Monday, December 26, 2011
Monday December 26, 2011
Hola Familia,
man does that hour fly by, and seemed to go faster with skype. i cant believe how much each of you have changed not just the kids but the adults too. but my family is still as amazing as i left it. (and goofy but that just helps the amazingness)
I am currently in a internet with a very slow connection. every word i write takes about 5 seconds to apear on the screen. but hey atleast the internet is working.
we had a interesting week this week. alot of drama with the sister missionaries and sometime i wish my sister crystal could come and teach them a thing or two about working in the mission. we actually had president tell us at zone conference that he was fed up with complaints and excuses. he told us that his christmas wish was that we would stop crying about every little thing that happens to us and just work harder. man how i respect this man. i have been thinking the same thing alot lattely and it seems to be working. whenever i have a problem i find that the solution is work and it is nice to see that president feels the same.
homesick = work
physicaly sick = work
unexcited = work
no success = get off your bum and work
he stuck some deep cords with everyone of us. he finished by reading a scripture an i just wish i knew where it was, but it said, the things i have said shouldnt hurt if you are doing what you should be doing. i am happy to say that neither me or my companion were hurt by what president said, but we had a new and refreshed desire to work.
well as you know today is transfers, i dont think i am going anywhere but unfortunatly elder quintero has 9 months in this area so it is almost certain that he is leaving. so if i have a new companion pray that he has the same desire to work as Elder Quintero did and i will be a happy fish.
i love you all and remember i am working as hard as i can.
Elder Landon R. Welch
p.s. i recieved a message from Gaby!!!!!!!! (the baptism that escaped my hands) and she told me that she was in touch with the italian missionaries and that she is about ready to choke them because they have yet to challange her to be baptised :) (ROOKIES) :) but at least my mind is now at ease it will be interesting to see what becomes of that powerful girl
p.s.s. i recieved your package meg!!!! and that i have yet to open it but i am sure i will love it. every second.
chao!!
Monday, December 19, 2011
Monday December 19, 2011
Hola Familia!!!
well i have just finished creating my skype account also and i am a little worried, i have no idea how to use skype and for that i am a little worried. and to make things harder it was all in spanish, i tried changing it to english but it simply told me that "the feature was unavailable in peru." but we got it figured out and i have my computer wiz companion to help me out so it is serious when i say SEE you next week!!!!
but how has your week been? ours has been hectic. i always thought that the US was hectic with christmas but now i know that peruvians are 10 times crazier than the craziest gringo. the have parties to celebrate their parties!! and that isnt a joke. our neighbor has just bought a sterio for 3000 dollars and for the last 3 nights has be testing the sound barier. and all i can think is that his sterio cost more than his house. they do chocolatadas for all the kids in the neighbor hood, but i think they just do it so the parents have another excuse to get together and drink. but the awesome part about this season is that everyone seems to be a little bit nicer, and more willing to listen. we have found some great new people to teach this week and that alone has made all the bad parts worth it.
another interesting thing happend this last week. we were able to divide our ward. before we were part of the Tungasuca Ward but now we are our own ward, working for our own success. but with that has come new waves of stress. the bishop is a new bishop and very young. he doesnt have very much experience running a ward but he is 100 percent focused on helping us out and for that fact alone i am sure we are going to have some great success.
this saturday we had another baptism, Carlos Alberto Chanta Vargas got baptised. and to be honest i wasnt sure he was prepared to be baptised. but he passed his interview and after he was baptised he had a moment to talk and express how he felt, and all my doubts went away. he expressed how happy he was to "be part of the family" and for the oportunity he had to start a new life. he really is a good guy and i am sure with a little time he will become a great leader in the church. but that depends on him and how well he remembers the change he has made.
I have some good news and some bad news. . . . the good news is i got some of my packages!! but the bad news is that they are both from christmas and not from my birthday. i am not sure what that means. . . i will talk to president tomorrow in our multi zone conference to see if he has any idea what is going on. and speaking of packages i also sent a package home about 2 months ago, (maybe more i cant really remember) have you seen it yet?
i am running low on contacts and contact solution, and yes i dont have a choice if i want to use contacts or glasses, because my glasses give me pounding head aches.
how is the weather up there? any snow yet? how much? and has anyone gone snowboarding for me yet? :) the weather here is getting hotter and hotter and now the humidity has started raising too. i remember going to the gym at 5 in the morning with carrie about this time of year, having to scrape the ice off her windshield. and then how we would freeze the whole ride up there because the heater wouldnt get warm fast enough. now ahhhh what i would give to lay down in the freezing snow. or go to work with mom and spend a few minutes in her walk in frige. (i am not sure if that is exactly sanitary so dont tell pam) :)
well i love you all and i hope you remember i am working as hard as i can
Elder Landon R. Welch
well i have just finished creating my skype account also and i am a little worried, i have no idea how to use skype and for that i am a little worried. and to make things harder it was all in spanish, i tried changing it to english but it simply told me that "the feature was unavailable in peru." but we got it figured out and i have my computer wiz companion to help me out so it is serious when i say SEE you next week!!!!
but how has your week been? ours has been hectic. i always thought that the US was hectic with christmas but now i know that peruvians are 10 times crazier than the craziest gringo. the have parties to celebrate their parties!! and that isnt a joke. our neighbor has just bought a sterio for 3000 dollars and for the last 3 nights has be testing the sound barier. and all i can think is that his sterio cost more than his house. they do chocolatadas for all the kids in the neighbor hood, but i think they just do it so the parents have another excuse to get together and drink. but the awesome part about this season is that everyone seems to be a little bit nicer, and more willing to listen. we have found some great new people to teach this week and that alone has made all the bad parts worth it.
another interesting thing happend this last week. we were able to divide our ward. before we were part of the Tungasuca Ward but now we are our own ward, working for our own success. but with that has come new waves of stress. the bishop is a new bishop and very young. he doesnt have very much experience running a ward but he is 100 percent focused on helping us out and for that fact alone i am sure we are going to have some great success.
this saturday we had another baptism, Carlos Alberto Chanta Vargas got baptised. and to be honest i wasnt sure he was prepared to be baptised. but he passed his interview and after he was baptised he had a moment to talk and express how he felt, and all my doubts went away. he expressed how happy he was to "be part of the family" and for the oportunity he had to start a new life. he really is a good guy and i am sure with a little time he will become a great leader in the church. but that depends on him and how well he remembers the change he has made.
I have some good news and some bad news. . . . the good news is i got some of my packages!! but the bad news is that they are both from christmas and not from my birthday. i am not sure what that means. . . i will talk to president tomorrow in our multi zone conference to see if he has any idea what is going on. and speaking of packages i also sent a package home about 2 months ago, (maybe more i cant really remember) have you seen it yet?
i am running low on contacts and contact solution, and yes i dont have a choice if i want to use contacts or glasses, because my glasses give me pounding head aches.
how is the weather up there? any snow yet? how much? and has anyone gone snowboarding for me yet? :) the weather here is getting hotter and hotter and now the humidity has started raising too. i remember going to the gym at 5 in the morning with carrie about this time of year, having to scrape the ice off her windshield. and then how we would freeze the whole ride up there because the heater wouldnt get warm fast enough. now ahhhh what i would give to lay down in the freezing snow. or go to work with mom and spend a few minutes in her walk in frige. (i am not sure if that is exactly sanitary so dont tell pam) :)
well i love you all and i hope you remember i am working as hard as i can
Elder Landon R. Welch
Feliz navidad
Hello to everyone
i send my love and holiday greetings to all my family and friends. and also to their family and friends. i truly am grateful for the role you have all played in my life and the life of my family. to all the work friends of my mom there at davis county school food, and to the thousands of people my dad has known, helped, and loved. to my buds, kyle and daniel where ever you are i hope your chistmas is as good as mine. and of course to kevin and chris hope that the gym has not collapsed on your heads and that you both have a happy christmas.
to chad, monica, amy, crystal, kirsten, carrie and all of your amazing families. to april, jaydee, greg, brett, and jerm-y thank you for making my brother and sisters so happy. i could not ask for a better family. and Grant you are extra special to me this christmas season because like me you are far away from home, and family. thank you for protecting our country this time of year. i know now more than ever that we really are the land of the free and the home of the brave but only thanks to amazing men and women like you. know that i love each and everyone of you.
to my litte buddies, heaven only know how much i miss you all. but i sure hope you know how much i love you all.
and to my amazing parents, all i can say is thank you. there is not a day that goes by that i remember a counsel you have given me that i took for granted before but am now (i hope) a little wiser and mature. i love you both i am who i am because of you two. and everything i am trying to become is because of the example you have given me
i love you all and hope your christmas and new year pass as good as mine will.
your son, brother, uncle, friend, but most important in this moment, Missionary
Elder Landon R. Welch
i send my love and holiday greetings to all my family and friends. and also to their family and friends. i truly am grateful for the role you have all played in my life and the life of my family. to all the work friends of my mom there at davis county school food, and to the thousands of people my dad has known, helped, and loved. to my buds, kyle and daniel where ever you are i hope your chistmas is as good as mine. and of course to kevin and chris hope that the gym has not collapsed on your heads and that you both have a happy christmas.
to chad, monica, amy, crystal, kirsten, carrie and all of your amazing families. to april, jaydee, greg, brett, and jerm-y thank you for making my brother and sisters so happy. i could not ask for a better family. and Grant you are extra special to me this christmas season because like me you are far away from home, and family. thank you for protecting our country this time of year. i know now more than ever that we really are the land of the free and the home of the brave but only thanks to amazing men and women like you. know that i love each and everyone of you.
to my litte buddies, heaven only know how much i miss you all. but i sure hope you know how much i love you all.
and to my amazing parents, all i can say is thank you. there is not a day that goes by that i remember a counsel you have given me that i took for granted before but am now (i hope) a little wiser and mature. i love you both i am who i am because of you two. and everything i am trying to become is because of the example you have given me
i love you all and hope your christmas and new year pass as good as mine will.
your son, brother, uncle, friend, but most important in this moment, Missionary
Elder Landon R. Welch
Monday, December 12, 2011
Monday December 12, 2011
Hola familia!!!
how has your week been? mine has been a week full of work and stress but in the end as you said mom, "it was worth it." Ada Cruz Serafin Venancio was baptised this saturday and baptisms are always where i remember why all the work and stress is necessary. i always have such a good feeling when they come out of the water a new person, and then with the baptism of fire i know that they have everything they need to have a happy life. i just hope we taught it well enough that she never forgets the feeling that she felt. but along with baptisms being the most beautiful they are also the time where Satan works his hardest.
i love to see my area progressing and it is. . . a lot. we have more people progressing than i have had in my entire mission. we have 4 baptismal dates for the next 3 weeks and are preparing 6 others. we are teaching every type of person. young old family single with problems and others really seem to be gold. it is a amazing.
i was just informed that next week (not sure what day) i will be calling to organize our Christmas call!!! woo hoo. i cant wait to hear your voices again. and the best part is we can use skype. but that is up to you guys. it seems like forever since i got to call home on mothers day. but then at the same time it seems just like yesterday. i cant decide if time is flying or not. when i was in the MTC and Arizona it seems like i was calling every other weekend. so i guess 6 months should seem like a long time. but i need a favor, what number should i call
the fruit is juicy and sweet as ever and the best part is . . . it is cheap. you can buy a full pineapple for 1 sol. (cents) or 6 Mandarin oranges for the same price. and the strawberries have just come into season and the are as big as my fist. my pensionista knows how much i love the fruit here so she always has something for me to take with me in the afternoon. walking in the street eating a mango with juice running down my chin, reminds me of all the peaches that used to do the same. that is one fruit here that i am not to fond of is the peaches, they are tiny. i have eaten some fruit here that i have never seen before. there is one called pepeñio and it almost has the taste of bubblegum.
it is kinda weird Christmas is just right around the corner but it doesn't feel like Christmas. i try and imagine how home looks with its fresh snow but i cant anymore, Especially with the wind damage that has just happened, I am just grateful that no one is hurt. it is hard to imagine Christmas when i am always so hot, i am even sweating during lessons. i remember when chad told be that he bought ice cream on Christmas i was so amazed. i didn't even think that was allowed. and now all i have to say i just might have to carry on the tradition.
it seems exactly the opposite of what Christmas should be, but at the same time i am happy. i am happy that i have this opportunity to cry the good news of Jesus Christ his birth, his death, his Resurrection, and of course his love for every one of us. there is nothing better i could be doing during Christmas then what i am doing right now.
i love you all and please remember i am working as hard as i possible can.
Elder Landon R. Welch
p.s. still no news on packages, or letters. i will see president on the 20th and i will try to ask him personaly, because i am not sure my questions get to him through the Zone Leaders.
how has your week been? mine has been a week full of work and stress but in the end as you said mom, "it was worth it." Ada Cruz Serafin Venancio was baptised this saturday and baptisms are always where i remember why all the work and stress is necessary. i always have such a good feeling when they come out of the water a new person, and then with the baptism of fire i know that they have everything they need to have a happy life. i just hope we taught it well enough that she never forgets the feeling that she felt. but along with baptisms being the most beautiful they are also the time where Satan works his hardest.
i love to see my area progressing and it is. . . a lot. we have more people progressing than i have had in my entire mission. we have 4 baptismal dates for the next 3 weeks and are preparing 6 others. we are teaching every type of person. young old family single with problems and others really seem to be gold. it is a amazing.
i was just informed that next week (not sure what day) i will be calling to organize our Christmas call!!! woo hoo. i cant wait to hear your voices again. and the best part is we can use skype. but that is up to you guys. it seems like forever since i got to call home on mothers day. but then at the same time it seems just like yesterday. i cant decide if time is flying or not. when i was in the MTC and Arizona it seems like i was calling every other weekend. so i guess 6 months should seem like a long time. but i need a favor, what number should i call
the fruit is juicy and sweet as ever and the best part is . . . it is cheap. you can buy a full pineapple for 1 sol. (cents) or 6 Mandarin oranges for the same price. and the strawberries have just come into season and the are as big as my fist. my pensionista knows how much i love the fruit here so she always has something for me to take with me in the afternoon. walking in the street eating a mango with juice running down my chin, reminds me of all the peaches that used to do the same. that is one fruit here that i am not to fond of is the peaches, they are tiny. i have eaten some fruit here that i have never seen before. there is one called pepeñio and it almost has the taste of bubblegum.
it is kinda weird Christmas is just right around the corner but it doesn't feel like Christmas. i try and imagine how home looks with its fresh snow but i cant anymore, Especially with the wind damage that has just happened, I am just grateful that no one is hurt. it is hard to imagine Christmas when i am always so hot, i am even sweating during lessons. i remember when chad told be that he bought ice cream on Christmas i was so amazed. i didn't even think that was allowed. and now all i have to say i just might have to carry on the tradition.
it seems exactly the opposite of what Christmas should be, but at the same time i am happy. i am happy that i have this opportunity to cry the good news of Jesus Christ his birth, his death, his Resurrection, and of course his love for every one of us. there is nothing better i could be doing during Christmas then what i am doing right now.
i love you all and please remember i am working as hard as i possible can.
Elder Landon R. Welch
p.s. still no news on packages, or letters. i will see president on the 20th and i will try to ask him personaly, because i am not sure my questions get to him through the Zone Leaders.
Monday, December 05, 2011
Monday December 5, 2011
Hola Familia!!!!
You were right the internet in my area is suffering. there is hardly any signal and then on top of that put 14 missionaries in the same room and you have a mess. but we got everything straightened out and we shouldnt have any more trouble.
how has your week(S) been mine seem to be improving i dug myself out of my sour patch and have begun all over again. fresh start and it seem to be working, we have found some pretty amazing people over the past few weeks and there is nothing i love more than to see them progresing.
i have still yet to recieve any package or letters but i keep my hopes up that one day it will make it to my hands, and just know that i am very greatful for your packages and letters. little pieces of home that i seem to be missing alot this time of year.
we were able to watch the devotional yesterday and like always my eyes teared up while the choir sang. llike my mom i think i feel the spirit alot through the music. but the best part is hearing the peruvians trying to sing along in english, they butcher it but the message is stronger than ever. the lord loves all his brothers and sisters.
well i love you all and always remember i am working as hard as i can.
Elder Landon R. Welch
You were right the internet in my area is suffering. there is hardly any signal and then on top of that put 14 missionaries in the same room and you have a mess. but we got everything straightened out and we shouldnt have any more trouble.
how has your week(S) been mine seem to be improving i dug myself out of my sour patch and have begun all over again. fresh start and it seem to be working, we have found some pretty amazing people over the past few weeks and there is nothing i love more than to see them progresing.
i have still yet to recieve any package or letters but i keep my hopes up that one day it will make it to my hands, and just know that i am very greatful for your packages and letters. little pieces of home that i seem to be missing alot this time of year.
we were able to watch the devotional yesterday and like always my eyes teared up while the choir sang. llike my mom i think i feel the spirit alot through the music. but the best part is hearing the peruvians trying to sing along in english, they butcher it but the message is stronger than ever. the lord loves all his brothers and sisters.
well i love you all and always remember i am working as hard as i can.
Elder Landon R. Welch
Friday, December 02, 2011
Monday November 21, 2011
hola familia!!!
i am doing better thank you for the words that i needed.
i had a wonderful surprise for my birthday yesterday, my first pensionista, (from lampa de oro) surprised me by coming to my church with all my friends from that area. after church we went in to a little room and they sang to me and gave me a cake it was exactly what i needed to pick my spirits up.
we also had another interesting experience this week. we went to church with one of our investigators. he promised that if we went with him he would come with us. well we went and the lesson was on "look out for false prophets" about half way through the sermon the pastor put some pictures on the slide projector, of supposedly false prophets there was pictures of jehovas witnesses, christian missionaries, and of course 2 LDS missionaries. the picture came up on the screen and the congragation groaned and said more jehovas witnesses. the pastor corrected them and told the "no these are the mormons," the room went silent for a minute and i was on the edge of my seat ready to run for my life. when a little old lady said in a frail voice. "i like those young men they always are willing to listen to me and help me. they cant be that bad if they are so christlike." haha the pastor wasnt sure how to respond but i settled back in my chair with a huge lump in my throat. man i am so greatful to be known as a member of the church that is christlike.
i love you all sorry this email is so short but just know i am working as hard as i can.
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