DICIEMBRE 12-1-14

¡Con mi burrito sabanero, en camino de Belén!

You should all go look up that song. Mi burrito sabanero. You will love it, even if you don't understand the words. Feliz Navidad.

This was a full week! Lots of exciting experiences. I'll just go over them with you.

On Monday I got beat up by Lima. We went to some ruins to play Capture the Flag with our district and one of the others in our zone. On the way I hit my head at a full stride on an overhang from one of the buildings along the sidewalk and...well, it hurt and I fell down and just sat there for a second. Didn't cry. I was just sort of stunned. Then on the way back to the church from the ruins we were all walking and kicking a soccer ball back and forth. On a decline I ran to kick the ball and it bounced off an elder's leg and returned back beneath my foot (still mid-run) and WHOOOSH I went sailing! Did a half-backflip in the air, hit the ground, and gave a few rolls for added measure. Hahaha I landed flat on my back with my hand covering my eyes like when the ladies faint in silent films. It was extraordinarily dramatic and I laughed so hard it hurt more. Nothing broken or bleeding, just a lot of hearty bruises. To my ego. About 20 people bore witness. I just wish I had a video!

It probably didn't look quite as elegant as this!

On Tuesday we had a marvelous mission conference with Elder Hafen of the Seventy. Saw a good amount of old friends and was filled with the Spirit. Elder Hafen talked about three different types of blessings we can receive through the Atonement of Jesus Christ: Redeeming, Strengthening, and Perfecting. Jesus Christ didn't just come to redeem us from our sins, but to strengthen us in our limited human capacities and to add the finishing touch to good lives. Like Elder Bednar said, "To make bad men good and good men better."

On Wednesday my companion asked me to cut her hair and then told me it was awful. She subsequently cut a whole lot more herself and then resolved to wear it in a ponytail for six months. She told me that this was just her way of preparing me to have teenage daughters one day. Ha!

On Thursday we had our district meeting and Elder Poma, our DL who is also going home this transfer, related extending a baptismal invitation to proposing marriage. I wanted to strangle him. Well, not really, but I wanted to yell "LOOK YOU GUYS! I AM NOT THE TRUNKY ONE!"

However, I refrained.

On Friday I saw another white person. Want to know what he was doing? Standing on the back of a moto-taxi in rodeo clothes tossing fake money with his face on it into the street. On the back of each bill was an advertisement for the local circus. He is Gringo Carl, the famous clown. His act was there one day only.

Respected.

On Saturday we bought balloons to contact with and we drew faces on them. Mine was ugly and so it had to stay home. :( We also ate lunch really fast so we could use our lunch hour to decorate the house for Christmas. It is beautiful. We have a tree and everything. 

On Sunday we were a little tiny bit frustrated because we had not found many people who wanted to hear us and even fewer who said they could come to church. We have been working with Katty and Diana, a mother and daughter who are from a part-member family, for a few weeks and Katty has only gone to church once. When we called in the morning she said she was too tired and not going to go. My comp started to remind her how important it is that she go to church and then BEEEEEP no more credit in the teléfono! After a long search in the morning without fruit, we (literally) ran to church just in time for the sacrament and then filed into the packed chapel to watch one of the sweetest Primary Programs I have ever seen. I felt a lot of peace having taken the sacrament and knowing that we could start again this week with a clean slate, but I still was disappointed that we didn't have any investigators with us. Suddenly Hermana Paredes nudged me. "Katty!" she whispered. Katty and Diana and their less active mom came! I am not going to lie to you, I cried. 

The Lord truly is merciful. Sometimes we struggle to turn our hearts to Him and be perfectly in line with His will, but I want you to remember that He doesn't hate us. He wants so badly to bless us and all of His children, and He will do what He can with what we give Him. 

I have been reminded this week of how immensely blessed I am to be a member of Jesus Christ's true restored Church. There is so much available to us when we exercise faith in Him. A life of true discipleship is not easy (and I know I have a long way to go to get there), but in the small glimpses I have received, it is well worth the effort.

I love you all! Endure to the end!

Hermana Hewitt

P.S. Check out christmas.mormon.org RIGHT NOW!

Last transfer… six weeks left! 11-17-14

Alright folks, I have been pretty bad about responding to my emails from my mom and dad, so I am just going to let you hear a little bit from my email to Presidente and update you on a few things. Thank you for your understanding.

We had such a sweet experience with Freddy and Kathy when we went to visit them this week. Freddy was rescued a few months ago by other sisters but still has struggled to maintain activity, and because of a disease and a hip replacement and a long recovery process, Kathy has been confined to her house and the hospital for several months. We have visited them every once in awhile and a few weeks ago we found out they weren't putting the Book of Mormon in very high priority, so we got them on a regimen of daily scripture study and family prayer. This whole week my companion and I have been struggling to recognize the influence of the Spirit - we are working, being obedient, praying with faith, planning, and all the basics, but we still haven't felt like He was really strongly present in our lessons. We had been discussing it on the way to our appointment with Freddy and Kathy and when we sat with them they said they had been reading and praying every single day. When we asked how they felt, Kathy said she felt pretty good but wasn't sure how she SHOULD feel. Freddy looked at his wife and talked to her about the peace and happiness they had both felt when they read and he began to cry as he explained that THAT was the Spirit. He took her hand and they both shed tears as they themselves testified of the power of the Holy Ghost. We had gone to strengthen them and in turn WE left edified and filled with the Spirit. 

This week I had some GREAT experiences in personal and companionship study. We had a work visit and I went to Puente Piedra with Hermana Aliaga, and there I began to study about spiritual creation in Moses 3. Much of what I studied had to do with what we discussed in the interview, about desires and how our righteous desires will read to righteous actions. My understanding of the relationship between our desires, our thoughts, our words, and our actions has been strengthened and deepened. As I studied, I wrote down questions - lots of them - that arose, and those questions led to other questions whose answers led to the answers of the original questions and well, it was a lot of fun. If I am going to have success now on the mission and throughout my life, I first must plan it, and in order to plan it with God and receive His power, I need to primarily have the desire to obey His commandments. Those commandments govern all creation - His laws are eternal; they do not just apply to this mortal life. He didn't just make them up to keep us in line. The power of God is the power to create, and if we are to become gods and create throughout the eternities, we must be able to master ourselves - the desires of our spirit AND the desires of our body - to become aligned with God's commandments. Because righteous desires become obedience that becomes faith which becomes power that sparks and fuels action.

So, my couple updates: we found out transfers and it looks like I will be staying here in sunny San Diego with my darling Hermana Paredes to baptize thousands! Woohoo! She sure is excited about killing me... 

Also, Elder Hernandez, our district leader, is on the plane to Panamá right now. His goodbye talk yesterday made me cry, obviously. He was a great DL and now we'll have a new one. But other than him, our whole district is staying together! I am so so happy!

Alsooooo, let's see what more. Don't send me mail after this week! Hahaha I say that as if I were Harry Potter the day he found out he was a wizard. Just letting you all know...if the notion happened to cross your mind to send me mail...take advantage and send it now. I will receive it with open arms. And with the Journey song playing in the background.

Okay I think that's it for the updates!

Oh yes I almost forgot! Have I told you lately that I love you?

Hermana Hewitt

Our district - Elder Hernandez, Elder Riquelme, Hermana Hewitt, Hermana Paredes, Elder Quenta, Elder Starita, Elder Poma, and Elder Gillies. 

The sunburn I brought back from my work visit in Puente.

Follow the Prophet! 11-10-14

Hey hey hey! It's Hermaaaaaana Hewitt!

I know you've all been on the edge of your seats wanting to know what kind of exciting adventures have come to pass in San Diego 2. Let me just tell ya...we spent the whole week sleeping. 

Well, that's only partially true. We were practically walking zombies but I have never felt so alive! This week was marvelous! As our beloved mission president instructed, we began to use a bunch of new finding techniques and oh boy, were we blessed for our obedience!

Hermana Paredes and I were both tried immensely. There was a lot of temptation to get frustrated, to give up, to think negatively, to tell the neighbor lady to stop being such a meanie, to cry like babies, etc. Well, I won't say I didn't cry like a baby for a few minutes at one point. Nevertheless! There was also a lot of companionship prayer, a lot of working, a lot of smiling, a LOT of laughter, and a whole heap of divine guidance and strength. We worked with the Lord this week, and I know it. 

So things are picking up here in San Diego 2. We have some in-sacs, some good strong fechas, 18 new investigators (woohoo! The blood is circulating again!), and great joy in our hearts knowing that we beat the adversary this week. 

I love being a missionary! It is the hardest, most painful, most testimony-trying thing I have ever done, and as well it is one of the happiest, most rewarding, most testimony-strengthening blessings I will come to know.

If you are considering serving a mission, but you're kind of on the fence or not sure if you oughta, I invite and encourage you to kneel humbly and ask your Heavenly Father. Young men who hold the priesthood, go and don't wait. The prophet has already given you the answer. When he speaks to you, he says exactly what God wants you to know. If you don't have a personal testimony of the prophet Joseph Smith or the prophet Thomas S. Monson, you may do one or all of the following suggestions:

1. Ask the missionaries! They can help you!

2. Ask Kiersten Wilson! She can too!

3. Read the last two paragraphs of the Introduction to the Book of Mormon, as well as Moroni 10:4-6, and follow the instructions there.

4. Attend church every week.

5. Pay your tithing as quick as you receive your paycheck.

6. FAST. (This is quite the useful trick. For more information, see Isaiah 58 as well as my letter from last week.)

7. Watch, listen to, or read General Conference. https://www.lds.org/general-conference/sessions/2014/10?lang=eng

8. Ask of God.

If you do these things, you will know as surely as I do that God speaks to us through the mouth of His chosen servants. I know that He does! And only those who are willing and dedicated to following faithfully the guidance of the prophets will be able to walk in the light in this ever-darkening world. 

So, because I am persistent, I repeat: All young men who hold the holy priesthood of God, that which has been restored by the prophet Joseph Smith and remains active on the earth today in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and who have at least 18 years of age, 

Serve a mission.

I promise that if you will get yourself clean and prepare yourself well, you will never ever regret that decision. Only those who choose not to listen to God will have regrets. I'm just telling you... I know it!

I'm so grateful for parents who have raised me to trust in the Savior and in the prophets. I will one day be one of those parents! (One day, very far away, because here I still am, giving it all to Perú...) Parents, be those parents who choose to lead righteous families. Children, listen to Mom and Dad. Choose to be righteous children. That will prepare you to be a righteous adults who will lead all of God's righteous children home to Him.

First and foremost, follow the prophet. Follow the apostles. Follow the seventies, the area seventies, the stake president, the bishop. They have all been called by revelation.

Ha! I was thinking the other day that I had finally stopped preaching in my emails home. Maybe it's to the choir, but you can never be too holy.

I love you all!

Hermana Hewitt

Ah yes so a fun experience. We were walking to catch the bus this morning in the middle of a bustle of people and a happy, chubby little man let out a cat-call whistle and as he passed us, he grinned and raised his eyebrows and said, "I luuuuhhhh you." 

I'm going to miss Perú.

An abandoned baby puppy that some of our investigators recently rescued. Awwwww! 

Gillies decided to borrow my camera. His loss.

We had a fantastic ward activity this week to help the investigators and the members make friends. Basically we and the elders played with all the Primary kids for an hour and a half and the Relief Society sisters chatted with our investigators. SUCCESS.

Sé que me van a disculpar. (Three weeks of catch up!) 11-3-14

OK… Mom (Kiersten) here… I have to apologize for not posting the last two weeks.  Lex didn't have a group letter 3 weeks ago but did send some pics (which will follow in this post) and did ask that I tell everyone that she is just great but didn't have time to write a group update. (Totally my bad for not posting!) Then last week she started a group letter but right in the middle of describing what sounded like a potentially frightening incident she abruptly ended her letter because her zone was heading to the beach… THANKS, HERMANA HEWITT!  So, I didn't have the heart to keep you all in the same suspense as I endured for the past week.  But… this week she wrote a beautiful long letter that I'm sure you will all enjoy as much as I did!  :-)

Here are the pics from two weeks ago… 10-20-14

This photo is me and Hermana Celadita, one of the most helpful sisters in the ward. She is also one of the most hilarious people I have ever met in my life. She just gets RIGHT UP IN YOUR FACE to yell how much she loves you.

The son of some investigators washing his car. This is Perú.

The street here all decorated for the Catholic celebration of Señor de los Milagros. Just havin' fun!

And here is her post from last week…

SAFE 10-27-14
We had some pretty crazy experiences this week. Several different people who just came up and contacted US and said they wanted to know more about the gospel and probably get baptized. That was either Heavenly Father's way of telling us Good job, Hermanas, here ya go... or CONTACT MORE.

Or both.

I apologize in advance for the brevity of this update because we are going to go to ANCÓN! The beach in Puente Piedra! Ohhhh I am going to feel so trunky for Puente. But Elder Riquelme, one of the elders in my district, was the ZL there after I left so we can cry together at an appropriate distance. 

  

My lovely companion just doin' her thang. She is one excellent photographer! Awe, I adore her. We have way too much in common and sometimes we get carried away talking about awesome things. But she betters me. How precious. 

Zone on Ancon Beach

Our zone in Ancón...I'd name them all but I am just far too occupied! The sea lion in front is our prodigy child ZL Elder Starita. Hahaha.

Anyway. I'd like to share an experience with you all that was pretty special and pretty personal, but illustrates well the truth of God's promises. 

When I was set apart I was promised that I would have impressions and visions to know when danger was around me, and that my companions and I would be protected by angels. A good majority of my mission has passed and I have been guided by the Spirit and even had a few dreams that indicated certain dangers to avoid, but I figured that I wasn't going to be carried away like Lehi. Anyway. 

We were in a less secure part of our area and we knew we were going to need to leave pretty soon because evening was coming on. We decided to stop by and see if one of our investigators, Antonio, and his wife were home to remind them to come to church the next day. Antonio let us in and as we sat down I asked if his wife was there. She wasn't. Well, we aren't supposed to teach men without a woman with us, so we told him we were going to have to come back later. 

OH NO! Well here's a lesson on obedience. Time to go right now! Sorry! I will continue this story next week because it's a good one! Love you all!

Hermana Hewitt

And here is the rest of the story…. sent today…

I know you all enjoyed that cliffhanger last week! Let´s see if I can finish that story up real quick. Hahaha sorry for being the worst. 

Alright. So, we sat down with Antonio and made the mistake of not STANDING UP when we said we needed to leave if his wife wasn´t there. Antonio is a nice, calm, little old fella but the commandments are the commandments. He asked why we couldn't stay and we explained it briefly. Foolishly we decided to ask if he was reading his Book of Mormon and that began a nice long history of the land of Perú and something about poetry and his self-diagnostic skills. I waited for a gap in the story to tell him "Sorry, love ya, but we gotta go." 

And, of course, you all guessed it...the gap didn't come.

He continued on as we suffered and I frantically grasped around in my mind for how to leave without offending him. Then suddenly I saw a vision of exactly what would happen if we decided to disobey this rule. It had nothing to do with Antonio, but it wasn't pretty. The words came to my head, "You need to leave right now." Two or three times they sounded and I - still foolishly - still waited for the pause. Still didn't come. So, I grabbed my bag and stood up in the middle of Antonio's sentence. 

"Hermano, I am so sorry, but it is very important that we obey our leaders. PLEASE hold on to your story for Wednesday when we can stop by and visit you. We'll have a member with us and we DO want to hear what you have to say! We are SO sorry for interrupting you, but we need to go right away." My companion on cue stood up and Antonio agreed that we should obedient and we shook his hand and high-tailed it outta that joint.

Subsequently we contacted a woman who has two children of baptizing age whose father was a member of the Church and has always been extremely interested to know more and probably become a member.

I just want you all to be aware of one little thing as you go about your week:

Coincidences do not exist.

Yes, we did go to Ancón on Monday. And yes, it was very emotional. And very beautiful. Kind of like a good funeral. I'll be attaching some fotografías. 

Ahahaha...that last paragraph made me giggle. I talk about funerals as if they were blockbusters. But maybe I have a skewed perspective. I was definitely one of the six or seven people in the United States that liked Seven Pounds.

Also, the speakers in this internet cafe are currently serenading me with "Staying Alive."

HA-HA-HA-HA STAYING ALIVE. STAYING ALIVE.

I'm going nowhere. Somebody help me. (Ahhhhhhhhhhh)

Alright so sorry. Probably only my parents (all 4) will appreciate that. But hey, Malea Moody, there's still hope for you. Oh now it's Buffalo Soldier. Alright I'm done I'm going to get my mind back on the gospel.

Oh just to make you all SUPER Hermana Hewitt-trunky...I saw Elder Larsen this week and he told me that my official release date is December 30th. Apparently a bunch of the elders that are going home that same transfer thought President might send us home the week before to be en casa para Navidad! 

Evidently they are confused.

Don't be offended, but I am SO DARN EXCITED to pass one more Christmas here in Perú! I have basically been praying for that my whole mission. Anyway. Save me a slice of fruitcake. I've heard they're better after having fermented a few days.

Already in the Christmas spirit??

President and Hermana Archibald changed our lives again this week with interviews and a multi-zone training with Trébol. Hermana Paredes and I were both so edified! We have already begun to put into practice the amazing counsel and directions we have been given. One of the best ones I would recommend to all of you, my fellow children of Heavenly Father, is to always be thinking about the success we want. Creating spiritually the success we will create physically. 

Also, as we seek personal revelation, it is important that we use well the nighttime and early morning hours to feel the Spirit. In the night, the world is quieter and we are more receptive to impressions and inspiration. So we should ALWAYS say a prayer before going to bed asking for the specific revelation we need and ponder on that thing as we sleep. Perhaps we won't have a dream to tell us what to do, but often we will arise with the same thought in our mind accompanied with still, small answers. Try it - it definitely works!

Ah this was such a good week. Again I am running out of time but let's just suffice it to say that yesterday we taught the law of chastity to some brand new investigators and on the spot they decided they want to repent and change and get married. It was the sweetest thing to see their facial expressions range from passive to attentive to guilty to humble to hopeful to happy and excited to build their faith and become united as a family. I saw in their eyes a true desire to learn more about the gospel and to feel the love of a Heavenly Father who they have not been close to for many years. My heart is full with the knowledge that they can, and they will.

I am so indescribably grateful for the simple and marvelous truths which I know. I know that God loves His children. I know that everything that happens, happens because of that love He has for us. I know that He wants us to return home to Him, and I know that Jesus Christ made it possible through His Atonement if we choose to follow Him and obey His gospel. I know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is THE true church - HIS true church. I know that it is led by prophets, called of God, who hold the very same priesthood keys that Jesus gave to His apostles when He was on the earth. I know that they follow Jesus Christ, and I know that if we will follow them with whole purpose of heart and faith that God would never allow His prophets to mislead His children, we will return to live with Him forever. I know it! And I echo the words of Alma: 

"And this is not all. Do ye not suppose that I know of these things myself? Behold, I testify unto you that I do know that these things whereof I have spoken are true. And how do ye suppose that I know of their surety?

"Behold, I say unto you they are made known unto me by the Holy Spirit of God. Behold, I have fasted and prayed many days that I might know these things of myself. And now I do know of myself that they are true; for the Lord God hath made them manifest unto me by his Holy Spirit; and this is the spirit of revelation which is in me.

"And moreover, I say unto you that it has thus been revealed unto me, that the words which have been spoken by our fathers are true, even so according to the spirit of prophecy which is in me, which is also by the manifestation of the Spirit of God."

I know it's true.

See y'all in two. :)

Hermana Hewitt

"The more you worry, the more you have to worry about."

"Thinking it right and doing it wrong: Life's easier from an armchair." - Queen, quoted in my interview by President Archibald

"My sister is hot, but I am hotter." - Hermana Paredes, practicing her English

Stirring up trouble 10-13-14

#bestweekofthemission!

...#sofar

AH I wish I could tell you all of the downright unbelievable things that have happened in these past six days! Maybe I'll try to sum it all up quickly.

Monday we found out that Hermana Kim was leaving, so we had a little farewell Family Home Evening for her with some of the members in the nighttime. I was pretty darn sad because I love her SO much but I knew that she would go on to do bigger and better things. :)

And I was right! Tuesday was transfers and Hermana Kim was called to train a gringa! Yay! And my good pal Elder Larsen, as I predicted some good time ago, was called to be the new Assistant. And I was called to stay here in San Diego and tear it up with my new companion Hermana Paredes! She is from Cochabamba, Bolivia, has 3 transfers in the field and is the daughter of Hermana Aliaga, one of the sister trainers. Let me just tell ya...

She is powerful.

I feel like she is retraining me and it's the BEST! Hahaha I probably seem like such an underachiever in my letters. I am at least near average, thank you very much.

Anyway, so we got home and got to finding and teaching. We have found new investigators every day and our total for this week was 16. It seemed like families were just appearing out of nowhere! We left the established goal of 10 daily contacts in the dust and I realized that when we pray with faith and act according to the guidance we receive, the Lord truly does put many people in our path who He has prepared to receive the gospel. He puts them there because He knows that we will listen when He tells us to talk to them. And then we do and He puts more right around the corner! So sometimes it took us like 10 minutes just to walk a 100-yard stretch to get to an appointment.

Then we had a stake conference (STILL haven't seen General Conference but it's a-comin' this weekend for us!) and it was so incredibly inspiring! We have some seriously amazing members and leaders in our stake. My companion and I both received a lot of personal revelation and revelation for our area and it helped us to work even harder.

I have not felt such exhaustion in a very, very long time. My feet have probably never ached so ardently, and I have likely never felt such strange random pains before. From time to time I realize that I am dying of hunger because we're working so hard I literally forget to eat! But 

I 

AM
SO 

HAPPY!

I told Hermana Paredes our first day together that she is going to kill me. She laughed and said "Okay, great! I'm so excited!" I was referring to ending my mission...but I think she had a little something else in mind.

She's already become such a close friend as well. How blessed I have been! They say your missionary companions prepare you for your spouse...I think my husband might be schizophrenic. I have had quite a variety of companions. But all in all, I'm going to be one lucky girl.

#stillnottrunkypromise

Well...I'm going to leave it at that because I need to go save the world! I love you all so much! Read the words of Nephi!

Hermana Hewitt

Few are chosen 10-6-14

Yesterday was a day without the sacrament! Ah qué dolor! I still love my darling Perú. I just fail to understand why the entire country has to break the Sabbath. And what's more is that we weren't allowed to watch General Conference. Furthermore, our stake decided to have Stake Conference next week and so we still won't see it! Anyway. I'm not going to talk about it. Just pray that little hermana Hewitt doesn't lose her marbles. :)

During my entire mission I have not had the opportunity to share a district with an elder or sister who was in the last transfer of his or her mission. A zone, yes, but a district, no. Until this transfer! Elder Payne finished his mission training and in such a short time we got to learn so much from his incredible example. He is a teacher and a humble, righteous person and seeing him leave has made me contemplate the changes that a well-served, consecrated mission has on a young person.

Elder Gillies' first baptism and Elder Payne's last. IT WAS SO BEAUTIFUL.

My mom and I have always been real connected. It's kinda weird. (Love you Mom.) I read today an email that she had written earlier, reminding me to read D&C 121:34-46 and lo and behold, that was the focus of one of my personal studies last week! My companion and I discussed the difference between being "called" and being "chosen," and we talked about how to BE one of the chosen. I would strongly advise you to read those verses. 

And then, as I said my prayers last night after a somewhat difficult day (LOTS of contacting and very little teaching), I felt the clear impression to open up my Book of Mormon to Alma. I read Alma 41 and was surprised that I had never noticed so many important principles there. This morning I read Alma 41 again, and again, and again...and again. Each time I read through the chapter I wrote down impressions that came to my mind and principles taught. There were many, but I just want to share one that is directly related to the passage in Doctrine and Covenants 121.

As children of God who chose to follow His plan and come to the earth to live, we made a righteous decision. When we chose to be baptized, we made a righteous decision. When we choose to enter the temple, to serve a mission, to be married and sealed together as families, we make righteous decisions. We have desires to work with God, and thus we are called (D&C 4). But those who are CHOSEN are those who CHOOSE to make righteous decisions every single day - in every situation, in every relationship, in every thought. We were created to act and not be acted upon, which I think I have mentioned previously.

There are relatively few individuals in this world who will choose to follow the Savior every single time they are called to do so. There are relatively few who will choose to have faith in Him, to repent, to be baptized, to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, and stay true to those covenants and principles for the rest of their lives. They are those who endure to the end and do it well. They are the chosen.

Elder Payne was one of those missionaries who endured to the end of his mission and did it really, really well. Every missionary who receives the call has the opportunity to decide if they will be one of the chosen. Likewise, every child of God who comes to this earth to be tested has the exact same decision to make.

Will you choose to be one of the chosen?

Your choice. :)

Hermana Hewitt

 Best friends! P.S. I cut myself some bangs. They don't always look that bad.

Working Happy 9-29-14 (pics at the end)

First off, I should probably apologize for not explaining last week that the picture was of me and a recent convert, Carmen. She is the best convert I have ever seen!

We are STILL struggling to get people to come to church. I have honestly never dealt with such difficulty in this key indicator in my whole mission! It's unbelievable! But I have scouted out ideas from smart friends and we have new plans to make it happen. The only sad part is that because of voting, there is no church this week in Perú! AHHHHHHHH!!!!!! We can't see General Conference yet! Well maybe. We're still checking on that.

Sometimes I write little "To-Do" notes for myself when I am a mother, based on things I see here in Perú. One I wrote with a star by it the other day: "Do not allow your kids to be YouTube video addicts." Enough said.

So Presidente challenged the whole mission to come up with ten new finding techniques each week. My comp and I had been thinking of a few different ones before, but hadn't really broken out of the routine of street contacting and knocking doors and asking for references. But we decided to follow the voice of our noble leader and spent some extra time thinking of ten techniques. We talked about it in district meeting as well and decided to start doing weekly district activities to find. So this week we sang hymns in the San Diego outdoor market. It was an interesting experience...Elder Payne was teaching us deep doctrine between each hymn and my lungs were on fire, but we made it.

The best part is that we got some references from that activity! We went and were able to find one of them last night. His name is Felix and he was at first a little confused as to why Elder McAllister wasn't at his door (he was the one who contacted him) but he listened to us and I was surprised at how quickly he absorbed our words. Because his family wasn't there we couldn't go in and have a full lesson, but we set up another appointment. We were about to leave and I felt so strongly that I should give him a Book of Mormon, so I pulled one out of my bag and put a bookmark in 2 Nephi 31. We explained to him the purpose of the Book of Mormon and invited him to read and he just held it in his hands and grinned, nodding his head and telling us that he was going to start reading right away. 

President's the best. He knows everything. I will say it again and again.

Hahaha we went to buy bread the other day at the panadería by our house and the lady gave us an extra piece because apparently we're the "regulars." AWE MAN WE ARE WHAAAAAALES

In other news, we contacted a woman and set up a return appointment for Saturday in the morning. When we got to her house we heard "Rolling in the Deep" playing...but it was not Adele singing. It was karaoke! At 11 in the morning! We hesitantly rang the doorbell and the music continued without vocals. Then the volume was turned down. About a minute later, the same woman opened the door in her pajamas. She immediately apologized and said she was unbelievably occupied with homework and paperwork that she needed to finish right away, but that we could maybe come back later.

Look, I know I'm smiling, but that doesn't mean I believe you.

We just left giggling and hoping she gets all her paperwork done in time.

Ah so many funny things happened this week. I'll just send some pictures. But a couple good quotes:

"You have the gap of the river of Moses between you!" - Elder Gillies, telling Elder Payne to move just a tad closer to take the stinking photo. (He hasn't read the Bible in a few years.)

"I just want to hit all the little kids." - Hermana Kim, a little frustrated that we had been walking for a while and there were only the neighborhood niños playing in the street.

"Hermana Hewitt, translate 'Chupacabra.' "

 - "...suck goat?"

"GOAT SUCKER!" - Elder Payne, explaining to us the legend of the vampire-ish monster Chupacabra

"If I squint REALLY hard...and I cover my right eye...and with a LITTLE BIT of alcohol..." - Elder McAllister, describing how I might be able to find a woman who looks somewhat like my mom in the congregation of our ward.

I hope these things aren't offensive. They are extremely humorous to us missionaries. I have felt pain from laughing so hard this week. Things are good and they will be great!

I love you!

Hermana Hewitt

Photos: 

1. Hermana Kim fell asleep saying her prayers after personal study.

2. And I spent the remainder of our lunch hour...TRYING to study…

3. Here's our district/ward missionary force - our last Sunday together before Elder Payne goes home and transfers come around next week!

4. We bought shirts that say Shut The Front Door. And my companion keeps kissing me with a fish.)

Don't ask me!  I have no idea what it means either! :-)

Hot ice cream 9-22-14

Well, here we are in the end of September and it's STILL FREEZING COLD. Just imagine. I am going to go from blistering, sweltering, suffocating heat to winter in Logan, UT in December. It will be so welcome. If I could tan, I would come back like a California Girl. I am just going to get there in the darkness of winter with a face riddled with freckles. Thanks, Perú.

Anyway, I tried to convince Hermana Kim to buy ice cream with me the other day and she just looked at me as if I were one of the crazy people we taught this week. I suggested hot ice cream and she just shook her head and walked away.

Hermana Kim y Hermana Hewitt

In total we taught about 13 new investigators this week, though we could only count ten because at least three were just a little off their rockers. Or a lot. Well, one sister was listening semi-intently as we taught her about the Restoration and when I asked her a question to help her focus she started yelling about how in one ear she was hearing the word of God and in the other ear she was listening to Satan trapping the hearts of her neighbors (they were playing loud salsa music). She then firmly told us that what we were saying was all well and good, but she simply did not wish to repent at this time. Maybe later, she mused. Well...alright.

Another gentleman was sitting outside his house with his wolf and when I contacted him he said we could come back later after the game was over. So we returned with a sister from the ward. When he opened the door she looked at me like WHAT HAVE YOU DONE! We took a seat and he remained standing behind his chair. He told us he didn't have shoes on...so we said we could wait. When he came and we said the prayer, we began to teach and very quickly he began to discuss the two World Wars and the influence of China and gypsies and economic theory. We tried to bring the subject back into play and he grumbled about how he would be able to explain this to a man, but yeah well we're just a couple women.

The moment I mentioned the word "prophet" he perked up and said, "THAT'S IT! Prophets are basically like gypsies! You DO know what I'm talking about!"

It all went downhill from there. Anyway. We didn't count him as a nuevo investigador.

However! We did find a wonderful new family! It was so beautiful. Here's what I wrote to Presidente. A while back we contacted a family as we were searching for a dirección desconocida. We tried to set up several appointments but all of them fell through until finally we were able to visit the mom and two of her three kids on Tuesday. When they invited us in, we found out that the night before, exactly the night that the dad had gone far away to work, their car had been stolen and they were being ransomed for 3,000 soles. They were all really sad and worried and scared. We taught them a little bit about the priesthood and how it had been restored, and the elders came and gave the mom and her son a blessing. Instantly they were calmer. We set up another appointment but knew that we shouldn't teach them without their dad. His work schedule has him at home for only one week before leaving for a month or two. Well, the next appointment fell through, but we decided to stop by yesterday night to see how they were doing. Without hesitation they invited us in and there was the dad! WHAT!!! He had come back for the car incident. And guess what? They had gotten the car back without any troubles. So we taught them the Restoration and all 5 members of the family accepted to be baptized! The dad left this morning for Huancayo again but we are finding a meetinghouse in his area and he is excited to read in the Book of Mormon and pray and hear from the missionaries there!

So they're awesome. And we're just loving life here in San Diego Dos. Also we had a work visit with Hermana Aliaga and I didn't almost kill her like all the rest. Success! 

ALSO one of the members bought us ROOTBEER and it was a good day.

Quote of the Week:

"Ah I hate Lord of the Rings! It's so booooring. Like when that one guy gets there...Randall? Grandalf? I don't know. That bearded guy. It's just so dumb." - Cinthia, a very opinionated ward member who accompanied us

Well...make good choices. Say sincere prayers. Serve and love one another. LIKE I LOVE YOU.

Hermana Hewitt

"If it's not fun, it's not the Gospel!" 9-15-14

President Archibald is a GENIUS! That was the line of his letter to us this week. Goodness, he is so great. I love President and Sister Archibald!

We really did have a lot of fun this week. Hermana Kim and I decided to make a new commandment for ourselves: Thou shalt not enter thy house in the nighttime without having contacted ten people. So we contacted up a storm and have started already to see the fruits of our labor! In the five days since we set that rule we've made 56 contacts. Not all accept, of course, and that's a whole different story, but there are a lot of possibilities here. There are a lot of prepared families!

I think the biggest struggle with investigators in this area is keeping their commitments. We have taught some seriously hardcore lessons in which the Spirit was so strong, using the scriptures and examples and parables and relating the commitments specifically to the investigator. You know, we teach people, not lessons. But then they don't show up to church, or we go back and find out they didn't read or pray after we left! So that's pretty frustrating. Therefore we are working on finding new ways to teach and invite and verify commitments. Will you pray for us to receive inspiration on that?

I'm really grateful for priesthood power. A ward member came with us to visit a less active sister on Tuesday and her aunt, who she was very close to, had just passed away. He instantly offered to give her a blessing and it was beautiful! Men, always be worthy, ready, and willing to use your priesthood authority to bless God's children.

We talked about why we should never go swimming as missionaries. D&C 61:14.

 14 Behold, I, the Lord, in the beginning blessed the waters; but in the last days, by the mouth of my servant John, I cursed the waters.

Also, a recently reactivated sister who accompanied us on Thursday taught us some phrases in Quechua. 

MANANKANCHO: There's nobody here.

HAKU RIPUNA: Let's go!

IMAYNAN KASIANKI: Hello. How are you?

PANKANKI: Who are you?

Ah también. Hermana Kim asked me to cut her hair this week, so I did. It's pretty darn cute. I was living vicariously through her as I cut it short (missing my short short hair but accepting the fact that I would probably receive hate mail in Spanish if I did that here), and if she hadn't started to throw a fit I would have cut it shorter. Anyway, we were eating lunch later on and she just couldn't get the length of her hair out of her head. She sometimes calls me Hermana Hedwig...I don't really know why that started...but she stopped to look up from our game of Uno and simply said, "What a shame, Hedwig. What a shame."

She loves me.

On Friday we were knocking doors in the morning and as we passed a certain house, she began to explain to me in English, "In this house lives a señor..." I gave her the word in English. "Gentleman." She smiled and said, "Sí. A gentle señor."

Also we sang some good old My Chemical Romance walking to an appointment in the afternoon. Hermana Kim got really into it and started whisper-yelling, "WHEN I WAS A YOUNG BOY MY FATHER TOOK ME INTO THE CITY TO SEE A MARCHING BAND..."

We ate some delicious soup with weird meat in it. She asked what it was and I said I thought it was the fat. She grimaced and said, "Of what, MONSTER?"

Also, we contacted a man while we were standing waiting to make copies in a corner store. He was really nice! He asked where we were from and I said I was from Cajamarca, a part of Perú where a lot of gringos live. He didn't believe me and I told him the truth. We invited him to church and he said, "Look, I would love to, but I would just go and debate with all of your doctrines." I asked him what doctrines and he started to tell us that we didn't believe in Jesus Christ and God having the same purpose. I explained very simply the Godhead and he was like...Oh! Alright! Great! And without too much hesitation he made another joke about Cajamarca and slowly walked away laughing. We discussed later the how clear it was that the Spirit had testified to him of the truth of what we said and he was kinda stunned. Never forget your testimony!

Also, yesterday was real trunky in church. Everything was about eternal marriage and the family. I took notes and cried. It was just so darn sweet. NONETHELESS. I'm going to come home and hash out that epic feat of finding my exaltation in just a little less than FOUR months, and UNTIL then, I am STILL CONTACTING FAMILIES so that they can figure out theirs.

I am really happy.

One more thing! We started out our district P-day early today and spent three hours hiking around in the clouds. I'll send some pictures. It was the adventure of a lifetime. HARD because we got lost and the hills here are extraordinarily steep and lacking in trails, but so much fun! Our district is very close and I feel so blessed.

 The journey up Ensenada Mountain begins.

 Feeling pretty accomplished!

 Our district (minus Hermana Kim...she was taking the picture. There weren't exactly a ton of other people up there)

My attitude about weekly planning

The sun came out for the first morning in months this week! Then it went back into hiding.

I love you all! Make good choices!

Hermana Hewitt