Change is good.

So this week...

I had an emergency transfer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It is so wonderful! I have a new area and a new companion and everything! I'm in Jaen (One of the more loved areas of the mission) and my companion's name is Hermana Favero. She is seriously the best. She's the kind of missionary I want to be and I don't have to fight her to participate in lessons. In fact, she actually expects me to teach and contact and all the wonderful missionary things and she actually wants to be here. And she's so obedient. And sweet, and kind, and I'm basically just very relieved to have had a cambio. :) And Jaen is BEAUTIFUL! There are green hills surrounding us, and there are plants everywhere. Our area is really small, but nonetheless there are cows and only motos here, no taxis. And it actually rains here. And it's theoretically really hot here, but it's been cool since I've come. And it's how I imagined Peru when I got my call. Some of the roads are dirt roads, and everyone gives us fruit! This lady in the ward called out to us on the street and went inside her house just to give us mangos. And that's it. She genuinely just wanted to give us fruit. And contacting is so much easier here. People are respectful and listen to us talk, and are so much more patient with my spanish, and will just drop whatever they're doing to come talk to us. And the lessons I've had are awesome! One investigator already has a very sure testimony. Her name is Sandi. We have a menos activo who is almost a rescate- Roxana. And we have one investigator José who is older, and cohabitating with a lady who refuses to get married to him. (She believes he's still married to his deceased wife). So he can't get baptized. But he has all the lessons and goes to church every week. He's basically Mormon without being Mormon. He asked us about the last three verses in Revelations 13. And that's how his lessons go now because he regularaly reads the scriptures and has all the missionary lessons. So it's sad he can't progress right now... Oh, and we also teach at a rest home. We call them the viajitos. They're basically just these really old 80 or 90 year old men, and one's a recent convert, and there's a couople members, and the rest are investigators. But as long as we talk loud, they can function fine. :) And the members hobble to church every week. It's really cute. I love it! And the street I live on has tons of members so it's nicknamed "Utah". I live in Utah. Again. And here I thought I escaped. But the real name of the street in San Francisco. And there's also a street San josé. And there's a bunch of others too... But basically my life is following me around here. ;) My new cuarto is HUGE! (Cold shower, but it's okay cause it's so hot).

So that's my week in summary. Just loving life here!
Hermana Brogan

My apartment in Jaen

 "Utah" street, in Jaen

Investigators *

Okay, so we've had a total of five days. So not much has happened. 

 

One story: yesterday, after getting straight up rejected after knocking on a door, this guy in the street, Danny, talked to us with a big smile on his face. He used what little English he knew, and said we could come back in a half hour or so when the rest of his family got home. He seemed genuinely interested and curious in our message. So we come back, RIGHT when the rest of his family is coming home. So his dad, super confrontational, says "Who is this standing in front of my house?" So we try to introduce ourselves, and he says, "So when can I invite you to church?" And basically my comp and him were going back and forth, and she eventually said something like, "Well, I don't feel the respect". And that's just too much confrontation for me, so I turn to the wife, and with a smile ask her what her name is because I don't want to listen to this conversation. She was kind taken aback, and said what? So I asked her again (sometimes people just don't understand my accent). And she told me her name. I said nice to meet you. I'm Hermana Brogan. Then Hermana Kingsford was ready to leave. So we turned to leave, and I turned back and told her to have a good night. Way to make that situation really weird and awkward. :) But it was fun. Thanks to working as a security guard, I am not remotely phased by people being confrontational. I think it's kinda funny they get so insulted by these really young North American girls. But I'm also really sad we won't be able to teach Danny. :(

 

I got to teach one of our awesome menos activos this week! My comp actually let me take charge of a lesson for once. Yay! Anyways, we're on the fourth lesson with her. So I just taught her the commandment of tithing. It went so well that she committed herself to pay tithing before I even got to that point in the lesson. Victory! But she didn't come to church this week. It's so frustrating when they start to come, and then decide not to come. She came to sacrament meeting the last two weeks. We'll get her there though. She is making real progress though. I love going and teaching her! She always is so welcoming!

 

One of our investigators invited us to a dance party. We said no, of course. But what the heck? She doesn't really let us teach when we visit though, so we're going to drop her.

 

We had this one really good investigator except for she won't keep her commitments. But we've made it most of the way through the third lesson with her. And she keeps letting us come back to teach her. (She's the one with a four year old daughter, who this one lady asked if she was my daughter). But when we went to invite her to church on Saturday, she seemed really annoyed with us, and said maybe she would and maybe she wouldn't. The struggles though!

 

Um, we have one investigator who has doubts with that members aren't always good people. This is a problem we have with another one of our investigators too. So we're helping them build their testimonies, and we're trying to help them realize we don't go to church for the people, but for our devotion to God and keeping His commandments. But, their doubts are based in some real problems, so it's a bit more of a process than that. 

 

We have two investigators, Romina and her mom (I forgot her name), who we've only taught a couple times, but they let us in, and listen well to our whole lessons. They're SUPER Catholic, and say they won't change. But then again, that's everyone in Peru. I like teaching them though. Probably because they listen. Hopefully they'll pray about the restoration. 

 

So that's some of what's going on here. It was a rough week, and nobody's been home, or everyone has had visitors, so most of our citas have been dropping. Oh well. That's why we contact and all that exciting stuff.

Hope all is going well at home.

Love you and miss you!

Hermana Brogan

After Christmas

Christmas was actually tons of fun. The weekend before, pres organized a ton of missionaries to sing in a park in our area. It was So much fun. We watched the He is the Gift video, and other Spanish Mormon Messages of Christmas. It was awesome!! And so fun to see all the other missionaries. So all new missionaries kinda go through the first few weeks being extremely hard, and lonely. So it's nice to not be there anymore, but there were two gringa sisters a few days out of the CCM, and it was awesome to meet them and give them love and encouragement. They will be lovely missionaries. :) But it really was such a fun night, just singing and contacting in a park. Also, one of the members in our ward who always accompanies us, Virignia, gave us Santa hats to wear! 

When we gathered on Christmas day as a zone at the stake building, we played the game Mafia, in Spanish! (Of course, but still, I feel accomplished!) I ended up being mafia the first round, and WON! In Spanish! Okay, I guess I'm not as bad at Spanish as I think. I really can function okay. As long as it isn't old people who slur a ton.

Today we also gathered in the stake building for New Years, and while waiting outside for everyone else to show up, this random Peruvian guy came up to us and told us his life story about how he was a drug addict and used to mug people, but thirty years ago God intervened and changed his life around, and how he loves God and then he went on his way. Randomly fitting New Years story. I love this time to remind us that we can change, and we can have a better year full of wonderful change! It's also cool looking back and seeing how I've come so far this year, from school and working, to going through the temple, and living in a different country as a missionary! I hope you guys are coming up with goals or reflecting on the year past. OH, and yeah, Happy New Year!

Apparently it was crazy last night with fireworks and burning dolls in the street (weird Peruvian tradition I don't know anything about). And my comp couldn't sleep. And she said it sounded like a bomb shelter. I, of course, slept right through it and woke up at 6:30 this morning!

Also, my comp beatboxes, so sometimes she beatboxes while I sing primary songs and it rocks.

Also, sometime elder Wilson picks a random feather off the street and makes us use it to conduct music in district meetings. Also, sometimes we have to relocate district meetings, because there was confusion and my district leader got the day wrong, so the chapel the zone leaders have the keys to was locked. (And by sometimes I mean once). And I'm creating this awesome picture wall in my room! From pictures in the Liahona of course. It's going to look so cool!

Okay, I have had Becky ask to talk about investigators, but my time is short! Next week I promise I'll tell you more! But for this week:

We met an awesome girl Karla, by knocking doors, who totally let us in, listened and participated in the lesson, and kept her commitment, and read further int he Book of Mormon! She rocks! I can't wait to see where this goes.

I love you all!

Hermana Brogan

crazy P-day schedule

Haley's mom here-

I got a quick email from Haley requesting I post something today. Because of the Christmas/ New Year's holidays her p-days have been mixed up a bit. Since she Skyped yesterday, her next P-day is on New Year's Day, Thursday, Jan 1st. I think on Monday, Jan. 5th she will be back to her regular Monday P-day schedule. When we talked to her yesterday, she sounded like she is having the time of her life in Peru. This is what she wrote:

 

Hey, so I just wanted to read the crazy amount of emails I had, and I just talked to you guys yesterday. So I'll write more next week. (And I'll try to talk about my investigators for once.)

Could you maybe post something on my blog just to let people know it will be another week? Apparently my friends actually read it! Cool stuff!

Love,

Haley

Sometimes Peruvian Men Propose to Me

So this week was eventful, and not. My companion got infected with el gripe (the cold) and we just stayed in our room for three days while she healed. Man, I have never studied so much in my life!

 

So basically everything in our cuarto broke. My drawer. The sink. And the lightbulb in the bathroom went out. It took my comp three lightbulbs to finally get one to work. (She broke the first two...) But we just use the shower as a sink as well. So, missionary life!

 

Tuesday morning, the 9th of December, I was proposed to for the first time in my life. But the real story: We were just walking to breakfast, and white girls are just considered really pretty here, and this one guy crossing the street pointed at me and said, I am going to marry you! (But in Spanish). Don't worry, I said no. Being a missionary is too fun. And I'm just not ready for that step in my life yet. :P Yeah, all the attention here is actually kinda annoying.

But I'm not any better than the Peruvians. Last night, we were walking back to our cuarto from dinner, and there was this guy up ahead of us, so I turn to Hermana Kingsford and ask, "Is he white?" In a normal tone of voice, because I'm used to English being a secret language here. She responds, "I can't tell, let's get closer." So we start walking faster, and she just stares at him as we pass him. He stopped at a garbage can, and was kinda chuckling, so I'm pretty sure he was white, and speaks english. My my comp is still unsure. Yeah...

 

So I also had a moment of glory this week. So near our pension, there's this corner. And this guy stopped us, (and turned out to be a pastor). He then proceeded to try to disprove our religion with wildly misinterpreted scriptures from both the Bible and the Book of Mormon. He used 2 Nephi 29:3-4 which talks about people in our days saying A Bible a Bible, we have no need for more Bible. Or something along those lines. And he tried to say that this couldn't be true because the word Bible didn't exist back then. Because, you know, God doesn't know everything, and revelation doesn't exist or something. He's a pastor! He believes in this stuff too! At least from the time of the Bible... Goodness. He also tried a scripture from the Bible that talks about false prophets and points at our nametags. Yeah... So anyways, my comp was trying to explain scriptures, and he was arguing back. So I finally just butted in and bore my testimony about how I know the Book of Mormon is true through prayer and a witness of the Holy Ghost, not through my own learning. And then I invited him to pray about it, and ask God. And then I said we had an appointment and had to go. It was awesome. My heart was beating though. It's scary to do that in Spanish! It was actually a really awesome moment, but afterwards, my comp and I laughed about it so much. It was such a cliche missionary moment. And she describes it as trumpets sounding, and how I was glowing.

 

So this week we had our Christmas Party with the pres. We got fed the oh so original meal of chicken and french fries (I eat that at least two times a week). Each zone did a skit. Hopefully videos will one day end up on facebook so I can watch them again, because they were funny! One zone did basically a skit of a new missionary, so I related very well. But it was basically hilarious, but probably more so because I'm a missionary.

They also had everyone from each country go up one country at a time and share about their culture and Christmas traditions. It was SO cool to see where everyone was from! Basically most of latin america is covered. And then a bajillion from the USA.We also got ornaments (yay! Continuing traditions!), and a christmas card from the first presidency. And I got to talk to the other sisters in my district. (I love them a lot. So it makes me super happy to see them!)

 

So transfers are this week, and we all thought Elder Wilson was getting transferred, but he's staying. Which means next transfer what will propbably happen is: Elder Wilson will get transferred, Elder Rojas will finish his mission, and my trainer will get transferred. Leaving me the only missionary in my ward, with three new to the area. Yikes! But I have six weeks to prepare. :)

 

That is all.

Love

Hermana Brogan

I'm Peruana!!!

Okay, not really. So basically this week:

I have a really strong body. My comp has basically forced me to double my normal walking speed, and I have! And it doesn't wear me out as much anyore. It only took four weeks, and my body is adjusted to missionary work! I was sick last week (just a small bug-no biggy). But most north americans usually get really sick the first couple weeks in the field. So basically I'm blessed. :) And I'm all good an healthy and happy now!

We went to a bosque (forest) today with our district! Oh, I love talking to other people. It was really fun, but no stories. Except we took a combi- and I have now taken every form of peruvian transport: taxis, moto, collectivos, and combis. Yay! Motos are my favorite. Taxis are the nicest. Also, one of the elders in my district is really into deep doctrine. It's ridiculous. But it makes me laugh, so that's cool.

I sing too high for peruvians. They asked me to direct the music for the zone meeting this week, and I started the song too high, and ended up singing almost by myself... Awkward. 

Okay, I really am not Peruana, BUT: 1. We ran into a member on the street, and talked to him for a bit, and then he asked how long we have in Peru. So I said two months (mas o menos), and he asked if I was from Peru. I said no, but he was so surprised I knew Castellano (what they call spanish here). He then asked where I was from, I said California and he replied THAT's how I know it. I told him I'm actually still learning. I'm learning it on the mission.

2.Also, one of our investigators, Nancy is awesome! So we took her and her four year old daughter Janella to the Christmas devotional last night, and it ended up starting an hour later than they announced at church, so we went outside and she got us food (ah shoot it was Sunday! Shoulda said no... Awkard) But anyways, a lady out there that we contacted asked if Nancy's daughter ws mine. Um, I'm sorry, but do I look Peruana to you? Janella does not look like a white person's kid... But it made me laugh.

So in summary I'm Peruana.No, but the devotional was so good (and in Spanish! I only understood so much), but listening to motab was SO nice!!!

Also, Nancy is kinda like an older sister. She wouldn't let my comp and I out of her house until she fixed her socks and Nancy did her hair. SO funny. 

Also, if you guys haven't yet, watch the 'He is the gift' video on the lds websites! It's so good!

People down here are so humble, and tell us about miracles in their lives all the time. This one lady had her daughter come back to life after having a dream about seeing a light. I also heard a story of healing, and other things, but they're more personal- too much for this email I think. But it's just really cool to see what faith can do!

We have a rough baptismal date with a lady named Berta. She's very sweet, and really loves what we have to tell her about temple ordinances (especially work for the dead). Her husband passed away a short time ago.

So we eat with members on weekends, so our pensionista doesn't have to work, but who signed up for our lunch after fast sunday? None other than our amazing pensionista Violeta. It made me so happy. She cooks the best food down here! She's going to open a restaurant in winter time down here. :)

I finished reading the Spanish Book of Mormon! Yay! It's true. It all is true. I love the gospel and the hope therein.

I can make jokes in Spanish! In a lesson we were teaching about prayer. We were helping them prepare to have things to say in the prayer and my comp asked something they were thankful for. So me in my pride responded, 'you know, like how the sister missionaries come visit you.' I promise it was actually funny then...

So after next pday the 15th, we don't have pday until... CHRISTMAS the 25th. So don't worry when there is no email in two weeks. I'll try to give you a good estimate next week of when we will skype...

That's all. I love you all!

Hna Brogan

Sometimes People Bow to Us

But really. Sometimes people literally bow to us. I don't know why. It's really weird. It happened three times this week. I have a suspicion that it's because we're norteamericanas... Meaning white. Which is apparently really attractive down here... 

Also, this one guy stopped traffic on a busy street for me to cross the street... That was also extremely weird. Like, really, I can wait twenty seconds for the light to change. It isn't that big of a deal... But whatever. If you insist.

So one of our pension's friends came to talk to us. He's trilingual-Russian, Spanish, and English. So he's peruano, but lived in Russia for twenty five years for some reason (I forget). So basically a peruano man speaking English with a really thick Russian accent. That's was pretty cool. He lives in Texas now.

So we taught this one lady this week (I caved and will now write about cool investigators- so hopefully you all don't get bored :) ) But anyways, we always buy bodoques from her (she's like 85 years old and super super sweet). Bodoques are like fruit popsicle things. We always get Lucuma ones. I really like them. They kinda taste like bread dough. But anyways, we taught her a really good lesson, and then she gave us free bodoques afterwards! Yay! Also, I've taught the first vision like 20 times this week. Good thing I memorized that Joseph Smith History scripture in the CCM. My comp doesn't have it memorized anymore. But I say it so much, that I doubt I'll forget it... But yeah, we're really really improving our teaching a lot. She doesn't spend twenty minutes on the great apostasy anymore (she's very into proving the gospel to all the Catholics here...), but she shortened that, and I always teach about Joseph Smith, and it's pretty great. We have a few people who are considering baptism. So, yay!

We had a surprise training meeting on Tuesday (okay, not really that much of a surprise with a three day notice). But basically I got to see people from the CCM again (the other district). So that was neat. I also got to take a moto for the first time! I should take a picture of the motos here. They're like riding chariots! Especially when one passes us, or we pass another, it's almost like we're in a chariot race! :D

Our pension DID make us a thanksgiving dinner. Kinda. Not enough food to make ourselves super fat, but a normal amount of food. So we got turkey, mashed potatoes and sweet potatoes with marshmallows. And inca cola- a soda down here in Peru. It tastes like bubble gum and cream soda... but tastes better than that description. Yay thanksgiving! I decided we were going to uh, go around the table, and tell what we were thankful for. I made my comp go first and she said like two things, and then I just kinda just went off on a long list when it was my turn... Awkward.

So um, seriously, Everett isn't allowed to grow up anymore. No more!

And I love you all.

Hermana Brogan