Cambios?

Hello all!

Another week here in Tushmolandia and another week of low numbers, but I'm hopeful for the next week.  We've found a good couple of families that might be able to progress.  

I'm stoked because we had a baptism! She was honestly a referral of gold. We started teaching her while I was with Elder Call and she only had time on Saturdays to listen to us. She started finding time during the week to receive us. Which is cool, she took that as her answer that the gospel is true. Her brother baptized her Thursday (febes) and the bishop confirmed her Sunday. Super cool for us to finally have a baptism. I think God gave us a free one there to give us some hope. 

I've found that my comp complains a lot, but I'm really really trying to search for the good in him. He is a really good teacher, but just. i dunno. we aren't dilligent. I remember writing home about Elder Call, about HOW DILLIGENT he was. And I just don't feel the same anymore hahha. My DL and his comp tell me I seem different ever since El Ovelar got here. hahah. Tryin to change. 

Sunday they also announced that our area will now become a branch because there are enough members to do so, we just need to reactivate everyone in order to become a ward. We'll see if we can do it!

One of the pictures that I sent home is me with a little old lady. Her name is Sofia, and she is Samuel's mother in law. She always gives me Chicha Morada when we stop by - which is pretty much the greatest drink there is here in the Jungle. I'm sure gonna miss her one day when I leave. She wants me to come back when I finish so we can make Chicha together ahah. 

I had a work visit with my dude Elder Regalado from Arequipa this week. He is a great guy! He is 25, which is a lot older than a good part of the missionaries here. I met him when he was born (started his mission) - about 6 months ago, but being in the same district, I've really gotten to know him pretty well.  We are arranging a trip in 2020 to go to the Arequipa Temple and after Machu Pichu. He told me the doors are always open at his house.  I've made a lot of good friends here in the mission. I am grateful for that!

Lately I've been reading Jesus the Christ in my "free time" - hahah which doesn't exist. Pretty much any time I have 10 minutes after lunch or breakfast I'm studying the crap outta that book.  I love it so much! It is really turning the New Testament into another novel for me. 

This week I learned a little bit of the native language, Shipivo. I want to learn more hahah. It is really crazy. It is almost spoken more than Spanish in my area!

Well, I think that is all for this week.  Let's see If I get shipped out of Pulcallpa this week! The joke between the 2 Zones here is that I'm in the Mission Peru, Pulcallpa. hahahah We will see if I get transferred.  I will found out later tonight.

Elder Roper!

My breakfast today

8 Meces, Me Voy El Lunes Que Viene?

Hello all! I feel like yesterday I was sitting here typing an email. This week absolutley flew by, and I think it is because we really put our heads down and got to work. We're still struggling in the obedience department, my comp is just too proud I've come to know. BUT. That isn't an excuse to just ditch him.  

I can't believe I hit 8 months today. It has been a journey, but honestly it feels like yesterday we were in SLC International at 5:30 lolololol. Life goes on.

There were some really good talks in church yesterday. One of them was about how God really takes care of us, and sometimes we take it for granted in the even the littlest of things. I really liked it!  We also had our Gospel Doctrine class on Spiritual Gifts. We had some investigators there and they really liked it. It really made me think about life and what gifts I have in my life to help others.

This last week we also had a District Meeting in English, which was really funny to watch the Latinos struggle.  Not funny, but fun to switch roles. Yanno?

Not much happened this week, but yeah . . . 

Elder Roper

Feliz Cumpleaños Keaton!!!

Muy buenos dias a todos!

We had a little bit better of a week for once, we got a baptismal date for the 30th of June. So I think she'll get baptized. She always tells us that she thinks everything is logical - so that's pretty cool to see.  She was a reference from a recent convert. 

Thursday we had a surprise visit from the Zone Leaders. The came and searched suitcases and found a whole bunch of things in my comps suitcases that were not supposed to have, along with 3 separate USBs. They swooped those up real quick, and of course, they found my iPod with church music..... and took it. Sad day. They'll send it to the offices, where it will wait until September of 2019 when I come home.  So shoot.  But its aight, theres more important things out here than music. 

We're getting my comp in shape with respect of the obedience. The leaders kinda got on me for not saying anything or doing anything before, just kinda let everything flare up.  So yeah, that was my bad hahah.  But I understand now that I am my brother's keeper, and his sins will fall upon my head if I don't act. 

I had a cool experience with fasting this week. In my fast, I wanted to be able to develop more power and authority in my teaching.  While I was teaching this week, the sister stops the lesson and says, "Elder Roper, you seem like you have life planned out, and just seem like you have things figured out." I definitely took that as authority. We also have a family of 4 that needs to get married and their documents are coming along, which was also part of my fast. So there is definitely power in fasting. 

The bishop got up Sunday and burned the ward all about Sabbath Day and how he knows no one is being obedient and the whole stake is struggling all that stuff. That was quite interesting.

This week Keaton turns 13. Can't beleive that! I remember when he was born.  Jack and I went and stayed the night with the Nielson's and Dad was home on leave. That time of life feels like yesterday, but at the same time so long ago. 

I think that's about all for this week! 

Elder Roper

Llegó Junio!

Another week . . .  So, it turns out that my Mission President is worried about my comp, and knows that he isn't doing what he should. Tuesday morning Elder Jackson knocked on our door at 9 am, and BURNED THE LIVING (stuff) OUT OF US! Pretty much invited us to start being obedient or go home and it really hit me. I cried. I thought I was coming home for sure. So we set some goals and went to work. Elder Jackson told us we couldn't leave to proselyte until we had figured our stuff out.  He told us that there are reasons why companionships don't have success--- because one Elder is striving to choose the right, keep the commandments, be humble all that good stuff. And the other doesn't really care.  So, right as Elder Jackson left, I looked at my companion and said "Well, which one are you?" and he took the blame. I know what I'm doing is right, I know I'm trying to be obedient. It ticks me off that missionaries come to the field thinking that they can just waste time. About 5 minutes ago, he got caught on You Tube . . . sure enough Elder Jackson made a couple calls and he lost his internet time today. President Li and the assistants got involved as well. This has honestly been the most influential transfer of my my mission, and honestly has changed my life. I really understand the importance of obedience and dilligence, and that is all I wanna do now. I'm just too freaking timid to stand up for myself. Now that I have some help on my side, I feel like I can speak my mind to this kid. 

Well, it was freezing yesterday and still is today. I proselyted in a sweater, which I have never done, and it was still a bit chilly. I never ever thought I would be this cold in the jungle!

This week we found a man who told us that Jesus died on a pole, and not a cross. Which is super interesting. I would love to get inside these guys' heads and just try to find out where all these beliefs come from.

Yesterday in Elders Quorum, the 1st Counselor went to work burning everyone. We found out that pretty much no one knows how to give a priesthood blessing - even the Elders Quorum President! And then he said something that really hit me. ''If the Elders Quorum can't even take care of itself, how is it going to take care of the Ward?''  Turns out that there are enough less actives who live in the ward boundaries, that we could honestly form 2 or 3 more wards, and then have 2 stakes in all of Pulcallpa! It is hard here because the Church is just so young - not really established yet.  Growing up in Utah I never really believed that there were wards like that, but yes indeed, they exist! And they're good members, they just don't understand everything YET. They'll get there one day!

Pretty entertaining couple of days lately. I hate to say this, but I hope I leave this area. I have 7 (almost 8 months) in the same Zone.  I wanna get to know all the missionaries and the Zones here. But we'll just have to see about that!

1 Corinthians 13:11

One last quote for you . . . I sure loved to tweet this and live by it back in high school!  I'm finding it is still true today, "Day by day nothing changes, but when you look back, nothings the same.''

Elder Roper!

Feeding the chickens

Elder Ammon from Arizona

Elder Walker

We have Top Ramen in Peru, too!