New Area - Patavillca Peru

March 24, 2014

I´m sorry for the short message this week, my computer has been having problems. I hope that this will find you all in good spirits as it has me! I am absolutely loving Elder Sanchez!  These two weeks have gone by so lightning fast it’s been amazing!!!

We have a fecha for baptism this Saturday, and we’re working really hard to keep it. He has some doubts but has been praying really hard.  His name is Rodrio he’s dating a lady in our church; we just have to teach him more of the commandments this week. The little rama of ours is doing great.  We’ve encountered some big problems this week with the Jehovah’s Witnesses who have been leaving on a regular basis teaching lessons up to 3 hours long. They are confusing the Papa Huancayina out of our investigators and members who have recently joined the church our less firm members. Sunday our Bishop taught the combined lesson, some pretty heavy stuff about Plan of Salvation, the Bible and Book of Mormon...  Our poor investigator was a little confused, but then afterwards they all went to Sunday school.  I asked if we had a Gospel Principles class and they said no, just a manual. I grabbed it and taught the class. I love it so much when the Spirit testifies though you.  It is a wonderful experience.

Our little branch has been visiting the menos activos and has almost doubled its little numbers this week of 80 people.   We are also teaching a Mom and her girl, at the end of a lesson I asked if we could say a prayer on our knees. The mom offered it and expressed love for her daughter and the Spirit was really strong, yet she didn’t ask God about the truth of our message, so we asked here to offer a second prayer and you could’ve cut the spirit with a knife… and yet, she didn’t come to church.

The town here of patiaviclla shouldn't even exist but I guess a General named Bolivar was born here or passed through here and so there is a little museum and a statue. The town is great though. I’m a little more used to the heat but I still take a lot of cold showers, but I really solved the problem when, through inspiration of the Spirit, I got all of my clothes wet that I’d wear on a normal day and put them in our little refrigerator :) when I woke up in the morning they were ice cold and stayed like that for most the afternoon!

I also found Chupetala which in Spanish means “suck it”, but it’s the name for Popsicles here! :) So I had a few “suck its” today and we will also be visiting the beach. All is well in Patavillca and I’m loving the spirit and my companion!

Love,
Elder Grow