Week 26 Missionary Email
Date
February 26, 2024
Area
Santa Fe District, Lima Peru North Mission
Companion
Élder Lo Giudice
Week 26 Missionary Email
Hello everyone!!!
This week was long and hot, but we made it through and got some good work done. Thanks for reading!!
Transfers - But Nothing Got Transferred: So transfers happened this week, and I am still in Santa Fe. Our district changed and many of the Elders say that a lot has changed. But as for me, I stayed in Santa Fe. Still one man doing a two-man job. For six more weeks.
New Ward Mission Leader!: One of the problems with the area in Santa Fe is that the missionaries have no support. To get anyone to talk about missionary work with you in the ward you had to fight and scrap, and they still wouldn't do anything for you. So, we were left on our own most of the time. Then, we had a meeting with the Stake on missionary committees and we were the only ones from our ward who showed up. This is when the Stake realized we needed help. So, they called us a new ward mission leader and now it is much easier to help our people to progress. We're starting to have members in lessons, and it's really taking a lot off my back.
Am I Really That Uncultured?: We did two types of service this week. First of all, we bagged canchadulce (a cereal snack) for some recent converts while we listened to American music. I was kind of shocked when every Latino in the room knew more American songs than I did. They played Dua Lipa, 21 Savage, Avicci, and Ariana Grande. Definitely a bit of a weird feeling hearing these songs again.
Evicted Inactives: Next, we moved an inactive family across the area. Do you remember how you feel moving giant couches and mattresses up and down stairs? Well, imagine doing that in 95 degree heat with very high humidity (no A/C or fans) with a staircase that is about half as narrow and a really low ceiling. This is what we did for about 2 and a half hours Saturday morning. To make things worse, due to my comp's inability to exercise in the morning, he could barely carry a box up the stairs, leaving only me and the little Latino Mom (who is about 45) to carry these things up the stairs. Afterwards, the Mom thanked us for helping them move, saying that they were evicted last night, and were told that they had to move the next day. Now, they are closer to other members, who could better fellowship them and bring them to church. Definitely happy to do such meaningful service!
The Tenth Person: Even though we have more support from the ward, it is still a journey to get members in lessons. Saturday, a new family of investigators had just moved into the area, and I wanted to make them feel welcome. So, we invited someone: "Sorry, I'm out of town". Next: "Sorry, I'm working". Next: "Sorry I planned to go shopping at that time". Ok, c'mon bro. Until we get to the tenth person we invite to this lesson. She finally agrees to come, and we're finally chilling. Once, we get to the lesson, I realize that we might have brought the wrong person. This was a single mom taking care of her 4 kids at all different ages. We had brought a 50-year-old empty-nester. We had planned a lesson to share with her, but the two women just got to talking. The mom shared her struggles. Her husband was in jail, her one-year-old had a fever, and she was unemployed with 3 other kids. Sheesh! Somehow, the member managed to calm her down and bring her some peace. By the end, the two were hugging, and the woman was visibly uplifted. Miracle. The next day, the member texted us saying that she remembered that it was one of the investigator's kid's birthday, and that she made a cake for her, but she just needed us to deliver it. What? These people knew each other for less than a day, and she was already making a cake. We came over and brought the cake to her. She opened the door and explained to her what we were doing and why. She started tearing up and explained to us that she was too poor to buy anything for her daughter's birthday, and this cake was a Godsend. She invited us in, and the kids flocked over, hugging their mom. We got to talking, and she asked: "how can my family join your church?"
Élder Regla
This week was long and hot, but we made it through and got some good work done. Thanks for reading!!
Transfers - But Nothing Got Transferred: So transfers happened this week, and I am still in Santa Fe. Our district changed and many of the Elders say that a lot has changed. But as for me, I stayed in Santa Fe. Still one man doing a two-man job. For six more weeks.
New Ward Mission Leader!: One of the problems with the area in Santa Fe is that the missionaries have no support. To get anyone to talk about missionary work with you in the ward you had to fight and scrap, and they still wouldn't do anything for you. So, we were left on our own most of the time. Then, we had a meeting with the Stake on missionary committees and we were the only ones from our ward who showed up. This is when the Stake realized we needed help. So, they called us a new ward mission leader and now it is much easier to help our people to progress. We're starting to have members in lessons, and it's really taking a lot off my back.
Am I Really That Uncultured?: We did two types of service this week. First of all, we bagged canchadulce (a cereal snack) for some recent converts while we listened to American music. I was kind of shocked when every Latino in the room knew more American songs than I did. They played Dua Lipa, 21 Savage, Avicci, and Ariana Grande. Definitely a bit of a weird feeling hearing these songs again.
Evicted Inactives: Next, we moved an inactive family across the area. Do you remember how you feel moving giant couches and mattresses up and down stairs? Well, imagine doing that in 95 degree heat with very high humidity (no A/C or fans) with a staircase that is about half as narrow and a really low ceiling. This is what we did for about 2 and a half hours Saturday morning. To make things worse, due to my comp's inability to exercise in the morning, he could barely carry a box up the stairs, leaving only me and the little Latino Mom (who is about 45) to carry these things up the stairs. Afterwards, the Mom thanked us for helping them move, saying that they were evicted last night, and were told that they had to move the next day. Now, they are closer to other members, who could better fellowship them and bring them to church. Definitely happy to do such meaningful service!
The Tenth Person: Even though we have more support from the ward, it is still a journey to get members in lessons. Saturday, a new family of investigators had just moved into the area, and I wanted to make them feel welcome. So, we invited someone: "Sorry, I'm out of town". Next: "Sorry, I'm working". Next: "Sorry I planned to go shopping at that time". Ok, c'mon bro. Until we get to the tenth person we invite to this lesson. She finally agrees to come, and we're finally chilling. Once, we get to the lesson, I realize that we might have brought the wrong person. This was a single mom taking care of her 4 kids at all different ages. We had brought a 50-year-old empty-nester. We had planned a lesson to share with her, but the two women just got to talking. The mom shared her struggles. Her husband was in jail, her one-year-old had a fever, and she was unemployed with 3 other kids. Sheesh! Somehow, the member managed to calm her down and bring her some peace. By the end, the two were hugging, and the woman was visibly uplifted. Miracle. The next day, the member texted us saying that she remembered that it was one of the investigator's kid's birthday, and that she made a cake for her, but she just needed us to deliver it. What? These people knew each other for less than a day, and she was already making a cake. We came over and brought the cake to her. She opened the door and explained to her what we were doing and why. She started tearing up and explained to us that she was too poor to buy anything for her daughter's birthday, and this cake was a Godsend. She invited us in, and the kids flocked over, hugging their mom. We got to talking, and she asked: "how can my family join your church?"
Élder Regla
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