Progress and birthday fun

This week has been about progress.

To start off with the wonderful news, Percy and Ana have decided to get married! Halelujah. They attend church like they have been members for years. We are feeling really happy and relieved, and so I am sure that the rest of the branch is silently singing. :) We went over to visit them this week to talk out the details and found out that they are trying to learn how to be kind and love one another better. We noticed that there has been a lack of loving communication between them, which has attributed to grudges on both ends, so Hna Roman and I gave our personal testimonies of how the gospel blesses families and helps us love and forgive one another. We even shared how being on a mission and living with someone we dont know can be hard, but how communication and patience is key. It was a great lesson! We invited them both pray together as a couple, and to come to the activity we had that night. They came and were able to mingle with other couples! It was great.

We´ve had several lessons with Flor and Jaset, and they are ready to be baptized on the 14th. Flor is so excited to be a member of the church and to have her whole family unified. Her happiness during our lessons was contagious. It makes us happy :)

We are now visiting Vicente at night when his daughters are home. He has grandkids that have been baptized, but dont attend too consistently, and so we have hopes to motivate them with the help of their moms. It has turned out to work pretty well! The little kids climb all over Vicente every time that we are over to read from the Book of Mormon, and are always asking when we will be coming over to visit with them and their moms, too. As crazy as little kids can be sometimes, they just want love, attention, and to be close to their parents. The gospel is the glue that keeps families together, and my testimony is strengthened whenever I can see how even little kids notice this truth. They might not be able to explain it, but the gospel brings happiness and feelings of togetherness. It is just so great! Vicente also keeps coming to Church even if he has to walk slowly every step of the way, and his grandkids are right there with him. 

As for my birthday, it was awesome! I woke up that morning to loud birthday music and hugs from the other hermanas. They tricked me out of my bed and attacked me with eggs and flour (that´s a tradition in Peru). It took about 4 washes to get all of the gunk out, but it was worth it. Afterward, Roxana and Brissa made a surprise visit with hot chocolate and cake. :) 

The rest of the day was spent working, contacting, and teaching. The last hour of the day, we went to our weekly coorelation meeting, and as we were leaving, our mission leader and his brother, the first counselor in the branch walked in with a surprise birthday cake. Not too long after, there was another surprise with eggs and flour. :) It was a crazy fun day with lots of surprises! It was fun to turn 20 here in Peru. 

Gotta go - but i´ll send pictures of the crazinesss next week!

Hna Arroyo

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