Lima (Surco) Peru – Week 11

Buenas Días,

In this morning I am very thankful for this amazing opportunity that I have been given to be here for the past two years. There is absolutely nothing that I could have done better than be here. Nothing more satisfying or repaying like this was. There have been several things that I have experienced during this time here that have forever changed my life. And there is no other place in the world that could have done that to me. I know without any doubt in my mind that this is the work of the Lord. This is the most important thing that is happening upon the face of the earth and it will continue to be to prepare for the second coming of the Lord. I truly feel so blessed that I was and still am for another week an instrument in the hands of the Lord in his work. It will be sad to go home, but I know that even though I won't be a full time representative with his name on my chest every day, I will still have lots of opportunities to serve. But just in different ways. During these past couple weeks, I've been having some bittersweet last time moments in the mission such as: Leadership Council, baptisms, members, district meetings, interviews with president, baptismal interviews and the list could go on and on. I truly will miss these things. But I also have had some not so bittersweet moments and I really hope that they are the last time such as: getting pink eye, throwing up in the middle of the night, getting a needle jammed in my toe and so on. Haha but they all add to the unforgettable experience of serving the Lord. because as Elder Holland put it,

“I am convinced that missionary work is not easy because salvation is not a cheap experience. Salvation never was easy. We are The Church of Jesus Christ, this is the truth, and He is our Great Eternal Head. How could we believe it would be easy for us when it was never, ever easy for Him? It seems to me that missionaries and mission leaders have to spend at least a few moments in Gethsemane. Missionaries and mission leaders have to take at least a step or two toward the summit of Calvary."

It is so true. Some of the greatest moments that I have had here in the mission was when I struggled the most. But there is no better feeling than to overcome whatever holds you back from your potential. Helping others reach changes in their life that they would have never been able to reach if it wasn't for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I am 150% convinced that the Gospel of Jesus Christ can change any person if they allow it. I have seen people stop smoking 3 packs a day from one day to the next. I have seen people go way beyond their ability to keep the commandments of God so that they could finally be baptized and make covenants with the Lord. I have seen the Gospel fix marriages and on and on. The Gospel has no limit. the only limit is ourselves. If we can learn to trust in the Lord and exercise unlimited faith, we can break down whatever holds us back and become strong in the faith. As I have learned in my mission several times, I am not the one who works the miracles. Because when I tried to work on my own without the Lord, I failed. But, when I trusted in him and worked with him, that is when miracles happened and as my mission scripture states it this is how I strive to be.

Alma 26:12 Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boastof my God, for in his strength I can do all things; yea, behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever.

This is the truth. I really hope the Lord is pleased with the work that I have done here. I am nowhere close to being perfect in all the things that I have done here, but I really did try and do what he wanted me to do. I hope to keep in contact with all the people that I have met here and keep helping them to do what is the most important, the temple, so that they can have an eternal family. I love my older brother Jesus Christ and My Father who is in Heaven. I share these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Elder Farnsworth

Lima (Surco) Peru – Week 10

Well this last week was a very successful one! We were able to have the baptism of 2-part family kids. Wow let me just say that I have never seen some kids so happy to get baptized. It is amazing that at their young age they understand what baptism is and why it is so important. I am truly astonished with them. One of them was in the font and he gave us the thumbs up before and then came out of the water with a huge smile on his face! Super cool.

We also were blessed to find some super chosen people during this past week. A super chosen person came to church to ask us to visit him and we did, and he accepted a baptismal date for the 28th of this month! So that is super exciting!

Well that's all for this week I hope that it goes well for you all! Have a good one. I love you!

Elder Farnsworth

Lima (Surco) Peru – Week 9

Buenas tardes,

This has been a good week. I just had my last interview with President Amato where I presented to him my goals and plans for my life. So that was great. We were able to talk, and I learned a lot and gained more confidence for what I am going to do with my life. So, I am really excited about that. 

During this last week my comp and I were able to start teaching some new people. It really was a miracle that we found them. Because she was waiting for the bus when we contacted them. The bus showed up and we still hadn't gotten her contact info from her and this bus comes by about every 15 min and she had to get to work in Miraflores. So, my comp went and tried to stop the bus from leaving by talking with the driver. And then the light turned red, so we had some more time to talk. We got her info and made an appt with her. When we got to her house her, her sister and parents were there waiting for us. So that was cool. We started to talk and then the dad started talking and from what he was saying it seemed like he was going to stop everything because he is from a different religion. But then he kept talking and said that his kids are welcome to keep listening and join the church if they want. Because they stopped going to the church that the parents are in. He just wants that his kids are in a good place doing the right thing. Then the mom started talking and said that we were an answer to her prayers. She had been praying that her kids would follow God in their lives and make good decisions so that their family could be more united. So, the mom was very happy that we found her daughter and were talking with them. She even said that if she sees a change in her kids, its more than likely that her and her husband join the church. And I know that they will. if they just do what we invite them to do, I know that they'll recognize that this is where they need to be. Then both daughters said that they were looking for change in their lives. I know that we were put in the right place at the right time. This was my miracle of the week.

Well that’s all for this week. I don’t have any pics this week. Sorry... Next time!

Elder Farnsworth

Lima (Surco) Peru – Week 8

Buenas Días,

Well another good week has come and gone by really fast! All the days just fly by, I can't believe it. We had a pretty successful week! We were able to have the baptism of Nestor. He is the guy that I told you about that came up to us in the church while we had the meeting with the stake and mission president. He was baptized in about 2 weeks. Another blessing and miracle from heaven. He had the happiest look on his face after his baptism and confirmation. I know that he will be a leader in the Church. He has all the capability to do that. Especially when he can go back to his native country of Venezuela. He is great guy.

I think that I can honestly say that the worst part of being a missionary is when you have a person that knows everything, says he has a testimony, knowing that he has felt the spirit and still denying being baptized because they're "not ready, needs to know more, later" and on and on..... Its sooo sad. Because they are losing blessings. Not just them but also their family. Sometimes I just really don't know how some people just don't understand the need that they have to make these covenants with God in their lives. Its honestly heart breaking. Because they just keep saying later, even though they know. I remember before I came on the mission and I heard RM's say that and I didn't quite know what they meant. But after the time that I now have in the mission I understand. But the even better feeling in the mission is when people do make the decision to follow Jesus Christ in their lives and make covenants with him. Because the lives of these people are forever changed! Because it really is awesome to participate in the process of change that these people make in their lives.

Well that's all for this week! The pics are from the baptism and from a park we went to last Monday. Have a good week!

Elder Farnsworth

Lima (Surco) Peru – Week 7

MILAGROS

Well another amazing week has gone by! It really has been one of the best in the mission. We were able to see MILAGROS (miracles, I like how it sounds in Spanish more than English). I love being able to participate in them. So, the biggest milagro that we saw was with Alain. He went to church last week and we took out his info and then tried to call him to make an appt with him. He never answered so we sent a message, and he still never answered. So, we left it at that. Then on Thursday I received a call from him and he asked if there were any meetings in the church before Sunday and we told him no, but he insisted that we meet with him. So, I made an appt with him for the next day. We showed up to the church and he was already there waiting for us. We went in and taught him L3 and we invited him to be baptized and he accepted without any doubt. Then he told us that he was going to be leaving Sunday on a trip. So, we invited him to be baptized the next day and he accepted immediately. As we finished the appt with him we went and started filling the font so that it would be ready for the next day. We went back the next day and taught him L1, L2, L4 and L5. He accepted the commandments and did it without any doubts. We then had our DL come and do the baptismal interview and he passed. We called the ward and informed them that the baptism was going to be a 9:30pm and people showed up. It was amazing! He was supper duppper prepared beforehand. He told us that he has a friend that had been telling him about the church and urged him to come to church and meet the missionaries. So, he did that, and he ended up meeting us and getting baptized in about a day and a half.

Then yesterday we went and had a visit with an investigator who continued to deny that he wasn't ready to be baptized, but we found out why. As he was talking he said something really interesting. He said "no pienso en bautizarme," and so we jumped on that and helped him recognize that this is why he doesn't feel ready. So we did mental faith exercises with him, his wife and his kids. It worked. He recognized that he needs to improve on that! We scheduled his interview for Thursday. I know that he'll be baptized! He is the last in his family to be baptized. I know after baptism he'll be sealed with his family a year later.

Well I hope that you all have a great week! The pics are of his baptism and then of my comp and I last night! Have a great week!

Elder Farnsworth

Lima (Surco) Peru – Week 6

Hello, how are all of you doing?

Well last night I received the last transfer call of my mission. How sad, but at the same time exciting. I found out who will be the one to kill me, in missionary terms, it’s going to be my Brazilian comp. Elder Silva and I are going to stay together. So, it’s going to be a lot of fun! We have a lot of work to do here before these 6 weeks are done. We are going to do what’s never been done before. I know that the Lord has been preparing lots of people here in our area and in the zone.

This last week was a great week! I what to share with you some experiences that we had on Wednesday. To prepare for this day my comp and I fasted and on top of that we prayed and felt prompted to invite President Amato and the stake president to fast as well. Because we were going to have a meeting with them to talk about the stake. During that afternoon we were able to find lots of people to teach. And as we were waiting outside of the stake center for President Amato to arrive a man came up to us and was looking for "Elder," and I thought that he was looking for the other elders that are there because I had never talked to him before. Because the office of the lima south mission is in the church where we meet. So, we showed him where they were at and I forgot about it for about 3 min until those elders called us and said that he lives in our area. So, we went and talked to him and he had said that we had called and asked to meet with him at this hour, but we had never talked with him, so we had a lesson with him. Wow he is so chosen. What a blessing it was that God put him is our path. He accepted a date for the 16 of June and he came to church yesterday. And he loves what he is learning. So, after that quick visit with him we had our meeting and it was very spiritual. We were able to receive divine revelation to help the work of the Lord progress in the stake. Then we went to an appt with President Amato. He was able to help us get a person to commit to be baptized. He has been an investigator for years. His family are all members. His daughter lives in the stake and is sealed. So, he will be getting baptized this month. It is so amazing the power of fasting and prayer. I have learned the real purpose of it here and I have seen so many prayers and fasts answered. Before the mission I didn't understand it at all, but now I have a strong testimony of it.

Well I hope that your week goes well! Talk to you next time!!!!

Elder Farnsworth

Lima (Surco) Peru – Week 5

Another week has come and gone, and there just isn't enough time to get everything done. I honestly don't know where the times goes. I feel like we get up and then before we know it, it’s almost 10:30pm and we've got to be back in the room again. When we get to the room, in that hour we must get indicators done, plan and try to brainstorm on what we need to do. Our time just disappears. Then its 11:30 and time go to bed. I remember people always telling me that during the mission you'll be busy, and the time will just run away from you and I just didn't quite understand what they meant until now. Haha it all makes sense. Now I'm coming down to the end and I can't believe where the time has gone. I was talking with my comp the other day about this transfer and that were about to enter week 6 or the last week and then it all hit me. After this transfer is over I will be entering my last transfer...... That's insane. So that freaked me out a little and my feelings are very indifferent about it. Half of me is excited for what the future brings and the other half of me doesn't want to leave the mission. So, I'm just going to forget that it’s my last transfer and keep doing what I've been doing for the last 22 months.

This last week was interesting. We had a couple that was going to get baptized and married this last Saturday, but there were some difficulties with that. So, it will be postponed until who knows when... So, we will do everything that we can to help them get married and baptized. As a zone we have been trying to think of some new ways to find some investigators. I know that lots of you have been missionaries, what were some things that you did to find new people to teach? We're just looking for new ways to find people. Because with new ways you'll get different results. And that's what we're looking for. Right now, we're finding people, but not in the amount that the Lord is wanting. So, if you have any ideas, please send them. Or if you don't have any, make a Facebook post asking people. That would be a great help. Thanks! Well that's all for this week! Have a good one!

Elder Farnsworth

Lima (Surco) Peru – Week 4

Today was a great day. We were able to go to the temple and it was my second to last time going here! That's crazy! I always enjoy going to the temple to learn more and receive divine inspiration. 

We were also able to have a baptism here so that was awesome! Her name is Ariana (18). She is really great and she shared a really strong testimony after she was baptized!

We have been reading a book in the mission that is absolutely amazing! I would recommend it to all! It has really changed my perspective on faith and what we need to do to receive heavenly help. So, read it. It will change your life!

The pics are with some of the zone, baptism and with my son and my comp. Because I started to train Elder Myers and then he finished it. Well I hope that you all have a great week!

Elder Farnsworth

Elder Silva (Companion), Elder Meyers (mission son), Elder Farnsworth

Lima (Surco) Peru – Week 3

Hola Buenas Días!

Well this last week has flown by! We were able to do lots of things, so that's why it went by so fast. To finish off the week being able to skype the fam for the last time! So that was enjoyable. This last week we also had lots of things that happened that were absolutely amazing! We had lots of miracles happen. We had people that we invited to be baptized ask us if they could be baptized before the date that we extended to them! We looked at each other and said absolutely yes! We had another lady that asked us to be baptized before we even invited her to be. We were teaching her about the Gospel of Jesus Christ (faith, repentance, baptism, holy ghost and endure to the end) and we were explaining about the Holy Ghost and the blessings that we receive from it and she made the connection that to be able to receive the holy ghost she needed to be baptized. So, she asked to be baptized. Wow that was amazing. This has been a great week of blessings! We gave the zone a talk to read about the Atonement to help all of us understand it a little better. I had read it before, and I read it again and I learned even more. And I would like to invite all of you to read it. It'll really change your perspective on the Atonement of Jesus Christ. So please read it. and I know that as you do, you'll come to know how to better apply it in your lives.

https://www.lds.org/ensign/2012/04/the-atonement-and-the-journey-of-mortality?lang=eng

The pics that are attached are from a baptism that we had, his name is Samuel. He is the one standing next to me, And the other on is with the dad on my pension. Haha he us super funny. Well I hope that you've enjoyed your week and I hope that you have another great one!

Elder Farnsworth

Lima (Surco) Peru – Week 2

Hola como están?

Well we had another great week here in Surco! We were able to find some more people and invite them to baptism. They accepted a date for this month so that was very exciting to be a part of that process. We also had our leadership counsel and it was a good moment of learning and celebrating for just a moment on the success that we were able to have as a mission in the month of April. Then right back to work for this month of May. Today we had a really cool optional training that we went to. I also went to it a couple of months ago. I think that I might have mentioned it to you, but I can't remember if I did. It was awesome. It was basically a training on how to become successful after the mission. It was very interesting, and it helped me out!

Well that’s all for this week! The pics are of my comp, the zone, and my comp and I doing some really fun paper work. Well, have an amazing week, I love you all!

Elder Farnsworth

Lima (Surco) Peru – Week 1

Oi! Bom dia!

Haha I've been able to learn a few words in Portuguese this past week! It has been a really good last week! I'm really excited to be here and I know that we're going to help lots of people here! It's also really fun because the 2 DL's here are some good friends of mine. One was my old comp Elder Fagg and the other is Elder Mortenson, who I lived with in Manchay. So, we have lots of experience here in the zone to have lots of success! We're looking like we'll have an amazing month of May here!

In this last week I was privileged with the opportunity to go back and be in the baptism of La Molina Vieja, where I was just at! It was an amazing experience in so many ways. So, you remember that convert from Manchay that I was telling you about last week? Well he had been helping us teach these people that got baptized on Saturday, and one of them asked him to baptize them. So, he was able to baptize his first person! So that was awesome! I'm so happy that he was able to do that! The 2 people that we baptized were a father and son. The mom was baptized years ago in Venezuela and the 2 other kids are listening, but they're going to take a little longer. But I know that they'll get baptized! 

I was also able to go to one of the Hermana’s baptisms here in the zone. We got a last-minute phone call from them saying that they needed someone to baptize this kid because he only wanted an Elder to do it and he decided that last minute. So, we had to drop everything that we were doing and go, because all the other elders in the zone couldn't do it. But the good thing is that he was baptized and then on Sunday confirmed.

Well I hope that all the weeks keep going this well! And I hope that you all have a great week! The pics are from the baptisms and from some converts from LMV. The pic with the converts also has a kid that was leaving on the mission the next morning, so he spent his last night with us! Well that's all! Have a good week!

Elder Farnsworth

Lima (LaMolina) Peru – Week 18

Good Morning,

This last week has been a very good week in the best mission in the world! My comp and I were able to have some baptisms to finish off the transfer strong! We were able to help Marcia and her daughter Valentina get to know the Gospel and be baptized. Her other daughter that is 9 decided not to get baptized, because she’s has more friends in the other church that they were going to. So, I would give it a little bit of time and she'll get over that and want to be like her older sister and mom. I am so very thankful for the opportunity that my Father in Heaven has given me to be in this ward. It is honestly amazing! I love it so much. I am even more thankful that I was able to be an instrument His hands to help others come unto a knowledge of His Gospel. And to see how members of this ward act instantly to help others in need spiritually or even temporally. This has given me a very clear example of how missionaries and members should work together. I am very grateful for having the opportunity to know the converts of the church here. They are some of the strongest converts that I know and a few of them want to go on the mission. So that is super amazing! Oh, and something that just came to mind right now is that one of the converts from Manchay, where I served before, has been accompanying my comp and I several times a week. He is working with his bishop there in Manchay to get his papers ready for the mission and his goal is to try and leave at his year mark of being a member. So, that is absolutely amazing. I remember the day when my comp and I contacted his house and he looked like he was less than pleased that we were on his doorstep, but something prompted him to let us in. After a long process of gaining a testimony he was baptized and now he wants to go on a mission. So that is amazing how the spirit works in people and changes them. Now moving on, last night we received the call about transfers from the assistants.... And well I have transfers. I will be going to a Zone called Surco and my comp will be Elder Silva, he is from Brazil. So hopefully I will be able to learn some Portuguese. He also knows English and his Spanish is very good! Although I am sad to be leaving this area, I am very excited for what lies ahead! In the pics that I'm sending are some from our baptism and from the night that we were without power. So, we went back in time and used candles! Well I hope that you all have a great week!

Elder Farnsworth

Lima (LaMolina) Peru – Week 17

Hola Buenas Días!

I can't believe that we are in the last week of this transfer! It’s crazy!!!! The time has just flown by. I feel like it was yesterday that my comp and I received the call that we were going to stay together and here we are 5 weeks later. I must say that this was one of the best transfers of the mission so far. My comp and I have been able to work hard and have lots of success! Even though he is one of those Utahans, I've grown to deal with him! Haha jk he's great! Even though he thinks that Utah is better than Idaho. Oh well, one day he will recognize that he's wrong! I'm really glad and thankful that we've been able to work together for this time because his strengths are my weaknesses and my strengths are his weaknesses. Because of that we have been able to work and have so much success! It’s amazing how the Lord puts you with people that are the best for you in that moment. Well maybe if we get lucky the Lord will keep us together for another transfer!

This last week we were able to have the baptism of Olga. She is Mexican. So that was definitely very interesting. Because when I got my mission call I never thought that I would teach or baptize anyone that’s not Peruvian. But now we've had a Mexican and Venezuelans. So that's awesome that we have been able to help people from several different places get to know Christ and His Gospel.

Haha this week I also was able to go and visit my favorite place. The toe doctor! Haha I know that in this moment my mom is probably having a small panic attack. But don't worry I'm all good! But this time I was able to include a picture to always remember the memories that I've made there! I hope you enjoy it! This past Saturday we had the opportunity to leave and proselyte with some missionaries that are in the MTC here in Lima. They do this activity to help them get to know a little better the mission field and I was able to leave with 2 Filipinos. They're really cool and humble! They will be great missionaries and they will be coming to this mission.

Well I hope that you all have a great week and I love you all!

Elder Farnsworth

Lima (LaMolina) Peru – Week 16

Aloha!

Haha I thought that I might change it up a little by saying that instead of Hola. Well I hope that this last week you've all had was as good as mine was!

This last week was a really good week here in our area and we were able to see several miracles! It really has been one of the best weeks of my mission. Because of several different reasons. First off, we were able to take some of our recent converts to the temple to do baptisms for their ancestors and they loved it. And it was a very spiritual experience for all of us. Another miracle for us was that my comp and I were planning on Friday, and we were saying that we really needed to start looking for the end of this month and for May. That same day a recent convert that was accompanying us and took us to a reference and she completed with all of the filter questions and accepted a date for the 5th of May. I really think that if she progresses quickly she can be baptized in the month of April. We need more people for this month so that we can reach our goal. In the moment when we extended the date to her we had people all ready for this month, but they fell through. We also were able to find a family of 5 that we contacted and visited in the same day. They accepted a baptismal date for the 5th of May. And I think that they were so receptive to the Gospel of Jesus Christ because the mom is a member. So, we have 2 more people that my comp and I need to find to reach our goal of 7. I am confident that with the help of the Lord we can find them and get them baptized this month. I feel so blessed to be seeing all of these small but significant miracle here in our area! And there are so many more that I can't even begin to count.

We are not only seeing miracles here in our area and zone, but in the whole mission. We are doing things that have never been done before and we are helping more people come to a knowledge like never before. The work of the Lord is accelerating like never before. All of this is happening to prepare us for the second coming as President Nelson said in conference! And we should all feel so grateful to be alive in these moments to participate in what it says in Moses 1:39 "For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man."

Well I hope that you all have a great week! And the pics I have are of the recent converts in the temple!

Elder Farnsworth

Lima (LaMolina) Peru – Week 15

Hola querida familia, this last week was sooooooooo amazing! I really hope that all of you had the opportunity to listen to general conference! And if you didn't I encourage you to do so! It was by far the best conference that I have ever seen! Along with the big changes that the church is putting into place. I can't even begin to express how amazing it is to have a living prophet on the earth in these days. Now what we have to do as inhabitants on this earth is follow the counsel of the prophet so that we can be blessed and so that we can prepare ourselves for the second coming of the Savior. I absolutely loved all of the talks in conference but especially the prophets. Here are some quotes that I've taken off of lds.org from President Nelson that I really liked!

 “Nothing opens the heavens,” “quite like the combination of increased purity, exact obedience, earnest seeking, daily feasting on the words of Christ in the Book of Mormon, and regular time committed to temple and family history work.”

“Pray in the name of Jesus Christ about your concerns, your fears, your weaknesses,” he counseled, “yes, the very longings of your heart. And then listen! Write the thoughts that come to your mind. Record your feelings and follow through with actions you are prompted to take.”

“As you continue to be obedient,” he explained, “expressing gratitude for every blessing the Lord gives you, and as you patiently honor the Lord’s timetable, you will be given the knowledge and understanding you seek. Every blessing the Lord has for you—even miracles—will follow. That is what personal revelation will do for you.”

“Regardless of what others may say or do, no one can ever take away a witness borne to your heart and mind about what is true.”

This one right here is one of my favorite ones that he said right at the end of conference, “construction of these temples may not change your life, but your time in the temple surely will.”

He also invited us during the next 6 months to read over, study and share these messages that we have heard with our family members, friends and nonmembers. I'm going to do this, and I hope that all of you will too. Because as we follow his counsel we will be blessed. Because he has received the revelation about what we need to do right now in our lives to find more happiness and the spirit!

We also had a good week in our area! And if all goes well we will be having a baptism in 2 weeks! Well I don't have any pics to send this week, but next week I will! Have an amazing week!

Elder Farnsworth

Lima (LaMolina) Peru – Week 14

Well this last week was another great week here in La Molina Vieja. Every week is so amazing. To have the opportunity to see people change their lives and become disciples of Jesus Christ! This last week was another great week here in our area! We were able to have the baptism of John and his confirmation. So, my comp and I are very happy about that. We are very blessed from the Lord for helping us make our companionship goal. We made the goal at the beginning of the month of 7 with only 6 people that we expected to have baptized. And as the month went on we were able to find out the John wanted to get baptized as well. And so, as we put our faith in the Lord we were able to be blessed with one more person who wanted the blessings of being a member. So, we will definitely keep that in mind as we're making our companionship goal for the month of April. As we desire more we will receive more if we are doing the correct things and we are obedient and work with diligence. 

This last week we had interviews and so my comp and I went with Sister Amato to go and do room inspections. So that was pretty fun! Then we also had a meeting with all the DL's and ZL's and President spoiled us a little bit! He went and bought Krispy Kreme doughnuts. They were sooooo good, that was the first time that I'd had them in a very long time! The other pics are from our baptism that we had!

Have a great week! I love you all!

Elder Farnsworth

Lima (LaMolina) Peru – Week 13

Hola!

Well this last week has been incredible! It truly has been one for the books. We were able to have lots of success in our area and in the zone. And my comp and I have been able to find some great people for the month of April.

On Friday night we had a family home evening with the whole zone and our investigators and it was a big success. We asked a lady that we were teaching (one of the people that got baptized on Saturday) to share her testimony about the BOM and let’s just say wow. It was the best testimony that I have heard any investigator share. It brought a lot of people to tears because the spirit was so strong. That just shows how strong her testimony was before she even got baptized! It was absolutely amazing! There is a picture included of the FHE while we were playing a game.

Then our baptism on Saturday. My companion and I were so blessed to be able to be there and to have had the opportunity to get to know these people. We were able to have 6 baptisms. 4 from the Tuisima family and then 2 from the Avalos family. Oh, and an 8-year-old girl from the ward that had her baptism with ours. She was the last to be baptized and I was in the baptismal font last, so I baptized her. Let’s just say her name was really hard for me to memorize..... So, I had the Bishop write it on a paper and then just read it! And it was great to see the father of the family baptize his 2 kids. After 15 years or so of being inactive they came back to church and he did the things necessary to be able to baptize and confirm his kids. So now they are a big happy family active in the church! And now we're working with them to go to the temple to do baptisms for their ancestors.

Now we are teaching the brother of the mom of the Avalos family. And at first, he didn't even believe in God. But as he has been able to do the things that we have invited him to do he has felt the spirit and knows that we have a living prophet and now wants to be baptized! He will be baptized this weekend! It is so amazing how the hand of the Lord can change people’s lives if they permit it. I know without doubt in my heart that if people just do one thing they can get over whatever doubt or difficulty that they have with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is all explained in a small passage of scripture that changes lives if it is put into practice.

3 Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts.

4 And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.

5 And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.

Moroni 10:3-5

I invite all of you that may have a doubt about the BOM or the Church of Jesus Christ to follow the example of these scriptures and I know that the answers can be found in this way. Because every single time if an investigator says to us that he doesn't believe that these things are true we ask if they have really earnestly asked and always they say no. The only way that we can know is by asking our Father in Heaven.

Well this is all that I have for this week. I hope that you all have an amazing week! I love you all! 

Elder Farnsworth

Lima (LaMolina) Peru – Week 12

Hola mis queridos amigos y familia. Como están? Espero que se encuentren bien y que estén gustando el clima de primavera. Porque estoy derritiendo acá. Estoy listo por invierno otra vez.

This last week has been supppper great here and this week to come will be even better! My comp and I will be blessed to have 6 baptisms! We are very excited for this. We have worked very hard and have had lots of help from lots of people to make this happen. So, a family of 4 will be getting baptized, a mom and 3 kids, and then 2 others from a less active family that returned to the church. So, it'll all be really great! The brother of the less active member has been listening to the lessons that we've been giving and now he also wants to get baptized. Because at first, he really didn't want much to do with us. He liked to talk with us but didn't really have an interest to the things that we were saying. But as the time went on he has really liked the message that we have and has felt the spirit. Last Monday we had a family home evening with President Amato and his family and we talked about having a modern-day prophet and he loved that. So, after that he has showed lots of interest to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Oh, my comp and I don’t have transfers and so we'll be staying together another transfer and we'll be having lots of success this month and a half! So, the pics that I have are from last Pday, with my father in the mission that went home today, a cool pic of the temple and my missionary tan line! Well I hope that you all have a really great week! Bye I love you!

Elder Farnsworth