Week of Goodness 08/27/2012

Thank you all for your letters and words of support. I greatly appreciate it! I am so happy to hear that things are going well. Saturday morning our leaders called us with a goal that for church on Sunday we should try to see 10 new people at church (be it investigators or less actives). All Saturday we went visiting members, investigators and whoever we could to animate and invite them to attend Sacrament meeting. The Lord worked many miracles as 7 new people showed up to the first ward and 11 came to the second. We felt so blessed to see these people participate and feel the joy and spirit that accompanies church meetings.
 I read an article about a Father who's family members are all members but he never had interest. One day he surprised his family as he got ready for church and told his family: I think its time I found out about the church you always attend and come back more content and happier than ever. He attended and was baptized soon after.
This week more than ever I have found immense joy in sharing my testimony, so I would like to conclude with letting you know that I love the gospel so much and I love our Savior Jesus Christ. I love learning about him, He is so incredibly humble, while still being King of Kings. He is more perfect than I had ever imagined. I know that He lives and loves me and has made possible the great Plan of Happiness. I testify that the Church is true. The Gospel allows me to know that I can live with my family forever brings me great peace and joy, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

I love you all!

Elder Peine

Bishopric from Barrio Rio (River ward)

 Bishopric from Barrio Allende

Chocolate cake!

My companion, a members niece and I

Just me

Thank you! Love ya! 08/20/2012

Hey family.

Thank you so much for all of the loving support that you send. I am too lucky to have such a great fam! Dad, hope you recover quickly! I know your always out looking for adventure, just be safe! Mom, thanks for your hug, it was well received. I have been thinking of how the wonderful the gospel is but how sometime we make it too complicated. Like Joe said, its about serving people. Its so beautiful. Emily, hope everything is going well, send the kids a hug for me! Alina, soak up the sun! (because if you aren’t I sure am haha) Hope your loving Hawaii). Jord and Kim, London is a hoot! Shes growing too quick! Joe, thanks for the message, enjoy your work. Ive been thinking this week and it keeps coming back that we can find joy in all of our actions.
Everything is going well, we are enjoying our area, I think I will be he for at least a month or two longer. I spoke in Sacrament meeting about Who is Christ, what He did for me, and what I can do for Him. Our goal is that there are not only 2 missionaries in our wards, but 80 and 50 (the members). We are excited and thrilled to be in the work of the Lord. He blesses us daily and I am so thankful for the power of prayer. The knees are surely stronger than any tool Ive ever seen. I loved when a member came up to us and handed me a triple of the Book of Mormon, D and C, and Pearl of Great Price and said Hey, I think Susana, the new member will enjoy this. I am certainly sure she will!

Love you all, have a great week!

Elder Peine

PS mom and dad, the Ortiz family, or Millan (from my first area) family wishes you the best, they are in Florida and send you their love. Oh and miso soup and sea weed would be amazing!

District Meeting

One day I will paint this

Playing some soccer!

Its a beautiful day in the neighborho​od 08/13/2012

Well hello family! Do the weeks go by as fast for you as they do for me? Does time go faster as you get closer to the equator? I hope you all find your selves doing well. We did have a hurricane come through but we are just fine and everything is back to normal. No worries mom J
This week Susana and Andry were baptised and it was a joy to be there for such an sweet baptism. They were confirmed members yesterday and all went well. We are teaching their family members who are also progressing. It’s a joy to see the members making friends with new members and investigators. I love being part of these two wards. I am so grateful for the energy and enthusiasm the members have to share the gospel. I taught the gospels principals class about missionary work and of course I told the class that I happen to love this topic, well I am a missionary, I should be loving the work of a missionary! We enjoyed talking about how each of us can be missionaries even if not all of us have name tags and ties, we can all do something the help the work progress. Susana, the new member, even before she was baptized, has been asking how she might be able to serve a mission. I love the whole mix of members, the old, the young, the bold, the reserved, all of whom play a key role in how the Church should function. I am so grateful for the diversity and the individuality shown while still being so united.

We happened to pass by a less active is she and her family was getting out of her car and she cheerfully greeted us and invited us for a glass of water. As we talked with her it turns out she hasn’t been to church for a while but has always seen us walking about but has never had the chance to talk. We shared a scripture with her Mosiah 2:41 and she started to tear up, and she shared her testimony saying she knows that our Heavenly Father loves her and that she knows He wants her to come back. The same type of experience happened with an older member Felix who couldn’t imagine what the members would say if he returned, but never the less he came to church the next day and enjoyed the sweet spirit one feels when they are were the Lord wants them to be.

I know am where the Lord wants me to be and I know that He loves me. I know that Jesus Christ is my Savior and that he restored His true gospel upon the earth through the prophet Joseph Smith. I am so grateful for my testimony and for the wonder family that I have. I love each and every one of you!

Have a fantastic week!

Elder Peine

Av. Circuito CD. Deportiva #206
Colonia Atasta
Villahermosa, Tabasco
C.P. 86100

And about changing records, what ever works best! I don't think you'll find me refusing to come home to Hawaii though. Ill still have a month or two before college starts up. And as for a package, chocolate should be able to make it. Thanks mom. Thanks for the awesome photos, you look great!

Baptism of Susana and Andry

Sunset from the porch

Happy girl!

 Let the rains come down

Just a good day :)

Happy day! August 6th, 2012

Loved the photos!!!  What a blast the family has been having!! As Joe said, I was at London's birthday in spirit, or through the Mexican food at least. Thank you all for thinking of me and for all of your prayers. I have been so blessed to have a family such as mine. You are all wonderful and really cant thank you enough, especially my gypsy parents who are always full of adventure and explorations. Send my love to all the young ones for me, London, Charlie and Oliver look great, growing up quick!

This week has been a wonderful week. For our district meeting I invited all the Elders in the district to bring a picture of their family (without them in the picture). Then I asked an elder to try and match who's brothers and sisters belonged to every Elder. He tried looked long and hard and made several attempts, succeeding with some and with others, well not so much. I thanked him for his participation and said in a way he was correct and in another form, well not so much. As he wondered why not so much, he then smiled and said, oh I see, its because we are we are ALL brothers and sisters and belong to the same eternal family. I smiled and agreed. I have been thinking about that this week a lot, how we are to love everyone, and how we should treat our fellow man. This has helped me in missionary work to have faith that anyone can progress in the gospel, that no one is lost, that is is not too late for anyone to turn back. God sees us all equally as his spirit children and wants the absolute best for each of us.

I am just so grateful the chance I have been given to share such a message with the people of Allende, Mexico (my second home, and yes apparently it is becoming normal for missionaries here to stay in their areas for long periods of time). Today 2 wonderful children of God will be baptised  and I have had the great privilege to be a part of their conversion. (Andry in the photo above is one and Susana -21 from the same family will be another). I am loving loving the mission and am so grateful for this once in a life time opportunity, my testimony of the truth fullness of the gospel grows daily and my love for the Savior with it. Keep strong and pray oft.

Love,

Elder Peine

Gotta love birthday parties! Great week for everyone!

Andry turned 11!

Good bye spongebob

I guess I did tell her to cut it short...