More Teaching and Finding

Okay, not too much to write. 

But first off, earlier this week we had a member come with us to teach. He's recently reactivated and is seriously the best person to come to lessons with! He served his mission 6 years ago or so in the states. Wisconsin? But I haven't heard his english. I think because he just reactivated, he's really

humble in the lessons with us. He still shares his testimony and experiences, but when we talk, he really listens. I've never seen an RM act like that before. He listens and reacts as if it was one of the

first times he's heard this. But it's not. He also has faith that these people really can progress. He has a sincere love for every single person we visited. I don't really know what made the difference

so impactful on me, but really the Spirit was so strong in all our lessons, and they all agreed to baptism and to being rescued. Of course, that isn't too abnormal here. Getting them to act is the big

thing. But I could even tell the investigators felt the Spirit. Now that doesn't always happen.

Spencer, who we found last week with that can of beer, told us that day that he wants to reactivate. Yes! But he still didn't come to church this week even after deciding on his own to come. But he'll get there. He did finally read a chapter in the Book of Mormon. Victory! He's awesome!

We also found and taught Hernàn. 20 years old. Same day. He felt the Spirit, UNDERSTOOD what we taught (he's from the sierra, but he's studying. His poor mom, like most people from the mountains, doesn't understand our message or the importance of it, but Hernan really

could feel the spirit and agreed to baptism. He didn't show up for church. Actually, none of our investigators did, even after organizing with the members and everything. They even did their part (the members). But that's how it goes sometimes. Next week!

Today we moved rooms. It was seriously the most stressful thing I've done in a while. I was trying to get all my stuff ready and then the elders told us last night at 10pm that we needed to get a truck ready for the morning, and that hadn't even occurred to me, and I was just stressed out about everything. And then the elders didn't even set up our beds this morning, and my comp and I are not strong enough or that, so they have to come after we write, and just a  bunch of little things on top of not sleeping last night to pack. But it's all okay. It all works out. I have an amazing sister leader, who reminds me of my sister, who can just seem to figure everything out. She helped me a ton today. I'm so grateful for her. But then we got to watch emperor's new groove while in Peru. That's a

neat thing. I've always kinda wanted to do that. :) But the work is moving forward. We're fining and teaching and inviting and seeing small miracles. Just hoping we can get them to church next week!

Love you all! Thanks for writing me. I always like emails!

Hermana Brogan

District Leaders Found Me Profoundly Inspiring

Well, we found a room to live in. We're also teaching the owner of the

house. Sweet! I think she'll progress. :)

We were in the middle of contacting a family of members who recently

moved here for vacations, to contact their non member mother who

actually lives there, when a couple came up to us and basically

demanded that we teach their children right now. And we were already

about to enter into this first family's house, and the zone leaders

were coming in exactly 15 minutes to look at the room we found one

block away. So we ask for the afternoon, and they said no, now! So we

said after this cita. We basically go in already trying to leave the

house while trying to be polite and get to know them and just set an

appointment for the next week, then we go to this other family. The

parents are busy so they leave us with their kids (9 and 7 years old),

and we teach them prayer. After teaching them, we ask them to say the

last prayer and they recite the padre nuestro and the ave maria. Poor

little brainwashed kids. We need to teach them better. They gave us

rosarios (in english, rosaries?) too. Oh my. Buuut, the mom studied in

an adventista colegio, but doesn't like that they speak bad about

other churches, and she and her spouse are married, baptized catholic,

don't identify with any church, and a he's a lawyer and she's a

psychologist. I'm stoked! We're going to teach them ALL today! Yay!

We taught Italo for the last time this week. Crazy kid. He's moving to

Lima. (All my investigators move to Lima. It's the worst.) But he

came to church for the second time yesterday and promised to go to

church in Lima and read his whole Book of Mormon in the commute to and

from work. We reexplained the restoration yesterday because he's got

some wild questions. (They're actually good, valid questions, just

ones we don't get a lot in Peru), and he's gone from agnositc to

definitely believing in God. Progress!

Spencer! He's a less active just out of rehab (alcohol and drugs). We

found him with beer walking down the street when we were headed home

one night. We were on the phone, but I left it with my comp to finish

up talking while I convinced Spencer to not avoid us. He's obedient,

so he stuck around, and then when he hung up, we convinced him to pour

out the beer onto the street. At first he said no. He wanted to go to

a park and think. So we told him we'd go with him, and he poured it

out in that very moment. It felt very victorious. I was super happy

about it! Then we went and talked to him about how God loves and

supports him and how he needs to pray and read the Book of Mormon in a

nearby park, and walked him halfway home. The next day his parents

said he had come straight home. Sweet!

We had an awesome first lesson with Ismael's dad. (Ismael is a

convert). His dad believed us right off the bat, and really felt the

spirit. He works sunday though. So it will take a bit of effort, but I

think he'll get there. :)

Rosas committed to come to church! Miracle! BUT then a relative came

and the family didn't come to church. Next week we should have Susan

and Rosas at church with their four kids. Much praying will be needed.

And that. :) 

It's been a good week. My district leader wrote something

I said up on the board during district meeting as a quote. Awkward

moment. I'm really not so profound, don't they know that?

Have a great week!

Hermana Brogan

Time Flew By

Whoa, el tiempo ya pasò! The time flew by. I only have five minutes.

But we taught Magali this week who agreed to baptism, and is married.

We just have to get her to church. If we can get her to act on her

committments, she's gold. And if not, she's potential gold. We also

taught her husband, and he has potential too. Magali has more desires.

Susan either needs to get married or live the law of chastity some

other way. She's thinking about separating from her husband. I don't

know why though. Uuugh, why do things get so complicated. Her testimony

is getting so strong. She understands it all so well too!

Italo has disappeared. That makes me sad. He has so much potential.

This week we had to look for rooms. After finding some options, the

zone leaders had to come approve them. No go on all of them. There are

no other rooms in my area! We're in the best option already! 

But anyways, we ended up teaching Magali actually when we were looking at

a room she's going to rent out, and it was just a load of awkward to have

our  zone leaders be in the lesson. Then they somehow convinced us to

buy them cremoladas.... (ice cones??) They kept talking about it ALL

morning, so we caved.

We're going to other huacas (ruins) today! It should be fun. It's NOT

a tourist sight, so Ishould hopèfully get to grab some souveneirs!

Woo! I'm excited.

Aaaand, that's the summary. Other things have happened, but I'm out of time.

Love you all!

Hermana Brogan

The Work is Progressing

This week. I had intercambios! It was so much fun. I was with Hermana Smith, who was in the MTC with me my first two weeks in my room. :) She's super sweet. We spent basically the whole time talking about our missions, and the MTC, and our areas, and the MTC, and everything. It was fun. The sister leaders are always the best. She told me some really sweet things about myself, and it was just a very happy, but insane day. We ended up teaching an apostata. I think it was my fault. (We were in her area). She told me this lady had gone through the temple, and was apostate and kinda sassy. Well,I think the word apostate just went right over my head, and I said, let's teach her!!! Yeah, bad idea. She's got some pretty wild out there ideas. It actually made me pretty sad for her. Stay true to the faith!

We also had an amazingly spiritual lesson in the nighttime with one of their less actives. It's probably one of the best lessons (on our part) I've had on the mission. He's already ready to be rescued, so that helped too!

Italo agreed to baptism. We just have to get him to come to church and keep his commitments more faithfully. But he wants to be baptized. Yay! It actually surprised me when he said that he believes Joseph Smith was a prophet. (I had asked him). We haven't talked much about the restoration since officially teaching it. 

Susan wants to be baptized, and her husband at least wants to get married, but they're just so poor that they can't. Arg. I don't know what to do about that. But I love teaching them! Susan constantly reads the Book of Mormon and prays! Her little girls tell me some pretty wild dreams- about how I'm next to Jesus or how I put crowns on their heads, or I don't even know what else. They always talk about angels to us too. They are seriously so precious. 

We found a less active named Caro (short for Carolina). She went inactive pretty fast after her baptism, so it will be just like teaching an investigator, but she wants to come back to church! We talked to her about the temple, and Christ. I told her that Christ would do everything, the atonement, His resurrection, the restoration, everything, even if it were only just for her. Wow. The Spirit really guided my words in that lesson, and I know she felt it. She wants to come back to church. I'm excited!

I had a lesson with two less actives. (The wife is a bit closer to being active). We talked about the law of chastity, and told Nelson he has to marry his wife. (Andrea has wanted to be married for a long time). We also talked a bit about the temple, eternal families, if he really loves his daughters he needs to set an example, and if he wants to be with them, be sealed. And I just told him straight up that he has to get married. And he agreed! I love being direct. They know it's true. 

So the work's going good. We're being set up for a lot of good things happening in our area. Now they just have to actually happen!

Have a great week! I love you all!

Hermana Brogan

A Nun In Our House?

This week....

Italo came to church! Finally! He also went to Lima and asked his girlfriend permission to be baptized. Haha. But that's a good sign. I think it's time to invite him, but for reals this time, to baptism with a specific date. Well, his first time to church happened to be stake conference, so it was insane. But some of the youth, the 18 year olds, befriended Italo. It made me laugh since he's like 30 years old. But hey, whoever reaches out is better than nobody!

We taught a random guy through a window this week. He had a shop, and kinda approached us as we were standing confused on the street. I awkwardly said, hola? And then we ended up talking to him and giving him a Book of Mormon and inviting him to baptism in February. Well, he's traveling until February starts, but he's very interested, and said yes to baptism... I love the excitement, but I'm finding in this area, basically anyone who isn't already super religious says yes. 

We went into our house for dinner on Friday, and as we walked in we saw Hermana Diana sitting in the living room with a  nun. I was really confused why there was a nun in our house. So we go to our room, the kitchen, and then I look out of the kitchen at Diana with a questioning face, and she says, Hermaaanas!!! Let me introduce you to my friend! So it turns out they were really good friends in college. Haha. I wanted to take a picture, but I felt weird asking. But it was pretty cool. The nun was super sweet.

Mmmm, que mas. We contacted an old investigator, Valeria, who was a reference from the temple a year ago. She's 15 and super interested, but her parents don't want anything. We got her number, and we want to teach her parents to try to get them to open up to the church. She still reads the Book of Mormon after 7 months or so. :D

That's about it for the week that I can remember. 

Have a good week!

Hermana Brogan

Getting ready for the Christmas concert. (Back in December) 

Transfer Week and Haley.......stays put!!!!

This week.... What do I tell you guys about. 

Miracle lessons, kid investigators came to church, but not their parents. Italo is crazy, and has some insane concepts of life. He was talking about polygamy like it's just a social construction that we're monogomous, but he's not polygamous either, and he's just weird. It's always fun to teach him. But when we teach him, he feels the Spirit a lot, and tells us that we just make everything seem so simple. Well... Cause it is. He'll hopefully progress. I can never tell where his desire actually to find out if it's true. He definitely wants to come closer to God, and he loves talking about the plan of salvation, but when it comes to the restoration, he doesn't really have doubts, nor a confirmation that it's true. Hmmm... But he's reading and praying. SO that's good. 

Susan flipped out this week when we told her there's a living prophet and 12 apostles. She now has a copy of the conference Liahona, and I bore testimony and her doubts aren't as big now. We felt a big change in the atmosphere of that lesson. We ended with the Spirit super strong. Another day we talked about the temple and eternal families. She wants to go to the temple. She says she has to get married inside. And now that she knows it's actually a possibility, she's excited about it. Please pray for her husband, Rosas. He needs to get on board with his wife. She's super cool and progressing along fine, but he barely ever listens to us. (Not that he's against it, just lack of desire.) But Susan is so good, and her little daughters are amazing. That family is now really good friends with a family preparing to get sealed soon. So that's really nice. Mechi took Susan's daughters to church for her because Susan couldn't come, and gifted the family some hymn books. Yay! I felt like a primary teacher teaching Susan's girls to sing I am a child of God. Also, Bianca, 6, just started telling me about seeing a angel the other day. That was pretty neat. I love that family. :) Being around little kids is fun!

Alicia, menos activa, studying english. We were going to drop her for a bit, but instead we invited her to prepare for a temple recommend interview. She lit up. She didn't understand that she could go do baptisms. But now she has that as a goal, and we told her she can go to gospel principles with us instead of JAS (she feels to young next to the other JAS... hm, kinda like I did!), and she's more excited about church now. Sweet! She only came the first hour because her family needed her, but next week she should come again. :)

We found out about transfers last night. My comp and I stay. But we also heard about our whole zone. Well, our "little brother" Fernando was on the roof with us (where there's a signal to talk on the phone), and he's four years old. He was SO excited when we found out Hermana McQueen is going to Cajamarca. He shouted, CAJAMARCA! The elders asked, who's the kid? I was cracking up. Kids are so fun. 

I think that's a pretty good summary of the week.

We also had a cool multizona this week, Otilio didn't get baptized :( and a zone training. 

Love you all!

Hermana Brogan

Haley is Like a Doll

Today, we visited Las Huacas! A cool archaeological site with ruins of a temple. It just makes me think of the Book of Mormon and all the corruption that happened in the Americas. At least they didn't sacrifice children or women in this temple.

Susan came to church by herself (well, and our help, but without spouse) and her four kids ages 2 to 9. She's awesome! She still needs to understand more, but she's definitely gaining a testimony! We're still working with her husband so that he can understand better. He says he's already been baptized. He just needs to understand the whole authority thing.The little girls in Susan's family always tell me I'm like a doll. Doll=Muñeca. So they always say Hola muñeca. Chao muñeca. I always respond the same. Hola muñecas. Chao muñecas. They think I'm sooo pretty, especially my hair, and they always play with it and leave it a little crazier than it already is. Haha. 

They always make me really happy. I feel like they're little angels sent to me. :)

Italo is being a punk and didn't come to church, but he did read a bit of the Book of Mormon. He ran off to Cajamarca this week, when we had a cita with him, to go visit his girlfriend. Can you people just stop traveling so we can teach you? Okay, I guess you can have a life... But still, let us know first. 

There's this family here, the family Chong. And the dad's dad, is in Jose Balta, where I started my mission! Crazy! It's like my mission is a huge circle! Pretty neat. 

We found this sweet 14 year old girl this week, Camila, just by contacting. We haven't taught her much yet, but she's already agreed to be baptized. Her grandfather is Mormon, and she read the Book of Mormon a bit in her childhood. So I'm excited to work with her!

And that's about all. Some of the other missionaries in the zone tried to copy my ballet while we were playing basketball today. It was really funny. My zone leader actually got really into it. Haha.

Love you all! Hasta la proxima!

Hermana Brogan