Semana 45!

Hey all!

Another week down. I honestly can't believe that it is already Monday again! It has been kind of a boring week, but that's alright. We've been struggling to find people, but, were expecting 2 baptisms for September already. I'm pretty stoked for that!  One is a 15 year old girl, and the other is a lady that is a bit older. 

As district leader, I have the responsibility and privilege of doing the baptism interviews, so this week I got to do 3 baptism interviews. It was kinda fun, but kinda scary at the same time. But its alright, I passed 2 of the three. The last one I just didn't feel right about, I literally sat there and waited 4 minutes to determine if I should pass her or not. I didn't. The elders found out she had chastity problems, so that was a relief. 

This past Saturday, the other elders had a baptism. The chapel didn't have water, so we had to fill it by hand with buckets. It took 3 and a half hours and we did it in the rain. So that kinda sucked. But it was fun!  We'll have to do it again this Saturday for our baptism. Hahaha good stuff. Gotta love the mission life. 

My comp and I had a couple hiccups this week but it's alright. I think it was a bit of a wake up call for us. I think we've been goofin' off a bit too much, and it humbled us a bit. We had a good comp. inventory and talked things out. So I'm hoping we can keep it going and find more people to teach this week.

Elder Roper!

My companion - Elder Macz from Guatemala

This Week Was Fun!

This week was fun! We had a zone conference, which meant I got to see all my buddies from my group, and everyone who had been in Pulcallpa with me. Pretty good stuff to see all of them. 

This week we put 2 baptisimal dates, one a 15 year old girl, and the other a 45 year old senora. I'm pretty stoked for that as well!

So I've found that my comp is a complete clown honestly. He is 21 and is super interesting, but super funny at the same time. But he knows where to draw the line, when its time to be serious and all that good stuff. 

This week I learned in a Lihona that only three Languages in the World have LDS approved Bibles, everything else is just as close as they can get it. It is really interesting to see how the BOM and the scriptures read differently in Spanish and Preach my Gospel as well. Oh well, all is well.

At night lately I've been watching the District training videos for the new missionaries. I felt like it would be a bit of a help to study some more. I've learned a lot about what I should do and how to teach all that good stuff, but as I was watching it, I felt kinda bad, like I wasn't really fulfilling my purpose because, to be 100 PERCENT honest, I really struggle to pay attention to the people here. Its tough to really focus in, translate what these people are telling us, listen to the Spirit, and then teach them what they need.  I told my comp about all that and we had a good heart to heart talk before we went to work yesterday. He told me that he feels the same - sometimes when he hears of other friends in their missions that have cars and nice phones and it isn't hot all the time. He just told me (he's a big videogamer) that he feels that God has put him on "Legend Mode", like a difficulty, and that if he were to be in a different mission, it would be way too easy for him. So I'm just really trying to think that way. What is it that God is trying to teach me here in Iquitos?

On a funny note, we found a legitimate Nike store here last week on P day. Might have to spend some soles there hahah

Elder Roper!

Cambios....... lider de distrito???????

Hello all!

This week changes came . . . and I finally left the City of Pulcallpa. And as the title tells, I was assigned to be a District Leader. That's scary stuff, but I'm pretty stoked to be able to serve and minister to some more missionaries. 

I am in the Zone of Secada, in the Area of Quistococha, in the City of Iquitos. And boy.... Iquitos is a lottt different than Pulcallpa that's for sure. It is a little bit cooler here that's for sure, it also rains a little bit more. My area is like straight sand...... I don't like Sand. 

My new comp is Elder Macz, and he is from Guatamala. He has 7 months in the field. I'm stoked to be with him, he is a great teacher. I am a little worried about the dilligence and obedience here, but I'm happy to help,with love. 

I also got my package this week, and honestly it made my whole week. There's just something about getting packages from home, a little piece of Utah here. I loved how everything was USA themed. THANKS SO MUCHHHHH!

 

This week we also got to speak in church. I think I'm gonna like this ward a bit better. The bishop is super humble here. 

We had a family home evening before I left Pulcallpa last week and we focused on the Atonement. Something that absolutely blew my mind is that in Gethsemane, God literally ABONDONED Jesus Christ, but He still decided to suffer for us and die for us on the cross . . . put things in a new perspective for me for sure.

Dad's "No Fear" talk came just in time.  I love reading talks from the modern day prophets and apostles. One thing I'm trying to keep in mind here is that the Mission is the Lord's way of choosing His leaders for His Second Coming. He needs to sort all His children, and the Mission is one of the ways to do so. Do I want to be someone that the Church has to take care of in the future? or someone who can lead the church??

Elder Roper from Iquitos!!