Hey!!

So it is finally the new change, and nothing is changing! I am still with Elder Pacheco and I will still be serving here in Gran Chimu with him for at least another 6 week, so let's get down to work!

This week we almost got to baptize Yarixa, but it just wasn't possible. Everything that could go wrong, went wrong. We went in the morning to fill up the font, then we came back at 6 to check up on the church before the baptism planned at 7, and the font was completely empty..... and we came to find out that there was NO WATER in the building. So we started freaking out because we didn't know what to do, so we called the Zone lideres and they said we could do it in the other building so they filled up that font over there, while we waited for everyone to come, and then all head over there at the same time. Well we waited and waited, and some members came but Yarixa never came. We called and called and called until like the 50th time she finally answered just to tell us she was at her university and wasn't going to make it. Like bro, we did everything we could and Satan still won that round. By that time it was around 8 and we just told everyone they could go home. It was a long and stressful day. I still have faith that she will get baptized some day.

Other than that, we went up the mountain to visit some members and we came across the most sketch cemetery in the world. A little story on this part, the area is called Tupac Amaru where some time ago there was flooding, and the flood came running down this mountain and smoothed everything out because it was like a river. When the flood was over, it left everything flattened out, and what better place to start building your home?? So everyone who doesn't have a lot of money but wants a good place to live, just went right on up there to build their house. A nice, safe, secure place UNTIL THE NEXT FREAKING FLOOD COMES.  Then it will flatten your house out too, and you can have a fresh start!!  Well in this area there is also a cemetery nicknamed Donde la Vida no Vale Nada, and it is super freaky because they are very poorly buried and it is just like a mound of sand covering the body and it gives me the jeepers.  There are lots of graves where there isn't even any tombstone or cross or anything, just a mound of sand and you know there is a body there. We were up visiting members for that area, and we let curiosity get the best of us and man that cemetery freaked me out. I tried to show some respect for them and fix some broken crosses and clean up some trash around the graves, because for me it actually made me super sad to see it because I am sure there were many good people that died there.

We also have been doing some service shoe making, because here in good old Porvenir, they are best known for them good old fake brand shoes, so I learned how to make some nike shoes with your adidas, and your puma, but they are totally fake. They have marks that say made in Indonesia when it is being made in Peru?  It gave me lots of laughter, but it is awesome. I love making shoes and helping with the fake shoe business.

I know this gospel is true and Christ can strengthen us in all things whenever we are down. I love you all so much and hope you have a great week!!

Con amor,
Elder McGreer

This week was a super fast week. So last week I bought a pretty awesome hat and it has been doing a great job at protecting me from the sun, so I am grateful for that. We also had an awesome Zone Conference this week where we had a super intense ping pong tournament, which was the most hype ping pong tournament I have ever seen in my life.

This week we put a fecha for hermana Yarixa, and with lots of faith she will get baptized tomorrow. I am hoping everything runs smoothly. She is 18 years old, but her dad does not want her to get baptized. I don't know why, but for some reason there are lots of parents here that do not want their kids getting baptized or going to church. The plan is to get her baptized on her way home from school and her parents told her she can go to church just fine, so I am praying that this week it will all work out!

President Hinostroza has asked us to memorize ten scriptures of virtue and a whole hymn with all the verses, so I am working on that even though me memory is terrible. This last week I have been practicing my voice to see if I can sing well, like a Broadway singer, and well that was a dumb choice because the next day my throat hurt so bad and my companion Elder Pacheco was dying laughing from all that hahaha

While I have been here in the mission, I have developed a really strong testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith. Ï have lots of respect for him, and know with all my heart that he truly did see God the Father and Jesus Christ. I can't deny it, and know that the promise is we too can know it. When we have sincere hearts, true intention, and faith in Jesus Christ, the Holy Ghost will make manifest the truth of all things if we ask Heavenly Father ourselves if it is true. I know it is, and it is the most important message today that can be conveyed.

I know the importance of always focusing on the Savior, that all our thoughts and feelings must be directed towards Him. I truly know that today we are in a war, a war between good and evil. That we need soldiers of virtue and good moral character that can stand strong against the face of evil. We must be focused on establishing the kingdom of God here on earth and to allow His blessings to be rained down upon us. In DyC 130:20-21 it says:

20 There is a a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all blessings are predicated—

21 And when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated.

In order to receive the blessings that we desperately need, it requires that we be the faithful, obedient servants that He needs us to be in this time. Also DyC 121:45-46 has been a scripture on my mind mucho that has been something to ponder. It reads:


45 Deja también que tus entrañas se llenen de caridad para con todos los hombres, y para con los de la familia de la fe, y deja que la virtud engalane tus pensamientos incesantemente; entonces tu confianza se fortalecerá en la presencia de Dios; y la doctrina del sacerdocio destilará sobre tu alma como crocíodel cielo.

46 El Espíritu Santo será tu compañero constante, y tu cetro, un cetro inmutable de justicia y de verdad; y tu dominio será un dominio eterno, y sin ser compelido fluirá hacia ti para siempre jamás.

That is a pretty amazing promise. That if we follow as directed, el Espiritu Santo será nuestro compañero CONSTANTE. Tu dominio será un dominio ETERNO. Cuan asombroso es esta promesa?! Sè que tenemos que hacerlo como soldados de Dios.

Les amo!!!!!!

Con Amor,

This week was a very interesting week.

So Thursday, I woke up throwing up like crazy. That was NOT fun. I thought maybe it was just a one and done thing because that has happened before, but when we got to the pension I again threw up there. Then, I went back to the room and called the enfermera, and she said to take some bismutol because apparently it is something called the pitts. I took the bismutol, and couldn't even hold that down before throwing it up all over the floor because i couldn't make it from my bed to the bathroom. I couldn't keep anything down!!  I went to bed and passed out all day. The other elders came and we did a division so that we could still make it to our citas.

BUT, we had a baptism that day for hermana Stephany Lucero Llapo Vega!!!  I manned up at night to put on my suit and make it to her baptism and it was awesome. When I transferred to this area, the only challenge for her baptism was getting permission from her mom, so I went to their house,  shared my testimony and what I knew would bless and help them and she agreed, signed, and BOOM al agua!  It was a pretty special experience.  I am so excited for her!!

We nearly had another baptism, but it looks like the dad does not want her daughter to get baptized even though she is of age.  It was a stressful experience, but we did all we can and it didn't work out. We also had another one planned, but the kids disappeared from the planet so we couldn't do much there hahah.

The mission is full of wild experiences, and stress, but lots of blessings. I know that there is nothing more important than this work. The Lord deserves all that we can give. I know with certainty that this is His true church, and when we have faith we are humble, diligent, and able to endur our trials that come to us. We must always seek to learn and grow. I know this is true and I know it is something I need to practice every day.  I love you all!!!

Hey!!!

So this week we had another surprise baptism!!!   We had the blessing to baptize Deivy Beckam Casiano Aguilar, Sunday morning before church. We put our goal as one baptism at the beginning of the week not knowing who, and before the week was over we found out we could do it!!!  It was so awesome. Beckam is a 13 year old kid, which some of his family members are members of the Church as well. Two of his sisters are members. We had some interesting lessons, but he understood the commandments and was ready to make the sacred covenant with the Lord so we were super excited for him.

This week we are also hoping to have three more baptisms, but I will keep you guys posted on what happens. We had been working super hard, and Gran Chimu is a place where there are lots of people super prepared.  It is so exciting to be here, in the work, where we are always super duper busy.

My companion and I have also been getting up every morning and doing some intense exercising with the football that was gifted to me, so that has been fun.  Every time we drop the ball, we have to do ten burpees (I rarely drop it) so it has been funny making my companion work his butt off, but it worked!  He could fit into his baptismal pants when he didn't before!!!  So we needed that because that was just a ridiculous challenge at the baptism when he couldn't fit into his freaking pants.

Our district is super small, there is only four of us.  But we had interchanges where I went with Elder Chicaiza and that was pretty fun.  At the end of the day, when we came back to the room, we found the movie 17 Miracles and we put it on and wow that movie was super powerful.  To think of all the sacrifices the saints made of their families, homes, health, their pride, even their lives to build Zion. It really motivated me because it seems like I have it way easier than they did.  I know that when we truly understand the doctrine and know these things are true, I know I can overcome all things through Christ who strengthens me.  So when the challenges come, we must face them head on with ourselves pointed in the direction of Christ and all will be well.

I love you guys and hope you have a great week!

SO THIS WEEK WAS AWESOME.  We had five baptisms!!!!  We baptized a whole family!  A mom with her three kids!!!!  Hermana Gheraldyne, D´Alessandro, Mauricio, and Anny.  It was such a beautiful sight to see, especially since they have had so many difficult challenges and problems, that they put their trust in God and were able to make the sacred covenant with our Heavenly Father.  Also we baptized a young women Eliana, who did not want to get baptized at all.  Other missionaries were super forceful with her and basically told her if she didn't get baptized, that she didn't love Jesus and her condemnation was greater or something like that. I don't really know, but I just told her what I felt and knew, and shared my testimony and out of nowhere while I was talking she said she wanted to get baptized!!!  And we said Sunday and she said yeah!  It was so crazy, but such a powerful week to see these children of our Heavenly Father come unto Christ.

While I was meditating this week I had lots of thoughts and feelings come to me.  Lots of matters personales. A scripture that spoke to my soul that hit me deep is found in Alma 26:12;
Sí, yo sé que nada soy; en cuanto a mi fuerza, soy débil; por tanto, no me jactaré de mí mismo, sino que me gloriaré en mi Dios, porque con su fuerza puedo hacer todas las cosas; sí, he aquí que hemos obrado muchos grandes milagros en esta tierra, por los cuales alabaremos su nombre para siempre jamás. 

Sorry I don´t have it in English and I read it in Spanish anyways. I was sitting in fast and testimony meeting, and while I was pondering my mind went to the scripture where Ammon was rejoicing in the repentance of thousands. I read this scripture and I was filled with the spirit. I know it is true, because I am nothing.  In my strength, I am weak. I won´t boast of myself, because I have nothing to boast about, but I know that this is the work of God. That this is His work, and I will praise my Lord my God all the day long.  For His amazing grace, that saves a wretched soul as mine and many others. I am so grateful for the  blessings that I have, and these amazing people that I got to know and help just a little bit. That gracias to this gospel, I can move forward and even though I make many mistakes, that He is with me every step of the way.

I love the gospel!