Monday, August 2, 2015
Hey Everyone!!
Still here in Los Andes with Elder Ottley. We are doing great! Well, that is a lie. Elder Ottley was sick this last week and is still recovering right now. He was in bed for 3 days so we didnt really have much going on this week. We both have some big plans for this transfer so we are hoping he can get better so we can make them happen! I am really greatful to be here with Elder Ottley though he keeps me young haha. No just kidding but we do laugh and joke alot which is necessary when you are serving a mission. Some times we just get too serious so getting a few jokes and giggles in help a lot. I wish I had more to share this week but really, being in the room for 3 days, you dont have a whole lot to share other than thinking about all the people you could be teaching and findng. But one thing I did learn this week was to serve. Yeah - we learn to serve one another when the other is sick. Getting him food, getting him blankets and helping him in anyway I could. It feels nice to serve others, to help someone in need. I sure hope all of you sometime this week can look for opportunities to serve those who need our help.
I love you all and hope to write more next week!!
Elder Bell
Friday, August 7, 2015
July...WOW, almost there.....
Monday, July 27, 2015>>>
Espero que todos ustedes estén felices está mañana y con una sonrisa muy grande! Estoy aquí en el Internet de nuestro obispo escribiéndoles muy contento. Mañana es el ultimo día del cambio y esperamos que tengamos mas tiempo aquí en el barrio Los Andes. Compartamos nuestra gigantografía con el consejo de barrio ayer con algunas dificultades pero estamos aquí para ayudar en cualquier aspecto necesario para ayudar el barrio a progresar. La obra es muy difícil acá pero estamos en buen espíritus y agradecidos por la oportunidad a servir El Señor en su obra maravillosa. Tuvimos un bautismo el fin de la semana pasada y estaba chevere! El jovencito esperó 6 meses por su permiso y por fin sus padres lo firmaron. Con el fin de cambio mañana en la noche, no sabemos si me voy o me quedo aquí pero esperamos que me quede acá. Tenemos mucho trabajo aquí y Élder Ottley es chevere también entonces, espero que me quede.
Les quiero siempre,
Yep, it's really in spanish or at least Peruvian Spanish. Here is the translated version from Google Translate - really do not know if it is correct, still waiting for Cameron to help me :)
Hello my friends and family !!
I hope you all are happy this morning with a big smile! I'm here on the Internet from our bishop by writing very happy. Tomorrow is the last day of change and hope we will have more time here in the neighborhood of Los Andes. We share our giant poster with the ward council yesterday with some difficulties but we are here to help in any need to help the neighborhood to look forward. The work is very difficult here but we are in good spirits and grateful for the opportunity to serve the Lord in his wonderful work. We had a baptism to last week and was Chevere! The boy waited six months for permission and his parents finally signed. To change tomorrow night, we do not know if I go or stay here but expect me to stay here. We have much work here and Elder Ottley is also Chevere then I hope it is me.
I am always grateful for the support I get here in the mission and I can feel the love all of you. Thanks for everything !!
We always want,
Elder Bell
Monday, July 20, 2015>>> Time Flies When you are Working HARD!!!
Con un abrazo,
Monday, July 13, 2015>>> The Crazy Week of a Missionary....
Also this week we were able to meet as Mission Leaders to talk about the problems that are coming out here in our mission. We learned that, obidence is not quite as important as it should be to many, and in turn, our missionary efforts are lacking. One thing I have learned on the mission, being perfect is imposible. Even when we try so hard, it is absolutely impossible. But there is a different between being obiendent and being perfect. What I have learned about obidence is this, when we do our part, we are reminded often of what we should, keep doing, and what we should avoid doing. When we submit our Wills to The Lord, we will constantly be reminded of what we should keep doing, like being patient, loving, humble, that we should listen more than we talk and follow the impressions of the Spirit, to know what to do next. Imperfect people still recieve revelation, but disobidient people do not.
Elder Bell
Monday, July 6, 2015>>> The Visit of Elder Waddell
Hola mis Amigos y Familia!!
Espero que todos ustedes estén felices está mañana y con una sonrisa muy grande! Estoy aquí en el Internet de nuestro obispo escribiéndoles muy contento. Mañana es el ultimo día del cambio y esperamos que tengamos mas tiempo aquí en el barrio Los Andes. Compartamos nuestra gigantografía con el consejo de barrio ayer con algunas dificultades pero estamos aquí para ayudar en cualquier aspecto necesario para ayudar el barrio a progresar. La obra es muy difícil acá pero estamos en buen espíritus y agradecidos por la oportunidad a servir El Señor en su obra maravillosa. Tuvimos un bautismo el fin de la semana pasada y estaba chevere! El jovencito esperó 6 meses por su permiso y por fin sus padres lo firmaron. Con el fin de cambio mañana en la noche, no sabemos si me voy o me quedo aquí pero esperamos que me quede acá. Tenemos mucho trabajo aquí y Élder Ottley es chevere también entonces, espero que me quede.
Siempre estoy agradecido por la apoya yo recibo aquí en la misión y el amor yo puedo sentir de todos ustedes. Gracias para todo!!
Les quiero siempre,
Élder Bell
Yep, it's really in spanish or at least Peruvian Spanish. Here is the translated version from Google Translate - really do not know if it is correct, still waiting for Cameron to help me :)
Hello my friends and family !!
I hope you all are happy this morning with a big smile! I'm here on the Internet from our bishop by writing very happy. Tomorrow is the last day of change and hope we will have more time here in the neighborhood of Los Andes. We share our giant poster with the ward council yesterday with some difficulties but we are here to help in any need to help the neighborhood to look forward. The work is very difficult here but we are in good spirits and grateful for the opportunity to serve the Lord in his wonderful work. We had a baptism to last week and was Chevere! The boy waited six months for permission and his parents finally signed. To change tomorrow night, we do not know if I go or stay here but expect me to stay here. We have much work here and Elder Ottley is also Chevere then I hope it is me.
I am always grateful for the support I get here in the mission and I can feel the love all of you. Thanks for everything !!
We always want,
Elder Bell
Monday, July 20, 2015>>> Time Flies When you are Working HARD!!!
Wow!!! I cant believe we are almost to the end of another transfer. It was been a blast here with Elder Ottley. We have been able to make some HUGE changes in our ward in which we are working and we will see this next week if it pays off.
I feel like the biggest struggle in South America, not only Peru, is the newness of the Church and that everyone wants to do it in their own ways. We soon forget that this also happened in the times of Christ. The Apostles went around correcting the apostacy that was springing up after the death of Jesus Christ. Now I am no were near the importance of an Apostle of Jesus Christ but we are having some of the same problems here in our area. The ward is not functioning correctly as it should, or better put, The Church is not being ran as God has instructed us to run it. An analogy I will steal from the late Elder Neal Maxwell is that the members going dashing back and forth with fire extinguishers in times of flood. We have been invited to give a training next Sunday and to help the members learn how to do their callings. Obviously we can't teach every situation but that is the beauty of being set apart to recieve revelation for every calling in the Lords Church. We are all entitled, when living worthily and searching humbley, we can all improve and receive the revelation necessary for that moment.
I am really grateful for this calling, the ability to be here in Peru to help people learn theirs, and for the ability to learn and grow from every experience that I am given here in the mission. I love you all very much, but I wouldn't trade this experience for anything. I love you all and hope all is well back home. I am doing great and will write you all next week.
Con un abrazo,
Elder Bell
Monday, July 13, 2015>>> The Crazy Week of a Missionary....
Well this week was a crazy week, again! I swear all of our weeks are crazy out here. We had a lot of success here in the Ward and Stake this week, we had 6 meetings this week with ward and stake leaders that proved to be very effective and I know that we will begin to see progress in the work here both in the ward and with the missionaries.
As missionaries we see a lot of what goes on out in the trenches, usually a whole lot more than most members. This week, with a loving stake president, we were able to meet with him 3 times within the last 7 days and we were able to present all of our ideas and suggestions to the bishops of this stake. It was a meeting that NEVER happens here in Peru with the missionaries, and we were able to see a bunch of other ideas coming out under the influence of the Holy Ghost which I know will allow the work to progress, both with the wards and with the missionaries.
Also this week we were able to meet as Mission Leaders to talk about the problems that are coming out here in our mission. We learned that, obidence is not quite as important as it should be to many, and in turn, our missionary efforts are lacking. One thing I have learned on the mission, being perfect is imposible. Even when we try so hard, it is absolutely impossible. But there is a different between being obiendent and being perfect. What I have learned about obidence is this, when we do our part, we are reminded often of what we should, keep doing, and what we should avoid doing. When we submit our Wills to The Lord, we will constantly be reminded of what we should keep doing, like being patient, loving, humble, that we should listen more than we talk and follow the impressions of the Spirit, to know what to do next. Imperfect people still recieve revelation, but disobidient people do not.
I hope you all keep studying how we can all be more obidient to the things The Lord has asked us to and I promise you will see the reasons behind all of hem, both temporal and spiritual.
I love you all very much and will write again next week!
Elder Bell
Monday, July 6, 2015>>> The Visit of Elder Waddell
This past week we recieved a wonderful visit from the Area Presidency, Elder Waddell. Such a gentle giant, and really he is a giant, he is like 6 ft. 5 in. or something like that. I was able to have a personal interview with him last Sunday and he gave me some really good advice for what I am doing here in the mission and what to do throughout the rest of my life.
After that we also had a conference with him with all the missionaries. It was a really inspiring and motivating meeting and he has helped us to learn how to move forward with this work and to continue to help others recieve the blessings that the gospel of Jesus Christ really can and does bring into our lives when we follow the principles He has established for us.
I am still adjusting to the additional things a Zone Leader does here in this GIANT mission. Luckily, I am blessed right now with a seasoned Vet and am learning a ton. My companion is awesome, Elder Ottley from Idaho, he has the same drive as I do to help edify the Church here in the mission. There is a lot of apostasy here but we are helping the church leaders to read from their manuals and do the things that the church has been founded on and we are seeing more and more progression. It has been difficult to find people to teach lately but this past week we found 2 excellent investigators and we are planning on helping them get baptized the month of July.
Thank you all again for the wonderful support of going on a mission. It is a blessing I never expected to receive. I have learned so much and I have only just begun.....
Love,
Elder Bell
June Wonderful June........
Monday, June 22, 2015>>> New Transfer, New Attitude
Elder Bell
Monday, June 15, 2015>>> The Last Week of the Transfer
Love you all, until next week from Peru,
Monday, June 8, 2015>>> The Last Week of the Transfer...
Elder Bell
Monday, June 1, 2015>>> The Craziest Week of my Life!!
Well, I dont even know where to begin! This week has definitely thrown me for a loop. We had so many good experiences this week but a whole lot of things to do for the Zone. We weren't the most productive missionaries this week but I was very blessed with some very interesting and important spiritual experiences. A lot of times in the church we say that "We know this is true" but do we really KNOW.. I can now say that I do KNOW with a surety that it is true. That I have the power of God here on the Earth in the Priesthood. That the Book of Mormon is true and that we have a Prophet today to lead and guide us to where we want to go after this life. To be honest before the mission, I had a few experiences that made me believe more and more that it was true. But I now know, I know, I know, I know. that it is true. That God lives. That Jesus is the Christ. It is such a great feeling KNOWING these things. When we know these things we have no fear, we have no doubts of whether or not a priesthood blessing will really work, we have no fear of the "other" side of things. I know God exists, I know that Satan exists, and he is real and everywhere and wants nothing other than for us to be miserable. I have seen it with my own eyes. I know without a doubt, that I am where I need to be and that this work really changes lives. I dont have much more to say other than I am so grateful for the experiences that I have been given and for the experiences yet to come in the future. Thank you all for the motivation and inspiration I recieve from you every week. It is always useful and very very timely. I know there is a reason for everything. :)
Well I'm glad to be with you all this beautiful Monday morning. It has been an excellent week and hope you all had a wonderful Father´s Day. I spent Father´s Day in the Dedication of the Trujillo Temple. Which was sent to us here in Huancayo so we could watch it. I was thinking of the importance of the family and all that it means. The temple really helps us know and understand our purpose here on Earth with our families and the importance of making and keeping convenants with our First Father, Our Heavenly Father. I am just really grateful for both my dads, everything that they both have given me. First, for Heavenly Father allowing me to be a part of the family that I now have, and Second, my Dad here on Earth that has given me principles and direction to follow my dreams and desires.
In the mission we may be far away from our families, but here in the mission we also learn about how important it is to love our families and to cherish them as if they were finer than gold. I got lucky I know I did, for the family my first Father gave me here on this crazy Earth. All the things that I have learned and continue to learn from all of them even though I am be 3,500 miles away HAHA. Thank you all for your love and support. I love hearing from all of you every week and really hope that you all continue to remember the importance of our Fathers, both Temporal and Spiritual.
Til Next Week!!
Elder Bell
Monday, June 15, 2015>>> The Last Week of the Transfer
Well, here we are at the end of yet another transfer and it seems just like yesterday I was headed here to Peru. I am glad this transfer has come to an end needless to say. We have had some many headaches that it will be nice to either have a new zone or see a bunch of new people here in this zone if I am going to stay here. One of the many things I was able to learn this transfer was that about patience and trusting in the timing of the Lord. I have really been able to see that everything happens for a reason. We have experiences in life to help us prepare for the future or to even help another person who may at some point in their lives, pass through the same trial or hardship. I am thouroughly convinced that we are where for a reason. The people who surround us are there for a reason and this life we have with a difinitive purpose. I know this email isnt very long this week. I know just want you all to know that this work, is real. God exists and Satan exists, Angels of God are ministering in the mist of the fallen angels of Lucifer´s on this Earth and we are in the middle of this battle for our eternal salvation or our eternal destruction. But we are agents to choose which one we will follow. My question for all of you who may read this is, What are you doing to choose the right? Or what are you doing to choose the wrong? And, what should you do to correct your course to where you KNOW where you are going?
I hope you all have a wonderful week and are able to put these thoughts into your mind to see what it is you can do to improve your lives, and the lives that are around you.
Love you all, until next week from Peru,
Elder Bell
Monday, June 8, 2015>>> The Last Week of the Transfer...
Well this is the last week of the transfer and I have never been so happy for a transfer to end. It has been rough and I will be happy to see many changes in this Zone, I could even be one of them, who knows. I have learned and grown a lot this transfer. The responsiblities we have as Zone Leaders is a little different here than it is in other missions. But I am grateful for the responsibility and the ability to help teach the other missionaries too. This week we will be doing a traning on how to become an active missionary and not be a passive missionary. The best example of this is Peter in the New Testament. He goes from walking on water to drowning for the lack of faith, to denying the Christ three times, then after the resurrection, casting out demoins, raising the dead and testifying to his death in Rome, Italy. I can't believe how much I have learned out here on the mission. It has been incredible and I am so glad I still have a ton of time left to keep learning and grow into becoming a new and better person than I was before!!
There really weren't any cool stories from this week other than Elder John came and did divisions with me, he is an assistant right now. He is a great guy. Definitely made a new friend in one night it was crazy. I didn't really know him before the other night but he is a great guy and I was able to learn a lot from him.
I hope you all have a great week and hopefully next week I have a better story for you all.
Take care!!
Elder Bell
Monday, June 1, 2015>>> The Craziest Week of my Life!!
Well, I dont even know where to begin! This week has definitely thrown me for a loop. We had so many good experiences this week but a whole lot of things to do for the Zone. We weren't the most productive missionaries this week but I was very blessed with some very interesting and important spiritual experiences. A lot of times in the church we say that "We know this is true" but do we really KNOW.. I can now say that I do KNOW with a surety that it is true. That I have the power of God here on the Earth in the Priesthood. That the Book of Mormon is true and that we have a Prophet today to lead and guide us to where we want to go after this life. To be honest before the mission, I had a few experiences that made me believe more and more that it was true. But I now know, I know, I know, I know. that it is true. That God lives. That Jesus is the Christ. It is such a great feeling KNOWING these things. When we know these things we have no fear, we have no doubts of whether or not a priesthood blessing will really work, we have no fear of the "other" side of things. I know God exists, I know that Satan exists, and he is real and everywhere and wants nothing other than for us to be miserable. I have seen it with my own eyes. I know without a doubt, that I am where I need to be and that this work really changes lives. I dont have much more to say other than I am so grateful for the experiences that I have been given and for the experiences yet to come in the future. Thank you all for the motivation and inspiration I recieve from you every week. It is always useful and very very timely. I know there is a reason for everything. :)
Thank you all a ton for everything,
Love, Elder Bell
Catching up is hard to do.........May
Monday, May 25, 2015>>> Hello Family and Friends
Well another week bites the dust and I am sure glad that
week is over!! WHEW! What a hectic week we had. I think a lot of it has to do
with learning and adding in all the new responsibilities that come with being a
Zone Leader but needless to say. We have a fresh new week ahead of us and we
are doing to all we can to make it awesome!
This past week we had our Multi Zone Conference with
President Henderson and we were able to learn many good things to start
applying now that I know will really help us progress in the Work of the Lord.
Something I have began applying here in the mission is something I read in a
Liahona article. It is titled "Opening the Heavens" by Yoshihiko Kikuchi.
It talks about having a daily devotional with our Heavenly Father. I would
recommend everyone to read it! Here in the mission things can get stressful.
Especially when you understand we are talking about the Salvation of every one
of the Sons and Daughters of our Heavenly Father. Something that I have
learned, is that when you supplicate yourselves before God, in a humble and
sincere prayer, you can really start to feel that you are not talking to a wall
or a bed, but really you are talking to some one who is listening more intently
than anyone ever could here on Earth. It is something that has helped me through
the lowest of lows and propels me through my highest of highs. In moments of
crisis we seem to want to just give up and move on to something else. But, what
if we are talking about giving up on life? There is no "something
else" to move on to. Be Here. Right Now and in the Moment. Get on your
knees and pray to the one being that is perfect. That will respond without
biase, but only with love and compassion for the things we are doing, and the
things we are yet to do and to become. A scripture that I absolutely love and
has also been a great help for me here in the mission where everyone loves to
worship their idols and drink until they pee their pants in the street is found
in Doctrine and Covenants 64:33-34. If we are obedient to the commandments of
The Lord, we will lay a firm foundation for all of us, to prosper in our days
and the days of our children and childrens childrens.
I love you all so very much.
I pray for you all in your times of need and times of excellence and I hope you
all enjoy your memorial week :)
Elder Bell
Monday, May 18, 2015>>> Week one as a Zone Leader in the Los Andes Zone
Well...I can tell you right now- I have never been so tired in my mission. We run around like chickens with our heads cut off some times. And then when we finally crawl into bed at night, it is never long enough.
Now with that being said, I love being able to teach other missionaries how to improve as missionaries and as people too. We had our "Consejo" last week which is when all the Zone Leaders in the entire mission come together to talk and recieve training to give to all the other missionaries. This is something I truly love. It is such a great feeling when you can teach through the power of the Spirit. I remember this Saturday teaching and just being able to speak freely and through the Spirit and I KNOW the other missionaries were able to understand and FEEL what it was I was trying to get through to them. It was a really great training needless to say ;)
It was also great to be able to talk to my family this past week. As missionaries we get a little nervous to do that because we dont want to lose focus on the work we are doing. I know that it was great to see my family though and to talk face to face to them (with the help of Skype) and ask questions and laugh and joke about a lot of different things.
Right now the work we have in our area is kinda in the dumps. But this week it has greatly improved and we can see people getting baptized this transfer. We are really excited and have fasted a whole bunch to be able to find the people that we need to find and we have been blessed with the ability to find them through our acts of Faith.
I know that as we pray to the Lord to recieve guidance in what we should do, We do recieve the necessary answers to our questions, but only when we LISTEN. Listening is something I am really improving on here in the mission, I am sure my parents will be glad to hear that finally but it is true. It has increased dramatically!
I am so grateful for all the opportunities that I have been given and I have been able to grow and learn so much during the first 9 months of my mission. I am so excited to see what the remaining 15 months has!! Love you all talk to you next week!
Elder Bell
Monday, May 11, 2015>>> First week as Zone Leader
Well,
The first week as a Zone Leader was pretty crappy. We werent able to find a whole bunch of people to teach and it was a little discouraging. Anway, it was great to get to talk to my family and my mom and grandparents this Sunday. It was great to see everyone is doing good and are healthy!! I dont have much to share this week because I shared it all yesterday but, this week we will be going to a mission leader conference tomorrow, where we will talk about things that are going on in our zones and how we can help the missionaries become more efficient. Then we get to eat something made by Sister Henderson and some real American food like KFC or Pizza Hut or Popeyes chicken. I am way excited for that. Hoping to enjoy some good food tomorrow and then go off and play some soccer for like 4 hours. It will be fun. I am really excited to have this opportunity to serve and help everyone here in Peru. Missionaries, members and just everyone else that we come into contact with!!
Love you all and hope you take care!!
Elder Bell
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