One Week at a Time...

Hey Everyone!

Hope that you guys enjoy the trips in these coming weeks! Sounds like it should be quite a fun adventure.

It's been an adventure here in Chan Chan. We were super happy so see the baptism this week! It was quite a miracle. I honestly didn't think it was gonna happen. But the Plasencia family  (converts that were baptized just a couple of weeks before I got here) worked miracles for us. Luis, Hna. Plasencia's sobrino [nephew] was baptized. His mother is coming to church and interested in the message, but his father was off on work trips and didn't really want to give permission. So his mom said no. But to our surprise, when his father got back, Luis' mother and the Plasecias really convinced him. They talked about how Luis has changed and how it's one of the best decisions that he's gonna make. The father was impressed by what they said, and, still a little reluctant, gave permission for him to be baptized. His mother was really impacted in the baptism and told us that she's started thinking about getting baptized as well. So we'll be there to give her that little push that she needs. Luis' father didn't say anything, but nothing negative, either, so that's good, at least. But we'll get him in on it as well. Well, the Plasencia family will probably do most of the work. They're definitely powerful converts.

Other than that, we've been working hard and focusing on finding new people. I'd really appreciate a little help in with your prayers in doing so.

Tell the Brewerton's good luck in their missions! It'll be the greatest adventure of their lives. =)

Thanks for everything!

Elder Seth Prestwich

Five... Not That I'm Counting the Weeks or Anything...

Hey Everyone!!

Well, I completed 23 months in the mission this last week. I feel rather happy to have been albe to serve the Lord like that. But at the same time, it leaves me with little time. Still not sure how I feel about that.

Especially because I'm in a new area. I'm in Chan Chan, in the center of Trujillo. It's way different from my other areas. It's the first time I'm the city. It'll take a little getting used to (though I won't have much time to get used to it). I'm just getting to know a few people in the ward, but they seem really cool. I was super excited to hear someone playing the piano on Sunday for the first time in my entire misison! That was pretty cool. Though Dad tells me that you guys had a string sextet last Sunday. That's just a whole nother level.

Other than that, the week passes by slowly. It always seems to for the first week in a new area. But it was still a good week, so I can't complain. It'll be fun being in Trujillo, close to everything. It's a cool area for a last area. I'll actually get to buy some souveniers.

Anyway, my companion and I'll be here working hard. We don't really have many investigators at all, but I'm really hoping that we can find a few this week that are ready to come to Christ. I'd really like to find one more prepared family before I head out. I'm doing everything I can to find them.

Well, take care everyone!

Elder Seth Prestwich

NEVER Count Your Chickens Before They Hatch....

They're transferring me! Noooo!

I can't believe it. It'll be my last six weeks of the mission, and I'm gonna be in a new ward and a new area. I won't know anyone, and I'll hardly have the chance to get to know anyone. It's gonna hurt so much to leave everyone here. I was so prepared to keep going. I seriously have everything planned out for the next 6 weeks. But not any more... I'm off to Trujillo again. The ward is Chan Chan, and I think it's in the center of Trujillo. We'll see how it goes...

It's gonna hurt me a ton to leave everyone here. I got really attached to several familes and investigators here. But I know it's the Lord's will and that He has a purpose for me, so I won't complain. I'll just do my best and do all that I can. There's something that the Lord wants me to accomplish there and something that He wants me to learn as well.

Anyway, other than that, all is well. I'll be leaving San Luis to my son. I hope all goes out well there.

I'll just have to make the best of my very last area and my very last companion. Six more weeks. I feel like my mission just got a whole lot shorter...

Take care, everyone!

Elder Seth Prestwich

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Sometimes I fix little grammatical errors when I know what Seth really meant. This one was beyond hope...he used to speak English :). " I'll be leaving San Luis to my son. I hope all goes out well there." --maybe he's leaving San Luis to his companion? (son because he was a new missionary?) Guess we'll know in 6 weeks. --Alan

I Just Got Told That I Only Have Seven Weeks Left...

Hey Everyone!

Well, Mom gave me a good little reality check there. I only have 7 weeks left? Doesn't seem like it. I still feel like I'm gonna be here forever. Though something is puting me in overdrive-final-sprint mode at the same time. I feel like it's comming way too soon.

Other than that, "Spot It!" is a hit! It's turned out to be the perfect Family Home Evening game. It's super easy to pick up and any age can play it. It must've been inspiration to send that game, haha. Well, I quite enjoy it and so do the people here.

Lately, I've been thinking and studying about the Atonement of Christ. I really like what are the "three pilars of the atonement" -- Grace, Mercy, and Merits (2 Nepi 2:8). I've been able to research a little about each word and it's helped me understand more about my reliance on Christ and just what he's done for me. Here's just a small part of what I've found:

Grace- the enabling power of Christ

Mercy- the forgiveness

Merits- Resurrection

I don't have much time to talk about it more, but I really know that the Atonement is what defines the happiness in my life. And I know that Christ did it for me and for the whole world so that we could live with God again. I'll be forever greateful for Christ and what He's done for me.

Hope everyone's well! I'm just working hard down here, making progress little by little.

Take Care!

Elder Seth Prestwich

Another Week Down?!

Hey Everyone!

I can't believe that another week went by! That's insane. I feel like time is just flying by, but I'm hoping to have enough to make the goals that I have. I'll just have to work even harder! There's always something more that I can do.

I can't believe that my companion only has two more weeks of training left. He's grown a lot and I've grown with him. It's amazing how fast someone can change when they're serving the Lord.

As for investigators, we had 12 in sacrament meeting yesterday! We were super happy to see that. It was definitely a miracle. I just hope that they can start progressing! Those who aren't 18 yet need permission from their parents to get baptised, and those who are older have to get married! We'll see how it goes, though. They just need a little time to get all of their papers together or talk with their parents.

Other than that, well... Not much has happened. We're gonna go to the beach again in an hour, so that should be super fun. I'll have to let you guys know how it was. There are some nifty caves around here, so it's still interresting, even though we can't go in the water.

Take care and do missionary work!

Elder Seth Prestwich

Another Week of Winter...

Hey Everyone!

We've hit the colder part of Winter here in Chimbote. Everyone is suffering from the "brutal cold." It's kinda like fall weather... But everyone is getting sick "due to the change in weather."

I swear it only cooled off a little. It's finally not hot all day every day (just for a few hours of the day, the rest is pretty cool). But I guess it's all a matter of perspective.

I kinda miss the snow, though.

Anyway, more important than the weather is that we had another baptism this week! Yefferson was able to make it to baptismal water, even though his mother Hna. Zuly couldn't quite make it. But Hna. Zuly should be able to follow his footsteps in these comming weeks. The baptism service we great. We only ran into one problem; when we showed up, the font was empty. We had filled the water up early that day, but someone came and drained it all before the baptism. We came, opened up the door to show Yefferson the water, and there was nothing. UGH!

But, thankfully we have a font that fills up pretty fast and by the time enough people showed up (40 minutes later, which is normal... unfortunately), the font was already filled and we started the baptismal service. It was still shock to open the door and see it dry, though.

Other than that, we've been doing great down here in San Luis. We're working hard and have several more people who are getting close. We'll be here to help them each step of the way.

Hope all is well and that everyone can keep enjoying their Summer.

Take Care!

Elder Seth Prestwich

Well, I guess I'm 21...

Hey Everyone!

I guess I'm 21... That's what the calender tells me. That means I've finished a full year of my life in service to the Lord. From 20 to 21. That's quite the achivement if you ask me. I know I could have done more and been better, but I've been trying. I've been super greatful for all that God has done for me in this year and for the conversion that He's allowed me to develop. But most of all, I'm grateful for the people that He's put in my path so that I could help them find the way to eternal happiness. That means more to me than any change that I've personally had.

The members and my investigators did a nice little party for me. It was just 4 or 5 families, so it was a bit calmer. It wasn't the entire ward throwing a party. So this time, we got to eat in the house of an investigator (which isn't common here, since we have pensionistas) and several families came. They did a little surprise party with the dinner they invited me to. It was really nice. I got to eat cake and they gave me a couple little gifts.

Other than that, we'll see who else we can help.

Thanks for the birthday wishes!

Take care!

Elder Seth Prestwich