Grateful for life!

I am smiling from ear to ear. I have no words to express the joy I feel in this moment sitting on a crappy little plastic stool in a room full of computers and little gaming-addicted boys. I am so incredibly blessed to have family and friends who support me and write me, even if they only write me one time throughout my whole 18 months in Peru, hahahha. I am so grateful for my calling to serve here and for the plaque I have on my sweater right now. I am so grateful for LIFE!

Okay, now my week. It was super exciting. NOT. 

Monday we had a great FHE again with our pensionista and her family. We had 8 water bottles, 4 big ones and 4 little ones.  We had one of each of freezing ice cold, luke warm, boiling hot and empty. We blind folded everyone and then went out with the lights off. They all got on their hands and knees and they had to try to find the little boiling hot bottle. My companion and I were telling them where to go, but we weren't telling them the correct things. Well, the dad of the family, Jaison, found the little boiling hot bottle. The lesson was the apostasy and the importance of finding the correct church. They couldn't just look for it with their eyes but they had to FEEL it. 

That leads me to my lesson of a lifetime for this week. The Holy Ghost. I have learned how to recognize the promptings of the Holy Ghost. I have learned He always talks in a language I am able to understand. I have learned that he guides and protects us and comforts us when we stand in need. I have learned that the confirmations I have FELT in my heart by the holy spirit that this church is true is enough. I don't need any more proof to be converted because the Holy Ghost has testified to my mind and to my heart that these things are completely true. And I am satisfied. The storms will come but they can't knock me down. 

We had intercambios this week and I stayed in my area and Sister Wood came with me! It was fun to be with her again. I could tell she has changed a lot as she has trained Hermana Kelly and she has improved as a missionary. She caught me up on all my favorite people in San Felipe. Jayde and Guillermo were able to go to the temple and do baptisms for the dead for their parents. They came home with a bunch of things from the temple store like pictures of the temple and CTR rings and the photo of the prophet. They are doing really well and really focused on getting to the temple in July. I love them so much. 

We got locked out of our room and goliath, Elder Woolstenhulme, saved the day by climbing up and in through our window. We were stuck outside for 45 minutes. Ugh. And it was all my fault. hehe

I was able to face my fears this week. 

I also have been out here in this country for 16 months.  So crazy. 

Important -  I need to do my family history booklet. Attention everyone! I need the dates and places of birth of my aunts and uncles, parents, grandparents, and great grandparents and the death place and date if they have passed away. Also marriage date and place of my parents, grandparents and great grandparents.  Thanks a lot family for helping me out!

I love you all!

Hermana Pilling

I love the mission more than anything

Hola Everyone,

Last Monday we did a great FHE with our pensionista. She and her family are semi-active, so we are trying to help them out! In this Family Home Evening we took them on a trip to Canada. We went and walked around the block and had a bunch of situations where they had to make a decision, like helping the old lady with her luggage, going to a party on Sunday, drinking coffee, saying family prayers, things like that. Then we went back to the house and had a discussion about what we should be doing to prepare ourselves for the next life.  We had one room in the house where we had covered everything in white sheets and put lots of candles and turned on all the lights and had a bunch of white desserts and foods to eat. We sat in silence for a moment and taught about eternal families. The mom, Hermana Natali cried and it was a really special moment.

We had intercambios again! I went to Santa Victoria, the area of the office, and spent the day with Sister Alcedo from Lima. She is a sweet girl. The area is really rich over there and they aren't having much success (like the majority of the mission is), but she has a good attitude. She has just been 2 months in the mission so she has a long ways to go still. 

This week here in La Victoria was a tough one. I will admit it. But, every minute was enjoyable. I love being a missionary. I love having my calling and wearing my plaque and teaching and talking to strangers and feeling the Peruvian dirt blow in my face, etc. 

Sunday we had a regional stake conference with all of Peru and Bolivia. Elder Andersen, Elder Soarres (from brazil) and Elder Nash all spoke in Spanish and Sister Esplin spoke with a translator. It was sweet to see the gift of tongues working its magic as cute little Elder Andersen read his talk in Spanish. 

I followed the spirit and read some verses from 1 Nephi 13 in a lesson this week. We were teaching a couple that got baptized in January. They attended the 7th day adventist church before and Hermano Diego knows the bible and loves it better than anyone. So we taught about the Book of Mormon and I felt inspired to share these very strong scriptures with these members. I felt the spirit testify through me and I felt the gift of tongues guiding me as I loving explained the importance of recognizing that the bible isn't as perfect as the completely perfect Book of Mormon. I am so grateful for the scriptures and for what I learn from the Bible and the Book of Mormon daily. 

I love the prophet. 

I love my companion's laugh, it is contagious. 

We made a calendar with the meals for every day. It is sweet!

Lesson of a lifetime: CHARITY

I have learned that charity is an attribute that anyone can acquire. 

I have learned that charity can be felt for every single person on planet earth. 

I have learned that charity is important, and that it is necessary to really become like Christ. 

I have learned that I owe many many apologies to people throughout my life. I am sorry. Anyone who I have offended in anyway, I really truly am sorry and I have thought of you and prayed for you during my 16 months in the mission. I love you. 

My ponderize scripture for the week is Alma 31:34-35. 

I love the mission more than anything. Talk to you next week!

Love,

Hermana Pilling

We Overcome Our Fears by Facing Them

Hey Everyone!

This week we did intercambios with Hermana Leiataua and Hermana Esquivel. I was here in La Victoria with Hermana Leiataua. She said the hardest thing has been the language, mostly the language barrier between her and her companion because she can't express how she feels about the teaching methods etc. but she is doing well. She is out here with good intentions. 

We taught an FHE on Monday about testimonies and I re-learned about the power of a simple testimony. A testimony is the truths that one knows by the power of the spirit. I have realized that a testimony is a gift that we are given and we must protect it. I have also learned that it is a talent and we must share it to develop it. One of the scriptures that motivated me to come on a mission was D&C 60:2 (it's about not hiding our talents).

Tuesday we picked up Hermana Monson and Hermana Hebdon because they came down from Jaen for our conferences with Elder Uceda. The four of us stayed in our room and it was soooo fun. Hermana Monson and I are the only 2 going home on December 17th, it's weird. 

So Wednesday from 8-3:30 and then from 6-9 we were with Elder Uceda. I learned so much and there just simply isn`t time to share but his theme was, we overcome our fears by facing them. I learned so much, and the spirit taught me a lot.  Even though I really enjoyed the time spent with Elder Uceda, I left feeling a little discouraged because I just felt like I need to improve so much.  I talked to my companion about it and she is the best and helped me talk through all my fears and worries.  We talked about setting goals and plans to be able to improve and put in practice the teachings of Elder Uceda. I am excited!

A thought I had.... all future missionaries... including and especially my dear brother, you will learn to be a good missionary only after coming to the mission and being a missionary. It comes with practice. So don´t stress about being super prepared before. Do your best to prepare and then have faith and trust that the Lord will help you. 

Anyways, my comp is the best at helping me set goals and helping me improve. She listens and understands. We have so much fun together... but I think I say that about every companion. hahaha. Maybe I am the fun one?

So Sunday we had a miracle. We were walking our normal 'contact loop' because our appointments fell through.  We were just walking along and I was naming off the streets as we passed them to try to learn the area a little better. Then I said this is Mayta Capac. My comp said yes, good job.  We kept walking a block or two then I stopped. I said, "Hey, Elder Woolstenhulme gave us a reference for a lady here on Mayta Capac."  So we started looking for it and found that her name was Aida and she lived on Mayta Capac 1371. So we looked up to see where we were and we were right outside her house. We knocked a couple of times and she finally came out. She was a little hesitant to let us in, but finally did and we were able to share a little bit with her. She accepted the invitation to be baptized and then offered a very personal and heart felt prayer correctly. We left and as we stepped out the door I started to cry. I had goosebumps and I was so grateful for the Lord and the spiritual prompting I received in that moment. The Lord works in mysterious ways. 

One lesson of a lifetime I have learned is that God loves ALL of His children. Whether we are contacting or teaching. Whether it is a less active or a recent convert or members or other missionaries; whether they are hard core catholics or atheists, I feel the love that God has for each and every one of his children. Whether I am happy or sad, praying or teaching, I always feel the love my Father in Heaven has for me. I know that he is always aware of my trials and my feelings and is always there to strengthen me when I need it most. I love my Heavenly Father. I Love my saviour Jesus Christ. I am so grateful for my knowledge that I am a daughter of God. 

Love,

Hermana Pilling

OH... my ponderize scripture for the week is Helaman 5:8

Your Attitude is Everything

Goodbyes in Jaen are awful because it is the last goodbye. In Chiclayo you at least have the hope to see people again, like at the airport and stuff like that. But Jaen is official. I sobbed like a baby and I forgot that Hermana Avila wasn't coming with me so I didn't hug her and then she yelled, "Don't forget about your daughter!" and I started crying even harder! I didn't think I would ever see her again and that is sad. She is seriously my best friend and I love her so much! Anyways, those goodbyes made it just that much more real that I will have to say those goodbyes again in 10 weeks or something like that. I don't want to leave Peru. 

I spent the night in San Felipe when I first got here. It is always great to see Hermana Wood and my pensionista there. It brings back so many memories!

Hermana Wood

So we got to the change meeting and they show all the newbies first. There is a sister from Hawaii and one from California but her family is from Samoa and then 3 others. Well one of them, Hermana Butterfield from Bountiful Utah, is in Jaen.  She is my granddaughter. Hermana Avila is training! I can't even explain the excitement I felt when Hermana Avila's picture showed up! That is so exciting.

Okay, well everyone was called and I was the only one left. So before they even said my name I stood up and they made a joke about saving the Canadians for last... anyways. I am here in the zone La Victoria, area La Victoria and my companion is Hermana Guillèn from Ecuador. We have been called as Sister Training Leaders! She got to Chilcayo with me but because I was in the MTC longer she goes home in February. She is 24 years old and she is tall. 

Hermana Guillen

As sister Leaders we go to the leadership training meeting every month with President and Sister Williams and the assistants. We also have to do exchanges with our assigned sisters. We have been assigned 5 companionships of sisters and they belong to 3 zones, one is a little far away, so we are still trying to figure out how to plan out all of those but I am looking forward to the opportunity to learn from so many sisters.

Here in the area there isn't very much going on. I love our pensionista, but every one of my pensionistas has been very different. So ya. 

My ponderize scripture for last week was Alma 36:3 and for this week it is Mosiah 4:9. Feel free to join me as we ponderize these scriptures.

It is so cold here in Chiclayo. I am sure you have now looked at the temperature and think I am crazy but I am honestly so cold always. Holy cow. I don't know what I will do when I get home and there is snow on the ground. 

One "lesson of a lifetime" I have learned during my mission is:

Your attitude is everything. your attitude towards the mission, your companion, your area, the leaders, trials, family members, teachers, friends, school. Everything! I have seen the changes in the outcome of every day as I change my attitude to be more positive. I am so grateful for naturally being a positive person, just like my daddy, and I have seen the blessings of that. Enjoy the moment, find joy in the journey, be happy, smily, giggle, laugh.  Life is good. 

Love you all!

Hermana Pilling

Feeling Blessed

Well, I don't have any time and I don't remember what happened the beginning of the week. Friday we went and said bye to Hermana Waite. I sobbed. It just got real that missions end and mine is getting closer. Also, Hermana Hebdon has been with us since Thursday because she needed a companion! So it was a little crazy Friday. Saturday morning the zone leaders called us and told me I have transfers. So so sad. I teared up a little but then he cheated and somehow knew that I am going to Chiclayo and that made me happy. I don't know. Cambios have always been tough, I don't like goodbyes, but as soon as I am officially with my new companion I feel so much peace. I know that each companion and each area has been for my personal growth and has shaped me has a missionary. I love it!

Sis Waite is done her mission.  Goodbyes are hard.

Diego

I absolutely loved general conference. I applied the counsel of Elder Bednar from September and listened to what wasn't spoken and I learned so much from the spirit. Saturday night we taught Sharon, this 18 year old girl. She accepted a date to be baptized the 17th of October! I am so excited for her, she is such a sweetheart with a huge testimony. She was sad when we told her I won't be there but I am just happy she is so eager to make the necessary changes to be able to live with her Father in Heaven again. 

Sunday morning we weren't able to watch in English. I know I understand spanish completely but it is different. So I was a little bummed but after, I reread my notes and they were allllll in english. The spirit spoke to me in english and I learned so much. After the Sunday afternoon session I went to say bye to a family. I don't like goodbyes! And this family has been so amazing during my 2 1/2 months here.  I took so many pics and I am hoping to send them all. 

After all is said and done, I feel very blessed to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints with modern revelation and a living prophet. I testify that the 3 new apostles are called of God. Elder Stevenson came to Chiclayo with Elder Bednar and that is pretty cool. 

I am going to miss Hermana Avila so much. She is my best friend and I have grown so close to her. One bad thing about having a latina is that the possiblities of us seeing each other again are very low, and I am saddened by that. But I know she will always be my ¨daughter¨. 

Here is to new things!

Love you all!

Hermana Pilling

Hermana Avila and I.  Love her!

I love General Conference!

Hola everyone!

This week was a much better week! We have an investigator, and for the lack of time I won't explain much.  Her name is Sharon, she is 18 and she is just as interested as my 1st investigator. She has kept every single commitment we have left her. It's cool! 

We have taught so many lessons on prophets and general conference! I am so so so excited! It's fun to teach it everyday because I literally feel my testimony growing every time. I know that Thomas S. Monson has been called of God and that he receieves revelation and that we are going to hear exactly what we need to hear to survive the spiritual storms that are going on in the world. I can promise each of you that you will receive answers to questions and doubts if you pray and spiritually prepare to hear the words of The Lord´s servants. 

I cried when they told us about Elder Scott. 

The Women's Broadcast was so so so so good. I love being a member of the Church. I love listening and learning about the Gospel. I invite EVERYONE to watch all 4 sessions of general conference this weekend. You WILL be blessed. 

3 nephi 6:14:  "And thus there became a great inequality in all the land, insomuch that the church began to be broken up; yea, insomuch that in the thirtieth year the church was broken up in all the land save it were among a few of the Lamanites who were converted unto the true faith; and they would not depart from it, for they were firm, and steadfast, and immovable, willing with all diligence to keep the commandments of the Lord."  

What do you think it means when it says ¨for they were converted to the ¨true faith"?  What is the true faith?

We were asked to think about spiritual experiences we have had with general conference and I pondered a lot. I thought of the family memories, yum yums, laughter, blankets. I thought of the times we have been to the Conference Center. I thought of the spirit I always feel so strongly with the music. I thought of how I feel the moment the prophet walks into the room. I am so grateful that watching conference has been a habit of mine all my life, and it will always be that way.

¨He will bless you if you put your trust in Him¨ 

I love you all,

Hermana Pilling

Clair's Sunday lunch of steak and noodles.  Yum...??

Peruvian Pancakes and Scripture Stories

Hi Everyone,

Last monday we made ¨Peruvian pancakes¨ which are really just crepes and they are delicious. I learned how to flip a crepe just with the pan. You know what I mean right? Then we went to the Peruvian version of the Calgary Stampede hahaha.  It was lame though. We can't go on the rides either so that was just torture for me since you know how much I love rides!

Ever since our multi-zone meeting when President said we need to be anxiously engaged and involved in our meetings, our district meetings have been so much more meaningful for me! I don't care what other missionaries, like the zone leaders, will think about my silly questions or my grammar mistakes and I just try my best to get the most out of every meeting we have. This week we talked about using the scriptures and it was really fun. I have learned so much about the scripture stories and where certain scriptures are and the doctrine and meaning behind scriptures. I love the scriptures so much and I am learning how to study and get the most out of their powerful and inspired words.

I'm sure you have heard about the earthquake in Chile. Don't worry, my companion´s family is okay. She is from the south and the earthquake was in the north but it is still sad. It was a pretty strong one. I will have you know that the earthquake in Chile in 2010 was in her city. Hermana Avila lived through it and from the little stories she shares with me it sounds like it was awful. She is my hero and I love her.

In our talent show this is what we did. As you can see in the pic my head is there and from behind I am moving the hands and my companion is moving my feet and we danced to some music with the elders and our mission leader. It was SO FUN. I love seeing members laugh and enjoy themselves. 

We did service this week! After the talent show, Hermana said we were her little angles and that we helped her so much. I love looking for service. It is something that my companion has really taught me. She is always aware and has so much love and is willing to help EVERYONE.

I am re-reading my journal right? And I am reading in March and I was thinking a lot about that time in my mission when I was still in 9 de Octubre. Over the course of these 15 months I have noticed that daily scripture study, not just reading, and sincere personal prayers help us become more Christlike. It is through these simple things that we learn about Christ, our perfect example, and learn about our own personal weaknesses to be able to grow more like Him. I am constantly thinking of Him and more aware of His example. I often find myself thinking, ¨What would Jesus do?¨

Well, I love you all and I am so grateful for the atonement and for my Saviour. It is only through His sacrifice and His grace that I am able to overcome my weaknesses and start fresh every week. What would I do without my Saviour and Redeemer Jesus Christ?

Love,

Hermana Pilling