11/28/16 So what's this thanksgiving thing that everyone is talking about? Sounds nice, but I doubt anything you had is nearly as good as the chicken, potatoes and rice that I get to eat every day. Now before you get jealous, remember I'm walking around in mud and 90 degree weather.
So still no camera, yes I know I suck but I wasn't about to pay for an overpriced piece of garbage haha I'm going to look more today, so hopefully I find something. Anyways its finally P-day! I know I should look forward to proselyting more but writing home is such great stress relief. As far as investigators go we have currently 2, which I know sounds disappointing but one thing I failed to mention last week is iIam opening an area! Which means both my companion and I are completely new to the area we are in... and our records show a total of 2 people that we might possibly be able to teach, but I doubt it. My comp is awesome haha although sometimes I can't completely express myself because of the language barrier but that's alright, its not necessary to teach! He is super patient with me and I'm trying really hard to not be a frustrated wreck haha. The Spanish kills and my head is pounding by the end of the day but that's just part of the experience right? I just need to keep at it and I know the Lord will somehow help people to understand what I'm trying to say. The food hasn't changed much, from what I've been told the area, apartment, and my pentionist (cook) might be the best in the mission... so the real question is... what is a hard area like... yikes. Everything here just seems normal now though. when I first got here it was a little shocking but now it's like the US doesn't exist. With time I know I'll adjust even more and hopefully I'll come out of this a tad more mature... we shall see. haha,I can't distinguish days that well, so next week I'll bring my journal and give you all a daily report. So uh, yeah that's all for this week, love you all so much! (the lord loves you even more) ¡Chao! -Elder Grover
**If I'm being honest, this is very hard, but I'm so happy to be here because I know that when its hard it means you're changing, which is what I wanted.
Monday, November 28, 2016
Monday, November 21, 2016
David and Goliath Unleashed
11/21/16 So I missed a week, Big deal right? at least I have a really good excuse! Finally in the field! YES. oh man have these past days been crazy... lets start with the basic stuff. this past Tuesday I flew to Iquitos with a group from the mtc, we met the president and had this yellow mush for lunch. I dont know how they do it but yellow mush is so good! President Lee and his wife are both tiny and super nice, but I didnt get too much time with him because he is super busy. We then went to the mission office where we got our areas and our companions! drum roll pleaseee...... I am currently in the city of Pucallpa! Not even Iquitos, but I'm not mad, its super awesome here! and my comapanion isss....... Elder Llamoca! Tiny little Peruvian who has been out for a year and 4 months. the height difference is astounding... we've been called david and goliath i don't know how many times... anyways that reminds me, I am going to buy a camera today! So next Monday you will all have pictures! The city itself is actually nicer than Iquitos- it has 2 actual malls and a pizza hut... haha yeah pretty awesome. Most of the houses are basically wooden shacks with dirt floors, luckily for me I have basically an actual apartment with a fully functional bathrrom (no hot water though, my shower is a good wake up call). As far as the rest of the mission goes, the apartments can be pretty gross, so well see what I get in the future! The people are suuuuper friendly, it's pretty easy to talk to just about everyone. For transportation we use mototaxis to go just about everywhere that isn't waking distance, which I love because of the breeze that comes with it (it's very hot here). Our food is all cooked by a member "pentionist". Her name is Fiorela and she's super nice and laughs at everything haha. The food is pretty good too, a lot of chicken rice beans and potatos, but the sauces usually change so it's pretty good. The other day I tried cow intestines... that was interesting, I asked what it was and they said "pollo" of course after picking out a few words of the following conversation I discoved it was caocao, or cow intestines. Surprisingly I was ok with it and kept on eating haha. My comp and iIlive with our zone leaders, and one of them is a gringo, so at night before bed I can let loose everything I want to say in English. aA far as my luggage goes, when you go to an area that isn't in iquitos, you can only take one bag... so I had to consolidate all my neccessities into one suitcase... it's ok though, theres only one thing I wish I brought and that's my rainboots... the mud here gets wild haha so my shoes are almost constantly dirty. It's whatever... I'm just excited to be here! I don't think there's much more to tell, the people are awesome and I love the work. OH! I just remembered, we already have an investigator with a baptismal date! Just keeps getting better and better. That's all for this week, love you all and so does the Lord! !Hasta Luego¡
Wednesday, November 9, 2016
One More Week Until the Real Mission Begins!
Two Weeks, Two Letters!
11/2/16 Week 4 came and went, and i regret to inform everyone that this week was pretty much the same as last week. rice, chicken, class, fake investigators, and a bunch of fresh missionaries who act like they're still in high school. Lately I've just been trying to focus on becoming more focused and diligent, as well as learning Spanish. In honesty I probably haven't been studying as much as a should be, but I am progressing and I hope to be somewhat a useful companion when I get out into the field. As far as morale goes, its definitely a roller coaster, where we have experiences that lift us up and then we will have lessons that are like a slap to the face. It's definitely humbling to know that we are on the Lord's time and we really can't get very far without him. I have really come to rely on Him so much and I can't wait to see what he makes of me when this is all said and done with. I love this work and everyone involved so much, especially the president of the mtc, the man is walking wisdom (cant even imagine what an apostle is like). i hope everyone reading this has an excellent week and I can't wait to see what this next week brings. ¡chao! -Elder Grover
11/9/16 Would it be disappointing if I said this week was pretty much the same as last week? Well luckily this is the last week in the CCM, so starting next wednesday the updates should get a little more exciting. As far as events go nothing spectacular has happened. Classes are progressing at their usual pace and I still feel the need to get out. However there have been times where I appreciate the comforts of the CCM, especially that I have about 80 missionaries from the states here with me which makes things easier as we deal with the changes together. The field should be a new and exciting challenge and I look forward to what the hot jungles of iquitos brings. My spanish is progressing slowly but surely and I can't wait for the super embarassing moments in the future where a lesson takes a completely wrong turn because of something I will say. The spirit is still as strong as ever and I have to say if I learned anything this week, its' that perfect obedience is so important. But to elaborate I need to explain my companion (which I should have done earlier but they never give me enough time). Elder Cook is from Utah, and basically is the epitomy of apostle in the making. His Spanish is better than mine and he started with basically nothing, and he makes little to no mistakes with the rules or with his study. Sounds great right? Not when that's what you have to be companions with as you watch him surpass you in everything you were doing well at. The frustration is real, but he is a great example of what perfect obedience can do. So this past week I've had two goals, stop comparing myself, and be perfectly obedient. So far Ive had such a wide variety of good and bad experiences, I don't know what to think other than that its been a crazy roller-coaster. As far as my success goes with the goals, well I'll leave it at I'm working on it. I'll have to end it here, but know that this work is amazing and that the Lord loves you all so much. also remember if you don't abandon Him, He wont abandon you. ¡Chao!
11/2/16 Week 4 came and went, and i regret to inform everyone that this week was pretty much the same as last week. rice, chicken, class, fake investigators, and a bunch of fresh missionaries who act like they're still in high school. Lately I've just been trying to focus on becoming more focused and diligent, as well as learning Spanish. In honesty I probably haven't been studying as much as a should be, but I am progressing and I hope to be somewhat a useful companion when I get out into the field. As far as morale goes, its definitely a roller coaster, where we have experiences that lift us up and then we will have lessons that are like a slap to the face. It's definitely humbling to know that we are on the Lord's time and we really can't get very far without him. I have really come to rely on Him so much and I can't wait to see what he makes of me when this is all said and done with. I love this work and everyone involved so much, especially the president of the mtc, the man is walking wisdom (cant even imagine what an apostle is like). i hope everyone reading this has an excellent week and I can't wait to see what this next week brings. ¡chao! -Elder Grover
11/9/16 Would it be disappointing if I said this week was pretty much the same as last week? Well luckily this is the last week in the CCM, so starting next wednesday the updates should get a little more exciting. As far as events go nothing spectacular has happened. Classes are progressing at their usual pace and I still feel the need to get out. However there have been times where I appreciate the comforts of the CCM, especially that I have about 80 missionaries from the states here with me which makes things easier as we deal with the changes together. The field should be a new and exciting challenge and I look forward to what the hot jungles of iquitos brings. My spanish is progressing slowly but surely and I can't wait for the super embarassing moments in the future where a lesson takes a completely wrong turn because of something I will say. The spirit is still as strong as ever and I have to say if I learned anything this week, its' that perfect obedience is so important. But to elaborate I need to explain my companion (which I should have done earlier but they never give me enough time). Elder Cook is from Utah, and basically is the epitomy of apostle in the making. His Spanish is better than mine and he started with basically nothing, and he makes little to no mistakes with the rules or with his study. Sounds great right? Not when that's what you have to be companions with as you watch him surpass you in everything you were doing well at. The frustration is real, but he is a great example of what perfect obedience can do. So this past week I've had two goals, stop comparing myself, and be perfectly obedient. So far Ive had such a wide variety of good and bad experiences, I don't know what to think other than that its been a crazy roller-coaster. As far as my success goes with the goals, well I'll leave it at I'm working on it. I'll have to end it here, but know that this work is amazing and that the Lord loves you all so much. also remember if you don't abandon Him, He wont abandon you. ¡Chao!
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