Elder Bednar in Trujillo!

Hey Everyone!

Well, it was a huge blessing to listen to Elder Bednar. I was able to receive a ton of revelation from that time listening to him. I think I learned more from observing his method of teaching and the pattern and all than listening to any of the particular words. I think that's kinda what he was going for as well. He didn't go up to give any sort of talk, but he talked and interracted with us. He brought up just a question about the 3 talks of his that he asked us to study the past few weeks. He then built on each answer and hit just a couple important points, then would go on with another question. He talked more about how the Spirit allows us to learn and grow as we act for ourselves. It doesn't come as we're acted upon (for exaple, just taught to without a desire to change). But it was really cool to be able to enjoy his example and to teach us valuable lessons about missionary work and about life. I have a lot that I'm gonna change in my teaching to be able to teach people more as agents than objects. I realize that I've had a lot of faults in my teaching before that I'll never do again. It'll be hard to develop a different style of teaching of course, but I'll keep working at it. I really hope I can become a more effective teacher through his advice and example. It's amazing to get dirrection from an Apostol of God that's for your specific group. And to have him there filled the room with a powerful Spirit. It was just a great experience.

But it was super exciting to go and shake his hand at the end as well! We all got the chance to go by and shake his hand (along with his wife and two 70s that were there). That's the first time I've ever had such an opportunity.

I'm doing great here with Elder Rotolo. We had two baptismal dates (Junior and George), but they didn't come to church this week. They've both come several times in the past, but we're worried that they're not taking their commitments (or the covenants that they're going to make) very seriously. So we want to wait a week so we can help them and try working more with their parents (less actives) so that they can be more firm in the church. We'll be working to help them understand the importance and meaning of baptism as well.

But all is doing great in the dunes of San Luis! It's an amazing place for missionary work. I love it!

Hope all is well! Take Care!

Elder Seth Prestwich

Once Again, from Perú!

Hey Everyone!

Well, we're doing pretty well in our area. We have baptisms for this week and the next two, and we're pretty excited about helping them come to Christ. We're starting to really look for indicated and prepared people to keep the fechas going for each week. We know that we can achieve the success that the Lord wants us to. We're not gonna slack off or give up. It's a critical moment in the salvation of Children of God. I really hope we can keep things going like this. I love being in a place where we can help a lot of people. But it's all from the work of my awesome companion. It's great working with him!

But things are going really great for me. I'm doing good in health and I'm pumped up to do missionary work. I also enjoy the zone. It's got a lot of really funny missionaries in it. I really can't complain about anything. I just plan on enjoying every day that I have here.

It's really crazy to look back to where I was at a year and a half ago. I've grown a lot in the mission and really had the chance to experience a conversion. I've had a testimony for years, but it'd never really been a conversion to Christ until I got the chance to be here. Christ really taught me how to follow Him and that he is the most important thing in life. Nothing else comes before Him, and I'll show that I know and believe that through my actions. And I've experienced so much peace and happiness through following Him. It's amazing how much people seek happiness in life, but God chose to give me the only true way to find a complete happiness. It's through this Gospel. I had the blessing of being born in the Church, but I had to learn that for myself. And the mission has helped me learn that more than any other experience in my life (except for maybe the diligent teaching and example that my parents have given me since the day I was born). But I just want to thank everyone who's helped me get here and is supporting me so that I can be here. I love you all and I'm eternally grateful for the sacrifices that you all have done for me. I truly know that Christ is my Savior and the only true way to happiness. And that the way to Christ is found in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Well, I love you all and really hope that you're well. Best of luck in this week!

Elder Seth Prestwich

Bienvenido a San Luis!

Hey Everyone!

Well, I'm pumped to be in San Luis, Nuevo Chimbote! We've got some great investigators and the ward seem nice (not very organized, but nice). We were so excited to have been able to get two baptismal dates and to really help some people come to Christ. We'll be inviting several more in this week. I really hope that we can keep it going so we can baptize every week. We'll be looking for new people like crazy so we can keep puttin fechas for farther out and really focus on the indicated people. I know we're gonna work miracles here!

Elder Rotolo is really cool as well. I'm excited to work with him and get to know him better. I feel like we've got a lot in common. Our goals more than anything else. He's focused and a great worker. He's from the South (Louisiana)! His accent isn't that strong though. But from time to time, it really comes out. I love it. He's super energetic and loves the people. It was just SO funny to see him (a tall white guy) singing and dancing (holding his belt and throwing his imaginary lasso) down a deserted, sandy, Peruvian back street, in white shirt and tie. I can already feel that his energy is contageous.

Other than that... Well, San Luis is coast again. There are cool little mountian islands just off the coast. The beaches are extremely rocky, so it doesn't have any tourism... It's a lot hotter here. The area is pure sand dune... It really reminds me of Huanchaco. Should be a good time. =)

At least I won't be walking in the rain every day. Though I didn't mind it too much.

Anyway, this is gonna be fun! Time to get to work!

Hope all is well! Love you all!

Elder Seth Prestwich

Off to Chimbote Sur!

Hey Everyone!

I'm off to Chimbote! I'll be leaving tonight at 8:30, and I should be getting there at 2:00 AM. That should be a great bus ride. But I'm super excited to help the district out there. I really hope that they're excited and ready to work with all that they have!

But I had a truly wonderful time watching conferece. There were some really powerful talks. I always enjoy the blessing of recieving revelation for the people I teach. And I enjoy the spirital uplift and recharge that it gives.

On top of that we had another baptism this Sunday. A 12 year old boy, Yoel, was baptised and is doing great. He came to church just a couple of times and put his own baptismal date. He really wanted to do it and really grew instantly in testimony. He completed with each commitment that we left for him and he was extremely receptive to the spirit. He and his entire family made it to conference to see the Prophet talk and to see his baptism. Yoel's father really felt the Spirit in the baptism and had a huge smile on his face the whole time. They're a little special, because Yoel is the only one in the family that knows how to read. But his parents are really sincere and have a great desire to learn. They value our words a ton, because they can only learn if someone comes to teach it clearly, slowly, and simply. And so, here we are. I can only hope that all goes well with the whole family. It'll be painful to leave this area. You get used to it after 6 months. But I'll leave it with my best prayer, and in the hands of my companion.

Other than that all has been going quite well. I've been taking some pictures before I leave Huaraz. But it should be interresting in Chimbote. It's a fishing town. We all know how fish smells. Wonderful, right? But it sounds like I lucked out and I'll be a little ways out of Chimbote, away from the horrid fish smell. So that's really good. But I really hope that I don't have to eat too much fish... I've never been too fond of it. But I can't complain. They say that it's a nice area where I'm going to and that the zone has a tone of success. So I should be able to really enjoy my time there.

But I hope all is going well at home and that everyone's heath is good! I'm super excited to get working in my new area (even if it hurts to leave this one). I'll be with a North American companion for the first time in my mission, so that should be really interresting. We'll see how it goes, but I figure it should be really fun. Especially because my companion is from the South! He'll talk funny in Spanish AND English!

But I love you guys and hope that you're well and that everyone could enjoy General Conference!

I'll let you guys know the first impressions of Chimbote next week!
Elder Seth Prestwich

Seven Days and Counting....

Hey Everyone!

I really hope that all is going well back at home. Things are winding down for this change. There's only one more week left. And it's almost definite that I'll be leaving Huaraz, but I still don't know for sure. People tend to stick around Huaraz for 6 months and then they're off to another area. I suppose that my next area could very possibly be my last. It's kinda scary thinking about that....

We just got back from a huge hike today! We went hiking for several hours to a beatiful lake high up in the mountains. I truly love being here in Huaraz. The mountians are even more beautiful than Colorado. They're really quite amazing. And huge as well. I'm gonna miss being in the mountians so bad. It's definitely one of the best areas of the mission, without a doubt.

As for the Work, things are going alright. We've found one 12 year old boy, Joel, that is extrememly recepive to the Spirit. We've only taught him with his family once and he's come to church twice, but told us that he has to get baptised this Saturday to go the the Temple the next week. Something about what he felt when they talked about it really fired him up. We'll have to do our absolute best to help him out, but he's doing his absolute best to prepare himself. It really touches me to see his desires to follow Christ just based on the joy that the Spirit has put into his heart. It's amazing how much basic truths can go straight to the heart. It's amazing.

But I really hope everyone enjoyed Easter and that things were fun. The Holy Week went by pretty well here. Though it was filled with a lot of crosses and, well, parties. But at least they took a little time to remember Christ as they marched an enormous model of Him on the cross through all the streets of Huaraz on Sunday Morning. They definitely celebrate things differently down here. But it's always fun to see the culture.

I'll let everyone know if I get changed to another area this next week. It's about time, though, after 6 months. There's not too much hope for me. I'm almost definitely gonna get kicked out. Especially since they'll be doing special changes because Huaraz is gonna change missions in 3 months! It'll be super sad to lose it.

Thanks everyone, love ya!

Seth