and I should be the last person to say that! haha but it's all good.

We´ve put in work here in Zarumilla, not a doubt about that. Yeah, and thanks for the packages that I'll be getting!!!!!! Oh, and as soon as you can, send me my memory card, but make sure that you put a bunch of pics on it!!!!! Just like you did last time!!!!!!!!!

Love,

Elder Pinegar

June 11, 2012 -- The President & Pizza

Sup Family!!!

I'm doing good here this week in good ol Zarumilla. We've been putting in work and working hard with the family Aponte. They have been working hard to come to all of the activites that we have been doing and are trying to make the right decision. We've put a date for them to be baptised this 24th......I hope....we'll see. They always have a lot of questions that are really off subject and got kind of angry with one of the people at an activity, and I had to help them understand that the church is perfect but the people aren't. After that, it really turned out good. I think that they will end up being baptised. ojalá! Also, we're working with a bunch of other individuals that are making progress, and one woman that I have been working with for 4 months. Now we're going to challenge her to be baptised again for this week...welll see how that goes ;)  It's all good. We're in the work of the Lord. Yeah, so that's what's been going on for this week.

The president swung by, and we had interviews with him....It was a whole day of trunky and what not cause he started to talk to us about what we have to do when we get home! haha Yeah, I got a long ways to go!......thanks pres haha but it was good. Me and my companion were getting along but I tell ya guys, we are not even close to the same people. He is way too quiet, and it kills me cause he's the only person that I have to talk to haha but yeah cambios are in 2 weeks so that will pass.....;)

President Chipman, Elder Pinegar, Elder Lescano & Sister Chipman - June 2012

Oh and one more thing, I did end up geting the pics that you sent me on the memory card mom.....they were in a folder and the camera couldnt ream em,  but I got it all fixed.....sorry bout that!!!! haah my bad!* Oh and the pic is of a pizza that we made today.....yeah it was bomb´. We did work on it, and I gotta say that it was finally something different for a change!!! haha They do not eat cheese here, so this was the first time in almost 10 months that I have eaten cheese!!!!! mmmmmmmmmm que rico!!!

Mighty tasty--after 8 1/2 months of chicken & rice

Anyways, love you guys and just know that I always pray and think about y'all!!!


Love,


Elder Pinegar


*We got Alex's memory card in the mail this week with a note telling us he wasn't very happy we had only sent back 20 pics on it and chastising us for not sending snail mail---I think we sent at least 100 plus a video of us singing Happy Birthday on his memory card. Good thing he found them! Can't wait till he opens his package and see's all the letters that were sent to him.

JUNE 4, 2012 - 2 Letters This Week!

May 23, 2012 -- Letter we received 
Para: La Familia y conocidos
De: Elder Alexander Pinegar

Elder Pinegar and other missionaries on P-day (Love the hats) June 4, 2012

!!BUENAS!! Hola de Peru, Tongo mis o mesitos y me siento jiejo. jaja Yeah, so my Spanish is getting better and my English is starting to go down hill. I was talking the other day with one of the gringos, Elder Williams, he has 1 year in the mission, I noted that the response time is much slower and that you actually have to think to answer a question Haha. Wow, I have been waiting for this day to arrive!! So the mission is starting to get easier, the Leciones I've go down on lock and I feel like I'm actually helping people. The "older" and "older" that you get in the mission you expected to do more and more I guess that's what you call responsibility haha. But that's all good. I was used to that before I left for the mission. We've been workin' hard here trying to get people to come unto Christ. I gotta tell ya that it is definitely tough. The mission is by far the hardest thing that I have done in my life--not just the aspect of being away from home, but the fact that everyone is watching you 24/7. It kinda forces you to be an example and it forces you to follow the rules, even if you don't want to. (That's not to say that I don't want to follow the rules, but there are some that I could live without.) I have learned a lot so far in the mish, and I'm certain that I will learn much more with the next year and 2 months that follow. I lave learned a lot about leadership, and even though I'm "young" in the mish, I feel like I have helped a lot of people make decisions that are good and worthy of God's presence. Also, I have learned the importance of the family and how crucial it is to have a good, functioning, and HAPPY family. It's cool that I have that to look forward to in the near (years) future :) haha

Oh, and it was awesome to talk to you guys on skype!! I loved seeing everyone and being able to feel like I was at home!! haha. Yeah, so overall this letter is just something to accompany the memory card. Make sure that you read it and have fun looking at all the pics!! Hope you kinda feel like your in the mission with me!! haha Yeah, so just know that I love you all and that I'm always thinking of you guys!!
Sincerely,
Alex Pinegar
** We were alarmed when we opened the letter and found no memory card. We had to write him and tell him it was lost and how sorry we were---read his response below....

June 4, 2012 - Email
Sup Fam,
So this week was good and I've been doing a lot. We've been
working hard and I'm getting along with my companion alright, but that's
not to say that I am not waiting for cambios -- only 3 more weeks. Things
are getting ready here for the new pres and everybody is talking about
it, but I think that it's going to change smoothly.

So a family that we have been teaching finally went to church. It was good. I
believe that they will progress and that things will go well with
them.

So about the fotos that I sent to you guys, they were taken
in the manglares trees with the branch that forms the root or
something like that. haha

Elder Pinegar at the National Mangrove Sanctuary of Tumbes June 4, 2012

Missionaries enjoying Tumbes Mangals National Sanctuary June 2012

And about the memory card, no worries. The leader of the zone took it
out, but I gave him a little guide, and I sent it again. This time
you'll get it-- so no worries. yeah so everything is going good here and
were puttin in work! I'm hoping that everything goes good the following
three weeks with my comp.  Love you guys tons and have fun in the
Washington DC.


PS:  I wrote the letter to you guys earlier but it all got erased cause
the computer had a problem......haah but that's life!!!

May 28, 2012 - No News--but WRITE LETTERS

Hi Everyone,
Elder Pinegar didn't send a full-fledged letter this week--Just a hello and a call out to

SEND LETTERS!!

I know Alex would love to hear from you! We are sending a package out, and I would love to include a few letters in it from his blog readers. You can email me at stephpin@comcast.net, and I'll print them out and put them in the package.

We're sending the package on MONDAY - JUNE 4---so write him ASAP (Sunday is a great day)!!

Thanks!

Elder Pinegar's Mom :)  Stephanie