feliz semana... ya hahah this week was an interseting one. I don't remember much that happened but my comp was sick again :(. We had the sister leaders this week and I was with my favorite Hermana Love!!

 

This week two 20 year old boys got baptized! They weren't our converts but the baptism was so beautiful and it made me so thankful to be here serving the lord. I know that I am supposed to be here and this is where he needs me. I love him with all my heart.

 

We also went to a little pueblo outside of J because I had never been there and we thought maybe there might be some people who are interested in the gospel. Nope, But we got a picture of me being wind blown.

 

This week we did have one really great lesson. I was with the sister leader and we went to teach an investigator who at first had been very skeptical and not sure. she didn't listen very much and I don't think she was super interested. With Hermana Love, we taught the restoration and by the end her son and her said that they would pray, come to church, and if they found out that this church was true that they would think about being baptized. That was pretty amazing because that is probably one of the best lessons I have had in a couple weeks. I felt so good and I know that the Lord is with us.

 

I am so happy to be here and I know that this is where the Lord wants me. Sometimes things are hard and we don't know why but my favorite scripture says to trust in the Lord with all my heart (Proverbs 3:5-6) so that is just what we have to do. I love him and I trust in him 100%.

 

I know that this church is true and that it really does bless people. I've seen it in the lives of others and in my own life. Heavenly Father really does love us each individually. He knows us. Better than any other person.

 

I love you all so much and I feel so blessed to have such amazing people that support me in all that I do. I love you.

 

-Hermana Wattles

 

half funny moment.... (well at least I thought it was funny)

 

This week a couple missionary came to do family history and they speak Spanish but not enough to be alone with the people so I was the only available translator. I was running around helping members with their questions, translating, explaining, helping my sick companion and ah everything. Well, I found a little break and I was talking to the recent convert and he was holding some cake. I asked him if I could have some. I was starving. And he just looks at me and tells me to eat it with my hand... so I do... duh. and in that moment, everyone needs my help again and I'm trying to talk and shake hands and help people with cake all over me. ahhaha

Sometimes you just go with it.

Almost Got Kissed

Okay, so it has been a crazy week, ups and downs.. goods and bads... mostly goods but ya know. So this week we had a couple rockin lessons. My favorite was with this man and his family. Long story short, a couple months ago with Hermana M, we were walking down the street and a drunk came up to us (as usual) and starts talking to us with his friend and all of the sudden he starts telling us about how he is a member of the church. (lots of drunks tell us they are members) Then he continues to tell us that he served a mission and that he read the Book of Mormon everyday and he loves it so much. After a while of talking, he tells us his dad's name and we stand there shocked because his dad is the president of sunday school. ... so he is a member... so we end up  telling him that if he really is interested, he should come to church and we can coordinate there. A couple weeks later we see him in the street again, drunk and trying to get us to help him, so we tell him the same thing, to go to church and we'll coordinate there. So a couple weeks ago, out of the corner of my eye, I see him in church. So I go find his dad and ask him if his son had come to church and he looks at me and goes, "Yes, he has come three sundays now and now his wife wants to get baptized and he really wants to reactivate himself into the church." I was thoroughly shocked and so happy. So we make an appointment to go visit with them. We show up and they were all happily waiting for us in their humble home. (usually people forget about appointments) But they were all there just waiting for us. It was such a good lesson and we committed his wife to baptism.

 

BUT.... the other day we find out they don't live in our ward boundaries. So we can't do anything... the other missionaries get to. That was a sad moment for me.. I know that they will be happy though and that the gospel will really help them.

 

This whole week has been crazy because we found tons of great people and all of them live in other sectors... It's rough but I'm happy that they can hear the gospel one way or another.

 

The week we also had a lesson with a man who is a little sick and he can't talk. We had a lesson with someone who can't talk. He understood everything and he seems pretty interested. Count your many blessings.

 

Good ol funny moment....
I almost got a kiss from a stranger this week.

 

We were crossing the street (through lots of traffic) and right as I go to cross the street some man on his bicycle leans all the way over (in almost the opposite direction that he was going) and got about and inch away from my face... and that was after I completely dodged it leaning backwards like I was playing limbo.... after he missed he goes "AWHHHH"

 

Caught me by surprise but it was funny ahahhahah

 

Also random photo shoots in the street with little high school girls isn't uncommon for us.

 

Tender Mercies

This week... what a week. You know, I have learned that as a missionary.. and a person, we will always pass through rough times. Sometimes we wonder why. Sometimes we wonder, where is God through all of this? How am I supposed to do this in the circumstances I am in. We ask so many questions and we honestly just suffer. I have learned that that is the way of life. It happens to the best of us. But more importantly, I have learned that the Lord is always with us whether we realize it or not. He is aware of us. He knows us personally. When we pass through difficulties, I really believe that if we can do it with the right attitude, that we will come out physically and spiritually stronger. I know that. I have felt it and experienced it. I like the story of the refiners fire and how the peice of metal needs to pass through intense heat and pressure. We are like that metal and although it is super hot and uncomfortable and sometimes we may not be able to see the benefits to all of the torture, the metal (or us) comes out to be a beautiful masterpiece. Sometimes I feel the heat here. Sometimes I feel like things have just gotten so hard. But in the end I have ALWAYS come out stronger learning a very valuable lesson. It is all because our Heavenly Father loves us celestially and eternally. I know it and I feel it in my life.

 

When I am going through a hard time, I feel his love most through his tender mercies and oh boy have a received tons of tender mercies this week!!! Just to name a couple: My pension made us brownies yesterday, mmmmmmh, this morning we ran out of flour for the pancakes and I put bread crumbs in them and they tasted fine, a less active talks to us like her best friends and gives us cake and hot chocolate, none of our appointments fall saturday, Hermana M writes me today, I find a chocolate covered almond sitting in my bag when I'm super hungry. Okay so Heavenly Father blesses me with tender mercies through food... food is good. hahah but I just feel so blessed that the Lord is aware of the little things in my life. I really feel like he is aware of me personally... I know he is aware of me. I know he is aware of you. He loves you. I KNOW IT!!! This week not much happened... but stay posted. I'm sure there will be more next week!!! haha

 

I love you all so much and I hope you all have a very merry week!

-Hermana Wattles

Sorry I didn't take a picture this week so here is one of my sweet comp and I in plaza de armas

HELLLOOO people that I love oh so much! For one reason or another, I feel especially grateful to write you all this week. This week has been a marvelous one and everyday I am learning more and more from the Lord! Last week was changes (or tansfers as you gringos call it ahah) I got called to train AGAIN!! I feel super blessed for this calling and I know that the Lord will help me through it because it's hard work!! I went to Cusco for a couple days to pick up my new companion, Hermana F.. and bring her back to the wonderful J..!! It was super fun! I also had to say goodbye to Hermana M. She'll be greatly missed, I love her to death!!

 

This week we got to teach lots of less active members and help them understand some of the Gospel principles. It was such a sweet blessing to meet with them because this sunday many of them came! I was so super happy and I feel so blessed to be a missionary.

 

These days it has been raining a lot... everyday it rains and a big ol storm is brewin here in the Peru Cusco Mission but it's all good because today I bought like 20 top ramen instant noodles! (food storage of a missionary) haaa.

 

I think the funniest thing that happened this week was when I was in cusco with my new companion and we were contacting people in the plaza. Some teenager came up to us to try and sell us Machu Picchu tickets so we decided to contact him. In that moment, I was eating some chocolate covered almonds and he looked at me and asked if he could have one, so I gave him one. He looks at us with his chocolate and asks us if we wanted to share the tiny little chocolate as he pointed to his mouth. ahahha clásico.

 

This week has been a really good week but I look forward to some more really rewarding weeks! I love you all so much!!!

 

-Hermana Wattles

Evil Dog

This week was a good one as always, could possibly be the last time that I am with Hermana M, so crazy!! This week we were with Hermana B and we got to go to all our appointments with her. We went to one of our appointments and after, she tried to feed a dog a cookie and he ran at her and took a bite out of her leg. She was a little trooper. We got into the moto and she looks at me and goes, Hermana Wattles, I think that dog bit me. We look at her leg and it is dripping blood. We ended up having to go to the hospital the next day and they stitched her up. The funniest thing is that she looks at us after and says, SO WORTH IT!! WE GOT 4 NEW INVESTIGATORS. hahah she has such a good attitude! I love her so much!

 

We also had some good lessons and taught some good stuff. I am so happy to be here in this mission and I am so thankful for all my blessings.

 

I hope all of you are all well and that you have a great week!!!

Time flies so fast and I can't believe it.

I love you!

-Hermana Wattles