Spencer spent all his time chatting with me instead of writing an update email, so I told him I'd provide an update. Big changes this week moving to Chepen (which took 20 minutes of me repeating it and never once enunciated it correctly. I was saying something that sounded like Japan, saying it too slow, and putting the emphasis all over the place). His companion is from Mexico, from an Arizona border town, and Spencer really likes him. A cool note is that his trainer was first assigned to Chepen and the pensionista has his picture on the wall, so the small world connection was happy for Spencer. Also, this missionary was engaged a month after returning home, so he thought that was weird, but he was happy for him - the missionary was 28.
Chepen is apparently quite a bit wealthier than Esperanza. He said there are some really nice home. There's a slang word in Spanish for rich and fancy, I suppose similar bougie, and some of these home fall in that category. It's more of a concrete jungle and much less sandy. There's a Christ the Redeemer statue that overlooks the entire city and it's illuminated at night, and he said that's really comforting. Spencer mentioned that the people were a lot more trusting - some of them leave their doors wide open, which did not happen in his last area.
He kept forgetting to mention that he shook Elder Renlund's hand while at the CCM. That was exciting for him. Also, his area did not feel the earthquake that occurred in Ecuador several weeks back, Peru is not Mexico, so allusions to the movie Coco are wasted (for which his companion got a good laugh at me for, also his companion does not play the guitar in the town square), and figuring out the exact street he lives on is virtually impossible.
Finally, Spencer wanted me to express how much he loves the gospel. How simple it can be when we choose faith and while there are complicated issues and questions (polygamy, Book of Mormon being an addition to the Bible, faith in our leaders, men becoming like God being akin to blasphemy), that none of these questions need to overshadow the simplicity of faith and hope and how wonderful that gospel is with the things that we do know and believe.
Below are a series of pictures that he sent that I absolutely love. Very funny, in my opinion. Enjoy and Spencer sends his love to everyone.
Also, here is a picture of Spencer preaching the word. All times, in all places and in all things.
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