Presents from Justin!

Today we recieved a couple of little package from Justin. In it was a little note with the following, " These are for my siblings for Christmas. The necklaces are for Hadley and Sutton and the pens for Cole, Weston and Hanson. In the other package is a tape for Christmas morning and cards for the kids Christmas morning. Love you." The girls got beautiful shell necklaces and the boys pens with carvings of different animals near the top. We were surprised that Justin would go out of his way to buy and send gifts to this sibings. Super sweet!! Some had mentioned that they were going to miss Justin's presents because "he gives the BEST presents!"

We love you Justin!

Called To Serve With All My Heart, Might, Mind And Strength

In Justin's last letter regarding the surprise phone call with his dad, Justin said, "Sounds like dad got scared for a second when I told him I was at the police station! I knew that one would get him." Justin got a kick out of that!

He also told us about his trip up to Lima. He and his companion, Elder Gil left Sunday night to go to the next city up towards Lima to spend the night. As he says, "It sucked. I had to sleep on a tile floor, they didn't have a bed. Then at 4 am Elder Avalos and I woke up and we got on a 3 hour bus ride to Lima. Then a lady from the church offices picked us up and we went to interpol to do fingerprints and take pictures for our visas. We went with 7 or so missionaries from Bolivia, they are doing them in groups day by day." Afterwards they had a couple of hours in Lima so they hopped in a taxi and went to a food court in a mall type place. In Justin's words, " It was amazing. There was Pizza Hut, KFC, Burger King, and a ton of stuff. I had Pizza Hut. It was great. It was weird in the food court though. It was so clean with big TVs just like America. Elder Avalos and I literally felt like we were back in a nice mall in the states. It was weird. Everyone looked and dressed like a North American, there were actually a few white people there. It just felt weird. But good at the same time to feel like I was back at home for a second." I thought it was interesting that Justin felt it was weird to be somewhere that he normally would've thought as normal and nothing special. He goes on to say, " It's because the people here are either really rich or really poor and they don't really mix. The wealthy stay in their part town and the poor in theirs. My old pension in Lima was telling me how the people who lived in our area couldn't really go to the nicer areas because the people there considered them cholitas and they just weren't really welcomed. It's like there are class distinctions. It is weird." That is a good thing that Justin saw the class distinctions and hopefully saw how wrong it is. We are all children of God, no matter our wealth, poverty or color. We should not look at each other with judgement. I'm glad Justin thought it was weird. We all should! Living in such humble circumstances has taught him something nothing else could have. I hope it sticks!

Justin is also done with trying to contact 100 people every week. The whole zone was not having success with their investigators because they did not have time for them. They had to constantly try to meet their goal of contacting 100 people. It was not working. As he said, "I was not called to baptize a specific number of people, but just to serve with all my heart, mind and strength and if I do that and have zero baptisms at the end, I have still 100% completed what I was called to do. We just have to do all that we can, ask the Lord to do his part, and have the patience to accept his timing and will."

Well said Justin.

P day pictures

P day, for those of you that are not familiar with that term, stands for preparation day. It is the day the missionaries have to prepare ( clean, wash, shop, relax, play sports, or do some sightseeing if allowed). Justin has had the opportunity to see the area he is serving in with the other missionaries in his area. He has been able to go to Pisco and eat lunch by the beach, visit rural areas, and explore a bit. Here are some of the photos he sent from his p days.


Here Justin is with his companion, Elder Gil down by the beach in Pisco having lunch.

Looks like cornfields?

Cool camera mode Justin!

Love this picture!

Happy to be going somewhere.........

Justin seems to be enjoying his p days and seeing his new area......... a.k.a. home!

Joke On Dad

Early this morning the phone rang and Justin's dad answered an unexpected call. Yes, it was Justin on the line! ( Mom was very bummed to still be at the gym!) He immediately told his dad that he was at the police station. ( "What trouble did he get into???" His dad thought with a panic!) Actually, he was okay and not in trouble (Whew!). He was in Lima to get his permanant visa and needed his social security number. Dad had no clue. Justin was using their phone so he had to hang up and call back in five minutes. Dad called mom at the gym and found where the social security number was. Justin called right back, got the number and had to hang up right away again. Dad was stoked to talk with his son. Even if it was for a hurried minute! And he was not in jail! Even better!

Justin, Justin, Justin........

Today Justin and his zone went to see some Indian ruins. He was expecting to see what was supposed to be a big palace where the king lived with all his wives and where they sacrificed humans. Apparently, there was not a lot to see because there was not a lot left of the place. So they went to the other side of the hill to an old Incan cemetery. He was expecting to see an old cemetery, but instead there were big old pits filled with human bones. Justin said, "It was sweet." I (mom) told him earlier this month to find a Peruvian Christmas ornament for our tree when he came home. My crazy son got the idea that he would get a skull and have me make that his ornament. In Justin's words, "Would have been perfect." ( I DON'T THINK SO!) Luckily, the Peruvians and archaeologists that were down below were watching them. Justin remembered his dad joking with him telling him to not end up in jail somewhere! So he decided against it. (Thank goodness!)
But the guy that was their guide told him he could take one next time. So he thinks he is coming home with an Indian head. Of course, after reading this, I emailed him and told him under no circumstance is he to take a single bone or thing from the site! What is up with 19 year olds? He is a bright one too, usually.

Here are photo's Justin took of his day there.

Justin's companion, Elder Gil.

I think his face is saying, "Gross, I'm touching a real human bone."

I guess he's used to it now.

Having fun now!

His new thing he likes to do is light fireworks. A vendor comes by the house selling fireworks and you bet Justin buys them. He and the little kids in his house play with them every night. Apparently the land is barren and there is not anything that could catch on fire there. All I can say is Justin, Justin, Justin...........

Some of Justin's firework buddies.

The Huamani family is going to be baptized this Saturday. He is happy about that. That is awesome.

Every week he and his companion have to make a hundred contacts and invite 100 people to church . He says he ends up making a lot of amigos from that. Justin said he now knows all the gangs that rob everyone, so he isn't too worried about getting robbed now (Knock on wood). Justin also said, " And I have two old ladies who are now my friends that speak Quetchuwa (a language that a lot of the people in Peru speak) and give me a little lesson all the time. The way to ask what is your name and what is your butts name are really similar and I always seem to mix them up." (Very funny, Justin, Justin, Justin........) He taught a couple of people last night whose family speaks a lot of it (Quetchuwa) and they couldn't understand a single word that he was saying. He said, "It was like they were in a different world, completely lost. It gets real frustrating when certain people can't understand anything. I ended up talking to them like they were small children, in a loud, slow voice. Which is actually pretty dumb if you think about it. It's probably me not them. They should be talking to me like I'm the slow one. I probably get it from my mom though. She always seems to speak to people who speaks English as their second language a little slower. I must have inherited it."

He likes having a refrigerator, microwave and stove. He can now have a cold drink when he wants. He also likes eating his Trix cereal, and making pancakes or bacon and eggs. Nice!

Justin found out that in Peru, they celebrate Christmas on the 24th. He said, " It's because they lack patience to celebrate on the real day." (There's the sarcasm again!) He said he will be celebrating solo Christmas morning. (Like I said, he likes traditions!)

Justin's language is coming along so well that he says he is starting to be able to express his sarcasm in Spanish without even noticing it (That is not a good thing). He said, "The funny thing is sarcasm isn't really part of their culture, so they don't really get it and think you are being sincere." (definitely not a good thing if you know Justin)

Justin, Justin, Justin.................

He Has Access People!

In Justin's last email, he asked for me to invite him on to his blog. So, please share your comments with him! He loves to hear from all of you!

Staying Put

Today, (December 8, 2008) is changes for the mission and for the first time, Justin is is not moving to a new area. He will stay in La Villa with Elder Gil for at least 3 more months. He is pretty happy about that because he likes his area and because "we have a lot of people we are helping and teaching and need more time to get stuff done."

He says things are still going well with his investigators. They are still working with a family of four that was originally scheduled to get baptized in November. Then there is the Meza family. They are teaching the mom, Lili and her two children Abigail and Kevin. He says they attend church each week and read the Book of Mormon as a family everyday. The mom really wants her kids to learn, read and pray. They are waiting for their dad/ husband to come home on December 15th. He only comes home 4 times a year from his work in northern Peru. Another family they are teaching is one they stumbled upon when lost in the hills. Roberto and Marta Huamani are the parents, and Jair is one of their sons. They used to go to church all the time and had a baptismal date before the earthquake, but stopped going after. He says they are really excited for their baptism. The last family he wrote about is Sonia Pisarro and her 2 kids. He said they live up the hill in a little hut type thing. Her husband died a few years ago and she now walks the streets selling ice cream from her cart everyday. How sad! Justin usually buys ice cream when he sees her. She needs the hope and joy the gospel will bring into her life as well as the family the ward will be to her and her children.

As Justin always says, "There is never enough time. You are always thinking about who you need to visit, what you need to teach them and a ton of other things."

As for trivial things, Justin found a store in Pisco that had a few things from the US. He found peanut butter, Trix cereal and soda. He says this stuff is easier to find and cheaper in Bolivia but maybe because he was in Cochabamba (a big city). He is now used to their eating schedule. A huge breakfast and lunch and something quick and small for dinner. He says he usually doesn't eat dinner. He is never hungry for it. One dish he really likes is called Lomo Saltado. It is french fries with beef, onions, tomatoes and seasoning all together. He also misses his deodorant and toothpaste from home. He sent us pictures of them so we can send it to him. Little simple pleasures!

Justin got a letter from Elder Cachique, "my last rabid companion. He ended up staying in his last area to finish his rabies shots and it sounds like everything is okay." Good to hear that!

As to how hot it is, he can't tell us because he doesn't understand temperatures in Celsius. He guesses it is in the 90's and very humid. They tell him it gets worse in January and February. Bummer for him.

Justin says it does not feel much like Christmas with hot weather and lack of Christmas decorations . He did say the home he lives in has an 8 foot Christmas tree. I'm sure that makes him happy. I sent him a little Christmas tree from dearelder.com (I mean little.... 5 inches!) and a couple of stockings for him and his companion. Justin likes enjoying our family's traditions right down to the food, family and decorations. But as we all know, that is not what Christmas is really all about. Justin will have a more meaningful Christmas than most of us here.

He ends by saying, "I just do the same great thing everyday!"

Say What?!

Buenas dias
Comó estan. Espero que todo is muy bien. Este semana tuvimos un servicio bautismal con todo de la estaca, 8 personas se bautisaron. President Fierro estuvo alla tambien. Fue bonita, y bastantes personas lo asistieron. Nuestro vecino y investiagador carlos se bautisó por elder gil, y domingo se confirmó. Tambien tuvimos nuestros entrevistas con preisdent viernes en la capilla de La Villa. Le pregunté si sabá algo sobre la situación en Bolivia. Me dijo que las oficinas de la iglesia le llamó y le dijo que puede mandar los misioneros de Bolivia afuera de Lima ahora. Por esto, cree que vamos a estar aquí en Peru por un tiemp mas, pero no me dijo que no vamos a volver, entonces vamos a ver!
El Dia de Gracias fue bien, no hicimos nada. Fue un dia normal nada mas, comimos arros con pollo por almuerzo y papas para la cena. Pero esta bien, no me importa. Espero que la navidad es un poco mejor. Ayer recibí mis paquetes de mi madre para la navidad, y ahora tengo que esperar 24 dias mas para abrirlos. Espero que no tengo un cambio en la aproxima semana por que no hay espacio en mis molletas para todos de mis paquetes. Pero presidente me dijo que elder gil y yo vamos a quedarnos aca por lo menos un camnio mas.
En 3 dias cumplo 6 meses! El tiempo va rapido. Un cuarto de mi misión. Voy a enfocarme hasta el fin. Tenemos bastantes personas aquí para bautisar y enseñar.
Verano está empezando aquí y hace un color horrible! Yo quiero morirme mientra estoy caminando en el desierto vestido en mi corbata, camisa, y pantalones. Qué horrible. Pero todavía es mejor que Lima.
El otro dia encontré una pulga en mi pierna en la manaña. Otro vez! Voy a ubicar los demas y matarlas.
Este domingo no tenemos la reunion sacramental porque hay elecciones o algo y es contra la ley para tener fiesta o reuniones en estas dias. No podemos salir la casa tampoco para trabajar. Vamos a descansar por un dia, como mi primer fin de mes en Bolivia. No sé que vamos hacer.
Espero que todos pudieron entender todo o tranducirlo. Vamos a hablar en una semana. NO puedo esperar para ver lo que me enviaron para la navidad!
Con amor,
Justin


Today's email arrived all in Spanish! Very funny Justin. Good thing we have a niece (thank you Lisa!) who is proficient in Spanish and translated it for us all.

This past week they had a stake baptismal service and his mission president attended. He said, "It was beautiful and enough people attended." He had an interview with President Fierro and asked him if he knew anything about the situation in Bolivia. President Fierro said the Church offices called and said they can send the missionaries that were evacuated from Bolivia out of Lima now. They were keeping them in the city in case they were able to go back. As Justin said, "For this reason, we believe we are going to be here in Peru for a while longer, but he didn't tell me we wouldn't return, so we'll see."

Baptism of Carlos Ramos. A 14 year old boy that is a neighbor and always comes to church.

President Fierro with Carlos and his family.

Justin with his mission president, President Fierro.

He said Thanksgiving was just a normal day. Same food ......... chicken and rice, and potatoes for dinner. He says it didn't matter to him, but he hopes Christmas is a little better. He says his pension is a really nice lady and a great cook. That is saying A LOT for Justin!

Yesterday he recieved 12 (out of the 14 I sent) packages for Christmas. "Now I have to wait 24 days to open them!" (They made it there in record time!) He says he can't wait to see what we sent him for Christmas. I hope we don't disappoint!

In three days Justin will hit his six month mark! "The time went fast. One quarter of my mission fulfilled. I am going to focus until the end. We have enough people here to baptize and teach." Time is flying by!! For Justin, mom and dad. It is an amazing and wonderful journey!

Summer has officially started in Peru. "......... and the heat is horrible! I want to die while we are walking in the desert in my tie, shirt and pants. How horrible. But it is better that Lima." Poor boy! And no a/c anywhere! Welcome to your new world Justin. Actually, he told us he is surviving it just fine. It cools down at night so he able to sleep comfortably.

Still having problems with fleas. I should send him a flea collar to wrap around his ankle!

It is election time on Sunday and it is against the law to have parties or meetings on that day. So once again, Justin is confined to the house all day that day. " We are going to rest for a day, like my last month in Bolivia. I don't know what we are going to do." Justin no longer knows what to do when he has time to "do nothing." That is a good thing. Maybe...... write us letters!
Speaking of letters........ calling all cousins........ where are you???? Justin just wants to know if you are all still alive. Wade and Kali, you two are stellar!

Here are some pictures from the stake baptism Justin was talking about. This Carlos Ramos, he is 14 years old and is a neighbor where Justin lives.

Justin and President Fierro

Adios for now!