HOLA FROM PERU!

Hey everybody!!

How is everything going! I don´t have a lot of time to write today because the computer was being dumb, and because I was reading about my new mission president in our mission email! We are going to have a gringo, and I think he is from Provo Utah! That will be interesting! I hope he knows Spanish or he is going to have a horrible time! So guess what, they sent us all a list of new missions and mission presidents, and they are opening 2 new missions in Peru! How awesome is that!!! Also, in the year 2013 there are going to be 54 NEW MISSIONS IN THE WORLD!!!!!!!!!! The work of the lord truly is hastening and I have a strong testimony of that! I know that the lord has a plan, and that missionary work is a very real and very important part of that plan!!!!

So first of all if I am correct, Paula’s farewell was yesterday! How was it? That’s crazy that this week is March, and she will be leaving!!! I just can’t even comprehend that in 2 years we are all going to come back speaking different languages!!! And I know the language will come because it has been quickly coming for me, I can have fluent conversations now and rarely have to ask what something means! Just know a lot is through context.

So mom about the package that you are going to send, please send lots of pop tarts, my comp wants beef jerky haha, umm if you can, some peanut butter because here is costs 26 soles. Also Snickers, Milky Way, Twix, and M&M's, lots of food, I am always hungry!!!!!

I am happy to hear that Ashley’s baby shower went well! That’s awesome! She only has about a month left until the baby comes, and in the pictures she looks like she should be due!!! Also yes please include a copy of dad’s lesson, I like to read those, they are very good and I learn a lot.

My new companion is awesome! His name is Elder Velarde, he is from Bolivia, and has 17 meses en la mission (months in the mission). We get along really well, and he likes to work hard which is really good!!! I think we will get along just fine. So this week during estudio de compañeros, (I don´t know how to say that in English sorry) (companion study) we were talking about the Book of Mormon, and it made me realize how much I love el libro de mormòn (The Book of Mormon)! It is essencial for our lives. Always use it!!

So also today we read 1 Samuel 17 about David y Goliath, and applied it to missionary work and how we have our armas (to arm), with our testimony and the gospel, and how we are in battle right now against Goliath! It’s so importante to remember that siempre necesitamos (we always need to) rely on our lord, and keep him in our lives to fight against Satan.

If you thought that every night in your mission you would be in bed at 10:30, that’s a lie, because we didn´t get to go to bed until 4 in the morning on Monday, because we were picking up missionaries and dropping them off with their new companions! It was horrible, I was so tired! But that’s okay, it was fun!!!

I am sorry to hear about Bob Tingey, that must be hard! But remember that it was part of god’s plan for him, and that families are eternal!

I don´t know if I told you this last week, but there are going to be 30 new missionaries in this mission in the next transfer, and they are going to open a bunch of new sectors!!! It is so exciting!

Oh so this week we didn´t have pension because the lady was out of town, and so we had to cook for ourselves, that was interesting, let’s just say that I has a lot of huevos (eggs) !

But yesterday a member cooked chicken cordon bleu for us, and it was fantastic!!!!

So there isn´t much else to say this week, because nothing much happened, but we are expecting around 3 baptisms in March, which will be good, we have one for this Saturday, and our zone in total for Febrero had 19 baptisms!!! It was awesome!

Also I want you to know that I am finding it harder and harder to speak in English, every time I try I can´t remember words, and things come out in Spanish, and let’s just say it’s going to be interesting in two years, I understand now why Jantzen had such a hard time like you said!

Well, I need to go so that my companion can email. Because we have to use the same computer. But know that I love you all so much, and that I miss you! Remember to read your scriptures daily, and to pray always! This gospel isn´t just another church, we have the truth and we need to share it! If we don´t share it we are missing out on many blessings!!! I love you all, and I challenge you to share the gospel with 1 person this week not of our faith, don’t have fear, be like David when he went against Goliath, he didn´t have fear! Don´t have fear, take your testimony and share it! That is why we are on earth, to progress and help others progress!!

I love you have a fantastic week!

LOVE ELDER GOASLIND

PS: Mom and dad, don´t worry about me, I am fine, I have the lord with me! I'm a missionary!!!

PSS: Tell Bishop Ellis that I say hi, and thank him for everything he has ever done for me to help me get to this point in my life, he is such a great example!!!

THE MOST INTERESTING WEEK!

Quick note about this email:
We received a call from Elder Goaslind on Sunday, February 17, 2013, he called to tell us that on Saturday night he had been robbed and he needed us to help get his card canceled etc. he wasn't hurt it was a pick pocket who robbed him and he hadn't noticed until the next day.  He also told us that there was a terrorists group that was trying to kidnap North Americans in the Cusco area for political reasons.  He sounded good and happy, most of his family was here so they enjoyed talking to him!


So that´s really funny that you think I have an accent, because I think that I still sound pretty gringo. But I do find it difficult to say certain things in English and they end up coming out in Spanish. But it will be interesting to see what you think when we talk on Mother’s Day, and don´t worry the call didn’t make me homesick, it actually helped I think. But first I just want to say how great it was to talk with you guys on the phone yesterday! You all sound like you are doing so good. Sorry that I couldn´t talk for very long my comp is district leader and was yelling at me because we have to receive logros (acheivements) for the district, but it was probably good because that call was kind of expensive.

So how was everyone’s Valentine’s Day? I hope that it was good! Yes they celebrate Valentine’s Day here, but not as big as in the U.S.A.
 

Don't worry about me being robbed, as long as my debit card is canceled it will be fine, I have 70 soles in my wallet which I like 30 dollars. Not too bad, but I don’t know what to do about the license. But from now on I am going to be a lot more carefully with my things en mi mochila. para que personas no pueden robarme (In my backpack so I don’t get robbed again).

Mom thank you for the lyrics in the Dear Elder, they were very inspiring, I have learned as a missionary that a lot of things can be inspiring, so thank you for that!

I was thinking about the Olympus missionary video, and if some how you can burn it to a disc and send it in a very well-padded package, because they get pretty crushed, I will be able to watch the whole thing which would be awesome to have it.

So this past week is carnivales, and here in Peru their tradition is to have water fights, but not only that, they wet everybody in the streets so yesterday we were running a ton trying not to get wet. Also yesterday I had cuy for my second time, and it’s so good! there is a picture of it. My piece was the leg with the little foot and claws on it.

So someone asked me how big my area is, I will describe it like this, it takes about 1 ½ hrs. to walk from one end to the other, if you are walking really fast!

So some exciting news! I had my fourth baptism on Saturday! I didn´t baptize her my compi did, but the Hermanas in our ward had two baptisms on Saturday also, and I got to baptize the little boy Marco, and the entire baptismal service he was clinging to me!

But I am really happy that our investigator was baptized, because she has been an investigator for 2 years.

And now for the fun story, so Wednesday night we got back to our room, and the zone leaders called and said I needed to pack 2 days’ worth of normal pday clothes and come to their room immediately, so we got there and I asked what was happening, and apparently there is a terrorist group that was trying to kidnap and hurt North Americans! So needless to say me, and elder Cummings another North American Elder were in the zone leader’s apartment for 2 days, all day Thursday, and all day Friday! and we couldn´t leave for anything because it was very dangerous for gringos. So for 2 days I laid around in my pajamas and watched movies like How to Train Your Dragon, Gods Army, and Singles Ward! It was cool for the first little bit but so boring! So now until the president says so we have to be in our room at 7 pm and we can´t contact, or talk to people in the street we can only work with members and our existing investigators. So the work right now is difficult, but it was an exciting story to know that while living in another country people want to kill you!

I think someone said there is a story in Deseret news about it.

So I can´t believe that Paula’s farewell is on Sunday! how insane is that! she is so close to leaving! and she is going to be an awesome missionary!!! and Justin before you know it, your time will be here!

I can´t believe that I am done with my first change after today, I will be staying in Los Alamos, but I am going to have a new trainer, Elder Vladre I don´t know how to spell it. but apparently he is even more lazy then Castellanos, but I guess we will see, I can´t believe how fast this time has passed! I am becoming more confident while teaching and talking to people! but I still find a little bit of a language barrier. But that doesn´t stop me from knowing this church is true, and wanting to share that truth with others.

Well nada mas ( nothing else) for today! I love everybody, and I can´t wait to hear from you again!

Stay safe, read you scriptures, and pray hard! When life is too hard to stand, kneel!

Con Mucho Amor

ELDER GOASLIND

3 MONTHS!

This first part is for Brother Hammond please forward it to him:

Thank you for the letter, it meant a lot!! Some advice that I have for the priest quorum, is to study Preach My Gospel and the Book of Mormon! That is something that I wish I would have done a lot more before my mission! You use the Book of Mormon and Preach My Gospel every day in your mission, and it is so important to know the material! And when you know the things you need to teach the spirit will bring it to your remembrance! I love my mission so much, and yes at times it is difficult and discouraging, but it is the greatest thing ever! Work hard in total aspects of your life, and pay attention and participate in church activities! You guys are awesome!!!

Love Elder Goaslind!

So this is going to be kind of short because I was watching part of that video about the missionaries in our school, and I only made it to where I got my call, but that is so awesome how big the video is!!!

So I was thinking this past week about Paula and Justin and their missions coming so soon! First of all I need their emails for their missions so that I can forward my emails to them!

But some advice that I have right now before you go, attend the temple as much as you possibly can! The temple is such an amazing place and when we go there we can feel the spirit so strong, and it is so important to be worthy of the temple! Study study study Preach My Gospel and the Book of Mormon!

And I don´t want to leave out the other friends! Work hard in all that you are doing! Even if you are not planning on serving missions right now you can still live the gospel and be an example to others through the gospel! I love all of my friends so much! And I am so grateful for your example in my life! Gracias!

So I received the first package last Monday right after I finished emailing, and I got letters and Dear Elders! You all asked so many questions and I wish I could answer them all but there are way too many!!! So some info about Peru, depending on the areas depends on how nice the houses are, some have dirt floors with one room, and others have 3 stories with tiled floors but it depends on the area. Tanner, yes I do have a bed, and yes I do have a bathroom haha, thank you for your concern! So this past week the lady who does our laundry was out of town so we have to do our own laundry by hand, and that was quite a learning experience! But it was quite funny!

Also I was thinking about how you said Mallory doesn´t like to contact, nobody does, it is the most ineffective way to do missionary work, and so we try to avoid that at all times, if we absolutely don´t have anything to do then we will contact, but honestly it is the worst!

So I have a surprise, we found out today that tomorrow we are getting 6 new missionaries that are going to work in our zone this week with us until the cambio (change) next week! So chances are I might be in a trio for this week but I don’t know. I can´t believe that I only have 1 more week left in this cambio (change)! It’s insane how fast the time goes!

Also next week in the change we are getting 12 new elders. And that change is only 3 weeks long for some reason! But the one after that we are going to get more sisters then elders! How insane is that! It’s awesome how the lord’s work is hastening!

So on Saturday my comp and I had a little bit of a fall out, because we did our normal proselyting with the entire zone, and the numbers weren´t that good, we only had like 4 nuevo’s (new) and we were in our zone so he was mad, but he took it all out on me.  Let’s just say it was very interesting! But I think now we are good, I was very angry with him that day, but I read the list of blessings from my setting apart, and it said not to let things make you upset, and that helped to calm me down! Also I really learned how to rely in the lord that day, I don´t think I have ever prayed so hard in my life!

But not much has happened this week, I through a giant rock at a dog because he was chasing us trying to bite us, but that’s about it.

Oh! We have a set baptism for this Saturday on the 16th I am excited for that, so I hope that nothing bad happens! And we are going to try and set some more dates for baptism this week! Wish us luck!

So I am out of time!

But everybody thank you for your support!

Mom and dad thank you for all of your advice, and your help in my life! I love you all so much! I hope that everybody is good back at home, keep me updated on everything going on!

Sorry no pictures today and sorry that the letter is short, and scrambled, but the lideres de zona are really cracking down on time of emails because some missionaries take one hour to email! Well nothing more!

Con Mucho Amor

Elder Goaslind!!!

PS: That is awesome what the Greenacres said about the video! Love you! Stay strong and rely in the lord!

 

Necesitmos Investigadores

Hey Everybody,

 

How is everything going! I hope that the super bowl commercials were good!!! Before I forget, tell Emma and Justin happy birthday for me because both of their birthdays are on the 7th of this week!!! Paula that is freaking insane how close you are to going!!! I remember the month before my mission and how nervous and excited I was to go, just remember that in this time you really need to rely in the lord because he can help you feel comfort and peace before you go, and when you do leave! You are not going to believe how fast the time passes, this week on Thursday I will have 3 months in the mission and I can´t believe it, and on Friday I will have 1 month in the field, the time has absolutely just flown by!!! Justin, you won´t believe how fast the time goes either, and don´t worry about the language, I was terrified, but as you continue to prayer for the gift of tongues, and study hard and do what you are suppose to the lord will bless you, I am still surprised by all the compliments I get on my Spanish by the natives here, they are say that I am able to speak very well, which I don´t believe, but I do know that this is the work of the lord, because there is no way I could have learned this on my own! Josh, that is awesome that you received your call, you are going to love your mission, it is so weird to think that I am in Peru, Paula will be in Rome, Justin in Barcelona, and Josh in Romania!!!! We are all over the place, and it is all for the same reason! The work of the lord is hastening and it is our responsibility to bring the souls of our brothers and sisters unto Christ all over the world!!!

Mom I hope that you are feeling better, that is not fun to be sick, yesterday was fast Sunday and I felt terrible, my stomach had a ton of issues, and my head was pounding for the entire day, and I couldn´t sleep, but I am starting to feel a little better today, but being sick is no fun, I hope that you feel better.

Dad, I forgot to tell you last week that I can´t wait to get a copy of your lesson, I am sure that I can find some way to use it here, especially since I will have to speak in sacrament at some point.

I still haven’t actually received the first package, but the zone leaders are going to the oficina today and they said that they are going to look for me, so I hope that it is there. But I am not too worried about it.

So this past week was interesting. We spent all pday last week in the plaza de armas again, but a few of us went and saw Cristo Blanco, which was pretty cool. And I am sending a picture of that for you guys to see. ALSO I saw my very first llama!! It was like the happiest moment of my life! Ha-ha I have been waiting for almost a month to see one and I finally did!!!

So this week we didn´t do like any work in our own sector, because my comp is district leader he had a ton of entrevistas bautismal (baptismal interviews) this week, and so we were always with other elders! But we are hoping that next week goes better.

On Saturdays we do this thing called invasion, where our entire zona chooses two sectors and we proselyte para obtener referencias por los elderes en eso sector proselyte (to obtain references for the elderes in that sector), and I went with Elder Quito and both of us are new in the mission but he has 4 months. And we got the best logros (interest) in the zone. We got 8 new investigators, and 9 contacts. Too bad it wasn´t for my own sector.

So my Spanish is getting better and better every day which is good. And I am starting to participate more in the lessons that we teach which I am sure is very helpful for my compi.

Oh guess what happened yesterday, I went to get in the shower real fast in the morning, and we don´t have a lot of time on Sundays because our church is at 8. And I turned the shower on, and the power went out in our apartment which sucks! because if you want hot water there has to be electricity since it is an electric thing attached to the shower head that heats the water, so with no power no hot water, which means there are two options either shower with basically ice, or don’t shower. So I chose the latter.

Oh and Tyler will find this funny, I received my first beso (kiss) yesterday! We had an investigator saying goodbye to us after attending sacrament, and ya.... she didn´t understand that missionaries don´t do that whole beso (kiss) thing when greeting and saying good bye like everyone else does most awkward experience of my life, and my compi won´t let me live it down!

So cool experience. I was teaching a lesson with Elder Quito, and this lady wouldn´t accept our invitation to pray, because she thought she had never sinned, and didn’t need to pray, so I was going to bear my testimony about prayer, and all of the sudden I was speaking and didn´t really know what I was saying, but when I finished the lady looked at me and very solemnly said ¨´I am going to pray, I promise the next time you come I will have prayed´´, I have such a strong testimony of the gift of tongues! I know that when the lord needs something he is going to give you the words to say in the precise moment that you need them!

This week I will bear my testimony in English so mom doesn´t have to try and translate!

I know that this is the Lord's work, and that he needs missionaries. Without missionaries we wouldn´t be able to bring others unto Christ.
I have a testimony of the gift of tongues, and I know that without the lord I wouldn´t be able to learn Spanish!
The reason that I am called to this mission is because the lord knows that I will be able to preach his gospel the best in the Spanish language, and that the people in Cusco are going to recognize me as a servant of the lord with power and authority from him. But don´t forgot that the lord gives all of us power and authority, but differently in order to further his work, whether you are a missionary or not you have special gifts and talent from the lord that he EXPECTS you to use.
I know that this church is true, and that without this church in our lives we would be lost. It is so important to remember the lord in everything that we do.

Well I am out of time. I love hearing from all of you. And I hope that you get my letters soon that I sent home.

Remember to rely on the lord and everything will work out! I LOVE YOU ALL!!!!

Have a fabulous week!

 

Love Elder Goaslind

 

PS sorry if I didn´t answer questions, but it is hard to remember everything after reading the letters!

 

Second Baptism!

Hello all you people in the winter wonderland!!! I am so sorry to hear about all the snow and ice, that is now fun! Here it rains like all day one day and the next is like a billion degrees, the weather is very random! Umm...so I still haven´t received your first package that you sent a little over 2 weeks ago, so I am wondering if she has even sent it or not, because I called the mission office and they don´t have it. But I guess I will get it soon. Ummm...in the other package, I am not sure what else to have you send. Maybe some more of the paper mate pens, because I use pens all the time here! Umm....maybe a pair of my blue flannel pajamas in my room, because I only have 1 pair of sweats, and that is what I sleep in like every night so I don´t freeze. So that might be nice. Umm I am not sure if it is possible, but maybe a small pair of kids scissors. About the pop tarts, I like the brown cinnamon sugar, and you want to send more than normal because that’s all my comp talks about. Oh, and cookies, and some chocolate brownies, I have been craving brownies for like 2 weeks!!! ha-ha all I want is junk food because all I eat is rice and potatoes, and I am not complaining about potatoes but it would be nice to have some junk food, and candy. I am so sorry to hear about Bob Tingey that is so sad!  We have a sister in our zone ending her mission in 3 weeks, and she was talking today about how fast the time flies, and she is right, I can´t believe that it is almost Febrero!!!! That is so weird! Plus I almost have a month in the field! I am so sad that I couldn´t see Jantzen before my mission, but it sounds like he was a great missionary, that is so weird that he is home!

Congrats Ashley, you are so close to having your baby! Take good care of my sobrino (Nephew) for me!! And the rest of you, I want more sobrinos y sobrinas!!!!! (Nephews and Nieces)

So now a little bit about what I have been doing.

The big news!!! I got to baptize somebody on Saturday, so we share our sector with 2 sister missionaries, and their investigator was getting baptized, and she asked if I would baptize her! It was such an awesome experience!!! Her name is Maritza Alvarez-Alvarez. And she has the greatest spirit about her!!! It was such a good experience! You are getting some pictures of that in this email.

So about our investigators:

Carmen Vargas- she has a date for the 2 of Febrero, but we are not sure if that will happen because she needs to be married still so we are frantically helping her get all the paper work and stuff that she needs for the marriage to happen, all of her kids are members, so we had a testimony meeting about baptism yesterday with her and her kids, and she is so ready to be baptized, we just need her to marry first!!

Vanessa- she is 16 years old, and we have permission from her mom to baptize her, but her mom is traveling until march, and so she is with her aunt right now, and she doesn´t want to be baptized until her mom can be there, but we are trying to convince her that she will be blessed for being baptized even if her mom is not there. Hopefully we can set a date this week.

Christian and Juan Carlos- they are cousins and I found them while contacting with another elder, they both seem really interested in the message that we have, and they are the nicest people ever, but they didn´t attend sacrament like they said they would, so we are going to talk to them this week and find out why, and hopefully we can set a baptismal date for them also.

So we don´t have a lot of people to teach so we have been trying to work with the members but every time we go to their house to obtain referencias they just feed us! I am pretty sure that I have gained like 10 pounds in the field, it is ridiculous, all we do is eat food!!!! But I still want junk food!

So we had an activity on vierne con future misioneros en la estaca, (with future Missionaries of the Stake) and they showed them how they could begin their mission papers, and it reminded me that I was doing my mission papers almost a year ago. In May it will be a year since I began my mission papers time flies!!!

Yesterday we had our mission program in sacrament that our ward does once a month, and my comp spoke which means I should speak next month, but he gave an amazing talk about finding true happiness through the gospel. And about how each of us can be member missionaries. And it is true, it is so important that we all help out in la obra misional (Missionary Work). Because the missionaries can´t do it on their own, they need help from the members para encontrar investigadores (to find investigators), just because you don´t have a plaque with the title elder or sister doesn´t mean that you aren´t a missionary. Because we all accepted the plan to come to earth and progress, and part of that plan is to bring others unto Christ, I think a lot of the time people don´t realize that every single living person in this world are they who accepted the plan en la vida preterennal (in the premortal life). And everybody who has the greatness of the gospel needs to share it with those who don´t because it is intended for everybody, and like Preach my Gospel says, you aren´t teaching something new, you are helping them to remember the things that they already knew before.....

Missionary work is so important! I have truly learned that in the field. Yes this has been the hardest 3 weeks of my life, getting adjusted to a new life in a different country where I will live for 2 years, but with the lord I have been able to do it.

My challenge for each of you, this week share a gospel mensaje con at least one person not in our faith. A great way to do that is through favorite scriptures in the Book of Mormon, or through a talk in the Liahona, I have learned to love the Liahona, the messages are amazing!!! But share the gospel, and I promise you that you will see blessings in your life for doing that!!!!

Well, I can´t think of what else happened this week. Oh a member accused my companion and me of slacking off because we were playing bingo with a family. We went to visit them and they invited us to play a game so we said yes, because we need to gain the friendship of the members, and another member said that we don´t work, and she complained to the mission president, so today my comp and I had interviews about it. It was way ridiculous, but our mission president is freaking the best person ever!! He is so funny!!! And he told us not to worry about it, because it is our job to be friends with the members, and if playing games with them will help gain their trust, and then do it.

Last pday we ate at McDonalds!!!! It was amazing to have American food!!! And of course there would be a McDonalds here because of all the tourists.

Oh and mom I like the new photos of the family where that ugly old photo was! It looks very nice!!

So I want to share a scripture with you that I read in Church yesterday, its Moroni 7:26-29, it’s about miracles, and how if we have faith the Lord can do miracles through our faith but without faith we have nothing! and I have seen that in my missionary work, when I have faith that we can do something we have success, when I doubt about an investigator the day is crap, and just because Christ isn´t here en la Tierra (on Earth) with us physically, doesn’t mean that he can´t be with us, because he can through our faith! Tengo un testimonio de Este, y sè que, por medio jesucristo y su expiacòn podemos tener felicidad en nuestras vidas, y la clave es la fe. Este evangelio es verdadero, y hay solo 2 iglesias en la Tierra, primero la iglesia del cordero de dios, y segundo, la iglesia del diablo, necesitamos orar a dios, y preguntar cùal iglesia es verdadero! yo sè que la iglesia de jesucristo de los santos de los ultimos dios es verdadero, y yo sè este porque yo he orado a dios, y he recibido una respuesta de mì padre celestial! (This is a translation of Alex’s Testimony I did it online so I don’t know how accurate it is).  I have a testimony of this, and sè that, by Jesus’ example we can have happiness in our lives, and the key is the faith. This gospel is true, and there is alone 2 churches in the land, first the church of the Lamb of God, and second, the church of the devil, we need to pray to God, and to ask which church is true! I sè that the Church of Jesus of the saints Of the ultimos God is true, and I sè this because I have prayed to God, and I have received an answer of my Heavenly Father!

I love all of you so much, and I miss you like crazy, but I know that the Lord needs me here! I hope you get my letters soon.

Tell Justin sorry I couldn´t respond to his email because I am only allowed one, but tell him not to worry about the language! It will come!!

Can´t wait to hear from all of you!!!

CON MUCHO AMOR!

ELDER GOASLIND!!!

 

Second Week!

Hey,

Sounds like things for the most part are going good. I am so sorry to hear about grandma’s fall that is not fun at all!!!! Also, tell Adam that I am sorry about his heel, does he need more surgery again, or is it something that will heal itself?

Tell everybody Happy Birthday for me, sorry that I didn't have a chance to tell them Happy Birthday before!!

So to try and answer some questions, we go to Internet places in order to email, so we have to pay like 1 sol, which is like 50 cents in the U.S. we all go as a zone after our zone meetings on Mondays.

So my baptism count is 3!! It was the coolest experience ever! I am going to send some pictures of it. I had the chance to baptize the daughter, Bony. She is so awesome and so is the whole family!!! We have another baptism on the 2nd of Febrero.  And we are working with someone else on a date, but she wants her mom to be there for it, so we are trying to figure out how to make that work out.

Things are going alright with my companion; he is a little lazy though which is really hard, because I want to work and all he does is sleep, he didn't get up until 7:30 this morning! But hopefully I can lead by example and he will catch on, and it doesn’t help that he has been sick for like a week.

So some things that have happened this week, the baptism which was amazing! On Saturday we have an activity with our zone, and the Stake Cusco. We played futbol from 8 in the morning until 1 in the afternoon. And it was pouring for like the whole time except for the last hour, and then that hour we all got fried. I am sending a picture of my sunburn on my neck, it is quite hilarious, but it doesn’t hurt as bad anymore which is good.

I also had the opportunity to go on exchanges with another elder, Elder Quito, it was awesome, we talked with a lot of people, and it was interesting not being with my companion, that night we were going to catch the bus and a drunk guy came up to us and started asking for our cards, so we gave him a pass along card haha, and then Elder Quito turned and said, he is drunk! And the guy turned and said in English, yes...I am drunk!! And he kept saying all these things in English; it was so funny because we were trying to make it so he couldn't understand!

Oh, I got your Dear Elders on Friday! So I don't know how long that took for them to get here, but I am telling you so that you can judge the time. But I have no received your package yet, like you said it is probably in the office waiting for me, but I haven’t got it yet. Umm...if you are sending another package, you should send some pop tarts!!! I need some American junk food. Ummm, but I am not sure what else I would need, I guess anything that you can think of that I might need. Hopefully I don't remember something after I send the email. Maybe some of your cookies hehe.

Ummm, I am trying to think of what else to say. I am not really sure. I want to have time to send pictures. Today we are going to the Plaza de Armas which we went last week also, and it is so awesome!!! I love it! I am sending home letters today. And I need you to distribute them to everybody because I am putting them all in one envelope!! Oh, about the language. There are 4 North Americans in my zone so I talk to them often in English, plus my comp knows a little bit of English but not much. But there are other people who know a little English who help me out when I need it, I am getting better at the language day by day, but I know that it is going to take some time before I can actually speak it.

Quick story, last night we were contacting and we knocked on a door and the lady let us in and we shared a short message about prayer, and asked her to read a pamphlet about the restauracion, and pray about it, then we had her pray with us before we left, and she burst out into tears during the prayer, and the spirit was so strong!!! It was amazing!

 

Well I need to send pictures now, but send what you think I might need in the package; hopefully there isn't anything I really need. If so I will have to wait til the next time!

I love all of you so very much!! And I love hearing from you!!

Everybody write me soon!!

Love Elder Goaslind!!!

Primer Semana (First Week)

Hola Como Estàn!!

Well the first week in the mission was insane!!! I can't believe that I am actually in the mission field!! First, my address is:

Elder Alex Charles Goaslind

Misiòn Perù Cusco
Jiròn Ricardo Palma
Manzana ¨"A" Lote #2
Edificio Ricardo Palma 4to Piso
Urbanizaciòn Santa Mònica
Cusco, Perù

That’s the mission home!!

So my mission is in the Zona Cusco, and sector Los Alamos, which my companion and I share with a companionship of sister missionaries, my companions name is Elder Castellanos, from Mexico and he has been on his mission for a year now and I am his first hijo (child, or in other words greenie) we are the only 2 missionaries in our apartment, and we live with this little old lady member Hermana Francisca!! she cooks 3 square meals a day for us and the food is fantastic, and we also have another lady in the ward who will do all of our laundry for us!!! The food here is amazing!! Don´t be surprised if I come home a little fat because we are fed every time we stop by someone’s house!!! The weather is chilly here so I am very grateful for the fleece jacket mom; I use it like every day. I am only allowed to send 1 email according to the mission president, and we only get 30 minutes. But as for the real mail, send everything to the address I gave you above. Packages, letters, all of it. And then I will pick it up from the mission home on my pdays. I am not gonna lie, I felt very homesick my first 2 days here, but I read the letters that mom and dad wrote me before I entered the MTC, and they helped me change my perspective of why I was here. I have no idea what else to say, there is so much that happened!! I am sorry you will not get a picture of my companion and me because I forgot to take one, but next week I promise!! so when I arrived in Cusco I walked out of the airport and the Mission President was there, with some other misioneros, and Sam Neff was one of them!! Also, I saw Stephen Doxy!! There is a picture of the 3 of us.

So I don´t have like anytime left, so this is going to be fast!!!

So we have a baptism this week!! We inherited a family of 3 from the old elders because my compi y yo are both new to this area, but there are 3 of them and we are baptizing them on Saturday!! Also we have a date set for Hermana Vargas for the 26, but first she needs to be married, so hopefully she decides to do that!! Other than that our other investigators are new.

The Spanish is interesting! I am understanding more when people talk, but it is still very difficult! As for the speaking, about all I can do is bear my testimony. but last night we were teaching la familia Suncco who are getting baptized this week and I was bearing my testimony, and I burst out in tears because I just felt the spirit so strong, and then the mom started crying, and it was a very spiritual moment in my first week of the mission.

Well I am glad that I am not in Utah with that snow, so have fun with that!!! And I hope that everyone is doing well, that’s an awesome scorpion experience! But I need a pic of Ashley to see how she is doing!!

But I have no more time and mi compi need to email still. But it was so good to read your emails. Tell mis amigos that I am working on hand written letters for them, but who knows when they will get sent. Also tell Justin congrats on going through the temple! That’s awesome, him and Paula are going to love their missions as long as they remember why they are there and forget themselves and go to work as dad always says.

Well I love you so much, and I can´t wait to tell you about everything that happens this week! Have a fantastic week, and keep relying on the Lord!!!!

 Love Elder Goaslind!!!

Ps. no one here can say my name, this is what they say... elder goooalsaiosnfhs.....