Elder Michael Peine: May 2012

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

What a week!! May 21, 2012

Hey family!

How are you all doing! I hope everything is going well in Hawaii, Utah, Colorado, and everywhere else you might be! Hope life is treating you well as it has me. Things are going really well down here in Mexico, for one it just rained and it feels great! Love that rain smell! But Id like to know how you are doing, whats new for you any of you, if your liking work etc. And of course Im always open for any sweet stories and I love getting photos!

Sadly but truly my companion Elder MattarpRobison and Elder Poulsen. I don’t know how long it will be until a receive a new companion but until then I’m making the best of it!

The other day I had a surprising experience when I asked a woman who we had taught once if she read the chapter from the Book of Mormon which we asked her to read. She replied yes and that she had read about 20 chapters more as well and indeed she had. We didn’t have much time to talk but she accepted to come to church the following week.

One of the days my companion couldn’t work so I went out with some of the young men instead. One of the young men is a large, slightly unshaven, happy fellow who is just so full of excitement and faith you just feel like a child when your around him. But we started out, him and I, and he noticed that his pants zipper was broken. He asked me if I had any string so that he could fix the problem and I told him I didn’t. He told me, okay, the lord will provide! (with a grand jolly smile on his face and a gait in his step). We continued talking and walked about a block and half, turned a corner and about 10 steps down the street, happened to be a large pile of string, somehow just waiting for my string needing companion to come walking along! He eagerly picked it up and said Look didn’t I tell you! The Lord always provides!

I love the mission and love all of you!

Take care!

Elder Peine

HOLA!!- May 28, 2012

Hey family!

Its good to hear from you! Thank you for taking the time to write me and I'm sorry I have so little time to write back. But this week was interesting because I had a number of different companions. I lived and another area with the zone leaders but would meet up with one of the youth from the ward, cross the river and work in the area I'm assigned. It was a bit exhausting with all the traveling back and forth but now everything is getting back to normal. My new companion is Elder Rojas from Peru! He has about 2 months in the mission since he spent a few weeks working in Peru while he was waiting for his visa. Hes 25 and is a wonderful missionary, really knows well how to explain the Book of Mormon.

We stopped by a members house last night for a quick visit and simply shared a scripture john 3 16 and there was just a calm and a peace that I felt. The spirit was strong and I cherished the moment. The member finished with a touching prayer and we left to hit the bed. But I felt good. I know the scriptures are true and I love them very much, because they teach me about the Savior and his infinite love that he has for me. I love being here in Mexico as a missionary sharing the gospel. For as much work as it is, it is as equally rewarding and fun all at at the same time. I hope you all have a fantastic week!

love,

Elder Peine

my new companion Elder Rojas!

mexican hamburgers...with jalepenos, so delicious

Tortilla factory of a member (I dont know what face I was trying to make)

mario an investigator and I

name tag

Good ol Mexico!- May 14, 2012

Hey everyone!

It was absolutely wonderful to hear from you for mothers day! What a thrill it was to hear your voices!
First of all my new companion is Elder Mattarp from Guadalajara who has a remarkable conversion story. Long story short his left his house at 13, lived in the streets for 4 years washing windows and working at burger king, some members took him and basically adopted him, was baptized, and is now serving as a missionary. Wild right! Hes a great missionary and I'm excited to get to know him more and about his experiences. But life is going well, the work is progressing. Unfortunately he cant walk very well because he had an accident in his last area but we are making the best of it.

We are working with a man named Vincent who works with one of the members here. For a start, he is learning how to pray. I mean what a privilege it is to know that we can communicate with our father in heaven at any moment! What a blessing it is to see a change in people’s hearts as they draw closer unto the lord through prayer and study.

This past week we visited an inactive sister of one of our bishops the other week who was sick and asked for a blessing. Her husband also asked for a blessing that he could find work to provide for his family. We offered the blessings and continued on our way. For the first time in all my time here, she was at church on Sunday, happy. She came up to me just thrilled as ever which really just made my day. But her husband wasn’t there, so I asked where he was and she replied with excitement that he had been called out for work! Oh what joy I felt in this moment. How happy am I to know that the Lord supports those in need! I know that we are never given more than we can handle. As president Monson says, who the Lord calls, the Lord qualifies!

I thank all of you for your support and love, take care this week and enjoy each day! (And those in Hawaii, I know its really difficult but please try your best.)

Much love, as always

Elder Peine