Smile!! July 30, 2012

Well another week has passed, time just seems to fly by! I cant believe its Monday already! I hope you are all doing well. I'm still in me second area haha and I have over a year, its pretty great. Everyone wants to be here because there are more soccer fields than bars haha. But no the people are really great and its and interesting town to live in.

This week during zone conference I was asked to give a talk about Forgetting the Past and Pressing forward with Faith. I used a scripture from Philipenses 3, verse 13 and 14 which I like and then told the story of Grandma Vicky crossing the Atlantic to arrive at her new home in America. I related how she had had to change her circumstances to move forward with faith. Although we might not have to cross the Atlantic to change our situation, we might have to cross an ocean of how we think, act, or behave with others. I mentioned that we might have to study more diligently, teach more by the spirit, or have a more positive attitude. Anything possible that can help us to and put old habits behind move forward with Faith. Grandma Vicky went through all of that for dad, I related that what we are doing here and now in our areas is work so that perhaps 1 soul may be saved (D and C 18, verse 15 and 16).

I am so terribly thrilled to be a missionary and am loving it. I wouldn’t trade it for the world. I know this is the work of the Lord and I know that he has been watching after me and my companion daily. He answers my prayers in ways that always brings relief and makes me smile. I am also thankful for the hymns (which I really never learned by heart before the mission). I hope you are all doing well, I pray for each of you and think of you when I can. Thank you for all of your prayers, devotion, and faith.

I love you all!


Elder Peine

 Sunday afternoon with some members

Christmas all over again! New shirts, fresh out of the pack!

Sams club reunion

Made me smile :)

Baptism of young Arit! July 23, 2012

Hey everyone!

I hope your all doing terribly well!

This week some special things happened. First of all, when we showed up for church the bishop asked me if one of us (the missionaries) would like to speak. I said Id love to! I ended up speaking about charity, I read part of Moroni 7 and then related grandmas story about how she helped the infant and mother in distress. I concluded reading verse 46 that said we should pray to the Father with all the energy of our heart to be filled with charity, which is the true love of Christ. After sacrament meeting and older women came up to me and told me she had just come in from out of town, to visit family and was thoroughly thankful that she had made it in time. She told me to keep preaching Charity. She loved grandmas story and she said what a blessing it is for someone to be able to tell a such a story of their ancestors. She as a matter of fact, reminded me very much of grandma Vicky and I felt like grandma may have been smiling down on me, or possibly right at me through this grandma from out of town.  

Secondly one of the converts, Ramon, received the priesthood and was confirmed as as priest. I am thrilled for him and am happy to know that he is progressing in the gospel! It is such a joy, and they (he and his wife) have plans to enter the temple (unfortunately one week after I will be departing from my mission) Ill have to see if I can extend or something.

Third, Arit, this little girl who got baptised yesterday was to be confirmed Sunday. She went up and sat in the chair, the bishopric stood around her before the confirmation. The bishop then looked up at me and signaled me come forth. I thought he needed to know how the prayer was to be said or what the name of the girl was or something like that. He told me that Arit had asked if I could confirm her as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I was pleased to do so and for the very first time placed my hands upon the head of young daughter of God and conferred the gift of The Holy Ghost. It was a special occasion for me and I know I will always remember it. After I remember feeling good, just happy to know what had happened, and then sat in my seat and just thought wow...

Changes came and it turns out my companion and I are staying here, for now at least! I'm happy about it!

Love you all take care!

Elder Peine

My new love for parrots

Beloved members

Baptism of Arit!

A chalk board of congratulations for Arit!

The family and friends after the baptism

A future missionary and I and the Book of Mormon! (really the best missionary of all)

Missionary Conference​! July 16, 2012

Hello Hello!

This morning we had a conference with Benjamin De Hoyos, a member of the 70. We were taught how to incorporate Faith in Jesus Christ and the Atonement into the teaching of the investigators. I learned a lot about the Atonement in this conference and it helped me understand the why and how the Plan of Salvation works. The 70 mentioned that to be able to teach about the Atonement we have to recognize how great of a blessing it is in our own lives. He said when we have had difficulties perhaps the word Atonement didn’t come to our mind but it is by the power of the Atonement that we can be forgiven of our sins. He told us to inspect our own lives and recognize how the Atonement had taken affect in our own lives and how we can share this positive experience with our investigators (not the sins that we’ve committed, but the process of repentance, thanks to the Atonement, that leads to forgiveness).

Sunday after church a daughter of the Sunday school teacher came up to us and asked us if we could give a blessing to her mom who had an arm injury and had been sick off and on for a long time. We entered one of the classrooms to give her a priesthood blessing. When the blessing was over she had tears in her eyes and tried to hug me, being a missionary I couldn’t give her a hug but I held her hand and just told her how much I knew our Heavenly Father loves her. I am happy to know that our Heavenly Father always offers comfort to those who seek it. It was a special day.

I'm sorry but I ran out of time, I love you all so terrible much, you are all amazing and I hope you have a fabulous week!

Con mucho amor,

Elder Peine

Oh Mondays...we eat out

Enjoying our afternoon, Elder Rojas and I

Here I am haha (the truth is I didnt take photos this week)

Hola familia! July 9, 2012

This week was a wonderful week! The truth is I think every week is a wonderful week but sometime some are just a tad better than others. We have been teaching a family and had invited them to come to church for yesterdays meetings. In the morning, we had decided to pass by and head to church with them but it was pouring outside. This probably meant they wouldn't come but we jumped in a taxi anyway to see if they could make it. Half way to their house I received a text saying they weren't able to come this week. Well, we were already half way there so we figured why not stop by and check. as we got out of the taxi the clouds cleared and rains stopped. We hiked up the sandy path to when there house was and sure enough they ended up coming to church with us. The father didn't look to happy about coming but at the end of the day I think he cheered up, he liked priesthood meeting a lot actually.

I also bore my testimony during a lesson to another father, who was just sitting outside his house, about how Joseph Smith was called as a prophet of God and that we admire him for what he did to bring to pass the restoration of the gospel. He then told me that this had cleared up quite a few of his question, having always thought that the Mormons believed in Joseph Smith as our god. after the lesson he told us when ever preachers or teacher comes to the house he always tells them hes busy or hes about to left, but for some reason with us he felt comfortable to talk with us. I think I know what this reason is haha. Its because what we teach and do is true and the lord guides the meek and lowly of heart to the truth.

Happy birthday to all who had birthdays! charlie, em and Kim! and anyone else! Its wild to think how everyone is growing up so fast!
I hope you all have a fantastic week, where ever you are!
I love you all so terribly much!

Elder Peine

(sorry about the spelling and lack of pronunciation, this keyboard is a little crazy, and my English might be too)
jord thanks for the vid!

The real deal Peruvian wear!

Mexican wildlife, okay I guess not too wild, but still fun

brother Gustavo when we had our family history night activity

Ward mission leader Ivan and my companion elder Rojas and I

some artifacts family Felix brought (well the plastic laptop isn't ancient, but it was to demonstrate how we do family research)

Another note from Mexico :) July 2, 2012

Hey Fam! How are you all doing! Just a quick note today.

I would just like to talk about infinite love. A woman in sacrament meeting bore her sweet and simple testimony yesterday solely based in the infinite love that our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ have for us. I could tell and feel that she really felt this love.  I just thought of the infinite love, just an everlasting feeling of joy and compassion, that is available to each and every one of us. I thought about how much the world needs the love of the Savior and the peace from the Atonement of Jesus Christ. This woman who bore her testimony doesn't have the easiest life in the world but through it all has the humility and ability to seek and feel this infinite love.  I remember a talk that some gave in the Missionary Training Center who spoke about love and I remember drawing a picture of a hammer breaking a dam that was holding back a our love haha. DON'T HOLD LOVE BACK! I wrote in great giant letters. haha and why not, what do we have to loose? I just want to express my gratitude and my love for each one of my family members and friends. You are all greater than you think you are and I love you so terribly much.

I witnessed miracles yesterday as 6 investigators came to church, solely because their neighbors and family members reached out to them with a loving invitation.

Take care, I'm sure your all doing great! Hope the travels are all going well!

Love,

Elder Peine

Testimony in English of one of the members that he wrote in Preach My Gospel that we pass around to the youth.

  

Since my name in Spanish is Elder Comb, this is what happens sometimes

Richard, Jonathan, and I :) some members

Stake Conference- June 25, 2012

Thank you for all of the love and support I receive from each of you. I have certainly felt it and am terribly grateful to have have been so blessed. So many things happen in one weeks time I don't even know where to begin. But I just want to thank you all for being there for me.

Stake Conference here was incredible. We enjoyed the company of two of the 70s who came to visit the area. Their love, joy, and passion for the Gospel had a sense of excitement and enthusiasm that made me want to head out and teach right then and there! I would love to just tell you everything they said but I don't have time. But I can tell you how wonderful I felt to be in a place where I could feel such a calm and peace. I thoroughly believe that it is because the messages I heard where not only given by men, but inspired by God. Messages centered on Faith, the family, of the priesthood, of love and respect. It was a memorable experience and I will never forget the love they portrayed for the people and the manner of great reverence in which they conducted themselves. 

We visited a less active member named David who recently came to Church for the first time in a while. He told us about his life and about how he used to be a big time drinker. Right now, hes been drink free for 4 years. He told us how one of his neighbors asked him how he quit drinking (because he wanted to quit to). David responded, neighbor Ive made a friend, and through him I have quite drinking. His neighbour curiously replied, well tell me who your friend is then, Id love to meet him! David replied, neighbor his name is Jesus Christ. He is my best friend. While sharing this experience, tears began to form and David told us about how much he loved the Lord and how much He his blessed him during his life. David lives humbly with son and does the best he can to provide for the both of them. It touches me to know how much the Lord cares about every single one of us. It doesn't matter who we are or where we live. He cares and provides help for those that seek Him. I know that He loves me so very much and am so thankful to have been given the opportunity to serve, for I have been served far beyond comprehension.

Take care everyone, I love you all,

Elder Peine

Ward Talent Night

An investigator decided to share his talent, what a singer! :)

View from our front door

A less active member named Angel that came with us to Stake Conference