September 30th Letter

September 30, 2013

Wow not a whole lot of time this week for all I have to say AWEOMSE so excited to hear about the mission calls!! That’s awesome!! Ok please bear with me as I try and fit everything in. First LETTERS are on their way :)

Ok so first left the ccm (so happy) and met the president, waffles… I’m sure you got that letter

I NOW KNOW WHY I DONT DRINK CARBONATION

anyway then after a 9 hr. bus ride we arrived in waraz t 7 am changed clothes and well got to work my companion is elder Zavala he’s honestly the nicest most personable guy I ever met. The first day I ate.... cow intestines and utter... with rice.... actually didn’t kill me.. I killed what I guess you could call a toilet but yet :) anyway than I watched people skin behead and kill 40 guinea pigs while I tried teaching them a lesson it was well pretty crazy. All in all I was really scared and stuff until a man fell off his motorcycle on the way home. We picked him up walked him to his house he was a member! We gave him a blessing and turns out his family is preparing for the temple well we helped them pick a date and then they invited their friend over we had muffins and taught her the gospel... I got this :) seriously I was so blessed by the lord! The food here well... isn’t good for my cholesterol ;) ha-ha in the morning bread and butter in the evening chicken and rice for lunch chicken and rice or well something that’s probably not meant for human consumption! with salt and sugar for flavorings ha-ha my heart is loving it anyway one meal they gave us fish.. the whole fish charred black and well you pick it up and eat it. bones? spine? no problem.. one night they gave me a small chicken breast I ate all the meat the rice turned to my companion who in Spanish asked are you going to finish that? I looked over and well yeah sure enough he’d eaten the whole chicken bones and all so,... i dug in... I really just want some Wendy’s ;) but the pastry down here is amazing great desserts and cookies and the helado is amazing so all in all blessed there to. One day we fixed a man’s washer (instructions were in English) and then taught a lesson asked him to be baptized and he said no, so than offered us Inca kola in celebration... yeah turns out he said yes and I just had no idea ha-ha the people here talk SOOOOOOOO quietly I kid you not everyone whispers! Anyway than I drank the kola... as to not be rude... and well my companion swears what could’ve only been the sound of the second coming itself erupted from my mouth. Literally lasting a total of 6 Mississippi seconds a belch that would’ve put the destruction of Sodom and Gomorra to shame ha-ha yeah... kola and me don't mix

anyway everyone here is about 4 ft. tall and the doorways about 3 I’ll send you a pictures but yeah I’ve broken 2 chairs hit head 90 times and can't fit under a table with my legs I actually pretty sure I scare the little children, but they flock like flies, I’m tall and I’m LOUD they say they’ve never heard someone talk to loud, explained later on. Anyway than we went to a wedding of an investigator everyone loves us here and is so nice! Anyway and then they readied there glasses to toast... and my chair broke ha-ha anyway the laughter was pretty loud but we had a good time. Sunday we took investigators to church and I bore my testimony at the pulpit in Spanish... the gift of tongues is real they understood every word I did the sacrament prayer and sang... I’ve never been scared at so much in my life my voice is so loud and deep compared to there’s they were truly fascinated anyway than went to a house where I bore witness to a 12 year old girl there is a god, and as a representative of Jesus Christ I know he lives. Than bored my testimony to a woman about prayer and watched here cry as she prayed for the first time for her kids. I know this church is true! The work is great and I love it! Ill hopefully have more time next week!

Anyway people here are amazing 7 days and have 2 investigators committed to baptism with 3 others with actual dates :) Jesus live love you all

Elder Grow

September 30, 2013 cont.

So more about Peru, cause I have 15 min

ok so last night after visiting a ward way up in the mountains we were on our way down when a woman asked for help so what did i do well i carried her melon... all the way down the mountain in the rain.. Yes Rain222 tons off it i hope to send you all pictures in this next email... so much rain the streets were flooded, which well the streets are made from mud and dirt so yeah it was a mess, everything here is a fin layer of mud and dirt. Anyway this morning we woke up at 5am and went on a hike... up THE ANDES Mountains! I’m sending you pictures it lasted from 5am till 5pm we hiked more than i could tell straight up! i loved it .... AND MY HIP!! well I could do everything i felt so much blessing and i would appreciate you to send this to Austin Goff’s dad the next email (one with pictures) anyway also Kelsee can pick some pictures and change profile, one on the mountain or a crazy one in our investigators hut, or the donkey, anyway we hiked all the up to churro (you can look it up) a glacier lake than afterwards.... CHEESKCAKE AND a milkshake... they didn’t taste well like they were supposed to but they were good! What a great day!! 

He Made It! - Letter from the Mission President

Dear Brother and Sister Grow,


We are happy to report that Elder Jed Donald Grow has arrived safely in the Peru Lima West Mission after several weeks of intensive missionary and language training. He arrives in our midst accompanied by the many prayers you have offered for his welfare and safety. We thank you for your loving support of his service and encourage your continued prayers on his behalf. We now join your prayers with our own. We love him and are eager to serve with him. We sense in his spirit a tremendous desire to serve the Lord. His Companion is Elder Zavala from Peru, who will help to polish the skills he has already acquired. He will grow to trust his experience and will develop tremendous love and respect for this first companionship in the field.


This new group of missionaries is a beautiful sight to behold, armed with a prophetic call to serve, and magnified by the spirit of the Holy Ghost. Attached is a photograph of Elder Grow with the other missionaries he arrived with. It is humbling to be in their presence. We extend our gratitude to you for sharing him with us. We will do all in our power to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with the people of Peru.


The people of Peru are loving, kind, humble, and are responding to the gospel message in joyful ways. We recently celebrated the 100th stake in Peru. This is the Land of Lehi. Your son is helping to fulfill the promises made to that great prophet when he was assured by the Lord that his descendants would not be forgotten. He will be teaching the descendents of those children who sat upon the resurrected Savior´s knee. We bear witness that they have not been forgotten by the Lord. He is sending some of His most choice servants to find them and bring them back to His fold. Elder Grow is one such servant.


Elder Grow is very teachable and wants to give his best. He has a great attitude and excitement for missionary work. He already knows the language very well and will be a great asset to the other missionaries and to the Kingdom as it is established here. Thank you for preparing him to serve at this time, in this place, and in this way. We know that as he works hard, studies, prays, and humbly seeks the guidance of the Holy Ghost, miracles will unfold in his life and in the lives of those he teaches. We marvel at the miracles performed by the Lord as He magnifies our young missionaries as they bear His message in His vineyard. God bless them and you for sacrificing to become engaged in this noble cause.


With gratitude and love,

President and Sister Archibald
Peru Lima West Mission

September 17th Letter

SUNSHINE LOLLIPOPS AND RAINBOWS!!! BRIGHTER THAN A LUCKY PENNY!! Something something something that’s the song from Cloudy with a chance of meat balls and that’s how happy I am to get out of here mom :)

you know not only have I passed the one month mark but if I skip my last 5 week transfer like I want to than I’m 2 month and 3 weeks done.. CRAZYYY!! :)

Weather? Tornado floods?? What’s going on with Utah I’m getting a lot of crazy stuff from the missionaries who just got here! The USA entered a war? Rumors of wars? You guys sound like the regular last days! Ha-ha anyway

Peaches?? Peach salsa? Oh that sounds great how is it??? What I wouldn’t give for a peach pie!!

so yesterday we had gunfire that’s the 3 time oh and we saw a man dead on the side of the road cops were around him, he was really old though think it was a heart attack probably from stepping into the street there are like no speed limits here seriously traffic is worse than jacie driving ;) ;) ;)

anyway so week started off as the roughest week yet I have been struggling so much honestly it’s been really really hard but I got thought it and I’m doing great :) first of the week doing a service project I broke a fire hydrant the janitors had a good laugh about that. Um the food here well continues to surprise me we had "pizza" the other day with well which was pretty much spam ha-ha oh and then lasagna I was so happy to eat lasagna honestly I was thrilled... yeah they're was octopus in it OCTO´PUS LASAGNA! I kid you not! oh and then "banana bread" is soggy breaded bananas ha-ha I miss America ;) so September 11th past and well apparently it isn't a big deal down here one of the teachers came running in " an AIPLANE HIT THE CHICAGO AIRPORT"

WE FLÑIPPED OUT! And he just laughs like "joking joking" ok we were not amused needless to say :)

anyway than or Sunday they didn't have a speaker for the north Americans so for the devotional they made me get up and tell and inspirational story and give a talk needless to say I killed it :9 ha-ha

I don{t know how mailing works down here but I'll figure it out! found an English conference ensign this stuff is liquid gold honestly cherish the words of modern prophets they can help you! can{t wait for general conference hope I can listen to it in English. we listened to a lot of talks this week Bednar and Scott! great talks scot talked about 8in Spanish) respecting women, we have e a feminist in our district who loved that! personally it just made me miss my sisters!

My hip acted up the other day popped out a couple times but doing fine now :) no worries :)

They call fry sauce down here "golf salsa" and it means "golf sauce" and they literally put it on everything but their fries! Ha-ha interesting I can’t wait to get out of here

Your thought for the week is the hymn "does the journey seem long" cause that’s kind of like what it's felt like this week but I know god is there and I feel the strength of your prayers and love you very much :)

Elder grow

My hair is poofy

The ganadia it’s interesting

Also when I get to my mission home next Tuesday they will send you an email letting you know

Yes I’ve used pepto several times and haven’t stopped… well….rainbows and gumdrops since I got here ;) notice the heavy use of sarcasms ;) yeah I’ve still been a little sick but I’m healthy wow the world is in an awful way... good thing they got me and god down here to try and fix it, caused to them that believe all things are possible :)

I thought it was 6,000 oh and Iike I weigh 60kg now :) 

September 11th Letter

JOKE TIME!!! ok so god created Adam and said I'll make you a companion who will be you help meat and you personal friend who will be there with you at all times do everything you ask, will always love you, and will agree with you, and will be your best friend,.. But Adam god said, it’s going to cost you an arm and a leg

... What can I get for a rib...?

HAHAHAHAH :) Love you guys!!

So first off here goes!

My week started off sitting with thee Hermana missionaries at dinner about 20 while my companion was sick in the bathroom. They were talking about guys and I just started laughing! They said what?!?! And I was like nothing! I just well it takes me back home, I miss my sisters and they were like were talking about chic flicks what would you know hahah I was like I know woman and chic flicks better than woman know them :) well several Hermana’s almost killed me right then and there with the sharpened bones from what was supposed to be chicken we were expected to eat but after some time we decided to have a competition where I in turn blew all 24 Hermana’s out of the water :) yeah I still got it :) anyway then we play volleyball every day for an 1hr and well we pretty much own! I have got really good at my jump serve in the sand and my dig is pretty hard to beat :) will play when I get home but ok first purchase out of the CCM is going to be a waffle iron ;) seriously breakfast here is still bad but whatever :) rain here is interesting it’s like walking out of the misters at Wal-Mart hahah there really isn't no rain you just get wet :) I was on sick duty yesterday I spend all morning and into the afternoon watching over my companion and another one with food poisoning the one kids was his birthday ironic yeah, anyway I read a lot and studied it was nice :) THE SUN CAME OUT: D I was so happy oh I danced and sang all morning! (Interestingly enough I was reprimanded by president Carden did you know missionaries aren’t supposed to dance... interesting anyway :) I cannot print stuff off here so I’d love to have those pictures sent to me along with stamps :) you can{t buy stamps unless at the post office but we don{t have enough time on p days and it might be easier just for you to send me my first letter with a bunch of global stamps but I´m not sure I’ll look into it :) the Latinos left again today! upstairs is awfully quieted one kid though tore his mattress this last week so they got him a brand new 8inch Serta mattress.. like plush kingdom anyway so when he left we snuck it out and switched um :) been sleeping like an angel thanks for asking :) well here’s my experience for the week :) proselyting! yup that’s right we get and got to go proselyting in the ccm :) the computer doesn’t recognize that word so I'll just say teach, so I got paired up with Elder Salas to go teach, he speaks fluent English"! oh how blessed was I :) anyway so we got on a bus and went to a town of Manchay, they{re we were met by elders with worn shoes mud stained pants and well it looks liked we were going to war. they gave us instructions barked out orders and we were off... what the crud am I doing was my first thought. I had culture shock so bad; I was in a different world. Houses consisting of tarps thrown up over poles, or shanties that wouldn’t even constitute the durability of a little Caesars pizza box! I was shocked garbage everywhere people going to the bathroom... well everywhere, watch where you step. I was so lost my companion knocked on a door, which I later found out was a door, it dint look like one to me. Anyway he started talking in Spanish the man let us in he shared our message turned to me I looked shock... what are we doing I said. he laughed said give him the book so I handed him the book of Mormon and we left... this continued 9 times I got to testify some but all in all I had no idea what was going on, I got cat called at and whistled to and giggled and all manner of shameless banter from the women and well... I wanted to go home right then. it was a really great experience don{t get me wrong but we were let into every house everyone lets us in!! literally they are all so nice! but well I struggled for days after that, but the lord strengthened me through some of the most fervent prayer I've ever uttered. these next 2 years are going to be interesting :) I love you all to quote Pres. Holland: all things are possible to them that believe: love you all

September 3rd Letter

ha-ha HOLA!! I think I finally have this email thing down! Ok first off my face isn’t as good; it’s getting a little adjusted but about the same. Second my hair has literally never been better!! Ha-ha seriously though, I probably am having the best hair days I’ve ever had in my life. It’s pretty funny. Third you can correct my emails but be sure to keep the original. I want so see how my spelling improves. Your letters are so great and have so much information. I love it. But maybe you could include all the questions in the front so I can just answer them all at once ;) ha-ha! Make it easier. Ok so my turn for questions, can you send me a picture of the family It would just be nice to have one on hand to look at occasionally.

This is how my week went. Last week was a little harder so I fasted and prayed for it to be better and for a little more sleep :) and god answered my prays. Sort of ha-ha I spent Wednesday through- Friday sick in bed but I’m fine now :) just a little stomach thing; also I scraped my armpits with my deodorant again ha-ha same old Jed :) ok so I got a blessing and after I was done feeling better this is how the rest of the week went. So, going to the store they have an amazing bakery but they have no bread with holes ha-ha seriously though, no doughnuts, no bagels, nothing it’s impossible to find anything anywhere, but I was so sick of breakfast I caved and bought a thing of cereal (enclosed in my picture of American food :) can you believe its already been 20 days!! Anyway so we listened to a talk by Elder Bednar the other day about just forgetting your troubles, family, and friends and be more like Christ and move on, which was kind of something I had been fasting for. He also shared something really funny in Russia "Come, Come Ye Saints… all is well, all is well, directly translated is "not so bad could be worse" ha-ha. So life always gets better. So I figured it up and I’m 1/36 of the way done with my mission. Two years is going to be a breeze :) so since I got in the CCM we’ve been reading the Book of Mormon and by the time you get this well I’ll be done! With the English one but I’ll be totally done with the whole thing :) So we had fast and testimony meeting and these girls got up and were crying cause well the entire CCM has been sick with a sort of flu and she got up and started crying cause she has been sick and at home her mom would pamper her. She’d watch chick flicks and eat ice cream. Ha-ha couldn’t help but think of home. So we got some new Latinos in our room! Love them! Seriously though, they can sing and know Akuna Mata! Great song and smurfs is "pitufos" in Spanish Oh and they think I look like Shaggy from Scooby Do, but yeah I taught them English and stuff. They teach me Spanish. It’s great. One Hermana was singing the Henry the 8th song and I started laughing and sang along and she flips out because no one down here knows that! Alright, so the food here gets old really quick ;) rice, chicken... I think... and some form of sauce and the fruits are good but same 2 fruits every day, anyway, so I picked up some cereal that should help my mornings. Oh and we were talking about our favorite fast food the other day, what I wouldn’t give for some chicken nuggets, a taco, or a burger. anyway love you all!

Nothing’s going to stop us now!! Tanpechewa KAMA WAWA (hausta lavista baby in quecha the native peru langauage :) love you

mom, I was having a really hard week with, “Is my belief in the gospel strong enough to last me two years, I don’t know Satan was working on me, than I read the following alma 56:48 " we do not doubt our mothers knew it" I love you so much and so you know I have never doubted my testimony in the gospel because you raised me and your testimony I only hope I can be as good of a teacher to the people of Peru love you so much! :)

also pictures were of a lady bug I saw; the rip in my pants the waistband on like 3 of my pants have ripped but as you can see sewed them up pretty good; my American food and a cool interesting picture of Jesus

Also no snow it’s just foggy and no sun :) kind of sucks actually

20 seconds left sending you all my love and happy thoughts :) go out and eat a burger for me :) love ya!