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

Hey Everyone!

Well, all has been going great down here. Well, we were a bit down that our investigator that was going to get baptised had family issues and won't get to Huaraz again until July. So that was a bit of a let down. But we know that we'll find someone else. We had two new families in church yesterday, so that was really cool. Though, we have to make sure that one of them is married (though not likely here in Peru...). If not, we'll see if we can get a wedding set up! That's always hard to do, but if she really wants to come to Christ, she'll be willing. I truly hope so...

As for some fun things that have been going on, well... we got to spend the whole P-Day cleaning the room... That was fun... But we've started playing ping pong in the district as well, which is really funny. I really should have played more, I can't hold my own at all. I'll get it though. I never did have much coordination at 6:00 AM, though... I'm not too big on getting up early. Though I can't complain much, because it's entertaining and I like being with the whole district.

But I've been a bit sad looking at the end of the exchange coming up. It's almost definite that I'll be leaving. I've been here for 6 months, and has been one of my favorite areas without a doubt. I enjoy the ward, weather, landscape, and everything. Kinda sad to leave it all. I'll miss these people. Though I've got a couple weeks left, so I can't miss them yet! And I'll find wonderful people no matter where I go, so I'm not too worried. It's just scary to think that my next area will very possibly be my last. I'll be there for 6 months more, and that's it... Wow... Time flies when you're havin' fun.

Anyway, hope all is well back home and that everyone is in good health! I love you all and am always praying for you guys!

Take Care!

Elder Seth Prestwich

Baptims in the Rain!

Hey Everyone!

Well, it's been pouring down here in Huaraz! I'm rather greatful for my boots, because the rain is destroying my shoes. I sure hope they can make it another half a year. But I figure they should. They might not look so pretty (and have several holes), but they'll be useable. That's the key. Though, I can't complain. I kinda enjoy the rain, after all. Even if I'm walking, soaked, I'm thankful for the chance I have to serve the Lord.

But as for missionary work, Luis and Pablo got baptised!! They were both old investigators that I was teaching in the first months that I was here. Luis is 14 and didn't have permission from his parents to get baptised, but showed up at church one day with the baptismal fourm in hand with his parent's signiture. Pablo is an old investigator that we were teaching that had to separate himself from his pair. He was living with her for 20 years, but had a wife before... and never went through the pain of devorcing himself. So he had to separate himself (or get married) to get baptised. He chose to go back to his other family and fix everything he'd done. It took several months to put everything straight. But he came back here to continue working and was able to be baptised. He's had a huge change in his life and his happiness. Both of them had a really amazing change as they converted to the Christ and His Gospel.

Other than that, we have one more possible baptism that has to come back from her vacations in Lima. She was super excited to get baptised, but she didn't have the chance to get baptised before leaving. She's been going to church in Lima for the months that she's been there. But she's waiting to get back so she can join her ward again and come to the waters of baptism. We're just waiting patiently (more or less) for her to get back.

The relief society also did an amazing activity. They did a competition betweed all the wards in the steak to do a presentation of two homemade sweets. They all had really nice presentations and the best deserts in the wards. And they wanted us (with the zone leaders) to be the judges. We couldn't say no. I mean, I really love sweets. A lot. And it was one of my favorite activities yet. Though my ward didn't win, unfortunately. They got 3rd place. And weren't exactly too happy with us.

Hope all is well and that everyone is in good health!

Elder Seth Prestwich

Hello from Peru!!

Hey Everyone!

Things have been going pretty well down here! Last week was a little slow, but we had a huge miracle happen this week that really made up for it! One of my old investigators, Luis, that I was teaching 3 months ago showed up to church this week with permission from his parents to get baptised (he has 14 years, so he can't get baptised without consent from his parents)! His parents told us that they wouldn't give permission before, but he really came through. He comes to church all by himself every week. That doesn't sound like much, but he actually travels an hour each way just to come to chruch. It's amazing to see that kind of faith in someone so young. I don't think I would've been able to do that by myself each week at his age. In fact, I know I wouldn't have done it. So it was a huge miracle for him to show up with signed permission from his parents! So he's gonna get baptised this Saturday! We're so excited for him, and it really touched my heart to see the faith that he has and how much effort he's put in to be able to be baptised. The Lord really humbles me with the faith of these people.

So I'm quite happy and humbled by the miracles that the Lord works in my life and for how directly he answers each humble prayer. It's really been a huge life changer for me, and has taught me what's most important in life. But the mission has honestly been a high point in my life. Maybe not the easist time, but a time of great growth and progress. And the lesson that always comes to my mind first, is that the Lord truly and honeslty loves me and knows me personally. And that He has a personal hand in my life. I truly love Him first, before all else. And that keeps me here every day.

I love you all and hope that all is going well! Don't forget to let the Lord work little miracles in your lives each day. Be sure to keep a sharp eye out for the littlest, most personal blessings that come each day!

Take care!

Elder Seth Prestwich

The Sky is Falling!

Well, all has been going well here in Huaraz. We were a little disappointed about how the week turned out. We ended up only having one person in church this week, so that was sad. We'll be doing our best to help be get there this week. But we know that the people who are ready to accept the Gospel are out there. We just need to find them.

As for funny things that have happened. I've just been listening to everyone getting tests back home. Sounds like the house might have to go gluten free. It's funny thinking about just how much stuff I've learned to eat down here. While in the house, they aren't even eating normal things like bread, I've gotten used to eating guinea pig and drinking purple corn juice.

And I got the Valentine's Day package today! It -almost- made it in time. But I tripped out when I saw the bottle caps. I've missed root beer a ton, so it was awesome to open them up and enjoy a tiny taste of root beer again. Though it's packed full of deliscious candy, so thanks a ton! I was having a bit of a sugar craving as of late.

But all is going great down here. I'm still enjoying the pouring rain here in Huaraz. It's a whole nother mission down here. It's quite the difference from the burning heat in Trujillo. But I'm enjoying being part of a district full of now missionaries and trainers. We're 5 companionships in the district and my companion and I are the only ones who aren't training or being trained. So it's fun to be woking with a district like this. It's quite different than any other I've been in.

But all is well, I hope eveyone is in good health!

Take care! Love you all!

Elder Seth Prestwich