Hey guys!

I hope everyone is doing well. I miss everyone so much. Love in the family is very important. I don't think I knew what love was until I was separated from those who I loved the most.

Peru is Peru. I got mauled by a dog and this dog was huge. Like some people thought it was funny, but I was terrified. I have a softball sized bruise on my leg. I was about to kill this thing, but I honestly don't know who would have won the fight. I have to make sure the dog is still alive, because if it dies, then I risk getting rabies - which means I'll have to find the jerk that tried to kill me!

I am learning and developing skills that are hard to come by. The spirit is very much a language we have to learn. In a way, I am actually learning two languages. I can't speak well in Spanish if I don't pray or read my scriptures, and I can't make it through the day if I don't have the spirit or can't speak Spanish. There is a dangerous area in our mission that we don't usually go to at night, but we had to be there and almost got robbed by our taxi driver. My companion knows the danger signs since he is Peruvian and quickly told the driver to let us out and that we were missionaries preaching the word of God. People here are kind of God fearing, so they don't really want to touch you if you claim you are a messenger of God. It is kind of interesting. But I could feel the spirit telling us to be careful. And the spirit was guiding us in this area we were in, and if our investigator didn't answer the door and come with us, we very well could have gotten robbed because there were some people who were scouting us out. I didn't know it because I am a little oblivious, but my companion did notice and acted.

I am slowly learning more and more. The process is painful. I do miss home, and I wish I could go back to my childhood sometimes. But we can't slow down time, and we sometimes can't change our circumstances, even if we want to. We have to learn to make the most of our situation and adapt. Cherish what we have and continue to make experiences we can cherish forever. I love my family. I love my friends. I love my home and man Texas is amazing. Being a missionary is hard work and I am learning to work hard, like I never have worked before. I am a missionary 24-7. I wake up early everyday, work hard and serve, and go to bed to start the day all over again. The gospel is what motivates me. Family is the central plan of God, and I feel that every time we teach. I wouldn't be here without my family. God gives us family to be happy, to have joy, to learn, grow, and to learn how to work together.

I hope all is well and support from home means so much. Keep being awesome. Also, don't hesitate to send me loads of packages because man it is the most exciting thing in the world!

Finally, the Prophet came to Peru!!!  He gave an awesome devotional to the missionaries, and he spoke to the people of Peru! Not only did he speak to the people of Peru, but he spoke to them in SPANISH. The Prophet spoke Spanish! It was so awesome! I learned a lot about the prophet in his trip to Peru, like that he receives revelation and direction for the church every single day. And man, it must be a hard job to be a prophet. It was so awesome to hear from him and the messages he had to say. You can find a summary of his visit here, or here.  And finally, here.