The Lord Always Provides

Today we got a letter from Justin that is dated February 1, 2009. On the top of the page is a piece of tape with a flea under it and this written next to the tape, "A flea I found crawling around my desk while writing this." He still has flea problem. The heat doesn't help. Bummer for him.

He wrote about the baptism he had on January 31st of Lili and her two kids, Delicia and Kevin. I wrote about them on the last blog. From that family, Justin said her husband wants to be baptized when he returns home from the jungle in a few months. Lili also has her sister in law visiting from up North for a few months to study and wants to be baptized. A grandmother also came to the baptism and wants them to baptize her granddaughter. Justin said he found three more people that want to be baptized in the month of February. "Every time we have baptisms and it looks like we don't have people to teach, the Lord always provides. It is just hard continuing to depend upon and trust Him when it is the hardest, but if we do, He always pulls through for us. Every time that we need more people to teach and baptize, the Lord always provides."

Next Justin writes about something that is probably good for a lot of us to hear. He says that one of the challenges they are having is with unity in the ward and how it is affecting missionary work. "Everyone is always nice and happy go lucky in the chapel, but during the week they are supposedly different people. To the new converts and investigators, the members represent what is the church. He said, "We had a meeting with the bishop and ward mission leader and are already seeing changes, which is good."

Justin also wrote about a connection he made with two different scriptures when he was studying. He says, "Everyone always talks about Helamen 5:12 about how if we are built upon the rock of Christ that we will have all power over the adversary , that we won't fall." But how do we build ourselves upon the rock of Christ? In 3 Nephi 18 when Christ institutes the sacrament, he gives us a commandment (in vs.12) that the people should do these things, or take the sacrament worthily, and if they always do it, they are built upon the rock. It shows importance of the sacrament."

Justin wrote that he is feeling good. "I only had to take 7 pills to get rid of typhoid fever. Cheap too. Less than $5.00." Thank goodness.

I asked Justin to tell us the names of the dishes he eats. He mentioned in one of his letters that he really liked a Peruvian dish called lomo saltado. In an edition of Bon Appetite magazine, they wrote about Peru and had a recipe for lomo saltado. Justin's dad made it and it was soooooo good! So we asked Justin to tell us more names of his favorite Peruvian dishes. In response he wrote, "I don't really know the names of the food I eat. I just eat it." Oh well! He did say that since getting appliances for a kitchen he is only making he is own breakfast now. "I normally just eat a bowl of cereal, or two or fried eggs and bacon, or french toast." He eats lunch at his pension's and doesn't eat dinner because he is never hungry at night.

I asked Justin in a letter if he now thinks in Spanish instead of English since he rarely speaks English. He responded, "No, I think that I think in English, although I think I may of had 1 or 2 dreams in Spanish. Who knows, I can't ever remember" He did say that when he is with other English speaking missionaries, they speak English.

He wrote that he got quite a few letters in the past couple of weeks. He was happy about that!

The other two elders that live in his house is Elder Crisanto (from Peru) and Elder Cojom (from Guatamela). "Elder Crisanto has been in his area here (San Clemente) for 7 1/2 months now. That's 5 changes! This is Elder Cojom 2nd exchange here. They live in La Villa but have to take a taxi to their area everyday."

He also wrote that he (finally) bought a Christmas ornament! "It is a seahorse." Perfect, handpicked by Justin!

Justin also sent to us with this letter another cd with more photos and videos. Most of the videos are of Justin's "events" with Mamarina. In them she has come after him with an iron, frying pan, knife, gun( not aiming, holding it like a frying pan, but sheesh!!!! We could not believe she has a gun!!) anything she was holding or anything she could pick up at her convenience. I think Justin may actually miss her and the excitement she brings into his life when he leaves this area. The boy is crazy I tell you........ Crazy!