August 31, 2015

Okay so you guys aren’t even going to believe the story I am about to tell. Today just walking around in plaza vea (like a Peruvian Walmart) I had one of the craziest experiences of my entire mission. So me, Elder Rollins, Elder Riquelme, and Elder Hendrix were going to buy a bunch of stuff. But we needed to get our money out of the bank first. We sent Riquelme and Rollins to the lower part of Paita to go to the bank and me and Elder Hendrix went to plaza vea to just wait for them. We were just in there walking around and looking at stuff almost in the back when all of the sudden we just heard people screaming by the entrance. So we got to a place where we could see what was going on. I thought that people were fighting or that someone was trying to rob the place. But turns out that two giant Rottweilers had attacked their owner and gotten out and decided to take a trip to plaza vea. Well one guy tried to scare them and make them run away. Bad idea. He got bit really bad in his leg. So we were kind of walking down the main aisle to see what exactly was going on and we saw them walk right in front of us. They had blood dripping from their mouths. Well they finally got them out and shut the doors to the store. Another guy in the parking lot got bit too. Then the cops showed up with guns and stuff and finally trapped them in some room that was outside and they were helping everyone get out of there. The floor of plaza vea by the entrance looked like a crime scene with all the freaking blood. Turns out that there was a third one as well but someone shot it before it got to plaza vea. Pretty freaking scary man ha-ha. I was about to open up a 50 gallon drum of butt whoopin on some dogs man hahaha. Just kidding. But it was a pretty crazy experience. I don’t ever plan on buying a Rottweiler though. I’ll just stick to labs.

Anyway other than that everything went well this week. Just working hard and spreading the good news. Last week I completed two years in the mission. Crazy how fast time has flown. And is still flying. Is there a pause button? I know you guys don’t want there to be ha-ha. But even the thought of having to leave here just makes me sad. Happy to see everyone, but sad to leave Piura.

So as you all know, Elder David A. Bednar was here last Friday with us. It was an awesome experience. My companion and I got to sit front row right in front of the pulpit so we were really close. It was funny though because the first four rows were for sisters only. But since my companion was leading the music we got to sit there too. It was a little awkward sitting there with just a bunch of sisters, but oh well ha-ha. The conference was great and his teaching method is so unique. I love it. I went in knowing he was going to give us time to ask him questions. Well my question for him was going to be "what did you do and what advice do you give to us to stay active after our missions?" when we started he asked us what we thought of the talks he had sent us to study. One of them he sent was called "Converted Unto the Lord" and talks about the difference between a testimony and conversion. So I raised my hand and he told me to stand up. I told him that I learned that there is a difference between being converted and only having a testimony. Which then led to like a 3 minute conversation between me and elder Bednar. He was just asking me more questions and it was crazy how strong the spirit was there. Then he asked, "So Elder, can I ask you a question about home without you getting trunky?" ha-ha I laughed and said “yes”. Then he said, "what do you plan on doing once you get home to stay converted?" and the first thing that went through my head was, "well that’s what I came to ask you!" ha-ha but the spirit taught me what I needed to do and I told him read the scriptures every day and work in callings and just make sure to do the basic stuff.” Then he said, "Here are two things that if you do them, you will never go inactive, 1. Feast upon the words of Christ daily from the Book of Mormon. 2. Pay your tithing." so that was my answer! It was an awesome spiritual experience that I will never forget.

That’s about all the news for this week. Love you guys!

PS...watch out for dogs.