Yeah. I’ll get to all that in just a sec. Sorry I couldn't rotate it.
Anyways, how’s everyone doing? I hope well, and I hope, once again, you’re all ready for an awesome email.
This week was seriously WAY fast. Faster than any other week in the mission honestly. But, it was super rewarding, and although our numbers didn’t look fantastic, I feel like I gave it my 100% and it paid off in the long haul. Also, I’m writing this letter from Echarate today, not Quillabamba. Our President changed some of the rules, so now we don’t go to Quilla every P-Day. Which is all good, but the internet here is slower than cold tar, no one here can wash our clothes, AND there is just about 0 things to do here. We’re gonna clean today.. I’ll let ya’ll know how that goes. But yeah. There’s that.
Well, last P-Day, for our last P-day together as a zone, we went to see some waterfalls. It’s called Siete Tinajas, which means like, seven bowls. It’s just a big waterfall with 7 different tiers. It was pretty awesome. We played for a while, and I’ll put a bunch of pictures so ya’ll can be real jealous. But, after we played soccer (like always) but it was our zone leaders birthday, so at the end, we cracked eggs over his head and threw flour at him. Peru knows how to wish someone happy birthday.
Oh. Just a fun story. On the way home from Quillabamba that night, some girl in the bus was trying to hit on me. We’re all going home, and we have 4 people in the back seat of a minivan, and she fell asleep. Later, she fell over on my shoulder, which happens a lot because we’re all so crammed in the back. Anyways, so I was wedging myself into the window so I could try to make some space for myself, and this girls hand started walking toward my hand. I was like, “Whoa whoa whoa whoa! What are you doing? Stop! Are you serious?” And then I went into my “I’m a missionary, representative of Jesus Christ” all that fun stuff that we are supposed to say when someone tries to bust a move on us. She then continued pretending to be asleep, and fell asleep the other direction on her friend. It was pretty uncomfortable. My comp thought it was pretty funny though.
Another fun fact for all of you back home. In the internet café I’m in right now, some kid is looking over the shoulder of his friend while he is using the internet, and this kid is like, just chilling against me like I’m a chair. All righty.
Um… this Thursday we had divisions again. I went to Quillabamba with Elder Hoefelmann. It was pretty good. Taught a few people some good lessons. But, while we were at lunch, some dude came and tried to sell us some candy, and we told him we didn’t want any. I guess he insulted us pretty hardcore, cuz my zone leaders (who eat in the same spot in Quilla) were fuming hardcore. But, later in the day, we taught this lady named Hermana Luzmila. She is like, the oldest member here, and she is THE sweetest old woman I have ever met in all of my life. She has a pretty tough life honestly, but we went, she made us hot chocolate, and we shared a scripture. She then proceeded to start crying and telling us how grateful she was for the missionaries always coming to her house to keep her company, and that she thinks of us as an answer to our prayers. It was really cool. I think she MIGHT know Roger. Oh, and for dinner that night, I ate tongue! It was actually really good. This week I ate tongue, intestine, and stomach, and ALL without puking.
However, I did get super close to puking the other night. So, we were visiting with a member here, and we stood up to leave, and his mom came out with two MASSIVE plates of pasta and rice. Like, seriously, the same amount of food that would feed my family, on each plate. She was like, “Hermanos, please, eat! But, you have to eat it all or I won’t ever feed you again.” Straight up, I don’t care if she feeds us ever again or not. But, you do not leave food on your plate here in Peru. So, we ate it all. Holy cow. By the end, I was dry heaving, and dying. But, I did it. Be proud.
Another great story before I get into the good stuff. So, this week, Elder Gallego and I were walking along a dirt road out in the jungle, so there’s big trees all around, right? Anyways, we’re walking, and all of a sudden it started raining! We looked up, and there was not a single cloud in the sky. So, we were really confused, and were looking around to see what was going on, when I heard Gallego go, “UGH! Look!” So, I looked. So you guys know those big ol’ bugs that sit in trees and make super loud noises all day? Yeah, those. The tree above us was full of HUNDREDS of them, and they were all PEEING! I have absolutely no idea how such little critters could hold so much water, but yuck! We ran away and then showered afterwards. It was pretty funny, but pretty gross too. Haha.
OKAY. Now the good stuff. This week, we kept working with Rosa Nina, and we kept challenging her to get baptized this Saturday. Every time, she told us, “No creo..” which means, “I don’t believe so…” But, we kept encouraging her to read and pray. Basically, she kept getting a stream of answers, through dreams, and through feelings she felt while reading and praying. In the end, she said she would get baptized! So Saturday rolled around, and we went to talk to her. She told us she didn’t want to do it now, because she had talked to some lady in Quilla who told her she shouldn’t do it. So, we talked for a while, shared some scriptures, and reminded her of all the answers she has gotten. In the end, she realized she should get baptized. It was interesting to see that in reality, the adversary works hard to keep people from being baptized.
BUT! So, we went to Quilla and got everything ready. She told me that I could baptize her, so I was stoked. She got in all the clothes, and we were going to enter the font, and she had some black slippers. We told her she couldn’t wear them, to which she responded, “No, like this is okay.” So, we talked for a while, and she was super super close to not being baptized because of her slippers… but, she did it! Afterwards, she was super happy. She told us that she was nervous, but she was glad that she went through with it, because she knows that is what Christ would want of her.
Yesterday she was confirmed, and also at church, we had a lot of people, and less actives who haven't come in a while! So, it was a great week. We had to focus a lot in less actives, and in Rosa this week, so we didn't get to visit the familia Quispe much this week, but this week we are gonna focus on them a lot. But, it was a very rewarding week. The feeling of baptizing someone is something very special, and sacred. The feelings and happiness I felt, I can honestly say I have never had them before in my life. What a blessing to be here in Peru, helping bring these people the blessings that can be found in the gospel.
I know that this church is true. I know it. I know that Joseph Smith, in reality, saw Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, and was called as a prophet to restore this gospel on the earth. I know that he translated the Book of Mormon, and I know that it is the word of God, written for us in these days. Through obedience, we can receive more blessings than we can imagine. For those of you that don't have this knowledge, I extend to you the same challenge I extend to people here every single day. Read the Book of Mormon, and pray with faith to know if it is true. God is not going to lie to you, and I know that he can answer prayers. This isn't a promise I am offering you, this is a promise that God offers. Try it.
Until next week. Thanks for everything. Love and miss you all! Crazy that I'm gonna hit my 4 months this week, and finish my training!
Elder Richman
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