Hey Guys, I have so much to say and literally not enough time to write it all. There are too many things that go in here that I cannot express my thoughts on it all. I've written a million things in my journal. I literally write at least once every hour in this journal. Its all spiritual and daily word/thought throw up. TOO MUCH TO WRITE.
NON SPIRITUAL THINGS Its BEAUTIFUL here. Its always humid. I put on socks and feel like I stepped in a puddle of water. My hair is crazy. I have only worn it straight once, unnaturally curled twice and every other day it is crazy curly. Its even curlier here than it is anywhere else.
AIRPORT After I left, I found like 20 missionaries going to the Peru CCM - Centro de Capacitacion Misional (MTC- Missionary Training Center) at the same time as me. FANTASTICO! I ate some McDonalds in the layover with Hermana Simmons (Hermana means Sister). All but maybe 5 of us went to BYU. We got seated, and I sat near a lady in her 20's. She was going to Peru to visit her boyfriend.
------MARTA------ Short Story- I had my Book of Mormon in my lap because I needed to put my carry on a checked in item cause they had too many bags and not enough space. She totally was like "Why are you going to Peru?" and "What are those" and "I don't have any religion in my life but I want to" and "I think what you're doing is great. I'm jealous. I want to be able to do what you're doing. I want to be like you BUT i'm happy for you." She's from Spain. We had like a 2 hour talk aboiut life and religion and Peru. I'm pretty sure we could be really good friends post mission. THEN get this, she fell asleep for like 3 hours. When she woke up she told me about her dream. She said "I was walking in the streets of Lima and I saw you and him" referring to Elder Tanner who was sitting across the aisle from me "and we started talking and you guys were in the clothes you are wearing right now." WHAt?!?! I lIterally had my first discussion and my first mission miracle happen while on the plane. She seems super interested in learning about the gospel, and she really hopes to see me in her stay while in Lima. That is the story of Marta shortened.
PRAYER Praying brings so many blessings. Praying for others though, being completely selfless in prayer, Oh My Goodness. You see things differently and you are full. Full of love and charity. The spirit totally testifies to you when you are selfless. Selfless service brings blessings. Don't pray just for the spirit to be with you but pray that the spirit may be with you and your investigator; that they may be receptive to the spirit, that you may be able to share with them what they need.
I can say a prayer in spanish and I can testify in spanish and I can do a quick summarized of the restoration in spanish as well as El Plan de Salvacion. We did our first fake lesson with Yadira (who is really our teacher) and I think it went fantastically. the teachers are really good at staying in character. I did a lot of the talking but its okay cause she speaks more than me in the next lesson. I'm supposed to teach my second investigator tonight! wish me luck!
The temple was awesome today!!! I Loved it so much. Its beautiful! We also got to go shopping a little bit... not super interesting. The food consists of rice. Siempre arroz, pollo o bistec and at least a desert. I always get whatever there is, soup and 3 rolls cause they're delicious. Apparently nobody recognized the food here, nor do they eat as much as me. Hahaha. It reminds me a lot of moms food. They even had budding and flan and a few other things that mom has made. That was cool, and because i'm so used to it my stomach has experienced zero pain. A lot of the girls have gotten Montezumas revenge, but not me!!! Woot Woot!!! Also, I'm not lactose intolerant here.
I'm going to be a spanish wiz that can't speak any english and get a lot of stomach aches by the time I get back! I love you!!! Also tallest girls in the district suprised? Not at all. Also i'm the only person who gets bug bites here.
That's it for this week! More to be posted later! Click the pics below to see them better!
HI! I'm Sister Raquel Oteo! I have been called to serve in the Peru Chiclayo mission of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I report to the Peru MTC January 27, 2015. This is a blog of me and my experiences pre, post and during mission.
**My family will be keeping this updated while I am in the field.**
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