ANOTHER CRAZY WEEK!!!

Well I dont have much time. I am really excited to call home next week and see how my family is doing. I know they are good but it is always nice to see them with my own eyes.

 

This week went by quickly and our numbers were pretty pathetic. But today I recieved a call from President Henderson and am being made a Zone Leader here in the same Zone of Los Andes.

When he called I felt pretty sad. I actually started crying afterward a little not going to lie. I really wanted to see the success in this area. We have 10 baptism for this month and I wanted to be a part of every one of them. But as a missionary, with a little knowledge, I know that that doesn't happen everytime. Also that for me, if I am able to help someone progress even a little in the gospel. I did what I was suppose to do as a missionary. As missionaries we INVITE people to make changes, we can not force them. We have many who have accepted the invitaction and I will surely miss helping them progress. But being called to another position in the mission is part of the mission and part of this life. Therefore, I know that The Lord needs me in a different place and that it is where I need to be RIGHT NOW.

 

I hope you all hug and kiss your mothers this week and truly let them know how special they are. I know I am the luckiest kid on Earth because my mom is by far the BEST :) Everyone else is a close 2nd but my mom is #1!!! (Yes, this made Mom cry a LOT :) love and miss my Missionary)

 

Love you all and have a blessed and safe week with your families!

Elder Bell

 

CONGRATULATIONS ELDER BELL on becoming a Zone Leader - Super Proud of YOU!!!!

 

UPDATES!!! UPDATES!!! UPDATES!!!

The person in charge of Taylor's Blog (mom) has been very busy and is very sorry for taking so long to update this for the month of April, There has been a lot of avitivity for Elder Bell and he is doing great!!!! Enjoy the updates and again I am sorry for being so slow this month..........scroll to the bottom to start with his update from 3/30/15, photos to follow soon :)

 

WELL WHERE DO I START WITH THIS WEEK??? (4/27/15)

 

It started off weird, the first thing that happend was we went up to Ingenio where there is a Trout hatchery, and we ate a bunch of fish. Really we went up there because Mike, our investigator from the States worked up there. So when we got there we found him pretty drunk. I was a little discouraged but wasnt judging him. He ended up losing his job that day.... He was pretty upset. We were able to talk to him when he was sober and he actually went to church with us this past Sunday! He has been searching for a very long time for an answer to his many questions about God, and he told us yesterday that he thinks he has found his answer to one of them. He has been reading a lot in the Book of Mormon, and he says it is helping him understand what he needs to do to repent and get over this guilt that he has for the things he has done. I know that it is helping him a ton.

 

Another thing that happened this week. We have a less active member who is such a great lady. She has two young kids and lives with her partner. Anyway, one day she told us that she didnt want to live there anymore and she was being verbally abused by her partner and his son. That she was a worthless peice of garbag and that his ex-wife was way better than she is, etc. Anyway, we counciled her to pray to God for an answer of what it is she should do. The next day in the morning when we were getting dressed, we recieved a phone call from her saying she needed help. I was really worried, so we went down stairs from our apartment and asked the Relief Society President to go with us to her house. This less active member had hurt her back during the week and it was hard for her to walk. She asked us to take her to the Health Center that they have here in San Jeronimo so she could get looked at by a doctor. Anyway we went to her house and her Partner answered the door as if nothing was wrong. We told him we had come to help THEM go to the Health Center to have her looked at. He told us, after we had helped her down the stairs, that he was too busy, he needed to feed his animals and that his wife is ALWAYS sick and he doesnt have time for her whining...... I was just in a state of shock of what I was hearing. We tried explaining to him the importance of her having her husband by her side and always helping one another in their times of need, he wasnt having any of it. He went inside and left us all standing outside just baffled at what we had heard. Then the Relief Society President said she couldnt take care of the two little ones and that they should stay there with their dad... The little boy, about 4 years old started to cry hysterically saying, "NO PAPA MALO PAPA MALO!!" Which means, dad is bad or mean... I could help by start crying because my heart litterally ached for this whole family. The mom wasnt getting the support she deserved from her spouse, the children were afraid to be alone with their father, And here were two missionaries that couldnt do anything to fix this situation. We then help our less active member go to the Center and get looked at. We bought her a juice and crackers as she waited for the results and we went back to the house and prayed that she would be able to have the strength to take her two kids to a safer place where they arent scared of anyone.

 

This is only one of the few experiences I have had while on my mission that has helped me realize, how good I have it at home, how awesome my family is and how grateful I am to have the parents and siblings that I have. I sure hope you all can look at your families with a new perspective, that the family literally is ordained of God for all of us to grow and help one another in their trials and sicknesses. I have learned so much about the family in just this one week it has been awesome! But my heart does ache for those people who do not have the families that they deserve to have, like the family of this less active and her two little children.

 

I love you all so much. Take care this week. Remember to love all, but especially your family and the people you hold dear to your heart!

 

Love you all so much,

Elder Bell

 

 

WHAT A WEEK THIS REALLY WAS!! (4/20/15)

 

First off, We thought this week would be better because I wasnt sick anymore and that we would be able to work really really hard this week. Then we found out my companion would be going to Lima for 3 days to finish up his paperwork and become legal here in Peru. I guess that is important. (Not that important in the States but I guess I am in Peru right) SO I was a little discouraged trying to find a member to acompany me through these three days. It was absolutely impossible. And it was looking like we weren't going to have work in our area for 3 days. Then, Elder Ochoa called me, an Assistant to the President, and said he would be coming to do divisions with us the day before Elder Jimenez left for Lima. I was relieved!! But, he had no idea he would be staying with me for 3 days. I am EXTREMELY grateful that he was able to come with me for 3 days. I can honestly say that in those 3 days, I learned more from him than I did in 3 months of my training. As sad as that is, it is true. He taught me how to REALLY study and to search for meaningful questions. It was something I truly needed and had been looking for the previous week. Luckily for me my prayers were answered.

 

The next thing I would like to share with you all is this. Right now we have a GRINGO investigator. Crazy right? In the middle of freakin Peru of all places, there is a gringo that speaks English. Today we are giong to teach him for the first time. He is the ex army ranger and has done some crazy stuff in his life to say the least. But the thing we are going to focus on, is that he feels he is out of the reach of the Grace of Jesus Christ. For the past few days I have been studying and trying to find an answer. And I did find one. NO ONE, I repeat, NO ONE is out of the reach of the Grace and Mercy that Jesus Christ can give us. Through his atoning sacrifice, We can all recieve his grace and be cleansed through his blood. BUT, we must have the faith in him that 1) He exists and 2) that he really can help us with our needs. Through the faith we have in Him we start the process of repentance. Something that Mike doesnt quite understand yet. But that is why we missionaries are here. To help people build their faith unto repentance and then be cleansed through the ordinances of Baptism and Recieving the Gift of the Holy Ghost.

 

I am really grateful that of all people to be in San Jeronimo at this time, I am here to do my best to help him get rid of the guilt and anger that he has for the things he has done. But not only him, all the investigators that we have. (15 new investigators this week! Heck ya!) It is a process that takes time, but with patience, diligence and faith. ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE.

 

Thank you all for the support you give me. I love you all very much and am grateful that I have you all back home!!

 

Elder Bell

 

 

 

WELL THIE WEEK WAS KINDA KRUDY. (4/13/15)

 

 

I was sick monday night until Thursday morning. I had a nice little stomach bug. Never threw up but definitely felt like straight up crap. I was stuck in our room for those days so it was nice to finally get out and do some work. My companion and I get along very well. I am really glad to have him especially after the last one. On Saturday night there was a party just outside of our Pensions house and their was a band there (like always here in Peru) with their trumpets and drums and their weird made up instruments. Anyway, We were standing in the little store of our pension just dancing away HAHA the husband of our pension is going to try and send the videos they took of us doing our crazy dances. This week really wasnt as productive as I would have liked but we learned alot and were able to have some good times after being sick. We have some really awesome investigators right now, Maribel and Amanda. We share our lesson with them last night in the dark... because the lights went out in the ENTIRE city. Which was interesting definitely. Things always happen here that I never thought would, like teaching a lesson by candle light but most of it in the pitch dark. Just such a different experience Peru is haha.

 

Nothing more from this past week it really was uneventful so I hope you all stay safe and have a good one. Til next week!!

Elder Bell

 

 

HAPPY EASTER!! (4/6/15)

 

 

Hello everyone!

Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend and a wonderful Easter Sunday. Saturday night, after the Priesthood session of General Confrence, Elder Jimenez and I were lucky enough to spend the night at the home of the Assistants. Were I was able to taste a little bit of Sister Hendersons, baked potatoe soup, (Which was absoultely heavenly) and to talk and laugh with the 4 assistants here in our mission. The following morning was Easter Sunday, I quickly got dressed and went down stairs and began reading the final few chapters of Matthew, that describe the Last Supper, the betrayal of Judas, and the suffering of Jesus Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane and on The Cross. But most importantly, is his Resurrection. How can we know that such a thing actually happened? Well, it is amazingly simple, but yet, so deep and profound. How do we know that when we go to sleep at night, that we will awake the next day? Or the car we are traveling in to go to work or the grocery store will start? I can sum it all up in one word... ok two, Faith and Prayer. What is it that Jesus did in the Garden? He PRAYED unto his father, and again on the cross he prayed for the very people who had crucified him.

 

Having faith is not easy. saying a prayer is. In this life we are here to learn our purpose, magnify it and help others to search and fulfill their own purposes in this life. This life is not easy. Nor was it meant to be. The one perfect person who lived in this world, was beaten, spit upon and murdered. But through all the pain and sufferings and namecalling, he still had atleast two things, Faith, and Prayer. As a missionary, we go through many similar situations that Christ went through, the name calling, the being spit upon, and the countless hours and tears spent on our knees for those we only met yesterday. But if Christ can go through his life, suffering and being made as if a joke, I can continue to knock on doors and ask people to come unto the only perfect person this world has ever seen. And they like us, can be perfected in him, and return to their Heavenly Father after this long and hard and difficult road we have traveled.

 

I am so very grateful for the many blessings in my life, like my family, the gospel and my friends. I have everything I need to return with my family to live with that one being that gave us life, Because he lived, died and rose from the dead, I am assured that I will to, with my family and all those that I truly love and will come to love. He lives, I testify that he lives, I see his works and miracles here in Peru and I have seen them in my life back home. I am so grateful to be a part of this work to help other people and in the process grow to become what God needs me to be here on the Earth.

 

I love you all and hope you have a wonderful week!

Elder Bell

 

 

 

 

 

WHAAT A WEEK!!!! (3/30/15)

 

 

Well, first off I just want to say, this has been one CRAZY weeek!! First off, our transfers were delayed one day, I was a little upset to say the least but I made it through that rough transfer!

 

Second, this is a bit longer, about 3 weeks ago I had a dream, Elder Fawson, then an assitant to the President, came to me and said that I was going to be training this transfer. I told him No way, I am not ready for such a responisbility, I dont know if i can do it! He insisted again, Elder Bell you are going to train this transfer. When last Monday came and went and I didnt recieve a call from the mission President I thought well, maybe some other tranfer right? We came to find out Tuesday that there was a nasty landslide over the highway from Huancayo to Lima. So the missionaries that were coming in didn't have a pass to get through. They didnt end up getting here until Thursday most of them. Anyway, Wednesday afternoon, I recieved a phone call from President Henderson asking me I would train this transfer. I almost crapped my pants not going to lie. For the first time in my mission, I actually remembered a dream that I had had. And here it was coming true right in front of my eyes. So yes... I am now a DADDY!! I have a son, Elder Jimenez, he is from Chile. Such a crazy week right?

 

So I am training this transfer.... Such a responsibility. I didnt recieve the training I had hoped for, so I really hope that I am able to help Elder Jimenez start this thing off right and be a successful missionary.

 

We have had a bunch of success this past week too. We have 6 investigators with dates for baptism this coming 25th of April and are hoping that all of them continue with their committments and learn more and start to love the gospel like I do. I know that everything is possible. I also know that we can recieve little tid bits of revelation apparently too!! Such a cool experience.

 

I have been able to think alot about the family this past week. We have a couple that have 2 kids that are preparing their marriage for the 25th and then after we will do their baptisms the same day! We have really been able to focus and think about them and how we can help their ENTIRE family with the gospel. It really is simple. When we apply the teachings of Christ in our lifes and in our families we will have more happiness and more fun times with each individual of our families.

 

This coming weekend we get to listen to the prophet and apostols speak to us and I hope you all are as excited as I am to listen!! i know we will be recieving some needed guidance in our lives and if we listen and apply we will be able to feel the happiness that God wants us to have here in this life.

 

I love you all, I sent some photos of the zoo, and today of our activity as a district. We went to a Catholic Cathedral that was really old, really all they did was talk about the first "Father" that was there, and how the missionaries were killed by the Incas, that isn't really the history I learned in school, it was really the other way around, but it was a cool place to go and visit none the less.

 

Love you all and I will write again next week!

 

Elder Bell

What a Roller Coaster...........

Monday March 23, 2015

 

 

Well this week has been up and down. It started out hot. Just rolling with a ton of lessons and people to talk to. We even found the one and only GRINGO that lives here in San Jeronimo. He is from Georgia. Served as an Army Ranger for a good chunk of his life. Did 5 tours in Iraq, Afganistan and Kosivo. He has lived here for 5 years and is just working as a security guy for the mines down here. Seems to be a really cool guy. It is really weird to talk about the Gospel in English down here. I had to ask the Office if we had Books of Mormon in English and the Pamphlets to give him in English. I dont even know if we have those!! Haha. Anyway, he was raised Southern Baptist, go figure being from Georgia, and his Dad was a Marine, so he has had Military in his life for quite some time. He said he loves it down here it is just really calm and no drama. Unlike the states haha. We are going to start teaching him this Tuesday. We will take it slow with him, he said that he "Lost his faith long ago". I am sure he has seen some really wicked and awful things being an Army Ranger. But I know that once someone has faith, they can never completely lose it. We can lose faith in Mankind, because we are all carnal and human and make some really bad mistakes, but God in not the Mastermind behind war and murder and killiings. We have opposition in all things. But it is through God and Jesus Christ, that we can rest from our heavy burdens and miseries we have seen in our days and we can look forward to the day we ALL will be welcomed into the presence of our great Eternal God and our Older Brother who suffered for us. I am so grateful for that knowledge that I have learned and obtained here in the mission.

 

 

Thank you all for the support and love!!

Elder Bell

 

 

 

Monday March 16, 2015

 

 

Well,

 

This week is the last full week of this transfer. I am extremely grateful this transfer has gone by fast. It has been nothing other than a really really rough transfer. I have found that little quote book to help me get through though. I have found good scriptures and I have just studied way way hard as my companion has slept. This past week we found many new investigators but one that we are really excited about. She is the sister of a member here in Concepcion and she is very very catholic. BUT she has committed to a baptismal date of April 25th. Hope that we are able to share with her the Gospel Truths and she can come to know that the book of Mormon is true as well. I know that you all think time goes by slow but it seems to be zooming by down here I want it to slow down. The days feel like minutes. It is unreal. But i am just going to keep working hard to become the person God wants me to become. If we can become the people God has intended us to become, We will be able to live a more abundant life and be able to influence many many people along the way. That is what I am trying to do here and I hape you all have the opportunites back home to change someones life. Not only to HAVE the opportunity, but SEARCH and PRAY for the opportunites. Thank you all for the amazing support you give me. Some times my weeks depend on it :) Especially this trasnfer!!

 

 

Love you all!

Elder Bell

 

 

 

Monday March 9, 2015

 

 

So this week was really good! We found a whole bunch of new investigators and people who really have a desire to learn. The only problem is, my comp is lazy and doesnt study for our lessons, so I try to teach the majority of it, and everytime he jumps in he takes us to a different part of the lesson and they become confused. Frustrating I tell you Frustrating! But I am definitely learning to be more patient. I have almost bit a hole in my lower lip... just kidding.. Anyway, the work is difficult here, everyone loves their Idols and Images and dont think it is against one of the 10 commandments to worship their idols.. Anyway. I am working hard to be patient with them too. Because I know that the Holy Ghost can work through me if I demonstrate and am actually here to love the people to death. Although hard at times, I do manage to shed a few tears here and there in our lessons. I know that God has called me here for a reason. And I am still learning why here and why now. But I am grateful for the opportunity to serve. I was searching through our room the other day and I came across this book called, "The missionary's little quote book". It has some really good quotes. Many about patience too!! LOL... One that I want to share with all of you that has really stuck out to me is this one, that you can find in the Doctrine and Covenants, it says, "Wherefore, be not weary in well-doing, for ye are laying the foundation of a great work. And out of small things proceedeth that which is great." It has helped me realize that this in the mission, yes it is designed to go out and share the gospel with all those we come into contact with, but also, we are building the foundation of ourselves. Anything that is worthwhile takes time, one quote from Elder Holland says this, "The baking of lifes best cakes takes time, so dont burn your lips with impatience." Something I definitely needed to learn right here and right now, is patience. I am thankful for the lessons I have learned thus far and will continue to learn through out my mission and throughout my life. It makes life such a wonderful journey when we can see the hand of God in all the things that we do.

 

I love you all and hope You will continue to build your foundations of your great work, which is yourselfs.

 

Elder Bellddddddddd

This week, in Concepcion

Well,

This week has been pretty boring not going to lie. I have been dragging my comp around with me a lot this week. But that is ok, He needs to remember that he is still a missionary for 3 more months. We have found some really cool families that we will begin teaching this coming week.

 

We are still living in Concepcion. We will be moving the middle of March now. We will live above our Relief Society President. They are a really great family. She is such a rockstar. She goes out with us like every day to find new people to teach she has really helped us get planted in San Jeronimo.

 

We had an intersting experience with a Jehovah Witness last night. We explained very thouroughly that Jehovah, IS Jesus Christ only in the Earth... She was beyond confused for over an hour. Finally, she understood it, but pride got in the way and she said, Well, Jehovah is still my God no matter what you say and the scriptures say.... I just chuckled a little and said ok, and wished her luck. I am just so glad to know that I KNOW who Christ is, and that he is real and can help us with whatever we need help with.

 

A talk I downloaded last week by Elder Holland called, "However Long and Hard the Road" Has really helped me with the struggles I have faced this transfer thus far. He basically says that, No great acheivement has ever been accomplished wi

thout hard work and determination. I have directly applyed that to me right now and It has helped a lot. If you all have a chance listen to it and see how it can help you in your lives.

The picutres I sent home this week, are of our pension, who was a professional chef before she retired, and two stickers, which apparently describe my face when the sister missionaries see me walking behind my companion hahaha.... I am seriously trying the best I can, but it is very difficult at times.

 

 

I love you all and hope you are doing well. Keep on keepin on and I will talk to you next week!!

Elder Bell OUT!

 

 

I have added some of Taylor's email from last week:

 

"Well I wish I could say that I had as wonderful of a week as you guys did. My companion is very very lazy. Usually he sleeps in until about 8 oclock and doesnt even study in the mornings. Then when we go out and teach he does all the talking for 3 minutes and teaches the entire lesson. I just want to kill him. I sent an intersting email to presdient today. So we will see what happens. It is really frustrating when you want to help people and then your companion just comes in like godzilla and destroys everything. It happens in almost every lesson. I dont know if I can have the patience I need to have with him for 6 weeks.

The room we wanted to rent, was going to be a problem because it was furnished. So we asked the guy if he had a place to put the furniture. He said no. So I went and asked President at our mulit zone conference this past week and he said we could use his stuff for the time being. When I went back to talk to the land lord. He was a COMPLETE JERK and told us he didnt want to rent to us anymore. Which would have been fine if we had other options in the city. We dont so for now. We are staying in Concepcion. We have had EVERY active member that lives in San Jeronimo searching for a room with no luck. It has been stressful and frustrating this past week. We will just say I spent a lot of time on my knees asking for forgiveness for the anger and frustration that I have had this past week. I am really hoping that things pick up this week. I am not even going to look for a room this week. All we are going to do is WORK WORK WORK!! And hopefully through our dedication this week something will pop up. If not, then frankly I just dont care :)

 

 

I have a few pictures to send home of our multi zone that we had this last week. Glad to be in a new area with new missionaries. I always love meeting now missionaries and getting to know them. I hope everyone is doing well back home and I am always praying for each and every one of you!

Love

Elder Bell"

Week in Limbo................

Hi All, nothing new this week, they are in Limbo, the man that Taylor and his companion were supposed to be renting their apartment from in San Jeronimo has decided he doesn't want to rent to them anymore so as of Monday they are not moving on March 1.and are staying in Concepcion until they find a new place. They have checked with all active members in the area and no luck. He is beyond frustrated and going to wait until next week to find a place. He is needing prayers from all of you to help them through this hard time and he is sending prayers and love to all of you.

I do have some photos but they will not upload still. Pray for me not to throw this computer out the window :)

Love and prayers to everyone, until next week :)

I am at the point of Concepcion (2/21/15)

Well, here I am in lovely.... HUANCAYO writing you all this week. That is right, I was transferred this past week to Concepcion!! It is a lovely town just about 35 minutes outside of beautiful Huancayo. 

Concepcion is in the Red Area

 

 

I am now in the SUN it is awesome!! It isn't way hot, especially because it is starting to rain like everyday now, but I am ok, because the sun comes out and it feels great!! My companion is Elder Chavez (Yes, another latino)... So far, I have had a new companion every transfer. A little weird but I like meeting and working with new people so it is all good.

 

 

Right now we are in Concepcion, but beginning March 1st, We will be moving to San Jeronimo, which is like 15 minutes closer to Huancayo. I am sad to be leaving our pension. She is a professional chef, and cooks like back home, but this area has been lacking missionaries for a very long time and we need to go to work, so hopefully on P-days we can go visit her and eat her heavenly food!

 

 

My companion is from Paraguay. I guess in Paraguay they speak a different language, so he too had to learn spanish, he has 20 months in the mission and I am the senior companion, a little weird but it does happen I guess. It is a bit difficult to communicate with him because he doesn't speak very clear but I am working on understanding and being patient with him. This morning he spilt my tea all over my pants...... we willl just say, that I am going to learn patience one way or another with him... It's gonna be interesting this transfer.

We have absolutely no one we are teaching right now, because we are moving into a new area, so hopefully by next week we will have some people to talk about :) We are gonna 'Geterdone"that is for sure!!

 

 

Hope you all have a wonderful week!!

Elder Bell

The adventures of Tin Tin, I mean Tay Tay‏....

Well this week was really intestesting. We got to travel a little bit out of Carhuamayo, thank goodness. We went to Pocaurtambo, and from there to Jachahuanca! Ya good luck pronouncing that!! :) We went to get the paperwork for an investigator so she and her spouse can get married!! It was a 3 hour journey with lots of obstacles. First, we had to find a ride from Pocaurtambo to Jachahuanca... Which ended up costing us a whole bunch of soles. But we got there, and then, the person we needed to talk to was working in his field. We got there about noon, and we were told that he would return around 5 pm... There was no way we could wait that long. So what were we to do? PRAY. I prayed really really hard that he would come back for some reason or another. We waited about an hour, and we saw a motorcycle coming down the road. It just so happened to be HIM!! He came home for lunch! We were able to talk with him about what we needed. But he was skeptical of why a Gringo was in Jachahuanca wanting someones personal information. So, obstacle number two. We had to find cell service and call the investigator. This proved to be a pretty big challenge we were all the way up a canyon in a city of about 20 people. We were able to find service but not our investigator!! We ended up calling around asking people to go to the store where she worked, to talk with her. FINALLY, we were able to reach her, and get her permission to get the paperwork. Now the journey home was another 3 wonderful hours on the dirt roads of Peru :)

 

One other thing of this week that happened. Was that in the city of Carhuamayo, 2 little boys disappeared from their home in the middle of the day, last saturday. Ages 13 and 11. The entire city was looking for them for almost an entire week! Every night we prayed that they would find them safely. Everyone thought they were dead. But Friday afternoon they were found in Cerro De Pasco, very very far way from their home in Carhuamayo. I just know that God definietly answers prayers with these few examples from this past week.

 

I hope you all remember to say your prayers, with faith. Love you all and will talk with you again next week!!

 

Elder Bell

 

*** Photos that Taylor has sent over the past few weeks will not upload into the blog, hopefully Taylor can resend them so I can share with you all.........thanks  :)