Here are Justin's roommates in Peru. There are six elders to a room, three Latins, three Americans. Again, which group does Justin look like he belongs in? In the CCM there are only 100 missionaries. He says it is pretty small and surrounded by tall walls with armed guards. I guess too many Americans concentrated in one place. On a trivial note, he does not like the food. They serve the same thing everyday. Eggs and rolls for breakfast and chicken and rice for lunch and dinner. I wonder how much weight he'll lose there!
Justin said he has learned much more Spanish in Peru. He says, "It is pretty amazing. I haven't even been here a week yet. Provo was basically useless language wise, but great gospel wise. So it's still good I went there. We learn so much Spanish from the Latins because we have to find ways to say things to them. It makes you pull from all your vocabulary you can remember in your head. It's really good actually because in Provo, you'd learn something in the class and forget it because you can just speak English. But here you are forced to speak Spanish so you have to remember it all.... The Latins are great though, they really do know a lot, we just can't understand them a lot of the time."
Justin outside the Lima, Peru CCM. I tell you, my boy makes me proud with his picture taking.
On July 6th, 2008 he wrote," Yesterday we went out proselyting for the first time. We drove about an hour and then went out to inactive member's houses along with a couple members of the ward and my companion. It was pretty hard to understand the people. The last house we went to we had to give the first lesson in Spanish, which I had never done before. You know how the scriptures say that you will be given the words when you need them? Well, that is definitely true. There were times that I had no idea what was going on, but I would know what scripture I should share, and it would always work. It is also true that when you don't know what to say, to testify, it works. I was able to give the First Vision in Spanish perfectly which I had never done before. At the end, the lady said her heart was pounding so fast and she felt different than before. She agreed to go to church and pray about our message. It was pretty neat."
He said the Fourth of July was great there. "We all wore red ties. For breakfast we got pancakes and for lunch it was all red, white and blue with hamburgers, fries, real brownies and ice cream. Probably the best day here so far. In class, we refused to speak Spanish, drew an American flag on the board and said the Pledge of Allegiance and sang the national anthem. All the Latins here kind of got tired of it, but we could have cared less. Apparently everyone in the Provo MTC got the entire day off and got to watch fireworks. Oh well." Justin certainly can appreciate the United States a lot more now. As he says, "Just appreciate being in the United States. No where else is quite as good." In another letter he says "Must be nice to be in the chosen country of God speaking the language of the gospel. Must be nice." Yes, we take so much for granted don't we? Sounds like Justin no longer will.
Justin with fellow American Elders at the beach being real tourists! It will be the last time for Justin to see the ocean for the next couple of years. He saw a ton of people surfing and said they looked pretty good.
The day before (July 16, 2008) all the Latin and older American elders left for their missions. He said the CCM is empty now with only 28 North American missionaries left there. They got to go out as tourists with President and Sister Groberg (the CCM president) and see the city. He got to eat Pizza Hut (he hated that place before!) and said "it was the best meal here so far." They went downtown and saw the Capitol building, where the Peru president lives and the main Catholic church and "everything." He went to the souvenir plaza and "bought some random junk."
Justin's new companion (number three) is Elder Carpenter. He is from Arizona. He says, "It is weird not having a Latin companion I can't communicate fully with, but he is a nice guy." Wait a minute.... isn't it supposed to be weird HAVING a Latin companion you can't fully communicate with?! Well, I suppose you have to live it to know.
The next day the CCM is getting 40 new North American missionaries and 40 Latin missionaires. Justin's group will all have American companions so the new one's can have Latin companions. I guess it really helps the new elders with the language.
Last week they had a little earthquake during the night. He says, "It was pretty funny, I woke up and just laid in bed because it was only a gentle rocking, but some of the Latins start freaking out and kept yelling door, door, door and wanted to wake everyone up. Then there were a lot of Elders from Utah and what not who had never been in an earthquake before and were frozen in bed in shock. It was pretty funny. Needless to say it was all they talked about the next day. At least something exciting happened."
As of July 16th, 2008 he says, "It's almost been a month and a half. It was quick in some ways, and the longest month and a half in most. I am sure time will go a lot quicker and easier once I am actually in Bolivia. That should be exciting."
Justin is posing with Michael Nelson. A friend from home and our ward. Michael is one of his new roommates for the next couple of weeks. He will be serving his mission in Lima, Peru.
By now Justin is excitingly anticipating getting to Bolivia "to see what a mission is actually going to be like, not just sitting in class for 10 hours a day." He goes on to say, "Hopefully once I actually start my real mission in Bolivia, time won't be a large factor in my mind anymore. But that it will just fly by like everyone says it does so that when it's over I'll wish it lasted longer." I think he is DONE being in the CCM! Well, his time there is quickly coming to an end. He leaves for Bolivia August 6th, 2008. And do you know what that means for his parents??? Another phone call!!! Yea!!! Little pleasures in life can be great ones!
In a letter dated July 20, 2008 he wrote," I noticed in sacrament meeting today I understood about 90%. But that is sacrament where people are using the same gospel vocabulary. Firesides and people on the streets is a whole different story. I can really only pick up on main ideas in those situations." Well, after only four weeks in Peru, that sounds pretty good to me!
He is frustrated with the inability to fully express his feelings in Spanish. He says," people really shouldn't complain so much about having to go on their missions in the States or anywhere English speaking. It is horrible not being able to fully express yourself. I get very frustrated.... I know it will come eventually, but it is just annoying have to go through so much work to understand everything." Justin, our perfectionist and straight A student is not used to overcoming such a huge barrier. Learning has always come easily to him. I know he will definitely learn the language where he'll be able to express himself freely. As he once told his parents, "Patience is a virtue." It is hard to be patient sometimes (well ...for his mom, most of the time!). Blessings come after perseverance and humility. As always with Justin, he'll come shining through with flying colors (and a lot of prayers!). I'll end with how he ended one of his letters to us... "Keep doing good things."
We love you Justin!! XOXO!
