Week 27: I Believe

Hey! 

Wow, what a quick week. I really don't have much to report on this week (again), but everything is going well here in Sullana. The heat here is kind of out control right now. I can remember some hot summers back home in Utah, but it's a whole different story when you're out walking in it all day long. I believe I actually got some kind of heat rash this week where I broke out in hives for a few days, so yeah, that was fun hehe. But yeah, the work continues! We like to say out here that this is a man's mission, and not for the faint of heart. I definitely find that to be true. That is exactly what I like about the mission: the challenges and hard things we get to overcome to make us better and stronger. That's the way of life!!

As far as the work, it is going really well. However we have struggled getting people to come to church. We teach a lot of first lessons to people and get them to commit to coming, but it's rare that they actually show up. That's something we are really going to focus on this week. 

We do have a baptism this coming week! We will be baptizing Jefry, the son of our bishop. He's 23, and we have been working with him ever since I came to Sullana. He has been taught for a super long time by missionaries, and now feels like he is finally ready for baptism. I'm super excited for that.

Well I really dont have any more to report on this week, nor time to write in more detail. Im really sorry for the lackluster email. Ill try to do better next week. I know this gospel is true and that this is the work of the Lord! I want to end with the lyrics to How Firm a Foundation that my mom sent me a few weeks back. I absolutely love the message they contain.

1. 1. How firm a foundation, ye Saints of the Lord,
   Is laid for your faith in his excellent word!
   What more can he say than to you he hath said,
   Who unto the Savior, who unto the Savior,
   Who unto the Savior for refuge have fled?
2. 2. In ev’ry condition—in sickness, in health,
   In poverty’s vale or abounding in wealth,
   At home or abroad, on the land or the sea—
   As thy days may demand, as thy days may demand,
   As thy days may demand, so thy succor shall be.
3. 3. Fear not, I am with thee; oh, be not dismayed,
   For I am thy God and will still give thee aid.
   I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,
   Upheld by my righteous, upheld by my righteous,
   Upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand.
4. 4. When through the deep waters I call thee to go,
   The rivers of sorrow shall not thee o’erflow,
   For I will be with thee, thy troubles to bless,
   And sanctify to thee, and sanctify to thee,
   And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.
5. 5. When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie,
   My grace, all sufficient, shall be thy supply.
   The flame shall not hurt thee; I only design
   Thy dross to consume, thy dross to consume,
   Thy dross to consume and thy gold to refine.
6. 6. E’en down to old age, all my people shall prove
   My sov’reign, eternal, unchangeable love;
   And then, when gray hair shall their temples adorn,
   Like lambs shall they still, like lambs shall they still,
   Like lambs shall they still in my bosom be borne.
7. 7. The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose
   I will not, I cannot, desert to his foes;
   That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
   I’ll never, no never, I’ll never, no never,
   I’ll never, no never, no never forsake!

Avanza su Verdad!

Elder Bailey