Week 91

Heyo! I know Im getting shorter and shorter with these updates, but heres the quick highlights of the week:

1.       Making “arepas” with the Mendez fam! My companion, Elder Ospina, brought a little Colombian culture to the Mendez family on Monday as he taught us how to make “arepas”, which are basically little fried pieces of cornbread with cheese inside! It was the first time that Id tried them, and they didn’t disappoint. Good stuff.

2.       We had two “greenies” fresh out of the CCM stay the night with us on Tuesday! We were able to house Elder Farrish (from St. George) and Elder Gasaway (from Alaska) for a night and helped prep them to receive their trainers in the mission. It was so great to see their excitement to be in the mission and to help answer their questions and fears about the new and foreign place they would be living in for the next two years. Needless to say, they are going to be two great and successful missionaries. Being with them took my mind back to my first days of my mission, and what a crazy, exciting, and difficult experience that was. Im so grateful for every stage of my mission and what they have made me.

3.       Yefri passed his baptismal interview! We will be dunking Yefri this Saturday! More info to come next week. J

The “not-so-great” of this week consisted of me and my companion getting sick! Both of us on Saturday morning woke up with some really nasty stomach pains, and all the fun that comes with that. We believe that one of the members that we visited the night before (despite all their good intentions) gave us some water to drink straight from the tap, which is not something that you want to take into your body here. While the stomachs of those who live here might be able to handle it, a couple of foreigners like me and my companion cannot. To all future missionaries reading, ALWAYS make sure to ask those who give you something to drink if the water is treated, or boiled! Its not worth experiencing what we had to go though this weekend, lol.

I love this work. I love you all.

Avanza Su verdad!

Elder Bailey

Week 90

Transfers! Well I thought maybe I was going to take off in this last transfer, but looks like I'm hanging around for another 6 weeks. To add to the fun, our zone is opening up 2 new areas, which means more missionaries. So, we are now the leaders of a zone of 24 missionaries! By far the biggest zone in the mission. We're ready to get to work.

Saturday Shnaider was baptized! Shnaider has really become my buddy over the past few weeks. We have been teaching him and his mom, Carla, for some time (also his lil pup, Toby, as seen in the picture). He has been attending all the ward activities, and every Sunday for about 2 months. There was nothing that was going to stop him from being baptized. He also has expressed interest in going out to serve a mission in the coming years. I really love that kid.

Also, got the news this week that one of my converts from Ignacio Merino, Kevin Madrid, recieved his mission call to serve in Colombia, Medellin! Hes going to be a great missionary there. Can't wait to hear all the good he does there.

I love this work! I know I say it a lot, but we are literally seeing so many miracles each day. I just wish I had more time to explain all of them to you guys. There is nothing greater than being apart of the Lords army.

Avanza Su verdad!

Elder Bailey

Week 89 - Copa Piura

What up? Wow what a quick week! Lots of fun things this week!

On Tuesday, I once again found myself out in the busyling city of Catacaos on an exchange with one of my favorite elders, Elder Briseño. Elder Briseño is from SLC and is just starting the misson, but is an absolute stud. Hes super humble, and always willing to work hard and go at it, and is one of my best buds in the mission. Also, I dont know how, but he somehow learned spanish in like 2 months. It must be the latino blood working in him, lol. Overall we had a blast together and helped a lot of their investigators progress. 

On Friday we made the 1 and a half hour drive out to a city down south called Sechura to visit a district meeting in our zone. We had one of my favorite members of our ward, Percy, taxi us out there. It was fun to finally get to visit the most southern part of the mission, and to chat with Percy while my companion took a long nap in the back of the car. We had a super great talk on how we both came to receive our own testimonies of the gospel, and of the miracles we have seen as missionaries. It seemed to be a really good strengthening moment for Percy, who has been passing through some hard times lately.

Saturday morning, we were invited by one of my good friends, Brigham (returned missionary who served in Idaho), to go to BodyTech, which the nicest gym in Piura. It was a blast to finally go to a real gym again and get a good workout in. Afterward, Brigham came over and made us some tasty breakfast burritos. Hes the man.

Today we had the Copa Piura!! As we had almost a year and a half ago, President Vega put together a mission-wide soccer tournament between all the different zones. Just like the last copa, my zone definitely had the most talent and potential to win it all, but couldn’t come through. We were knocked out early in the first round by Elder Randall and Algarrobos. We got up to an early lead on them in the first half, but thanks to a diving header goal by Elder Randall (similar to Robin van Persie in the 2014 world cup), Algarrobos got their spirit back and climbed their way back to a 4-2 victory. That goal by Elder Randall ended up winning “best goal of the tournament”. It was blast to have almost all the mission together to play some good fútbol. Its crazy how much my love for the sport has grown on the mish.

Conference was amazing! Im so grateful to have prophets and apostles that lead and guide us in these days. I cant wait to study their words for the next 6 months. Its something we should all do. 

 

Avanza Su verdad!

Elder Bailey