Lima Lime - Dec 10

I hope you guys are doing well, it´s been a busy week here in Santa Isabel! I´ve had some learning opportunities! Here is Peru btdubs Christmas is just like super hot everyday - but people still put up their Christmas trees and Christmas lights! People have Christmas lights here that will play the melody of a Christmas song over and over. I know that because our neighbour has some and so every night I fall asleep to the melody of ´´Santa Claus is coming to town´´. So it feels like Christmas but it doesn´t look like Christmas. The other funny part is that even though it´s super hot every likes to drink hot chocolate anyways haha.

I got a chance to start off this week visiting Elder Powell who is from Brigham City, Utah. He´s a good missionary we had a good time together - we found a family that moved to Peru from Italy it was pretty sweet. Later on Wednesday we had interviews with President Godfrey - President gave us a lot of ideas and helped us realize what we should be doing to help our zone. Because as of right now the zone is low. But with what President Godfrey told us it reminded me that the Lord is present and aware of my situation and knows my desires to help my area and my zone. I know that Heavenly Father is aware and cares personally for all of our situations. There is no such thing as a coincedence. The Lord gives us tender mercies is different ways everyday.

This week we also didn´t have church on Sunday because there was a referendum in Peru so everyone had to go and vote. Because of that instead of taking investigators to church during the week we had small reunions in the chapel to show investigators the first presidency´s Christmas devotional. During one of those meetings on thursday we had invited a few people, including a Mom named Ana and her three kids. She ended up showing up half and hour late - but she brought her sister´s family! We got the chance to talk with Ana and her sister Martina to teach them on Saturday. They are really humble - neither finished elementary school (which here they call primaria) and have passed through abuse from both parents. Now both of them are married with kids but their situation is a little tough. They are open and willing and most of all have a desire to feel peace. The only trouble is that Ana´s husband is a little shut off, we are still trying to talk with him.

One thing I´ve learned a lot about while here in Peru is marriage - as in what it takes to get lawfully married here in Lima. Because we meet a lot of people who are willing to accept the Gospel but are living together before getting married. One of the primordial parts of accepting the gospel of Jesus Christ is repentance and that means keeping God´s commandments including the commandment to ´´not commit adultery´´ which means not living together before marriage. Because of that we invite a lot of people to get married and then help them in the process. And it is a process to get married legally - I´m glad I don´t work in the municipality of Lima. We are working with one couple who have accepted the invitation to get married and are going to do it at the end of January! They are Cristian and Joselyn.

Anyways, the adventure continues - this week Elder Montaya from the area Presidency is going to have a special conference with the mission. I hope you guys have a good week! I love you a lot!