Visit from the Mission President - Elder Jake Avery

Written by Elder Jacob Avery, serving in the Peru Lima West Mission of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, speaking Spanish.

Visit from President Archibald

We were blessed (and surprised!) this week with a training by our Mission President. President Archibald is from Alabama, taught Institute, was a bishop, has 10 kids, went to Argentina on his mission, is handwriting a copy of the Book of Mormon, and pretty much just has POWER. He's a very great man, and one of the best mission presidents. He also has the ability to scare the bajeebees out of me and make me feel like a complete idiot without saying anything ;)

Anyway, he came to teach our zone a few things that he had learned in a training with Elder Oaks, and to teach us about prayer. Elder Oaks basically told him that we need to do a lot more than we're currently doing, so I'm not going to elaborate on that. When he taught us about prayer, President used Joseph Smith History, paragraphs 8-18. He summed up the most important things about prayer by using the format of what he considers the three most important prayers; the prayer offered by Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane, the prayer by Adam and Eve after leaving Eden, and the prayer offered by Joseph Smith in the Sacred Grove. All three of these prayers had a similar and important format:

Elders Avery and Martinez, Yungay, Peru

• They were all vocal prayers (note in Joseph Smith's historical account, it says that Satan bound Joseph's tongue when began to pray)

• They were offered while kneeling down

• They were done with great faith

• They required a considerable amount of thought and preparation beforehand

• They were done in a pre-determined or otherwise ''special'' place (note that Judas Iscariot already knew where Jesus would be when he brought the mob. Probably because Gethsename was a special place for Jesus and the Twelve Apostles).

Well, President taught us a lot more, but I feel like it's enough to say that he's a really smart guy.

When I had my interview, he told me a few key things to help my area, but I think he summed it up best in one sentence, ''If you guys are working this hard and not seeing baptisms, then something you're doing is stupid.'' Let it be known that I made a commitment with by companion to end my stupidity. President made an excellent point. We're putting a lot of energy into people who don't progress that we could be putting into new people who are ready to be baptized.

I don't want to bore anyone, so I'll leave you with a great Peruvian moment. The most popular radio show in Ancosh plays Star Wars music for their breaks. It's hilarious!

Love you all! Have a great week. Stay true to the faith :)

Elder Avery

8 Sol Hamburger (July 7, 2014)

Back to the Dust Bowl  (July 21, 2014)

Circles - Elder Brian Burgess

Written by Elder Brian Burgess, serving in the Mexico Puebla North Mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, speaking Spanish.

Hey Y'all,

It's Monday again...wow the week just flew by. So Tuesday we had to go to the mission offices and we were there about the whole day, because my companion had to sign some visa paperwork. And then the secretaries just left the offices to go eat without telling us. So we get back to the offices... and no one is there. So we had to wait about 3 hours for them because we had my companion's visa and a sister missionary's visa as well, and we had materiales and letters in the office as well. So long story short, we lost the whole day and got back at about 8 p.m. We got one lesson in, and then had to go back home.

Wednesday we had the zone conference and the zone leaders came to my area. Actually, Elder Hunsaker my zone leader came on divisions with me. He lives in Providence so we were just two Cache Valley white boys on divisions together. It was pretty sweet. I know how the Elders in the USA feel now. That was way to fun. He is a cool Elder, and he taught me a lot.

Thursday we finished up divisions with the zone leaders and planned for the week.

Saturday we went back to the center of Puebla again, to the mission offices, because I had to sign my visa paperwork.... lost that day as well. Then in the night we had our ward mission activity. We got to play soccer with our investigators and members and it started raining, but it was still fun!

That was my crazy mission life week.... I feel like we could barely work.

I love you all. This church is soooo super, duper true.

ELDER BURGESS

Flying in Mexico (June 30, 2014)

Transfers and More Hamburger  (July 21, 2014)

Leaving Randers - Elder Kolby Madsen

Written by Elder Kolby Madsen, serving in the Denmark Copenhagen Mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, speaking Danish.

MOR!!!!!

It's going to be short this week. We have some stuff to do, and that is what happens when we have transfers on Mondays. It’s all good.

Anyway, long story short, this week we were completely packed with lessons in Randers. We had two very good lessons with T** and V** and B**. T** and B** were in church, and they both are waiting on a baptismal date. I am hoping it will happen in the next couple of weeks so that I can go to both of them. That is the great news!

Man, I LOVE Denmark!!

Other news: P** went to church for the first time in 5 years this week. It was great. He liked it, and the members liked him. We had four investigators in church and a less active member who has never come to the branch before. It was a very big blessing for my last week in Randers. The best part was that the branch president got a cancellation on Friday and called me to ask if I would speak in church since I was leaving. I could not say no :) So, yeah, the pressure was on. I felt like it went okay. The Spirit defiantly did the teaching because I probably made no sense.

It was a great week. I am very happy with the work and the progress in Randers. The Lord has really been keeping the branch (*small congregation) in mind. I am not going to lie, the whole idea of being in a ward (*large congregation) is freaking me out. To have more than 35 people in church is going to be new, or at least not what I am used to anymore. I have spent the great portion of my mission in branches of 6 to 50 members, so that will be a new experience. Anyway great week.

Keep being busy. It’s a lot better than not. Business keeps the heart pumping. Anyway, love you. We’ll talk next week.

Ældste Madsen

 Lots of Work in Randers (July 7, 2014)

Happy Birthday, Elder Madsen!  (July 21, 2014)

Be Ye Therefore Converted - Sister Hannah Avery

Written by Sister Hannah Avery, serving in the Chile Vina del Mar Mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, speaking Spanish.

Hello friends and family!! :)

We had a CRAZY week this week! We prepared the baptism for A*** M*** this week, and it was some tough work! The baptism was awesome, but man was Satan working on us.... pretty much everything went wrong at the last second. We had to do pretty much everything alone, but we ended this week with a successful baptism and a happy convert :) To me, all of the tears and frustration and hard work these past three months were totally worth seeing him enter the waters of baptism! We are now preparing two more baptisms for the end of the month, on the 26th! Keep them in your prayers. We know that they can do it! :)

We also had another earthquake this week! AHHH! You all know that I hate those, LOL! It was like a 5.6 or something, so not huge for Chile, but, here is the story. (I hope you all can laugh about these things while I wipe away tears of fear, haha!). So, Hermana Giron and I were talking on my bed about what things we have learned in our time together as companions, what things we hope to do before finishing the mission, what we want to do after, etc. You know, really sweet talk and all.... and then, as I am telling her about my goals for the mission... BAMMMM! The whole apartment starts shaking like crazy for about 45 seconds, and we hear this horrible roaring sound from the earth moving (why?!?!? hahahaha!) and a ton of people started running out of the apartments and screaming, which doesn't help me nerves much. Well, my companion is scared of earthquakes too and froze, so I had to be superwoman and unplug everything like Lightning McQueen, and open all the doors! I don't know where I am living right now, but clearly, the earth didn't like my goals :P Yes, we are happy and safe, and I have kept my goals to myself these last few days, hahaha!

We are going to be having transfers this week. I believe that Hermana Giron is leaving me, since she goes home to Guatemala in about 3 and a half weeks! She won't be able to finish the mission as a leader, so we think that she is being transferred this Wednesday, and I will be getting a new companion. Sad day! One of the hardest things about the mission is all the changes. But, changes are a good thing :) They help us to grow in more ways than one!

Well guys, I hope that you all have a great week! I will talk to you all next week, but until then, "don't worry, be happy" :) I love you! Talk to you all soon! :)

xoxooxo Hermana Avery

My Yoke is Easy (July 7, 2014)

Busy, Busy, Busy  (July 21, 2014)

Lots of Work in Randers - Elder Kolby Madsen

Written by Elder Kolby Madsen, serving in the Denmark Copenhagen Mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, speaking Danish.

Mor,

This week was great. We have been able to reconnect with a couple of old friends who met with the missionaries before. That was great! One of them is a recovering crack addict, and his wife walked out on him 4 years ago, leaving him with their two little girls. It was a sad story. He got remarried and tried to follow the path of life, but then it took a turn and he has fought very well through it. He is very focused in his daughters. We talked about the love that God has for His children, and it went well. He invited us back. I don’t know how positive he was towards the message, but he loves the chats and the feeling. So that’s great.

We met with a lady who I'd met with Ældste Brindley, but she'd dropped us. Well, the other day we were walking down the street and she invited us back to her home. We met with her, and this time we took a new angle tried to talk about why she'd cancelled her dåbs dato and she just said she became too busy with work. So then we focused on her feelings when she was reading and going to church.  She said she loves the feeling, it’s just hard to read and all that. We'd brought a member of the ward along with us, and we all invited her to come to church. The member we brought is so funny because he is a convert himself.  He was one of those guys who dropped out in high school and joined a biker club. He has some great stories, and he is from the most west part of Denmark....like by Herning. He also had a stoke, but he is one of the hardest Danes to understand! It's always fun to talk to him.

Well, that appointment went great. The next day we found a couple of people to meet with this week. T** and V** had to cancel our appointment, but we will met with them on Wednesday. We met with B** again and had a great lesson. We watched The First Vision and invited her to baptism. She said yes and she needs to pray about it. The members of the ward have taken her in so well. I am excited for her.

Yesterday we were waiting outside the church for those who we'd invited to show up. While waiting, we remembered that B** said that she could not come because she goes to this club once every three months, and it was the only time that she can go this year. We were just talking to the members outside the church and then, all of a sudden, here comes B**. She came to church, all three hours, and then she was excited for us to meet with her on Thursday.

Long story short, the Lord has really blessed Randers this week. We also found out that in August Randers will open another companionship in the area. They will be splitting the area. After President told me that in my interview, it all just made sense as to why the Lord has been so merciful and blessed the area with so many new people to teach. I am not going to lie, I am really nervous. We get transfer calls today, and I feel like I will be leaving.  I don’t want to because I feel like everything is about to explode. But I will go where I am called to serve, in any case. This is not my mission!!

I am glad that all is well. I hope and pray that you all will continue to have a great week. I will let you know if I get transferred.  Love you.

Med Kærlig Hilsen

Ældste Madsen

Two hours later: Transfer

I am going to be serving in....Aalborg, the city of where Hans Peter Madsen was last before traveling to the good ol' U.S. of A. I am super excited, but I don’t want to leave Randers!!

 Prayers Drive the Work (June 30, 2014)

Leaving Randers  (July 14, 2014)

My Yoke is Easy - Sister Hannah Avery

Written by Sister Hannah Avery, serving in the Chile Vina del Mar Mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, speaking Spanish.

Hey guys! :)

Wow, has it really been another week already?! Is anyone else feeling like the time is just flying by? I feel like I just wrote you all yesterday! :)

I hope that you all had a great 4th of July! :) Hermana Giron and I celebrated with ice cream and "churipan" which is chorizo with bread. Super good. It doesn't exist in the USA, but it made up for the BBQ that we didn't get to have this year, haha!! What did you all do this weekend? It was sure weird to feel like the only person on the planet celebrating the 4th of July in Chile, but you know, gotta celebrate your country's freedom, even when you are millions of miles away!

So, this week we had to REALLY fight against Satan...ugh! When we are preparing for baptisms, the temptations for our investigators are just ridiculous....but, we finished the week with a SUCCESSFUL baptism interview for A** M**, who will be baptized this Saturday, July 12th! :) His children will be baptized by him when he receives the priesthood in two weeks :) It's the sweetest thing ever to think that a man who once was a big time smoker and drinker, with hardly any unity in his family, is now going to make covenants with our Father in Heaven and baptize his children with the power and authority of God..... wow. If that's not miracle, I don't know what it is! It's truly incredible to be an instrument in changing the lives of others for the better!

This morning, my companion was feeling a little bit sick, so she slept in and I stayed up and had extra study time!! woohoo! (not for her being sick, but to study more haha!). I studied a lot about the Atonement, repentance, and forgiveness. It was awesome! I found some really great scriptures to use in lessons, but most of all, this morning, I was able to feel the love of my Savior for me, and for others. His sacrifice is sufficient for everyone, no matter what we have done in the past. It is only through His grace and sacrifice that we can be clean and return to live with our Father in Heaven. I know that I am not perfect, and that I never will be. But what I do know, is that there is one person who is perfect, and who is walking by my side everyday helping me become the person I need to be.

A scripture that has become one of my favorites in the mission is in 1 Nephi 21:14-16. It says, "But, behold, Zion hath said: The Lord hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me—but he will show that he hath not. For can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee, O house of Israel. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me."

Friends and family, many times in our lives, we feel alone, or that we maybe aren't good enough to receive the help and love of the Lord. As a representative of Jesus Christ, I testify to you all that the love of Christ is big enough for everyone and anyone. As it says in this scripture, the Lord can't forget us, because everyday he can look down and see the marks in His own hands and feet, and He will always remember what He did for each and every one of us. The "walls", trials and affictions in our lives may seem great, but remember that He went through it all first. He knows how to help you and lift you over the wall. He is on the other side, ready to help. I am a personal witness of an imperfect girl who made her way back to Christ through the Atonement. I have done it myself, and have seen others do it hundreds of times in my life and my mission. The Lord has not forgetten you!! His atoning love changes our concept of perfection. We can put our trust in Him, diligently keep His commandments, and continue in the faith. Fully accepting our Savior’s Atonement can increase our faith and give us courage to let go of expectations that we are somehow required to be or to make things perfect. Remember what He has said in the scriptures, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light”

Well guys, I hope that you all have a great week! I love you all sooooo much! I will have pics from the baptism this Saturday for you all next week :) I love you and will talk to you next week!

xoxoxoox Hermana Avery

Never Walk Alone (June 30, 2014)

Be Ye Therefore Converted  (July 14, 2014)

8 Sol Hamburger - Elder Jake Avery

Written by Elder Jacob Avery, serving in the Peru Lima West Mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, speaking Spanish.

My District in Yungay, Peru

So, this week was my huge one year week, and I'm so thankful that things are looking up in Yungay. We visited lots of people and several were able to go to church. We even had two people accept baptismal dates. My days of affliction are almost over :)

Basically the week's success came from constant obedience and not getting frustrated. If you're patient and just keep at it, something good is bound to happen. We received a random phone call from someone who had a cousin who received a Book of Mormon, so they got our number out of it and wanted their own copy. We received 5 referrals from them, and contacted them all. The members came out and visited with us, T** finally came to church, and I bought a hamburger for 8 soles!

A sol is the money that they have here in Peru. It literally means ''sun'' because the Incas worshipped the sun. (Well, they're actually called nuevos soles because the original sol failed like 20 years ago so they changed their money.) Anyway, a sol is worth about 35 cents, but basically has the same value as a dollar in the U.S. because you can by a bag of bread, pay a bus fare, buy a Coke, buy several avocados, or use the computer for an hour....all for 1 sol. So, on the 4th of July, I remembered that I had pulled out money from home and still had about 20 soles in my pocket. The power in the town went out, which meant we wouldn't have been able to use the microwave when we got home, so we went by a member's hamburger store. Thank goodness she uses a gas stove, so she was still in business!

 I saw on the menu that she had a hamburger with basically everything imaginable on it: cheese, fried egg, bacon, ham, brat, french fries, tomato, lettuce and pineapple. It cost 8 soles, which is pretty much more than I pay for bread for an entire week. Eight soles is basically 8 dollars, so it'd be ridiculous for me to buy something like that. Then the inner American spoke to me and reminded me that it was the 4th of July. I remembered BBQ's, McDonald's, and the voice of Larry the Cable Guy. Then I remembered B-Jep and how he says, 'merica. So I bought that colossal burger and ate it in about 2 minutes! My companion just didn't understand that the Americanness of an American may be measured by the kind of hamburger of which he partakes on the 4th of July. My companion went for the 2 sol hamburger :)

Anyways, I didn't just eat hamburger this week. I also learned a lot about prayer and about being specific in prayer. I was kind of frustrated at the beginning of the week because I was always so dead tired at night and didn't have enough time to do everything I wanted to. I then heard the talk that Henry B. Eyring gave in the priesthood session of General Conference. He talked about prayer and how a true priesthood holder should pray. He went into detail about how prayer will surprise us and change us when we do it correctly. I can attest to that! I began to be more thoughtful and conscientious, and my attitude has changed dramatically. Changing my attitude about my time constraints was a favor that God could have always done for me, but I had to ask him. Praying allowed Him to help me change my attitude.

Well, everyone, don't forget to make your prayers mean something. Don't forget to floss (I witnessed a 9 year old girl who had to get a big old molar yanked out because it was infected), and don't forget to be good people :) Have a great week! I love you!

Elder Jake Avery

Fireside and Smores (June 30, 2014)

Visit from the Mission President  (July 14, 2014)

Miracle in the Heart of Independence Day Celebrations - Elder Dallin Remund

Written by Elder Dallin Remund, serving in the Virginia Chesapeake Mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, speaking Spanish.

Independence Day in Colonial Williamsburg

Fifes and drums

Good morning!

Today I feel especially jovial! I feel like there's a lot to rejoice about. We had a really fun and really busy week. A lot happened, and I know I can't sum it all up in one email.

We spent the Fourth of July at our stake president's house during the day for pizza and sports, and we ended the night up in Colonial Williamsburg, which was amazing to get to celebrate America's day of Independence right in the heart of history. The fireworks were gigantic and the finale was insane! After the show, there was an old fife band that started up and there were torches and everything. It was definitely the greatest Fourth of July I've ever had!

Yesterday at church, our investigator's wife was received into the branch. She hadn't been to church in over 15 years! The ward is loving her and N** and they are helping them out as she's about to have a baby next week.

Speaking of N** and C**, we went over to their house for dinner and had some onion soup that they make in Belize. It was way spicy! We really liked it though. After dinner, we talked a little bit about the baptismal covenant in Mosiah 18 and I showed them the painting of Alma baptizing the people in the waters of Mormon. They then related to us that the day before they started to meet with us, they found that same painting in a run down Asian store and decided to buy it because they liked it. C** said she didn't realize it at the time, but looking back she saw it as a way of God reminding her of her baptism over 15 years ago, and also for N**'s preparation for baptism.
 They showed us the painting and it was almost the exact same thing, except it had been repainted to show John the Baptist and Christ's baptism. The rest of the painting was the exact same thing. I'll attach a picture. It was a very faith strengthening moment for me that God works in very specific and miraculous ways. They had no idea that that painting would have so much to do with their future experiences with them meeting with us and going to church together, but looking back the Lord's hand was so amazingly manifest in a small thrift store painting.

Miraculous thrift store painting

Con todo mi gratitud y amor,

Elder Remund



De la Costa de Virginia (June 23, 2014)

The Good News Is...I'm Staying in "The News"  (July 21, 2014)