Week 86 - Daniela & Oclocho Family, & Peruvian Independence Day

Buenos Dias!!

This has been a great week here in Primavera, but it certainly has been a very long and stressful week as well. This week here in the mission we had three multi zone conferences. As the mission secretaries we are responsible for setting up a lot of the logistics for these conferences so it meant very little sleep this week and lot of moving around to get everything coordinated. In the end it turned out to be a very spiritual experience for all. Today here in Peru is the Peruvian Independence day. This week there was a parade, but other than a parade there is not much going on here in Trujillo to celebrate Independence day. We celebrated today by doing one of the most american things possible, playing baseball. We found a bat, a squishy softball, and we played on a soccer field. It is not the same, but everyone still had a great time. The weather here in Trujillo is still nice and cool. Not too hot and not too cold, even though based off of what the locals say one might think that everything is frozen over. I guess people in Trujillo are just used to the eternal springtime weather that the city is known for. 

This week we had two really great experiences both of which had something to do with the Murga family who we have been teaching for some time now.  The first of which was when we were teaching Daniela who is Jessica Murga's daughter. We have not had the chance to teach much to Daniela because of her work and her baby girl, but last week we had an appointment with Daniela. She had come to the church a couple of times with us previously and was praying to see if what we teach is true but had yet to receive any answer. She explained her situation to her mother and Jessica, her mother, said "How can you expect God to respond to your prayer if you are not doing your part to receive an answer?" Daniela quickly realized that even though she had the desires to know if the church is true our Heavenly Father was waiting for her to put in her part to receive the answer. How can we put in our part then? We put in our part by reading the scriptures, praying with sincerity and true intent, and attending church. Not only that but when one begins to live what they are learning through these means in that moment one can really receive an answer to one's prayers. It is awesome. 

Another great experience this week that Elder Valencia and I had was when we were planning on visiting the Murga family with a member named Rosana. Rosana is the president of the women's organization here in the church called the Relief society, and with Rosana we had planned a super fun visit for the Murga family. We had planned everything out perfectly just to arrive to the Murga's house to find that Jessica had sent us a message that, because of a slight emergency, they were out of the house. Our beautifully planned appointment fell through and my companion and I were just kind of standing there with sister Rosana thinking about what we should do. In just about the same moment as the idea came to my mind, the words came out of Rosana's mouth "The Oclocho family". This is a family who we have been teaching. They are long time members of the church but have been inactive for some time because they felt that in a time of need no one from the church reached out to help them. We have been visiting them, and even though they have desires to come back to church, they are too embarrassed to make the decision. It also just so happened to be one of the family member's birthdays as well so it was a great excuse to go. We arrived, shared a short lesson with the family and then Sister Rosana invited them to church. It was the somewhat reluctant answer as always that is something like "maybe" or "we will see what happens". I think Rosana had heard that answer enough times in her life because she just kind of lit up and began with fire and the spirit to testify to the family about the importance of ministering to others. Brother Oclocho always talked about the need for people to visit those in need and now we will be going out to visit less active church members and people in need tonight with him. It was awesome and now he is going to work to visit those people in need as he had wished people had visited him. It is awesome when we people get excited to do missionary work like this. 

Well this has been an awesome and slightly tiring week but that is the mission.

Love,

Elder Vassau 

Week 85 - Roberto Cabrera's Baptism!!! The Murga Family makes a Big Eternal Family Decision!

Buenos Dias!!!

This has been an amazing week here in Primavera. Today was Roberto Cabrera's baptismal service and it was an amazing experience. Here in the ward there is a group that call themselves the "tios" who have incorporated Roberto splendidly. We met Roberto Carlos through his childhood friend Carlos Ramos (look for the Santa Claus look alike in the photos). They were best friend as kids and through college, but to finish his studies Roberto moved away to Colombia and later on Venezuela. Recently they have reconnected since Roberto has moved back here to Peru due to the situation in Venezuela. In Roberto's first week back here in Peru Carlos invited him to attend church on Sunday, and since that day 3 months ago Roberto has not missed a single Sunday. In our last visit with him he explained to us that over the past 6 years in his life God has been preparing him to receive the restored Gospel. It began with the passing away of his older brother due to alcoholism 6 years ago that made Roberto begin to rethink everything he was doing. Little by little he has been trying to be a better person since that time and he has finally begun to know what Christ wants for him. His baptismal service was amazing because we got to see the simple service and contribution of all of his friends here in the ward. Although there were more than a few hiccups (They had to repeat the baptismal prayer well over 5 times) it was so amazing to see the involvement of Roberto's friends in his conversion process. His best friend Carlos Ramos baptized him and another friend Carlos Quispe directed the service. Neither of them had never done such a thing before, but it was just so sweet to see their service. We are so excited and happy for Roberto and his decision to enter through the gateway of baptism. 

This week we also had an awesome experience with the Murga family. They did not end up getting baptized today, but they have all received firm answers to their prayers and know that they want to be baptized. Jessica and her family have always talked about their new found peace and unexplained happiness since learning the Gospel of Jesus Christ but finally they have accepted that as an answer signaling to them that what we teach is true. Just a little addition is that this week they all had dreams as well about being baptized or “cleaned” in some way (I mean we are in Peru so dreams like this are kind of now just expected haha). They are awesome and they are now just waiting to see what weekend Jessica's father can come to town to hold the baptismal service. It is awesome. 

Well this has been an awesome week here in Primavera with Elder Valencia and Elder Torres. It looks like Elder Torres may be transferred to a new area on Monday which will be a sad goodbye after 4 months together. 

Love,

Elder Vassau 

Week 84 - Teaching a Family That Families are Eternal - The Murga's

Buenos Dias!!!

This has been an awesome week here in Primavera (as always). This last Sunday Yesika, Juancito, and Daniel all came to church. The Murga family is awesome. Juan loved it so much that he wanted to go up to the pulpit last week to bear his testimony. In the end he was not sure if he had permission to go to the pulpit (which he had and anyone can do), so he will have to wait until next month. After the first meeting he came up to me and told me that he and the whole family are going to come the next Sunday, which is tomorrow. It was awesome. They even came all dressed up in their little suits. Hahaha. It was so great to see this family so happy getting to know the Gospel of Jesus Christ and testing what it is like to attend His church on the Sabbath day. This past Monday we had a family home evening with the Murgas and their neighbors the Rosales who are members of the church. The theme was service. We focused on the importance of Service and Charity in order to follow Christ and help out all of our brothers and sisters. We started off by reading a scripture that is found in the Book of Mormon that states, 

Mosiah 2:17 "And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God."

When we serve others through simple things or great things we are not just helping out a friend in need, but also, we are serving our Heavenly Father who has given us all these things. It is the same with any parent and child. If someone goes out of their way to help out someone's child, the parent will feel as though they have vicariously served them as well through the service to their child. These services do not need to be something huge like a planned project in the park or at a homeless shelter (although those things are great as well) but rather they can be something as small as a smile to someone who has had a bad day. During my time here in Trujillo Peru I have been blessed with many ways to serve. I am currently serving as a missionary, at the start of my mission there were natural disasters which forced many people to rebuild homes which we could help with, and even now as I work in the office I am serving all of the missionaries here in Trujillo by dealing with the logistics so that they may work care free. Over the past year and a half, because of the political issues in Venezuela, many Venezuelans have been immigrating to other countries including Peru. I have met many who have come to Trujillo with absolutely nothing. Lawyers, Architects, Scientists, Engineers, who leave all behind and are willing to work hard here in Peru to start a new life for their families. We often find former lawyers who have taken up construction, engineers who wash windows, and Business managers who drive taxis just to help their family get started once again. It is truly inspiration. On top of all of that, the immigrant population here in Trujillo are some of the nicest and most servicial people I have met as they use the little they have to help out others in their same situation. When someone is willing to help out others and really sacrifice, in that moment someone really understands what it means to be Christlike. 

This week has been truly awesome as well with the progress of Roberto, a Peruvian Venezuelan we have been teaching. He has recently begun working harder to keep God's commandments, in turn feeling the peace and blessings that come with it.

On a slightly less spiritual note it looks like my new companion could be arriving this coming Monday so we will just have to wait and see who will be Elder Torres' replacement. 

Today we also got together with the office Elders from the Trujillo South mission to play some soccer and Volley. Although we do not keep score, I think we really showed them where the best mission in the world is. 

Love,

Elder Vassau 

Week 83 - Yesika and Juancito - Follow the Light!

Buenos Dias!!!!

This has been another awesome week here in Primavera. This week we had an awesome experience teaching Yesika Murga and her son Juancito. We visited them Thursday evening. The Murga family is awesome. The parents are Juan and Yesika with their two sons Juan and Daniel. They all listen to us and about two months ago Juan (the dad) contacted us while we were passing by his house. Well on Thursday we had a visit with Yesika and Juancito. This week we read with Yesika and her son 2 Nephi 31 where it is teaching about Christ's baptism and the Doctrine of Christ which is to have Faith in Jesus Christ, Repentance, Baptism, Receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost, and Enduring to the End. We read the whole chapter with her and Juancito and as we finished the chapter of the Book of Mormon we asked if they had any questions about parts that they had read. Yesika immediately began asking about baptism, and more than anything if she could be baptized. She began to explain that since she has met us and begun coming to church she has felt something completely different in her life. She has begun to feel a peace and calmness even though so many things are happening around her. She also explained to us that since she has met us and begun learning more about Jesus Christ she has wanted to, not only to be a better person, but also work hard to keep God's commandments. She has stopped selling in her store on Sundays and she has even been trying to improve her relationship with her husband. When someone is prepared to receive the Gospel and they do not just understand what we teach about Christ, but they also feel it, desires to change and follow Christ just come naturally. When one knows the truth, one will naturally desire to follow it. I made an analogy to a bug with a lightbulb in a darkroom a few weeks ago and it is just so true. When someone feels Christ's love there is this naturally attraction to follow the light. It is amazing. Yesika is planning on getting baptized with her whole family near the end of July pending a possible move to Spain. Let's pray that she decides to stay around just a few months more here in Trujillo so we may continue teaching her. 

This past week I, as the secretary in charge of all of the flights, took all of the missionaries finishing their missions to the airport to send them home. It is always a sad but exciting moment for the missionaries. This time around we said goodbye to a real great group of Elders and Sisters. Many of them you can see in the pictures. 

Well this has been an awesome week here in Primavera. I would also like to wish a Happy late birthday and anniversary to Tucker and Caitlin as well as a happy late Father’s Day to the best dad there is. 

Love,

Elder Vassau