July 17, 2017 – Week 42!

Wow, ten weeks and I'll have been here a year. CRAZY!

This week was pretty good! Of course there's always gonna be trials as a missionary, but the benefits of enduring to the end ALWAYS outweigh the difficulties! I learned that for sure this transfer.

This week was great with contacts for sure! 104! Again, not the highest number we could've gotten, but keeping it over 100 weekly is good! Every contact is a person that may be ready and willing to hear the gospel, so we've just gotta contact to know who's ready! Even though many people reject us, and many give us false addresses, every contact is worth it. Even in a small contact you can give someone enough information about the gospel to interest them in the unique message that we share with the world!

One of the contacts we had this week was interesting. We were knocking on doors, and one older man let us pass in to talk with him. He said people always pass by to share messages with him and he invites everyone in. In the end, he didn't really have any interest, and he didn't even want to pray. It was kinda funny though, because he was retired and just was like "yeaaahhh why do I need to? I pray personally so.." Haha. The way he said it was in the most relaxed way like nothing mattered. We tried to help him pray, but our attempts were in vain haha. Maybe later we can pass by again to try again!

Funny this week, I saw the end of a catfight. Literally cats fighting. We heard some screeching sound as we were on the 2nd floor of an entrance to Palomino, which is an area with tons of apartments, and as we heard the noise we went to look out to see what it was. There were like 3 cats, one lying down on the ground, and howling at the other ones. One cat was walking away and the others were watching. How interesting.

     But then later in the week we saw a little black cat that liked to play with us, and bump its head on our hands. Funny little thing. Elder carbajal picked it up and it started purring tons. We left and it waited for us, and returned 20 mins later and it was still there. Animals are interesting. I'm glad so far none of them have bitten me! Haha

We watched lots of church movies this week too. One of the interesting ones that is really awesome is called "The Modern Prophets: Joseph Smith" by The Living Scriptures. I wanna find that DVD. It's awesome! Tells lots about the joseph smith story. Those stories about the gospel and the building of the salt lake temple are inspiring. Speaking of the Salt Lake temple... HOW COME I NEVER WENT INSIDE?? Haha lots of people ask how it is, and I just say "I don't know, I never entered" and they begin with the "But you're mormom from Utah and you've never entered???" etc haha. Yep, that'll be the first thing I do when I get back.

In july are the Patriotism parties and celebrations because Peru's independence day (I think independence day) is July 28th! I'll see if i can get a little pin. I found a flag in the street and i picked it up so cars didn't keep running over it and later washed it. I forgot a pic of it but ill get one for next week! just a small flag.

This week we also taught the Gospel Principles class because the teacher wasn't there. It was on the topic of Sabbath Day, so it wasn't too hard to use the manual and put together a lesson! The manuals really help.

I can truly say the members here are awesome. They are always willing to feed us and let us visit them. We can almost 100% of the time expect food when we visit members haha. It may be small like a manzanilla drink, bread and, butter, jelly, or avocado, but it's always great! The members here are always generous. The food here really is great. Lomo Saltado, Estofado de pollo, and especially the lasagna and desserts of the Gonzalo family... mmm. They are a new family in our ward who moved here from the Maranga Stake, and they always invite us for food. Their cooking is unique. Like home. So great!

Today for P day we went to play soccer. I'm getting better! Then we played Billards in a building full of pool tables. 6 soles for an hour! Also, I now know that there IS a place I can go bowling here! We tried to go there to play billards, but sadly the whole floor is being remodeled. Noooooo. Later in the year I'll try returning to play some bowling. It's my only hope haha! Then we ate at a place called Turitos. It's a mexican food place that's good! Cafe Rio wins a bit more, but it's still good for Peru!

Sometimes the weeks feel long, sometimes they feel short, but they are always filled with lots of spiritual activities! I love being a missionary. I can't say more. Missionary work is the best, because you're helping people come unto Christ!

I hope you all have a great week!

Con mucho amor,

Eldercito Bruner

my money collection. 30 soles in total, and I have like 13. The money designs here are so cool!

POPCORN movie nights. So great. I sadly burnt a bit of mine though haha.

Lasagna with the Gonzales family. mmmmm

Pic with the Gonzales family.

a vanilla cracker pudding they gave us too. One his brother made. Layer of vanilla cracker, then chocolate puddingk, then cracker, then vanilla pudding, and repeat. Coconut shavings on top. One of my favorite desserts here.

I write so much in my journal that my hand ends up like that.

playing soccer with the zone today. I think i got sunburnt.

Billards!

At "El Torito" great food. 12 soles for a burrito with extra cheese and sauce, and an inka cola. Now i can differentiate between inka cola and gum flavor. Yes there is a difference. I like inka cola better.