Hola mi Familia y Amigos:
I hope everyone’s week was good and that everyone had a great New
Years. I am doing really well and it was
fun to celebrate my first New Years out of the country. New Years here in Puno Peru is pretty much
like Christmas, with a lot of fireworks and a lot of drinking.
Today for P-Day, we went to the Puma of Puno which is pretty much like
the Condor that I have shared with you in the past. It was pretty cool and the group of us that
went had a lot of fun today going over there and I took some video along the
way as well as some pictures that I will share below.
What a week! This week involved teaching a lot of new investigators! It’s
Super awesome to be working hard, that is one aspect of the mission I love! As
far as teaching goes, things are moving along pretty good with our
investigators and my Companion and I have a few that need just a little more
work and then they will be ready for baptism.
But overall, things are going really great for us. One of the really neat experiences that I had this past
week was I was able to share my Testimony with some people in Quichua. There are a few people here, especially the
older ones that speak this language.
Interestingly enough, there are a lot of people here who think Quichua is the language the people spoke down here at the time of Christ. There are Quichuan books that refer to the "White God" that visited the people and promised to return some day. Also, there are a lot of people here that think that Machu Picchu is the place that Christ appeared to the people here.
Now, let me tell you a story from this past week! So on Sunday, we were walking
to Church for Sacrament meeting. As we were walking, we walked passed a drunk
man who I thought was passed out from the New Year’s night before. He looked
over and speaking perfect English said “Elders come help me!” Normally we
ignore drunks because we don’t want to face any troubles. But this time, it was
different. I felt the impression to go and help him out. So, I walked over even
though my Companion protested against it, and helped. As I walked over I
noticed the giant tattoo on his chest and smelled the super strong alcohol and
marijuana that he had been using the night before. I helped him up and helped
him put on his shirt. He then said in perfect English “Elders I am coming to Church
with you today!” so, we continued walking to Church and on the way I spoke to
him in English asking how he was so fluent and if he was a member and such. On
the way, he explained that he was born into the church and had lived in Salt
Lake City for 8 years when he was 11 till 18. While there, his Dad served as a Bishop
in a Latino Ward in Salt Lake City. After his Dad had been released the family
decided to move here to Puno where his Dad would continue his work as a Doctor.
It was when he returned to Peru that he decided to leave the Church and began
drinking and doing drugs. Now 29 years old, with his life in a shamble he was
walking to Church with 2 - 19 year old missionaries after not setting foot in a
Church for 11 years! As we entered and sat in the Chapel the meeting began. Coincidentally the first opening hymn was the Spirit of God.
As we sat there and as I shared my hymn book with this man, he began to
sing. The Spirit became very strong and he started sobbing. He spoke and told me
that he wasn’t worthy to be in the Church. He tried to leave but I stuck my arm
around him and told him that he was exactly where the Lord wanted him. He sat
and then it was time for the Sacrament, the Deacons came by our row and the
tray was handed to him. Not taking any, he passed it to me and began to cry
again. He said “I am not clean enough to be taking of this, but because you
brought me here today I know I will be take it again someday!”
After staying for all 3 hours of Church he thanked me and told me that
he wanted to change his life and that he’d be back next Sunday. That was \when
that I learned his last name. I realized that I knew his family, they were in
another Ward but on one occasion when I did discussions with another missionary.
I had a visit with his family several months ago. In the lesson his mother
prayed and asked the Lord to let someone come and help her son. Months later,
the Mother’s prayer would be answered through a prompting. I got to help pull a
drunk man back onto his feet and then have him come to Church with me. I testify
that God answers prayers in his time, all things will and can be made right again.
I testify this is the work of our Father in Heaven here on the earth, I am just
an imperfect 19 year old trying my best to get through each day! We are just
the hands to rescue those in need, his lost sheep.
Love,
Elder Fawcett
Proselyting in Puno Peru
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