Tender Mercies

It was so much fun to talk to you all! I loved it! It has been a great week! I couldn't write last week because I was finishing up the cinnamon rolls, and it took longer than I expected.

This week something really special happened. President's daughter, Alice, got baptized. The whole thing reminded me of Lydia's baptism, that I couldn't see. But the Lord, in his infinite goodness, gave me this opportunity to see something similar. When Sister Amato was talking to her daughter, in Portuguese, I only understood a little bit. But then I realized that she was using mannerisms very reminiscent of Mom's! As I was watching, I started to have a vision of what Mom was probably like in Lydia's baptism, and I felt the spirit so strongly! It was absolutely incredible.

I know the Lord cares about us. It seems like a little thing. The fact that Lydia got baptized is way more important than me being there, but he knows I missed it. And he provided, through a million factors, that I could be here to see something like it. If I hadn't been in the office, if we had been able to find someone else to clean the chapel beforehand, if I had been distracted, if, if, if. But I was in the perfect place, at the perfect time, to see a miracle. I loved it.

I love you all!

Suffer Little Children

This week has been crazy! We had our Christmas activities on Wednesday and Thursday, and I went to Migrations on Monday and Friday. On Monday, I forgot the identification of one of the sisters that was accompanying her companion, so she had to wait outside for a couple hours, for which I felt super bad, but then, we had to go again because of problems in the system, and when we went back, I forgot my own identification, so I had to wait outside by myself for a couple hours. It was super weird! Although I got to contact the security people, which was super cool! Also, I found out that one of the sisters is from the Galapagos Islands! Isn't that incredible!!

And now the Christmas activity. It was super cool! We started off by eating at Pardos chicken, which is a really, really good pollo a la brasa restaurant (which is basically rotisserie chicken, but super popular down here). We ate, listened to Christmas music, made gingerbread houses, and got Peru jerseys that have "Peru Lima Este" printed on the back. We then went to an orphanage. It was incredible! We went there, and my companion had contracted a bouncy house for both days, and we just played with the orphans, and then sang Christmas hymns and talked about Christ and the gospel. It was awesome! Being part of the office team, I got to go both days, and it was such a sweet experience. I found out that every one of those kids is the victim of abuse of some type or another, or abandonment. It made me so, so sad! I wanted to help them realize that they are special and wonderful as well, because I'm sure they feel or have felt the contrary too many times. It was so wonderful to see how much their faces lit up when they received a compliment, or when they won. It was absolutely incredible! It made me want to have a whole bunch of children, so I can help them all feel incredible. We also got permission to hug the kids, which was awesome. At the end of the second day, one of the little girls ran up to me, and with this massive smile on her face said "muchas gracias!," and gave me a huge hug. It was so sweet and tender, I could not believe the suffering these children had been through, and the things they still suffer. To see all of the light that these children had inside, it made me want to go there every day. It was absolutely an incredible experience. I know that the Lord gives us experiences thus so we can open our eyes a little bit, and be able to really help those that suffer. It was such a powerful call to action, because the only way we can really help these kids is by helping them learn about Christ and his plan for us, as well as teaching their families, so that they can change. I know that the gospel changes and fixes broken homes, marriages, and lives. I could feel the love of my savior for these children when he said "Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven." It was such a sweet opportunity to feel so close to the kingdom of heaven. I love you all, and I hope you have a wonderful week, and wonderful Christmas!!!

--Dallin

Psychologist and Gratitude

This week was pretty awesome.  For P-Day, we went to a member in our ward who is a psychologist.  The thing is, our ward serves almost everyone that works for the area, or the US embassy.  So even though this psychologist is Peruvian, she works with all the ambassadors, church leaders, and famous people from Peru.  So she's basically top-notch!  And when we ate lunch at her house the other week, she said she would give us a free evaluation!  So the 8 office missionaries and the assistants went to see her.  It was so cool!  She told us a bunch of stories, and had us draw ourselves, and our families, and did a visualization exercise where we imagined a forest, and various things inside the forest.  It was remarkable the things she was able to learn by just those simple things!  So she's going to write it all up, and give us tips and pointers for improving.  For free!  It was super cool!

I was also reading 2 Nephi 9 this week, and it is awesome!!  It is incredible to see Jacob's exclamations of wonder and gratitude.  I also loved how logical and well laid out it is!  God is a God of order, but also infinitely merciful.  Some of the most powerful verses in this chapter are a quote from Isaiah, masterfully woven into the conclusion of the chapter:

50 Come, my brethren, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters; and he that hath no money, come buy and eat; yea, come buy wine and milk without money and without price.

51 Wherefore, do not spend money for that which is of no worth, nor your labor for that which cannot satisfy. Hearken diligently unto me, and remember the words which I have spoken; and come unto the Holy One of Israel, and feast upon that which perisheth not, neither can be corrupted, and let your soul delight in fatness.

52 Behold, my beloved brethren, remember the words of your God; pray unto him continually by day, and give thanks unto his holy name by night. Let your hearts rejoice.

Let our hearts rejoice in this Christmas season, as we remember the wonderful mercies and grace of our Redeemer, even Jesus Christ!

Love you all!
--Dallin

Doctrine or Psychology

This week has been really interesting. We had zone conferences all week, and then leadership council on Friday, so I haven't been doing what I normally do all week. I got to hear a lot of really good stuff, and we changed some rules! Ever since we got a new president, we've been waiting for that to happen and it finally did. We can now eat with the people!! It is amazing! I'm so excited! It's something I had been thinking about a lot, and now if somebody offers us something, we can for the most part, eat it! It's really a blessing because giving food is such a huge part of the latin american culture, and we feel really bad refusing the food the people have prepared. It's awesome!

We also got to talk to a psychologist in the zone conferences, who talked to us about virtue. It was so interesting! He talked about how if you imagine your favorite food, really vividly, you start salivating. Our minds can't or don't distinguish most of the time between imagination and reality. He talked about how when we have a thought in our heads, we have about 3 seconds to decide if we want to respond to it. If the thought stays in our heads longer than 3 seconds, our bodies will physically respond to it, obviously depending on the thought. So, those 3 seconds are crucial, because bodily responses often function as a positive feedback loop, in that once it starts, it's way easier to keep going than it is to stop. He showed us how in the same way, if we shout "STOP!" in our heads, our mind responds, and all our mental processes stop. If we then fill our mind with virtuous things, scriptures, hymns, The Living Christ, family, spiritual experiences, then we can prevent bad thoughts from having any effect on us.

He made really clear the distinction between temptation, sin, and weakness. Temptation is an opportunity to exercise our agency and faith by trusting in God and following the commandments. Sin is ceding to temptation, and breaking a commandment. Weakness then, is the lack of knowledge, power, and holiness, caused by our mortal condition. We can recognize moments when we are weak, and plan to be strong in those moments, making them more spiritual. We can put up spiritual pictures, we can turn on spiritual music, or we can avoid those moments all together. He talked about how as we do that, our "dominion will shall be an everlasting dominion" (D&C 121:46), and that dominion is a synonym for self-control. It really struck me the fact that virtue is not a passive concept. It's a constant struggle and constantly applied.

I really loved to hear the scriptures applied to psychology. It was another testimony to me, that if we really study the scriptures, look for revelation, and follow the revelation we receive, we will be able to overcome any problem. It is absolutely amazing!!

Love you all!

Temple Baptisms, Developing on Linux, Thanksgiving, & Depending on Christ

This week was pretty awesome for me! I got to go to the temple and help some converts do baptisms for the dead, which was an awesome experience! I got to be part of the confirming process, and it was just beautiful. One of the converts said that every time she went under the water, she felt like she could hear "gracias." It was such a wonderful process!

Then, I was sitting at my desk on Thursday, and President told me he wanted to meet with me. He has implemented this system to get our key indicators daily through a texting poll. So, he told me he wants me to be in charge of that whole system! The web portal, the database connections, the SMS Gateway connections, all of it! I'm super excited!! He said I can develop it all on Linux, and I have a meeting with the guy who is currently in charge of it on Monday, and it's all amazing!

Also on Thursday we had Thanksgiving! Our pensionista is the best!! They made us think they were moving, so we had to come early, and when we walked in, there was a banquet of food on the table! They had turkey, chicken, masamora morada, sweet potatoes, some really good rice dish, russian salad, chicha morada, and it was all amazing! But when my companion saw it, he started crying. A lot. He had gone to an orphanage that day to coordinate some of the activities that we are planning for the mission, and when he saw all that food, he could only think of these kids that had been mistreated in terrible ways, and that they had never had and still wouldn't have a dinner like this. It was a very sobering reminder. 

I am so grateful for everything that you guys have given me! All the food, shelter, opportunities for learning, the experiences we've shared, and the wonderful relationships I have enjoyed and continue to enjoy. I am also immensely grateful to God for everything He does. He blesses my life every day, and I can feel his spirit so strongly during my mission, I know He lives. I know He loves me, and loves all of you. It's an incredible knowledge that only comes through the spirit. He really can help us in everything. I'm so eternally grateful that He loves us in spite of all our mistakes and flaws, and is always willing to help us in every moment. It's absolutely incredible!!

I was studying the Isaiah chapters of 2 Nephi in my personal study, and I found some scriptures that are just incredible!! I know that sometimes we can't do what God asks, that we're just not good enough, and one of the things I have noticed as a theme is that God promises that we can, if we depend on him. 2 Nephi 7:2-3 is such a poignant reflection of this, because Isaiah is speaking Messianically, and you can really hear the voice of Christ, how he feels when we don't depend on him:

2 Wherefore, when I came, there was no man; when I called, yea, there was none to answer. O house of Israel, is my hand shortened at all that it cannot redeem, or have I no power to deliver? Behold, at my rebuke I dry up the sea, I make their rivers a wilderness and their fish to stink because the waters are dried up, and they die because of thirst.

3 I clothe the heavens with blackness, and I make sackcloth their covering.

How powerless He must feel sometimes, as He comes, and nobody lets him in, calls, and nobody answers. He, who dried up seas and rivers, that has complete control over, even created the heavens, who delivered the Israelites from Egypt, cannot do anything if we reject him. He can make us everything, He can fill our lives with happiness and peace, and He is the only way we can have happiness after this life. And yet we reject him. It's something that is incredible, sad, and true. But that is the story of this life, to learn how to accept Him in our lives, and apply His atonement. I know that as we develop faith in Jesus Christ, repent daily of our transgressions, and make and honor covenants with God, first among them baptism, that we will be able to stand on the right hand of God at the last day, and be filled with a fullness of His glory and joy. It is so amazing!

I love you all!

--Dallin

P.S. I can't use Google hangouts now, by order of the area, so I will only be communicating by email from now on!

Personal Secretary and Power of the Gospel

My companion is mostly in charge, and I'm learning, but after this transfer, I'll be the only [personal secretary.]  It's pretty intense!! My companion's name is Elder Hidalgo, and he was my district leader in El Augustino. He's awesome! I'm serving in La Molina, close to the mission office. My job is to realize legal procedures, so things like immigration, leaving the country, all that. So that also means I handle all of those processes within the mission as well, so when somebody is going home, I'm in charge of making it happen, start to finish. It's pretty intense! I'm also in charge of making systematic improvements in the infrastructure, which is pretty fun!

This week we found some new investigators, and it was super awesome! The cool thing about my area is that the majority of people who listen to you are pretty serious about their intentions, because if not, they don't have any time. So the percentage of investigators that get baptized is much higher, even when the net number is lower. It was a really interesting lesson where we were very frank with them. We talked about the church of Christ, and it's organization. We also talked a little bit about the Book of Mormon, and I got to testify that it was true. I felt so strongly in that moment that it is a book of scripture, inspired by God. I know it's true, and that it can change our lives, if we let it. It really does have power, and I notice so strongly when I miss a day of studying it. It just feels wrong. I don't have much more to tell you guys, but I love you so much! Have a wonderful life!!

Personal Secretary and Sabbath Day

11/8/17

I didn't get to write this Monday, because I am now the new Personal Secretary for President Amato. My P-Days are now Saturday. I will talk all about that on Saturday. Love you all so much!

11/11/17
Wow! This week has been crazy!!!  I started as personal secretary on Monday, and that night we went to the airport to send the missionaries home and pick up new missionaries.  Which means I was there all night!  I was exhausted, but it was a cool experience to see all the missionaries that had finished two years in the service of God, and then see two missionaries just barely starting.  It was a really interesting time for reflection.  President Amato talked to me about my role as a secretary.  It was really interesting.  He put a lot of emphasis on our purpose as missionaries: Invite others to come unto Christ.  Even though I have an assignment right now that is a little separate from that, I have the responsibility to work way harder in the little proselyting time I have.  I am super excited!  I've heard the ward's great, and I see a lot of potential!

I'm also working on improving the infrastructure of the office, so that instead of treating a computer like a really efficient filing cabinet, we can actually leverage it to make us more efficient.  It's going to be very interesting!

We had a really interesting lesson with an investigator the other day.  We taught her the sabbath day.  It was so interesting to see how sincere she was!  She has two jobs, one to live, and one as a passion, and the one for her passion often takes time Saturdays and Sundays.  So we taught her the lesson, and at the end, she told us, "I know it's wrong, and I know what I have to do, but it's going to hurt so much.  I don't know if I can do it."  It was so interesting to see in that moment the reflection of the struggle between the natural man, and the spirit.  For the most part, we know what we have to do, but it's so hard.  I was so impressed as I saw her crying and expressing her desire to follow God 100% when she gets baptized, and pleading for help to be able to do the right thing.  When we want to do the right thing so bad we are pleading to God to help us, that is when we see great changes in ourselves.  That's when we follow in the steps of Nephi when he said: "Wilt thou make me that I may shake at the appearance of sin?"  That is a broken heart and a contrite spirit.  I came out of that lesson reminded of the importance, the reality, of this war we are waging.  Fighting for the welfare of our souls, and that of every human in existence.  I know this is the church of God.  I know Jesus Christ leads this church, and with the immortality and eternal life of man as the only objective.  That endless joy, and that endless peace.
I love you all so much!

--Dallin

Diligence and Sugar Cane

This week has been pretty eventful! I got the one year cards from everyone, which was super awesome! I also am really learning a lot. I was studying the Book of Mormon very intently this week, and it was awesome! I was reading 1 Nephi 13:37, and it felt like it was talking to me! I really felt like God wanted me to know in that moment that these things were true, and that as I seek to bring forth Zion, and endure to the end, I will be lifted up. It felt amazing! I was so happy! I also learned about how we receive answers to prayers. Nephi answers it so clearly, I was shocked I had not read it before:

1 Nephi 15:11
Do ye not remember the things which the Lord hath said?—If ye will not harden your hearts, and ask me in faith, believing that ye shall receive, with diligence in keeping my commandments, surely these things shall be made known unto you.

It really struck me that "diligence in keeping [the] commandments" is part of that. If we want an answer from God, we have to show our faith by testing him, keeping the commandments, and only then will we receive it. It's something that makes sense, but stated so clearly in the Book of Mormon! I love finding pearls of truth that really teach us how to live our lives depending on God. It's amazing!

On another note, I have sugar cane! It is really interesting to eat. You basically chew it until all the juice comes out, and then throw away the fibrous mass that's left. It's really good!!!

Love you so much!

"I Don't Have Time Right Now"

This week has been pretty interesting over here. More than anything, I saw things that really represented a clear lack of understanding.

I want to plead with every one of you to not ever say, "I don't have time right now." When talking about the things of God, that has to be the number one priority. And I don't say it because I am a missionary and I want you to listen to me. In this day and age there is a prevailing attitude and understanding that religion is optional. It's something we do on Sundays, or when we have extra time. What we don't understand is Mosiah 2:41 --

"And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness. O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it."

This is really the key. God will bless us in all things! Whatever things are taking up your time, you will be able to perform better with God. Who can compete with an omnipotent being? You will never be able to accomplish everything you want to do, without God. But really it's much more than that. If you think that it's too much time, or too much effort, what are you really trading? That time and effort, what difference does it make? It's the difference between living a static, single life, forever, or living with God, and our families, and progressing eternally. I know I've always felt that sting when I know I could have done better, but that now it's too late. Imagine looking up at those who do gain that eternal reward, and knowing it was in your power, that only your decisions stopped you from getting there. That is the "lake of fire and brimstone."

So I urge every one of you who are striving to follow the commandments, to not give up. Not ever. We will always make mistakes, but when we give up we accept our fate. That is when we stop progressing. God will never give up on you. He will always be there lifting you up and blessing you with strength. And to those of you who are feeling like religion is nice and optional, it's never too early to start striving, to accept the blessings God wants to give you. But it will be too late. At some moment this time to change and become will end, and we will be judged. Don't let it beat you! I know everyone can do it. Were it not so, God wouldn't have sent us here to earth. He is your biggest champion! The whole history of the world is small, weak people becoming the most important, through God. Enoch was young and slow of speech, and ended up creating a city so righteous it was translated. You can do it!

And then there are those who don't believe. I implore you to reconsider. At least give it a shot. If you really want to know God, he will reveal himself to you, but in his own way. There is so much evidence for God, but much of it is personal. How one feels when he is praying, reading the scriptures, going to church, all of these things are the evidence for a God. I know correlation doesn't imply causation, but over weeks, months, or years, it does. In the end, it comes down to a choice to believe and experiment. There is a video I have always liked about how one atheist came to believe, and I know it works for everyone, but it has to come from the heart.

https://www.mormonchannel.org/watch/series/mormon-messages/the-hope-of-gods-light

I love you all, and please, please, never give up!!

Amazing Investigators

This week has been crazy! We had a ton of investigators come to sacrament meeting, and we have some investigators that are literally amazing! We left them 3 Nephi 11 in the Book of Mormon, and when we came back, they told us everything, including that the Lord called 12 disciples, and gave Nephi power and authority! It was so cool to see people who really want to learn more! They even came to church on Sunday, and loved it! They are awesome! 

We also have an investigator that literally wants to change his life, and is 100% dedicated to following Christ. It's so inspiring to see! I don't have more time, because I was putting the final touches on the database, but I love you all!

Finding Fun and HLJ

This week has been awesome! We found some awesome new investigators, and we are really starting to think outside the box to find new ones! We are thinking about having a sister do sidewalk art, singing in the park, doing surveys about the Book of Mormon in the park, it's going to be awesome! Also, my companion and I started caroling hymns to contact, and we'll see how well it works! It's so much fun to think of new ways to find people to teach!

Today we went to a fair in Chosica for its anniversary, and there was a lady selling rings for 5 sols, and she engraved whatever you wanted on them! So I bought a really cool one with the Lord's Prayer on it, and I engraved HLJ (Haz lo Justo, CTR in Spanish), and "Alma 5:7." It's a scripture that has exquisite language that describes what I'm trying to accomplish here in the mission:

Behold, he changed their hearts; yea, he awakened them out of a deep sleep, and they awoke unto God. Behold, they were in the midst of darkness; nevertheless, their souls were illuminated by the light of the everlasting word; yea, they were encircled about by the bands of death, and the chains of hell, and an everlasting destruction did await them.

I'm sorry again for the brevity of this week's message, but we are in the process of moving to a new system to manage our follow up for the investigators... I love you all! Have a wonderful week!

Conference!

I don't have a lot of time this week, as it's the first week of the transfer with a lot of administration...

I loved the conference this week!  It was so powerful, and I loved all of the talks.  I also especially loved the defense of the Book of Mormon, the exposition on the Family a Proclamation, and the talk by Jeffrey R. Holland about the nature of "be ye perfect" and our covenants.  It was so powerful to see how each one could directly answer the concerns of our investigators!!  I'm so excited to be able to share it with them!!

I love you all!
Dallin



Teaching the Gospel and Taking His Burden

This week has been incredible!  On Wednesday, we got to go to two lessons with President Amato.  Like hear President Amato teach missionary lessons!  It was incredible!  He left us with two new lessons.

One, connecting the spirit to the Book of Mormon.  Nobody wants to read the Book of Mormon when they are all super busy, and they don't understand the language, and it's not very interesting from a worldly standpoint.  However, when we connect the Book of Mormon with the feelings of peace and happiness they feel, they have a reason to read it, and they can begin to really acquire that testimony of Jesus Christ, and His church.  It was so simple, and yet so important!  I loved learning it.
 
The second thing we learned was about how we should pray to receive an answer regarding the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon.  We had been teaching Galatians 5:22-23, and then Moroni 10:3-5.  That is all true, but a little difficult to recognize an answer, because everyone expects to and does feel the spirit when they're praying.  President Amato taught us a very interesting analysis of Moroni 10:4.  What it instructs us to do is pray and ask "if these things are not true" (emphasis added).  If we then teach at least the content of D&C 9:9, they will understand how to receive a negative answer.  And it's much easier to recognize a negative answer than positive, because who expects to feel bad when praying?  Nobody!  But we know that if we pray, and we feel bad, that it's wrong, so if we ask if the Book of Mormon is not true, we can get a testimony that it isn't not true, or that it is true!  Genius!!  It was such a cool experience!!

Then on Sunday, we had a meeting with Elder Calderon, of the Seventy.  It was so cool!  We were with the ward councils in all of the stake, and it was such a wonderful experience!  We talked about working together with members, and how we are all the same team.  He talked about how we all have lives that are super full, super busy with too much stuff to do.  He then talked about Matthew 11:28-30.  If we want the promised blessing of rest, we need to take upon us his burden!  I had never thought about that part before, and it was really eye opening.  So in order to take advantage of the support and help of Christ in our busy lives, we have to take upon us his work, and his glory, namely, "To bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man." (Moses 1:39)  It was so cool!!!  The whole ward started to ask when they could accompany us, and give us references, in that very instant!  it was incredible!

Sunday we also had a lesson with a certain Mike.  He was so cool!  He wants to change his life around to give a good example for his daughter and to help her have a better life.  It was so tender to see the love he had for his daughter, as well as the desire to change.  He told us from the start that he wanted to live like a Latter-day Saint, and he came to church, and he's awesome!

Today for P-Day, we climbed a mountain before dawn, up to a Catholic cross, and watched the sun crest over the mountain.  Super cool, and great exercise!  Those are some of the pictures!
I love you all!  Keep changing the world and coming closer to the Lord!

You Have a Hope

This week I had some really sweet experiences. On Saturday we gave a baptismal interview for some Elders in our zone, and while we were leaving the chapel, a little girl comes up to me, and says: "Usted tiene una esperanza," or in English, You have a hope. It reminds me a lot of a scripture from the Bible:

1 Peter 3:15: But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.

And also Moroni 7, which talks about faith, hope, and charity. I had been praying for these things for about a month, and it was such a cool experience to have a little girl, who I have never seen before, and probably will never see again, tell me I have a hope. Knowing that Satan has no power over little children, and that they are pure, it then becomes basic logic that some of the easiest messengers that God has are little children. So cool!

And then on Sunday, we had ward conference. We went to pick up an investigator, and she told us that she couldn't come because of an emergency with her cousin. So we went away sorrowing, and went to the chapel to greet everyone. We are teaching the owner of a restaurant that is in a lot of debt, so she is working Sundays. Her husband is less active for the same reason. But on Sunday, we saw the whole family coming to church!! They all walked in together and sat down. And then, another family we are teaching, the grandpa, and his two granddaughters walked in!! And the ward conference was so, so inspiring, so full of the spirit, It was perfect! I know it was Heavenly Father blessing our action of faith, getting up early to pick up our investigator, even though it wasn't her time to come to the chapel. That is faith!! It was such a cool experience to confirm our faith, and inspire us to continue working and doing our best!

Also, today we had P-day in a country club! It was half destroyed by the flooding, so we did service Saturday morning, and then today we went back for P-day, and grilled hamburgers, which I made, and then played volleyball! It was super fun, and it looks super cool! Those are the pictures I have :)

I love you all! Have a wonderful life!!

Multizone Conference and Meeting an Apostle

This week was awesome! On Friday we had a multizone conference with President, and it was super powerful! We talked about a training from Elder Anderson called The Urgency of Finding People to Teach, and it was super interesting! It talked about how we need to be more efficient with our methods of finding people, using technology, the members, and finding generally more receptive people. It was super powerful, and our president sang a song, I think from the Children's Songbook, called 'How Will They Know?' It was super awesome!!

I got to give a training on joining forces, members and missionaries, and the cool thing I realized, is that there is no difference! And the only way we can really work effectively together is when we are filled with charity. So we talked about how to cultivate charity in ourselves and in the ward, because if we have that, the ward will want to share what they are experiencing with everyone, and will trust us to teach them, they will want to fellowship them, and help them with everything in their lives! It's the key! It was super cool.

And then. On Saturday. I shook Elder Dallin H. Oaks' hand!!!!! He came to our mission and talked to us, and it was absolutely incredible. I felt so strongly his love for us, and his humility, and his calling as an Apostle and Prophet of the Lord Jesus Christ. He also has a sense of humor, and when he laughs, he laughs with his whole body! He is so, so wonderful! He talked about the number one error teachers make, as analyzed by someone who has been a teacher his whole adult life. That is, assuming too much. When we teach someone, and they don't have a foundation, how can we hope to build knowledge to help them? It was very interesting the way he described it. What called my attention the most, was that just before the closing prayer, he got up and said that the Spirit had told him to make a clarification. He made the clarification, and sat down, and we finished. He wasn't ashamed, or embarrassed, or even uncomfortable. He knew that he was there to speak for God, and when God says you have to change something, you change it! It was such a powerful testimony to me!

 He also talked about the importance of the focus of our lessons being the gospel of Jesus Christ, and not the organizational structure of the church. It was super, super cool! At the end, he talked about things we should focus on learning during our missions, and our lives, things like discipline, obedience, and the gospel. It was such a cool experience! I loved it!

And today, I made La Salsa Besciamella! The only problem is I forgot my camera in the church, so I can't give photos until next week, but it was super good!

Love you all! Keep seeing miracles in your lives, and loving the Lord!

--Dallin

Ministering, Miracles, Changing the World, and Chicharron de Pota

This week has been incredible!  We had leadership council on Wednesday, and it was awesome!  President introduced a new method of collecting indicators!!  We now report daily, and send our indicators as a response to a text message, and the district and zone leaders receive a report automatically by text, and we can focus our calls on ministering, rather than administering.  We can also address problems as they come, rather than addressing all of them on Wednesday or Sunday.  It's so cool!  

We also talked about the right we have to ask for and receive miracles.  The promises in the Book of Mormon are that God is a God of Miracles, and that He doesn't change.  It's really incredible to see the good that we can do with the word of God!  Also, the feeling in the mission is absolutely incredible!  I love it so much!

On Sunday, we had a lesson with one of the young men that accompanies us a lot, and he told us that he thinks the missionaries are absolutely amazing.  He then told me that I was especially amazing, because when I got here, I always said, and I still always say, that we're going to change the world!  Turns out, that one man can change the world is a concept that he has loved since he was a kid, and when I started to say that, he was reminded of the power we have as humans to impact those around us.  It was such a cool moment, and a confirmation of the good we do as missionaries for everyone.  I love this work!

Also, today I made chicharron of pota, and it was so good!  We ate all the same stuff again, but I was able to make it, and it was so cool!  Those are the photos today :)

I love you all!  Have a wonderful. amazing life!

Angels and Believing Christ

This week has been pretty awesome! We had interviews with president, and I learned so much! He explained why we had to complete and bring our 4 generation chart! Using D&C 13, and D&C 84:88, he explained that the angels we have a right to call on are our ancestors! That they are with us when we are working, but only when we show sufficient faith to tell them where to go! So now, when we plan to contact people, we specify that we are going to contact 7 houses on a particular street, or the 3 houses to the left and right of a particular investigator, but very specific. And then we see miracles! Our ancestors are able to go and prepare somebody to be ready to listen to the message of Christ! It's literally a miracle. It all comes down to our belief of Christ. 

I have been really thinking about the difference in believing in Christ, and believing Christ. It's really interesting, because in Peru, everyone believes in Christ, but very few believe Christ. I think that extends even to the church, where people really believe that God and Jesus Christ appeared to Joseph Smith, and that he translated the Book of Mormon by the power of God, but when the Book of Mormon says that "God has not ceased to be a God of miracles." (Mormon 9:15), that applies to other people. If we can really believe in the promises of God, we live with much more peace and joy, because we don't have to control and do everything in our life, but rather we can let God take care of a lot of it. This is the message that changes lives, and it really lets us focus on who and what is important. I know it's true, and I know that God is with us. That God is still with his prophet, and that we are really his children, and he loves us, and will do all he can to help us, if we let him.

That's all this week, but it was incredible!

Confirmation of Faith and Preparation Day

This week has been super cool!  Do you remember Mariah, that was getting married?  Well, she's now married, baptized, and confirmed!!  And it's incredible!  She shared an experience with us that I want to share with you guys!  She first decided that it was important to pay tithing, and payed it.  She had borrowed some money from her boss to be able to get married, but a lot of money, and they were going to discount it from her paycheck. She and her husband have the tradition of praying for their bosses and coworkers every night. So, her boss called her, and said that he had been talking with his wife, and that they were going to consider the loan a gift for their wedding, and so they didn't have to pay it back!! It was so cool, and to see the confirmation of her faith shining in her eyes the day of her confirmation, was incredible!!

Also, remember David, that you guys prayed for?  He totally received a confirmation of his testimony!  He's super cool!  Thank you so much!

We had transfers on Tuesday, and now I'm with Elder Flores from Bolivia (The Elder in my pictures that isn't me).  He is awesome!  He planned a zone P-Day (preparation day) for today, and it was incredible!  We got up at 6, and went on a run, followed by a hike as a companionship, which was awesome!  We went with a young man that is preparing to serve a mission, and his nonmember friend!  It was the best!  Then we went to a stadium, and played kickball as a zone, followed by ultimate frisbee.  We then went back to the chapel, and guessed at riddles while we waited for the food to be ready.  And then, we ate mostritos, or chaufa with fried chicken and french fries!  It was super, super fun!

This week I've been listening to the Joseph Smith the Prophet some more, and there's one part where they talk about councils, and how was the school of the prophets, and how we should have the same attitude in our councils.  It really hit me hard when Truman G. Madsen said that we should apply this scripture to all of our councils in the church:

D&C 88:133
Art thou a brother or brethren? I salute you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, in token or remembrance of the everlasting covenant, in which covenant I receive you to fellowship, in a determination that is fixed, immovable, and unchangeable, to be your friend and brother through the grace of God in the bonds of love, to walk in all the commandments of God blameless, in thanksgiving, forever and ever. Amen.

Super powerful!  If we can apply this in our service, we will see miracles, and we will receive revelation!

I love you guys!  You are incredible!