Week 102: Ya se acerca el fin!

Muy buenos dias a todos!

Well, this is it! This is officially my last week here in Lima, Peru as a missionary and representative of Jesus Christ. I feel so blessed for have being called to serve these great people, I definitely feel like my heart is going to stay here in Lima, but I also have faith that the Lord will bless me in whatever comes next. 

Elder de la Flor and I have been giving it all we got lately, we have been working super hard and have found several great new families to teach and to possibly baptize in the near future. Christian and Melisa have been passing a few family problems as well as John and Elizabet, but they have still been coming to church and reading the Book of Mormon and praying. The little things is what is keeping them together. 

I am so grateful for the gospel in my life, it has made me a better, more hopeful, and much happier person. I really do know that Jesus Christ is our Savior and that the Book of Mormon testifies of Him and convinces us of His divine nature to be able to heal us in every way possible. I know that José Smith was really a prophet and that Thomas S. Monson is a living day prophet. The gospel of Jesus Christ really does work!

Espero que todos tengan una buena semana!

Elder Potter

Dinner with other missionaries

The city

Week 101: ¡Va a llover en septiembre! (It will rain in September!)

Buenos días!

This week was super awesome! Elder de la Flor and I had a lot of success and we now have 6 investigadores with a baptismal date for the 24 of September (my mission birthday)! It is going to rain in September! (I think he means it is going to rain baptisms!) Those that are going to be baptized are Christian and Melisa and their 14 year old daughter Ana Claudia, the other family is Jhon and Elizabet and their 12 year old son Fabian. They are so great and excited to be baptized. They went to a ward party with the Obispo Albujar on Friday night and they loved it! They told us that it really surprised them because they thought that it was prohibited to dance in the church, that was kind of funny. They all came to church on Sunday as well as 3 other investigadores. It was a good week. 

Also, I think I have an addiction to food from the selva because for lunch on Wednesday we found an awesome selva restaurant, so we ate tacacho con cecina y chorizo de la selva. It was awesome! Also, Jhon and Elizabet are from the selva and also have fried bananas in their house that they give us, its the best. 

Well, that is about all for this week! Have a good one!

Love, 

Elder Potter

Elder Potter and the land he has grown to love so much!

Santa Isabel city lights from the hills

 La zona Santa Isabel after some futbol and volleyball.

Tacacho con cecina con, Hermana Fenn,  Hermana Prieto, Elder Potter and Elder de la Flor eating jungle food.

Week 100: Una vez mas a San Juan de Lurigancho!

Muy buenos días!

This was another great week for Elder de la Flor and I here in Santa Isabel! We kicked it off by going to San Juan de Lurigancho on Monday. We got permission from the assistants to go to get some suits down and it brought back A LOT of memories. We had to pass by one of my favorite areas, Los Manzanos to get there and it made me remember a lot of people, converts, and friends that I had left behind in that area. I came to become friends with so many great people there that put their trust in the Lord and in His Atonement to be able to change their lives. I'm grateful for missionary work and the Atonement, it really does change peoples lives for the better. 

I have also got an update on Christian and Melisa for this week. Last Friday Melisa went through a surgery that left her on bed rest and she can't really move at all, so we couldn't get them written into the wedding for this month. They're going to be getting married and baptized at the end of September. Even though I won't be here for those two big events, I have seen great changes in them and in their family. They read the Book of Mormon every day and have gained a testimony of it. Just as I know the Book of Mormon is true and that Joseph Smith was a prophet, they also know it. They have came so much closer to God by reading the Book of Mormon, it is the secret to happiness. 

This week we worked really hard and were able to find a few new families to teach. They weren't able to come to church but I know that if we can teach them again this week and get them to read the Book of Mormon they will come. 

Anyway, the work is going good down here in Lima! ¡Que tengan una buena semana! 

Elder Potter

 

Happy 20th Birthday Elder Potter

Birthday celebration the Peruvian way

Happy birthday Elder Potter with companion and sweet Peruvian sister

Elder Potter's almost birthday lunch

La Hermana Jacky prepared takacho con cecina with arroz chaufa for us! It is a food from la selva (jungle). Takacho is salted fried and dried green bananas, it is pretty much the best thing some one can eat.

The tunnel to San Juan de Lurigancho. Add caption

The other food picture is un juane. Its a special rice that they prepare with a boiled egg and chicken or turkey in the selva that they cook inside of a special leaf tha its only found in the selva. Also super good.

Elder Potter and Elder de la Flor in their area

 

Week 99: Mas Milagros

Muy buenos días a todos!

I cant believe how fast the time flies by! Elder de la Flor and I had another super awesome week! Last Sunday one of Elder de la Flors converts from his last area called him and told him that they had family that lived in our area that wanted to hear the gospel and get to know the church. Their names are Jhon y Elizabet. They have two sons, their names are Fabian (12) and Renson(5). When we taught them the Restoration the Spirit was so strong! Then we went back and we taught them a little more about the Book of Mormon and they promised to pray and ask God if the book is true. It is amazing to me how the Spirit works, he answers us in such personal ways that it makes it evident that God knows and loves His children. They came to church yesterday and they loved it! We are preparing them to get married and baptized in September. 

We also had a miracle happen this week after we had done everything we could. We found Christian and Melisa the first week of the change and they wanted to get married and baptized but the last day to write them into the marriage for this month was last Thursday. But we did all we could. We made tons of phone calls with some leaders and we got all of the documents ready and legalized right on time, but there was one thing missing....la partida de nacimiento of Christian (who is de Trujillo, about 8 hours from Lima). We prayed and prayed for the municipalidad (the city basically) to give us more time. And they did! They are giving us up until today to write them in! God really does answer our prayers and work miracles in our lives after we have done all we can. Es por la gracia de Cristo que nos salvamos, después de haber hecho cuanto podamos.

Well, that is all I got time for this week! I hope you all have a fantastic week!

Elder Potter

 

A service project with Christian and Melisa our investigators. Christian Elder de la Flor, Elder Potter, Hermana Soto, Hermana Bozarth, and Melisa at the top of a hill.

Hermana Soto, Hermana Bozarth, Elder Potter and Elder de la Flor

Our zone with the new mission president- President Godfrey and his wife

Our area looking down from the hills

Elder de la Flor and the hills

After a busy day Elder Potter is exhausted!

Week 98: Milagros y bendiciones!

Hola!

Esta semana fue lo máximo! This week was awesome, it was easily one the best weeks I have had on my mission! On Tuesday I received my new companion, Elder de la Flor from Chimbote, Perú and we have already become really great friends and a great missionary team. We knew each other a little bit when we were in the same zone in Canto Chico. 

This week was filled with miracles and blessings as well because of work that we have done. Our first day together we went up on the hill to look for an old contact that I did with Elder Landero named Christian, but we couldn't find him. We felt that we should go back down the hill which didn't make much sense to us because sometimes it can be quite the job to go up the hills, but we decided to be obedient to the voice. We went down, and guess who was there? Christian Y su esposa Gabriela! They let us share a short message with them in that moment and invited us to come by their house the following day. We went, but only Grabriellas dad was there. His name is also Christian. He let us come in and share a quick message with him and he loved it! He invited us to come by the next day, we went, and his wife Melissa was there as well as her daughter Ana Claudia! Long story short, they invited us to come by their house every day last week and Christian, Melisa, and Ana Claudia came to church on Sunday as well as 4 other investigadores! They are really thinking about baptism now, were going to have to marry them but that wont be a problem because there is ward members in Sta. Isabel that have family members from where they are from that could send their partidas de nacimiento here to Lima. 

The Lord truly did bless us this week! There is a ton of other great things that happened us well but I'm running low on time so it will have to be for another time! 

Bueno, cuídense todos!

Elder Potter 

Elder Potter and Elder de la Flor on the hill

Elder Potter

Elder Potter, Elder Souza, Elder Huaman y Elder Terrones exploring the hills on pday

Sunset in Torre Blanca

Week 97: Cambios! (Change)

Hola!

This week has passed by super fast! And a lot has happened as well! Our zone finished of the month fairly well with 17 baptisms, we were hoping to finish with a little bit more, but a few of the families we were trying to get married didn't quite get there. But the good thing is that they are going to be married and baptized this month. Our area is also marching along, yesterday we had 3 investigadores in church, so that really got me excited to give Santa Isabel all I got this change. 

Speaking of changes.... Elder Landero has a change, he is going to be going to the offices as President Godfrey's secretary, he's pretty excited. My new companion is going to be Elder de la Flor from Chimbote, Peru and I am super excited to work with him! I knew him when were in Canto Chico and we became pretty good friends. At that time he was a new missionary but he has really progressed a lot and were going to be serving as zone leaders, it is going to be awesome! There is also a ton of other changes in the zone and there is going to be 2 new missionaries so its going to be a great opportunity to train and help the zone progress. One of my best companions and friends, Elder Jesus, is also finishing his mission today. 

This week we also had a special meeting with President Godfrey, the assistants, and the zone leaders from Magnolias and Canto Grande about a couple of changes that are going to be happening in the mission. With President Erickson we verified with the district leaders every night to see how their investigators were doing, to verify their indicadores and to see how the missionaries were doing personally, but now were only going to be verifying on Sundays. It is a big change, but it is going to help our district leaders learn to be more self sufficient. It is going to be an interesting change. 

Well, I think that's about all for this week! Espero que tengan una buena semana! 

Elder Potter

I went on a work visit with one of my good friends Elder Zarate from Cochabamba, Bolivia and we had a super awesome and succesful day so we finished it off with Pizza Raul and a nice cold Inca Kola!

And it's gone!

Week 96: ¡Fuimos al zoo!

Hola!

Another week has came and gone, every week just passes by faster and faster and faster. This last week was really great! Some really cool things happened. 

To kick it all off, we went to a zoo for our p-day, which is a big deal in our mission because theres not much to do for p-day except play futbol. But we received special permission this week to go to El Parque de las Leyendas en San Miguel, its a huge zoo here in Lima and it was awesome! Ill send a few pictures for ya'll! 

Also, this week a family of 5, la familia Trejo (Jose, Nancy, Grecia, Arnold, y Friseli) was baptized in our zone! They are not from my area but I've gotten to know them because of the interview that I've done with them. I have said it before, but every time I interview someone I always feel the power of the Atonement working in the hearts and souls of the people. The Spirit is always so strong! It was a great moment for us to witness their baptisms. I don't have pictures because I forgot my camera, but it was awesome. Also, Jose, the dad has my birthday! He is only the 2nd person that I know that has my birthday. 

Well, those are some of the highlights from this week! ¡Que tengan una buena semana!

Elder Potter

La Zona Santa Isabel at TGI Fridays after the zoo

Elder Potter at the Zoo

Zone bus ride to the zoo

Elder Potter at the Zoo

Lion at the Zoo

Week 95: Looking for partidas!

Muy buenos días!

This was a very eventful week for us here in Santa Isabel! We finished up the process of looking for the partidas of 2 couples in order for them to get married and baptized this week and it all turned out well! I was also able to interview many of the family members of those two families (la familia Trejo and Calderon) and theyre awesome! I love interviewing investigadores, its always a testimony to me that the Atonement has no limits; it redeems every sinner that wants to repent and follow the Savior. 

Elder Chinga, one of the assistants, came on a work visit with us this week and talked to us about a few changes that President Godrey wants to make in the mission, like only sharing the first lesson (the Restoration) in 15 minutes the first visit and a few other things. It was a good visit and we found a lot of new investigadores. It was fun to be with Elder Chinga because he is from my group, it was nice to talk about old times jaja. 

Well, that is about it for this week! I hope you all have a good one!

Elder Potter

This is a picture of Elder "Harry" Potter that a member made for me here in Santa Isabel.

I didn't know horses existed here in Lima!

For last pday we went to this big field and played a lot of futbol

Week 94: La Gracia de Jesucristo

Hola todos!

This was another good week here in Santa Isabel. We were super busy with work visits and running and looking around for partidas de nacimiento (birth certificates) to marry and baptize about 5 families in our zone. Its been crazy! But with the grace of God nothing is impossible. I have been thinking a lot about that this week; just how powerful the grace of God really is. After doing all we can (after having looked for partidas for hours and making endless phone calls to different government buildings all over Peru) small miracles are happening to make it possible to marry these families so that can keep the law of chastity and be baptized. I feel like I've learned a lot this week about grace and that it will only help us and work miracles in our lives after we have literally done all we can. I am so grateful for Jesucristo and the love that He shares with each and every one of us. I really do know that He is our Savior. 

I was also able to interview one of the investigators from the Progreso area. His name is Kevin. He is only 24 but has had a pretty rough life. The Spirit was super strong in the interview as we talked about the doctrine of Christ. He has made very big changes in his life. At one time he considered himself to be atheist, but as he began to look for more meaning in his life, little by little he began to change. He now believes in God and wants to be baptized! It is amazing what a little bit of faith does when you put it to the test! 

It was also our first Consejo Misional with Presidente. Godfrey and it was a lot different than our Consejos misionales with Presidente Erickson! They are very different personality wise but I know that Presidente Godfrey is going to be great. He loves to interact with the missionaries. For example, on Thursday he called us just to pass us a reference, it was pretty cool to see him so excited about missionary work and to see that he is totally into his calling. Tomorrow our zone has interviews with him and Hermana Godfrey is going to do the room revisions. 

Well, that is about all for this week! ¡Que tengan una buena semana!

Elder Potter

Week 93: Presidente Godfrey!

Hola todos!

So, this week was an interesting one! First of all, Presidente Godfrey came on Wednesday to introduce himself and his family to our zona and to San Felipe. He is a lot different than Pdte. Erickson, but were excited to have him here. It was crazy, as we was introducing us to his family I found out that I competed against his son Harrison in cross country! He ran for Ogden High, it is crazy to have someone so close to home as my mission president! He is really cool. Hermana Godfrey doesn't speak much Spanish and neither do their kids, but they are all really cool and good people. 

Also, another exciting thing...this week as a zone we had 48 people come to church! Our zone is super excited to work durazo (super hard!) to reach our goal of 30! It is the highest goal that we've ever put, but it reachable and were excited to get it! 

Two weeks ago it was our stake conference so this week I finally got to know the ward members a little better, so that was also exciting for me. There are a lot of great members, but the ward in general needs sooooooo much help! There are only about 4 elderes that actively attend church. There is looots of work to do. But that also motivated me to "ponerme la pilas" and get to work! 

Well, that is about all for this week! ¡Que tengan una buena semana!

Love, 

Elder Potter

Elder Potter had an awesome work visit with "mi hijo", Elder Escobar!

What a goof!

Week 92: El Comienzo de la reinada de Presidente Godfrey

Hola!

Well, this week sure was interesting! I've only been out of Retablo for a week and I already miss it! I love the mission, but if there's one thing that makes me kind of sad sometimes, its the changes. I'm really going to miss Obispo Manuel Fernandez and his wife, Fanny, the Familia Benavides de Chavez and several other people. I learned a lot in that area. But the good thing is that things move on and that my new ward is great!

I'm kinda short on time right now, so I'll write a lot more next week, but this area is a gold mine and we are going to have a lot of success here. It is also the biggest zone in the mission, there are 22 missionaries here in Santa Isabel and Carabayllo so it is going to be a great opportunity to help other missionaries. 

Also, President Erickson came to our stake conference in his time in Lima on Sunday, President Godfrey will arrive here to Lima tonight!

Well, I hope you all have a great week!

Love, Elder Potter

Week 91: ¡Se selló la Hermana Josefa!

Hola!

This was an incredibly great week for Elder Iglesias and I! We had several exciting things happen in our area and in our zone. First of all, one of our super awesome recent converts in Retablo, Josefa Chavez, finished up one year of being a member and was sealed to her husband on Thursday and we there to witness it. Rafael was baptized on Saturday. I attended the best Stake conference Ive ever been to on Sunday. And, last of all, I'm leaving Retablo tomorrow to be a zone leader in Santa Isabel with Elder Landero de Mexico. 

So, first of all, Elder Iglesias and I went to Hermana Josefa´s sealing on Thursday and it was a super awesome experience. It was the second sealing that Ive been to on my mission, but this one was a little different. A year or two ago Josefas husband passed away, he never knew the restored gospel, so as this past year has come and go, he was baptized and confirmed in the temple, and on thursday, the time finally came that they were able to be sealed for time and all eternity with two of their daughters that had also passed away. It was a super spiritual experience for every one there. She also asked me to be one of the witnesses of her sealing and it was another testimony to me that families really can be together forever if we make, keep, and honor our covenants. Its only through covenants that we make with our Heavenly Father that we can experience the power of the Atonement in our lives. I'm so grateful for the temple, I really do know that its la Casa del Señor. 

Another exciting thing that happened here in Retablo this past week was that Rafael Araujo Prícipe was baptized! We've worked super hard with him these last few weeks as hes prepared to be baptized. He was so ready to be baptized and I know that hes going to make an awesome convert. Hes going to be confirmed this week because on Sunday we had stake conference. We taught him yesterday about the priesthood and temple work and hes super excited to be a part of it and help his family become an eternal family. I'll send some pictures of the baptism in another email apart from this one. 

Thirdly, we had a killer stake conference on Sunday! The entire Stake Presidency was reorganized so Elder Montoya and Elder Mestre from the Quorum of the Seventy came to speak and announce the changes. Presidente Soto, the ex stake president, was easily the best stake president that I've had on my mission, he was so supportive with la obra misional. Im sure that the new one, Presidente Romaní is also going to be awesome. But for me the high light was Elder Hugo Montoya´s talk. It was out of the park! He spoke about the importance of putting God first and keeping the Sabbath day holy. He owns one the biggest tortilla factories in Mexico and he spoke about how when the company started everyone asked him if he was going to open it on Sundays, he always said no. His wife even asked him if he would open on Sundays, but he said no. He promised her that the Lord would bless them for it, and they were. It turned out that on Saturdays, everyone bought double of tortillas because they were so good and their company grew to be one of the biggest in Mexico. He used many more examples to teach everyone this principle. It was very impactful for me. 

Sorry for the long email, I know Mom loves it though. Just one more thing though... I'm getting changed! Ive worked super hard here with Elder Iglesias and were so united as a zone and in July were going to have so much success, but I know the Lord does everything for a reason. I'm going to be going to Santa Isabel with Elder Landero as a zone leader. Its the biggest zone in the mission so I'm pretty excited to see what we can do! Also, one of my best friends, Elder Dority, is going to take my spot here in Retablo, he is going to do awesome with Elder Iglesias! 

Well, that is all folks! Have a great week todos!

Elder Potter

Elder Bedoya,  Elder Buckner, Elder Potter, and Elder Iglesias

Elder Iglesias, Josefa Chavez, and I after her sealing.

Rafael's Baptism

Elder Potter and Rafael before his baptism

Rafael and Elder Potter after baptism

Elder Iglesias, Elder Potter and Hermano Yoyi . He has a company owned by the church that washes all of the missionaries clothes of 6 zones. He is a good friend of mine and is an awesome member of the church, he invited us to eat pizza with him after Rafael's baptism.

Week 90: "¡Estoy listo para meterme a la piscina!"

Muy buen día a todos!

This last week as awesome! A lot of exciting things happened here in Retablo. Elder Rasband came to visit our mission , la mission Lima Central and the Lima Oeste missions. He was awesome! He came with his wife and Elder Montoya and his wife (from the area presidency) also came. Elder and Hermana Montoya talked about how the importance of being good, Christlike people that influence others to be like Him. But the best part was, of course, being able to listen to Elder Rasband. I have had the opportunity to see and listen to 3 apostles and about 4 of the seventy on my mission, but this last one was the best. We had to wake up at 4:00 am to get to the chapel in Los Olivos on time so we could shake Elder Rasband's hand, there were about 650 missionaries there but shook every one of our hands. He told us that we were only "one hand shake away from President Monson", it was kind of funny. What struck me the most from his visit was that he was just so full of Christlike love. His message was very clear: that he loves us, that President Monson loves us, and that our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ loves us. The Spirit was so strong in that chapel. I feel like know I understand the scripture in Mosiah 3:13, "Dios ha enviado a sus santos profetas para declarar estas cosas a cada familia, nacion y lengua; para que asi, quienes creyesen que Cristo habria de venir, ellos mismos recibiesen la remision de sus pecados y se regocijasen con un gozo sumamente grande, aun como si él ya hubiese venido entre ellos." When we follow the prophets, we can truly feel Gods love for us. I definitely felt it and know He loves me. I learned several other things  about service and how to pay closer attention to the promptings of the Spirit that I will have to write about another time, but it was an incredible day for me and for every other missionary that was there. (Sorry for the Spanish, I don't know that scripture in English🙄)

Even though this week was awesome, there were a few crazy things that happened as well. We went to go visit Rafael A, our investigator that was going to be baptized on Saturday,on Monday and he was really doubting baptism and told us that he wasn't sure if he wanted to go through with it. He taught him very diligently about how to páy attention to his feelings and the Holy Ghost and how to invite him into his life. We went back again on Wednesday and he told us that our church was the truest church that he has been in and the church that has made him think most about Jesucristo. Then, on Friday we went back and he told us "yo sé que esta es la iglesia verdadera" or "I know this the true church" but still had a few small doubts and what not. But on Sunday after church we went to go talk to him and he told us " estoy listo para meterme a la piscina!" or "I'm ready to jump in the pool!". There is nothing better than seeing someones heart change and helping them recognize the Spirit in their lives and to desire the Spirit. Hes going to be baptized this Saturday. 

Anyways, those are the most exciting things that happened this week. I know this church is true and that President Monson and the members of the Quorum of the Twelve have been called of God to lead us in these days. 

Well, I hope ya'll have a great week!

Elder Potter 

There is a sister in our ward that cooks super, super good and prepared a huge pan of lasagna for lunch for each one the missionaries in the ward! It was awesome!

Week 89: ¡Ya se va Presidente Erickson!

Muy buen día a todos,

Bueno, this week Elder Iglesias and I worked super, super, super hard! We reached all of the goals that we made and we have seen a lot of miracles in our area and in the zone. Rafael Arauje is also going to be baptized this Saturday! I'm super happy for him, he has come a long ways and has become a different person. Hard work and lots of prayers and fasting really do pay off and work miracles. 

So, there were a few important things that happened last week, the first is that we had our last Consejo Misional with President Erickson and that he gave his last training on Friday. His last training made a big impact on me, he trained about how the need of the Atonement in our lives and how to apply it daily. I have learned a lot from President Erickson on my mission and am very grateful for the help and support that has given me on my mission. Hermana Erickson presented us (por internet) to Presidente Godfrey's family and it seems like he is going to be awesome as well! He was Ogden's mayor for a while and run xc, so it looks like we will be getting along just fine!

Also, the announcement mas grande for the week.....On Friday Elder Rasband is coming to visit our mission, the Lima East and Lima Central mission. In August Elder Bednar came and while I was in the CCM Elder Anderson came. I'm super excited to hear from him. Every time I listen to them speak, I receive a deeper testimony that they are called of God and speak the truth. I am so grateful that God loves us enough to send us prophets. 

Well, there are a million more things that I would like to write in here, but my time is limited. Hasta la proxima semana! Cuidense! 

Elder Potter

Elder Potter with his zone and President and Sister Erickson

Elder Potter with President and Sister Erickson - they will be going home at the end of the June.

Week 88: Nuestra fecha cayó...literalmente

Buen Día a todos!

I feel like every single week on the mission passes by faster and faster. This month in generally has gone by flying! Elder Iglesias and I have worked super hard this change to try to help the zone reach its goals. We didn't quite reach our goal this month but we still had a decent results. We finished up with 11 baptisms. We were going to have a couple more but some of them disappeared out of nowhere, others moved or lived in another zone, and others baptismal dates literally fell. Elder Schaffer, one of our awesome district leaders,  called us to let us know that his investigator Segundo, who I interviewed, wasn't going to be baptized and so of course I asked him why and he told us that a few hours earlier he was working and had fallen off a ladder and was in the hospital! He is a lot better now and is going to be baptized in two weeks after Peru's presidential elections. He is awesome and he is going to make an awesome member of the church. But his baptismal date this past week really did  "fall" through...

Yesterday Rafael didn't come to church but were going to try and visit him today to see what happened. He has been progressing a lot lately and has had a lot of desires to change and be a better person. His mom is Israelita and so sometimes she talks to him about her church and he gets a little confused about some parts of the doctrine. But I know that if he reads the Book of Mormon he won't have a doubt in the world that this is Christs church. 

Although Rafael didn't come to church yesterday, we had a very successful day afterwards. We decided to do divisions yesterday to reach our goals and find more new investigators. I went with Andre Arana, our new ward mission leader and one of my best friends here in Retablo (he came home from his mission in Chile about 1 year ago) and it was awesome! We went to a part of our area that we hadn't gone to for a while to contact and look for some referrals and we contacted this family in the street, the dads name is Andre and the wife is Melissa. We started talking to them and asked them if we could go by there house some time  next week to share a message with them, but instead of inviting us to come back next week the told us "Well, were close to our house right now, do you want to come in and share you are message with us?". So of course we told the ¡Sí! It was easily one of the best lessons I have had here in Retablo! We taught them about the Restoration and the understood it so well, it was awesome. They are only home on Sundays but they are going to try and make it to church this Sunday. We are super excited to be teaching a family now, it was an answer to a prayer. 

Well, that is about all for this week! Que tengan una excelente semana! 

Elder Potter

Week 87: Cambios en la Zona

Buen dia a todos!

There were a few things that made this week a little different than the rest, but it was still an awesome week! To kick off the week, we had 2 emergency changes for two of our district leaders in our zone.  On Wednesday morning, Elder Von Gunten and Elder Landero (two of my good friends) were called as zone leaders in other zones because a lot of the zone leaders are going to be finishing their missions this change. So President Erickson is moving things around a little bit. Their replacements are Elder Saenz and Elder Peralta. They are super excited to work in the zone and I'm excited to work with them. Elder Saenz is from Elder Sandovals group so I'm excited to get to know him. 

I'm kind of short on time this week, but Elder Iglesias and I really happy with the effort that we have given this month. Not everything has worked out as planned, but we have given it our all and have been really blessed for our efforts because Rafael is going to be baptized on the 4th of June. 

Well, that is about all I got for this week! Que tengan una buena semana!

Elder Potter

I haven't sent a picture for a loooong time, so here is one of Elder Iglesias and I last night...

 

Elder Iglesias and Elder Potter

 

Week 86: Esperanza en Junio!

Buenos días a todos,

This was a great week! First off, we are programing a baptismal service for our investigator Rafael A. for the first week of June, after lots of hard work and prayer, Retablo is going to have a baptism! Elder Iglesias and I are super excited! We also have another investigator named German Z. that is progressing and starting to read the Book of Mormon, but it is looking like we are going to have to marry him and his girlfriend though. It is funny, 2 years ago I never would have thought that I would be running around Lima in 2016 trying to get people married so they could get baptized. But I love working with families here, it is hard work but it is very rewarding to help form a future eternal family.

This week I went on a work visit with Elder Kimball, one of our district leaders and he is really progressed a lot here in Comas and has ended up becoming one of my best friends. When we left to go work things were moving along pretty slowly. He started training for the second time in a row this week and was a little exhausted and stressed, but we made some good goals that we wanted to reach before the day ended and did the best we could. We ended up finishing the day with 5 lessons in the afternoon, we found 2 new people and contacted 2 referrals and contacted a bunch of families. When we got back to the room we had a good talk about what it means to have faith. Many times we pray and hope that God will just help us. In the scriptures, we learn the faith can move mountains, but usually the Lord is going to give us a shovel to get it moving. I have learned on my mission that faith isn't just hoping that things are going to happen, it is hoping that something is going to happen and then going to work to get the job done. My perspective on what faith really is has definitely changed.

Well, for right now, everything is going well in Comas and I am excited to see what la zona Comas is going to be able to reach with it's faith. 

Que tengan una buena semana!

Elder Potter

Week 85: Milagros! Muchos Milagros!

Mom note:  We were able to talk to Elder Potter yesterday for Mother's Day.  He is doing great.  His goal is to finish strong.  He didn't want to talk much about coming home.  He wants to stay focused and give all that he can to his Heavenly Father.  Elder Potter feels his time as a missionary is precious.  


Buenos dias a todos!

This week was an amazing week and we honestly saw God's hand in the work this week. Going into this week in our zone we had about 6 people in our zone with baptismal dates, but now we have about 10 and were hoping that by Wednesday well have about 12 or 15ish. It is amazing what hard work, diligence, and a lot of hope and faith can do do! We've really helped our our zone get united and super pumped to reach our goal of 20 baptisms this month. 

It is funny how the changes work, right when the zone gets super united, we have changes. This week there are 5 missionaries that have a change and we are going to have 2 new missionaries come into the zone. I love working with new missionaries. I love watching them progress and become good Christlike missionaries.

Elder Iglesias and I decided to do a little training with our district leaders last Friday to train them about how to do baptismal interviews and teach the Atonement and it was awesome! Hno Yoyi, the brother that washes our clothes came and prepared breakfast for us. He prepared hot dogs and we drank coca cola! It wasn't your average breakfast, but it was still awesome and I was really grateful that he came and helped us out. After the training all of the district leaders and their companions were super excited to go out and work and get their districts excited. We are definitely seeing eye to eye and have the same vision now. 

The drought of Retablo also ceased this week! After 3 weeks of not having a single investigator come to church, one person came to church! Our prayers were definitely answered this week. His name is Antoni and is 19 years old. He was going to church in Ica a while ago and is now living here in Comas to study. We have an appointment with him on Tuesday. We were super grateful that he came!

Well, I think that that is about all for this week! Que tengan una excelente semana! 

Elder Potter

Week 84: Entrando en Mayo!

Hola!

This week was a very interesting week for Elder Iglesias and I. I finally got better from being sick after about two weeks and we worked super hard! Even though we worked super hard, we didn't see to many fruits from our labors, for the first time in a long time we didn't have a single investigator come to church, actually, it is the second week that we haven't had anyone. But I know that the Señor will bless us for our hard work, sometime God gives us hard and trying weeks to keep us humble enough to keep trusting in Him and in His power, justice, and mercy. It is amazing to me how the Lord shapes us, He is the perfect teacher. 

Although we didn't have anyone show up to church, our zone had an awesome week! As a zone we had about 30  people in church! And for many of them it was their 2nd or 3rd time there! It is looking like were going to have an awesome month! 

Also, this past week we had a work visit with Elder Bedoya, one of the assistants, and it was awesome! I learned a ton from him about the importance of preaching the gospel to EVERYONE.

I learned a lot from him. We ended up finding 6 new investigators and an awesome new family that were excited to start teaching. There names are Willy and Sara and they are already married! Were going to pass by their house today or tomorrow depending on what they tell us when we call them. 

To wrap up the email, we went to el centro de Lima as a zone for last pday and after almost 20 months in Peru I ate Cuy! Guinea Pig! It is super fatty but I'm glad I tried it! We also went ot the parque de las aguas, its a super cool park in Lima that has a ton of fountains, I'll send more pictures next week. 

Que tengan una buena semana!

Elder Potter

El centro de Lima on Pday

 Elder Potter finally ate cuy---Guinea Pig

Elder Potter and Elder Iglesias at the fountains in central Lima

Week 83: Templo en Los Olivos!

Buenos Días a todos!

So this week was pretty good. I have been a little sick lately but we've still been working hard to bring people to Christ. As of right now we don't have anyone with a baptismal date but this last week we found a new family that were going to start working with. They are only home on the weekends but were determined to marry and baptize a family this coming month. We also received this sweet referral from Elder Von Gunten and Elder Marino, his name is Juan Ramon. He lives right next to the chapel and has already gone the church several times. He is actually Chileno but lives in Italia but his wife is Peruvian so that is why he is here, he is a cool guy! 

Also, last weekend the area presidency announced that the new temple in Lima is going to be in Los Olivos! That is only about 10 to 20 minutes from where I'm at! It is going to be a huge blessing for the people here in Comas and in the surrounding cities. 

Anyways, I know that this email is short and that I haven't sent pictures for a while, but I promise that next week it will be longer and there will be pictures!

Have a great week!

Elder Potter

Week 82: A Little Sick...Next Week Will Be Better

Dear Familia,

My week was kinda rough, some of the baptismal dates in the zone fell through which was kind of frustrating and I've been a little sick this week. But I know that this week is going to be better. Tenemos que hacer todo lo que podamos con buen animo DyC 123, last 3 verses. It is going to be a good week! Time goes by way, way to fast! I can't believe Talise is home.  I'm happy to hear that her mission changed her, that is what a mission should do, mine is definitely changing me, para el bien. 

This week I'm finishing up the New Testament for the first time. I have about 6 pages left of Apocolipsis (Revelation), there are plenty of things that I still don't understand but something that has stood out to me is that it talks a lot about how Christ was preordained to be our Savior before the world was made. It is amazing to me that someone so perfect would suffer die, and go through so much pain to save the whole human race from its imperfections. I really do love our Savior and I am so grateful for what He has done for me and for everyone. If we trust in Him, everything will go much better for us. Mateo 11:27 al 30. 

There were actually several big earthquakes this past weekend in Japan and Mexico. Luckily Quito is far away from where the epicenter of the earthquake was. My companions family is okay and nothing happened to them, but 7.8 is an enormous terremoto! 

Love, 

Elder Potter