Turkey day in the land of the llamas

Hello to my favorites! Happy birthday to KARINA tomorrow!!! Celebrating big time in spirit :)

There are lots of pictures this week and I think the pictures will tell a better story than the words. But we DID celebrate Thanksgiving here! Obviously the people here don't celebrate Thanksgiving, but some members spoiled us big time giving us a few turkey dinners. We did some cool family nights with them to help them remember their blessings because we are so so blessed. :) Ah

And I think I forgot to tell you guys, but Liliana will be baptized the 16 of the December because she wants her boss to be in her baptism and that's when her boss is coming to town. She is doing so so well! She already seems like a member ha. Cool story with her from the week . . . Growing up, her parents were really abusive and she has some major family problems. So these last few years she has had some terrible nightmares and it makes it hard for her to even sleep at night. About a week and a half ago she opened up with us telling us all about her fear of sleeping. We talked about a comfort blessing and Hermano Wilfredo gave her this blessing the next day. She has NOT had a single nightmare since the blessing. And she says that now she can't even remember her dreams!! The priesthood is so real and I am so grateful for it.

Juan carlos and Andrea are still progressing and now we are teaching Javier who is progressing a ton too! Lots more updates about them next week. Oh also Alexa is going back to Lima today and.. MY HEART. I will miss her so so much! This morning we had to say bye to her, and I felt like I was having to say a goodbye to a family member again. She told us she knows the real reason she came to Arequipa was to receive this gospel in her life. She thanked and thanked us so much for all we have done for her and how we have changed her life. I am so grateful for her and grateful for the change that she has made in my life as well. Ya more updates next week.

I love you all, have a great week!

Hermana wood

D&C 127:4

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Hermana Wood

& after 36 years... VAMOS Perú!!!

Whoa an eventful week!!

Everyone here is so stoked on life right now because after 36 years of trying.. Peru finally made it into the world cup!! Everyone has been wearing their Peru jerseys all week with flags hanging out of windows, banners, and a lot of parties.. its awesome ha.

We are doing well here! hmm what happened this week... We gave talks in church, we put on a big noche misional en la capilla, I taught the lessons in leadership conference, & with divisions with the other hermanas this week, we had 3 days of different companions. It was a busy one! Yesterday was one of the miracles this week.. God answers our prayers! We had ward council before church started so we didn't have time to leave and pick up our investigators before the sacrament meeting, and the members that were going to pick them up ended up not being able to either. But we called them and a few of them confirmed saying that they would be coming. Church started and no one was there. We were starting to get nervous like "dang, after all of our work this week no one is coming to church?" I know its a bad attitude, but we were just praying and praying that at least Juan carlos and Liliana would come to church. Sacrament passed out and still no one. Then I gave the first talk and during my talk I looked out to see 2 of our investigators, Omar and his daughter Sarya walking in and finding their seat. Then while hermana Poulson was talking after me, Juan Carlos sent a message saying "sisters, I'm here in the door of the church, can you come get me?" so after hermana Poulson's talk we ran to get him, and with 10 minutes left of sacrament meeting I felt a tap on my shoulder from a girl in our ward pointing to the door and asking if the lady standing there was an investigator. Looked to the door to see Liliana there. Miracle! Our Father in Heaven was pretty mindful of us in church yesterday and maybe he doesn't always answer our prayers in the moment that we want our answers, but he listens. and in HIS time he answers our prayers.

Our investigators are doing good and we are doing great! Hope you all have a great week and a happy thanksgiving. This thanksgiving, I´m GRATEFUL to be a missionary. Count your many blessings this week! Hasta pronto. :)

Hermana Wood

Helaman 5:12

 

Pics: corelacion with hermano wilfredo our mission leader last week, 2 of my other companions this week, and typical.... handstands :)

A Dream That is Gonna Come True

Hello to my favorites! (Happy birthday shoutout TODAY to sister kalli jackson!!) Espero que todos tuvieron una linda semana. :)

This week was a little slower, but it was good. Updates on the investigators.  Liliana-still the best. She is progressing towards her baptism date on the 25th! She threw away ALL of her tea this week and is ready to make this change in her life! Johnny and Estefano.. we are still teaching them, but they are just progressing real slow because Johnny is always working and we haven't been able to have a ton of contact with them. But we are convinced that with these examples of Alexa and Katy-they will progress!!

Mariela and her family-still doing good but just progressing slow too. They want to be baptized but they aren't really reading/praying like they should, so we have gotta help them have their firm testimonies before their baptism. Fam Aliaga-Luisa wants this!! But she is waiting around on her husband Holman and he is progressing a little slower. But still working lots with them.

Two of our new investigators from this week we are stoked about! Juan Carlos and Andrea. Juan Carlos is 25 and is super interested. His sister is a member in Spain and got baptized about 2 months ago. He lives here in Arequipa just with his brother and his cousin. We had the first lesson with him Tuesday, then another one Wednesday, then Thursday, and Friday and Saturday!! He already has almost all the lessons and the desire and all-he just needs his attendances at church. Ha in the first lesson he told us: "My sister had a dream that I got baptized and was a faithful member of this church, and her dreams usually come true." The brother we were with: "Soooo do you think this dream will come true?" Juan Carlos: "Yeah.. I believe so." Chevereeee.

Andrea: She is the total latina version of Megs!!! It's crazy how much she reminds me of Megs. They don't look alike, but like manerisms and all. She is 14 and her uncle is a member. She lives with her mom and brother. The dad lives on the other side of Arequipa but will be here at times and it's a real messed up situation in her house. Her mom has been to church a lot before and likes our church, but doesn't want to get married so that's her deal. Andrea already wants to be a member of our church and she is already digging up the Book of Mormon. It's so weird because I feel a super special connection with her, and like I have known her forever. That's something that is weird that I have learned in the mission. There will be someone I have never met, but can love them with all my heart after a day of knowing them. It's gotten me hurt a few times, but at the same time-it's the coolest ever. I love these people oh so much!! And we are so excited about Andrea.

hmm What else happened this week? Hermana Alais got transferred BACK to Alto Selva Alegre to finish her mission there because she only has 1 transfer left... CRAZY! & it's funny because we are her hermana leaders so I get to talk to her every other day on the phone ha blessed. :) She is the best ever. Also Hermana Howe has had some problems from an experience that happened in Tacna and came back with us again this week yay! It was a fun week with her.

Also, we had leadership conference this week and our mission is killing it! President got us so fired up and all the zone leaders, hermana leaders-everyone is so stoked to just be goin hard in the paint. haha Yeah that is pretty much what happened this week. I love you all so much, go make it a good one!!

xo

Hermana Wood

D&C 90:11

pics: Mariela and Karen, when there isnt room in the car: squish, and the pretty plaza and our area

Liliana!!

Transfers today but really happy news.. We are staying here in Mirador together yayyyy!!! We did not want to leave so we are happy with that.

This week was the craziest week ever & one of those that I feel took up like half of my journal. We were running all around Arequipa this week. From helping the Hermanas in Alto Selva Alegre find a new cuarto, to painting an elementary school in Chachani, to exchanges with the Hermanas, to a ton of service projects! ah ha . . . it is nice to finally breathe for a sec! We also got a new companion this week! Hermana Howe from Tuscon, AZ (ya I felt like I could spend the week with em carter a little;) haha she had emergency changes from Tacna Thursday and today she heads out to another side of Arequipa, so we were just together in a trio for a few short days, but it was real fun with her.

Ok so we have one of the best new investigators EVER. Her name is Liliana. She moved here from Lima 2 months ago for her job and she will be in Arequipa for 4 months. (we have luck with the ones from Lima) She is 28 and is living here by herself, and WOW she is so interested in our message. She went to church for the second time yesterday loved it. She felt like in every one of the classes at church she was just receiving more and more answers to all of her questions. And something so cool: Alexa sat by her in relief society and Alexa shared her testimony with her, her conversion process, and how she made the best decision to be baptized and how the Book of Mormon really changes lives. Wow, seriously the happiest thing as a missionary listening to your converts bear their testimonies!(also Alexa told us yesterday how she is already in 2 Nephi and she just started from the beginning of the book a week and a half ago :):)

Liliana is so outgoing and funny ha. In our first lesson with her she said that she has always thought "how cool would it be if one day we could all be angels" We talked a lot about God's plan for us and how we are here on earth to learn and progress but God wants us to become like him. And we are going to return to him one day. And she was just mindblown when we talked about this plan of Happiness. So we are really excited about her. Ha in the first lesson she brought out tea at the end of the lesson... we had to apologize and explain to her why we don't drink tea. She was a little confused but then said: "It's ok.. the next time I will give you coffee instead!!" so we ended up teaching the word of wisdom that same day ha not the first time that had happened. :) And her bap. date is for the 25th of this month! So yeah Liliana was definitely a highlight of this week!

People like her just make me so grateful for my missionary calling. The happiest and best decision I have ever made was to leave everything for a year and a half to come out and serve. If anyone is thinking of serving a mission.. just DO IT. You will never regret it. I know I'm not the same Hermana Wood I was 10 months ago, and I like that. It's the best coming to know our Savior better and better each day. I am so grateful to have a Savior and redeemer! And I am so grateful for his infinite atonement. I am so grateful for my trials-physically, emotionally, all of them, because they just give me a little taste of all that Christ suffered for, for us. I'm just really happy here and that's my little spill for today.  I love you all, go make it a great week!

xo

Hermana Wood

Alma 56:56

Katy and Alexa are Members!!

Hiii!!! This week was so happy!!!

The most special baptism EVER Friday. Katy and Alexa are members and happier than ever! There was such a special spirit in their baptism and they have some powerful testimonies. I feel so grateful to have been a part of their conversion. Alexa told us after how she has never felt so "clean". Alexa is 18 and moved here from Lima 2 months ago. She felt like nothing was really going right for her over there so she came to live with her sister Katy in Arequipa until February. That's when we came along to visit her. Katy's youngest daughter is Mikaela who is 6 years old. About 4 months ago she suffered an accident where Katy and Johnny weren't sure if she´d live. While she was in the hospital for a few months Katy prayed and prayed and said that if God saved Mikaela she would serve god faithfully for the rest of her life. That's when we came along. There are no coincidences!

My testimony of ths grows more and more everyday of the mission. Our heavenly father knows us perfectly and he is always there. I just feel so lucky to be an instrument in his hands. The baptism turned out so great, lots of members were able to come, Hermana Poulson talked, I played the piano and there was a sweet spirit! Sorry lots more updates next week, and my camera is taking forever to load so I will send all of the pictures next week.

Have a great week!

--

Hermana Wood

Census couldn't stop us this week

Hola! How is everyone doing? This week was a real busy one! Lots happened so I will just give some of the highlights.

Fam Rodriguez-doing well and Johnny is now Progressing!! He isn't quite ready for his baptism this week because he needs to prepare a little more, but he will be baptized in November. And we aren't going to postpone the baptism of his fam any longer because they are so ready. So they have their interviews at 6 today and their baptism Friday-YAY! We are so excited for them. They are my favorites.

We had a big stake activity this Saturday that we put on. It was called "la luz de la verdad" we planned it with the other missionaries in the stake (who are the office elders) and it turned out SO good. What we did was we totally acted out the restoration of the Gospel. With an elder as Joseph Smith, other elders as false prophets from the apostasy, we even had a bunch of cool light effects with the pillar of light and all. The whole message led up to the book of Mormon and we were able to finish it off with Pres. Monson's words about the book of Mormon. After the activity we had a table full of books of Mormon, pamphlets, and all. We also had a list on the table that you could sign if you weren't a member and would like to talk with the missionaries or learn more. 28 people signed the list! It was a miracle and we invited anybody and everybody so the turnout was huge. Including the Rodriguez fam, fam Aliaga, 3 of our other investigators, and lots of new investigators. Definitely a highlight of the week!

Yesterday was the census here and nobody could leave their house from 8 in the morning to 5 at night. WHOA the first day we have actually rested in the whole mission. It was so weird. We live with members so luckily they gave us food and we spent it with them, studying, and making lots of scripture bookmarks ha. The Aliaga fam is back from New York and back ready to learn!! The wife, Luisa, is SO interested. We really feel that she is ready! Even yesterday when we taught her about the book of Mormon she told us she has always wondered what happened with the people in the Americas. She reads the bible daily but said that it has always bugged her how the prophets from the bible aren't from the Americas. She is so excited to get reading  the book of Mormon. Her husband, Holman, is doing well too but he's a little more going with it because his wife is so interested. So we are going to focus lots more on him this week so that they can progress together. Luisa asked if we can visit her every single day because every time we are there she feels lots of peace. That's what the spirit does :)

Mariela's family is still hanging in there. When we went to visit them at the beginning of this week Mariela was cleaning so we asked to help her. I don't think I've mentioned it before, but she was in an accident about 20 years ago and due to the accident she had to have her leg amputated. She only has one leg so of course cleaning is a little hard for her.... so when we went into her room to start cleaning we were shocked.. Piles high of trash, food, papers, clothes, everything. It was a disaster, We went straight into deep cleaning and even found one of her cats living under a pile of clothes. I was a little shocked when I picked up a shirt to find him there ha. Yeah but point of the story is that there was a lot to clean, so almost every time we visited them this week we were cleaning. But they are stilll doing good!!

We met a few new investigators this week that we are excited about too so woooottt the work is moving here in Mirador. :) haha also funny story-this week I got a spider bite on my foot and I had a really bad reaction-the mission nurse said I have to be alergic to this spider because my foot literally doubled in size. The weirdest thing! I am fine, but it will just take a little time for the swelling to go down ha so yeah that happened this week. Thank you for all the love, support, and prayers! Les amo un montón!!!! Go serve someone and have a good one!

Hermana Wood

Efesians 5:8

Nuestro padre celestial nos ama :)

Hola!! Hope everyone had a great week! We are doing well here :)

Mariela's family is progressing! Little by little they are meeting more members and they like going to church.

The Rodriguez family.. Katy and Alexa are doing so great!! They already have strong testimonies and are progressing lots. But this week Johnny has changed his mind a little. He has had some struggles with work lately and it's really testing his faith because he says he feels like God hasn't been there for him. He told us he wants to postpone his baptism a little longer. It made us sad to hear because we want the whole fam to be baptized together, but this lesson with them turned out to be so powerful. We talked a lot about the love of God, and we told them that this night they had to pray together as a family. Johnny had to offer the prayer. And we promised Johnny he would feel something special. We promised that he would be able to feel of the spirit. We were able to feel of the spirit so strong with them when we were promising him this and it was so special because Katy and Alexa cried and shared parts of their testimonies with him as well. We have the next lesson with them today and we are so anxious to hear from them! We moved their baptism to the next week to see if Johnny will be ready by then because we reallyyy want that this fam can be baptized all together. Please keep them in your prayers!

Other points of this week: last Monday night-in the middle of the night-there was a little earthquake and it scared us so bad but all is well! We gave talks yesterday in church.We moved cuartos and feel a lot safer now :) but yeah this week was good and these members here are helping us so much!!

oh and Birthday shoutout this week to TEYO!!!! He deserves the best day ever.

And can I just say it blows my mind that I am already at the halfway point of my mission..? 9 months of growing, meeting some of my eternal best friends, coming to know my Savior better, speaking such a foreign language that I have come to absolutely love, and sharing the happiest news in the whole world. I feel so grateful to be a missionary!!!

Just wanna finish up with the words of Pres. Uchtdorf that I love so much: "God is real. He lives. He loves you. He understands you. He knows the silent pleadings of your heart. He has not abandoned you. He will not forsake you." Go have the best week :)

Hermana Wood

Matthew 10:39

Pictures: multizone conference, the elders helping us move, and the park where we spent p day