My stomach is so full of …stomach

Walking in Lima is kinda like walking through a mine field or so I would imagine as I’ve never actually walked through a mine field before. But here’s the thing. You have to be very, very careful to be sure you don’t step in dog po-po as they call it here (or rather po-po de perro) or fall in a hole, or get clotheslined by a tree (that’s usually me, things aren’t pruned for my height I guess) or step in a pool of who knows what or all the other little obstacles they have to test my reflexes. It’s quite tricky actually you know how accident prone I am. It’s another miracle I’m still alive. The church is true, but really it is. I promise. Don’t take my word for it. You can go straight to the source

MONDAY: I’m always so amazed by how humble these people are. It’s incredible and they are so willing to give all they have. We visited this one family that didn’t even have a door, just a big piece of wood. This little ten year old comes to the “door” and picks it up and moves it out of the way to let us in. I can’t even describe it. But this is actually one of the wealthier areas. They treat us like we’re angels, which makes me a little uncomfortable because I am so far from it. But my word, the members love the missionaries.

TUESDAY: I read through some old letters and my first journal entry my first night at the MTC. Wow. It feels like an eternity ago. But as I read back on these moments where I thought I was facing the end of the world, there were always experiences to confirm my Heavenly Father’s love for me. He never lets us walk further into the “darkness” than we can handle.

Mission life is not what I expected. You can really use your time however you want. Sometimes it breaks my heart to feel like I am wasting the Lord’s time and people are missing out on their opportunities, but I’m trying to learn what I can for the future. :) It’s hard, though, not to think like, ‘when this and this happens, things will be better.’

We had a lesson with A. about fasting. There is this phrase in the mission for people who are so prepared they are basically asking to be baptized: Cornelios. A. is a Cornelio. Hna Roca told her she had to fast a week before her baptism to prepare. And she said she would do it. Wow. That’s some determination. But she was relieved when Hna Roca told her it was a joke.

Also, she told me I’m getting fat. We’ll see how long she survives. Not much exciting happened. Had divisions with the sister leaders. Walked from one side of the sector and back about 400 times. Oh! Then we had to evacuate our house! I guess there was an earthquake in Chile, which means tsunami in Lima. I wish I had an exciting story to tell, or something here, but our house is still standing. Sorry to disappoint. Maybe next time. :) I hear we’re approaching earthquake season? That could be fun.

WEDNESDAY: Thought I’d answered some q’s from my good ol’ pops.

1) How are you finding new investigators? Truth: we’re not . . .

2) Do you have referrals to work with? No, not really. That’s our next goal.

3) Do you tract much? No. Not really.

4) Do you street contacting? Hardly never.

5) How is your language working in communicating with real Spanish speakers? It’s really hit or miss. There are times I can’t tell where the English stops and the Spanish starts. And there are times when I sit for an hour and have no clue what is coming out of someone’s mouth. So, it really depends. Everyone says they’re impressed with my ability to communicate. Missionaries say I’m far ahead of the game. But of course, I don’t see that. I’m ready to be fluent today.

6) Can you feel the facility coming back to you? Don’t know what facility is.

7) How many lessons in a week do you teach? Last week, we taught 11. To investigators, menos activas y convers recrentes [less actives and recent converts].

8) How big is your area? We have one of the biggest areas in the mission (which is only 9 miles). I don’t know exactly. But I get my fair share of walking in.

9) How many people in it? I haven’t had time to count yet. :)

10) Is it real inner city? Our sector is more residential/commercial. We’ve got a big mall by us, a big market, lots of park, LOTS of casinos and discotecas, a nice variety of everything, actually. Real inner city? I don’t know . . . no? No.

11) Are the people all Peruvians? Yes.

12) Are there immigrants? In this sector, no.

13) What does housing look like? Quite the variety as well. I’ll try and send some photos. We’ve got apartments, some housey type things (all connected of course), and those little alley dwelling things. I don’t know the names for any of it.

THURSDAY: It’s amazing how many near-death experiences I have in a day. I am going to start counting them instead of tender mercies. I almost got hit by a car and almost got decapitated by a telephone line! I’d say that’s a good day.

We met with a less active brother and sister. We asked how he found the church and he proceeded to tell is life story. I could tell you anything you want to know about him. His sister stopped going to church because they handed out Book of Mormons at church for them to hand out to friends, but she didn’t have anyone to give one to. It was really quite sad.

Visited C. We set a baptismal date, but she’s really hesitant. Praying she finds the desire.

And finally, my favorite person, A. After her baptism, I think I’ll be ready to come home. Mission accomplished.

Also, this Peruvian food thing isn’t quite as fun anymore. Why can’t we ever have like a salad or stuff? Basically, I couldn’t tell you the last time my stomach didn’t hurt.

FRIDAY: Maybe it has something to do with the fact that we got to eat cau cau (for those of you who haven’t yet had the privilege of so eating it, it’s cow stomach lining).

It took all my courage, force, power, energy whatever to eat it. Mother, I am sorry I didn’t appreciate your cooking before. You are an angel.

We went to go visit a reference, who, of course, wasn’t there. But we were near the house of a family in the ward. Hna Roca turned to me and said, “What are we going to do to find nuevos today? And I said we are going to go to this family’s house and ask for references. So we are knocking on their gate and all. Nothing. We’re about to walk away and this woman from the ward who works at the house pulls up in a moto. She invites us in and tells us she has someone she wants us to meet. I’m thinking, okay great! But then she disappears and comes back with this girl. Turns out she lives with the family! (She’s about 18). We start talking and all and I have never seen anyone so hungry for the gospel. It was incredible.

So that’s at least 5 miracles in one. Then we had a family home evening with this one family. They live on this very dangerous street. So we come out and holy smokes, so much weed. I’m pretty sure we were getting high off it. Not to mention all the lovely men in the streets. So we all but ran home (me with my camera tucked into my shirt, not ready to lose that yet).

SATURDAY: So I counted how many hairs I lost in the shower. 43. Then I counted how many I have left. Basically at this rate, I’ll be bald by my birthday. So that’ll be a nice present!

So today was the day for A.’s baptismal interview. Remember what I said Thursday about coming home? I guess the Lord has something else in mind for me. We texted A. about the interview and she told us she couldn’t make it. And then my heart broke. My goodness I had no idea. Few things have just wiped me out like that. She was so prepared, so ready. But her mom doesn’t want her to get baptized because of tithing. She doesn’t need her mom’s approval because she’s 18 but she still lives with her mom. Her mom made her visit her aunt who lives outside of Lima so she couldn’t go. And for a little bit I was grateful for my experiences so I could understand all the opposition she is facing right now. Satan is tricky like that. He knows her potential and is doing all he can to stop her. But I still have faith she’ll be baptized the 26th. It’s just been a little too easy. We just have to work a little harder. There is something the Lord wants us to learn because this just can’t be it. This has been motivation for the past few weeks. When I thought I was ready to give up, she kept me going. So basically my heart just hurts. Man this mission life is kind of brutal. But it is not over yet!

SUNDAY: This day was very long. Some things I learned this week.

1) How to be patient when your companion spends 15 minutes in the bathroom 5 times a day.

2) Men peeing in the streets is normal.

3) Every day has an end.

4) Nobody lives on the first floor. They’re just doors for show. The majority of people live on the 4th floor.

So Peru has the chocolate that’s dang good. And Hna Roca says I can buy one on P-day and split it up for the week. (Yeah right). But I usually just eat it on the way home from the store. I’m working on the self-control thing. So this week, I bought one on Monday and kept it in my drawer for a WHOLE WEEK! without eating it. Which means this week I get to eat one every day!

Okay. I love you all. And miss you, but just a little. The church is true, the book is blue, and Jesus loves you. :)

Much love,

Hermana Anderson