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 ~ ~ ~

Baylee - September 19 2016

September 19 2016

Hola Mi Familia y Mis Amigos! :)

Another week! How was this one for al of you? Spectactular I hope! Here is what went down here...

- Renzo. Renzo. Renzo. He has been our giant focus this week. LOL His baptisma date is for this coming Saturday! And We have been working so hard to make sure he is prepared for it. It has been a bit of a roller coaster. He prays and feels his answer, but then he is not completelyy sure if the church is true even though he knows Jose´h Smith was a prophet...So we are working with him. He is excited and wants to be baptized, but we want to make sure that he is well prepared. Please pray for him like a ton!! 

- Tuesday evening we were able to teach one of our recent converts, Hno. Moises about the proclamation to the family. And just perfectly one of his non member daughters walked in. It was an awesome moment to teach, she even opened up with us! Litte miralces! :)

- Wednesday evening we visited with a less active/basically investigator named Maria, one we visited last week too. She tolld us that she hadnt received a confirmation that the chhurch really is true, but then confessed that she hadnt kneeled down to pray and ask. Truly, humbling ourselves before God brings miracles and brings anweser! I know she is going to come back!

- Thursday we had a District meeting, and this week Hna. Fernandez and I were assigned to teach about the importance a}of a personal testimony here in the mission and in our lives. We made a motto...Live, Enjoy, Rejoice in you Testimony! LOL It actualy turned int oa really cool lesson. After we shared our piece, our District Leader asked each of us to bear our heartfelt testimonies, and it was super amazing to isten to the conviction of each of this missionaries. The Gospel is true!! Then we folllowed up that spiritual time witha  competitive matching game to learn English! LOL

- Thursday going on Friday I had Intercambios, with Hna. Lang, onj of the sister Leaders here in Miraflores. She is awesome! We talked a ton and she is such an amazing example of strength and faith! :) I love the opportunity to learn from other sisters!

- Friday night we visited with Hna. Fanny and her family, a lessa ctive and returnign family. After the good lesson on the Plan of Salvation, they demonstrated their awesome talents for the upcoming Branch talent show! They sing awesome and can dance too!! :) It was such fun! 

- Saturday we finally tracked down Billy and Karla!! We have been worried about them, but they have been reading and praying, every thing!! They even went to the casa capilla ast Sunday but we were in Piura for the Stake Conference! So that was exciting to see their dedication!

- Yesdaterday in the afternoon, us four missionariesin Tambogrande and the Branch Counci traveled an hour a}out to a little pueblito callled Waurawaus. It was super coo because we traveled standing up in the bakc of a truck, and then the family of members was so sweet. they have three little girls and once again I was Elsa from Frozen! LOL they made me sing Let It Go and For the First Time in Forever, but I had to sing in English because I haventbeen able to learn it in Spanish. LOL They were just the cutest! Serves me right for braiding my hair! The trip back was super neat in the dark! LOL

- Today, Hna. Fernandez and I went with a member, Hna. Juli, to Catacaos! All the cool tourist stuff! I did spend a little bit of money :) LOL But it was fun and then we went and ate at a chinese place owned by real people from China. So Good!! :) It has been a good day!

Well, there you go! Espero que todo estén bien y que sigan adelante. Sé que el Señor está con ustedes. Nunca se olviden que estoy orando para ustedes cada día, siempre! Les amo bastante!! :) Hasta la próxima semana!! 

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<<< HERMANA BUCHANAN >>>

~ ~ ~ PERU PIURA MISSION ~ ~ ~

Baylee - September 12 2016

September 12 2016

Hola Mi Familia y Mis Amigos!

¿Cómo estamos hoy día? Ojalá que todo esté bien! My week was a good one. Here is what happened...

- Monday night we had anFHE with the f. Calle Carmen. They are super sweet! and then Friday afternoon we taught Hno. Gian just him and read the Conference talk What lack I yet? It was a v ery spiritual lesson and afterward Hno. Gian touched my heart. He told us that as w shared the message it was like angels were talking with him, sharig just what he needed to hear. He thanked us profoundly...Wow I have to thank my Savior for this opportunity to feel such love from such wonderful people!

- We were finally able to track down a reference we received from a member, and it was really beautiful! Her name is Juliana and she is probably 40 or so, and she has been friends with members for most of her life. She always asked questions, and finally she has decided to accept a visit from the missionaries. It was crazy because both Hna. Fernandez and I commented that we had felt such a warmth in her home, like the Spirit telling that she is someone super special. We are excited to work with her!

- Tuesday evening we were trying to track down one of our investigators and we knocked on the wrong door LOL but it turned into a little miracle! We apologized and presented ourselves, asking if we could share our messasge with them. They let us in!! It wasa darling couple and their little girl. As we talkd, the two of them were left amazed at the new message. They paid attention to every word and asked questions. They really want to know if the story we shared is real. It was inspiring to see such devoted interest. Hna. Fernandez ad I left the house in shock wlalkng on water!

- Wedsnesday afternoon, I cried in a lesson, the first time in quite a while. We were teaching a less active YSA about serving a mission...Wow as I testified of the blessings received on a mi ssion, I got choked up...I know this work is true,. I have come to know my Savior on a level I ever thought possible. This mission has changed my life and it is has changed ME. I am grateful for every single minute, the good the bad and everythign in between!

- Wednesday night was a marathon night. We had worked hard to put together an FHE for our youth investigator Hno Renzo and the hermanas he lives with. It was all set up, members were present, the only thing missing was Hno. Renzo...we called and his "sister" said he was on his way with one of the other "sisters" so we kept waiting and waiting...and waiting! Fianally at 8:40 PM they showed up and the Branch was celebrating! It was a super short lesson with a cute video called for Small and Simple Things. We were able to give Renzo´s "sister" a Book of Mormon! Litle by little they too are going to come to know!

- Thursday we had an awesome District meeting. It was aabout inspired questions, but it wasnt the same old message we always hear. The Secretares presented thre types of inrpised questions, ones to hear their feelings, ones to help the find their own answer, and ones of verification. Each type was backed by scriptural examples and then we did practices that were super spiritual! Hna Fernandez is so powerfully inspired and blew us all out of the water with her inpired questions!! :)

- Vriday night we had to do divisions once again! LOL I went with Hna. Juli to visit a less active from Chulucanas, another pueblito, who ahd sasked to Elders to visit her and she lvies in our area. She talks a TON!! LOL and sadly she has many doubts and doesnt remember much about the church. We are going to be starting fro point 0.0 to help her gain a testimony and come unto Christ.

- Yesterday was Stake Conference! It was relly neat because teh Branch hired a bus and we all traveled together to Piura to hear the speakers! LOL ROAD TRIP! and Hno. Renzo came! The meeting was great.  Topics such as being self Sufficient, the Sabbath Day, Service, Temples, and the Book of Mormon. Lots of inpsired m essages!

- Renzo is mo ving forward towards his baptismal date!! We are super excited! Please pray for him!! :)

I love you all so very much! :) Be safe hasta la próxima semana!

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<<< HERMANA BUCHANAN >>>

~ ~ ~ PERU PIURA MISSION ~ ~ ~

Baylee - September 5 2016

September 5 2016

Hola Mi Familia y Mis Amigos!

Another week and I hope ou it was a wonderful one! Here is what we did here...

- Tuesday morning we were able to teach a family of recent converts. We taught the most basic and precious, the first message, the Restoration. The Spirit was so crazy strong in that lesson. Truly, this Church is true. The Spirit testifies this to me every time I teach. I know in my heart and in my soul that these things are good and right and true! It is also amazing to see the strong testimonies of others we teach! :)

- Hna. Fernandez and I went on divisions twice this week in order to cover all of our appointments. She is doing so well, well enough  that I felt comfortable enough sending her on her own with one of the  returned sister missionaries here in Tambogrande. All of our appointments were a reat success during that time, too, and we were able to accomplish so much!! WOO HOO! :)

- Thrusday we were able to go to an FHE with many of the Branch members. It is always fun and super faith building to see faithful people come together to talk about and study the Gospel. LOL and afterwards came some silly games such as hot potato, the tie tying cat and mouse game, and then a new one in the which we piled little match sticks onto the mouth of a glass bottle and for every match that some cknocked downt hey got a line of lipstick on their face! LOL We laughed a ton! :)

-  Friday afternoon we taught one of our less actives, Hno. Julio. He is so ready to be rescued, he just needs to go to his interview! He has a budding testimony, one that is getting stronger and stronger. Also, he wants to go on a mission! He recently turned 19, and that is our next goal for him, to get out to the field! Please pray for him!

-  We have one investigator who is progressing swimmingly. He is a 16 year old named Renzo. His baptismal date is for the 24th and us, the Elders, and the Branch are all working together to help him along the path. He came to church yesterday in his white shirt and tie!! That made our hearts soar! :) Please pray for him, too!! 

- Saturday we had our Zone meeting. Our Zone is itty ibtty!! 8 Elders and 8 hermanas! But we a}have a really wonderful group of missionaries. We talked about making good goals and working with them. Also, a special topic was the 10 commandments of health LOL there have been a few health issues lately! Hna. Fernandez made a wonderful comment when the Zone Leaders asked what we should improve as a Zone. She commented that we need to be more unified and trust one another more. As companions, as a district, as a zone. Aint that the truth!! Love mi hija! :)

- In the afternoon saturday we helped the Branch go out in search of some less actives to invite tehm to church. They have started a new activity called all against one in the which every Saturday afternoon we wet aside some time to go out and find less active from each organization and invite them to church. It is a wonderful way to help reactive people, and I highl recommend it!

- After the activity Saturday, Hna. Fernandez and I rushed over to visit with some investigators who we finally tracked dowwn. The lesson went well, and then yesterday they came to church!! We are super excited for this new couple, billy and Karla!

-  We had a wonderful miracle this week as we found a less ac tive youth. What happened was that we were searching for names in the futre investigators list, and we went to this one house. Turns out the name was the less actives father. We were able to teach the family of four, and the 19 year less active pulled out the photos from his baptism and is really excited that the church has come back into his life. He even came to church yesterday! His family are some wonderful future investigators and Hna. Fernandez and I are super excited to work with them! :) 

- Yesterday are progressing investigator, Renzo, with a baptismal date came to church in a white shirt and tie yesterday! It was a such a happy and inspiring feeling to see his progress! He is rapidly progressing towards his date on the 24th! :)

- Last night we traveled here to Piura in the evening and spent the night in Ramon Castilla!! My old area! We came because today we left at 3 AM to head to Canchaque, my second visit. Last night was way fun visiting with Hna. Flor and the Sosa family and the hermanas! A big family dinner, 12 people around the table!! Then todays trip was really wonderful. We laughed and had a blast. I did take photos, but I wasnt able to pass them to my USB, so next week! Sorry! Afterwards we hurried back and ate lunch as a Zone. A good day all in all!

Well, thats my week! Yo sé que todo esto es verdad y que estoy aquí con un buen razón. No es fácil siempre, pero sé que el Señor está conmigo. Tenemos que seguir adelante con firmeza en Cristo. Tengan animo, mis hermanos y hermanas! Les quiero y les amo bastante y espero lo mejor en esta semana que viene! Hasta la próxima semana! :):)

<<< HERMANA BUCHANAN >>>

~ ~ ~ PERU PIURA MISSION ~ ~ ~