Counting Blessings :)

Hello family! And friends! And everyone who is still reading these after 14 months. 

First off, I would just like to comment that I have started my Christmas celebrations in full blow. Not even the 100-degree weather can hold me back. Last Christmas, when I had first gotten to Perú, maybe I was a little worried that I would give the wrong impression started Navidad so early... but this year, I consider myself Peruana, and I still consider it acceptable. Let the jingle bells ring! 

Found this cute little painting on a wall the other day. We thought it was picture worthy!

This week there were lots of things that made me happy -

1) We had a baptism :) We rescued a family that had two children to baptize - Casey and Blake, ages 9 and 10. It was such a happy day for them, and I am sure for Heavenly Father, too! They both came out of the water GLOWING... and the fact that their dad was able to baptize them just made it even more special :)

Baptism this week!

People making covenants... it is exciting :)

2) Sunday was the Primary Program. Boy, it is just as cute with Peruvian sunbeams as it is with American sunbeams. They still scream the songs, fight for the front row, get nervous for their one-line talks, and treat the microphone like a sacrament-meeting-snack. And yet.... somehow you can't help but feel the Spirit. God lives. Jesus loves you. We have a prophet. The scriptures are true. My family is forever. What more of a testimony could you ask for?

3) I had a lot of fun recognizing all of the small blessings that I have. For example - I am still using the same pair of shoes that I started my mission with. They are completely trashed and have changed color about 3 times... but they have walked me around the whole south of Perú, and will keep me going for as long as God keeps me here :)

4) Another blessing. The scriptures. And studying. This week I felt SO uplifted and strengthened with the things that I learned from the Book of Mormon. I finished reading it all way through for the 4th time on my mission on Friday. As I was praying and telling Heavenly Father how grateful I am for the Book of Mormon in my life, He helped me feel and know once again that is really IS true. 

Fun fact - if the family is kneeling down at 6:00 am to start scripture study... we are all kneeling down at the same time to start our day with the strength of the Lord. 8:00 am sharp for me here in Perú to start my personal study... and 6:00 am for you guys. Just another thought that makes me happy :)

The doctrine is TRUE!

Hermana Sintay :)

Miracles and Changes

Hello family and friends!

Here's the news for this week:

MONDAY - we went to Paracas, Pisco, Perú. Pictures attached, all in all, it was great, every once in a while it is fun to see the tourist-y stuff that there is where I am serving. 

Paracas. Pisco. Perú.

Looking down a 70 foot cliff to the ocean... and the rocks... yeah, it was pretty cool :) Too bad we couldn't get any closer - they were pretty afraid that a missionary would fall off the cliff or something. A vaild concern. 

There was SO much wind. Impossible to take a picture without my hair blowing all over the place............ Let me just say that I am grateful we didn't go in dresses.That would have been a problem.. jajaja

A cool road. I wanted to take some pictures :)

PS. They didn't tell me until AFTERWARD that there were two cars that were coming toward me on the road. jjajaja thanks Elderes...

TUESDAY - we had a few miracles. We went and visited an active family who just needed some strength and support. Their name is family Flores :) We had planned to share the First Vision with them to help them remember all of the blessings in their life that come from the Restoration of the gospel. Because we are missionaries, and our purpose is always to find more families to teach, we knew that we would also prepare this family to give us a reference of someone else who needs the same blessings of the Restoration. Right after we shared the First Vision, my companion asked them, "Who is the next family that you know that needs to know about the truth of this Restoration?" Right after she made the question, there was a knock on the door. Hermano Flores went and opened the door, and returned with a young man, probably about 30 years old. He sat down and said, almost in tears, "Hermanas, this is the next person. This is my friend Owen. His name has been in my mind this whole lesson. I was just praying he would come." We were able to teach Owen right there with the whole family Flores. It really was a miracle! Owen told us that he didn't know why, but he just felt like he should come and visit the family Flores right then. But we knew why -God was preparing his heart. Alma 13:24.

WEDNESDAY - We went to Chincha for a training with President and the assistants. Always great. Revelation was received. I love learning by the Spirit. 

THURSDAY - With permission from the assistants, my companion and I organized a zone activity for all of the Elders. The purpose was to help them have experiences in their own family history so that they could have more of a testimony as they invite and work with their conversos and rescues to go to the temple. It turned out so well - there were 3 differents stations, lots of interaction, games and treats tambien.. the Zone Leaders helped us a lot as well. Since that activity, we have had twice the amount of lessons in family history. Another miracle :)

Well, time is up, so I can't report much about Friday Saturday and Sunday. But I will just say one more thing. 

I was looking at a few pictures from right at the beginning of my mission, and it really shocks me how much I have changed. And, it's not just the fact that I have lost 25 lbs... or that I hardly wear makeup anymore... or that I live with a constant sunburn... It's gotta be something else. 

I just look happier. 

And I am happier. The light of Christ is real. 

Make sure that you have it. I promise that others will see it, too :)

The doctrine is true!!

Hermana Sintay :)

I apologize in advance.

This will be the lamest email you ever receive from my part. 

Last Pday! In the beach! :) Zona Pisco

Sorry to all - no time to email today :( We are going as a zone to Paracas..... google it, should be fun! 

I promise that this week there were miracles, trials, and lots of spiritual growth. 

I LOVE YOU ALL!

The doctrine is true!

Our picture in front of the plaque... of the new chapel here in La Villa, Pisco, Perú :)

Hermana Sintay :)

Our testimony :)

Given that it was fast and testimony meeting this Sunday, Hermana Luna and I wanted to share our testimony with you all... through this song. You might recognize the tune :)

Click here to listen to the recording.

I know that He lives. 

A voice recording that my companion and I made last Pday :)

Click here to hear the recording

Blessings Day by Day

This email is going to be short, I apologize! I have a bus to catch to Lima in just a little bit. Leadership Council is tomorrow bright and early, and I've got a 5-hour mountain bus with my name on the seat. Yippee!

This week was full of meetings and events... on Thursday, I had to go to Ica for another leadership training that the assistants had for the Zone Leaders and Sister Training Leaders. My companion hung out with some other Hermanas in Ica while I spent the whole day in a training with the leaders in the south of the mission. We learned a lot that has helped us prepare for the Leadership Concilio that we will have with President and the rest of the mission leaders tomorrow. Thankfully, Ica is only 2 hours away, so we didn't have to stay the night anywhere :)

On Saturday, we went to the TEMPLE! I am so sorry that I don't have pictures.... the Spirit told me to bring my camera charger just in case, but given the fact that I had completely charged my camera before we left, I trusted in the arm of the flesh and ended up with a dead camera and no pictures. Well.... it's okay :) Everyone had an amazing experience, there were several converts and rescues who were there for the first time... and lots of other faithful active members who had been waiting to go the temple for the last couple years but just couldn't afford the trip. It was a beautiful day spent there in the Lord's house. We didn't do a session because we were so busy helping everyone else with their appointments and reservations - but it was alright :) I was happy to be there and see the Spirit of Elijah working in the hearts of my brothers and sisters.

Sunday was another historical day here in La Villa, Pisco.... WE HAD CHURCH IN A CHAPEL! I cannot even explain how our fast and testimony meeting went... almost every member wanted to stand up and bear their testimony of gratitude for the new chapel. The blessings of faithful tithes and offerings have blessed these saints more that I can explain. The chapel is small, but it is exactly what we needed here. Next week there will be pictures :) We had over 100 people attend (people, that is HUGE), and everyone said that they wanted to bring their friends next week so that they could see it. We are in the process of  planning a HUGE activity and open doors so that all of La Villa can come and see the blessing of a chapel that the Lord has given us :)

I love being a missionary. I know He lives. 

The doctrine is true!

Hermana Sintay

Blonde Hair Black Market

 "One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his temple."  

Psalms 27:4. Ponderize. Week 4.

This week we have been up to our ears with preparation for the temple trip we will be taking this SATURDAY (yes, Halloween.) We helped a small branch here organize their FIRST ever trip to the temple as a branch! They are about an hour away from Pisco and have been an organized branch for 2 years-ish. They still don't have a chapel - but they love that little house chapel that they have :) We also will be taking a handful of recent converts and rescues with us from the rest of the Stake. 

OTHER great news :) Remember how I told you that we didn't have a chapel here in my area? And that we met for church in a dirt field with benches? Well.... THEY FINISHED BUILDING US A CHAPEL! And on Sunday, we will meet there! We will be having an open house to invite everyone to come and see (John 1:39). The saints here are so happy and just feel so blessed to have a chapel. And I feel so blessed and happy to be here for this historic time :)

Completely different topic. I cut my hair for the first time here in Perú this week. When you reach the point where you find single hairs.... with 6 split ends.... it is time. I guess 1 year of constant sun exposure, ponytails and bucket showers will do that to ya. 

I was 100% terrified to cut my hair here. Down to strangers on the STREET try to reach out and touch my hair, just because they have never seen blonde hair before. Plus there is a black market of hair here in the south of Perú. Bottom line, I was pretty wary of letting a Peruvian anywhere near me with scissors. Don't get me wrong - I love Peruvians. But I would like my hair to not end up in a black market.

So, I gathered up my courage and took my record setting split ends to the nicest looking barbershop that I could find here in Pisco (the options were very few). When I walked in, the eyes of everyone there turned into saucers. When I explained that I needed a TRIM, JUST A LITTLE BIT CUT OFF, PLEASE... they rushed me into the closest chair and started running their fingers through my hair, asking how much I wanted for all of it. I had committed my companion to be my wing woman and make SURE that they did not take off more than I wanted. She was laughing so hard that she couldn't even talk. (Yeah, real funny. I was about to have a heart attack.)  After denying the highest offer for my whole head of hair ($50, tempting, no?), they started away with the scissors. Thankfully, after BOLDLY explaining that I was only there to take off my horrible split ends and NOTHING more, they did a good job. When I finished and went to stand up from the chair, I realized that there was not a single hair there on the floor. I wondered where it all must have gone... because they had definitely cut hair off. It was then that I saw the apron pockets of the woman who had cut my hair - brimming with blonde hairs. Maybe those ones made it to the black market... who knows. But the one thing I do know is that no matter how bad my split ends get in these next 6 months, I will NOT be cutting my hair again here.

Well, there is the news for this week :) I love you all and pray that your week is full of miracles. 

Don't forget to go to the temple this week and inquire of Him there in His house. 

The doctrine is true!

Hermana Sintay :)