Week 53: A Baptism, A Crazy Hair Cut, and A Few Pics

Dear Family and Friends,

This week was good, Davis has pretty much disappeared, we are pretty sure that he is in Comas with the mother of his children. They separated a good time ago but have maybe gotten together again, were not really sure. But on the bright side, Amadeo was baptized this past week! His baptism was super awesome! I'll send some pics. But we also found this awesome new lady that came to church yesterday, her name is Meriela and was a referral (Referencia) from a member. She's had a tough life, she had a daughter but she passed away as a baby so we shared the Plan of Salvation with her and she asked us what she needs to do if she is going to see her daughter again so we invited her to baptism and she accepted for the end of Octubre! There really are so many people that are prepared, it is just a matter of finding them and teaching with the Spirit. 

So this morning I received some awesome news....my "mission mom" from La Habana back in Comas sent me an email this morning to tell me that Osmar and Yessenia are still working towards the goal of being sealed this December! Osmar is currently one of the counselors in the Elders quorum and they are doing great. I've been wanting to call them lately but I barely got their number tracked down and we haven't had much credit on our phone, but today I'm gonna call them, I'm super happy for them! I'm super happy and excited to be able to go to their sealing! 

Also, something pretty cool happened yesterday... I was able to interview this lady for Sister Beatty and Bustamante and she has been praying so much to be able to know that the church is true, she explained to me that she hadn't felt that she has received an answer yet because every time that she prays, the only thing that comes to her mind are the Nephites and Lamanites. As soon as she said that, the Spirit flooded the room and I explained to her that she is one of their descendants. I read with her the first few verses in 3 Nefi 21 that talk about how the Lord was going to reveal the Book of Mormon to the gentiles and all that. She understood it perfectly and understood that she had already received an answer and needs to act on the teachings of the Book of Mormon if Gods promise is going to be completed. It was really cool. 

Con mucho amor, 

Elder Potter

Taken on Elder Potters 1 year day!!!

This is a super wacky haircut Elder Villagran gave me.  The top was super crazy... he cut it for more than an hour:)

Our District -Elder Sangama, Elder Brimhall, Hmna. Bustamante, Hmna. Beatty, Elder Villagran, Elder Potter

Elder Potter, Amadeo, and Elder Villagran at the baptism

Elder Villagran and Elder Potter eating a yummy strawberry pie!

Julio, Nancy, Elder Potter and Elder Villagran

Nancy, Elder Villagran, Elder Potter, and Julio

Julio and Nancy at the Lima Temple

Week 52:Dios inspira a los hombres

Buenas dias!

This week was super great! I don't have much time, so I'm gonna try to write as much as I can! Elder Villagran and I have worked like horses this whole change and we have seen many miracles. So when I was with Elder Niño 3 changes ago we were teaching this lady named Luz and we ended up baptizing her daughter Julisa. Luz just never really wanted to get baptized even though we worked super hard for her and even fasted and prayed a lot for her. Well, long story short, we went to her house yesterday and told us straight up that she has taken the decision to be baptized! God has a time and place for all things to happen. I know that God answers prayers and prepares all the hearts of His children to accept the gospel. She is going to be baptized in October. 

Also this week we had two baptisms of Fabiana and Valeri Gomez, we really were hoping that their mom was also going to get baptized but it didn't happen. Again, after all we have done, we have to accept the will and time of the Lord in all things. This week Amadeo is going to be baptized as well! It's amazing how God works through His servants when their obedient and diligent. Davis has officially disappeared from off the face of the earth. We haven't been able to contact him in any way at all for almost a week and a half now, its really worrying us. 

Anyways, don't have any more time, but have a great week! 

Con mucho amor, 

Elder Potter

 

Elder Potter, ? Elder Villagran

 

Elder Potter and Elder Villagran in Lima

 

Lima Center

 

Sister Samudio, Sister Beatty, ?, Elder Villagran, Elder Potter, ?

 

Elder Villagran,  Fabiana, Valeri and Elder Potter

 

Book of Mormon in Quechewa, native languange of Peru.

 

Elder Villagran and Elder Potter

 

The view from the hills

 

Week 51: Otra Semana Excelente!

Muy Buenas Dias a todos!

This last week was super awesome! Elder Villagran and I just keep working super hard and were starting to have a lot of success  here in Los Manzanos. We've been focus a lot on our new golden investigators, Amadeo and Davis. It's been great to see their progress and desires to join Christs church and be baptized. It's amazing how people can change through Christ.

This week truly has just flown by! It's funny, at the beginning of my mission, the days slowly started going by faster, then the weeks, then the months, then the changes...it's just crazy, it goes by way to fast. Jaja, I would almost like to serve a 14 year mission like the Sons of Mosiah did. Preaching the gospel and being a representative of Jesus Christ  truly has the power to make someone happy. 

So far this transfer has gone by super, super fast! I'm thinking I'm going to be leaving in three weeks, that hit me this past week, and it made me sad to think about it because this area has turned out to be great. It's crazy to see what hard work, diligence, faith and trusting in God can do. 

Well, that about it for this week. Que todos tengan una muy buena semana!

Elder Potter

I realized I haven't sent many pictures home of what Lima is really like.... so I'm gonna try to do better at that.

The people here build up onto their houses so they leave all the extra concrete and rocks on the side of their house so that they can use it if they want to build more some day. I dont know why but the dogs like to mount the heaps of concrete and stuff and make them their home.

This is one of the main streets by my area, there are hundreds of stray dogs that roam them.

I'll have more pictures next week...

Week 50: La mejor semana de mi misión! (The Best Week of my Mission)

Hola familia y amigos!

Well, to start of with... this week has easily been the best week of my mission!  Elder Villagran and I have been working crazy hard and have had so many incredible experiences this week. It really has been the best week, we have seen so many miracles in our area, in every sense of the word. 

At the beginning of this change we didn't have very many investigators, and almost none that were progressing and it was super hard. But Elder Villagran and I have really been inspired and motivated lately. As we've been working hard we have been able to triple the investigators that are attending church! It was a great week. So, I'm going to give you an "investigator update" so you know who were teaching. 

Doris y Santos - So, last Saturday we got a call from this guy in Madrid, Spain telling us that his parents live in our area and that he wanted us to visit them the next day, so we went on Sunday and it was awesome. They ended up coming to church this last Sunday. Doris is a lot more receptive to the gospel and has a goal for baptism. 

Davis - This was a super inspired contact! We fasted this week to be able to have progressing investigators and on Saturday we went out to contact and we knocked on Davis door. Six years ago he was listening to the missionaries with his family but never got the chance to be baptized. It was so crazy, while we were at his door he told us that he wanted to be baptized in the church and that he knew that Joseph Smith was a prophet and that the church is true. He also came to church yesterday and has a baptismal date for the 26th of this month. 

Amardo- On Friday we got on to a bus and Elder Villagran sat next to this guy that was getting off the bus but contacted him and the exchanged phone numbers and all that. Well, yesterday we got a call from so missionaries in the Mision Lima Central asking to see if we had talked to a guy on a bus named Amardo, and we said yes. Turns out this guy lives in our area but has been attending for some time in Central Lima and has received a few lessons from the Elders there. It was super inspired that we got on that bus. 

We have been able to find a whole bunch of other people in the process as well that also came to church this past week. 

I have gained a strong testimony this week that through diligence, faith, hard work, and prayer miracles can happen and the people who are prepared to receive the gospel will be put in the way of the gospel. 

Also, this week Hermana Carrasco, who was in my district for a while, received her visa for Utah this week and left for the Temple Square mission yesterday. So if you happen to see a short Peruvian sister walking around in Temple Square named Hermana Carrasco, you'll have to say hi to her. 

Ha sido una excelente semana y espero que tengan una buena semana y que puedan ver la mano de Dios en sus vidas. (It was a great week and hope you have a good week and you can see the hand of God in your lives.)

Love, 

Elder Potter

Elder Potter, Elder Villagran, Hermana Carrasco, Hermana Beatty, and Hermana ?

Here is a picture of a tube of toothpaste on a mission. Drastic circumstances call for drastic measures. I was out of toothpaste.