Hola Familia,
Wow, it sounds like it was quite and interesting week. I am sad to hear that Kyle and Megan didn't win the contest. I really wanted them to win so that they could bring me back to Peru for free. I hope they find out that the other people cheated. Mom's class seems like they still haven't gotten any better after 3/4 of the year has passed. That is really cool about Colten and Taylor. They must be really lucky to have a companion from basically the same ward. That is the first time I have ever seen that happen.
I had a pretty good week. Jose Luis and Saul were both baptized. They were both really well prepared and understood the significance of what they were doing. Jose Luis has lived a rougher life and has made quite a few mistakes in his life. He was so excited to be baptized so all his sins would be washed away. The baptism service was really nice and a lot of people came. There whole family is becoming members of the church. It all started with Omar and Carla and they have introduced us to all their family. One by one they have all been getting baptized. That family is the best.
As zone leaders, we try and do at least 2 but usually 3 work visits (splits) for 24 hours each week. We trade off on every single visit. I am normally in my area just 5 days each week. It is a lot different from just being a regular missionary. We are going to the other areas so we can see how well they are doing. We judge how well they teach and we try and get to know the people they have to get baptized. We also go with them to some of the harder lessons. For example, this week I went with an elder to his area so we could convince a family to get married and get all the papers to start the process. A lot of times missionaries are scared to be straight forward and to say the things the way they are. We go to the lessons so that we can say and do those things so they can have success in their areas. It can be hard at times but it is also really fun because I have gotten to know a bunch of new people and new places. We also figured out a calling schedule. It is working a little better but is still not perfect. If we call someone and they aren't ready, it throws the whole schedule off.
The church is part of my area. I also live right by the church. If you go down the side of the church, not the side by the soccer field, you will see a metal spiral staircase. I go up that staircase and live in the fourth floor. Now you know where I live. Our area is pretty flat. We only work in about a 5 block radius because that is where all the converts are. They give us references to their neighbors and bring them to church. After everyone in those 5 blocks are baptized we will start to expand our area.
We should have a baptism this Saturday. Her name is Estela. Her brother and sister in law are both recent converts. She really wants to get baptized. She is 17 and needs her mom's permission. Her mom said no and she started to cry. Afterward her brother called their mom and talked to her. We are going to go by tonight and see how it went. Something always happens to try and stop the baptisms but nothing too big that will hold us back.
Stake conference was this week. The conference was really good but every time there is conference it is hard to get investigators to church. We ended up only having three. Estela, Fatima, and her son Reuben. We are hoping that next week goes better for us and the whole zone. It was still a successfull week for us though.
Les quiero,
Elder Isaacson
Monday, February 22, 2016
Monday, February 15, 2016
February 15, 2016
Hola Familia,
Well, I hope you had a great valentines day. I know I did. It didn't even feel like Valentines day. I was super busy. Well I would like to tell you a little bit about my new area, new comp, and new responsibilities. First off, the church you found online is not my ward, it is kind of close though. I am serving in the Mariátegui ward in the Wiesse Stake. To start off, I love this ward and my area. In the last year there have been 38 converts here. They have married and baptized about 8 families in the last year too. It is a literal gold mine of investigators. All of these converts help us out a ton too. They come out teaching with us and present us to their family and friends. We recieved close around 25 references this week and had about 20 new investigators. That is a new record for me. They also helped us get people out to church. We had 11, basically 12, investigators in church. We will have two baptisms next week. They are Omar's (recent converts) brothers in law. They are really cool. Omar and his whole family have always been involved in gang activity but now they are all cleaning up their lives and coming to church. We also got a cool reference to a new family. They are named Felipe and Fatima. Their whole family came to church but Felipe got their late so that's why we only had 11 not 12. We are going to work with them so they can get married and baptized in March. We are working with another family in the same situation. Their names are Cesar and Yohana. My comp went on a work visit this week and I stayed alone in my area. I had just two days in the area. I was amazed that I already new the area. It went really well. Our area is pretty big but we only work in a small part because that is where all our success is coming from.
I am getting along great with my new companion. Elder Nielson is teaching me how to be a zone leader. He has changed a lot since the start of the mission. He is one of my best comps. It is a little weird to be with an elder with experience though. I have been training so long that I don't remember what it was like to teach with someone who knows what he is doing. It is also weird to be with a gringo who speaks english. We speak a lot of english and I hope it doesn't destroy my spanish. I don't think it will though because we are always speaking spanish in the streets and lessons.
As zone leader I have a lot more responsibilities. We are in charge of 20 missionaries. First off, we have to make sure they are working and doing it well. Every night we have to verify about the people that have a baptismal date and then something else. We have been getting to bed pretty late. The earliest has been about 11:30 but it is usually past midnight. We are going to create a calling schedule so that we can get to bed earlier. We also have to do a weekly training, help get the families married, do interviews, get to know every person who is going to be baptized, plan p-days, fill out the information for the asistants and presidents, do work visits, help the areas that are struggling, and a lot of other things that I can't remember or am to lazy to list right now.
I just reread your letter again. That is great about all the scholarship offers for Kenzie. Hard studies pay off. Has she thought about serving a mission? Also, my new comp is from Arizona. The changes are on June 21 and so I will be getting home that day. Normally, I would be flying out June 20 at 11 at night and will get there at about noon. I should be getting flight information within one or two months. 4 months are still a long time away. I am not to worried about it.
I hope Kyle wins the contest. I voted for him. You should have all your school students vote for him. That would help him out.
To let you know, I did get my package. Thanks for all the candy, and don't worry, I am sharing it. I am going to miss my old area but I am glad that I came to one that is already built up.
Les extaño,
Elder Isaacson
Well, I hope you had a great valentines day. I know I did. It didn't even feel like Valentines day. I was super busy. Well I would like to tell you a little bit about my new area, new comp, and new responsibilities. First off, the church you found online is not my ward, it is kind of close though. I am serving in the Mariátegui ward in the Wiesse Stake. To start off, I love this ward and my area. In the last year there have been 38 converts here. They have married and baptized about 8 families in the last year too. It is a literal gold mine of investigators. All of these converts help us out a ton too. They come out teaching with us and present us to their family and friends. We recieved close around 25 references this week and had about 20 new investigators. That is a new record for me. They also helped us get people out to church. We had 11, basically 12, investigators in church. We will have two baptisms next week. They are Omar's (recent converts) brothers in law. They are really cool. Omar and his whole family have always been involved in gang activity but now they are all cleaning up their lives and coming to church. We also got a cool reference to a new family. They are named Felipe and Fatima. Their whole family came to church but Felipe got their late so that's why we only had 11 not 12. We are going to work with them so they can get married and baptized in March. We are working with another family in the same situation. Their names are Cesar and Yohana. My comp went on a work visit this week and I stayed alone in my area. I had just two days in the area. I was amazed that I already new the area. It went really well. Our area is pretty big but we only work in a small part because that is where all our success is coming from.
I am getting along great with my new companion. Elder Nielson is teaching me how to be a zone leader. He has changed a lot since the start of the mission. He is one of my best comps. It is a little weird to be with an elder with experience though. I have been training so long that I don't remember what it was like to teach with someone who knows what he is doing. It is also weird to be with a gringo who speaks english. We speak a lot of english and I hope it doesn't destroy my spanish. I don't think it will though because we are always speaking spanish in the streets and lessons.
As zone leader I have a lot more responsibilities. We are in charge of 20 missionaries. First off, we have to make sure they are working and doing it well. Every night we have to verify about the people that have a baptismal date and then something else. We have been getting to bed pretty late. The earliest has been about 11:30 but it is usually past midnight. We are going to create a calling schedule so that we can get to bed earlier. We also have to do a weekly training, help get the families married, do interviews, get to know every person who is going to be baptized, plan p-days, fill out the information for the asistants and presidents, do work visits, help the areas that are struggling, and a lot of other things that I can't remember or am to lazy to list right now.
I just reread your letter again. That is great about all the scholarship offers for Kenzie. Hard studies pay off. Has she thought about serving a mission? Also, my new comp is from Arizona. The changes are on June 21 and so I will be getting home that day. Normally, I would be flying out June 20 at 11 at night and will get there at about noon. I should be getting flight information within one or two months. 4 months are still a long time away. I am not to worried about it.
I hope Kyle wins the contest. I voted for him. You should have all your school students vote for him. That would help him out.
To let you know, I did get my package. Thanks for all the candy, and don't worry, I am sharing it. I am going to miss my old area but I am glad that I came to one that is already built up.
Les extaño,
Elder Isaacson
Monday, February 8, 2016
February 8, 2016
Hola Familia,
I am glad the Broncos won, I wanted them to win. It sounds like everyone is pretty busy. I am not going to comment much on your letter because I have a ton to write, so, here we go...
To start off the week, on p-day, we went and ate pacha manca. it is sort of like hobo dinners, but even better. You cook them on top of hot rocks. We ate chicken, pig, and lamb. I think the lamb was my favorite. Afterwards we were watching a movie downstairs in the members house as a zone and I realized that my comp wasn't there and 2 other elders weren't there either. They had stayed upstairs and started playing in a blow up swimming pool. The zl's found out and all of us had to go to interviews the next day with president. He didn't say anything to me.
Now for the big news... We got the phone call last night about transfers. I will be going to wiesse (Pronounced vee-say). It is the other extreme of the mission. It is in San Juan de Luriguancho. It is the farthest point away from the offices. But that isn't the most crazy part. President told me that I am going to be Zone leader. AWWWW. I am not ready. I have only ever been district leader one change. I have no idea what I will be doing. I will be with Elder Nielsen from my group. He was the one that kind of annoyed me in the MtC but he has changed a lot and is really cool. I am excited to be his comp and to be with a Gringo for a change. I am still really nervouse though to have to take care of an entire zone and not just my area.
The next big news... Yuliana was baptized this week with her 8 year old sister Ariana. We had reactivated her family and the two daughters weren't baptized. Their uncle was going to baptize both of them. Ariana went first and got scared and wouldn't let anyone baptize her. She then said that I baptize her. I had brought clothes just in case and ran and changed. She still wouldn't be baptized. Then her sister got in and with a little encouragement her uncle baptized her. That helped Ariana a little bit but she still wouldn't be baptized. We finally left the water after being in the water for about two and a half hours. I started to change when they told me that Ariana had changed her mind. I talked with her parents and asked if it was ok if I basically just tackled her into the water. They said it was fine. As I held her off her feet in my arms I said the prayer as she was kicking and screaming. As I said amen, I tackled her into the water. She came out and screamed. Afterwards I asked if she was mad and she said no and gave me a big hug. It was one of the craziest baptisms ever.
Oh, I also forgot to tell you that we had five investigators this week in church. Whoever is taking my place is super lucky. We have a baptism on Saturday, I was going to baptize her but now I won't be able to. We also have a baptism set up for February 20 too. There is a lot of potential here and the new elders should have some success.
That is all for my crazy week. Today I will be running around saying goodbye to everyone and leaving them photos and my information so we can stay in contact.
Love you lots,
Elder Isaacson
I am glad the Broncos won, I wanted them to win. It sounds like everyone is pretty busy. I am not going to comment much on your letter because I have a ton to write, so, here we go...
To start off the week, on p-day, we went and ate pacha manca. it is sort of like hobo dinners, but even better. You cook them on top of hot rocks. We ate chicken, pig, and lamb. I think the lamb was my favorite. Afterwards we were watching a movie downstairs in the members house as a zone and I realized that my comp wasn't there and 2 other elders weren't there either. They had stayed upstairs and started playing in a blow up swimming pool. The zl's found out and all of us had to go to interviews the next day with president. He didn't say anything to me.
Now for the big news... We got the phone call last night about transfers. I will be going to wiesse (Pronounced vee-say). It is the other extreme of the mission. It is in San Juan de Luriguancho. It is the farthest point away from the offices. But that isn't the most crazy part. President told me that I am going to be Zone leader. AWWWW. I am not ready. I have only ever been district leader one change. I have no idea what I will be doing. I will be with Elder Nielsen from my group. He was the one that kind of annoyed me in the MtC but he has changed a lot and is really cool. I am excited to be his comp and to be with a Gringo for a change. I am still really nervouse though to have to take care of an entire zone and not just my area.
The next big news... Yuliana was baptized this week with her 8 year old sister Ariana. We had reactivated her family and the two daughters weren't baptized. Their uncle was going to baptize both of them. Ariana went first and got scared and wouldn't let anyone baptize her. She then said that I baptize her. I had brought clothes just in case and ran and changed. She still wouldn't be baptized. Then her sister got in and with a little encouragement her uncle baptized her. That helped Ariana a little bit but she still wouldn't be baptized. We finally left the water after being in the water for about two and a half hours. I started to change when they told me that Ariana had changed her mind. I talked with her parents and asked if it was ok if I basically just tackled her into the water. They said it was fine. As I held her off her feet in my arms I said the prayer as she was kicking and screaming. As I said amen, I tackled her into the water. She came out and screamed. Afterwards I asked if she was mad and she said no and gave me a big hug. It was one of the craziest baptisms ever.
Oh, I also forgot to tell you that we had five investigators this week in church. Whoever is taking my place is super lucky. We have a baptism on Saturday, I was going to baptize her but now I won't be able to. We also have a baptism set up for February 20 too. There is a lot of potential here and the new elders should have some success.
That is all for my crazy week. Today I will be running around saying goodbye to everyone and leaving them photos and my information so we can stay in contact.
Love you lots,
Elder Isaacson
Wednesday, February 3, 2016
February 1, 2016
Hola Familia,
I am not quite sure either how my leg just got bruised. Maybe I just have really thick skin on my calf. This dog didn't have rabbis, because if it did, I would probably be really sick or maybe dead by now. So I am all good because I am not sick and definately not dead.
I can't believe that everyone back home is getting so old. Dex and Kenzie are now 2 years older then they were when I left. That is kind of crazy. I hope they had good birthdays. Wish them happy birthday for me.
I checked out Kyle's video. It is kind of funny but pretty lame. It is better then the rest of the videos though. If he wins the trip, he has to promise to bring me to Peru because I voted for him. It would be a really fun trip to come to Peru.
I will be looking for the package. Next week are transfers and I will probably be going. I have 6 months in this area and I am finishing Sanjuan's training. I only have 3 areas in my entire mission. President personally thanked me this week for turning this area around. He will probably change me and put me in another difficult area to see if I can turn it around. I have learned a lot in this area and there is a lot of potencial but I wouldn't mind a change.
It was our stake conference this week. It was really good and even better because we got 5 people to come. I was nervous that people wouldn't come because the stake center is kind of far. We arranged with members to bring our investigators and it all worked out. We should have a members daughter get baptized this week. She is 10 and has never been baptized. Also, all the references that we got last week are golden. One, Darwin, is way cool. He is 16 and we taught him once. We left a pamphlet of lesson 1. He read the only thing, took notes, and explained it perfectly. We didn't even have to teach the lesson. He should be baptized on February 13 if we can get his baptism permission slip.
The other day I ran into one of my old investigators from Independencia. She told me that she had just been baptized two weeks ago. I felt really good because I contacted her and started the lessons. It makes me wonder who else I have started teaching and planted that seed of faith that has grown and had fruits.
It is really hot here in Lima. I sweat non stop. I would love to see some snow and have it coold down a little bit.
Elder Isaacson
I am not quite sure either how my leg just got bruised. Maybe I just have really thick skin on my calf. This dog didn't have rabbis, because if it did, I would probably be really sick or maybe dead by now. So I am all good because I am not sick and definately not dead.
I can't believe that everyone back home is getting so old. Dex and Kenzie are now 2 years older then they were when I left. That is kind of crazy. I hope they had good birthdays. Wish them happy birthday for me.
I checked out Kyle's video. It is kind of funny but pretty lame. It is better then the rest of the videos though. If he wins the trip, he has to promise to bring me to Peru because I voted for him. It would be a really fun trip to come to Peru.
I will be looking for the package. Next week are transfers and I will probably be going. I have 6 months in this area and I am finishing Sanjuan's training. I only have 3 areas in my entire mission. President personally thanked me this week for turning this area around. He will probably change me and put me in another difficult area to see if I can turn it around. I have learned a lot in this area and there is a lot of potencial but I wouldn't mind a change.
It was our stake conference this week. It was really good and even better because we got 5 people to come. I was nervous that people wouldn't come because the stake center is kind of far. We arranged with members to bring our investigators and it all worked out. We should have a members daughter get baptized this week. She is 10 and has never been baptized. Also, all the references that we got last week are golden. One, Darwin, is way cool. He is 16 and we taught him once. We left a pamphlet of lesson 1. He read the only thing, took notes, and explained it perfectly. We didn't even have to teach the lesson. He should be baptized on February 13 if we can get his baptism permission slip.
The other day I ran into one of my old investigators from Independencia. She told me that she had just been baptized two weeks ago. I felt really good because I contacted her and started the lessons. It makes me wonder who else I have started teaching and planted that seed of faith that has grown and had fruits.
It is really hot here in Lima. I sweat non stop. I would love to see some snow and have it coold down a little bit.
Elder Isaacson
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