August 14, 2017 – Week 46!

This week was great! It's gonna be hard to fit in everything and include pictures as well! 

We started out the week by finding 2 new investigators every day! So y wednesday we had 6 new investigators! It was a great experience that hadn't happened much in this sector for a while, so it was a good way to get excited about the work again! We had made goals to change the way we worked, and also contacted, and it resulted well! We have been teaching smaller lessons in less than 10 minutes in the door of houses if needed, so that we can have more people in our teaching pool!

It has been awesome teaching a part-member family this week. Hermano Angel and his brother Marcos, and the daughter of Marcos, whose name is Dulce. They are an awesome family! Hna. Angel served a mission here in Peru during a very difficult time, and he shared his stories of the misison about when there was terrorism in the country, and it was very spiritual to hear all the service they did and help they gave! He shared his strong testimony, and at the end, Dulce accepted baptism! We always feel the spirit so strong in their house. It's amazing.

Oh yeah, I also got the Machu Picchu collectors coin when i got change from a store. SO AWESOME! It's so hard to find. Yeah random thought.

Later in the week, we also left to proselite with Alberto, our recent convert. It was way awesome! He was able to share his testimony with some people, and tell of his experience in the church, and it was cool! We got to know him even more, and he got to know us even more! Going contacting and visiting with members and recent converts really is a good way to strengthen them in the church. It really helps the mission work move along too!

We also had a meeting for the trainers and those being trained, and it was a great meeting! We got advice and tips on how to train better, and how we can work better as a companionship! It was awesome! Meetings like that are always helpful. 

You know you're a missionary when you have competitions with your companion to see who can contact someone in their dreams during the night. Yes we had that competition, and we both were able to do it! Haha controlling your dreams is the best! 

On Saturday we had a Capilla Abierta in Bolivar. It went well! My companion and I were outside walking the streets and inviting everyone to go to the church and participate in the tour! It was an open house in the church. We returned to the church a few times, and noticed that 6 people (2 families) who we had contacted had entered the church and taken the tour! AWESOME! It's cool to see the fruits of contacts. I'm sure that night during the 3 hour period we were able to contact and invite more than 40 or 45 people. We ended the day knowing that we had to be overly excited with our contacts and it ends up working better sometimes!

On Sunday we had a special broadcast for only Peru and Bolivia. Elder Uceda, Godoy, and another 70 and the President of the Young Women, and Elder Cook all talked. All but Elder Cook talked in Spanish! It was cool hearing them give their talks in Gringo spanish haha. Cool to know they learn a bit too, and don't always have translators for live broadcasts like this! We learned from Elder Uceda that we need to have and follow Celestial Traditions. like reading the scriptures personally and as a family every day, and also praying, even to bless the food, and personally and as a family, and also go to the temple when we can, and if we arent doing these things, we are falling into and passing along erroneuos (foolish? idk. i think it was erroneous) traditions... Very direct BUT the promises and blessings are very specific as well. Peace and unity in the family. the ability to overcome the worldly things, and the ability to live the celestial law here on earth. AWESOME! I know that that is true. It's hard, and as he said, there WILL ALWAYS be opposition, but the blessings of doing these things far outweigh what we'd receive by not doing these things.

I know the gospel is true. I have felt the peace it brings. I wouldn't be here in Peru still if I didn't feel that it is the only way we can receive salvation. I invite all those who aren't members to listen to the misisonaries! I promise that it will be a great experience, and that you will find answers to questions you didn't even know you had. About life before you were born, life here on earth, and life after death. I know God is our Father in Heaven. I know He's a loving father who wants the best for us. All we have to do is keep the commandments and follow his son Jesus Christ :)

Hope your week is well!

Elder Bruner

preaching to a statue

us with other elders eating at El Torito. Mexican food

Pics at Campo Marte. They were having a peru festival there too.

doll things

Peru Festival

KUI!

GUINEA PIG!

The Eye That Cries. El Ojo Que Llora A statue made as a memory of those who died during violent times in the country.

modern art. yep.

by a wall of stuff written in japanese or chinese, cool!

weird wood figures

the alpaca wool sweaters we got for 35 and 40 soles. (Sadly i cant use mine though. ima get another one without designs)

POLLO BROASTER

Capilla Abierta afterwards with the zone.

The Huaca MAteo Salado in the night time. SO COOL

yes dad, im using your art to cover my planner

lasagna, thanks to hna Nancy!

i covered my hymn book with a cool pic

space next to the church that they're gonna use to rebuild the sacrament meeting room... OHH YEAH we also contacted 2 guys in the street who said that they were designing the churches and the Temple, even though they aren't members! We'll be having a lesson with them soon. It'll be interesting to hear more about that! They have design plans for our chapels and everything!