June 10, 2013 Return Date & 1st Real Ward

Dear Familia,

Return date: August 15th, 2013.

Yeah, so this week went by fast, but not too fast. I got to know my new area and what not. Ive got a new comp (Elder Garcia). He's way chill, a little trunky, considering that he finishes his mission this change. He's from Nicaragua. He's 21 and skinnier than I don't know who! haha. His girlfriend is waiting for him, but he's not to sure if he's gonna marry her ;) haha but I can see that little twinkle in his eyes when he starts talkin about her. That's the DL on my comp.

Elder Pinegar & his new companion, Elder Garcia. (How did he find Dr. Pepper in a foreign country?)

As for my new area, its called Enace, and it's a ward, the first that I have been in my whole mission. There are 200 active members here and 720 in total. You do the math. Yeah, it looks like I'm just going to be working on activation the rest of my mission. That's a good thing is you're wondering. I like getting to know people that are at least interested in the church! So we're trying to find new people to teach, but I'm guessing it's going to take basically the whole change. The past missionaries here have had it rough, there was basically a war between the ward and the missionaries, but I'm hoping that I can solve some issues. For me, the ward is way chill and the people that I'm getting to know really like that we visit them. 

Elder Garcia & Elder Pinegar enjoying dinner
 with another set of missionaries.

As for my old area, Maria and Grace are getting baptized this week. That's a good thing to hear and really makes the missionary work satisfying. The good thing about having someone that is finishing their mission is that I can go and visit his old areas with him, which just happens to be the Polverines. When he left, I came there. Yeah, so we know the place really well. 

Elder Garcia & Elder Pinegar - enjoying city life in Piura Peru

I sent you guys some photos and hope you like them. They are mainly just at restaurants, cause I took the pics today. We went to Chili's and to Pizza Hut, considering that my comp wanted Pizza Hut. I enjoyed them both. As for the rest of the week, we're gonna get down to business and try to stay on track in the mission. 

Oh, and enjoy Lake Powell, I really do love that place. I love the lizard shirt and wear it with pride!!!!!! haha Love you guys tons, and just know that I'm always thinking of you all. 

In 7!!!

Elder Pinegar

June 3, 2013 - Leaving my area

Dear Familia,

Yeah, so this week was good. Sister Maria and her daughter and granddaughter went to church this Sunday, and she's gonna get baptized the following week. Unfortunately, I'm not going to be here in the same spot, cause I have changes in the morning. I'm going to "die" in another place. That's cool haha, but I'm kinda mad at the fact that I don't get to baptize my fruit, we worked hard! haah 

Anyways, that's chill that Bek is going on some trip thing, good for her. Hope she enjoys it! Yeah so that's cool to the she graduated! Wow!! And as for summer, that's always the best part of the year, except winter.... ;) (I hope I can get some good boarding in this year!!!!) hHope you guys are doing well and what not, and I'm sure the other letter that I write next week will be better!! haha until then keep stayin fresh!!!!!! 

Love,

Elder Pinegar

May 28, 2013 - A quick note

Dear Familia,

Yeah, so there's really not a ton to say for this week, considering I emailed you guys 2 days ago. I'm doing well and keepin things down on lock. Maria and her daughter, they are doing good and are progressing really well. So for the package, just send a bunch of candy that is tasty, none of this healthy stuff. Ohhh, and I saw elder Yañez again today. He's doing really well and enjoying his mission. He's like 15 minutes from my area. We challenged his soccer team to play against us, and of course we won! haha But not my much. We played all morning from 8 till 1. I am really feelin it right now. I gotta say that the youthfulness does not last forever, but I'm not old yet, just out of shape. I could feel my lungs almost collapse when I was playing haha. It's crazy how time flies, but good that you can still have great friends. Tell Lauren I say hi. Yeah, that's about all for this week. Love you guys tons and thanks for hittin me up with the pics. 

Muy bien Spence,* that's great. Math is suppppperr inmportant, luckily I've been reviewing the calc and yeah, it comes right back to ya....I think!

Love,

Elder Pinegar

*Spencer was honored by the math department as one of its exemplary students.

May 25, 2013 - Humanitarian Service and Missionary Photos

Dear Familia,

First off, happy birthday Spencer!!! 15 right?? haha, I think so. Hope you enjoyed your birthday!!!

Elder Pinegar and fellow missionaries serving as a translator for a humanitarian eye correction center May 2013

Bus Ride to the service projce

Yeah, so how I said, sorry for not writing you guys on Monday, but that's when the service project was. Luckily, they let us choose our P-day, so today is the day we picked. Anyways, I sent a bunch of fotos of what we did. It was a eye correction center that they set up. They had over 50,000 glasses....Wow! I had the chance to help people that had vision like you mom, but had never had glasses for 50 years. One woman had -15.00, and -13.00 in the other eye. Much more than legally blind. I had the chance to see her when she put on glasses and see the smile on her face when she realized what was around here. We saw in total more than 500 people, and on top, they called me doctor, clearly I looked like one!! haha yeah so that was they biggest thing we did this week.

"Dr." Pinegar - Enjoying giving service

Giving sight those who could not see---What a huge blessing for the people of Peru

Another TALL Elder - Yes - Elder Pinegar has met his match!

In other news about the investigators, the sister Maria and her daughter grace have dates set for baptism the 15 of June. She and her daughter are going to be good converts. she always has a new person there when we teach her, and she is really alert when we teach. 

Elder Pinegar and his district with President & Sister Chad A. Rowley

Action shot of the Legua district

A taste of Peru with the missionaries

Yeah, so were in charge of the Polverines, while the other missionaries are in charge of the Legua. The Legua is a little bit bigger and has more room to be able to find new people to teach while we're here. It's a little bit harder to look for new people, cause the majority of the people have already heard about the church. Ohhh, the other pics are of an activity that we had at the stake. We got a futbol team together, and they are gonna play in the stake tournament. The majority are members.

Legua Futbal team

Beautiful princess

That's crazy what's going on at home with everyone! Haha yeah and I like the idea of having my date set*,  less that 3 months! I'm doing good on staying focused.  So that's basically the DL on this week. I'm doing good and enjoying my time. ohhh and don't worry Dad, I read your letter. I loved it, thanks for always writing me! I sure do enjoy it.

Anyways, peace out till Monday. Make sure you all write me and let me know what's goin down with the family and what not!!!!

Love,

Elder Pinegar

*Though we don't have an official return date for Elder Pinegar, our bishop scheduled his homecoming date. Elder Pinegar will speak on August 18, 2013 unless he comes home after this date. We'll let you know if this changes.

May 13, 2013 - Mama's Week

Dear Familia,

Our Mother's Day skype visit May13, 2013 from Legua, Peru

Yeah,  so yesterday was a great opportunity to be able to see ya guys!* Wow! everyone is doin great! So I'm gonna try my best to not make this letter to long, or to short! haha 

First off, thanks for all the support that you guys give to me! That really makes the difference when you're a long ways away!  So I'm doing good as you could see from yesterday. I'm excited and keeping up the work as always.  So lets get down to business. First off, I was thinking about what Tanner told me and what not. I'm sure I'm gonna move out, but not till January. I'll be way too rushed with only 2 weeks getting home, plus I've got a lot of studies to catch up on. 

Tanner Wooden visiting with his best friend after 2 years and 5 months May 13, 2013

So for the past week, it was good and full of work. We were able to be effective and actually able to bring investigators to the church. The family that we're working with right now is great, and we believe that everything will go good with them. The mom is called Maria (just like all the women haha). She's great and has a really good attitude towards everything. She knew missionaries like 40 years ago, but she was going to a Catholic school where it was prohibited to talk about other religions. But here we are 40 later. Wow right? Yeah, so that's the biggest news. we're getting ready for a muti-zone conference that's going to be this Friday, so basically this week is gonna fly by. 

So that's about all the news for this week. I forgot the memory card to the camera so you won't be seeing pics this week, but don't worry, I'll keep ya covered for the next week k? So if there are any questions for me, hit me up, and I'll answer them the next week.

Nick seems like he's doing great. and it"s crazy to see that Scott's done with his mission. Wow!  Yeah, I'll be done in no time, just gotta keep it goin big!!! 

Elder Nick Pinegar & Elder Alex Pinegar talking together for the first time in a year - May 13, 2013

Love you guys with all my heart, and just know that Ive always had y'all in my mind. You're my support!!! keep stayin fresh!!

Love,
Elder Pinegar

*Note from Mom: It was soo good to see Elder Alex on Mother's Day. It was tough making a skype connection--but after an hour of trying, Alex was finally able to find an internet cafe that had a viewable connection. He says he’s forgotten how to speak English—but he did alright for our Mother’s Day call. He was able to talk with Nick after a year. The skype call wouldn't work, so he ended up calling him on a land line. We're sure that was a happy reunion. 
Alex should be coming home the 2^nd week of August--he is still having his dates figured out. He serves as a co-senior companion as of now with another missionary who will also go home the same time as him. He lives in the house chapel (the small church) and doesn’t really belong to a branch—but a house church---so even smaller than a branch. He said they average about 30 people at church each week—and had 6 investigators this past week—which he was so excited for. Hopefully they will turn into a branch in the next 3 months…though he doesn’t know if he will end his mission there or not.

April 7, 2013 - A Letter in the Mail

Since handwritten letters are so far and in between--thought we would share this with you.

To: Mom and Dad

I know it's been a while since you guys have gotten a good handwritten letter from me, and for that I ask Perdon.

I'm currently in the Legua II. There isn't too much prosperity here. I'm not saying that it's a hard area, but it's not easy! haha  It's pretty interesting to be looking at my mission at the time that I'm nearing for my departure. What a great experience. How Good it is to be able to know other people, see the effect of real life, and be able to see the hand of God in the every day things. I can truly say that although I still have my same personality and that I can be a little harsh at time, I can say that I've got a much better perspective of this life, the temptations and blessings. The obedience, I know I'm not perfect and at times I willingly disobey, but I'm really doing my best to get better. One thing that I've been able to learn, is that God loves us. We are his children and that although sometimes we can't understand all the reason behind everything, we should TRUST him, cause he knows! Anyways, Just want to express my love for you guys. I'm getting excited to be able to see you very shortly!! Thanks for all you do for me and my companions. Hope you enjoy these photos and pics!*
Love,
Alexander Cato Pinegar

*Alex sent us a bunch of new photos--they will be up soon.

May 6, 2013 - Advice, Birthday Wishes & Calling home

Dear Familia,

Yeah, so first off, the English honors class did not help me AT ALL*, and in fact caused me more problems than help. Remember when Dad had to come and sit with me in class? haha Wow what a story!** second, FERLIZ CUMPËAÑOS A TI MI ABUELITO LINDOP MIO! yeah don't worry gramps, I haven't forgotten bout you!!! keep goin strong and make the goal to hit up the treadmill!! ;) hahah love ya tons!

Elder Pinegar, Elder Carrion, Elder Martinez & Elder Lazaro having some fun at a park on P-day

So for the most part, all is going good here in the polvorines and we're puttin in work to make sure that it keeps on progressing. We ended up dropping a lot of investigators, and we're currently looking for new ones. We've found a few, but the area is a little bit tough, but nothing to hard to handle! Anyways, I'll let ya know what's going on with my last phone call home! WOW but that's a good thing right?! haah Anyways keep it chill! I'm getting along great with my companion who also has the same time in the mission as me! We're doing out best here and trying very hard to be diligent!

Elder Carrion & Elder Pinegar in front of Peru's National Soccer Team Logo  - May 2013 

Love,

Elder Pinegar

*We asked Alex to give his brother some words of encouragement on getting a better education by taking an honors course. Thanks Alex! 
 Note from Mom:  Paying attention in English honors would have saved me a lot of time editing your letters--just sayin' :) 

**Alex's brother, Spencer recently argued about why he had to take English honors and it was like having the same conversation with Alex when he was going into 10th grade. Luckily there are 2 teachers and Spencer opted for a different teacher than Alex had.