4 Days Left (January 22, 2020)

My time in the CCM is rapidly dwindling and I've never been more excited and fearful of the coming week. Not only will I be leaving the home I've had for the past month but also my companion, district, and everyone I've met here. Within a week pretty much everything that could change will, and I am absolutely stoked, if you'll pardon the slang. 

I'd like to clarify. The CCM has been an amazing experience for me, and I don't know if I would have made it going straight into a mission. As hilarious as it sounds, the CCM was a way to ease into the logistics of Peru, before we are immersed in the culture. I don't know exactly what to expect, because my mission, Lima Sur, is one of the largest missions in Peru, so I could be going to mountains, coastal regions, deserts, small jungles, or I could be driving just 20 minutes to a different part of the city. Who knows, other than the president. I will be sure to write an in depth email about what is different. 

Tomorrow, Elder Holland is coming to speak at the Peru MTC. Take that Provo (lo siento). It apparently will also be broadcast to some of the other MTC's around the world, what a cool opportunity. I know not what he is going to talk about, call us to repentance for something or who knows what else, but what an amazing blessing to be taught by an Apostle of the Lord so close to leaving for the official mission. It will be a highlight of my own mission. 

I wanted to talk mostly today about our second opportunity to leave the MTC, where me and my companion were paired with Elder Tenney in the area of Tupac. This experience was vastly different than my past experience outside the CCM, and it reignited the desire to be a missionary and to work through difficult things. Elder Tenney has been on his mission for 20 months, and speaks amazing spanish (what do I know) and has a completely different approach to contacting people. A bit more about the area we were in, specifically Tupac. In the part of the city we were contacting  there are really two parts, the city and "The Hill". The relation between the two is that the city is a flattish valley where the jobs are, and "The Hill" is government issued housing and is where all the less fortunate live. These houses are scattered amongst many different piles of dust called mountains. We were in the towns surrounding the city for most of the day, but Elder Tenney wanted us to see the difference between the city and the hill, so we made the climb to one of the taller mountains and eventually found a spot where you could see the entirety of the city. Elder Tenney pointed out a mall, which is actually the largest in Peru, that just opened about two months ago, and then told us to turn around and look at all the casitas, where the people live. It was a sobering experience for me, seeing what indulgence was almost mocking the lifestyle of the people. 

A little about the towns here. Dogs. Many different dogs of all types. If PETA was ever to glimpse the streets of Peru they would faint. Our companion advised us to always carry our Book of Mormons in our hands a certain way, so as to defend against any particularly vicious animals. I wouldn't doubt animosity from some of the pigeons here as well, they are the size of chickens. 

The streets here are either dirt, dirty, or a lot of both. The trash system here is you throw garbage in piles and at night, trucks hopefully come by and take it, but some of the roads here are pretty much hiking paths, and probably haven't seen a garbage truck in months. You have to watch your step or you may have to burn your shoes.

Logistics aside, the people in the area were much more open to the gospel and this really helped me to gain confidence in talking to other people. Even though I can hold a conversation right now, I know that I can only progress as long as I continue to study and devote time to focus on the most important things. 

I am limited in time to say everything that I could, but most importantly I want to say that I am making it a goal of mine to continue to perseverar hasta el fin. I would challenge everyone to do the same.

Sincerely,

The "in"Peru"ving missionary