Baylee - Its....the LAST ONE...

December 12 2016

Hola Mi Familia y Mis Amigos!!

First off, please forgive me for not writing last week...there was just not enough time... But how were these past weeks? I hope all is well! 

It has been two weeks since I have written. These weeks included wonderful things like practicing the Pentatonix Thats Christmas to Me, the Christmas party with the Zona Tumbes, visiting Wuarawuas, giving my last talk in the Branch in Tmabogrande, a farewell party, packing, and now visiting my areas. Many things to share, but I will just share one thing...

2 John 1:12 

12 Having many things to write unto you, I would not write with paper and ink: but I trust to come unto you, and speak face to face, that our joy may be full.

I love you all!!! I will see you all Friday! :)

--

<<< HERMANA BUCHANAN >>>

~ ~ ~ PERU PIURA MISSION ~ ~ ~

Baylee - November 28 2016

November 28 2016

Hola Mi familia y Mis Amiogos!

How was teh week for everyone! Happy Late Thanksgiving!!!! Here is what we did this week...

- Yesterday was Branch Conference here in Tambogrande and last week they asked me to help them put together a special muscial number. So Monday and Saturday evening, we met to put it together. We chose Nearer my God to Thee because it doesnt go crazy high and it was relartiely simple to learn quickly. It turned out ok. I tried to make it a little bit more interesting on the piano, I hope it was ok... LOL I have been stretching a ton lately to make my little bit of piano knowledge work for lots of situations!

- Tuesday evening we headed to Pirua to spend the night there beause Wednesday we had a conference with Elder Hugo Montoya of the Seventy!! Wow, what an amazing expereince!! His huge phrase of the day was "it isnt about you but about the children of God". He talked a lot about leaving behind our selfish desires, our sins, our doubts, our disobedience, etc in order to come unto Chirst and better invtied others to do the same. The whole idea of forget yourself and go to work! It was awesome! And It was great to see so many of my good friends! I directed the choir, and it turned out amazing! It just filled the room with the Spirit! :) 

- This week, I was able to visit oe of our investigators named Alex. It was just me and a member because we went on dvisions. This investigator is amazing! It was only the second lesson and I asked him if he had prayed and asked God. He replied yes and began to recount his experience. He knows it is true! And every lesson since he has been prayiong and asking more and he keeps receiving an even stronger answer. He is inspiring! Please pray for him :)

- Today we wnt to Piura around 8:45 and visited with Presidente Rasmussen. We were also able to sing christmas carols with hioom and Hn.a Rasmussen!! So much fun! Than we came bak to Tambogrande where we ate delicious food, a TON, and wartched how to Train you Dragon in our Pensionistas house :) Good times!

Well, that was my week :) So much stuff, not enough time! Be good this week, love your neighbor :) This week begins Ilumina el Mundo,m the Christmas theme, invite each of you to look it up and do the progreçam of service everyday in December! It is an amazing way to bring us closer to Christ! :)
Love you all jhasta la proxima semana! 

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<<< HERMANA BUCHANAN >>>

~ ~ ~ PERU PIURA MISSION ~ ~ ~

Baylee - First week in a TRIO!!

November 21 2016

Hola Mi Familia y Mis Amigos!! :)

¿qué tal la semana? Espero que estén todo bien! My week was a good one, a new expereince doing everything in THREES! Here is what happened...

- This week we have done Divissions a lot more 

frequently because now we just need one member and we can make two companionships! So Tuesday, we went on Divisions. And we found five new investigators!! Each one of them is very unique and each one wants to knw judst a litte bit more about the truth of this Gospel. Then Saturday we also went on Divisions and 5 other new investiators! It has been amazing to see such miracles as we work with members and do double! Our desire to work is always elevated as we see all the miralces that happen through hard wor and great faith.

- Tuesday and Saturday, we also put into pla y a new tool to receive references from members. It is a long list of specific questions to ask, things like if they know someone who received missionary lessons before but was never baptizsed or if they know somene that would be a wonderful member of the church. We used it with the f. Valverde Lopez and also the F. Dominguez Crisanto. We now have like 15 references!! We are working to be more creative in our search, and the results are coming! :) And now we have two new progressing investigatrs from these references.

- WEdnesda was visited a recent convert, Hno. Moises, and our lesson was on the amazing conference talk What Lack I Yet? I love thast talk!! And Hno. Moises erally understood. I inite each of you to ask that question regularly. I know I have talked about this talk before, but it is so true we need to be constantly improving!! :)

- Thursday was our first District meeting and we are awesome! LOL we are all the same with just two more, Hna. Ramos in our trio and Elder Norman in a trio with the secretaries. I am really glad to be a District with such a desire to work hard and help our investigators, recent converts, and less actives!

- Thursday we also visited a very interesting investigator named Gladys...well, we thught she was awesome, but this lesson she begane asking questions about extra terrestrials, saying we are all some big experiment...sSo we are not really sure what she is looking for LOL!

- Our progressing investigator Hno. Jordi, is still awesome. This week we talked about chastity , the word of wisdom, and following the prophet. He is working hard to apply everything. We are praying hard for him, please pray for him as well!!

- sFriday we found a less active named Noemi. She has been inactive for many years, but she told 

us that about two weeeks ago ashe had wanted to go to church, but her little borther passed away. In these moments, she is ready to hear the truth once again. The lesson was so very spiritual! And then  Sunday I went with a member to pick her up and go to church together. She was one of the first there and she loved every minute. We overheaerd her promise the Eklders that she will be at church every Sunday! :)

- Saturday morning we headed to Piura to practice a choir number for when  Elder Montoya of the Seventy comes this Wednesday! Wow, amazing opportunities in the mission....conferences with Elder Bednar, Elder Godoy, and now Elder Montoya! And wow that choir we put together is amazing! I unknowingly was thrown in to direct with Hna. Parks at the piano. We are singing tjhe same medley from our last multi zona. We decided to spice it up a bit and put in a harmony part. My question first off was, who knows how to read music? LOL and three Elders raised their hands. So we had them come over to learn to part and one of the Elders, one who has now a week here in the field, dropped down to the super low bass note and blew us all out of the water LOL So we put it together and it sounds amazing!! I am super excited for Wednesday even though I am also very nerv ous to diredct because so much depends on me....

- Church yesterday went really well! I loved to talks focused on Obedience, Faith and Tithing! Something much needed here. Alwso the whole Sunday went well because us three, our wonderful trio, we were able to talk more with one another and I really love those two so very much! Sadly, I dont have photos once again...I am so sorry. Hna. Ramos is from Lima, as well, and she is super spunky. Just kinda of spontaneous and that is very different for me. She likes to have fun, buit she is also used to taking things slow and relazed a little bit of my opposite! LOL maybe it will be good for me :)

- Today, it was awesome! We went to Hna. Angela y Israel´s house with the Elders and we did BARBEQUE! Anticuchos (or cow heart!), sausage, and chicken. SO DELICIOUS! We also had fire baked potatoes, yams, and platanos along with corn on the cob! All with a waucatay sauce and of course ice cream for dessert! And we ate it all aws we watched BRAVE! :) I love that movie! It was a wonderful day :)

Well, thats my week! It is such a privilege to be here :) Les invito que sigan adelante, cada momento siempre! Sean fieles, busquen lo bueno en cada experiencia. La vida no es fácil pero con Cristo, es posible!! :) Les amo! Hasta la próxima semana!

--

<<< HERMANA BUCHANAN >>>

~ ~ ~ PERU PIURA MISSION ~ ~ ~

Baylee - Transfers!!

November 14 2016

Hola Mi Familia y Mis Amigos! :)

¿Cómo están? Todo bien? Espero que sí! Another week gone by, and here is what happened down here in Perú!...

- Monday evening, we went to an FHE with a family of investigators in the Elders area and a bunch of the Branch members. Wow, it was a powerful message! The lesson was on familys and how to be a better famliy, closer to God. We watched an old video about the responsibilities of the family and needed principles such as faith and family prayer. Afterwards, we sang Families Can Be Together Forever, and I got choked up! Wow, I love my family! I am very grateful for being raised in the true Church and for having a family who loves me, supports me, and teaches me! After the lesson, of course we had to play some games! :) We ended playing some simple rounds of hot potato and it was hilarious! Hna. Fernandez lost! and her punishment was to go to the door and scream to the neighbors that her pig had died! :) LOL

- Tuesday morning we joined the Elders en a service project at a less actives house. We painted a room! LOL and ofcourse we left super dirty, laughing the whole time! A little truth we discussed duringthe project was that truly a clean house brings the Spirit. Sadly, this sisters house was crazy disorganized...and for that reason, it was a little creepy and one just didnt feel good. For that reason, us missionaries we singing Hymns one after another the whole time! :)

- Tuesday, we found a new investigator with really wonderful questions, the kind that make a missionary just smile :) She asked about infant baptism mainly. We were able to pull out Moroni 8 and help her understand, she really got it, and she wants to know more. She knows the Relief Society president, so she is going be a great help!

- That same day we found two other investigators and the lessonwas simple and very genuine! We were relaxed enough to laugh and the Spirit was able to touch their heart! I love when we see people experience the Spirit!

- Wednesday afternoon, we visited for the first time with a less actve named Brenda. She used to bbe the missionaries Pensionista, but when the Elders changed PEnionsita, she stopped going to church. I think she got offended... but as we visitd with her this week, she was very open. Her comment was "I think it is time for me to retake these things". She is ready to come back, and Hna. Fernandez and I are excited to teach her!

- Thursday we had our last District meeting and it was a good one. We focused in on how to help the members do their home and visiting teaching. The 8 of us put our heads together and made a plan that includes first a training, weekly reports, demonstrations, and a prize at the end if they reach their goal. I am excited to put it into practice! Another theme we discussed was how to better use Family History to find new investigators. That has been a huge focus lately here in the mission. The whole goal is the get others to feel the desire to know MORE!

- Thursday was also a day of miracles in the afternoon! Hno. Juan and Hna. Luz accompanied us from 4:30 until 8:30, and we taaught many people. We taught one of our progressing investigators, a 17 year olf youth named Jordi. He is reading the Book of Mormon and understanding what he reads, and also he is super excited to work towards his baptismal date on Dec. 3rd! We also tracked down the husband of one of our contacts, and the lesson with him seemed to just fill each person with the Spirit. Hna. Luz commented that she just KNOWS that he will be a member one day. His schedule is difficult, but we are going to work with it. Another little miralce that day was that we were able to teach another one of ourinvestigators, Hno. Miguel. It wwas a miralce because it was in the middle of the soccer game between Perú and Paraguay! LOL normally nobady lets us in if Perú is playing, but Miguel´s comment was, God before sports! WHAT?? that is the first Peruvian man who I have ever heard say that! And the lesson was gret,too! We taught about teh Restoration and he was left in awe. He straight up said, I am confused. Hna. Luz and Hno. Juan were able to testify and invite him to pray in order to know. Wow, basically tons of awesome moments! ::)

- friday evening we had a Branch activity. Festival del Gusto! I made No-Bake Cookies :) And there were quite a few other plates to enjoy :) and we had quite a few inestigatos present, as well!

- Saturday, we made a cake! I finally received my packag for Mom and in it we found a funfetti cake with chocolate frosting, so we went to our Pensionistas house with the Elders and baked! And so we had lunch and a delicious dessert! Wow...I didnt realize just how sweet and sugary the sweets are in the States!! M;y mouth was in shock...:) 

- Saturday afternoon was another beautiful baptism of a 17 year old girl, Alexandra! She is amazing! :) and there we were able to hear from our investigator, Lourdez, that she also wants to be baptized! :) WOO HOO!!

- Cambios! So we learned that Hna. Fernandez and I are staying together, but that also another sister would come and we would be in a trio...!! What?!? There isn room for three people in ourlittle room! So we talked with the Assistants at the Family History training, and they told us they would work it out. Sunday evenign around 9:30, Our zone leaders called and informed me that...I would instead be going to tacala...and that I had to be at the office at 8AM, not being able to say goodbye to anyone....oh my goodness...how I cried....Hna. Fernandez, Hna. Juli too....Presidente Valverda, Hna. Luz, Hna. Katy, and Hno. Manuel our Branch mission leader came to say goodbye there at the room...It was so sad...Then at 10:20, almost time to close oursleves in, Hno. Manuel convinced me to call and ask Presidente, to see if I needed to go or if Hna. Juli could help us make room and I could stay...And Presidente told me he alsways wanted me to stay in Tambogrande, but the space iwas the issue. So Hna. Juli and her family commited to help us. We took about three hours then and there to move u the desks and the wardrobe into the room next door in order to put another bed inside the room! So I am staying in Tambo grande in a trio!!!! Hna. Fernandez, Hna. ramos, and Hna. Buchanan!!! :) WOO HOO :) 

So that was my week! Love you all!! :) Be good!

--

<<< HERMANA BUCHANAN >>>

~ ~ ~ PERU PIURA MISSION ~ ~ ~

Baylee - November 7 2016

November 7 2016

Hola Mi Familia y Mis Amigos!!

There went another week! Hoepfully it was a good one for each of you! Here is what happened here...

- This week was basically all about helping the Elders here in Tambogrande LOL they had a couple get married, have a wedding party, and get baptized! And they solicited our help! 

     So Wednesday Hna. Fernandez and I pitched in and bought the sister, Hna. Maria, flowers and also fabric to in order for the Relief Society to president to make a simple wedding dress. 

     Thursday, We got up a little early and got ready fast in order to be to the couples house at 7:30AM. I did Hna. Maria´s hair and makeup! Can you say Make Over?! :) It was way fun and we worked to make it special and sent Hno. Benjamin with the Elder early so they couldnt see one another. Of course, they have three kids already, but still it made it a little more magical. Then came the massive weddings that the court house does here. It seems to be a normal thing here in Perú. There were 100 couples getting married! It was neat, they did a toast with soda, danced a little, said I DO and kissed, then each couple was called forward to sign the papers. Then it was a}official!! 

     Friday, Hna. Fernandez and I went on Divisions in order to keep helping as well as do some work in our own area. Hna. Fernandez chose to go out an proselyte, so I stayed with Hna. Juli, the Elders, and our  ward mission leader Hno. Manuel to clean and decorate teh third floor room in the capilla for the wedding party! It turned out beautiful even though it took so much time! 

     Saturday was the best and most special day of all...their baptism! We all traveled in the back of a truck, more than 20 people, up to Los Peroles. They entered the water, first Hno. Benjamin and then Hna. Maria. It was an amazing experience! I can just imagine them with their three little kids dressed in white in the temple! Also, two of our investigators were able to attend the baptismal service, and both of them were greatly touched by the experience! It was so powerful and the Spirit was so strong! :) 

     Sunday, their confirmations! They showed up a little late, and just like with Hno. Renzo, we had to wait a little while. But they were just glowing and the Branch accpeted them so quickly! Amazing! :) and that rounds up their experience of the week!

- Saturday, we also had a Zone meeting in the morning. The topics were seminary/institute, and Family History, and how to better use these tools as missionaries! It was amazing to realize tht family history work and missionary work are the same thing! Every name sent to the temple is a baptism just as one that we complete here! I love knowing that my family is eternal, and we all need to help others make their families eternal, as well!! Share it! :)

- Today, Hna. Fernandez and I made pancakes in the morning and cleaned our room, then we came here to Piura to go to the mall and supermarket, and now we are here at the internet. a good chill day! :)

So that was my week :) A pretty good one! Les amo mucho!! Cuídense! Hasta la próxima semana!! 

--

<<< HERMANA BUCHANAN >>>

~ ~ ~ PERU PIURA MISSION ~ ~ ~

Baylee - HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

October 31 2016

Hola Mi Familia y Mis Amigos!

How was your week?? Hopefully awesome! Sorry I have such a short amount of time, so much to do! But here is what happened here...

- We are focusing a ton on the Sabbath Day this week with every single one of our investigators because that has been the biggest struggle lately...attendance at church. Go to church! 

- Thursday we had the second Sisters Training ever here in the Peru Piura mission! It was an amazing experience! The theme was all about Eve and the two trees! Hna. Rasmussen just had an amazing inspired wow comment...women are given the role of the tree of the knowledge between good and evil, choice, and the men are given the role of saving ordinances, the tree of life! One cannot make it without the other, and all works through the two roles! Wow! Here are a few awesome pics! :)

- Thrusday evening, we had a Noche Misional bonfire! It was so fun! LOL it took a bit for us to figure out how to get the fire going and stay going, but it was a t}good time. We had two invesatigators there, as well! LOL Sorry, I dont have the photos to pass along just yet...We ate smores, hotdogs, and fire baked platanos! Delicious! Except I woke up a little sick in the morning...

- Our recent convert, Hno. Renzo, is passing through so super rough issues right now...Please pray for him, that is all aI can ask!

- We found an awesome new ivestigator yesterday! His name is Georgi and he is youth who went to the bonfire with a friend Thursday and wnats to know more. We arrived at his house, and guess what! It is a house fulll of Priesthood!! The mom, the dad, and SEVEN SONS!!! with one more on teh way!! LOL It was such a fun and silly lesson with that family! And Georgi is super prepared, he has asccepted a basptismal date and really wants to change his life. Of all his family, he is the most centered. Pray for him too, pretty please! :)

- Today... Happy Halloween!! I am dressed with Halloween colors! Today we had a zone activity in the which we went to a recreational park here and played soccer and ate together as a zone! It was way fun! Hna. Fernandez and I had also bought a little pumpkin! and some bags of (peruvian) Halloween candy to share with the zone! LOL We played Hermanas vs. Elders! And well, I bet you can guess who won...we will just say that I may have kicked a goal...into the wrong arch...!!! LOL But it was still fun! :)

Well, that was my week! :) A good one! Les amo y les deseo una semana fantástica! Sigan adelante, sean fieles! :) Hasta la próxima semana!! :)

--

<<< HERMANA BUCHANAN >>>

~ ~ ~ PERU PIURA MISSION ~ ~ ~

Baylee - October 24 2016

October 24 2016

Hola Mi Familia y Mis Amigos!!

How was the week? It went by fast, no? I think so, and there was a whole ton of stuff packed into this week. Here is what happened...

- Monday night we stayed in Ramón Castilla again because Tuesday we had our Multizona conference. The conference was amazing!! The theme for the whole day was our Savior, coming to know Him better and better understanding the Atonement and repentance to apply in our own lives and to teach our investigators. It was powerful! We watched the awesome video of the Provo City Temple and the reconstruction, and it touched my heart. We talked about the developing the attributes of Christ. I learned so much! I was also able to see Hna. Carrera! Love that girl! And sadly, I had to give my final testimony, since I am now what we call viejita...It was really awesome!

- We are teaching a family, the f. Calle Hernandez, and they are really something special! It is a mom and her two kids. As we teach, they really understand and want to know the truth. Especially the 15 year old daughter, Lourdez. She loves the Hymns, too! LOL We let her pick which Hymn to sing, and she just so happened to choose one that niether one of us knew....LOL so we just went for it, acapella sight singing and it was pretty rough! 

- Thursday, Hna. Parks our sister leader and her comp, Hna. Kelley, came out to Tambogrande to do Divisions with us. I got to go with Hna. Kelley! She is the other sister from Hna. Fernandez´s group, so she is still new and still learning Spanish, but she is awesome! We taught really well together, amazingly enough! And I was a good break to talk a little bit of English LOL With having not enough one gringa comp, English is a privilege! 

- When we came back to the room Thursday to end our Divisions, we found the power was out! So we have been without water for more than 2 weeks, then we had almost three days without power and the are possbily bats in our room! LOL So that was fun!

- Friday was our Noche Misonal! We had decided to come together as missionaries and make brownies as a treat, so we met at Hna. Anegla´s house and made a ton!!! LOL It was silly and fun! Then the activity was great, too! There is a TV show here in Perú called Esto es Guerra, or This is War, and it is basically like competitions and games, two teams. That was what we did for our activity! Green versus Yellow! the mummy wrap, bobbing for apples, an eating contest, a dance off, the egg race with it on a sppon in your mouth, and name that tune. LOL We had a good time! 

- And then yesterday... my 21st Birthday!! Wow, I do NOT feel 21... How did that happen?? Well, it was a good day! Church was beautiful, and we were able to teach quite a few people in the afternoon with Hna. Katy accompanying us. The big fiesta came in the evening. First, in the Valverde home. There, we had a cake and they sang, then then forced me to bite the cake, smashed my face into the cake, and attacked me with a grand ttotal of 30 eggs!!! Can you believe that??? I had to rinse out my hair and wipe off all the egg to be able to sit and eat my cake...then Hna. Katy decided for some crazy reason to give me two pieces!! We cant turn them down...so I was goin to explode! Then we went home and there we found Hna. Juli and the family waiting...with dinner and another cake! LOL so they sang to me again , we ate dinner and and cake and we chatted. It was a much more calm and mature setting LOL. So I ate three pieces of cake, a plate of food, popcorn, and soda...I felt like I was going to die but it was good and fun! Then I had to bathe LOL and wash my hair twice to get all the shells out!! A fun day!

- Today, Hna. Juli accompanied us back to Catacaos. I am now poor... LOL but I have pretty souvenirs! and a few gifts! LOL :) It has been a nice day so far and from here we are going to head back to Tambogrande and just chill. 

So there you ahve it, my week! Lots of stuff, no?? Espero que estén comportándose bien! Siempre sigan adelante! Testifico que esta es una obra verdadera y tan tan importante! Requiere mucho esfuerzo, y no es fácil, pero sé que el Señor está en cada paso. Esta es la Iglesia verdadera, la única. Cristo vive! Estoy tan agradecida por esta oportunidad de ser una misionera, y por tener la verdad en mi vida! Les amo!! :) Hasta la próxima semana!

--

<<< HERMANA BUCHANAN >>>

~ ~ ~ PERU PIURA MISSION ~ ~ ~

Baylee - October 17 2016

October 17 2016

Hola Mi Familia y Mis Amigos!! :)

¿Qué tal la semana? ¿Cómo les fue? I am suer it was a wonderful week! Here is what went down here...

- Monday evening we went to visit a less active family, the f. Correa. Recently the dad, Carlos, has returned from working in Lima and we caught the five of them there in the house! It is so amazing to see happy, whole families blessed by the Gospel. It changes the atmosphere and makes one just smile :) I am so grateful for my forever family and the blessings I receive through them and the Gospel!

- This week we have had to travel to Piura various times to practice with the Zone. We have to practice two special musical numbers for tomorrrows Multi-Zona! We are singing the MoTab medley of The Battle Hymn of the Republic and Let US All Press On but in Spanish. Also we are singing the song the MoTab sang in Conference, Take Time to Be Holy, in English. LOL I was going to play the flute, the one I had bought, but another sister Hna. Kelley plays and they wanted me to sing LOL so she is going to play instead! It sounds super pretty! 

- Wednesday morning, we were finally able to track down one of our investigators, Juliana. She had kind of fallen off the map for a little while. We were accompanied by a member. Juliana has many questions. We were able to cover more on the Restoration. That message is so important, and every time we teach and testify it touches my heart. Truly I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet and that he was an instrument to the hands of the Lord to restore the true church here on earth. That simple truth blesses my life and changes lives! Hna. Juliana is experience these changes, little by little!

- Thursday we had our first District meeting of the transfer. Our new Dsitrict Leader, Elder Urpeque is pretty wonderful. He taught us on how to really use the Book of Mormon to its fullest. It is the evidence and the keystone of our religion, it is the base of it all. LOL we played a scripture chase game and I totaly won!! :) 

- Thursday we were able to go on Divisions with two YSA sisters in the Branch, Hna. Katy and Hna. Juli. They are cousins and they are awesome LOL We live upstairs in Juli´s house and Hna. Katy is an RM from Columbia. LOL that day we laughed so and were also able to accompliosh a ton of work! Divisions helps to move the work along! However, it is so very different teaching withot¿ut my companion.... I love my compi! 

- Saturday was a crazy day because in the morning we went to Piura to practice the songs, came back for lunch with our Pensionista, then traveled with the Relief Society to the little pueblo of Waurawaus for a Relief Society Activity. We watched the 20 mion video of the Restoration and bore our testimonies. Then we were able to learn how to make alfajores! I will have to make them at home! :) It was a good, successful activity. However, A very long day! Waurawaus is little by little receiving the Gospel! It is amazing to see the changes in such humble people! :)

- Sunday I gave a talk, using Elder Stevensons talk on Latter Saints from May 2015. We all need to be latter day saints who keep on trying, or else we are just latter day sinners. and even more, we need to help others do the same. We need to share the Gospel so that others can also receive the joy of by a latter day saint who keeps on trying! After that, Hna. Fernandez and I gave the class in Gospel Principles all about Familes can be Forever! LOL we started out by inviting one sister to draw on the board, with the suggestions from the crowd, a family that can be forever. A Mom, a Dad, kids, and a temple were drawn. Then we talked about all the important things to do as a family to reach that goal: family prayer and scripture study, patience, Family Home Evening, recreational activities together, etc. It wsa a fun lessona dn we finished with a white board full of ideas and drawings!

- Today, we came here to Piura for a Sidstrict activty in the which we went and sought out some fabric in bulk to buy and make matching skirts and ties!! :) It is awesome! Then we went to the Hna.s from Miraflores Pensionista to eat some lunch. From there Hna. Fernandez and I went on a mini shopping trip to the Open Plaza mall :) I love shopping!! Today we are going to spend the night here because tomorrow morning early we have our Multi-Zona! I am going to get to see Hna. Carrera!! :) :)

So ya that was my week! I wish you all a wonderul week to come!! Be good, be faithful, pray, read your scriptures, and smile! :) :) I love you all!!

--

<<< HERMANA BUCHANAN >>>

~ ~ ~ PERU PIURA MISSION ~ ~ ~

Baylee - October 10 2016

October 10 2016

Hola Mi Familia y Mis Amigos!!

Well, the week went by fast!! Hopewfully you all enjoyed it! here is what happened here...

- Mon day evening we taught a rescued family, the f. Mendoza,. about the plan of Salvation. it was a very beautiful lewsson and it is such a beautiful topic! We all need to remember who we are, where we came from, why we are here, and where we are going! And it fits perfectly with the talk given by Pres. Monson!! 

- This week has been miraculous in that we have found tons of new people who are ready to hear more about these truths! 14 new investigators!! Hna. Fernandez and I have been left amazed to see that Lord working little miracles far out of our hands. This work truly is His work!

- Tuesday evening was a birthday party! Elder Pareja and a member Hna. Katy had their birthdays that day and we threw a little fiesta! With a cake! As they blew out the match stick make shift candles, Hna. Fernandez and I attacked! We had brought 20 eggs and a kilo of flour! :) It was a very violent war, a very messy and loud coupole minutes are we smasshed the eggs on their heads and dumped out the aflour on top for good measure! A very Peruvian tradition! :) such a good time followed by good food and good company!

- Wednesdya night we went to visit a less ac tive named MAria. LOL she was in the misddle of cooking dinner and made a deal with us that wwe could sit around her kitchen and teach as she cooked. What ended up happening was that I offered my help because she was kind of lost in what she was doing as she tried to make some dough for flour tortillas. LOL I ended up making the food and Hna. Maria sat listen ing to Hna. Fernande and Hna. Katy teach!! :) It was silly because I felt kind of like the help, just awkwardly there cooking! And the tortillas turned out pretty good!

- Thursday morning we once again joined Hna. Juli and her parents at their chacra, there fruit fields! it was great fun picking maracuya, mangos, limes, and papaya! The silliest part was when I fell!! You all would have just about died laughing! I was carryiong the maracuya in my arms, full, and went to follow Juli`s dad crossing a little ditch, I didnt sterp quite far enough and my foot placed right where irt was an incline super wet, and down I went, face first! I guess I arched my back and didnt hit my face, but my chest slammed intop the ground real goo dLOL! i jumped up fast, laughing so hard1 If only we had been videotapinGg!

- Saturday morning we had a Zone meeting in Piura. It was a really good meeting! We talked about how to maximize our study hours and how to better understand the dictrine in order to teach more effectively. I learned a ton and i am working to put it all into practice. Our zone is pretty great now, too! There is a photo below! :)

- Sunday we had some good meetings with topics such as obeicence and charity! Wow such powerful truths, the essential law of obedience and requirement of charity. We must become as Christ is! I invirte each of you to go and study those important themes! :)

- In the evening Sunday, he relief society president went out visitng with us and we were able to finally track one oinvestigator who has been super busy lately. the spirit guided us as we focused the lesson in on the priesthood. She was left thinking, pondering the great truiths of thw power and authority of God. I testify that this power truly is on the earth today and that it is found in the Church of Jesuis Christ of Latter Day saints! it is an amaizing bklessing for each and every one of us!

- Today, Hna. Fernandez and I cooked Navajo tacos wioth Hna. Juli and they turned out alright LOL northing as good as mom makes them! LOL Hna. Fernandez has decided she wants to try stuff froom the States! It has been agood chill day! :)

So theres my week!! Espero que esta semana que viene esta llena de felicidad para cada uno de ustedes!! Les amo mucho!! :) Cuídense! Hasta le próxima semana!

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<<< HERMANA BUCHANAN >>>

~ ~ ~ PERU PIURA MISSION ~ ~ ~

Baylee - Conference Week !! October 3 2016

Hola Mi Familia y Mis Amigos!!

I hope you all had a wonderful week!! My week was pretty wonderful LOL Here is what happened...

- This week we have found 7 new investigators who want to learn more!! Our Distrcit Leader put a goal for us, 6, and we upped him by one!! We worked super hard for that and prayed a ton and saw tons of miracles!! People who are searching for the truth and who are willing to act. One family in particular was amazing. Hna. Fernandez and I were stressed because it was Friday night, We werent going to be able to work much Saturday and sUnday due to conference, and we only had 4 new investigators. We desperately chose to knock on doors. And the very first door we knocked on was a family of three, the daughter has a RM friend, and they had some very large questions about baptism and Chirsts doctrine. The Lord blessed us to have with right words and now they are ready to learn more! WOO HOO!

- Wednesday Presidente and Hna. Rasmussen came out the Tambogrande to do t room inspections and interviews! It was super schill and I loved visiting with them! They have such a great love and concern for each one of us!

- Wednesday evening we had a talent show with our branch members! LOL It was so silly! little kids dancing, all of them dancnig exactly the same, some singers, skits, etc. Sadly, they started late, so us missionaries didnt get to present our number do to the need to run home before 9:30. It was still good though!

- Thursday we had our last District meeting of the transfer. It was a really good meeting, but as always it was a sad goodbye session. Your district often becomes a little like family and it is hard to see them go their seperate ways. But that is part of the mission! 

- We have one investigator who is progressing really well. Her name is Meri and she has many questions. This week we decided to chang eour lesson plans and talke instead about prophets and obedicence so that we could invite her to GeneralConfernece this week. It was definitely inspired from the Spirit to do that because she had been alittle confused. We were able to resolve her doubts and help her understand a little bit better. I love when we can see righ before our eyes as the people learn and feel teh truth! 

- Friday was a crazy day. A member had invited us to come over for lunch, so we told our Penionsista to not cook for us. We did weekly planning through the nirmal lunch time to get to the members house at the sheduled time of 3:30PM: We showed up and her son first lied to us and said she wasnt home, then she did come and her and her recent convert husband began to tell us about their marital trials and how there wasnt any water, and that she hadnt been able to cook...we taught a short lesson on how husbands and wives actually need }each otehr to reach exaltation, a thought that had never crossed theirminds, and then we left, without food! And Since it was the end of the month, we didnt have hardly any money. We ended up buying so rolls, a few limes and a little onion to use our food storage tuna and make a ceviche de atún with bread...It was a rough day! LOL but one to remember!

- Saturday and Sunday was General Conference and it was amazing!! My favorite topics were definitely joy, the Book of Mormon, Prayer, and Missionary Work! Sorry, I am so bad remembering who said what LOL but those themes were inspiring! we must find the joy in our lives, the joy in repentance, the joy in the Plan! The Book of Mormon is the keystone of our religion and a precious treasure to cherish and study diligently daily!, ´prayer is sincere ("am I really praying or just saying prayers??)}") missionary work is our work - HELP THE MISSIONARIES! :) Also, it was way awesome to be able to watch it all in English with the other Norte Americanos and even Presidente and Hna. Rasmussen! Ther were so many missionaries and itw as just inspiring! And Hno. Renzo who was just baptized last week was able to come to the SUnday morning session!! WOO HOO!! :) 

- An awesome part of Conference weekend was that was stayed here in Piura instead of going back to Tambogrande and we got to stay in Ramon Castila with Hna. Ruiz and Hna. Apeña!! That was the best, and kind of the worst. I was able to chat and hug Hna. Apeña, but I also had to say goodbye...she goes home tomorrow...I cried, and she cried...I love her so much! Eternal friendships are real, I know it!

- Today was transfers for everybody else LOL since Hna. fernandez and I are in training, we didnt have transfers. However, we now have a new District leader, Elder Urpeque. He was in my District in Castilla and he is awesome! And Truly, the transfers this time around were crazy! Mamás have gone back witht their Hijas, repeat District members, Hna. PArks training and being a sister leader, tons of craziness!! Oh, and today Hna. Juli accompanied, Hna. Fernandez and I to Catacaos to pick up my new leather scripture case for my English scriptures!! :) WOO HOO!!

So that was my week! I jam packed week, and a good one. Les amo bastante! Quiero que recuerden siempre que estoy orando para ustedes. Ustedes son hijos e hijas maravillosos denuestro Padre Celestial. Sigan adelante!! Hasta le próxima semana! :)

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<<< HERMANA BUCHANAN >>>

~ ~ ~ PERU PIURA MISSION ~ ~ ~

Baylee - September 26 2016

September 26 2016

Hola Mi Familia y Mis Amigos!

How was the week?? I hope all went well! Here is what happened here in Tambogrande...

.- RENZO!!! So basically this week was about Hno. Renzo . Monday we visited with him about temples and family historia work. that was an awesome lesson because it really touched his heart. His moom died when he was a littlekid, so the opportunity to see her again really struck a chord with him. Tuesday our visit was a little different...We had actually gone in with the plan to change his baptismal date, because w efelt that he needed a bit more time to be prepared. However, he bgan defending his date, remiding us of all thethings he has done and the answers he has received. It came down that he was going to go through with the planned date for this Saturday. Wednesday was the big interview day...Wow that was a crazy long day of lots ofwaiting and Elder Richards had come on Intercambios with our Districtleader so we talked in English over all the craziness. It all began at 3PM and finally around 8PM Presidente Rasmussen signed the paper and Renzo was home free, but there was a little wall between us and him because he hadnt been completely honest with us. The Elders formed a little connection that made it a trial to know what would happen after the baptism. Thursday we tried to track him down and talk but we couldnt find him and Friday night we went by accompanied by a member and we found the Eklders inside getting the sisters signature for the baptism sin Renzo is 16. That threw another loop in the situation. We finally visited with Hno. Renzo that night at 9PM and everything got worked out and Hno. Renzo said he still wants us to be the ones to visithim since we were the firsts. Then came the big day Saturday! LOL Renzo made us super nervous and showed up more than an hour late, but he came and we traveled up to Los Peroles allin the back iof the pickup truck. The baptism was him and a little 8 yrold, the cute girlfrom Waurawaus that had me sing Let it Go! It wasbeautiful!! :) And Sunday morning Hna. Fenandez and I passed by in the morning to remind him, and all was good, but he showed up! Presidente Valverde confirmed the little girl, Alexandra, and then he asked us all to wait five more minutes to see if REnzo wouldcome...and he came!! :) It was a little miracle! So this week was basically all Hno. REnzo. He shared his testimony and it was super powerful!! Hna Fernandez and I made a cardboard frame with a picture of the Lima Temple andwrote him a note as a baptism gift!! :) WOO HOO!! 

- Other things apart from Hno. Renzo.. Tuesday Hna. Fernandez made it to 5 weeks here in the field!! We went to the mission home for our meeting and it was really wonderful. We talked about obedience, paying attention to miracles, the Atonement, diligence, and other wonderful topics. As always, the food was amazing! Turkey and mashed potatoes and gravy, I love Preisdente´s Pesnsionista Hna. Jimenez! 

- We had a suprise Zone Meeting this thursday and it was an awesome meeting. It was very dynamic with themes such as humility, patience, new contacting ideas, as better first lesson, unity, and remembering why we are all here. It was amazing to learn from so many wonderful missinaries! 

- Yesterday afternoon, we had planned to go with a member to visit less active and part member families, however Hna. Fernandez got sick to her stomach out of nowhere and we ended up in that members house for abit before we went on Divisions and Hna. Fernandez stayed with the members mom and I went with Hna. Katy for about an hour. It was a sad thing to leave her becauseshe literally was crying because she didnt want me to leave her....I love that sweetgirl!

- Today, Hna. Fernandez and I had a real preparation day in the which we cleaned the room, actualized the area book, cooked some delicious french toast, and listened to EFY, Christmas, and other awesome music! :) It has been a good day :) 

So theres my week! Wow, a good one! A crazy one with roller coaster rides, but a good one! I wish you all a very awesome week this week! Remember, the Lord loves you all and I love you! :) Hasta la próxima semana!

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<<< HERMANA BUCHANAN >>>

~ ~ ~ PERU PIURA MISSION ~ ~ ~