Week 7 - Arrived in My First Area, Puno, Peru

Hola!!

So much has happened since my last email. I will go really quickly because I am limited to an hour. First off, I finished my 6 weeks in the CCM! It was fantastic but I was definitely ready for the field. We left at 3 am on Tuesday to go catch our flight at the airport. After arriving at the airport we had difficulties with baggage but we were able to make it through security and all of our bags worked out just fine! We then went to our gate and caught a little tram thing out to our plane. The tram took us straight to the plane on the runway just like in the old movies! It was awesome! We then flew for an hour to CUSCO!! After arriving in Cusco I immediately felt the difference in altitude! I was fine though! There were coca leaves for free as we exited the airport but of course those aren’t good... especially for missionaries. We then met up with the Mission President and took bus to the Mission Office. We then had an orientation and I got my pic was taken with the President and Sister Herrera. We then went to President and Sister Herrera’s house for lunch and interviews. It was awesome and my interview went very well. We then went to a hotel where we spent the night.

The following day we were assigned our areas. I was assigned to labor in the Puno Central Area. My trainer is Elder Iza! He is from Ecuador and only speaks SPANISH!!! He was in the military in Ecuador as a National Guard type thing! Pretty legit if you ask me! We take good care of each other! The next day we took an 8 hour bus ride to Puno! It was long and interesting because they had a television for the whole bus.  Some Australian people gave them a James Bond movie to watch on the TVs. Of course none of us watched it but it was funny because after James Bond was over we gave them the restoration video to watch and they didn’t like that very much!

Once in Puno the work began! My area is pretty much ALL a hill. So I walk up and down every single day all day long. It’s a really good workout. We have a penchanista and she’s pretty good at cooking. This is my meal basically cada dia. Breakfast: Fried eggs, bread, and a death grain drink (I drink this pretty much all day because the members like to give it to the missionaries, it is sort of like postum). Lunch: Either chicken feet soup or Chunyo soup (Chunyo is rotten potatoes soak in a river for a month and then stomped on by barefooted Peruvians), and chicken and rice. Dinner is pretty much just rice, bread, and some sort of meat. Yes... I have had guinea pig. It’s not bad. Nothing is really too bad... but most of the Elders hate chunyo but I eat it all. Sometimes my stomach hurts but its all good!

We live in a house with another set of Elders and thankfully I know one of them, Elder Haws.  Elder Haws is not only in the same house with me, but he is from Riverton and was with me in the CCM. He and I are good buddies because we can speak English together once in a while. Every day here is work. We work hard and are teaching a ton of people right now. It’s been really neat because doors that have been closed on other Elders are opening to my Companion and I.  It’s amazing! I bear testimony that the gift of tongues is real. I don’t speak good Spanish but I have been told several times that I sound Peruvian and that they understand me. I testify that this is the Lords work and that through him ALL is possible.

Love

Elder Fawcett

Boarding the Plane from Lima to Cusco

Our Mission Messenger Bags

Me and My Trainer Elder Iza

Elder Iza Showing Me My New Bed!

I Bought Toy Story Sheets For My Bed.. Just Like the Good Ole Days!!! Cost Me 6 Bucks!!

View Outside Our Window,  Looking at Puno and Lake Titicaca .

Looking at the Front Door of Our Apartment!

Week 6 - Elder Fawcett Arrives in Cusco

Dear Parents,

As you can see in the attached photo, your son has arrived safely to the Peru Cusco Mission!  We are thrilled to have him here!  He looks great, a bit tired from the travel, but ready to go!  Thank you for allowing us to watch over him for the next two years.  He has promised that he will be a missionary we can trust, and we have given him that trust.  As well, you can trust that we will do everything that we can to care for him and to help him to become a successful missionary.

Con Gran Amor,

Presidente y Hermana Herrera

Elder Fawcett with President and Sister Herrera

Week 5 - Getting Trunky in the CCM (Peru MTC)

Hola,

This week has been fantastic! Spanish is starting to come a lot more. I am beginning to understand a lot of what is being spoken to me. This week, it’s been pretty tough though. It’s gotten a whole lot more rigorous due to the fact that we are leaving to the field in a few short days. Let me tell you a little bit about some experiences this week. This week, we have gotten to eat some new food!!! :) All sorts of new kinds of chicken and they have even started putting beets in the rice! But seriously though, it’s been great! I am loving all the food and enjoying it very much. This week we had the opportunity to teach the MTC Presidents wife.  She played the role of the investigator and I think it went pretty well because we only had to teach for 20 minutes and we ended up teaching for 35 minutes! Hahaha! But I cannot WAIT to get in to field and begin the work!

Some interesting things from this week:

• The other night, it was the middle of the night and one of the Elders in my room started sleep talking. Everyone woke up and was laughing so hard listening to this Elder say things in his sleep!  
• I wanna share a quick story about what one of my MTC language teachers. He is a convert to the church and has been home from his mission for only a few years. Before his mission, he was a VERY GOOD soccer player. In fact, he was so good that he had the chance to go professional. But... He made the decision to serve a mission and he says that it has blessed his life beyond measure even though he isn’t a Pro soccer player!
• We have trying to speak Spanish at all times during the day except for meals and physical activity. For every word you speak of English is one push up. So... When I get out of here I am either going to be really good at Spanish or be buff.  Sooo I see it is a win win either way! Hahaha

Finally I just wanna share one quick spiritual message with you all. Throughout my time in the MTC I have learned about the principal of Faith more than anything. It’s the VERY FIRST Principal of the Gospel and is so frequently overlooked. The MTC has not by any means been easy. I have worked harder than I ever have in my life, but it’s been incredible to see the results of my labors. Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is what gets me through every single day. With Faith ALL things are possible! Faith means more than just believing, it means eliminating all doubts and pressing forward at ALL times. I am so thankful for the opportunity I have to be in this BEAUTIFUL country and teach the MOST incredible people. Even though each day is the same, I am beginning to become a better person and man through our Savior. I know this is His Church and that He is at the Head of it. I LOVE YOU ALL! I cannot wait for Cusco. FYI: I fly to Cusco Tuesday (23 Aug 2016) probably early in the morning but I don’t know for absolute sure. I don’t know when I can email next but I look forward to sharing my experiences as soon as I can!

LOVE

Elder Fawcett

Finally a Bed my Feet Don't Hang Over On
My Bed is the Top One, I'm 6'2", Bed is under 6'!

My Room Companions

Always Grateful, but this Isn't Provo!