El Barrio Magnolias

April 14, 2014

Hey mom,

Man this week was definitely a long one..... not gonna lie.... but everything is going pretty well out here so thats good!  I am now serving en el barrio Magnolias, but they call our area Santa Maria.  its basically 15 minutes away from my old area so thats kind of interesting hahah. The city is still San Juan de Lurigancho and that includes both Magnolias and Casablanca..... they are just smaller parts of the town or city! There aren't too many members here, and we don't really have any investigators, but we are just trying to work hard. We are living in some random house/room that we rent.  My companion's name is Elder Urzola...... he's Colombian and he's pretty cool hahah it's pretty crazy though because this is his last transfer and then he finishes his mission. It's cool, there are six missionaries in our ward, it has a large area to cover. It's just kinda hard because the members dont really live in our area. That's pretty much the basics of whats going on... just trying to do my best and ya thats about it hahah hope you guys are all doing well! and love you a bunch!

Saying goodbye to Casablanca will be rough...

April 7, 2014

Hey mom,

This week has definitely been a semi rough one.....  sorry that I'm emailing you guys so late, but we went to paint a house this morning.  After that we went to the transfers meeting and found out that I am going to be transferred.  Kinda rough, but it hasn't really hit me yet I think.  Nothing really too crazy happened this week, but you are definitely right how amazing was General Conference.  It really changed my mind about a lot of things.  How I want to live my life in the mission and after.  I really liked how they talked about just loving others and putting God first in our lives. I really am so grateful for the opportunity that I have had to come out here and serve a mission in Peru. It has really been an unexplainable experience.  I love you guys so much and know that this church is true, and that there's nothing more important because in the end families are the most important.  We are all responsible for our own actions but we can help each other be better.  One of my new favorite scriptures I've found is in Romans chapter 1 verse 16 and explains how I feel a lot better than I can hahah.. There's a lot in my head right now hahah,and I don't have a lot of time- sorry if it's kinda all over the place, but I love you guys so much and hope you are doing well!

 

 

Last week in Casablanca??

March 31, 2014

Hey mom!

Pretty solid week this week.  nothing really crazy is going on over here...... this could be my last week here in Casablanca which is kinda sad, but just gotta finish strong.  I'm doing pretty good out here, learning so much it's pretty awesome.  Also just trying to help the people in any way I can.  It's pretty cool just to have the opportunity to serve the people here and learn.  It's really a good idea to look for little acts of service that you can do for others because that's when you can really feel the Saviors love. Thanks for sending the extra money. I've been budgeting way better this month and ended with 100 extra soles.  I'm going to save to help pay for marriages! So I'm doing fine really!  I really don't have too much else too say, but I'm doing good out here in Peru and hope you guys are doing good out there!!!!

 

*Note from mom----Jake did mention that it is very expensive for most couples to get married in Peru, therefore, many of the couples live together. This is why he mentioned he wanted to use his extra money for marriages so that these families can be together forever :)

 

 

              Jake just sent me a picture of Matthew 17:20 on Spanish (this really helped our family a lot this week)

                                                                Jakes new scripture bag (a birthday present)

 

Building Bathrooms

March 24, 2014

Mom!

Hey mom this week went by pretty fast, but it was a good one! Nothing too crazy happened.  Our baptismal date didn't go to church so she will have to get baptized in April which is kind of disappointing, but we finished with three baptisms in March which is pretty solid.  The funeral sounds like it was nice.  I am sad for grandma Jeanne, but I know she will be fine. is she going to stay in Chicago?  My finger is healing up pretty good, and I have some pictures to send you and you guys will probably die.  We did a talent show for our ward and i sang as a famous Peruvian artist.  his name is Chacalon and he's pretty sweet. I'll send some pics soon.  All is going well out here in Peru. The days are kinda running together, but it's really fun out here! sorry if I threw you guys off, because I am emailing earlier than usual..... we are going to play soccer in some park with the whole zone, so we had to go a little early.  One thing I would like is Spencer's email--- Spencer Taylor! Other than that, I'm perfect!

 

Have a great week, love you guys!!

 

 

 

Jake---"Don't worry mom, I just cut my finger"   Me--Don't you think you need stitches?  Jake--"No, I'll be fine"

 

Me--What were you doing?  Jake---"We were building a bathroom"

 

 

 

   

 

Elder Zundel in the Ward Talent show as a famous Peruvian artist Chacalon

 

March 16, 2014....3 Baptisms!!

March 17, 2014

Mom!

Hey mom this week was a pretty interesting week hahah.  I have a little bit of a cold, but we are still working hard out here!  We had our three baptisms on Saturday which was pretty sweet. I'll send some pics in a little bit. President called me last night, and told me that  Great Big Grandpa Neil passed away. I was glad I heard the news in a phone call. It's too bad, but really he's doing better now I'm sure! (Alma 40:11-12).  I'm glad to hear that dad, grandpa and grandma Jeanne are taking it well though! Was dad out there or had he already returned?  I'm also glad to hear that mormal went well hahah, that's always a good time.  Definitely send me Wes' email!!! That's so crazy. He's going to be great!  That's pretty funny you talked with Elder Morales when you called the mission office, he's the man!  and ya grandpas reputation of being a Stake President followed me all the way out to Peru hahahah having Elder Waddell visit and teach us was really cool!  love you guys a bunch too and hope you guys are all doing well!!!  love you a bunch!

 

 

 

I asked Jake if he remembered today was St, Patricks day and if he was wearing green :)

 

He said---"oops.....no, I'm not wearing green!  But Alli sent me a picture that she put a green mustache on cardboard cutout Jake at home, so I'm all good!!!

SIX MONTHS!!!!!!!

March 10, 2014

Mom!

Sounds like you had a good week out there in Arizona!  I had a pretty solid week here, nothing too crazy really.  We just were working like usual and are preparing for our baptisms this week!  Nothing really interesting going on hahah.  I had a visita de trabajo this week with Elder Forward and that was good, elder Waddell is coming this Thursday and we are going to get to meet with him which will be pretty cool.  It was pretty cool,  yesterday I taught a lesson in Quechua.  It is the Incan language.  The woman is from Cusco and her daughter translated for me. I talked to her in Spanish and then she talked to her in Quechua.  It was pretty sweet.  The weather here is finally cooling down and has been kinda rainy :)Sounds like you guys are busy with mormal which is always a good time.  Didn't get any packages this week, but I got a letter from grandma Jeanne! everything is going good out here in Peru!

 

 

P.S.  Tomorrow will be six months that Jake is in Peru!!  He did not mention this in his email but here was his response when I told him Happy Six Months!!

 

 

I know right!!!!! Crazy!! and I'm gonna burn one of my ties (that's what you do at the six month mark)  hahah Elder Quille finishes a year on Thursday too! crazy stuff!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Birthday!!!!!

March 3, 2014

Mom!

Pretty solid week out here in Peru!  We were pretty busy, and are doing good.  As you guessed, I didn't get transferred!  Pretty sweet and I got another transfer to work in Casablanca!  Elder Chamorro and I have three baptismal dates for the 15th of this month so that's pretty sweet.  We had some fun for my birthday and it sounds like you already got some pictures which is good!  I got like 5 birthday cakes from all the members hahah and some missionaries too.  Really an awesome birthday that I won't forget!  Other than that I really cant remember what we did this week!  The days all seem to blend together, but it's pretty fun out here I'm not gonna lie!  I miss you guys, but the people here are so awesome!!!!! Sorry I don't have too much to say, but ya that's what I got.

 

Love you.