LISTENING......It Actually Works!!!!!

Entonces, Holda otra ves de Carhuamayo!!

Yeah I dont write in Spanish a whole lot so thats all I got haha.

Anyway, this week was interesting. I would like to explain the title of this letter. First, I need to get this out of the way. My PARENTS WILL say that I never listened. That is not true, I always listened with one ear. That is what I have learned thus far in the mission. It is only possible to understand what people are saying here if you listen with both ears. Back home I could understand what people were saying while I watched TV, no big deal, but here if I dont focus COMPLETELY on their words, I truly can't understand what they are saying.

 

I have two examples to share this week of LISTENING:

 

1st- Our new investigator, who I must say is a gift from heaven here in Carhuamayo, Sarita. She is Golden, she wants a change in her life and is doing everything possible to get that change. She reads the Book of Mormon, she writes down questions, she ATTENDED CHURCH, and she is feeling the Spirit more now than she ever has in her life. We have taught, I think 4 lessons with her thus far, and every time, I completely focus on her words. You might say, "Elder Bell, you are suppose to do this anyways," Well, true, but it is very difficult to do, you just ask any other 23 year old you know if they focus completely when someone else is talking haha. But, I have realized the more that I focus the more I truly understand. Not only her words, but her tone of voice, and her unspoken expressions she evokes when talking about the gospel. Some may say this is being Desernable, I just think it is me paying close attention to the needs of another. Anyway, the moral of this story is, Listening pays off, and you can understand more than what is spoken when you truly, LISTEN.

 

2nd- This example is of NOT LISTENING. and NO it is not of me not listening :) haha. We had another lesson this past week with our Investigtor, Melanio. Well, again, his cousin, of the Evangelico Peruana Iglesia, attended this meeting. It was a little better than the past lesson we had with him present, we were able to at least get a word or two in this time. But this man DOES NOT LISTEN, nor does he have the desire to listen. Which, is sad, when we listen we learn. But when he meets with the missionaries, or should I say, when he tries to contend with missionaries, he only uses his mouth. Not his ears, or his eyes, or might I add... His Brain... It is very sad. We have so much to offer him and new understandings in the Bible but yet this man, does not listen. We do not learn by talking, (unless we are learning a language I will make one exception) We learn by listening and trying to understand new principles. So, the moral of this story, God gave us TWO EARS for a reason, and only ONE mouth for this reason. HAHA anyway, he is now going around the town harrassing members of the church, it is pretty frustrating but, everyone has their agency, thank goodness for agency.

 

In my first interview with President Henderson in the field he told me, "I just finished reading a book. It is a great book, it is called 'Enforcing Agency'........." Took me a second to get it.. but I busted up laughing. I love my mission president he is so funny.

 

Anyway, I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas with your families, and loved ones. Remember the reason for Christmas, isn't gifts, new toys or even money. It is to celebrate the life of the One who will give us eternal life with the people we celebrate the holidays with.

 

That is all from Carhuamayo this week! We have a baptism this coming weekend and then Sarita on the 3rd of January! So look for some pictures next week.

 

Love you and all!!

Elder Bell

Hola from Carhuamayo!!!!!!

Yep, I am still alive and kickin! Somedays I feel like I will become an iceburg before this transfer is over but thats ok! At least I will be a Happy Iceburg!

T on Top of the World

T & new companion, Elder Moraga

 

So I will be honest the work in Carhuamayo is grulling. Not many people are here in this city as it is and it seems like there is a different church on every corner. But when we do find people, they have definitely been prepared by the Lord, no questions asked!

This week we picked up a new investigator, her name is Tabita Sarita, and she is just awesome. She has told us in every lesson, that she wants to make a BIG change in her life, and thinks that we can help her make this change. We taught her the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ first, and when I recited the First Vision of Joseph Smith, her eyes got really really big. I knew she could feel the Spirit testifying of its truthfulness. We then taught her the Plan of Salvation, and that through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, our families can be together forever. Who in there right mind would not want that right???? She has two little boys that are a little obnoxious, but what 6 and 4 year old isnt right? They are really funny and LOVE that I am a GRINGO. I have a feeling we will be able to baptize Tabita the beginning of this coming year! I am really excited for her.

 

So now I have a little bit more of a difficult story to share. Our investigator, Melanio, he has cancer, and he is in a very fragile state right now. He can barely leave his bed. We meet with him and his family twice a week usually and share with them parts of the Gospel. This past week, my District Leader came to do exchanges with me, Elder Garcia. He is really cool, he is from Mexico, but studied in the states, so he knows all English. We went to teach Melanio and his Family last Tuesday, and our lesson was going great, we were sharing with them the Gospel of Jesus Christ, So, Faith, Repentance, Baptism, Receiving the Holy Ghost and Enduring to the End. We were about half way through the lesson when his cousin came into the house. Of course we invited him to join the lesson and we explained who we were and what we were talking about. He seemed very interested. More than usual, I should have caught on but we continued through out the Lesson. When we got to the part of receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands, (Acts 8:14-17) He began to contend with us saying that this is not true and that we are leading his cousin astray with lies and false bible. I didn't understand a word that he said, he was speaking really fast and words I didnt know, but Elder Garcia knew. I could just feel the nastiness of what he was saying in my stomach. Instead of contending with the man, Elder Garcia and I just left, I felt really bad that we just left, but we are not here to contend with others, rather to teach those who have a desire to learn. For the rest of the night my stomach just ached for that family. We have it right, he had some other kind of bible, that basically was a cut up and changed bible from his religion. I have a talk, by Elder Holland and President Eyring, called "The Atonement and Missionary Work" and in this talk, Elder Holland talks about the tears of sorrow that Christ shed for us and that the missionaries, at some point in their mission, should shed a tear or two of this sorrow as well. I firmly believe that I was feeling the sorrow, that Christ felt when he knew that many people would lead his fellow brothers and sisters astray and they would actually listen to this. Anyway, we are still teaching this family but they have a difficult time listening. It is frustrating as a missionary.

 

One last story, The very first day of the mission in the field, I lost my ring that my family gave me for my birthday before I had left. I was devistated for 3 weeks! I looked everywhere for it and was always trying to think of an excuse to tell my family where it went. This ring meant so much to me and I had only had it for 6 weeks and it was gone. The whole time I was in Tingo Maria, I could not find it, but I decided that, it was of matieral importance and I needed to focus on the more important things here in Peru. Well, low and behold, last week, as I was putting stuff away in my closet, I looked up, and in the side pouch of my bathroom bag, there was a big silver shiny ring!!!! Oh my goodness, I can not express how happy I was that I had found this thing that was very percious and dear to my heart!! Now I don't have to come up with an excuse of where it is!!! That is even better!!! HAHA.

Anyway, I hope you all had a fabulous Thanksgiving, I think I ate Lamb soup or something. Definitely wasn't Turkey, Gravy and Stuffing like I was hoping for. But only one more thanksgiving to go haha!!

Love you all and thank you for the support!!

Elder Bell

No soy Chino, No soy Manco, Soy Mono, Nogra Kaica Auquin Bell

Yeah so I will explain that title - No soy Chino line means, I am not Chinese ( I don't eat a lot of rice here because they give you two mountains of it at a time) No soy Manco, I am not without hands (the Pensionista is really funny and called me a MANCO when I didn't like to use my hands to eat the piece of chicken, I would rather use a knife) Soy Mono, I am a Monkey  (because I love bananas hahaha, they have a million of them in Peru and I love to eat them) and Nogra Kaica in Quetchua means, My name is... and then Auquin means Elder in Quetchua.

Yes this week has been much better than last, I am finally feeling better and we are able to get out of the house and actually do work! I am really excited to be here in Carhuamayo, now that I am aclimated to the climate, altitude, and weather. My companion is really cool. He ONLY speaks Spanish, but that is ok, it forces me to learn Spanish more rapidly.

 

Right now we are working with two families towards baptism. It is an exciting thing to see the light bulb go off in someones head. Both families need to get married before they can be baptized, which is a giant problem down here in Peru. Probably all of South America really. But they all are really excited about the gospel and the teachings in the Book of Mormon and how they too will help them grow closer to Christ and recieve eternal life. I am really excited for both families.

 

A few "First Time" things for me have happened here in Peru -

 

#1 - the flash flood we had in Tingo Maria where our street had 3 feet or more of water in it.

#2 - I am living in a refridgerator. Yeah... we have no heat haha.. and Carhuamayo is way cold!!! The only heat we have is in the shower, because of the adaptor for heat, and under my 5 blankets I sleep with at night, it is quite the adventure here haha.

Lastly - I am going to come home and be a professional rancher. On Saturday, for our service for the week we went and MILKED COWS haha.. what a weird experience. Utters are really weird to squeeze, but I am thankful because I love milk, so I won't complain too much. It was a really cool experience, I have some pictures of it.

 

And yet another new Friend

Hang'in with the Cows

Learning how to Milk the Cow

Milking the Cow - Whew Whooooooo

 

Anyway, As the Christmas season speeds up, remember the real reason for Christmas, we are celebrating the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ. His birth in itself is a gift from God. And best of all, this gift, is not bought in a store, or on the internet, but is worth more than gold. It is a gift that is FREE and in turn gives us ETERNAL LIFE. Can't ask for anything else. There is nothing I want more in my life than to live with my family, and my future family for ETERNITY. So when you are out there spending a whole bunch of money on gifts that in 2 or 3 years, people wont even remember who gave it to them, remember that the best gift we could ever recieve is that of following Jesus Christ, his teachings, and his way of life, to recieve for FREE, eternal life.

 

 

 

 

I am very grateful for all of you, that may be reading this blog, I am grateful you have choosen to follow my crazy journey down here in Peru that really has just begun. I know there will be ups and downs in the mission field, but there is no better feeling in the world than helping someone learn more about our Savior, So I ask you, from however many miles away, to remember in your minds and in your hearts, that this holiday season, that is plagued by new phones every year, new cars, and a bunch of expensive electronics, to share the most important gift we as followers of Jesus Christ have to offer, and that is his life he lived, lead, and then died soley for us. Share this gift with whoever may be in need of a pick-me-up or just within your family, the effects of sharing this gift, are greater than anything we can buy.

 

 

 

I love you all and look forward to sending you some more crazy experiences here in the humble country of Peru!!

Iwala! (Hasta Luego in Quetchua)

Con Amor,

 

Auquin (Elder) Bell

Hola de Carhuamayo!!!

Well,

 

Transfers came and went, and I am now in Carhuamayo. This word is Quetchuan, it means Yellow Water or River!! HAHAH. Our water is not yellow though it is filtered and in a box, so dont worry. Last week I said goodbye to the nice warm humid green weather, and I have entered the Zone of Cerro de Pasco. Yes, the highest city in the world.... I am absolutely freezing my buns off up here but when the sun is out it can get really, hot, it is really weird.

 

 

 

 

My new companion is Elder Moraga, es de Nicaragua. He is really cool! Only speaks Spanish, it is ok though he is helping me learn spanish a lot more quickly than I was in Tingo. Elder Recalde is a very good missionary, we got along great but I didn't feel he was very good at helping me with the language and I didn;t feel I was getting the trainging that I needed, so I asked President Henderson kindly for a change of companions. I came here to be the best missionary I can be, and to help as many people as I possibly can.......SO now I am in CARHUAMAYO.

 

This week has been awful sorry to say. I have been sick becasue of the altitude. The first day was not bad at all, but then Thursday came around and I had a pounding headache, and body aches everywhere. The headache is slowly disappearing but the body aches are increasing. I can hardly walk my knees hurt, and my back has started to hurt too. My intestines have not taken kindly to the increased altitude either. So I havent been able to eat normally. I have been told it will pass. None of the medicine they give me seems to be helping. So I will be in contact with the Health secretary today. DONT WORRY I am still a live, just need a little help from the medicine man haha.

 

I dont have many photos this week so I probably wont be sending any. I hope everyone back home enjoys their Thanksgiving dinner and black friday shopping. I will just be praying to eat a whole meal haha.

 

I love you all and thank you all for your support.

Happy Holidays to you!

Elder Bell

Hello From Tingo with Love

Hello Y"all .....Sorry for being so slow in updating this week

How is everyone doing? Life in Tingo is great! It has now entered the Rainy Season here in Peru, and oh boy does it rain!!

So I think almost everyday this week it has rained at least a little bit. Some days a lot more than others that is for sure. But it feels really good because it use to be hot and humid now it is just humid. I have sent a few pictures of the mountains that i get to look at every morning. They are really pretty.

So anyway. This week was very interesting..

The beginning of the week I was super excited that I was going to get to baptize Amado. We went out to Aucayacu to visit and conduct the interview. After the interview Amado asked his cousin who had helped him meet with the missionaries, to baptize him. At first, I was a little upset I am not gonna lie. I was really looking forward to having my first baptism. But then after I thought about it, it doesnt matter who does the baptism, just that it is actually being done. Then, Friday night we got a phone call from Julio, Amados cousin, saying he would not be able to make it to the baptism that he had to go far away for a family emergency. So then I was told I would be the one donig it. What a quick turn of feelings, again haha. Anyway, the baptism was awesome, I said the ordiance correctly in spanish the first time so that was good too haha.It was a great experence to have.

Taylor's 1st Baptism November 15, 2014

Taylor, Amado, & Elder Recalde

Taylor & Elder Bush's 1st Baptism November 15, 2014

 

We now have 10 new investigators and 4 working towards baptismal dates int he month of November and the beginning of December. We have a ton of work to do here with our new Ward and helping them build a foundation that will last past the time us missionaries are here. But this is the fun part of missionary work. Leaving your mark, in a good way, on an entire ward by helping them build a foundation for them to work off of.

Anyway, other than that, not a whole lot. Transfers are tomorrow, but I dont think we will have any changes in our companionships here, since elder Bush and I aare still training. But we are getting two new missionaries in Tingo Maria tomorrow so that will be exciting. 6 missionaries will help a ton with how much work we have to do here. So I am excited for that change.

 

*** I thought I would share photo's of T's new friend, yes it is dead - thank goodness, but EWWWWWWWWWWW, icky!!!!

This week's NEW friend

Big and Icky!!!!!

 

I hope you are all doing good! I pray for you all all the time, Talk to you next week!!

Elder Bell

Just another week!!!

Hey all!!

 

Hope everyone is doing well back home, this week has been pretty good. Not a whole lot going on. We spent half of last week in Huanuco for the Multi Zone conference with President so we didnt have a whole lot of work when we got back.

 

Here are some Photos from one our P-Day's...

T at the Waterfall and "PhotoBomb" by Elder Bush!!!
 

T and his Missionary "Crew of Elders" :)

T on "Top of the World"

 

We are ready to baptize Amado this weekend!! I am way pumped and he is too! Such a cool kid! But we wont be doing it in a river. It was gonna be too complicated for his family so we will just be doing it in the font at the church. Still way cool!

 

We have 3 new investigators this week that are probably gonna join the church. They have a strong desire to learn about God and the book of mormon so I feel really good about them. Roxanna, Flor, and Jessica. They all three know the bible pretty well. Which is why accepting the book of mormon is fairly easy for them. They know that God speaks to all his children and stated that in the bible many times. So they are progressing very well.

 

I am doing really good. The spanish is difficult, I have an experience to share haha... So Roxanna lives in Aucayacu, which is about an hour away from Tingo, we go there once a week to teach members and investigators. Last week when we went out there, we taught her about the Restoration. As I was talking, she made a face as if someone had dragged their nails down a chalkboard, and said "your spanish makes me have pain in my heart." I understood the words, but apparently I didnt understand how she meant it. I was completely offended. I was like in my head, "yeah I know, I have been here two months, the gift of tongues doesnt work over night!!" But later that night, when my companion decided to finally tell me, she didnt mean it as an offense, she meant it as, I feel your pain in learning a language, keep trying, I feel your frustration, but dont worry it will get better soon. I wish he would have told me like 3 hours earlier because for the next three hours all I could think about was how bad my spanish was. But in reality in two months, I have learned a lot of spanish. So I am not frustrated anymore and understand what she meant.

Does anyone miss this funny face???

 

 

One last thing, Thunderstorms in Tingo rock! It is so loud and rains so hard. I love it. I think about home all the time when I hear them because I love thunderstorms a lot! Last night I swear lightning hit like next door because our room was shaking. It was way crazy! (don't worry mom, I am protected by like 2 feet think cynderblock walls in my room).

 

Other than that not a whole lot is happen here. Next week I will have pictures of the baptism to send home I am way happy about that.

"Say hello to my little friend"...

From Dogs to Monkey's

 

Love you all and hope everyone is well!!
 

Elder Bell

And the floods came roaring down the hills................

Hola awesome people!!

 

So this was a crazy cool week! We had two baptisms in our district and those were pretty awesome!! Richard and Daidamia. Richard was an investigator of E. Recalde and mines, He is like 13 I Think, and he is way cool. His older sister joined a few months ago and they are both really cool.

 

The other baptism, Daidamia, is really cool. She is like 45 or so, she has 3 kids, one is already a member. Anyway, she went through some difficult times in her preparation for baptism. Many doubts and concerns, especially in her family. But it was a wonderful baptism. All of her family was there to support her and afterwards she bore a very heartfelt testimony about how happy she is to follow the example of our Savior and to become a better person through the princples and teachings of Jesus Christ. Really really cool experience to help people come unto Christ.

 

 

Other than the two baptisms not a whole lot happened.... oh yeah wait there was something.

 

 

OUR CITY FLOODED!!

Yeah so Friday morning during breakfast it began to rain. Just a normal rain no biggie right? Well that rain increased to a serious downpour and it lasted for 2 hours!! Which in turn, resulted in the entire side of Tingo Maria we live on flooding! Our street had roughly 3 feet of rain in the middle of it (see pictures) it was crazy!!! After noticing that the water was beginning to go inside peoples houses because the river had risen so high we decided it was our duty as servants of the lord to go and to help people save their possessions. So, for the following 3 hours I was shoveling water out of peoples houses. It was a very humbling experience. The people didnt seem to care very much that their things were getting ruined and they couldnt do anything about it but I began to feel real sorrow for these people. They already have so little, and yet here they are losing their possessions right before their eyes. Really Really heart breaking. Anyway, they were very happy to see 4 helping hands reaching out to help them save some of their things. After that we were basically exhausted and retired back to our room for a little bit. Then went out and did more missionary stuff. It was a very interesting experience. But I am thankful we were able to help people that were in desperate need of a helping hand.

 

 

 

 

Other than that there really is nothing. We are still working with Amado and he is penciled in for the 15th of Nov. for his baptism in a river :) pretty stoaked about that!!!

 

 

Thank you all for the support and love! I can really feel it when I read your letters. Know that I can feel all your prayers and they are all needed while trying to learn a language!! But it isnt that bad really!!

Love you all and have a safe exciting week!

Elder Bell