Volleyball and Futbol!

Buenas Dias todos!

Wow!!! What a wonderful week we were able to have here in Salaverry! We were so blessed this week with finding a few new families to teach and other little steps that everyone is making in the gospel!

First up is the Asavache Family! Hermano Luis had to leave and is working in Chile, but will be back in about 20 days. Hermana Cynthia, says that he is praying and reading his scriptures! Hopefully this Wednesday we can have a skype family home evening with them all! AND Hermana Cynthia came to church for the first time!! She loved it and it was so awesome because in Relief Society we talked all about marriage and the family. It was PERFECT as she is praying and working towards marriage with Luis!

Also Mercedes came to church for all three hours with Michell, her 6 year old daughter! Johan couldn't make it because he had to work, but next week he promised he would come! It was awesome because we had a big ward ''sport night'' activity to help involve the members a bit more and so that they can get to know our investigators and less-actives. Good news is that Mercedes and Johan and a bunch of investigators came! Bad news is that only our ward mission leader and the bishop came! BUT we are spreading the word even more to all the members so that this week we can have a better turnout!!! 

As for a quick spiritual experience, during our gospel principles class yesterday, the bishop asked everyone to share a bit about how the gospel has changed their lives. It was so amazing to hear the testimony of Mercedes, Ivet (a lady who was reactivaed not to long ago who we do a lot with), and Cynthia. Perhaps their testimonies are small, but they are powerful and growing little by little. The spririt really testified to me that what I am doing is what the Lord wants me to do! If I hadn't opened my mouth, none of these daughters of God and their families would be receiving these blessings of the gospel. 

As I was studying, I came across Alma 31:5 that says:

 5 And now, as the preaching of the word had a great tendency to lead the people to do that which was just—yea, it had had more powerful effect upon the minds of the people than the sword, or anything else, which had happened unto them—therefore Alma thought it was expedient that they should try the virtue of the word of God.

I know that the thing that is MOST POWERFUL in changing a life, is the Gospel of Christ-- His life and death for all of us-- and the gift of the Holy Ghost to always guide us. And for all those missionaries and prospective missionaries out there, remember this:

 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

 14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

 15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach thegospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! (Romans 10:13-15)

LOOVE YOU ALL SOO MUCH and keep spreading the word of God WHERE EVER you may be!! 

Hermana Stephenson

We went to the beach last P-Day

All the missionaries serving in my area!

Winter is coming!

Hey everyone!!

Well, it looks like the weather is FINALLY taking a turn for the better! There is a nice cold breeze that blows pretty much all day!! And the nights are nice and cool! LOVING IT! 

But a quick update for this week: The Aavache Family accepted to be baptized!!! WOOOT! It was such a wonderful lesson. The bishop was able to be there to invite them to pray and ask God if the church was true Luis, Cynthia, Lisani, and Jasari all accepted! Now to tackle the fact that they aren't married. So to be continued! 

Mercedes is coming along too! We've been teaching her and Johan and they are reading and praying together! They didn't come to church because there was a HUGE party outside their house and they couldn't sleep ALL NIGHT! Gotta love Peruvian parties!

And just real fast because I don't have much time! I've been studying about the Anti-Nephi-Lehies. How they really showed their conversion throught their acts! Like burring their weapons of war and refusing to take them up again. I LOVE in Alma 27:27 when it describes how they were perfectly honest and valiant in ALL THINGS! And that those qualities were just passed right on to there sons, The 2,000 strippling warriors. It made me think that I want to be an example like them to my investigators, and everyone around me!

LOVE YOU!! 

I'll send picts next week!

Hermana Stephenson

Temple Trip!!!

HOOOOOLA TODOS! 

I hope that all is well where ever all you may be! This week in Salaverry was a QUICK one and FULL of so many great experiences!

First, we found a new less-active to teach! Her name is Mercedes. She and her little 6 year old girl are living with a non-member . She said that she has always wanted to come back to church but was just a bit shy. We passed her on the street and felt like talking to her and BAM! She's reading the Book of Mormon and is so excited to share the gospel with Jhoan, the guy she's living with. Her little girl Michel is SO FUNNY. When we taught her how to pray, she INSISTED on saying ever single prayer! It was great.

Also when I went to concilio (the big meeting with the zone leaders and president) we got to go to the TEMPLE!! My first time in like 4 or 5 months! It was truly HEAVENLY. It was JUST the pick-me-up that I needed! I absolutely love the temple! I know that ALL the blessings that were spoken of in general conference are TRUE! I was able to feel the Spirit and receive the guidance and strength that I really needed :)

And now for some funny stories. After concilio, I went and picked up my companion. Apparently someone had given her a LIVE CUY (they're Peruvian guinne pigs aaaaaand they eat them here!). So we went back to our area and went to the house of a member where we killed, cleaned, fried and ATE IT!! BWAHAHA!! I just had a bit but Hna. Caldas just LOOOVED it! It was one of those 'Only in Peru' moments!!!!! It was SO FUNNY. 

But to finish, I saw a scripture that I LOVED. It's in Alma 57:21 And it says ''And they did obey and observe to perform every word and command with exactness: yea, and even according to their faith it was done unto them''. I love the example of the 2000 stripling warriors. It was a great reminder to me to strive to be exactly obedient to the laws of God, to my leaders and to the Lord. And I know when I do, I can see MIRACLES!!

Love you all and have a GREAT day!

Hermana Stephenson

CONFERENCIA!!!

Hey everyone!!!

Sorry I don't have too much time, but I wanted to share a few quick things with you all! 

First thing, Hermano Alejandro is officialy rescued! We had his last lesson last night with his wife and there was such a sweet spirit there. He has all the desire to go to the temple and be sealed with his family. He left to go fishing early this morning but took his Book of Mormon ready to read and study a bit. He'll be back in about 12 days and we'll be working to strengthen his family too.

ALSO Hermana Cynthina, her husband Luis and all their 4 kids went to CONFERENCE yesterday!!!!! It was the first time the whole family was at church and they had a wornderful experience. SO. AWESOME.

And I just LOVED LOVED LOVED conference! My last conference in the mission! AGH! It was pretty sad actually. I'm going to miss being squished into a tiny room listening to conference in English on a tiny computer screen with all the other Americans in the zone. Weeeeell maybe not :)

But something that I really loved was in Elder Hollands talk. Just the love that he showed for ALL of us. And that same love (just multiplied by like a million) is the love the Savior has for us. A scripture caught my eye this week in D&C 81:5 that says:

 Wherefore, be faithful; stand in the office which I have appointed unto you; succor the weak, lift up the hands which hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees.

And It makes me think of how many people just need to know that they are loved. Completely and fully no matter how many mistakes they make. WE can show that love to them first so that through our actions to love and strengthen them, they can feel the Savior's love for them. It was a huge theme that I felt in this conference. The need for selfless love to others no matter what they've done or who they are!

And just know that I Love allllll of you sooooo much and wish you well in whatever part of the world you are!

Hermana Stephenson

Peru is in their presidential elections this week and campains for the candidates are CRAZY!!! I got a sweet free hat and shirt for this one guy :) 

my BEAUUUUTIFUL compi Hermana Caldas

What a wonderful week!

Hola Hola todos!

Wow such a great week we had this week! The Azavache family, Cynthia her husband Luis and 4 kids, are SO AMAZING. Their two older daughters have been coming to church pretty consistently but Cynthia and Luis no. So we taught about the Sabbath Day and told them about all the blessings they'll receive when they sacrifice to come to church and not work. And they ALL CAME TO CHURCH YESTERDAY! All but Cynthia because she had already bought all the fish she needed to cook and sell Sunday. But she promised that this next week she'll be there! WOT! That's one barrier down, now to just tackle their marriage.... cuuuuse they aren't married just yet.

But also Luis and Alejandro BOTH came to church WITH all their family! Both their boats were in for Semana Santa and they came all in their shirts and ties and everything! And they were able to go to the temple preparation class with their wives and it was AWESOME. 

Speaking of Semana Santa, it was full of processions of Catholics all week :) It actually was quite the culture lessson for us! The owner of our house who is also our pensionista, their whole family is HARDCORE Catholic. Needless to say, we got a few visits from some catholic processions this week :) It was so crazy. I'll send a picture.

Hmmmmmm,Oh! and My companion is getting transferred! We had a GREAT time here. But my new comanion is a sister from Lima (Puenta Piedra) really close to my first area! I actually went on exhanges with her a few months back. SUPER exciting!

Well, that's about it! I've been studying about Ammon this week and it just really caught my eye how all the promises the Lord gave to him as a missionary and to his father that he would be protected were fulfiled! And how the Lord promises us so much, baptismal and temple covenants being the first in that list. We just gotta be strong against so many temptations and be faithful.

Love you all and have a great week!

Hermana Stephenson

Fall around the corner!

Hola!!!

Well we had a pretty nice week here in ol' Salaverry! Turns out that the weather (I think, and pray) is changing to be a tad bit cooler!! WOT! We can actually sleep all night without waking up because it is SO HOT in our room! Little blessings :) 

Some adventures from this week included a companion who was terrible sick with the stomack flu Thursday and I got to be the mom to take care of her. Poor thing. But after sleeping all day, we were good to go by Friday! Everyone was super impressed. And we even had some FANTASTIC lessons with our investigators Friday. 

Speaking of investigators, Cynthia and her family are really progressing! Her husband Luis has started praying with this family and his teenage daughters always come to the activities and have started coming to seminary too. We're working on them coming to church because they have a restaurant and its open Domingos.(not from mom: Domingo means Sunday in Spanish). BUT they are so ready and we feel like they'll accept. Other than that it's been a bit hard to find our other investigators. Lucho and Alejandro are still out fishing but should be in this week! Fingers crossed.

In my studies this week I was reading the Liahona from February and there was this article about how the Book of Mormon can teach us how we can be happy. There are so many times when life just feels like it is crashing down, or like we're trying our best, but nothing is changing. I loved how in the article it highlighted 2 Nephi 5 and a few pointers on how to be truly happy. The two that stuck out to me is HARD WORK and FOCUSING ON THE TEMPLE. And the scripture in D&C 58:2-4. Pushing through the trials with faith, doing what you can and knowing that the Savior is always there to lift us when we need it the most.

Love you all!

Hermana Stephenson

PS  We haven't had light for a few days and it just came back last night.  I love it when the fan works..... we were DYING! 

Fun in the Sun!

Hello everyone! 

Espero que todo esta bien! Another week has come and gone here in Salaverry and the work of the Lord is movin' along! Cynthia and her family are doing well. Her husband is here for about a month before he goes back to work in Chile! So we're excited to work with him.

We also found a young single mother, Maria, who is super interested in listening to us! She lives with her brothers and runs a shop on the outside of her house and we're super excited for her and her family too.

This week I found a scripture that I LOVED! It's in Moroni 7:21 and says:

 22 For behold, God knowing all things, being from everlasting to everlasting, behold, he sent angels to minister unto the children of men, to make manifest concerning the coming of Christ; and in Christ there should come every good thing.

I love how it talks about how our Heavenly Father knows all! Something that I'm learning is that things don't always go as we want or hope them to go. Week after week of praying and teaching people about how important it is to come to church, but week after week, not many people make the choice and the sacrifice to come can be a bit difficult sometimes. But in the end, God loves us so much that he puts us through situations and trials so that we learn more fully and gain a powerful testimony of His Son. Because through Christ comes 'every good thing' !! I know that every good thing in my life comes through Christ and the love he has for me!  I can have full faith that he'll look after me and take care of me and prepare me! 

Love you all and have a great week!

Hermana Stephenson

Pics: We went and climbed the big mountain that surrounds our area and it was awesome! and maybe a bit sandy!