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