Hola Familia!!!
Well as you already said, i got transferred. i am now in the zone Ventanilla, City: Mi Peru, Ward: Arenas, and i am right on the coast. being on the coast you would think that it would be all flat, but it isn't it is a mountain, once again. i was kinda excited when i left Nuevo amanecer and went to a flat area, i thought that my punishment was over, but man was i wrong. my new mountain isn't as tall as nuevo amanecer but it is a lot longer. I'm not sure what is better long or tall. if it is tall you work hard for a few minutes but are really tired when you reach the top, and if it is long you work hard for a few miles but don't finish quite as tired. but either way i am here to teach and help these people, it isn't important how many times i have to climb this stupid hill, i will keep climbing.
my new companions name is Elder Calle, he is from Trujillo, Peru. so once again a different country from the rest of my companions. i had never met him, i hadn't even ever seen him when i heard that he was going to be my new companion, so like all missionaries i start asking around trying to find someone who knows him. . . . no one knew who Elder Calle was. but they all told me the same thing. "he is Peruvian? good luck all Peruvians are very prideful."
and i am happy to say i didn't listen to them. i went to the transfer meeting with a good attitude and began looking for my companion. i soon discovered that he hadn't shown up yet. so transfers start and finish and no sign of elder calle. when they announced that i was going to Ventanilla with Elder Calle i stood up alone, not gonna lie i was kinda sad. but he finally showed up and the first thing he did was give me a huge hug. now Elder Calle is a small kid. he probably weighs about 110 pounds and is about my height but the hug he gave me was huge. all i can say is everyone who told me he is prideful was wrong. he is the most humble missionary i have met, but one of the happiest too. as i am sure you can tell from the pictures. and yes those are his only shoes, and when i saw them i felt bad that i had began to complain about how my shoes were falling apart.
i am very excited for this transfer. the area i am in is a very tough one. the old elder that was here was a chambon and didn't want to work so we are practically starting anew. but elder calle has a lot of desire to work so at least i know it wont be like the last transfer. however i am kinda worried for my old area. i just hope and pray that Elder Figueroa keeps working like i know he can. i left santo domingo with 11 baptismal dates and here in Arenas we have a whopping "0" but little by little i know this area will become a bonfire. in the first week we have already made some great progress we found some new very promising people and i know with the lords help they are bound for good things.
we also have our guardian angels here. our pensionista has a store and everyday all day there is a band of "gangsters" that just kinda chill there. while we are waiting to eat lunch we sometimes talk to them. and we had built something of a friendship with them. they are VAGOS (there isn't a word for that in English but it basically means they don't do anything with there lives) but they are good guys. well yesterday we were climbing the hill to go to the pension and like always on Sunday the streets were filled with drunks. and one group of drunks stated following us, they would shout insults and then hide in bushes like little kids and when we would keep walking they would keep following us. well we got to the pension and as we were about to go in to eat, my good old companion shouted something. i don't know what he said but the drunks didn't like it. the threw their bottles and in the dumb drunkenness started to run at us. well actually they kinda tripped their way towards us it was quite the comedy. they kept coming closer and closer but then from no where one of our buddies from the corner stepped in. this guy is huge for being Latin. lets just say he is the shequil o`nelle of Latins. he put them in their place and told them to scram, that if they messed with the Mormons they messed with the whole gang. kinda cool. so that is my advice to all missionaries in the world, if you are in a dangerous area, just make friends with a gang.
i love you all and i hope you know i am working as hard as i can.
Elder Landon R. Welch
p.s. the other pictures are of Oscar, who you met when i called home on Christmas, and Adan. two of my best friends from Santo Domingo.
(note: I didn't get the pictures, but will post them when I do)
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