Still alive, don't worry

MONDAY: We had a Noche de Hogar [Family Home Evening] at a member’s house. The elders brought F. It was a good lesson and everything and just as we were about to say the closing prayer, F. asked if he could share something. So he stood up in front of everyone and choked up a bit. He just explained how grateful he was for everyone inviting him and being so welcoming. And he shared this really sweet testimony about the three Hermanas who helped to give him another chance at life and the elders who are teaching him and how he has hope of seeing his daughter again. It was really touching.

It’s moments like that that make every headache, heartache and knee ache worth it. I would walk a thousand blocks, knock on a thousand doors, get rejected a thousand times for that.

Really, I wish you all could meet him. And although we don’t get to be the missionaries to teach him, he still feels like ours. He is going to be baptized the 19th :) And the elders very kindly keep us updated on his progress. They say that every time they teach something like a commandment and at first he’s a little hesitant or doesn’t think he can do it, but then he remembers that night and realizes that God can do anything.

It’s all so crazy :)

TUESDAY: We were so dead beat. I don’t know what hit us. And I swear the whole city was dead as well. Bad days end.

WEDNESDAY: Zone meetings. We took the sketchiest taxi in all of Peru. It’s a miracle we made it there alive. It was like a little Flintstone car, four wheels and a cardboard box. But hey, adventures right?

Other news, it seems like I bring bad Pensionista luck with me wherever I go. The other day I found an ant in my soup, a hair on my egg, half a worm, you know normal stuff. But then I found a rock in my food. No joke, about the size of a peanut. Someone’s out to get me. Probably would help my iron levels.

The rest of the day was kind of a mess. We were running all over the place for this and that. Kinda messed up our plans.

We had a lesson with C. and J. They explained that they had never seen a companionship so united before. But then she started talking about our energies, so she kinda lost me. But it is so true. I am very grateful for the companions I have and all I get to learn from them.

THURSDAY: Doctor’s office day one; third doctor to tell me the same thing. He however understood that I could not just sit on my bum for a week; very nice man. Then there were all sorts of trouble getting the MRI with the insurance this and that. Missionaries don’t usually get approved for that. They do what they can. The doctor sounded hopeful, like if I just lift weights with my foot all my problems will be fixed. Sounds good to me :).

FRIDAY: We like dropped all of our investigators. They are all eternal, nobody is progressing. So now we’re just putting all out trust in the Lord, waiting for some miracles.

So we’ve been trying to get the confidence of the members. We visited my uncle Hermano Anderson and his wife. (I have to admit, I never thought I’d be visiting Anderson’s when I came to Peru.) They live here six months and in Canada the other half of the year. It always throws me off though when people talk about the Andersons. But we had a nice chat (in English – strange) over Paneton.

Here in Peru, Christmas is Paneton.

(Paneton is this strange like fruit cake bread thing, very strange, but they love it.) Every other house that you go to has Paneton. And those things aren’t cheap. I did not like Paneton, para nada. But then it started growing on me, so much so that we bought one for dinner the other day. I guess I’m becoming more Peruvian by the minute. Maybe I’ll be ready for cuy soon. I wouldn’t count on it though.

SATURDAY: We helped a member clean her house. She lives in a beautiful old home. (Mom you gotta see it) that has been so run down. Fun fact: apparently it used to belong to pirates and there are like gems in the garden. So we helped her for a bit, not much, but we tried.

We did a little of this and that before heading to the doctor for the MRI. Technology these days, my word! Probably the hardest thing I’ve done on the mission, staying still, I swear everything started twitching. Also nobody told me that was going to happen, or if they did, I didn’t understand it. Cause as I was laying there it started beeping and making all these strange sounds. I thought I broke the darn thing. Results come today. You can bet I’ve had my fair share of dreams about what they’re gonna say.

SUNDAY: Well church was interesting and I don’t mean the fact that some guy from Maine came to bear his testimony about World War 3. Always good. F. bore a really great testimony, lots of people were touched by it, but he’s been struggling. He had a rough experience on the way to church and some things happened. But it’s all good.

However things did get a little complicated. Out investigator, Fr. came to church. F. told the elders that he used to be his dealer. So that’s great. Small world, eh? And the five of us did kinda have a panic attack when they went outside to talk and catch up. But it sounded like Fr. was giving F. a pep talk. So we shall see. They want to get baptized together.

We ate way too much spaghetti. I felt like a meatball after (rolled off the table and onto the floor). :) still got it.

As we were sitting on a bench taking a five minute knee break, this man came up to us and started talking. Turns out he was baptized 15 years ago, but had recently fallen into some palabra de sabiduria issues. And by some, I mean all (coffee, alcohol, tobacco, illegal drugs), he didn’t mention tea however, so there’s a plus. But he did say he wanted to try to come back. So he threw away the pack of cigarettes he had. We gave him a Libro de Mormon and sent him on his merry way.

We watched the Christmas devotional. It was wonderful. How lucky we are to be led by a modern day prophet and apostles and have the opportunity to listen to them. It was a great way to end a rough week. Things have been a little stressful lately, but I’m hoping it’ll all clear up real nice this week.

I love you all. I hope that you have a wonderful week and drink some egg nog for me :)

Love,

Hermana Anderson

Ether 12:4 There is a better world. Have hope, stand sure and steadfast and never lose the faith. I am so grateful for the knowledge and peace I have :)

P.S. Three weeks til Christmas! :)