Week 38: Un Buen Semana! (A Good Week)

Familia y Amigos,

This week has been awesome. My companion, Elder E. and I have been working hard and have been really excited about this next few weeks. We've been working with some really great people that are excited to keep progressing in their lives and that are beginning to understand the importance of the Plan of Salvation and the message of the Restoration in their lives and in the lives of their families. This week I had a good insight about what it means to be a missionary and representative of Jesus Christ. I know that every one has heard a million times that every member is a missionary, but it is true. And it is so important that we realize what that means. It means that we have all been called to share what we know with everyone. We were all called in our baptisms to share with the world what we know. 

Yesterday I spoke in sacrament meeting a little bit about that and about a really great talk that I came across by Elder L. Tom Perry that is called "Traer Almas a Mì" (Brings Souls to Me, in English) in 2009. That talks about how the members of the church have the responsibility to help the full time missionaries and to be a part of the work of salvation. He also addressed the problem that a lot of members have when it comes to missionary work, "Where do I start?". Elder Perry explained that we need to share three things with people. 1) We need to share with the world that Jesus Christ is our Savior. 2) We need to share with the world that Joseph Smith was a prophet called of God and that the true church was restored through him. 3)We need to share our testimony of the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ, that it is the word of God and a testimony that God speaks to all of His children. These are the three things that we have been called to preach and share to all people as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. 

I'm very grateful for the Church, I know that it is true. I know for a fact that Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer and that through faith in His atonement, repentance, baptism, the gift of the Holy Ghost and enduring to the end we can and will be clean from our sins. CHRIST wants and desires to forgive us. His hand is always stretched out to us, we just need to take it. I know that He organized and established one true church, and its the church that was restored through the prophet Joseph Smith. This truly is CHRIST'S church. I know that the Book of Mormon is true and that we really do become closer to God every time that we read it. I  know our Heavenly Father continues to speak to His children through revelation personal and through a living day prophet, Thomas Spencer Monson. 

I will always be grateful for the gospel. 

Well, that is it for this week! I hope that you all have a great week! And share the gospel!

Con mucho amor, 

Elder Potter

Elder Potter (interesting apparel)  and Elder E

Elder Potter wearing his Cholo Potter shirt - Cholo means Dude!

Elder E. and Elder Potter at an African Peruvian Museum

Interesting... at the museum

At the museum

Elder Potter in the museum there were tunnels - kind of creepy

Stain glass at the museum

Week 37: Soy un Papa (I'm a Dad)

Familia Mio,

This week has been really good for me and a super crazy week! This change I'm training my first kid missionary right out of the CCM. His name is Elder E from Puebla Mexico. He was baptized about 7 years ago but was inactive for about 4. He's a great missionary that's ready to work and excited to be here on the mission. He's willing to learn from those around him and that is going to help him progress a lot. I'm super excited to be able be his trainer. We've had some great experiences this week. I'll talk a little bit more about him next week. 

Right now were focusing on 2 investigators in specific. Luz P. and Yuriko L. Luz is Yulisa's mom and has been coming to church by herself lately and we are going to prepare her for the 20th, I'm super excited for her to be baptized and become a member of the Church of Jesus Christ. 

Yuriko is our other investigator and she is so awesome. Elder Niño and I met her at church two Sundays ago. She was a reference from some really great members and they brought her to church. She is a very humble lady. She is about 30 years old and single mother with her 5 year old son, Ian. About 4 months ago Ian was diagnosed with cancer and lately it's really been advancing. She loves and trusts that God can help her. She is great. But she couldn't come to church yesterday because she was in the hospital with Ian because the sickness is getting really bad. She has super strong desires to follow CHRIST because she knows that she will be blessed. It is hard to teach her because she is not home a lot, but I know she is going to make the gospel a priority in her life. 

This week I was really impressed by Jacob 6:9-10 and Alma 41:14 that explains that in the resurrection we will be restored to how we were in this life. If we were wicked, we will be restored to wickedness. If we were super happy, well be restored to that same state. These scriptures explain what is going to happen to the wicked, that they if they die in their sins, they will be restored to sin and will be tormented to them. So, if being tormented is the end result of that, and if they're going to be restored to their same state, it means that they are already being tormented by their sins! Satan sure does a good job at disguising sin for freedom and temporal delights as spiritual happiness. But we as members of the church know that sin doesn't bring true happiness, because "wickedness never was happiness".  It made me remember Doctrine and Covenants 84:49 that says "the  whole world groans under the bondage of sin" (todo el mundo gime bajo la servidumbre del pecado, not sure what it is exactly in English.) And its true. As members of the Church of Jesus Christ, we have the privilege to announce the good news of the restored gospel, that we DON'T NEED TO BE IN BONDAGE. We know how to be free and happy in this life. We need to let others know too. Sounds like you've had some good opportunities this week to help others know the restored gospel, like at the BBQ and planning for camp. Keep up the good work! 

Well, that is about all I got for this week! Fue una semana excelente! Estoy animado  por esta semana y espero que tengan un buen día y excelente semana también!  (It was a great week! I am encouraged by this week and hope you have a good day and great week also!)

Love, 

Elder Potter

San Juan de Lurigancho Zone

Fish heads anyone?

Elder B,  Elder N, Elder Potter

Elder Potter and new comp??

Week 36: CAMBIOS! (Change)

Familia Mio,

This upcoming week is going to be super crazy! I don't have a ton of time today, but I will next week. So, this week was really great! And super crazy. Saturday night Yulisa was baptized and was confirmed on Sunday. Its always a super great experience to witness someone making covenants and promises with our Heavenly Father and watching them become clean through baptism by "water and by fire". I love my mission and truly feel blessed to be here, it's great! Also, that's sweet that a lot of the guys are waiting for calls! And Alexis, that's so awesome! 

This week something that caught my eye was something that was said in conference by Bonnie L Oscarson, she said "if it's the Lords plan, it should be our plan!". And it's true! God has created a wonderful plan for all of us and He hopes that we all choose to obey His commandments so that we can return to live with Him again. Always make the Lord's plan your plan before you make your own plans. If you choose to obey Him first before anyone else, you will be blessed. I can promise you that. 

Also, changes are tomorrow! This change with Elder Niño has flown by super fast! We've had a ton of success and have found a few people that were getting ready for June. I'm super excited to see what is going to come with the change. Every time we have "changes" in our lives it really actually means "progress", but only if you take advantage of it. I guess change is actually the "code word" for "progress". It is going to be interesting. There are a few missionaries in our zone that are dying this change and a lot that are going to leave because they've been her forever. I have feeling I'm probably going to train or something like that this change. Should be pretty sweet! 

Well, sorry for the super short email this week, I'll write more next week....but here are some pictures for y'all! Espero que las disfrutan! (I hope you enjoy them!)

Con mucho amor, 

Elder Potter

Elder Potter and someones puppy

Elder Potter in his soccer garb- last p-day was their mission soccer tournament

Yulisa's wedding

Yulisa's baptism

Week 35: ¡EL MUNDIAL!

Buen Días Todos!

Bueno, these past few weeks have been really good! Sorry if I haven't written much these past few weeks, because they've been crazy. This week especially has been crazy. We've been preparing a few people for baptism, had a work visit this week, a training by President Erickson and Elder Niños birthday. But it's all been really good! 

Thursday was Elder Niños birthday and a few of the members threw this little party for him in their house, it was a good time. But what made it the best, just like any Peruvian birthday, was when we cracked raw eggs on his head jaja. That is easily the best part of the birthdays here! I forgot my camera but I'll try to send some from Elder Niños. 

On Wednesday and Thursday I had another work visit with Elder Brimhall so that was fun. It;s always kind of weird to be with another gringo for me now jaja. 

We also had a special training with President Erickson this Thursday about "lifting our voices" and our potential to become like our Heavenly Father, it was really good and it is so important that we as members of the Church help all people know the divine potential that they have as literal children of God. It was a great training and has really improved our teaching this week as we've put it in practice. 

Mami Chio, my mission mom, left with her family this Thursday to go to Trujillo for the temple open house. We talked to her a little bit yesterday and it turns out that one of the members of the first presidency has already gotten there for the dedication in a week and a half. Its a super sweet temple and its going to be a huge blessing for Peru! I'm way excited for it to open up even though it is way far from my mission. Temples are so great and such a blessing that the Lord gives us, it makes me happy to know that God loves us so much that He has provided the way for us to return back to Him through the temple, it is great. 

Anyways, that's about all I got for this week, sorry it's so short jaja.

 ¡Que tengan un excelente semana!

Elder Potter

 

We ate at McDonald's this week!

From Comas - Obispo R. and his wife

Trujillo Peru Temple at night

Trujillo Peru Temple

 

Week 34: La Creacion y El Plan

Buenas Días Familia!

This week has been really good and filled with success and many blessings. This week Juan J, Wendy L, and Moises P were all baptized and confirmed on Sunday. It's been so great to work with them and help them and to see the changes that they have made in their lives to be baptized and enter in through strait gate of eternal life. They're all great new converts and are all super excited to progress and to recieve the priesthood, well, Juan and Moises. 

This week I've learned a few important things about the Plan of Salvation and the creation. As we learn about the plan that God has created for His children, we learn that we have the potential to become like Him, glorified and perfected. When Chirst came to the earth He also taught and explained that we, as His children, have this potential. In John 11, Jesus explains this "know ye not that you are Gods" (I have no idea what it is in English, something like that). This week I've been able to study this a bit and apply it in my teachings. But before you can apply it to someone else, you need to apply it to yourself. First, you need to understand that God, or Heavenly Father, had and has a body of flesh and bones, glorified and perfected and immortal. He had this body in the pre-earth life as well, but we did not because we are He created us spiritually first. Knowing that we could not become like Him without a glorified and perfected body, He created a plan, the Plan of Salvation. With this plan in mind, He counseled with the most valiant of His spirit children of how He could carry out this plan of salvation and eternal life and happiness for His Children (Abraham 3:22 to26). In this counsel, He chose a Savior that would save us from our sins and defects so that we would be able to overcome sin and temporal things so we would be able to return to His prescence. 

After Christ was chosen to be the Savior, Heavenly Father carried out His glorious plan of redemption. He created all things spiritually first, and then created them phisically. And now, we have our physical bodies here in the earth. If we learn to control our bodies and minds here in the earth, when we are resurrected we will also be able to master and control a body glorified and perfected. We will be able to become like our Heavenly Father and live with our heavenly family. I hope that we can all learn to master ourselves here in this life. I hope that we can learn how to overcome all evil and only do the good. We need to follow the counsel in Mosiah 4:30 and Alma 38:12, that counsels us to master our thoughts and actions in this life so we don't perish in the next. When we learn how to master ourselves and control ourselves, we will be recieved by our loving Heavenly Father. This is my goal. To become like Him and to help all people realize the potential they have as His children so that they know they can live with Him forever. 

I learned a bunch more about Him and His plan too this week, but if I wrote it all, I would probably be here all day haha. 

We've been working with an inactive sister these past 2 weeks too, her name is K. She hasn't been to church in about 6 or 7years, but came for the first time yesterday in all these years! As we've been teaching her we found out that the reason she went inactive was because she has been scared to go through all the parts of the repentence process. This week when Elder N. and I were planning we felt the strong impression that we should call her and tell her to read Alma 39 that explains in detail the repentence process. When we called her, it turned out that she had already been reading the chapter! She had been praying too, for comfort and courage to keep moving forward, and afterwards opened up her Book of Mormon to Chapter 39 of Alma. It was a really cool moment to see how our Heavenly Fathers answers the prayers of His children in times of trial. She is really making a lot of progress and has found great comfort in prayer and the Book of Mormon. The power of sincere Prayer and the Book of Mormon is incredible to me. I'm so grateful we have these 2 tools in our lives to help us. I know the Book of Mormon is true and the we can and need to communicate with our Heavenly Father through sincere prayer. 

Well, that's about all I got for right now for the week. But I hope you all have a great week and learn something from prayer and the Book of Mormon too! 

¡Que tenan un excellente semana!

Con mucho amor, 

Elder Potter

Yep, still the same goofy boy!

Elder Potter, Moises, Wendy, Juan, Elder N.

Elder Potter, Juan, Wendy, Moises, Elder N.

This is at our pensinistas house.

Week 33: El Día de la Madre en San Juan de Lurigancho!

Buenas Días Familia y Amigos!

I hope that you all had a great Mothers Day and were able to appreciate the importance of our moms in our lives. It was great to be able to talk to my mom this mothers day and remember all that she has done for me and continues to do. This week was great in Los Manzanos! We've been working hard and we've been able to see a lot of blessings this week. Elder Niño and I are really excited for this week and the rest of the month. Two of our investigators passed through their final interviews for baptism for the 16th of this month, Juan J. and Wendy L. They're both super excited and are happy that they have found the truth. It has been great to see their progress. 

Well, sorry it's so short  this week! Have a great week!

Con mucho amor, 

Elder Potter

 

Dante and Luz's Wedding with daughter Yulisa

San Juan de Lurigancho at night

San Juan de Lurigancho in the day

 

Week 32: Listo por el bautismo

Hola Familia y Amigos!

This week has been really great and it's gotten me really excited for this month in my new area! We've had a wave come to us of awesome investigadores that are so ready to accept the gospel. This past week we set up 3 baptismal dates  for the 16th and 4 for the 30th of this month. I'm super excited to help these people on the way to their salvation. The three that were preparing for the 16th are... Wendy L. she is 17 years old and parts of her family are members but inactive, she has been coming to church for a while now and finally is ready to get baptized and make promises with God. Moises P. in a single guy that has been coming to church for some time now too with his brother that is a member. He works for Inca Kola so I'm pretty excited for that too  jaja. The 3rd is this guy named Juan J. He was a reference from a member, he is 25 years old and is so ready to learn and jump right in to the gospel. Hes been going to the institutes for the Book of Mormon and has been coming to church for over a month now. He lives with his parents and plays his guitar studies. He's been getting really involved and even plays futbol with us on Tuesdays and Saturdays. I'm super excited for this month!

Well, that is really about it for this week! 

Que tengan un excelente semana!

Elder Potter

Hermana Alisha from La Habana feeds us breakfast

Miguel and Camila from La Habana get married

Miguel and Camila's Wedding