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.

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.