February 11, 2013 - A Week of Work

Dear Familia,

Elder Pinegar & Elder Chavez visiting the daughter of their pensionista in Paita - and a little war paint :) Feb 2013

Wow! Wo that's gotta be great with the car and all! haha jk Anyways, I hope Bek's alright, lemme know how she's doin k? And as for the car....that's all part of life.*

As for the mission, we're doing good here in Paita. we have a baptism scheduled for the 23, it's a little kid. He's gonna help his 2 sisters, one who is really active, and the other who isn't all that active. Their mom gave us the go ahead this past week. The mother wants to get baptised, but she can't cause she's not married and her husband doesn't want anything to do with the church. But it's all good. We're doing OUR BEST, and that's what God wants! 

Yeah so I'll give ya the downlow for this past week..**

Lunes Feb 4-We went to some light house thing that I sent you pictures of the past week. In the night, we visited a less-active family, the daughter of the pensionista. I sent the pic this week so y'all can see what went down.

Pday - This is as close to the ocean as a missionary can get. Feb 4, 2013

Catching an octopus in Paita with Elder Chavez - Pday Feb 4, 2013

Martes Feb 5- As usual, we have companionship study and personal study. Then we went out at 11am just to have 2 citas fall through! haha. In the evening, we went to visit the sister Janet. She wasn't there, so we visited junior and were able to get a baptism date cause luckily his mom was there!!  We visited the mother of an almost baptism. She said she was going to go to the church but didnt. ;) After that, we went and visited a less-active member that was living in Chile (Gloris), now she's active and we're gonna see if we can work with her daughter. After that, we visited Rosa the convert. I always feel great when we're there in her house. After, dinner, plaificacion, sleep.

Míercoles Feb 6- In the morning, we had a service project, unfortunately, I didn't bring my camera. We helped rebuild the tin roof of a less active. His wife said that he was going to go to church...he came ;) but he cant be baptised cause he's not married and doesn't want to be anytime soon, but he loves his wife! In the evening, we went to a reference that came from Tumbes. He was there, and we taught him the Restoration. Then we went to a less active with Gloris, to visit her cousin. She came to church last Sunday!! We visited someone called brother cruz (89), and he is very capable of understanding, very lucido. He told us about 10000 stories, just like all the old people do, but he is chill.  After, we went and visited Angela, a new investigator. She had a little bit of interest. worth passing by another time. And just before dinner, we went and visited the family Paico. They are good, and we could baptised a kid that lives there, but I'm not into baptising if they don't go to church.

Jueves Feb 7-  Six in the morning we went to the gym.....I felt it alllllll week wow...pain...like bek! ;) In the morning, we had a zone conference, and I did a demonstration of the perfect nightly planning....but for real. in the afternoon we visited Enriques. He can't be baptised cause his wife doesn't want to get married. but he knows the church is true and goes just about every Sunday. He told us some tight stories. He is a fisherman, but we're not talking about a mediocre, he has been all over the world. What an experience!! After, we did some tracting and visited Ana, she is the mother of the husband of the pensionista....she is nice, but nothing is going to happen there, maybe her grandson...then we visited some less actives.

Viernes Feb 8- The morning was weekly planning. I about died cause they are building above us and were with sledge hammers the whole time....Overall, we did a good job cause we dropped down to the first floor after an hour of listening to sledge..in the afternoon we had to pass by another church of the Mormons to talk to the pres. We all just got kitchens....yeah, your son is gonna be a pro at cookin!! haha Chill I guess! After that I had to interview a potential baptism candidate. She passed and was baptised the next day. In the night, we had a reunion with the ward mission leader. He is really chill, and I consider him my friend. dinner. sleep

Sábado Feb 9- In the morning, we visited a member that's blind and what not but he is really nice and very happy! In the afternoon, we passed by the citas, but they all fell through. We had a member that accompanied us, and we visited her friend that doesnt want anything to do with the church, but she listened to us...and went to church for Sunday...Wow!  A friendship goes a long way and that's the key, members! After that, we went and saw the baptism of Xionara (sionara English..i think) and then we passed by the family Paico again...we're hoping to activate them. 

Domingo Feb 10-  Eight am church. 5 investigators came, of the 5, 3 are progressing. In the afternoon, we had a reactivation that really turned out well. We had a bout 20 people. In the night, we visited the boyfriend of a member. He has gone to the church 4 times for the chick, haha love...what a joke. But he actually listened, although he has definitely got an attitude, but so do I, so it turned out great!!! In the later night, I made some phone calls and collected numbers....asi es una semans a la otra.

thats the DL for the week!

love ya tons!!!!! I always pray for y'all. 

With much love and affection like always, your second son,

 Alex Pinegar love y'all !!!!!!!!!!!

* Bekah totalled Nick's car on Sunday - Feb 10. Everyone was alright--bumps and bruises, but the car is not.

** We've been asking Alex to send us a typical week for a while

February 4, 2013 - Tearing it Up and Living Without Regret

Dear Familia,

Elder Pinegar, Elder Chavez and his zone Feb 2013 Piura Peru

This week was good, not in the matter of teaching or finding new investigators, it was a trial in that manner. but we still have got our animops up in the sky. We're ready for this week, and were hoping that everything will work out. I basically know all of the the area, and I'm anxious to get some new ground.... My lider de zona dice que hola..jajaj..bueno. Yeah, so that's the downlow for this week. 

Not much has happened, but the family that we're teaching (lopez correa) is progressing a lot, Hanival (the dad) called me on my cell yesterday, (I have cell cause I'm lider) and he told me that when he went to the church he felt a peace that re energized him for the week, and that he knows that he is going to get baptised. We just don't know when.... but that's all chill, be it in a year, a month or tomorrow. When he's ready. They are a great family, mainly our focus is with the wife so that she can be able to accept the church a little better.

Elder Chavez and Elder Pinegar at a missionary activity in Piura Feb 2013

Anyways, on the package, don't worry bout a thing, just make sure that the memory works with my camera, which is . MOV format. and were doing good with animos and what not.  Me and my compy are getting along like true friends, and were enjoying the mission a lot!! Anyways, just know that I love you all like my family that you are!!

Love,

Elder Pinegar

January 28, 2013- 18 Months and Enjoying the Mission

Dear Familia,

Ya, so this week was good. We have been having a little bit of problems with investigators, Rossiss, he's in the hospital. He basically had heart failure and is in critical condition. He's is going to pass away I'm guessing in the next few following weeks. Sad, but that is all part of the cycle of life. I think that the people that it's really going to affect is the family of Rossiss....we're visiting them and they are strong.

In other news, we had a great chat with the hna. Norma. She talked with her mom about getting baptised, because her mom was planning the baptism for her in the catholic church. Her mother was kinda stunned, but I can just imagine how it would be for any parent.....could you guys imagine if I said that I wanted to be a Jehovah's Witness? haha Yeah basically the same reaction. We're gonna see what happens with her. She's gotten to the point where she has to make her own decisions, and I'm not gonna push her any further..if she really wants it. she'll find a way.

Elder Pinegar & Elder Chavez Jan 2013 Paita Peru

Anyways, we passed through changes this week and my companion and I are here for another month and a half. hahah I knew that. We're trying to find our next good investigator and we'll see what happens. I'm still being patient with the Bolivian....he is really trying my patience, but I think I got it down on lock! As always, I'm enjoying the mission and we're excited this week cause we got some great actividades planeado. A mission night that's gonna be spectacular. Love you guys like I love snowboarding, possibly more!! ;) haha have fun in Florida and tear it up out there, cause we only got one life, live it without regrets!!! 

Yours truly,

Elder Pinegar

January 21, 2013 - Sister Rosa is baptized!!

Elder Chavez, Hna. Rosa with her daughter and Elder Pinegar - January 19, 2013. A very happy day!

Dear Familia,

This week was good and started from the past Sunday. The sister Rosa decided the last Sunday that she wanted to be baptised and was ready from that day on.....I was always asking her if she was ready, smiling she just said ya he hecho mi decisión! jajaj. For you guys, that doesn't sound like much, but that's 2 months of work. We're planning on having her go to the temple to do baptisms in Guayaquil*...she doesn't know that yet, but I'm sure that she will be pleased. I have seen her family really come together. Her two inactive children have come back, and I'm happy cause her daughter Talía is really helping Norma to progress. Norma really enjoys the church and wants to be baptised, but she wants her family to support her. We did that today playing soccer with her 2 brothers, 19 and 14. They are pretty chill. 

Hna. Rosa with her family on her baptism day - Jan 19, 2013. Paita Peru

Hanging on the roof in Paita, Peru on Pday with the locals and Elder Chavez & Elder Pinegar 1/21/13

Anyways, for this week we're doing good, and I hope that we can get another family that we have planned in the playing ring. We're gonna see today in the night. That's basically the downlow for this week, nothing much new. We're working hard and enjoying a ton, and I'm trying my hardest to stay focused. I'm not perfect, but nobody is hahah!!! Anyway, just know that I love you guys and think about ya´ll every day.  I mean it from the depths of my heart!! 

Keep it on the fresh side. Powder to all and to all powder!!! love the snow!!!!!** 

peace!!!

Elder Pinegar

* Guayaquil Ecuador Temple - about a 9 hour drive
** Jared sent Alex a picture from the ski lift in UT this week--nice and cold here in UT--nice and hot in Paita right now. It's about 90 degrees every day and the middle of summer. 

A Letter We Received this Week--Dated Oct 30, 2012

So mail must take a long time to get here--this one took 2+months.

Still Doin' my Thang                                                                                   Oct 30. 2012

Well seeing that I haven't written you guys for some time, I saw fit to send this letter, along with the memory card. The card contains seven months of my mission, so my recommendation to you is that you DON"T lose it.

I've been doing a lot of reflective thinking these past few months, pondering what goals in my life will be necessary to take myself and mold myself. Unfortunately, I won't be sharing them in this moment, but don't worry. Someday you'll see!! Also, I thought a lot about God and what my BIG ETERNAL DADDY has done for me as an effect of going on a mission. I have to be honest, I really haven't seen a whole lot in my behalf. I broke up with my girlfriend, I'm forgetting what I have learned in school, and a lot more things. Then I decided to take ME out of the picture. I know I'm big and good looking and all ;) ha ha.

But then I got to thinkin' about my older brother, my only older brother. I believe I can say that me going on a mission has directly affected him and possibly his happiness in this life and the next. Maybe what I did changed his goals, his perspective, his life. I can say, that alone makes it all worth it.

When Christ was born, he was literally born King of the Jews. But nonetheless, he didn't come to this earth to be served, but to serve. So I got to thinkin' about what Jesus had to gain when he served his whole life then died a martyr. What did he gain? Certainly nothing in this life. So why did he do it? Because he had charity. "Por tanto, amados hermanos mios, si no teneis caridad, no sois nada. Porque la caridad nunca deja de ser. Allegaos, Pues, a la caridad, que es mayor que todo, Porque todo las cosas han de perecer; Pero la caridad es el amore puro de CRISTO. Permanence para siempre."*

So I guess I can share one of my goals; to have the pure love of Christ. Love like you've never loved, run like you've never fell, and serve without selfish intentions.

Like they say here:
CRISTO TE AMA**
And I love you guys too!

Still Doin' My Thang

Elder Pinegar

*Translated: Moroni 7:46 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail—

 47 But ^acharity is the pure ^blove of Christ, and it endureth^cforever; 

** Jesus Loves You

January 15, 2013 - The Church is Growing & New Pics on Flickr

Elder Chavez and Elder Pinegar Jan 15, 2013 at Iglesia San Lucas in Colan. This church is one of the oldest in South America and the oldest Catholic church in Peru. It was built in 1536 by the espanoles when they rolled in to Paita.

Dear Familia,

So this week was good. My companion and I have been gettin it done this week. We taught the Hna. Rosa. and she didn't really have a good idea on when she wanted to get baptised, although she wanted to do it. So I  sought the help of our pres. of the branch. He talked to her, and she will be getting baptised this Saturday. Wow! I know....but ya know that these kinda things just gotta get done! and as for the Hna. Norma, I talked with her mom finally, and I have another visit with her this Saturday. She signed the permission slip for her daughter and was able to understand the reason we are who we are. She ( the mother) is timid, but very nice, and her example shines forth in the example of her daughter. She is a great girl. I believe that within 2 weeks, the Norma* will be getting baptised as well. As for Rossiss, I got a little worried when church started, because he wasn't there....but true to his word, he came. He is pretty tight and really happy to be with us. We watched The Restoration, and he was just stunned with how big and robust the trees were! I almost died haha. He is telling everyone that he is Mormon, and that in our church he feels good! Let's just hope he doesn't have a heart attack!!  Also, we had very high attendance this week, 11 and 2 families. I'm hoping that the two will advance. I'm pretty sure that they will, but unfortunately they have to get married, the both of them! But we're already champions at that!!!

Elder Pinegar, Elder Chavez and other Paita missionaries on Pday. Jan 15, 2013.

That's the DL on this week, were puttin it down ya know that!!! haha Love ya guys tons and just know that I am doin well!!!

Love,

Elder Pinegar

* Jared said that in Spanish it is not unusual to refer to people with "the" in front of their name--like la Norma or el Rossiss -- that's why he keeps saying the Hna. Rosa or the Norma...now it makes sense :)

** We got a letter this week from Alex along with a camera card full of pictures from the last 7 months of his mission. They're up on flickr so you can view them if you would like. It's fun to see where he's been. It makes us miss him all the more.

January 7, 2013 - Investigators that are Progressing in the Gospel

The Dead of Summer in Paita, Peru Jan 7, 2013

Dear Familia,

So this week was good, and we’re down to 2 people that are really progressing, Rossiss (73) and Rosa (single mother, but her children are members). We had the chance to activate the family of the Rosa and we’re just hoping that she puts down a date to be baptized. She told us that she is gonna do it, but with just a little bit more time. I’m chill with that, just as long as she does it! Anyways, with Rossiss, he is gonna get married sometime in January, i hope. We’re gonna get all his papers ready and what not. This man just runs like the energizer. He’s 73 and still rollin like a big shot haha.

Apart from those two, we’re working with the Norma, but I don’t know what is going to happen there. She’s 17 and not very decisive.....but we’ll see what’s the deal. The rest is just lookin for new people to teach, and that’s gotta be the hardest part of missionary work. Me and my compy are doin great, and he is a stud. He is chill and a hard worker. That’s the good thing! For New Year's Eve, the pdte. Cutipa of the branch hooked us up with a couple of alcohol-free holiday mixers. We were feelin pretty elegant! haha

Just wanted to share my testimony that I know that this work is the most true work that anyone could do. I’m astonished by the things that I have learned and continue to be inspired by God our Heavenly Father every day. I’ve never seen these gold plates, but I’ve read the transcription in the Book of Mormon, I’ve been convinced by the words written in this book, that this is a work that is necessary, and even though I don’t want to be outside sometimes, I’m driven by the knowledge that I now have. I know that God exists, and that he is a perfect man of order. He speaks through prophets and loves every one of us. I have felt his love time after time. I love the thought of eternal families, and that is my goal. That’s the gospel!!!!

Amen, hallelujiah!!

Love, Elder Pinegar

The old guy is called Rossiss. He's getting ready to be baptised, but we gotta get him married first. He's 73 and soooo chilll haha Always tellin me of how he was when he was young! Jan 2013

Elder Chavez and Elder Pinegar on New Year's Eve - Dec 31, 2012, Yes--The drinks are non-alcoholic :)
Check out Elder Chavez's tie--that's the Peruvian temple on it!