10/17/16 - I Got to Baptize His Daughter!

This week has been crazy!!

Nestor got baptized!!!!!!!!!! and I got to baptize his daughter!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It was so amazing! Thank you all for your prayers and your thoughts. (I'm trying to upload some pictures but it's not working.) Anyway, I think the best thing about my area is the members. They are so kind and they have helped me so much. The night before the baptism we took Nestor and his 3 little girls over to a members house. They have been members for 2 years and they are so sweet. We watched "The Restoration" and ate Peruvian fries- they are fries but they fry them like 3 times and then crack eggs into them and they are sooo good! They gave Nestor the Book of Mormon Reader, the one with the pics, and it was amazing. One of the little girls was having a hard time because she was tired and I did my Scooby Doo voice. She LOVED it. I had to do it about 100 more times. 

It seems like everyone here is named Pedro or Juan because those names are in the Bible!!! Everyone is Christian down here. It's so fantastic. It makes it easier. 

Some interesting things happened this week. We ran into a crazy cat. I didn't understand much of what the kid was saying but the cat kept falling over. It was kinda sad but funny at the same time. They feed it really well though so it has a pretty good life. Another time we were waiting for an investigator and a random drunk guy grabbed me and we had a mini photoshoot! Everyone calls me "gringo" and since I'm wearing a white shirt and tie I stick out even more. 

We taught Abel (hes about 80 and has 3 teeth and is the one with the pig). I think he's going to get baptized. He really loves the Lord he just doesn't like church. We heard this weird noise and I turned around and the pig was scratching himself on a brick!!!!!! I swear I'm not making this up. I was going to start laughing but we were in the middle of a lesson so I had to cover my mouth to stop from laughing. 

My favorite family is the Sanchez's. They are all members except their grandpa Raul and their son is on a mission. I LOVE Raul. He's the funniest guy and he has such a sweet heart. He just has a really really hard time with faith. He owns a little store and then in the back a little soccer stadium. Today we had a district soccer game and it was so sweet. For 58 years old he can really move. We also played volleyball - he is really good at volleyball. I feel like I can really help him. His family wants him to join the church more than anything in the world. They are so sweet and nice to the missionaries  - it's such a relief. It's been so hard for me to not be able to talk to people or understand them. I can kinda get some of it and I understood a lot at church but in the streets and the way people talk it's impossible. I know the words I just cant recognize them when some people say them. I'm learning like crazy though. 

My comp is a really nice guy. I'm trying so hard to get along with him and we are making progress. I'm learning more about patience then I am about Spanish! I'm really learning to let things slide. It's going to help me a lot when I get back - being able to handle stuff that's hard. That's what missions are for right? learning? 

I don't know what to do about my pictures. It's starting to really make me...nevermind I put it back into my camera and they are all gone.  It looks like my camera has just been swiped clean. I don't know what to do. I'm really sorry everyone. I don't know what's going on. I backed up my pictures before I left the MTC so I only lost the ones so far in Peru. 

My spiritual thought for the week is D & C 121 and 122. No matter how hard it gets God has you. It's hard and difficult because if it were easy you wouldn't learn anything. From losing pictures and not understanding, to missing home and people not coming to church, I'm learning more and more every day and I hope it's the same for all of you. I love you so much!!! Thank you so much for all of your emails and prayers -  words cannot express how much they have helped me. I love you all!

Love,

Elder Nielsen