March 27, 2017

Date: Mon, 27 Mar 2017 11:56:12 -0500
Dear Family,

 I  am sorry about last Monday and the really short letter. Probably the most crazy day of my life. But in the midst of that and calls received from the mission president,my companion had an emergency transfer and I've got Elder Pena  as my new companion. He is from Bogota, Columbia and is  20 years old, loves English, eats alot, and has a sister getting married in Utah soon! He's also deaf, which is really convenient when he takes out his hearing aids. Especially considering the fact that I talk in my sleep.

 

So about the floods in Peru, we all freaked out with our water on and off . We have had to shower with 3 liter water bottles.  We find the times when the water is on and we plan accordingly. 

There are areas close to us that are really affected by the floods but gratefully we are OK. 

 

The church building here in our area uses Well water so everyone from the up on the hillside comes by the church to fill their water bottles! 

 

So this last week, I got Elder Pena my new companion Monday night at 8:00 p.m. and we went to our first lesson! One of the most spiritual lessons with Michelle, a 17 year old, and her mom.

 

 Yesterday Jessica attended church for the first time.  It ended up being Fast and Testimony Meeting. Then church was cancelled the last two hours for members to go home or go out and buy things to donate for the victims of the flooded areas in Peru.Well, despite it not being a normal Sunday, Jessica, our investigator,  went out and bought things to donate! Fantastic. I did find it alittle weird that the Bishop wanted everyone to buy on the Sabbath but that's OK I guess. Its service for the community. 

So with the Colombian family we are teaching, we officially have a different handshake with each of the kids when we greet them. Which includes some sort of whip, nah nah, or doing the thing where you walk and do a high five on the bottom instead of the top.  

Two spiritual experiences. One giving a blessing to someone who suffers from stress and panic attacks and another when we just happened to choose this random family to visit and we shared a Family Home Evening lesson with them

 

I am now fluent in the alphabet of american sign language, It's so nice to communicate with him that way and he does wear hearing aids which helps him too.

 

I love the Spirit and how it comes when we are obedient! It really does lead us and I am trying to listen to it more and more and also have fun while being obedient. I also realized how the Savior really understands fear. He knew He would suffer for the sins of the world and suffer below all things. How amazing is it that we have someone to trust in. I hope you have an amazing week! Love you all and thank you so much! Love Elder Foutz