Last Week, Last Baptism and Last Email - Maybe!!

Well, we just got back from Lima and it was awesome!!! It was a well planned p-day and I’m pretty proud of it. We went to a museum and went to the City Center and went and bought some stuff. Well I bought a lot of stuff. I bought everything for you guys and stuff, beanies, alpaca fur, alpaca ties for the guys, coasters, Peruvian clothes for Karra and couple things for Mimi and Pop. I’m going to leave everything here and just take souvenirs.

We also had Margarit’s baptism, it was good. The Stake President came to help us out because he is form our ward, it was great. Now we have other people that are going to get baptized, we have a woman and her two kids and we still have to take to the husband and other son which will be a family of five. I won’t be here but the work goes on.

This week we have the farewell for the missionaries and President Perez and Sister Perez. It will be a nice going away party for us. Missionaries that have served in his time are going to come from all over Peru and maybe other countries so we will see how it goes.

It sounds like you guys are way busy which I’m glad, you wont be so trunky!! I feel good because I can honestly say that I have served a good mission, and that you guys are more trunky than me ha-ha.

I might write you guys next week, if not no big deal I will just see you two days after. I might call you in the airport to let you know if the flight is delayed or anything. Yes I know I’m going to get home really tired so in the airport everyone can be there that’s fine but after when we go home I would like to be with just you guys and mimi and pop in the house before I get released.

Thursday I would like to go buy cloths and see a modern mall and I would love love to see a couple of movies, I want to see three, transformers 2, batman, and 2012, as for food I just want one gallon of milk with cinnamon toast crunch.

Well I love you guys, thank you so much for the support, I will see you next week!!!!!!! love elder ridge

The Longest Week and Winding Down

Well this week was the longest week of my mission. We got rejected all week and having that happen on one of the last weeks of my mission made me a little trunky. Things got better Sunday, we has 10 people just show up to church. We had a family that want to get baptized and they are getting married this week so if everything goes good we will baptize another family the 26^th. We have 3 more people that are going to get baptized the 3rd of July. It is a momo and her two kids, the husband wasn’t way excited to do it but we will keep teaching him. Margarita is going to get baptized this Saturday, so we will have more stuff to do.

This week will really be the last whole week to work, because next week is the zone meeting farewell that we do at the end of every change and then I will have days to go visit my converts and members to say goodbye. This week will go by fast because we are going to have a baptisms and I’m also going to do a work visit with Elder Briggs on Friday so its going to go by quick.

About Mary (we got a phone call in Utah from a Mary in Inguitos ) this week, don’t worry I don’t have a little jungle girlfriend, I only gave our phone number to my converts and only some families, only a few ones that I got really close to and not crazy people, I can’t really remember but I think Mary is the mom of the girl I baptized there so its from the family of my convert. If anyone else calls just tell them this, llame en tres semanas por favor.

No, we have not moved yet, and if we do it, will be in the same zone we will just live with the missionaries that are in the zone and yes we will have a pencion. It will be for like a week nothing more.

Love Elder Ridge

Baptisms, work visits and Moving

Well this week was really good, there was a lot to do. First off we had two baptisms. Harold(the family) and Anna, they went very well and they were really excited it was a good service. I baptized Harold and my companion baptized Anna. Now we are going to have a baptisms the 19 of June, its Margarita, we had to put it one week farther because she didn’t come to church because one Sunday a month she has to take a test for school so next week she will go.

This week we are trying to find more people because the people we find will be baptized for the 26 of June, my last weekend, I really want to baptize the last weekend but if not no big deal I will keep working.

I did two work visits this week, I think in Dads time they said splits but on Wednesday I went with Elder Neilson, he is from my group, he is from las Vegas. Then Friday I went with Elder griffin, that was fun, we worked hard but it was way fun to be with him and work together. What happened was my companion kind of didn’t pay attention to the time I told him to change back so we ended up staying two nights together, it was awesome.

We also had a lot of things to do as Zone Leaders again this change. Basically what might happen is where we are living they want to reconstruct it because the assistants and office workers are going to live here for the division of the mission. So they are kicking us out and we will have to go live with other missionaries next week, so my second to last week I will have to move. That’s another thing that will make me really busy and not be trunky. The Sisters in the zone are doing good. We had one that wanted to call her family this week so we had to go to her house and talk to her and make her feel good but now she is good.

Well, I’m pretty excited to get home in three weeks but I don’t think it has hit me yet. I don’t know if that’s bad or good.

Well I love you guys so much, I cant wait to see you, thanks for the support,

love elder ridge

Strong to the finish!!

Well this week was a very good week. We have found a few good people to teach. First of all we have Harold and his two children this weekend that we are going to baptize. A little bit about Harold. He is 29 and he was once married and had his two kids then he got divorced later on in time he got to know a girl that is a member of the church and they started dating and stuff but fell in the lay of chastity and the she got pregnant, I think she is like 20, what Harold did is he accepted it like a man he stayed with her, they got married so he can support his new family. Now he wants to repent and get baptized and get sealed with his wife and his 2 soon to be 3 kids. His wife is nine months pregnant, Harold is a great guy and he already looks like a member.

There are a lot of guys here that get the girls pregnant and leave them, I have seen it so much!!!! In the jungle its worse, I have seen 14 year olds pregnant, but I’m glad Harold accepted what he did and now wants a better life, this Saturday is going to be his baptism.

This Saturday we also will have a girl named Anna, she is 25 and all her family are members, she just never wanted to get baptized until when we showed up and taught her, she is a nice girl.

Then we were knocking doors one day and found this family that has been inactive for 20 years, they have two kids, Margarita who is 15 and Alex who is 10, Margarita is getting baptized this Saturday, she is really smart, and she is way cool, her family came to church this Sunday all dressed up and everything and they said that it felt good to be back, they are an awesome family.

This week we will find more people to teach. The zone is getting better, Elder Griffin is my district leader, he is doing good, Elder Briggs is in my zone too, its good to be back with them, Briggs too is working good.

Last week we had to do all the changes in the zone and everything and we had the interviews with President, everything went well, I gave a thirty minute training and how to teach more effectively and to challenge someone to baptisms, it was pretty good, my interview was pretty good with president, we talked about the zone he also asked how I felt to be finishing the mission, I told him that I really feel good for the work that I have done and that I have worked pretty good my whole mission, we talked about some things about the division of the mission, it was good.

Well my schedule seems way awesome and easy, I thought I was going to have to take English and Math and all that stuff but that will be next semester. The Peruvian teacher is fine, I would like to talk to her it might be a little easier for me if a talk about Peru with her. I’m not worried at all about my pronunciation, just a little about my grammar but not too much, I’m actually more worried about the English I speak ha-ha. My companion is doing good too we get along and we work good. I’m just happy I’m finishing this change.

It’s Winter here so when I get back I’m going to be sweating, I also have a runny nose I hope that when I get back it will go away. In a couple of weeks we are going to go to the center of Lima and I will buy some stuff for you guys. Last week we did eat lunch with the old pension it was fun, we told stories and everything.

The mall here has Burger King and Pizza Hut and KFC and McDonalds and China Wok. We went last p-day and bought something from Pizza Hut, six soles for a pizza roll and a drink. In our room we just use the owners fridge.

Well thank you for the support, I love you guys so much

love elder ridge

Seeing Familiar Faces

Well this week was a busy week!!! First of all we had the changes so I went to my new(old room) it was cool it kind of felt weird but I’m enjoying it here.

Wednesday day all the zone leaders from the jungle and from barranca stayed the night for the zone leaders meeting Thursday, we stayed up until like 1:30 at night talking. I was hanging out with Elder Layton the whole time. So we got up and went to the zone leaders meeting and it was good. it’s a long meeting, it was from 8 in the morning to 5 at night, it’s all day but it was way good. Then all the missionaries flew back to the jungle but Elder Layton stayed with us again so he could go to the CCM for the meeting with Elder Jay Jensen, from the Seventy, Friday morning. So I was with Elder Layton for like 2 days it was fun.

Elder Jensen gave a great talk about the music and he spoke in Spanish too. I also saw Marc jay, he is doing good, then I saw a kid that was on the youth council with me I think he is from Highland 27th Ward. I said hi to him and talked to him on Friday. He finishes in August. If you can find his name that would be great?

My new comp is a good guy, he is from Porto Viejo Ecuador, he is 13 months in the mission, we work good together. Well, I got here and there was nothing in the area, the missionary here last change finished and was trunked out so we are working pretty hard, first of all there was a man that came to church and wants to get baptized with his two kids, his wife is a member and active the husband just never wanted to get baptized until now, so my last change

I’m going to baptize a family and complete the family. I’m way excited, it is such a blessing, finish the mission with a family, and we also had a girl come to church, her whole family are members but her, even here daughter is a member so we went and taught her and she wants to get baptized June 5th, man this change is going to be good but way fast, so I have to enjoy it.

In the zone there are 18 missionaries, its the second biggest zone in the mission, I must be doing something right ha-ha. The members where really happy to see me, my converts have all moved away but one is still here, its Suria, she’s the one from Puno and she is here visiting. I walked in and she was there, she is way active and even has a calling, she ran over to me so happy, it was way good to see her. I then went and saw my old pencion from Columbia and she freaked out, she was so happy.

Wait I just got a phone call from the assistants there are going to put another compañiship of sisters in our zone tomorrow, that means that in the zone there are going to be 20 missionaries y 8 sisters. This Friday we are going to have the interviews with President and then after that things will be a lot calmer.

I got a letter from Bishop Wright and he mentioned that he wanted me to do a fireside thing with the youth when I get back. He wants me to prepare a power point with pictures and stories and with spiritual experiences, im looking forward to it.

Well I love you guys so much and thank you for the support,

love elder ridge

Changes and going back to the Start!!

Well the changes are here and I’m not staying here but I’m not going to the jungle either!

I’m going to go to Tahauntisuyo, yes I’m going to the same area where I started. I’m way excited I’m going to the exact same area. When I was there it was a junior comp senior comp area but since then it has changed to a zone leaders area so I will go back to the same members and see them again and the converts. I’m way excited.

There is hot water but there isn’t a pencion so I will come home nice and skinny I hope. My new companion is Elder Alonzo from Ecuador. He has I think a year in the mission but he has had a lot of success. He seems like a good missionary and he will help me not be trunky ha-ha.

It’s kind of cool, I lucked out and have had a lot of companions form different countries, from Canada, the states, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Columbia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia and Chile its pretty sweet. I would really like to work with South America and Central America later on in life.

Well this week as for the work was good, we found a lot more people to teach and some people with dates to get baptized but we are both leaving the area so we are leaving the area better than when we found it like a eagle scout would do ha-ha. I’m kind of sad leaving my companion he was way fun and the zone is doing really good. We are planned to finish the month with 50 baptisms but now I’m going to go to another zone and see if we can lift it up.

Lets see for my birthday ya I think I will wait to get home to celebrate it. Sunday in the afternoon we were walking like at 4 in the afternoon and I look at my comp and go hey, today is my birthday, he goes oh that’s right, hey happy birthday, I said thanks and we just keep walking and working and that was the only thing that we did, I will just wait to be with you guys to celebrate it.

Just so you know I did get my package and I loved it, it was way good especially the beef jerky, I have the box ready and everything I just have to send it, I will next Monday, its because there isn’t a mail store here but where I am going to be there is one so it will be easier.

This coming up week is going to be crazy, we have the changes Wednesday then all day Thursday we have the zone leaders meeting and then Friday we are going to go the CCM to have a meeting with a couple setentas (70’s) wow this week is going to go by fast, well guys I love you and thanks for the support, enjoy the photos, its me and elder Pug with Marco Antonio and his family in Pucallpa.

love elder ridge

Mother's Day Call

Sunday May 9^th (Mother’s Day)

The family was able to talk with Elder Ridge on Sunday. He sounds great and we can definitely tell he has been speaking Spanish for two years. He was struggling a little with his English.

He has had some good success in his current area and told us about a baptism he had on Saturday. The zone that he is in is doing great and he has a couple of missionaries he started with (Elder Hyde and Elder Morton) and they are working hard and having good success and a good time.

Currently, Elder Ridge does not have a pension to cook his meals so he and his companion eat breakfast and dinner in their room. They purchase food at a local market. They have milk(warm in a box), cereal, fruit and hotdogs. They eat lunch with member of the ward and branch they are serving.

Elder Ridge comes home on June 30^th, so his mother loved the fact that she could tell him, she will see him next month. He loves his mission and all the wonderful experiences, and he says he is continuing to work hard. However, he is looking forward to coming home and see family and friends.

Here is Elder Ridge’s short email.

Well it was good to talk to you guys, everyone sounded good. I cant wait to see you guys. Next week I will write you about the changes. Like I said I’m pretty sure I will stay here. I also need photos of me before the mission to put on my farewell video that the mission does, if you can scan them on the computer, I would like one when I was a little kid, maybe a baby picture, just send pictures of me before the mission, playing sports and stuff like, send a couple of funny ones too, I need these pictures before June, well thank you so much for everything, I love you guys, elder ridge

Working hard and keeping mom on her toes!!!

Well this week was a little bit harder for in the work. We had a couple of people getting prepared for baptism but they didn’t go to church so we went to go visit them and they don’t really want to get baptized. So we are only going to have a baptism this Saturday for Zenon, he is a good guy and way excited to get baptized.

Other than that we are really looking but we are getting rejected a lot, even the members reject us, we will go to their houses to visit them and share something with them and they won’t have time or have to go somewhere. We have had like three days with absolutely nothing. I feel like im in the states ha-ha.

Everything is good, we are still happy and working hard. My companion is the best, he works real hard, and teaches good, we get along really well. This week we dropped the pensionista, now we eat fruit at night. My companion wants to loose weight before he goes home and he goes home right after me.

The zone is doing good, we have 35 people with a date for baptisms for this month.

Just so you know I will call either Thursday or Friday or Saturday to set up a time, it will be the short call to set everything up. I don’t know when I will call but it will be one of those days. It will be a surprise, I know mom will walk around with the phone all those days ha-ha.

well that’s it for now, thank you so much for the support, I love you guys and talk to you in a couple of days!!!

love elder ridge

Short but we will be talking soon!!

Well this week was much better!!! We have found a lot more people to teach. We have a few baptisms planned out for May 8th and May 15^th. A man named Zenon, he is like 65 years and he is from Cuzco. Our recent convert Susy referred her friend Laydi and a couple more people that we are teaching this week. We are going to challenge them to baptism.

Mothers day is in 2 weeks, that’s crazy!!! well that’s it for this week sorry its short but we will talk in like 2 weeks, I just need to know about what time is everyone going to be there at the house for mothers day so we can plan it, well I love you guys, thank you so much for the support.

love elder ridge

Baptism in shallow water.

Well this week was a good week. We had the baptism of Susy and her confirmation on Sunday. Her baptismal service was kind of funny, I baptized her and what happened is that Elder Morton and his companion had a service before us so they left and we came in and so I was thinking that the baptismal font would be filled. So we start the service do everything and I go to the font with her and I walk in and I realize that the water was up to my knees. I’m like oh great, there is barely any water, literally, it was up to my knees. I look at her and I tell her “you have to help me out when you go under, you completely have to go under but there isn’t any water so you have to make sure that everything goes in”, she goes ya ok I can do it. I say the pray and say amen and I look and she was already going down without me, she just through herself back so she could help me but she did it so fast, she basically baptized herself ha-ha, I just had to help her up. It was kind of funny but everything turned out good. She has a lot of friends in the church already. She is a good girl.

Now we are really trying to look for people to baptize. We don’t really have that many people right now. We kind of got rejected this whole week. I still miss Ventanilla, it is a little bit harder here but we are making the best of it.

I am in the wards San Carlos and the branch is Trapiche and the stake is called San Felipe. Yes I got the package. I loved the candy. My companion and I ate everything in 2 days, but the pop tarts I ate for breakfast. Man it was good. Our house is really small, it has two rooms, and a bathroom, one room has tile and the other has wooded floors. We have a balcony so its kind of nice but its way small. We live a block from the church on a street called San Mateo in front of a clinic. If you want to look it up on goole earth. The chapel here is huge, its two story and it had an elevator and they take good care of it.

So I read dads letter, thanks dad for writing it, don’t worry I am going to finish strong. My goal is to baptize my last weekend in the mission but if not I will still be diligent until the end.

I love you guys and thank you so much for the support

love elder ridge

p.s. I’m in Lima but in a district called Carabyllo

The New Area and Pizza Hut Pizza and KFC!!

Well this week was a really long week and there was a lot to do. First of all the farewell in Ventanilla was a little hard. I had to say goodbye to all the converts and members and pension. I really miss that area and the people and everyone was sad that we left. Elder Montellanos went to the jungle. Wednesday we went to the change meeting that we always do in one of the churches. We got the whole zone together and sent them to their new areas.

We got to our area late like at 9 at night, we walked in and the room was a mess!!! Thursday we had the meeting in the offices with all the zone leaders. Friday we had to clean the room, it took all day!!! We organized everything.

Saturday we left to go work, we found a girl named Susi and she is 16 and she has attended the church several times and her friend is a member. We challenged her to baptism and so she is getting baptized this Saturday. She is a way smart girl. We are starting of good with a baptism.

The members here are way nice and they have accepted us way good, we have a ward, its really little and a branch. The branch is tiny. We meet in a house, its the first time I have ever seen this, its a little house and we meet there. We got to bless the sacrament it was a neat experience, I think like 30 people came, our pensionista is alright, she only gives us dinner, we eat our own breakfast in the room, we have an allowance to buy breakfast that the church gives us, of course we buy milk and cereal, but the pensionista isn’t one of those sweet pensionista that gives you American style food or cooks whatever you want and baby you. She kind of just gives you what she cooked that day, rice with chicken or rice with potatoes, it kind of stinks. I’m just hoping to tell her to give me fruit at night so I can eat more healthy. She is a nice lady but she aint no chef like the other ones I have had.

It’s kind of weird being in our pensionista’s house because she is 50 and she just got married to a returned missionary from Bolivia that served here three years ago. Yes he came back and got married to her. He is 25 and she is 50 and she is not a hot 50 year old. She looks like she is 50, but they are good people and are strong in the church.

The area has its poor parts and rich parts but there is nothing commercial here. There aren’t any stores or anything cool, its just houses so when we buy food and stuff we have to go to another zone. It’s not too dangerous here but there still are some parts that are a little.

Sunday we ate with a member that is way awesome. He is a English translator and has a lot of money. His English is amazing, he talks so fluent, he doesn’t pause to think and ask how do you say, he really knows it. Sunday we ate with him and he got pizza Hut Pizza with KFC and Inka cola. It was so good.

My companion is Elder Quintana and he is from Santiago Chile, he is a nice guy and we get along just fine. Our room here is really small and there isn’t hot water, which mean if I finish here I will have 8 months showering with cold water in a row plus the six months in Iquitos. That’s 14 months of my mission showering with cold water. I’m not going to lie, I’m kind of excited to get home and shower with hot water.

The zone that I’m in I a huge zone, there are 16 missionaries, 8 companionships, Elder Hyde is here and Elder Morton, I think we will finish together here, I am way excited!!

Love elder ridge

Los Cambios!!

Well the changes are here. I’m going to a Zone called Santidad, its still in Lima. My new companion is Elder Quintana, he is from Chile and he is from my group. I’m way excited!! There are only three Chileans in the mission and I’m going to get one of them. I know him a little bit he is a way cool guy. I think that Elder Hyde and Elder Morton are going to be in my zone. There are also Sister missionaries that are going to be in my zone for the first time, we will see how it goes. It’s going to be a fun change.

Well this week was really good, it was kind of easier, we had the multi zone meeting and the weekend conference. The conference was really good too, we were able to watch it in English. I liked Elder Christofferson’s about the scriptures and of course from Elder Jeffrey Holland, he always gives a good one.

This week I had to do a lot of babysitting with the missionaries. There were a lot of problems, I had to get after a couple of them, but I had a good zone that worked hard, we had good success.

My ankle is fine. My camera is good. Yes I’m going to send a big package home with pictures, I will do it, don’t worry, and I will keep an eye out for my package here, next letter will be longer, I just had to do some things with the changes and everything but next week will be longer and more detailed, thankyou for the support, I love you guys so much,

love elder ridge

More Baptisms and "Where is the Ice?"

Well what happened is that myldsmail is upgrading everything to a gmail version so I had to change my mail and everything got messed up and I was rushed when I did it but now everything is alright, I just want to thank mom for getting me my number and confirmation date. Mom I love you are the best!!!!!!

Well, this week was another amazing week, first of all we had four baptisms this weekend. Yovani and his daughter Yovanna, he is 34 and she is 8. Carlos Leon who is 33 and he got married Saturday to a member. These families now have the goal to go to the temple and get sealed. Then we had Berenize, the stake secretary’s daughter who is 26. Next week there won’t be any baptisms because of General Conference so my companion and I finished together with 11 baptisms. A total of 3 families and 5 men that can receive the priesthood. Some of the men already have received the priesthood. My companion and I were really blessed this change and the Lord really prepared people for us. This was one of the best changes of the mission and I’m going to miss this area.

We had the interviews with President and everything went well. President was really happy with the zone for the success that we had this change. We finished with 28 baptisms as a zone and 397 baptisms as a mission this month, we are doing really good.

I also found out that I am leaving this next change but I don’t know where and I’m staying as a zone leader. I might be going to Tauhantsuyo where I started the mission which would be the best. That area is now the zone leaders area so I would get to finish with all the people I started with. Or I might be going to Tarapoto to finish in the jungle but we will see. I’m honestly fine with any decision.

Today for p-day we played soccer and then we watched national treasure as a zone, remember we are allowed to watch movies sometimes. When I was playing futbol I rolled my ankle in the first 10 minutes of the game, just like football I play rough and when I rolled it I kept playing, not too smart. It’s fine but hurts a little. The first thing that came to my mind is go get some ice, then I was like wait, Peruvians don’t believe in ice, they say it makes you sick. I’m not kidding, but its doing good.

This Friday we have the multizone meeting so I will be able to see everyone it will be fun.

love elder ridge

Another Great Week!!

Hola como estan,

Well this week was another great week. First of all we had the baptism of Santiago. It was a great service. He stood up and gave a great testimony. He is going to be a great leader.

Now we have three more baptism this coming weekend. Berenize, the daughter of the stake secretary, she is 26, then we have Yovani, his wife is a member, we are going to baptize him and his 8 year old daughter to complete the family.

Then we have Carlos who’s girlfriend is a member he is 30 years old. Last night we went to Carlos’ house and he was like I have some news, me and my girlfriend are getting married this weekend before the baptism so we can already be a family and get sealed at the year mark. I almost jumped out of the seat from excitement. This weekend is going to be awesome if everything goes good.

For the general conference we are not going to baptize anyone but for April 10th we will have three more. A young girl who’s mom and sisters are members. A man named Randolfo, his wife and daughter are members, he’s like 65, and a guy named Carlos, a friend of a member, he is like 25. We are really working hard and we are getting really blessed. We still have one more but she didn’t pass the interview because of some problems so she has to have a interview with the Stake President so we might have that baptism this weekend too.

This Tuesday we have the interviews with President. Today I have to prepare a training on how to get more people to attend church. I’m kind of nervous, so today I don’t really get a p-day, we have to go get something from the offices, I think we are going to do a little bit of shopping down there. The offices are like an hour away. The temple is like 2 hours away. Our house is pretty clean. It has tiled floor, we shower with cold water, like I have said before I haven’t showered with hot water since I left barranca, since octobre, that’s like 6 months. Dave and Danna are building a house?

I honestly think you guys are more trunky than me haha. Well im glad everything is going good at home, thank you so much for the support, I love you guys so much!!!

love elder ridge

Great Week and Loving the People

Well, everything is going good here, this weekend we had three more baptisms. The daughter of the family we baptized last week Doris, her friend Ruth and her friends little brother Dare. It was a great service. We did a massive baptism. The whole zone went to our chapel and we did it, the spirit was really strong.

In the middle of the service my companion was baptizing and I was waiting in line and I look back by the doors of the room where all the people were and there was a kid named Alex who is in my ward and is a little handicapped, standing in the hallway looking in at the service. Then I see him collapse hard. Boom he goes to the ground and starts making noises, a seizer, he has epilepsy. One of the district leaders runs and grabs him and I run and shut the two doors that were opened so that the people didn’t see it. I told two young men to stand there and to not let anybody leave. Then I helped grabbed the kid and we dragged him in to another room and put him into a chair. He wasn’t foaming from the mouth or biting his tongue but he was still moving and couldn’t talk. I called two other young men and said stay here with him I will be right back, I left the room and walked to the font right as my companion was leaving and I went right in and baptized two people, then I left soaking wet and sat with Alex for a little bit, until he felt better. Some people saw but not a lot of people so the service went on just fine, it turned out to be a good service.

This next week we are going to baptize Santiago Sosa, he is the man!! He is going to be a great leader. He already has friends and everything. Then the 27th we are going to baptize Bereniz, she is 26 and her dad is a member, he is the stake secretary, and another man named Carlos Leon, his girlfriend is a member, and another guy named Yovani, his wife is a member. We might be able to get some more too. We are really working hard. My companion is great.

A little bit about my area, its all wooden house, its all sand, there are always fleas, there are dogs that are dying all over the place, it always smells because the majority of people don’t have pluming, like I said it is one of the most poorest city’s in Peru, the people litery live in the dirt, they just put a mattress on the sandy floor and sleep, but im loving it, we are have success and the members are awesome, I think I might finish the mission here and I really wouldn’t mind, I have grown to love this area and the people, not just this area but everywhere I have served.

Baptisms with more to come!!

This past week was awesome, first of all we had three baptisms. One is José Mendoza, he is 65, he is a great guy and also Gonzalo and Odisa. They are mom and dads age, it was a great service and we confirmed them on the spot because we had the stake conference. They both were crying, the spirit was way strong. Right now we have 10 people that are going to get baptized that are sure ones, we have another family and we have a man named Carlos, his girlfriend is a member. He came to the conference and so we took out his direction and went to visit him, we went later Sunday in the afternoon and we knocked the door and he opened it we went in and we sat down, I was like how is everything going? He goes really good, I’m going to be really open with you guys, my girlfriend and I want to get married and I want to get sealed in the temple, do you think you can baptize me? I was kind of surprised, I looked at my companion then at him, I said ya sure man why not, how about the 27th of March, he’s like sounds good, he is a way cool guy.

We have a couple of other people too, things are really going great right now, me and my comp are awesome and we work really hard and good together, we have a goal to baptize 15 this month. I’m pretty sure we will get it.

I’m really not that trunky and I’m really staying focused except Friday we went to eat at a family’s house and she gave me cow stomach soup, I have had the cow stomach before but in soup never. The whole time I was taking it down I was thinking, In n out burgers, in n out,in n out. It was pretty gross.

We just got back from the Temple, I had to get up at 4, I’m pretty wiped out.

love elder ridge

Great Week

Well, let me just tell you that this week was awesome. First of all my new companion is way cool he is from Santa Cruz Bolivia, his name is Elder Montellanos, he is huge. I’m taller than him but before the mission he was a body builder. He is way nice and we work hard together.

Up until Wednesday we had nothing in the area, we had to find a lot, in this week end we found a ton, and were are challenging everyone. Right now we have 9 people that are going to get baptized.

We have a family of 4, the Dad is named Gonzalo his wife Odisa and the two daughters Doris and Daniela. They are way prepared and ready to get baptized. When we challenged them we put the date for the 6th and he was like wow I would love it but I don’t think I can save up enough money that fast. Can we do it for the 20^th? We laughed a little and said no don’t worry its free and he was like oh, in the catholic church you have to pay 50 soles it was kind of funny but they are way good.

Then we have a man named Jose Mendoza, he has 65 years and is ready to get baptized. Then we have the kids of una familia, which are three. Their parents want to but they aren’t married, so this Saturday we will have three. Ganzalo Odisa and Jose and the next we will have the daughters Doris and Daniela and the three kids from the family.

For the 20th we will have a man named Santiago in English its James, he contacted us in the street and was like teach me about José Smith, we entered his house and he taught us ha-ha, he says I know that Joseph had that vision and God and Jesus Christ appeared and then Moroni showed him the plates and it was the Book of Mormon. We were kind of surprised that he knew but so we taught him and he is going to get baptized.

This change is going to go fast because we have so much to do between me and my companion and the zone, its going to fun. Yes we heard about the earthquake but we didn’t feel it. Everyone is talking about how advanced Chile is because the quake was huge but only 700 died and the quake here a while ago was less powerful and killed 100,000. The houses here are not real strong. Also we have a mouse in our room, I have been trying to kill it for a week, and this morning, I was sitting on my bed and I see it run out from underneath my bed and I get up fast and grab the broom and chuck it like a spear and it hits the mouse against the wall and dies. My companion was like nice throw. It was awesome, it made me miss hunting, well thank you so much for the support, I love you guys so much.

love elder ridge

Changes and Christmas in February

Well, the changes are in, I’m staying here and Elder Duarte is going to Iquitos. My new companion is Elder Montellanos. He is from Bolivia, Santa Cruz just like Elder Roca and Elder Chambi. He is from my group too. I know he is way humble but I’m pretty sure he is a fun guy. I’m way excited to get going.

So we had the baptism of Claudia, everything went well, she is so awesome she goes to all the mutual activities and is doing the personal progress thing that the young woman do. She is the best!! We had new people come to church, a family that went to church before and they came back so we are going to teach them. They seem way nice, this change should be a fun change.

Oh and I got my two packages (Christmas and Valentines), I got them Friday, it was awesome, I loved the pictures and the food was good, I loves the ties too, thanks Mimi and Pop for my paisley white tie, I’m so happy they finally came. I really enjoyed it.

As for the monkey that was mine, it wasn’t Elder Layton’s that died, I know laytons monkey, that’s thing is mean and it yells and yells, and it doesn’t let you touch it. Mine would curl up on your lap and grap your hands and fall asleep.

Friday we had a meeting and President did announce the Mission changes. I’m so happy that it’s going to divide because it shows the work we are doing here but also its going to happen when I leave so it won’t effect me. I will be more excited to go home then see the mission split.

Caving Lima Style, Talks, Teaching and a Companion's Sacrifice

This week was a good week!!!

First of all P-day we went to the beach and then we went to some caves with flashlights with some members. It was way fun. It was no Timpanogos Cave. The caves here it was filled with trash, smelt bad and graffiti everywhere but it was still fun.

Yesterday was a good day, way spiritual!!! First of all we gave talks in Sacrament Meeting. I talked for like 15 minutes and then at night there was a Stake Fireside about Missionary Work. Because we are the Zone Leaders we had to give other talks for 10 minutes in front of the Stake. I talked about Daniel and the lions den and that if we do as Daniel did and are obedient and trust in God and put the things of God first in our life, God will protect us and bless us just like he did with Daniel. How the lions sometimes can be those trials and difficult times in our life’s or even temptation but if we are prepared we shouldn’t have to worry, I thought it went well.

I also taught the Gospel principles class. We just got a new teacher put in the class. So Sunday she gets up and talks for 5 minutes and says amen and looks at me. So I had to get up and teach but its alright because she is learning, it was a good spiritual day yesterday.

We did get the news about the missions. President is going to talk about it this Friday but basically it doesn’t effect me, it will be after I leave, I will finish the mission with President and the mission, I will be a true norteño. My last change it will be a fun despedida with President and everyone.

This Saturday we are going to baptize a girl named Claudia she is 14, she is such a cool girl and way smart. She was prepared, she goes to all the activities in the church and all her friends are members.

I also got news from Elder Roldan. My second companion here, one of my favorites. If you remember his parents are Evangelists(I think that’s what it is in English), his Dad is a pastor for the church and once Elder Roldan got back his parents kicked him out of the house and never want to see him again. Right now he is living with another returned missionary from this mission and now teaches in the mtc in Guatemala, I loved him so much and I feel so bad for him, it makes me appreciate the family that I have, thank you so much for all the support, I love you guys so much.

love elder ridge

Visit with Pres. and Sis. Perez

This week was a real busy week. We had interviews on Friday with President Perez. It was way good but my companion an I had to do so much. We had to clean the room and make sure that all the missionaries were good. We did a couple of splits, then we had to prepare a training to give to the Elders and the Assistants and President and his wife. I talked for 20 minutes and my companion talked like 30 minutes. It was way good, also Sister Perez visits all the rooms to see if they are clean so I went with her and one of the Assistants. It was fun going around in the car with them and looking at the rooms of all the missionaries. I got to get to know Sister Perez better, she is way nice.

We haven’t had really that much time to work which kind of stinks, but we did have 13 new people come to church. We have appointments with them this week, we are going to go and challenge them to get baptized.

To answer your questions, my pensionista is way cool she is blind, her daughter lives in the United States. A gringo came back and got her and she has lived there for 9 years so she has taught her mom she knows how to cook good. At dinner I usually ask for watermelon so I can lose weight. Our room is kind of big, its nice way nice way nice, I have seen better but I have seen worse, it has a tiled floor so that is a step up but we don’t have hot water so its cold. I haven’t showered with hot water since I left Barranca in October. It’s starting to get hot so the cold showers are not too bad but still, it doesn’t feel good.

There are always fleas, I don’t have them that much because I take my pills and they are working but this city is a sandbox so it is filled with fleas. This zone is the poorest in Peru, I’m not kidding, its bad. It’s really humbling and after all I have seen in Peru, I’m still being even more humbled being here. My area has road and dirt but because we are zone leaders we have the nicest area, the other areas are very humble. I’m about an hour away from the offices and I think like hours from the temple but the temple is closed for the usual maintenance stuff, so we cant go to the temple so in 2009 I went to temple once, kind of stinks, the next time I will go will be in march.

In my area we walk a lot but when we travel the zone we have to take the vans. Yes we have a cell phone and we use it to call the Assistants and they call us. More than anything it’s for people to call us if there is a problem.

love elder ridge

Splits and Stake Training

Well this week was kind of normal. We had to do some busy work and we did splits twice. Tuesday I went and worked with one of the district leaders it was good. Then Friday my companion visited the other district leader and his companion came to my area. He is just started out the mission but we had a gringo day. His name is Elder Evans from Idaho. We were having fun working we went to bed and he just started throwing up and felt sick. He is still getting use to it down here. I told him to go to bed and to rest. He slept all morning, I felt bad, it made me remember when I first got here. It was hard to get used to it.

This week also we had a visit from one of the assistants. They visit the Zone Leaders, it was fun and I learned a lot. Yesterday we had a stake meeting. All the leaders in the wards, Bishoprics, Relief Society, Elders quorum, in the whole stake came. My companion gave a training about the correlation meeting. We had one hour to deliver the training. My comp talked for about 15minutes and I talked for 40 minutes. It was way good and the Stake President loved it. Afterwards I sat down I just thought, I’m 20 years old and I just trained all the leaders in the stake. My companion and I felt good after. We are trying to better the work with the members.

love elder ridge

All is Well in Lima

Well, this week was a good week. First of all we had Stephanie’s baptism, Elder Duarte baptized her. It was a good service, and Sunday we had a lot of people come to church and this week we are going to go and challenge them to get baptized. We are way excited to get going this change and this week we have a lot of potential here. The zone is doing all right, we have to get better. I kind of came in when it was dying so it kind of stinks but this week we are going to do splits and a lot of stuff to get them excited to work. Me and my companion are doing good he is awesome, we work good together and we get along so well, he is from Bogotá Columbia, he is very loving with everyone, he is awesome.

As zone leaders we have to do a lot of busy work but we still have enough time to work, last week we didn’t work at all in the morning, we had to go do little things, busy work, but in the afternoon we have time. The next time I go to the offices will be at the end of the change and yes we will go to the temple but we don’t know when.

elder ridge

Elder Ridge in Pucallpa

This is video taken by Gwen Rich on her Trip to Peru with her son Elder Landon Rich. This takes place at a Family Home Evening (Noche de hogar) at the Pucallpa Ward.

Dad Repented and Got the Blog caught up

For all of you readers of Elder Ridge's blog. I have to apologize for falling behind for over a month. With the holidays and the birth of our first grand child, I did not get the blog done. I have repented and have the blog up to date. Please take a little time and go back and read all the posting that were posted today, with the proper dates in the title.

Elder Ridge has has some great experiences over the past 6 weeks. Hope you enjoy reading about his adventures in Pucallpa.

Adjusting to Lima

Well I’m here in Lima. It is not my favorite city, but things are going great. I’m learning a lot about being a Zone Leader and everything. My companion is Elder Duarte. He is from Colombia. He is a really good guy who really loves the people. He reminds me a lot of Mister Rogers of Mr. Rogers Neighborhood. He is the same, how he talks and everything, he is really loving with the people.

My ward is called Ventanilla. I’m in the center of the town, the beach is in my area too but it’s not like a nice California beach. The members are way nice and we have a ton of people to teach. It’s just my companion, the members love him so much they just give us people to baptize. This weekend we will have a baptism of the niece of the pensionista, she is nine, the pensionista is awesome, she gives us cereal and other good food but doesn’t give us that much so it will be good, I will be able to loose some weight.

That’s crazy that Landon Rich is getting married. Well things are going great here, thank you for your support, I love you guys,

love elder ridge

1-11-2010 Death in Pucallpa and Transfers to Lima

Well this week was a good week, we have found new families to teach that want to get married and get baptized. 2 families, they are way nice people and they like the church a lot. This week was a week to find more people and we did find some good people so we are way excited for them to progress.

Some sad news is the other day when we were eaten dinner with our pensionista, the owner was like Elder there is something wrong with the monkey she is kind of depressed and sick. I was like what, bring her here I will take a look at her. Thinking I know something about monkeys, he brought her to me and she had the saddest little face, I could tell she was a little sick, she curled up on my lap and fell asleep, then like 5 to 10 minutes after she sat up and looks and me and then just throws up all over my leg. I kind of took me by surprise because I have never seen a monkey throw up, let alone on my leg, I got up and cleaned up and put her in her little hammock. Then the next the guy comes to window and says Elder I need you to dig a hole for the monkey she did last during the night. I was kind of sad, put later I found out that the owner killed her because he gave her flu pills for people, that’s what did it.

We had to give talks yesterday, I gave a 15 minute talk and my comp 10. I talked bout the fall of Adam and the importance of the Atonement, then I taught the gospel principle class about eternal marriage. I think I confused them ha-ha no I think I did a good job. It was a good Sunday and the twins that we baptized are now deacons, they got the Aaronic Priesthood.

So here are the changes, the Zone Leaders just got them. I’m leaving, Im going to Lima!!!! I’m going to the poorest place in all of Peru and the most dangerous, its called Ventanilla, I have never ever wanted to go there because its so bad but the cool thing is im going to be a Zone Leader!!! I’m way excited, I’m kind of nervous, I’m going to have a whole zone now not just a district, my new companion is Elder Duarte, I think he is from Ecuador, I’m kind of excited, next week I would like another long letter from Dad about being a Zone Leader, any advice would help. I’m flying out of here tomorrow at 6 in the afternernoon, so I will finish my last six months as a Zone Leader. I’m so excited I can’t stand it. Well that’s it for this week, wish me luck, I love you guys and thanks for the support,

love elder ridge

1-4-10 A Great New Year!!

This New Year was kind of cool. First of all what happened is that Marco Antonio wanted to go to the stake activity with his wife to dance and enjoy the new year and getaway from his old friends. He didn’t want to drink before his baptism but he couldn’t go because he had to sell fireworks to make enough money to feed his family for the weekend but we wanted him to go.

So what we did is Thursday night we went to his house at 7:30 and helped him sell fireworks, we grabbed a bunch to go sell and we went to the members house in the area and they bought them, we explained the situation and they were willing to help out, we only had a hour and a half to be out, we have to be inside at 9, and we earned 180 soles to give him, which was enough to feed his family for the weekend, we got back to his house and gave him everything and he was so happy, it was way fun helping him and getting the members involved. He decided not to go the new years party in the stake center because he decided to stay at home with all his kids and enjoy it with them. He is such an awesome guy.

At night, the owner of our house cooked us chicken and banana and we ate with him when the new year came, it was pretty fun.

Saturday we baptized him and the twins, it was way fun, Macro Antonio’s son baptized him and confirmed him and now their whole family are members, it was such a good day for everyone. Then we went to his house Sunday night and was telling us the blessings he has reviewed that he has some guys that want to work with him. The family is really happy right now and they have the meta (goal)to go get sealed in the temple in one year, I cant wait to go hear about it next year, it was an awesome weekend and I’m way happy!

We have changes next week so next week you will know the changes, I’m praying to stay here another change with Elder Puga, this change has gone by so fast, we are way good friends, we had success together, I would be so happy to stay here with him.

We have more people to baptize, yesterday several people came to church for the first time, this week we have a lot of people to challenge for baptism, I’m way excited for this week, the district is doing good. We have a goal to have 30 baptisms this month, 10 for every companionship, I really don’t want to leave, I love the people here and everything is going good, and I just don’t want to go to Lima, its awful there, if I go to Lima I will finish there, I want at least one change more here but we will see, thank you for the support I love you guys

elder ridge

12-28-09 Christmas Call and a White Christmas in Peru

We had a great conversation with Elder Ridge on Christmas. He was able to speak with the entire family and listed to his dog bark and his new niece cry. It was so nice to listen to him and growth we can see and hear in him.

Here is his weekly email.

Well it was good talking to you guys too, I’m glad that everyone is doing good and everyone is happy. Karra sounded good too and buddy.

Everyone in my companions family are members and very active but his dad is not a member, he likes to drink too much, but all his brothers and sisters have served missions and his brother in law is a stake president. He gets a lot of support from his family and they live good in Guatemala, he was born in the church too.

This Saturday we are going to baptize Marco Antonio to complete the family, he is awesome, we went to his house yesterday and he was reading the Ensign of the conference talks, he was sharing everything that he had learned about with the family, it was way cool, he cant wait for his baptism.

Then we are going to baptized Paolo and Anthony, they are twins and are 12 years old, we are pretty excited to baptize twins. This week is going to be a week for finding, we have to find a lot of people now to teach.

This New Years Eve we are going to be with Marco Antonio and his family at night for a little bit but other than that it will be a normal day to work but we kind of have to be safe because of all the drunks but we will see how it goes.

You don’t have to buy cereal, the milk here isn’t that good so it wont make it any better. I loved the pictures they were way awesome, she looks way cute and it feels good to see the mountains, well thanks for the support and I love you guys so much.

elder ridge

12-21-09 Finally an Uncle, Baptisms and a Great Family

Emily had her baby!!!!! Finally I’m an uncle, the baby looks good and healthy, I want to hear her voice when I call, you will have to pinch her or something. Emily looks out of it but she looks good, I’m so happy that everything went good with the birth, I can’t wait to see her in 6 months.

This week we had three baptisms, Eduardo he is 20, and Juan he is 85, he is way old, my comp baptized him and had to do it way slow but he did it Juan was so happy, then Freddy he is 26, there was a lot to do.

Saturday was a busy day for us, all the baptisms were at different times, we where running around trying to pick people up and get the keys to the church then the font wasn’t working, it was crazy but everything turned out good, this Saturday we are going to baptize Jackie, she is nine her parents are members.

Now we are also going to baptize a man named Marc Antonio, all of family are members his wife his kids, one of his kids is going on a mission to Argentina in a couple of weeks but Marc was a drunk, two months ago I found him drunk in the street, every time we went to go talk to him he was drunk, until Tuesday we caught him at his house and he wasn’t drunk. We were talking to him and I was like do you need help with anything can we do some service in your house and he said yes im going to build chicken incubators, so we went the next day and helped him build them.

I was just talking to him getting to know him and he brought up the topic of baptism and I’m like well we can help you drop your habits and we can complete your family and you can start off the new year way good, how bout we baptize you the 2nd of January. He says like ya that’s fine, I want to get baptized now, it was awesome. We go to his house everyday making sure he isn’t going to smoke or drink he came to church, its way awesome, his family is so happy.

We have twins that we are going to baptize the 2nd as well, the are 12 years old, their family are members, things are going good with my companion, he I so awesome, we get along way well, we work way good together.

So here is the deal for Christmas, om going to call you Thursday to set up a time for Friday, I have no idea when I will call you Thursday, I have to do baptismal interviews, appointments and we are going to eat in the stake presidents house for dinner, I might call you in the morning or in the afternoon or at night, just make sure someone is there to answer me im hoping someone os there to answer me, thank you for the support and I love you guys,

love elder ridge

12-14-09 Visit from Landon and Sister Rich

This change is way fun with Elder Puga, we get along so well. I always get him laughing. This week was a good week. First of all on Tuesday as you already know Elder Rich came with his mom, it was awesome. We did that activity that I play with the members, they love it, but ya I was there translating while Elder Rich was talking and when he gave his testimony in front of everyone I was translated and she started crying. It was a cool experience, she also took photos of me and filmed talking to the people explaining the actividad to the people. It was way fun playing with the members being there with Landon and hi mom. Ask her for the photos and footage, that should hold you over until I get home ha-ha.

This weekend we will have three baptisms, Eduardo 20 years old, Juan 85 years old, Freddy 26 year old, then we have a little girl that will get baptized the day after Christmas, named Jackie. We have a couple of people that want to get baptized but we are trying to get them married.

It was hard translating for Gwenn, not because I didn’t know what they were saying in Spanish but I had forgotten the words in English, like family home evening, she had to help me with that one, in Spanish its night of home, noche de hogar.

elder ridge