June 1, 2015

Hello family! 
So it feels like forever since I have been able to write you guys. Also the internet wasn't working this morning so I am writing you now. We already know about transfers. Hermana Guzman has a transfer which means I will be getting a new companion in the morning. AHH my mom is leaving me! I am honestly really scared but also excited for a new adventure. I have learned so much these three months with Hna Guzman and I know her next companion will be very blessed. 

SO a lot has happened in a short amount of time. First, S was baptized! Her baptism was very beautiful. She was the only person that came from her family. But the ward here is very supportive and it was wonderful to have them here to support her. We were worried no one would show up besides us and the elders at her baptism, but we were wrong. The ward truly has become her family and I was so happy to have them help her make this covenant with the Lord. 

So the past p day we had mundial. This is why I wrote you on Saturday. The whole mission got together and we played soccer. I got to see Hna Beatty which was sooo great. It's like seeing someone from my family when I get to see her. She is doing very well and her companion finishes her mission this transfer so she is also getting a new companion. It was super fun to be able to talk in Spanish with her. We haven't seen each other in weeks and being able to see each other really showed our progress in Spanish. The spanish is coming. At this point I can practically understand everything. Talking is getting better too. I have a lot more confidence and finding myself actually wanting to talk haha 

This week we also had the marriage of J and N. They were super nervous and a few days before we thought they might not go through with it. But thanks to the support of the ward once again, they were married Saturday morning! It was a beautiful reception at the mission office and 15 couples were married. They will be baptized this month and right now they are kind of our main focus here in the area. They have a hard time being on time to things (like all of Peru has this problem actually) so getting them to church is a little hard, but we pick them up at their house every Sunday morning and help them. It is so important that investigators can attend church. This is where they have the chance to meet members, learn more, and most importantly partake of the Santa Cena (sacrament) and feel the spirit. My testimony of the importance of church attendance has grown a lot. 

This week was also a big week for the ward of Independencia. Two of the youth received their mission calls. One of them is Gipsi who is pretty much my best friend in the ward here. She is always doing splits with us. She is going to Argentina and the other youth is going to Mexico. Also cool story-one of Hna Guzmans recent converts just got called to be the Young Mens president. He has only been a member for about 5 months. 

Overall I am doing very well and the work here in Independencia is progressing. I have a lot of fear for this next week, but I know if I am obedient and continue working very hard I will see success with my new companion. This next group is huge so the president has said that we have to work harder and be an example for them. 

I loved the videos this week and the email. Sorry the email is a little shorter this week, but I am sending a lot of pictures. 

I love you all so much!

Hna Vernon 

Elder Johnson. He went to AF with me and we graduated together. Little weird to see someone from my life before the mission here in Peru 

Hna Beatty 

Gipsi received her mission call! here we are with the other hermanas and the family of Gipsi. 

Jean Pierre, Narya, and Jose Maria 

INDEPENDENCIA 

Mundial with Hna Guzman 

Samanthas baptism 

May 23, 2015. Early Email

Hello family!

So I know it's Saturday and I'm writing, but it's because this Monday we have something called Mundial. It's when the whole misión gets together and we play soccer. Mostly it's just an excuse to get to see everyone. But due to this, we have to write today. We didn't know until after last P day so don't stress about me not receiving a letter this week.

Anyway, it's been a big week here in Independencia! First off, right after we finish writing we are going to S's baptism. Yes she is getting baptized! We spent a lot of time with her this week and we ended up talking to one of her sisters. Her sister has given her permission to be baptized. Her mom also found out. Her mom doesn't support her, but she is letting her get baptized. S has some great friends in the Ward and I know that is going to help her stay involved after her baptism. If it weren't for this, we would probably have decided to wait a bit longer for her baptism. But anyway, yeah, she is getting baptized today and she is so excited! Our District Leader, Elder Nelson is going to baptize her and don't worry I will send pictures next week :)

This week I have been fighting a terrible cold. Luckily now I am feeling better. That has made it hard to stay super motivated this week because I have had like zero energy. But I found some cold medicine that has really helped. Everyone is getting sick right now because the weather is changing. Some days it's super hot, and other days it's cold. Hna Guzmán has been like my mom making sure I am taking my medicine and keeping warm so my cold doesn't get worse. So don't stress mom. I've got a mom from Bolivia watching over me right now :)

So this week was a hard week, but a good week. All of my leaders here (district leaders, sister trainer leaders, and hna Guzman) have been pushing me every week to contact more people. haha I don't really like contacting, but we have to contact 100 people per week. Hna Guzmán and I have been a little short of the goal the past few weeks. Due to this, my leaders have been giving me goals each day. When Hna Guzmán and I had our companionship invetory this week we talked about ways that I could overcome my fear. We decided that she isn't going to contact at all, and I have to contact our 100 people for my last week of training. We also have been searching for more opportunities to do splits so that I can have more opportunities to teach without her. I will admit this week has been super hard, but it has also been such a good learning experience. I am learning to rely less on Hna Guzmán and feel like I can really contribute. She has also been having me answer all the calls from the district leader. So overall I have been doing a lot more. We are trying to prepare me so when we have transfers, I can really feel like I know what I am doing.

 So we are working with a less active in our área to try to help her get married. She was super active in the church all growing up and then ended up having a child with a man that isn't a member. They have two kids now and she still comes to church quite often. But her husband doesn't want to listen and wont allow for her kids to be baptized. However, she knows that she is breaking one of the commandments not being married to her spouse. She is scared to talk to him about marriage because she knows it's something he doesn't want to do. We have tried to talked to him, but he doesn't listen. So we decided to bring the elders with us this week for a little more priesthood power :) Elder Nelson taught a really good lesson on chastity and we could tell her husband is starting to understand that marriage is something his wife really wants to do. It was really cool to see the spirit work through Elder Nelson and through us to know how to talk to her husband.

I don't have a ton of time to write today due to the baptism. but all is well. I love you guys! Thanks for the quick emails. Hopefully next week my emailing time will be a Little more nomal :)

Hna Vernon

Letter from May 18th, 2015. I ate guinea pig this week.

Hey family! 

So this week was a crazy week. First off, the email is a little late because this morning we took a little trip to Lima Central. I don't remember if I told you, but right now we are working with a family and trying to help them get married and baptized. Their names are J and N. They have a little two year old boy named J who is just the cutest. We contacted about a month back and have been teaching them. They are super hard to get visits because they are busy, but we have been persistent. We visited them last night with our zone leaders to try to encourage them to get married. They have been thinking about it for quite some time and finally agreed to get married. The mission is holding a marriage ceremony on the 29th of this month so we have to go today to write up all their papers and stuff in Lima Central. and guess what.. I'm going to be a witness for their wedding. Haha another thing I never thought I would do. But yeah everything went well this morning and they will be married on the 29th! They will be baptized a few weeks after. I love working with this familly. Hna Guzman and I have talked about how the Lord has been preparing them. They have also had a lot of trials since we have been meeting with them. J lost his job, but they Lord is providing a way so that they can keep His commandments. 

Ok now about S. So She wasn't baptized this week. And it's kind of a long story. Saturday morning she was supposed to be baptized, we passed by her house that morning to make sure she was ready and we find her older sister. She told us that S never returned the night before. We could tell her sister was super worried because S lost her cell phone a few days earlier and no one had heard from her since she left for a party the night before. We spent most the day searching for her. We finally found her at one of her friends house about 3 pm in the afternoon. Long story short-due to the fact that her mom and sister don't know she was going to be baptized, she was really scared and didn't go through with it. She told us she slept through her alarm but we believe that the real problem is she doesn't feel quite ready. Hna Guzman and I talked and we think this might be better, because we were both a little timid about this baptism due to her parents not knowing. So we are going to continue to visit S and hopefully with time we can understand what is best. This week was another reminder that the Lord knows what is best for each and every one of his children. S has a grand testimony, and I know with time she will be baptized. 

This week we had another training with Pres Erickson. I love every chance we get to learn from him. This week he talked about raising our voices (in a good way). We can't be afraid of our own voices. There are many scriptures in the Doctrine and Covenants that talk about sharing the gospel like a trumpet. So after his training, we did practices where president walked around and told us if we were teaching with a loud enough voice. Haha so I am learning how to speak up. President Erickson is very loud ( in a good way though). He is always yelling with love, as he calls it. But he said something very interesting. When we talk louder, when we talk with power, we feel the spirit more. Which is so true. I have been experiencing that this week and it has  made a very big difference. This is a funny story about Pres Erickson and his loud voice. He was doing a training in a different area at a chapel and was talking really loud. I guess the doors of the chapel were open and someone outside heard him speaking. Anyway, the man entered the chapel and stayed the rest of the day to hear the lessons of Pres Erickson. Now he is receiving the missionaries in his area. As missionaries we are sharing the restored gospel-the truth. We can't be afraid to speak with the voice of a trumpet.

So this week I caught the flu. Yay. It's because the weather here is constantly changing. But I'm pushing through and trying my best to take care of myself. Don't worry mom I am taking my vitamins. 

So this week if you guys could pray for N and J that would  be great. They are such a great young family with so much potential, and they really want to do what is right. 

Thank you for another great email. It was fun to get a little paragraph from Sarah. I will be honest, I'm jealous she gets to spend time with you guys, but tell her I say hello. Emma tell Haydn I'm excited for him! I love you guys a ton!

Im still eating a lot of chicken foot. Also I ate guinea pig this week. 

Con mucho amor

Hna Vernon 

Letter from May 11, 2015 "La Hermana de Marte"

Hey family!

It was so so fun to Skype and see you guys this week! I loved seeing all your faces. You all look happy and healthy. I'm sorry the connection wasnt great. But it was really the best we could find. Hna Guzman liked seeing you guys and meetig you. Mom whenever I show a picture of our family, the people always say that you are so young! So just so you know, you have still got it :) haha 

So you guys already know about S, but yeah she is getting baptized this Saturday! Its really hard to see her not have family support, but her testimony is so strong. We actually had a quick lesson with her this morning and she is so ready for baptism. 

Thanks for keeping me updated with what is going on with Grandma Fernie and the family. I'm glad grandma is doing well and I know she truly appreciates all the help she is receiving. 

This week on Thursday we had a special training with President Erickson. It was our zone and three others. President Erickson is very strict, but very loving as well. He talked about how all of our actions start in the mind. In order to be productive missionaries, we have to have a firm mind. If we are doing what we are supposed to, but our mind is back home, or not focused on the work, we are going to have a hard time really having the Spirit with us and the ability to help the people we are in contact with. I really liked this training and Im thankful for a President who can guide the mission. Hermana Erickson also talked with us. Haha she reminds me of a little librarian. But she talked about as a mission, we are a family. We have the responsibility to follow all the guidance and rules the president gives us. We read a lot of scriptures in 1 Nephi about how Nephi was always following the council of his father. This is part of the reason he became so strong in the gospel. As we heed to the guidance of President Erickson, we are going to see the fruits of our labors. After the training, they fed us hot dogs. haha all the gringos were happy, and the Latinos were a little upset. 

So when I was skyping you guys, I dont know if you guys could see, but there was another girl in the room. Her name is G, and she is a member in the ward. She just submitted her mission papers and she is probably one of my best friends here. Her brother was baptized the week before I got here, and we are working on getting her dad active in the church. He was baptized, but doesnt have a testimony. Also, he was a pastor in a different church. SO whenever we teach him he always has a ton of questions. However, Hna Guzman knows her Bible very well. He is now reading the Book of Mormon and is starting to accept the book. Its amazing to see the Spirit work through him. 

Well thats about all I have for this week because I was able to talk to you guys yesterday. But once again, it was sooo good to see you guys and I know I always say this, but thank you for the prayers and support.

Oh one more quick story. So Tuesday night we were at the church helping a family with their family history. They have a young daughter who is about 10. Anyway, I was talking to her, and she told me I talked funny. haha it really didn't bug me at all because I am very use to people commenting on my Spanish. But the funny part of this story is she then continued to tell me that I am "la Hermana de Marte". Which in English this means I am the sister from Mars.

 So "La Hermana de Marte" sends her love! 

This picture makes me laugh because Heather appears to be standing on the wrong side.

This looks better. She is standing with the other Hermanas haha. She said one of the members is a clown and came to their training and told several jokes.