Buenas tardes a todos, estas semanas pasadas han sido muy locas pero gratificante para mi.
We finally got Christian and Maria married and baptized!!!!! It was such a long day, but the 30th of November they took the steps necessary to make a promise with each other and with their Heavenly Father. We got to their marriage an hour late, but it is okay because the judge was super chill about the whole thing and we just needed them to say ̈si ́ and sign. It was super funny, because I was organizing everything and had to find two witnesses for the marriages, so I went the easy route and just asked a sister missionary and another elder that were Peruvians to witness the marriage and sign. Who knew that it would be super awkward and funny to see them two together witnessing the marriage for Christian and Maria? Elder Montenegro was super rojito de the whole thing. We also got them baptized and returned super happy.
The next day was their confirmation, and Maria woke up for church but Christian was super exhausted and was out like a rock. He would not get up, so he had to wait till the following week to get the Holy Ghost, but the two of them have finally been confirmed members of the Church of Jesus Christ. It was a super rewarding experience to see this family get together. We had to watch their baby Maria Paola a lot, because she was crying during the whole marriage and baptism, so that was a little stressful, so we gave that girl lots of chocolates and sweets, but even then she didn't stay quiet for very long. She is a super cute baby though and super funny.
Another funny story, we were helping Christian and Maria do a pollada to help them earn a little money, and they asked us to deliver a pollo to someone who asks for it. Well, they didn't know the name, direction, and provided a super complicated directions that neither my companion or I could follow. We spent about 45 minutes looking for some woman who maybe asked for pollo, when at last I just gave up and started offering the pollo for free. But the crazy thing is that no one would even accept the pollo for free. I thought it looked good and no one was taking it. I guess I didn't take into account that it looked a little weird, some tall gringo offering free food out of nowhere. At last someone did accept it, and I ended up paying for the pollada because I couldn't find the lady that asked for it. They should have given me the name and a direction especifico though.
Another crazy story, we were with Christian one day, at his internet cafe, talking with him, also playing with his two little dogs about the size of a throw pillow. The same size as their three year old daughter Maria Paola. Well, their neighbor has a huge pit-bull and it somehow escaped from their door and full on attacked one of the small dogs. I was freaked out because I wasn't going to reach my hand down to save that little thing, but after lots of noise and a few knocked down chairs from the beast, things got under control because that pit-bull had protection over its mouth that prohibited it from biting anything. It was a good scare, but as we were leaving I told my companion that if that dog didn't have protection, it would have absolutely mauled that thing. I told him jokingly I kinda wanted to see that beast destroy the dog. THE NEXT FREAKING DAY we went about the same time and that dog escaped, and KILLED the poor little dog. This time he escaped without the protection, and absolutely destroyed the poor little thing. We were playing with it that SAME MORNING. The worst part, is that I didn't know pit-bulls go for the sensitive parts but that dog killed it where it hurts most for the man, and to see the remains of that poor dog honestly scarred me. We were all in a big circle, and I felt so bad for Christian and Maria because they really loved that poor dog. My companion later gave me a hard time because I said the day before as a joke I wanted to see it. That scared the junk out of me, because what if that was a little kid?! That dog could have killed me if it wanted too!!! That was a mean freaking dog. They called the police and when they arrived an hour later, I think they went to kill the beast. I am pretty sure I won't ever have a pit bull after seeing such a scene.
Another awesome experience. We have been teaching Lucero for some months now, and she has been studying the Book of Mormon so much and it is all marked up with her notes and highlights. She has such a testimony of Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon, but todavia she was not gonna get baptized because she felt she had to be well prepared to make the decision. I have been studying so much for her, trying to help her understand the scriptures and find things that could connect with her. We have had lots of super spiritual lessons with her, and she understands super clearly the doctrine. I wanted to see her baptized so bad, and I was trying to find any way to help her understand the importance of the doctrine. I studied so much for her about the plan of salvation one day, this time taking an approach from the Bible studying in depth everything trying to understand it clearly. We get to the cita and I was ready to start teaching and pull out everything I prepared, and before I could even say anything she said she wants to get baptized this week. My jaw dropped and was super feliz to hear what she said. She shared her testimony, and leaving the cita I was about to cry I was so happy for her. We went over the preguntas bautismales and she understood everything clearly. I took a look at her Book of Mormon, and it was marked more than mine is. I know she is going to be a strong leader in the iglesia, and I ask for your prayers for her when she enters in the waters of baptism this Saturday. It is going to be the best Christmas gift for her and for Heavenly Father ever.
I love you guys! Love the mission! I love Peru!!!!!!!!!
