Compania #19

May 7, 2012

So this last week was pretty great.  Larsen was sick most of the week so we didnt get to leave much but we still had some great lessons with Cecilia and her baptism!!  We got the news that we are staying together for another change as well!!  This will be a little more than 8 months as companions in the mission. 

Here´s the miracle story.  So sunday we showed up to church in the morning and found the the font hadn´t started filling yet.  We got the keys and tried turning on the hot water knob but it was loose and water was coming out of the knob itself which was weird.  The hot water heater didnt turn on either when we turned the knob so we were kind of worried since it was a chilly day in chile (stupid joke).  We didnt want to have to baptize Cecilia in cold water so we tried figuring out the problem but nothing was working.  We sat down in the chapel for the Sacrament and started praying for any way to get the hot water to work.  We went back to the font after taking the Sacrament and took a look at the knob again.  I tried turning it to see if it would work and water was coming out from behind the knob still like a leak.  I then received revelation to just tear off the knob and break it so... I did haha.  Hot water started spraying everywhere and I got soaked in my suit but at least hot water was coming out.  We turned off the water from the main water knob once it had filled and we had Cecilia´s baptismal service.  It was very special and very spiritual.  A lot of the ward went to see the baptism and had bought her presents and the bishops family came with us to visit her later that evening. 

Thats about all that happened this week since my companion was sick for most of it.  He´s doing a little better now after he got some good rest.  Have a great week!

Love Elder Ty Peck

Elder Larsen and Ty eating lots of food

Elder Peck, Cecilia, Elder Larsen at the baptism

Compania #11

3.5.12

We had an amazing week!!!  It was a week full of miarcles and lots of progress in the work.

So lets start off with Jose and Josselin.  As a lot of you already know that are going to get married!!!  We discussed when they would be able to get married and usually its takes 3 or 4 months for the transaction to come through and that made us really sad.  We decided to do a fast as a group and we prayed that Heavenly Father could help us to get a sooner date for them to get married.  We all fasted and prayed and the next day they called us and told us that they went to the city courthouse and they were told that the soonest they could get married was in june.  They get pushing and asking and they found out that they could probably go down south to another city and get a better date there.  They traveled down and got a date for the 23rd of march!!!!!  Thats 3 days before our transfers so we will be here for the wedding and the baptism.  It was great to see that the Lord listened to our prayer and helped us out.

Another miracle that happened.....So we were working and the sister missionaries called us with a referal.  A 12 year old girl had talked to them in the street and said that they had been waiting for missionaries to pass by for the longest time.  THey had talked to missionaries in another part but the referal was never sent.  So the sisters got their adress and gave it to us.  All of our appointments had fallen through so we decided to find these people.  We searched everywhere for the address but we couldnt find it anywhere.  We asked people in the street and they tried helping us and finally after about an hour of searching we found it.  There were three buildings inside and there were only doorbells for the two buildlings that this family didnt live it.  We somehow got inside the gates and went up their buildling and knocked their door.  We got in and found out that the parents were less active members and that they had 4 kids that werent baptized.  The two older ones werent that interested but the two younger ones were wayyy ready to hear us.  They are twins one is Katalina and the other is Javier.  They were sooo excited for hear what we had to share and they were very excited to say the closing prayer.  They talked a lot about how they felt like they needed to confess their sins and be better people.  We are going to visit them tomorrow and give them a baptismal date and then take them down to mutual in the chapel.  

One last story...Eduardo is an inactive member who we have been trying to help for a while now.  He served a mission in this same mission and moved out here to study.  He went inactive because of a lot of trials in his life and didnt feel like he got the blessings he deserved from the mission.  He asked us friday night how he can find his faith again.  We started sharing scriptures and personal experiences and the Spirit was very strong in his apartment.  Hes having a really hard time right now in his life and hes trying soo hard to come back to church.  

Well, thats it for me this week have a great week!

Love Elder Peck

 

 

Pictures!!

Downtown Santiago

Downtown Santiago

Ty's Companion, Elder Larsen

Vivaceta #16

10.31.11

¡TUVIMOS UN BAUTISMOOOOOOO PO!

Katy got baptized saturday and confirmed sunday!  It was a really special ceremony where her husband was able to baptize her and she gave her testimony afterwards.  She was telling us the whole week before that she didnt want to give a talk or anything because she was scared so we made sure that she wouldnt be giving a talk or anything after her baptism.  THE N she asked for a few minutes after her baptism to say a few words.  She went up to the pulpitt with tears running down her face and explained how this is her third baptism but the only one that felt right.  We were actually kinda worried that she didnt have a very strong testimony of Joseph Smith yet or of the Book of Mormon but her testimony grew tons after getting baptized. 

 

The week was a good week for us.  We talked to a LOT of people.  One contact that we did was probably the best one Ive had in my misison.   When we were planning one night my companion mentioned knocking a street called ¨Aurora¨.  We headed that way the next day to knock some doors.  A lady came out to talk to us in the second house that we knocked.  She started telling us how she doesnt really want anything to do with the churchs in the world because she reads the Bible and none of the churchs are like the one Jesus had established.  We began to talk about the restoration a little bit but she kept wanting to talk and talk.  I started to get a little frustrated but I tried really REALLY hard.  As we stood and listened for the next twenty minutes as she basically taught us the plan of salvation and how the church of Jesus Christ should be, we felt the Spirit really strong telling us that we should tell her that she was basically teaching us our own message.  My companion started talking and told her that every single word she had just said was our message and that we were here to help her find the true church.  I gave testimony of what he said and told her that we invite people to read, pray, and goto church because we know that God will answer her prayers and she will feel the Spirit.  She was speechless afterwards and told us that we could pass by another day.  We are going to see what happens with her most likely tomorrow afternoon. 

 

Another story about Michel and Tomas.  They both have a baptismal date right now for the 20th of november.  Michel went to church sunday and in the Gospel Principles class he raised his hand with a quesiton.  We were talking about the family and how the parents should help their kids grow up in the Gospel.  Tomas has been preapring himself for the first communion in the catholic church.  The mom really wants him to keep going forward with it but Tomas doesnt want to now that he knows the church.  He went to play soccer with us on friday and he said even there playing soccer there was a different feeling with the people and just around the buildling.  Michel´s question was if he should go with the mom and force him to keep going with the catholic church or if he should let Tomas choose.  The mom doesnt live inthe house so she doesnst have any say right now.  The members started explaining to him that in the church there are youth programs and its a great way to help children grow up.  Michel and Tomas are progressing really well right now and we are expecting them to get baptized within the next few weeks!

 

Well have a great week everybody!

Love Elder Peck

 

 (more pictures under photo page --see top)

Questions and Pictures

1.        Do you usually or ever have to help bless or pass the sacrament?

yes we usually help pass it because there is one active young man in our ward.  ive never blessed the sacrament in spanish though so maybe ill try doing that soon.

 2.        Are there branches in your mission where the missionaries end up being in the branch presidency?

No not here.  There are branches but the missionaries arent the presidents.  Thats more of in Argentina because there are tons of branches.  The older couple on easter island is in charge of that little branch. 

3.       How’s your new companion?  How long has he been out?

Hes awesome!  We have a lot of fun together and its nice because he knows how to work well and hard.  He has like 5 months in the mission but if I didnt know that I would have though at least 9 or 10 months. 

 4.       Is Elder Larsen in your zone?  I think his mom sent pictures of you  in an email.

No he is in a different zone but I got to see him friday and saturday for that 50 years of the mission.

 5.       Is Marcelo going to get baptized?  When I was preparing for my update yesterday I realized you said he wasn’t baptized. 

If he could get baptized right now he would be his wife doesnt want to agree to marriage or leaving.  We might just ask for permission from Pres. because Im pretty sure they are just together for the kids.  His daughter Camila is going to get baptized next sunday and her mom will most likely go to that. 

6.       What would you like for Christmas this

Ummm....wow I have no idea haha.  I was thinking that you guys could just send me a little package with a couple thigns and save the rest of the money that you would have spent for when I get home or for coming down here to pick me up.  I´ll be thinking of some presents you guys can send me though.

These are pictures we got from Ty's MTC comp.'s mom of the 50th celebration:

The Tripan Elders Peck, Clark, Larsen

Photos

Photos from the wedding

Vivaceta #6 (plus answered questions & pictures)

8.22.11

Hey everybody just a quick update.  This will probably be another short email since there isnt much going on right now.  Me and my companion are doing a little bit better.  I decided I just needed to sit him down and tell him how it is.  I basically told him that if he cant get over the little things in his companions and just be happy with people then it will be hard for him to have success.  Hes finally realizing that true success comes from happiness as a missionary so hes been working a little bit harder.

Todays a pretty sad day for me because Elder Moore is going home next week.  I lived with him in Los Conquistadores when I first started the misison and we set up a big bbq with him and some converts of ours.  It was great seeing him and all our old friends but hard saying goodbye.  I cant imagine what that day will be like for me.  Im going to finish a year in the mission in just a couple of weeks so Im trying hard not to think about the end and Im trying to focus on today but it can be hard sometimes.  We have been having a lot of success lately in getting references from members but we just need to get these people to church.  We are hoping to have a couple baptisms this next month but the people here are just a little too lazy haha.  I have a personal goal of 16 baptisms before I go home so that I can have 20 as a total.  

Anyways, thats about it for me this week.  Sorry once again for the short email but not much to write about.  The end of this change is coming up this next sunday and a lot of new missionaries are arriving so Im hoping to train a newbie!

Thats crazy how Eli is leaving already for college.  Im pretty excited to see him leave for the mission then come back a grown man haha.  Hes already grown up a lot but as we all know people grow up on the misison....except for elder zander he went backwards.  I definately love this work.  There is nothing better than these two years I am experiencing right now.  There are days when I just wish I could go home or that time would go faster but then there are other days when I wish time would stop here so that I could do this forever.  Im sure every missionary knows how I feel haha.  Im pretty excited that time is going by fast though.  I never thought before the mission how hard it really was to leave everything behind.  Its pretty crazy that Ive been in a foreign country for almost a year.  Speaking a different language is fun too plus all the friends Im making in the mission is awesome.

Love Elder Peck


1.        What was your favorite thing from your last package that we sent?  (I sent you a jump rope because you said it was hard to get in exercising so I hope that helps a little).

 I really liked the glasses haha but yeah the jump rope was nice even though Ive been pretty lazy with my excersise time in the morning

2.        When are transfers?  Do you hope you can stay where you are for awhile?

 Im hoping to stay here for at least 6 months.  Ive never been in a sector that long but they are starting to do that more often so that missionaries can create a good bond with the ward.  transfers are coming up this next sunday and im hoping to train!

3.        How’s teaching going?  How many investigators do you have right now?
 We have quite a few investigators but they dont progress!!  they never do haha so we are contantly finding more.  Marcelo (his daughter got baptized last week) is awesome.  Hes pretty much a member already but his wife just needs to leave so he can get baptized
4.       Have you ever used that building block (or cups) idea I sent to teach about the restoration?  If so, would you like more ideas like that or not?
 No I havent beause I havent had a lot of time to put it all together and stuff but maybe if you guys have any cool plan of salvation stuff you coul send?
5.       Tell us one cool thing that happened this week.
 This week.... We walked in to ask this kid to come out and do some appointments with us and hes the only member in his family.  The family is really nice and stuff its just that they are too lazy to go to church or they would already be members.  we walked in and his little sister whos 7 wanted a blessing.  she also told us that she turns 8 soon and wants to get baptized!!  so we will be teaching her sometime today or tomorrow.
6.       Do you ever bless the sacrament there?
 We passed it this last week because there are NO youth in this ward.  Ive never blessed the sacrament but Im guessing I will have to pretty soon cause this ward is getting smaller every week haha. 
7.       When does Spring/Summer start there?
spring is starting right now.  its usually still cold at night but its getting pretty warm during the day.  it sucks cause we go out without jackets and it gets really cold at night and we have to go back and pick them up.

Also some pictures:

Ty with his first Chile Comp.

looks like he must not walk much....

Picture Update!!

I've created a new 'page' where we will post photos from his mission. They won't be in any sort of order but if you want to see pictures, that would be the best place to go. I'll still do occasional picture posts but there will always be pictures on that other page.

Ty and his first companion from the MTC Elder Larsen

His bed area

His study desk

the view from their apt. window

Their apt. kitchen

4th of July BBQ

Renca 1 #6

4.18.11

Another week of walking for us  We have found a few more people and are teaching more often also.  We were going to have a baptism yesterday but our investigator came out with some doubts at the last second about coffee and tea.  She explained she doesnt feel like they are so bad that she will go to hell for it.  We tried explaining it better but we had a member with us who decided to argue with her about it so it was an hour long arguement with them two.  We kept trying to step in and say something to end it but they would just go right back at it.  It made us really frustrated and finally I stopped them both and said look we arent getting anywhere by arguing, lets end this lesson and we can get together another day to talk about it.  I also told her that if she wants to know that its a commandment, she needs to pray and ask.  We tried calling her yesterday after church to see why she didnt go and if we can get together another day and she just kinda said another day so we think she might be trying to avoid us.  It was a sad lesson to see somebody who has been talking to the missionariies for a few months now just give up on it all.  She was making a lot of progress too and now she just kinda dropped back.  We are going to try and have a more spiritual lesson with her later in the week too so that we can help her more.  We also had a lesson with Roxanna yesterday in english again.  We asked her how she felt when she read the BOM and she said good but had a hard time understanding the old english.  BUT the good thing is that she read more than we assigned and she told us she really has a desire to know if its true.  She said she reads metaphysics books so its hard for her to believe in God.  We read the story of Aaron teaching the father of king Lamoni and asked to her to pray to God and ask if He is God.  It was a really good lesson and shes making a lot of progress too.
For my bday last week we went to a non member family house and had a dinner.  I´ll send some pics but they made this big dinner and a really good cake and also gave me a big chocolate bar with almonds as a present.  It was a lot of fun and also Kanahele and Moore called me to say happy birthday which was good to hear from them.  Moore also told me that my last convert with Kanahele was talking to her dad about doing something on sunday.  She told her dad (who isnt a member) that she doesnt break the sabbath because its the Lord´s day.  It was good to hear she is still doing really good in the church and staying strong. 
Thats about it for me this week.  We are still working hard and seeing fruits from our labors. 
Love Elder Peck

Here are a few photos we've gotten over the last several weeks:

Ty's Birthday Dinner