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Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Aug 27th Letter

I love you so much let me just start out with that. Then I’ll do a quick summary of this week some funny stories than try and email the girls, time is really iffy! Ok this week has been absolutely fantastic and absolutely hard at the same time :)   start off the week was great! Tuesday we had elder c Scott grow who is now the supervising 70 over the Peru area come! I talked to him for a while! He knew who I was, by relation to dad and grandpa. great talk. I struggled a bit mornings are rough cause of the food and the long line for the shower ha-ha plus I’ve never been much of a morning person you know that!! :) but Wednesday and Thursday just got really long, lot of Spanish still no sun and the food had finally gotten to me, the whole being away from home I guess but to be expected. the excitement from being away from home had quickly gone away :) however I prayed and read my scriptures, since I’ve got here the past 7 days I’ve been reading the book of Mormon and I’m already to alma 40. It’s pretty crazy, that is in English ha-ha. And well everything turned out ok. Thank you for your long letter it was hard to read but I look forward to it all week. p day is great! Anyway Friday went by fast and great teaching new things picking up on stuff. at times I get really frustrated but then I realized I’ve only been learning Spanish for 10 days, and wow I’ve come a long way. I hope you appreciate the extra effort I’ve put into the spelling on this email :) so Saturday was great Sunday was great, I fasted that day for some help... ironically enough the best meal we've had here. don't get me wrong the food is great but rice chicken, rice and chicken, rice and chicken, rice and chicken, than greasy eggs and stale rolls for breakfast :) let’s just say I miss you waffles :) anyway Sunday elder cook from the quorum of the twelve apostles came and talked to us. He and elder grow talked for like 10min than asked if anyone had any question. I stood up, not on my own accord I assure you, and the words came out of my mouth I know not where from. I said "elder cook I've read the book of Mormon many time since I was young, I have a firm testimony in this gospel and I know this church is true, I know god loves me and have a testimony of it but I've never read and received a burning in my bosom or Moroni’s promise, I don’t know if I can promise my investigators that something. He kind of got quiet for a while and then answered my question, I honestly don't know what he said I don't know, but then I sat down he moved on, and he then proceeded to bless us, he blessed us that everything would be taken care, that our hearts maybe filled with peace, and well it hit me like a brick the spirit did. I know this church is true still haven't got an answer to moroni promise, but I don't think I need to cause I already know the answer, its yes. Also he said think of those you love this is the greatest act of love our faith and the best thing you could ever do for them. kodi came to my mind hopefully with me being apart we can grow closer together. Anyway the next day was kind of a little rough to our roommates all left for Bolivia and were getting new Latinos today, but as I prayed for help that day a kid walked into my room, from nowhere named Elder Perez hadn't talked to him that much just started talking to me about his family. Sometimes down here you just need someone to talk to. anyway it{s what I needed. lord works in mysterious ways. my companion and me our perfect, he{s kind of  lazy but and amazing kid and we get along really well I just have to pull him sometimes. it’s tough work but I{m loving it. especially enough physical activity and soccer with the Latinos! it’s a blast :):) today temple trip was great a little kid of 3 years old was standing in the street and came and ran up as to me as fast as he could ELDERS ELDERS he said!! it was so great I talked to him in Spanish hah he loved us! he was the highlight of my day, besides emailing you. than we got on the bus the buses here are crazy! they turn and jump and crash! the bus we were on today I was hanging in the door with one foot and leg and the rest of my body was out! hahah here’s a cool experience I realized how much you did a good job razing me. some elders were talking about the temple session afterwards, and I realized even as missionaries we all have different standards and some things mean more to us than others. I wanted to thank you for raising me right with the importance of the gospel in my life! I love you so much mom I would spend 2 hrs. Telling you all about it! But this hour will have to do! :) love you! Your son is doing amazing and learning and growing so much!! :) He misses you but knows you’re ok and being blessed! :) love you!
con amor

Elder grow

I read that last letter back to myself to verify spelling it sounded a little more solemn :) haha mother I'm loving life here I had a rough week but I honestly am so happy down here, taking care of myself and loving life! They gave me a water filter bottle and so water is taken care of for next 2 years, can't have any strawberries or berries other than that were good :) I’m so happy and hope when you read this you know how good I'm doing :) love you!! _ con amor elder grow :)


please also explain to the girls the whole time things it’s really hard for me but I’m writing them all really long letters and as soon as I get out of the ccm they'll get the time the deserve :) love ya!

Tuesday, August 20, 2013

He's mildly IMPOSSIBLE to understand.... but seems to be great!

August 20, 2013

For time’s sake this letter is for mom and dad and jacie and kelsee sorry easier that way HOLA!!!!!!!

This is so great to talk to you guys!!! Wow ok so the MTC is amazing!!!!!! My distric is great love all the people The subject of this email is supercalifragilistic expilalidocius in espanol respectively THE MTC IS AMAZING!!! es muy bonita!!!

K so wow so many things to say and so little time to say them.. Here goes :) ok so it’s amazing!!! mom I am on cloud nine here’s all the pictures I’ve taken, I’m only allowed to take pictures on p day outside the CCM (centere captured missionaries) hahaha sort of but ok first so glad to hear dads doing good!! i honestly though had no worries!

It’s really amazing but ok so first day mi compenero is MacDonald a surfer from Arizona.. hahah don't ask but really and awesome kid I’m a people person took me a second to get adjusted but now I get up every morning at 6:15 faithfully haven’t missed a day yet take a 3 min shower than shave brush teeth make bed and tidy room and off to breakfast!! ok first I’ve stayed up so late in my life yet now that I’m finally getting 10 hrs of sleep and doing nothing all day but sit in a class save physical activity and yet I've never been so exhausted in my life!!! Seriously though!!! It’s extremely tired!!

ok breakfast here is disappointing like really Peruvians in la ccm eat one egg a bowl of yogurt and the occasional slice of cheese and maybe a hot dog don't ask don't understand hahahah i guess I was just spoiled cause I want to eat a waffle or crepe outside the ccm they eat bread every morning hahaha so but lunch and dinner are huge and very delicious!!! they usually consists of meat chicken leg or beef or fish with rice and a type of sauce maybe a bowl of soup some popcorn or corn nuts a small salad and a desert which is always amazing they had this pineapple cake thing the other day, oh and then pie which in Spanish is pie (pronounced just like English don't be confused jacie) and anyway i was way happy except with the apples it had raisins in it and was well disappointing.

I haven’t seen the sun since I got here! Seriously though!! No sun!!! We are living in a cloud actually a pretty cold one worn both my sweaters and my jacket hahah and my wool blanket. my companion and I were practicing Spanish outside the other day by coming up with creative insults hahah speaking of insults the Latinos found out how to say "freaking gringos" hahah it’s the funniest thing ever they have no idea what they’re saying but they find it funny.

told my first Spanish joke today that one up above had all the cafeteria laughing at my stories and antics ahhaha don't know what I was worried about I made friends lation y gringos muy facil, mi espanol would probably be enough to send Mr. Wilcox into some sort of cardiac arrest hahah seriously though! crazy how much I've learned I can pray en espanol i can bare my testimony en espanol and I can greet and talk in espanol it’s pretty crazy though how we learn it down here is not like school! Haven’t got one Spanish lesson left!! They pretty much told us look studies the gospel first have faith and it will come so it already has and now were just waiting.

Taught my first discussion yesterday and well killed it!!!! Really though it went great they are teach3ers but he had music playing in street clothes and it was entirely in espaonl!! So grateful!! Ok so winding down but thinking of other things to say oh yeah had ultimate Frisbee match on soccer field at the ccm its pretty sick field than sand volleyball um feeling great health is good being safe, um oh today was p day so got myself to go to the temple AMAZING!! Same joy and happiness en espanol as in English it was like going home!!

Got myself these casino booms at the store they're like Oreos mixed with rolos mixed with Andes mints with pop rocks in the center awesome!! got myself 2 llama ties too and hangers only cost me 40 soles hahah about 15 bucks we didn’t get anything else were just waiting now the city was extremely crowded bus had 40 people on it about the size of small Volkswagen hippie van remind me down town la hahah very sketchy about to go do wash than maybe take a nap but love you all! Love you all!!! Elder grow

More things I remembered my district is great love all the people yeah mission goes well calla me grow... Elder grow... Or Matt Damon I accept both... Or Jed, my friends call me Jed hahah alright I’m going now LAUNDRY!! YAY!! Oh and occasionally I feel like my phones going off in my pocket hahaha yeah Buenos Dias well emailed you Austin and Emma and family and still got more time so... yeah :) hahah my Spanish is coming amazing did I tell you I told a joke yeah Latinos sense of humor is great hahah if you just tell a joke and laugh guarantee they laugh back no matter how bad the joke is hahah its great!! I’m hilarious!!! Anyway can't take pictures in the CCM hence why you haven’t seen any and tell everyone not to send packages here either es malo I’ll be here with other North American in Lima osete.

love all Elder Grow

Thursday, August 15, 2013

He made it!!!!

August 15,2013

Wanna hear a joke?.... Mission prep!!! hahaha I thought a lot howd I{d start that first email!!  Well Im here! you would not beleive the flight!!! we got here at 1am! such a long flight it was pitch black and no one spoke english!! it took me 2 hrs to get through customs and than an hour long bus drive so all in all i went to bed at 4am, but the let us sleep in till 9, which was really considereate until you realized its so loud in this city it take you till 9 just to fall asleep:) showed up at the airport in salt lake and a lady asked what i was doing told her a mission and than I was able to bear my testimony with her and tell her about the gospel she was particulary fasinated by the fact i thought I held the prehisthood, but when I told her that because of my worthiness and the fact i was set apart I held the authority and power of god to act in his name and perform miracels well it was really cool! than on the flight talked with a 7 day adventisits where i was able to place 2 pass along cards the flight to peru though was extremeley long and boring counted 746 sheep! and still couldnt fall asleep!! finally got to customs no one spoke english and I was english I was really lost, with a good group of elders but still felt alone, until in line this guy was talking about footbal, well I turned around and said "football?" and he}s like no futbol and I laughed until he siad in englgihs "you like football" I said yes" and we talked about tim tebow and how he thought joe montanna was the best quarterback of all time!! it was defintley a blessing, than the guy in front of us scoffed kinda i turned around introduced myself..as elder grow ;) haha and i said you don{t like football he said no rugyb he was from austrialia than I really threw him a curve when I mentioned how i knew the all blacks!! we had a great conversation...in english!! than After the long bus drive through lima well yeah got to mtc everyone was asleep woke up tis morning ogt tags books bags haircut, still have yet to talk about immuniziations, but needed hangers, will have to pick them up on p day, ate a fruit this morning called griduton or something looked like a cross between pomegranite and fish egg hahah tasted like um grapes.. kinda... not really hahah lima is perfect weather right now reminds me of the texas beach nice breeze 60 degrees humidity is pretty low to when its colder so its way nice! city looks like something off of bourne supremacy the third one mixed with downtown la and some ogden, and yeah its pretty sketchy, driving thorugh our part looks like bunch of grafiti cereal boxes standing up with dogs everywhere and scary people standing in the streets hahaha the mtc.. is surrounded by a 12 foot high concrete wall and barbed wire with steel gates hahah either to keep people out... or us in ,) hahah but it goes well doing great and yeah,... can{t speak a lik of anthing but found out how to slay " who whoa whoa slow down and don{t yell at me" hahah should come in handy ;) my companion is elder macdonald from arizona really nice guy so far getting along, hows dad? hows mom?kodi, kelsee jacie tell me can{t wait to hear!! got my name tags!!! so great hip hurts little from flight shower was cold but luggage made it, met mission president at aiport really nice tell kodi can put any of this on blog were living in cloud down here fog constantly, computer on timer for email so feeling under pressure or under the gun just to even send this, consider it a blessing that i can even type this fast alth0ough its a spanish keyboard which yes is different so spelling puncatation might be off well i think thats all if have to say so love you all very very much and i can{t wait to see you.. well in 2 years.. hasnt really sunk in yet though feels like a vaction at this point, until you know ill be in meetings all day where they do nothing but speak spanish adios!! i really have nothing more to say but don{t wat to say goodbye, um woke up to birds chirping this morning that was nice rrom smal 6 of us only 100 of us here though kinda small place type to you soon!!! love you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!