24 April 2010--Hola familia

Hey how is everyone doing back at home?  Andrew has prom tonight. That is going to be a good time.  I can’t believe that Allison graduated college this week!  Have a good trip in Syria Allison; I guess we’ll be getting home about the same time.  That’s pretty crazy.  That’s hilarious that you guys were waving at the wrong person, I got a good laugh out of that J  it’s going to be fun to hang out with the family again. 

                Things are going great here in the mission.  I am finally leaving the office for the field, and I am just as excited as ever.  The assistants have already done the changes with President, but they still haven’t told me where I’m going.  Ahhhhh.  I want to know so bad!  It’s all good though, next week I’ll be writing you from my new area.  So I think I’m not going to be able to write until next Monday, because my p-day will be changing again. 

                I am just about done training Elder Moody.  We just have the big monthly payments this next week, and then I’m good to go. He is going to be a great financiero.  He knows how to take care of the money really well, and he is really careful with it.  I think he is ready to take it all over.  I went to the bank and canceled my account and everything.  Its just time for me to head out.  There are a ton of people that I am really going to miss in these wards though.  It’s pretty funny though, people have been coming up to me in church asking how long I’ve been here, and some say, “Elder Lee, you have been here for about a year, no?”  Its pretty funny, but its time to leave.  I’m pretty happy because we have 2 baptisms today.  A young lady named Yolanda who has been an Investigador de Oro.  She has attended the church for the last 6 weeks, and she only had a few questions about tithing, but she is good to go for tonight.  We also have an 18 year old young man named Cristian that is going to be baptized.  He is just way excited, and we are extremely excited for him.  I interviewed two of the assistant’s investigators yesterday, and they are going to be baptized at the same time too.  There is also a baptism in La Molina for an 8 year old child.  So it is just going to be one big baptism.  I’m just glad we could help a few more be baptized before I left this awesome area.    

                Elder Noall is inviting everyone in the world to our trainings Sunday nights, and it is going really well.  Presidente Leyva came last week, and I think he thought it was good.   He gave us a few pointers of things that we need to improve, but it went really well. They had me right up some plans for each week of training, and we’ll see how it all turns out.  We are like the guinea pig ward with this plan, but I am enjoying it a lot.  It is really working to excite the members about missionary work. 

                Well I love you guys and thank you for everything you do.  Have a great week, Allison good luck in Syria.  I’m praying for everyone.  Love you!!!

Love,

Elder Lee

10 April 2010--Hello, family!

Sounds like you guys are having an awesome spring break.  Dad, I'm really looking forward to eating your hoagies when I get back.  That is one thing that I miss a ton.  Happy Birthday Aunt Karen!!  So it was yesterday, but it’s all good.  So your 30 now, I'm going to get home and you are going to be an old lady!  Ha.  Have I really been gone that long?  Sounds awesome that Steph and Andrew are going to be working at 7 peaks again.  That is going to be a lot of fun.  Jen is going to be babysitting for a lawyer.  That should pay pretty good Jen, keep up the good work.  Allison, congratulations on getting into grad school.  That’s just great.  So Allison are you going to be living downstairs with you friend Erica.  Sounds like its going to be a good time.  Hopefully you’re still training to hit up some major triathlons after the mission.  How is everything going with your class mom, it’s looking like another school year is passing pretty fast, you only have like a month and a half left right?  That’s cool.  Dad, how is everything going at work?  Thanks for getting in touch with Cam for me.  He sent me a dear elder, and I can't believe how awesome he is doing.  It just gets me excited to get back running again.  

        Things have been a lot different in the office this last week.  The replacement of Elder Perez came Tuesday, Elder Wigington.  So there are nine of us in the office right now.  Everybody seems to be training their re-emplacement.  Elder Moody is learning everything really well.  He has noticed that there is a ton of stuff, and it just takes a lot of practice, and then everything just seems like second nature.  We taught a new investigator named Yolanda Thursday.  She has actually been at church for the last 4 Sundays.  We had given her and her mom a Book of Mormon.  We read 3 Ne. 11 with them, and the spirit was so strong.  Then we asked them if they thought it was important to be baptized like Jesus Christ taught in this chapter.  It was awesome because Yolanda immediately said Yes.  So we challenged her for baptism for the 24th of April, and she was so excited.  It was really an amazing lesson, and it is just amazing how when the investigators can feel that spirit it just gets them excited to follow this gospel.  It was really awesome!  We also have Cristian who we are preparing for the 20th of April.  He is harder to teach because he is studying the university right now, but when we get the chance he really accepts everything we are teaching.  So we should have 2 more baptisms before I leave this area.  

         Only three more weeks, and I am going out into the field.  I'm not going to lie I am pretty excited.  It’s going to be a good time, preaching the gospel all day long.  I'm just hoping for a companion that’s willing to give it all.  We'll see what happens  Well thanks for all of your letters; it’s so good to hear news from home.  I am always praying for all of the family, and I know the Lord blesses us as we follow what he says.  Keep up the good work, and I'll talk to you all next week.  Love you!!!

Elder Lee  

04 April 2010--HAPPY EASTER and Awesome Conference

Sorry I didn’t write yesterday, there just wasn’t enough time with all of the sessions of conference.  This conference seemed like it went by faster than whatever other conference that I have seen.  Each and every message was so great and it really helped me a ton.  I feel like I am writing notes so fast on every message just because it is such good stuff.  The prophet’s message in the morning session today was so powerful, I felt the spirit so strongly I actually almost caught myself crying.  I held it back though, not so much on the cry baby side J  There were really so many amazing messages though.  I just loved every bit of it.  I liked how a lot of the messages concentrated on the importance of families, and I really felt a great love for each of you, just picturing your faces in my head really brought me a lot of joy.  I am really excited to be able to see you all again soon.  You guys are the best. 

This week has been really good.  My reemplacement, E’ Moody came Tuesday, and we have had a few good days of training.  He is learning everything very quickly, and is going to be a good financial secretary.  Its pretty funny because everybody thinks that we look alike, and that we are like the same person.  It is funny because there are 5 kids in his family too.  There are two boys and three girls in the same order as our family.  The ages are just a little different, but practically the same.  It’s pretty crazy.  I’m excited to get out into the field again though.  Today in conference we had 5 investigators in the session this morning, and we were pretty happy with that. We just had some ward missionaries called, and we put each one in charge of a person.  It was awesome, because they are willing to help us so much.  Jorge our recent convert is one, and also Joseph a return missionary.  It all went really well.  We are excited for another good week in the work. 

I just want you guys to know that I know this is the Lord’s true church, and that families are forever.  I know that Thomas S. Monson is the Lords prophet in the world today, and how happy it makes me to have the opportunity to hear his voice in conference.  I know as we serve others that is what brings us real happiness in this life, and really solves our problems.  Thanks for everything you do.  Love you tons!!

Elder Lee 

27 March 2010--Bautismo de Branco hoy!!

Well it has been an awesome week, and we are going to finish it with the baptism of Branco today.  Its going to be different than any other baptism we have had because he is from Yugoslavia, or I guess Serbia now.  He is really awesome, and has been attending the church for like the last three months.  He had a problem with smoking before, but after we taught the Word of Wisdom he has completely quit.  Its pretty funny because he doesn't speak Spanish too well so we teach with a ton of actions.  We printed off the questions for the interview in Serbio so it would be a little easier for him.  He came out and asked me to baptize him, and said that I am going to be his padrino. :)  It was pretty funny, but we are just really excited for him.

         Yesterday was pretty crazy getting all of the monthly payments ready for Monday.  The zone Santa Molina had their interviews here in the office yesterday, and I'm pretty sure that one of them is going to be my re-emplacement.  Presidente was in an interview with Elder Moody, and he called me asking me what day I was going to start training.  I told him on Tuesday, and I'm pretty sure he was telling Elder Moody.  So we'll see what happens, but I'm just excited to be training and getting out into the field again.  It’s going to be awesome.  

         You’re not going to believe it, but my companion Elder Rojas started running this week.  He has run the last four days in a row, and is really excited about running every day.  How happy I am right now.  It’s always awesome when someone wants to run every day.  At times he is a little lazy, and it is really hard to get him to leave the office and teach.  Sometimes when Elders get called into the office they use it as an excuse to not work in the field.  It makes me sad because they are really wasting the Lords time.  So that has been a struggle I have had, trying to get him to work efficiently so we can proselyte more.  I really think we could have more success; it’s just been a struggle.  Its almost over though, and we are going forward.  It has really been a good experience in these wards too, and I'm going to miss these people so much.  We are going to have to come to Peru on a vacation someday so I can visit them again.  

          Well I don't have to much more news, just happy to be here in the work.  Today I have 19 months in the mission!  How crazy is that!  I still remember saying bye to you guys in the MTC.  I was thinking how Cecily is going through those same experiences right now  What a huge blessing the mission is.  I'm really excited for her to be out there too.  

          Well thanks for all of the news, love hearing from you as always.  Talk to you next week!

Love,

Elder Lee 

The photos are Elder Lima (mi papa), Elder Anco, and Elder Cueva and a bunch of other missionaries finishing their missions.  You gotta love it, every time a group leaves we eat pizza with them.  Its awesome. 

20 March 2010

Wow, Dad thanks for all of the work you did for my school next semester.  It makes me feel a lot less stress to not have to register for all of my classes.  The classes that you went over with Paula Alger really look great.  I think you just chose perfect in every one.  The english class sounds great, and I'm actually really excited to have that engineering class too.  Wow, I just feel way excited about everything, just thinking about studying again.  It is going to be awesome.  Oh and without a doubt I'm going to be running.  I think I might just die if I wasn't, so whatever I need to do for that let me know.  I'm going to come home a week early too, just so I'm not starting out the year way behind in all of my classes.  I need to tell Presidente, but do you think it would be possible to come home the 23rd, or do you think I should come a couple of days earlier.  I have made the decision cut it a little short though, just to get home for classes.  I'm just way excited, and a little nervous too, but its going to be great.  I can't believe Cam broke 4 min in the mile!!!  Tell him he is my hero!!  I can't wait to get back running again too.  So I guess Shay already got married or is getting married soon?  How crazy is that!  Is Shay running right now too, or what is going on there.  I really enjoyed all of your letters, and I'm just really excited with everything that is going on. 
            Here the work is going great.  This week has been pretty crazy with the changes and everything, and practically everyday going to the hospital to visit ELder Sanchez.  He left the hospital Wednesday though, so he is with us in the office.  He is going to be the new secretary of registros.  Why am I always stuck with the sick Elders?  Thats ok, I'm going to start training a new financiero next week, and I'm really excited for it.  Its been a great experience here in the office, but I'm ready to get out in the field again.  I would really like to train again because it is so awesome when you have a new missionary that is willing to give his all in the work.  I went proselyting with Elder Guzman, a new Elder that entered the field Thursday, and it was great.  We took of walking way hard, you just got to love being with Elders fresh out of the MTC.  We'll see what happens though.  We have a new investigator that is different than any other investigator that I've had.  He came up to us in the temple, and said he had been looking for the Elders, and wanted to be taught.  He has already read up to Mosiah in the Book of Mormon, and before we had even started the lesson he was already sharing his testimony about the truth of the Book of Mormon and how much it had changed his life.  I really couldn't believe it.  The crazy thing is he has never even attended the church.  So we challenged him to be there with us on Sunday, and he wants to be baptized the 5th of April, so we are going to do all we can to help him achieve his goal.  We also have a new investigator named Rosendo that we have gone a few times, and this week he read his chapter in the Book of Mormon, and he said as he was reading alone in his cuarto he saw the corners of the book glowing, he feels that it could be an answer from God, and we explained that God answers our prayers in different ways.  He completely changed his actitud and now is really excited to turn his life around in the ways of the Lord.  It was really an awesome lesson yesterday.  We have an investigator Christian who is awesome too,  he didn't make it to church last week, but his mom and sister came, and he even invited his girlfriend to go.  He didn't go because he came down with quite a fever, and asked if we could give him a blessing.  it was awesome because the next day when we called him the first thing he said was "thanks elderes for healing me."  It was awesome, and it is really amazing how we have the power to actually heal people through our faith and their faith too.  It was another awesome experience, and has helped strengthen my testimony of the priesthood even more. 
            Things are just going awesome, and couldn't be happier to be here in the Lords work.  I'm coming down to only 5 months, I just don't know how to feel about that.  Thanks for everything you guys do for me, and I always love hearing from you.  Keep going strong, and I'll talk to you soon.
 

13 March 2010--Your Letter

It has been another great week.  A few interesting things happened.  The other day President called me at night, and wanted me to be in his house the next day at 7 am.  He told me he needed me to drive a car from San Isidro to La Molina.  A little while ago he had me order my international drivers license.  I was also a little nervous to drive here though, because people drive crazy here.  It was a good time though, I got to drive Presidents Nissan Pathfinder back to La Molina, and it was awesome.  He has been putting me in charge of picking up the cars, and everything so it has been a good time. 

The work this week has been going awesome too.  We have the ward list of all of the inactive members, active members, and the people the bishop doesn't know.  We decided to go out, and just start contacting the inactives and the unknown people, and it has been really effective.  We are teaching a family that was inactive, but they have an 18 year old son named Cristian, and Thursday we put a baptismal date for him for the 28th of March.  He is just a great kid, and the lessons are helping to activate the family too.  They just seem really excited, and his mom is just as excited as ever that he is finally preparing to be baptized.  He is reading the Book of Mormon, and saying his prayers.  Its great.  We are also teaching a 22 year old named Johnny who is cousin of the hna Ambar who was baptized in January  He also accepted a baptismal date for this month.  Then we have an investigator named Branco from Serbia.  He doesn't speak to much Spanish so we have been doing a lot of sign language during our lessons, but he has had problems with smoking.  He has been attending church for quite some time, and he hasn't smoked for over 3 weeks.  We are excited as ever for Branco, and we are preparing him for the end of this month too.  We just need to find the interview questions in his language, because we won't have his mother in law there translating.  Its all good though, he is really converted, and is quitting smoking. 

Presidente called me in for an interview the other day, and asked me how I was doing and how I felt in the oficina.  I told him I was fine, but I think I'm ready to head out in the field again.  He agreed, and he asked me to help him for a few candidates for a new financial secretary.  So in the next few weeks I will be training my reimplacement.  It is going to be at least a month of training, but I have the field in my sights.  Its going to be great to get out there and work all day long teaching the gospel.  What a great experience it has been here in the office though, and I'm sure it is going to help on resumes and getting into a Masters program in accounting at BYU.  Well we'll see what happens, but its just whatever the Lord wants for me.  Thanks for all of your support, and sorry its a little short this week.  There is an Elder in the hospital and its my turn to stay with him today.  So we'll be talking next week.  Love You.

Elder Lee

6 March 2010--Hola!

We had another great week down here in La Molina.  We had the baptisms of Reuben and Krishna, and they just went great  We had a lot of members there to help support them, and they are really excited.  We have been working hard with Suzanne and Ceasar, and they really want to follow this gospel.  They even accepted the challenge to be baptized, the problem for the hna Suzanne is the word of wisdom.  She has smoked for quite a long time, and we are trying to help her quit.  I know with the Lord´s help she can do it.  We also have a kid named Johnny who is the cousin of the hna Ambar, who just recently was baptized.  
We taught him how to pray the other night, and we asked him to give the closing prayer.  He was pretty nervous, and really didn’t want to do it at first, but he finally did.  Then when we arrived to teach him another lesson, we asked if he would give the closing prayer and he just gave it with a ton of confidence.  He had been practicing, and now he is just way excited.  When we went to leave, he asked us when we were going to return before we could even make the appointment.  We also went over with Jorge, and his testimony was so powerful, as always.  I love going around teaching with recent converts because they can share about their conversion which was so recent.  So we are really excited to be working with Johnny too. 

Yesterday we had the opportunity to go to the temple, and it was just an amazing experience.  I really wish we could go every week, especially since we pass the temple about 10 times a day.  They only allow once every change though, so I guess we’ll just have to live.  Its really great how much you learn when you go through a session, and I always come out of the temple knowing exactly what I need to do better in my life, and really how I can do it.  It is just a wonderful opportunity. 
Other than that nothing too exciting happened this week.  We had a service project in the pensionista´s house.  They are going to re-do the second level of their house, so we were helping take stuff down, and a little bit of destruccion.  It reminded me of the good old days, working with dad in the other houses, and I realized how much I really love doing that kind of work.  That is definitely something I want to keep doing.  Dad, we are going to have to do the business you were talking about, renovating homes. 

Well that’s just about it for this week.  Next week is the last week of the changes.  Next change ‘my son’ is going to be coming too!  I’ll be training the new financiero.  Its going to be a good time.  Love you guys, and thanks for always writing.  Talk to you next week!

Love,

Elder Lee

Happy birthday Mom, and uncle Nate!!