Happy New Years to all! 01/07/2013

Well as of yet I still haven’t received any Christmas packages but I heard there is at least one waiting for me in the mission offices and I should be able to receive it this week.
This week was passed by to visit an old investigator (in the fact that shes been listening to missionaries for a long time, shes not that old). We hadn’t been to visit her for about two months and we decided it would be a good time to see how she has been doing. She told us that she has been feeling quite sad lately and that coincidentally the very morning she had said a prayer to help her be guided in the right direction. It was a little miracle that helped her get on her feet again. She came to church this week and really enjoyed it.

In district class we spoke about love and charity. It was a wonderful class and to finish we had several practice teaching circumstances. But this we different than pretending to be teaching investigators, we were to teach other as who we are. So my companion and I taught Elder Restrepo (as Elder Restrepo, from Colombia). We talked about the mission, the difficulties, how we’d like to have things easier, but then we talked about how the Lord is preparing us and guiding us through these experiences so that we can learn and grow. Elder Restrepo has had ups and downs but I love him so much. I shared D and C 64:33 with him (about laying a building a strong foundation) and he looked up at me and smiled. He said he shares this scripture with everyone but had never really applied it to himself. He started to tear up. He thanked us but really it was us who needed to thank him. He is a wonderful hardworking missionary who loves the work and it was a joy to be able to share our appreciation for him.

We visited a referral, a single mother of three kids. She said when she was younger she and her friends had always laughed about the missionaries, but now that she is a bit older has grown a curiosity as to what it was that they taught. We shared about the plan of Salvation with her and we had a great conversation. She thanked us for taking the time to talk with her and found herself surprised to find out that many of our beliefs are similar to hers.

I hope you all find yourselves surprisingly happy. Thank you for all of your prayers and support. We are enjoying our time here in Pemex City and look forward to another 6 weeks here. (Transfers happened today but we are both staying). I'm sorry I can’t send warm weather to those in the cold so bundle up! Stay happy fam! You’re so great!

I love you all!

Elder Peine