July 9, 2013 - Productive Week and Progression

Dear Familia,

Yeah, so this past week was good, loved the photos. I felt like it was productive, although I think my comp is ready to roll out...haha this week he goes home. His interview is friday in the morning. He is great and deep down he's really soft and although I'm a bit jealous, I'll be tryin to stay focused this next change. 

As for Lourdes, she is the good news. She passed her baptismal interview with flying colors, and I'm pretty sure that she'll be baptized this Saturday. I'll let ya know the next week. And as for the less active family that we've been visiting, I had the chance to do splits with the bishop and was able to take him to the less active family Garcia. They really opened up when the bishop was there, and we got more to the tip of the iceberg. They came to church this past Sunday, and the bishop was able to interview them both to get him ready to baptize his 2 kids. They are progressing great.

Oh and as for the room, the main floor is fine*. I'm not too worried about anything else. You gotta remember where Ive been living for the past 2 years haha ;)  Love you guys tons, and I'm always thinking bout y'all. Keep up the good attitude and I'll do the same!

Peace, 

Elder Pinegar

* Alex is taking up the guest room when he comes home since Bekah took over his room when he left. She's not ready to give it back.

**Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints created the Church’s 100th stake (similar to a Catholic diocese) in Peru on Sunday.

During the Sunday services, Elder Christofferson encouraged Latter-day Saints to continue to follow Jesus Christ by serving others. He also spoke about the Church’s rapid growth in Peru, where some 520,000 Mormons in nearly 800 congregations reside. The first Peruvian stake was created in 1970, and the Church has one of its 141 temples in Lima, with two others (one announced in Arequipa, another under construction in Trujillo) on the way.

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Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles speaks to 14,000 Mormons in Peru on 29 June 2013. The event celebrated the creation of the Church’s 100th stake in Peru.© 2013 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.

On Saturday night, approximately 14,000 local Mormons celebrated the Church growth milestone at an event at the University of San Marcos stadium, which featured cultural dances, a parade of 300 former and current Mormon missionaries and a video about the Church’s 50-year history in Peru. The Saturday evening event was the largest-ever gathering of Peruvian Latter-day Saints.

While in Peru, Elder Christofferson also gave a live interview Friday to Peru National Radio. He told radio host Rocio Marmanillo of the Church’s scheduled a day of service to clean Peru’s coasts, slated for 7 December 2013. “All others who wish to participate” are invited to help during the day of service, Elder Christofferson said.

Elder Christofferson also met Friday with a Peruvian congressman, the director of interfaith affairs and the director general of justice and worship. In all these meetings, Elder Christofferson spoke of the family’s importance in society. He also discussed the need to establish and promote projects that not only improve the future of the needy but also help them achieve self-reliance in the short term.

July 2, 2013 - Finding Time to Teach and Staying on Track

Dear Familia,

Visiting Legua - June 2013

First off, sorry for not writing yesterday, but no worries, everything is going good. Yeah to answer a few of the questiones..

The most important are the flight plans haha, and no, I don't have them yet....but they ll be coming soon! haha I think they don't tell us so we keep working ;) and yes, I'm getting excited!! but I'm still ready to work. Ohh and no worries, I got the other package, and it was gone in about a day and a half. EVERYONE destroyed it.....wow!

Some of the guys in the ward - July 2013

Yeah, so for what's goin down here in Piura, first off, one of the dates fell through. It's cause the family didn't come to church, but that's alright. I'm not to worried about anything, we're gonna take care of them. Second, about Lourdes, I hope she is doing well. We're trying to pass by every day or at least call and let her know that we're there for her. Her date is still for the 13th, and we'll see what happens today when we visit her. 

We've got another family that looks pretty interested, and we're trying to find time to be able to visit them. They are only around in the night, and that makes it a little bit difficult to visit them. 

Also, we're trying hard to find new people, but I think my companion is gone....yeah I don't blame him. I'm just trying to keep him concentrated one more week. I'm pretty sure that's something normal. I was talking with the zone leaders the other day, and they told me that another missionary that has always been super focused already had his suitcases packed. haha I'm gonna try to not have that happen to me.

A new convert invited all 6 missionaries for dinner last Sunday, June 30, 2013 for Elder Flores's bday.

Elder Flores...the guy you see with egg yolk all over. That's a tradition
that they have here, and the missionaries aren't the exception.

Yeah, so this week is gonna be quick, and we're gonna try to put in work. I really am getting along great with Elder Garcia. It's always nice when both comps respect each other. 

Ohh and that's chill what you're doin at home. That's good that everyone is doing great and that the church published a book about the mission. All they need now is a book for those who finish the mish, so they cannot be weird ;) haha

Anyways, love you guys tons, and just know that I'm excited to see y'all next month!!!!!

Love,

Elder Pinegar

P.S. The weather here is great, and I'm enjoying the semi-fresh nights. Strong till the end, although I am looking forward to being kinda normal at home! At least 30 times a day some kid, or person always says: "A la tipo!!! mira má!!  or asú maquina que altaso!"** Yeah, I'm ready to only hear it a few times a day at home!!!

* We're fixing up our house--refinishing the floors and trying to get everything updated

** Something like, "Look Mommy!!! or Oh my Gosh--Look at that tall guy!"

June 24, 2013- Progressing and Partying

Dear Familia, 

Elder Pingar & Elder Garcia with the other missionaries in Enace.

Yeah, so this week went well. It went fast....haha Yeah, so I'll get down to business. We have been able to work with some people this past week that are progressing. We had some luck in activating an inactive family. They came to church, and their 2 kids are getting ready to get baptized. They have been members for 2 years. I think they are gonna get baptized this Saturday, and we're gonna try to have their dad baptize them. 

Cute as a button!!

This is my crew, we're takin care of business here eatin som arroz chaufa!!

Enjoying some arroz chaufa (Chinese food)  at the Bishop's 50th bday party

Another person that we are working with is Lourdes. She's 18, and she has been listening to the missionaries for a year. She put her own date for the 13th of July, and i believe that everything is gonna go good. Those are the two prospects that we think are going to really progress! Hopefully all goes down. 

That's great Mom! Glad to hear your knockin off the bucket list.....but I think ya got a while to live ;) haha Congrats on the run, that is definitely something that I would never ever ever want to do!*  

I'm thinkin more like droppin the Swiss alps ;) Yeah, and as for the rest of the family, it looks like everything is going good there!! Oh, I got the packages, I'm still waiting for 1, but I'm pretty sure that it will arrive shortly. Ohh and everyone is loving the candy. haha it's basically gone...Wow! 

So that's about all for this week. Good to hear that everything is going good and whatnot. Love you guys tons!!! Hope that everything goes well this week!!! and don't worry, I'm tryin to stay focused!! ;) 

Much love!!

Elder Pinegar 

*Stephanie just ran a half marathon this past week.

June 17, 2013 - Change Takes Time but Makes a Lasting Difference

Sup fam!!! 

So this week went buy fast, and yeah, I'm used to the new ward. The good things here are that we have our meeting every week with the ward and we're able to communicate most of the needs that we have with the members in the ward. Yes, we have lunch here, Saturdays and Sundays. It's nice, and I feel good when I have the chance to talk to someone that really likes/wants to talk to me!* haha but that's good. I can see how helpful a mission is for the REAL life. Oh, and we're going to be working here on reactivation for 3 months. I suggested the goal, and the ward seemed to like it. Luckily for me, I'm hoping that means a lot of activities! That's my favorite part of the mission work, being able to invite someone to do something they really like or want to do. Ohh, and I think that this week there is a sister that will be coming home to the ward here in Enace. That will be cool, considering the fact that I'm getting close ;)   The things that I have been able to see in a bigger ward is that the members hope that the missionaries do all the mission work....frustrating at times, but I understand. I've been in that position before, I know how that is. That's what I always try to do, put myself in the shoes of others, be it my companion, investigator, or member. It really helps me get a real picture of what's going on.

I'll get a picture to you the next week of my house. It's just like the one I had in Negreidos, and we only have water in the morning haha. I hope I don't get to used to living just a ¨little¨dirty haha considering the fact that my companion doesn't like to shower cause the water is too cold. He bathes like every 5 days, but I don't think anyone has noticed ;) Like I said, I just put myself in his shoes and imagine all the cold mornings and the dreadful thought of showering in the cold water. Sometimes, it makes me not want to shower ;) haha Yeah, so overall the climate has cooled down here in Piura, but the days are hot. the nights are a little bit brisk. 

As for the mission work here in Enace, which is in the district of Piura, we have been visiting a lot of less active people. We had a little bit of success this past week, and we're working with a few families to get them to come to church. Unfortunately, nobody came, just 2 investigators. That's alright, and to be frank, kind of what I expected. It's gonna take a little bit of persistence to get the people to start acting, but I want this to be a lasting effect, not a 3 month deal. True change takes time, and I hope that in the 2 months I have, I'll be able to do just a little, as long as it makes a difference. That's what really matters!! 

Anyways, I don't have photos this week, sorry for that! I'll get ya some the next week. And as for the packages, thanks!!! I sure do love you guys a lot. I really look forward to the next week when I get to write y'all, and just know that you're my motivation to do good. Thanks for the good example that you have given me. Truly I have been born of goodly parents. Tell the family hi!!! and make sure that every is doin good!!!

love your Elder Alex ;)

* We asked Alex if he was invited to member meals now that he's part of a ward.

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.