November 12, 2012 - 3 P's Paita, Pinegar & Pinzón

Elder Pinegar & Elder Pinzón in Paita

Dear Familia,

Yeah sup fam!! So here's the dowlow on this week. I'm in Paita. It's one hour south of Talara and it's coastline, so it's breezy. It will be a good place to spend the summer here. I'm in Paita Alta and it's pretty chill. The members are great and there is a lot more support here in the branch. We're doing work and had a good assitance (attendance) here; The highest that they have had. 9. 

So anyways, I have a new companion. He is called Elder Pinzón (the name is from Spain), but he is from Ecuador, Quito. He's pretty chill, and I sent a pic of him to y'all. I calculate that he will be here only 1 change more and what not. My area is fairly small, and I think that I'll get used to it fairly quick. The pension here is really nice, and her whole family is kind. I had to eat cow stomach the other day. That was gross. It's called mondongo here. My comp was born in the church, and his parents were converts. He is pretty tranquilo and likes to talk a lot in the lecciones. It's probably because he is fairly new. He has 3 months in the mission. It's nice this time cause I can practically talk to him about everything. The Spanish is natural, and I'm slowly forgetting my beautiful English.....yeah so that's the downlow on this week, just know that I'm doing good and having fun!!!! 

Basically all the people here are fishermen and ohhh my pension said that about 30 years ago she knew an Elder Pinegar.... ask dad if he every served in Paita K? yeah thanks!!!! keep it chill!!!!

Elder Pinegar

PS: I would like just a few things, first is melatonin 3mg. second is 2 refills for that pen that shark sent me. (zebra refill F 0.7mm) thanks!!!! love you guys!!!! and if y'all have any questions, make me a list and I'll answer them!! 

Oh and that's cool about Scott, don't worry, I'm in communication with him. haha I always got my G´s.

**Alex also sent a letter to Jared in Spanish--so for those of you who speak the language--it will be an extra treat--google translate is okay--but doesn't do it justice.

que tal papacito mio! ya esta seman fue muy buena y donde estoy ahora es completamente diferenty que le anterior. las personas, en especial los miembros están animados y listos por el trabajo que se le presente. el presidente de la rama es muy bueno y se nota, la feliciadad. te comparto mi experiencia en la iglesia ayer. no es exatamente espiritual, pero fue bueno. acá tal como en mis otros areas me siento bien con los miembros. ha sido como 4-5 años desde he tocado el piano.....y está domingo me obligaron a tocar......fue un disatrre completo, pero me recuperé con las ultimas dos canciones. siempre estoy dispuesto de servir, quizá no tengo tanta abilidad en todas las cosas, pero me acuerdo en mateo en cuanto los talentos, yo tengo 5 y definitivemente quiero mas!!! jaja no es que soy egoísta, pero es bueno de aprender siempre, como me dijiste! sigue fuerte!!! ohhh y felicitaciones con tu edificios y todo eso!!! una cosita mas, me olvidé de decirte feliz compleaños......to pido que me disculpes, te amo mucho!!!!!! haz trabajo pero disfruta a vida a la vez!!!

paz para siempre!!! tu hijito alex pinegar

GOOGLE translate with a lot of help from Jared below:

Hi little Daddy!! 
This week was very good and where I am now is completely different than it was before. The people, particularly members are excited and ready for the work. The branch president is very good and it shows, and it's easy to tell he's happy. Let me tell you about church yesterday, it's not exactly spiritual, but it was good. Here as in my other areas, I feel good with the members. It's been like 4-5 years since I played the piano ..... and this week they needed someone to play the piano Sunday ...... I was a complete disaster, but I redeemed myself with the last two songs. I am always ready to serve. Perhaps I don't have too much ability in everything, but I agree with Matthew when the Lord spoke about the talents. I have 5 and definitely want more! haha I'm not selfish, but it's always good to learn, as you said! Move forward! Ohhh and congratulations with your building and all that! One more thing, I forgot to tell you happy ...... birthday.* I ask you to forgive me, I love you much!! work hard, but enjoy life at the same time!

peace forever!

Your son Alex Pinegar
*Jared's Bday was Oct 19

November 5, 2012 - A Great Week

Hi Familia,

Elder Pinegar & Elder Muchaypina (on his left) & His Zone in Talara Oct 2012

So this week has been good; We had a great week. I don't know why, but it was good. Me and my companion get along really well and chevere and what not. but unfortunately today were changes and it looks like I'm leaving Negreiros......sad but happy at the same time. We're going to be leaving some great investigators and people that I really believe have potential.  This week I finally sent 2 pics, one is of the children of a family that we are working with, they are great and really friendly. the other is of the zone in Talara. the two are both bien bakán!! 

Elder Pinegar & Elder Muchaypina with the Milagro's children - Oct 2012

As for this past week, we have one person that is actually progressing and I think that he is baptismal material. He's called Jorge. He is 70 and has a rep haha but it's all good. he sounds really excited to be able to come to church again. and the family in the foto I call them family milagros (its because the mom is called Milagros). We had a NDH (FHE) with them and it was great and what not! 

As for the voting issues, not too many people know or care about the UU EE  (U.S.), but on occasion they ask me about the political issues, and I just tell them that the candidate is Mormon, so they should be too! haha. Ohhh, and I'm doing work as a negotiator here. I finally decided to buy a speaker to listen to some tunes, seeing that I'm basically the only person in the whole mission without one! But I did my fair share of bartering. Y'all know me!!

Ohh, and as for my companion, he is a recent convert and has almost two years as a member. He's the only one, but his family is listening to the missionaries and what not! So who knows. yeah and for Christmas I really don't need anything. But I would like a GOOD stretch band to get my body figure back. I need one that can handle my pythons!! haha soooo chill!!

Love you guys tons, and just know that I am always thinking of y'all!!

Love,
Elder Pinegar

October 29, 2012 - The Work Goes On

Dear Familia,

Así es.........that it is in English. I think that has been my favorite word choice lately. Anyway that's great what's going on at home and everything that is happening in the westside. We're holding down the town around here in the parts most dangerous of Perú haha (its a joke) but really. So about this past week, we've been doing good, but we had a big bummer seeing that none of the investigators that we have went to church. Luckily for us we had the chance to find another family that seems really interested......I hope.We had the chance to do some good service projects this week and help others that were in need. But I gotta say it was kind of awkward when a single mom with a child started to hit on me haha. 

So the noticias for this week is that in a part of our area about 500 people have invaded and just posted up cause they heard that the government was giving away house lots. We took advantage of that opportunity and found the family that took interest. We'll see how that goes with all that. Anyways, as for the families, we're still working with one of them and had the chance to teach them about the plan de salvación; They liked it and were every interested, but when we invited them to church they just kinda ignored us.....it's all goood. But I hope that some day the missionaries will be able to do some good with them! That's about all that has been goin down this week, but its been good being able to find some new people to teach.

As for the package, I'm sure that my good buddy Elder Muchaypiña will love the gummy worms! haha He really is a great person and I would consider him a good friend, a great friend. We've really been able to bond and get through some tough times, and also he taught me how to cook up a mean paloma soup. So I don't mind. Ohhh, and speaking of the woman that donated the paloma for our cause, her uncle died last week. So I guess that it was good to share the plan de savación with her like 3 days before. We'll see how she's doing this Wednesday.

anyways, that's about it for this week! love ya all like a true champ would!!!!! keep it real at home and tell the rest that I love them too!! 

Elder Pinegar

October 22, 2012 -Palomas & Leccions

Hi Family,

So basically this week has been great. My companion and I are puttin in WORK. I've been using all my connections that I have here to get the people listening. I really enjoyed the letters that I have been receiving, keep em comin. I'm trying to get him ready to train, seeing that I know that he will be training in 2 weeks haha but he doesn't know that. Anyways, soo a little bit of info on what's been happening around my neck of the woods.

First, the family that we have been teaching is great, but we found out last Monday that they are only married by the church, which here is as good as being single. That was the biggest surprise, but I think that they are going to think about it. We had a family home evening with them, seeing that another married couple would be good. It was a great help, and we ended up talking about temples and what they really do for us. That was good. but William, the husband is pretty proud....kinda like someone I know, but I told him that all he had to think about was praying. He told me that he is scared to pray cause he is scared to change. But it's all good. I think that he´ll be alright.

Anyways, the other family kinda went lights out on us. The husband doesn't really want to be preached to. but I got my form down on lock and have a good relationship with him, so we'll see what happens with them, seeing that we have a cita with them this week.

Ohhh, I have a pretty tight story for y'all. So my comp and I were visiting an investigator this past week. She has 3 children, and they happened to have two palomas (doves-pigeons) as pets. We told her that paloma is tasty, and I told her that I had never eaten it before.......so she got out the vegetables and spaghetti and said that were gonna have some soup. With the permission of the mother, we grabbed the paloma, there was a black one and white one. So we grabbed one. Yeah, so I told the children to go to the other side for a moment, of course they didn't. We rung the neck of the paloma and the two little girls were terrified, but the 5 year old boy was highly intrigued haha. The little girls grabbed the white paloma and ran into the other room and told us that we were bad haha but the mother just laughed haha. We plucked it and the mom prepared it. As it was cooking, we had a great lesson about the plan of salvacion and she was highly interesado. We ended the leccion and pounded down a good ol paloma haah.  I dont think that I will ever forget that leccion!!!

Anyways, we have been putttin in work and have a couple families, one excepted to be baptised but didn't come to the house chapel this Sunday....we'll see what happens, but I think that in the long run she and her family will enter the water.

So that's basically what we have been doing here, and for P-days we have just been doing work on fùtbol. I'm developing my skills in that as well. That's where I'm headed right now as a matter of fact!

Love you guys a ton! Love the people that love the people of the people! Always have y'all in my mind and prayers!!!!! keep on being studs! Ohh and a shoutout to the Woodens. You guys have really impacted my life and just let Jackson know that he is a stud, just like my little brother and sister!!!

peace,

the Elder Pinegar

October 15, 2012 -Putting in work all over the globe

Dear Familia,

First off, I'm sorry to hear about what has happened with Uncle Ransom and his family. I send my condolences to them and to Grandma Jacque (I believe that this name is Spanish) but I just want you all to know that this was all part of God's plan. I don't know why or because, but I know that God knows and that's all that I need to know. 

Anyway, as for this week, we have been puttin in work all over the globe.....if the globe consisted of only Negrieros that would be cool, but unfortunately that was just a figure of speech. We've been working with the families, and we found another family that looks like they will be pretty happy to get goin in the gospel. We had the chance to teach a little bit, and it looks like we are finally going to start having progressing investigators. as for the families....we'll see what happens tonight, seeing that we have a family home evening planned for them. (It's not planned at all, but we do work and I've always known how to improvise!) Anyways, we're hoping that this will be fundamental in the progression of this family así que vamos a empezar implicando los miembros en nuestras ensenansas. So hopefully they do alright.

As for Negreiros, it's starting to get hot here, but at least the wind blows, and we are always refreshed by it. The mangos are starting to come forth and ripen, and I'm starting to plan where I'm gonna make my first attack! haha but that's as well is just a figure of speech.

Anyways, that's basically the downlow on whats happening in my neck of the woods. Make sure that you enjoy this week, because school starts again the following week! Just know that I love you guys and I always put in a good word to the Lord for ya!!!!

keep doing what God wants, not what you want........then keep being happy about it!!!!! much love !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Elder Pinegar

ps...my companion loves gummy snakes, ya know the little sour ones, if you could send me 2 packs of those before the end of octubre i would love it! thanks your the best!!!!

October 8, 2012 Pigeons, Decisions & Mission Ages

Dear Familia,

Yeah, so this week was good! To answer your questions. first off, the roof--we finally cleaned up and what not, it looks alright...or should I say better than before. The food is still the same, but me and my companion are seeing what we can do to capture a few palomas (pigeons) to cook up one day. The pension said that they are great and she is picky, so I trust her word! haha That's chill that Nick likes the MTC and what not. I know that he's on a pretty strict schedule there, and that they keep them in line!  I remember one day the assistant of somebody got mad cause I didn't have my suit coat on...normally I would teach him a lesson....but he just happened to be twice my size, with fingers like sausage links! haha yeah ya gotta stay in line!

The families that we are working with are at a real crucial point in their progress. We challenged them to baptism but they are still unsure....we'll see what happens this week! But if not, I believe that more forward in time they will join the church. We invited them to the General Conference session yesterday and they told us that they were going to go, but the mom of the Marlenie got sick....we'll see about that ;) haha but y'all know that I'm not the type of person to burn others....unless they get on my nerves ;) haha anyways were puttin in work and looking for new investigators. I'll clue ya in more on what happens this coming week.

Interesting how they changed the ages of the missiones. It's for the better. because a lot can happen between 18-19 años ya know?! but I like that.

anyways that's about all for this week but just know que les amo y que les quiero mucho!! siguen fuertes, y acuerdense que no hay NADIE que les puede hacerles frente! sean valiente y vendrà su recompensa!!!!

Love,

Elder Pinegar

October 2, 2012 - YEAH BUDDY!! & a New Companion

Dear Familia,

The Gordon & William Families with Elder Pinegar & Elder Yanez in Negreiros. A little bit about the pic, these are the people that we are working with, two families, the people that also went to the church this past week.

Just wanna give a shout out to my big brother and let him know that I'm proud of him, yeah buddy I'm proud!*

So this week was good, elder Yanez went to his new area in Sullana ( it is hotter than here) but I'm sure that he will enjoy it equally. My new companion arrived shortly after Yanez left. His name is Elder Muchaypina (it doesn't let me do the ene on this key board). He's from Chincha, a place where I heard that they eat cats....I asked him and he told me that it's true.....hahah I would put in work on a good ol gourmet cat prepared with a side of french fries! haha Anyway, he is great, He has a different style and talks way different than Elder Yanez. Overall he's a great guy, very lively and with a do anything attitude. I'm pretty sure that this change will be a fest and good one. 

Anyway, just a little background on my latinito. So he's 21 years old, and he is the only member in his family, but he told me that his mom is listening to the missionaries. His dad died a few years ago....luckily he had a great neighbor (who was his girlfriend) that got him to go to church and with sometime, listened to the missionaries. He got the chance to understand where his dad is and when we was going to see him again. Yeah, pretty chill.

Anyways, a little bit about this week, we finally got the two families to go to church, and all was well until the members started talking about profound doctrine and started contradicting the teacher and what not. We'll see what happens with them very shortly this week. but I still have some hope for them......anyways we also went looking for new investigators, and I think that we have some potential with them.

So that's basically what happened this week and what is new, Negreiros is still good ol Negreiros. Oh,  the pension in the night had to stop giving us dinner because her work is making her work full time. I'll have to see how creative I can be this week haha. ohh.........made ya look! Anyways, that's the downlow for this week. 

Love ya guys and just know that all will go good. Tell the fam that I love them and tell the hood that I'm still reppin!!! Love what the Lord has done for my brother and what not, and he knows that I'm grateful. Keep puttin in work at home and keep hittin me up with pics of home! Love ya guys and the rest of the crew. Ohhh and just a shout out for Geoff, congrats!!! Doin it till we die.......he knows what I mean. and as for the rest, chow!!!!!! 

Elder Pinegar

*Nick went on his mission on Sept 26 and is currently in the MTC learning Spanish and preparing to serve in the Spokane, WA mission