Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Happy Valentine's Day!

Dearest Family,

Happy Valentine`s Day to all of you!  Today feels like another normal day in the mission, but I am enjoying remembering the years when Dad brought home flowers for both Mom and me.

This week we had lots of trips to Cusco.  We traveled to Cusco for interviews and a multi-zone conference.  Even though we were away from our area quite a bit this week, we were able see some of our investigators make progress and we met some promising contacts.  For example, Hna. Villegas and I hopped in a bus on Friday, and contrary to how it normally is, the bus was practically empty.  There was only one man in the bus and his daughter was accompanying him.  Here`s the cool part of the story.  As soon as we entered the bus, the man started talking to us!  This almost never happens. Immediately, he also started to share with us how he is unhappy with the Catholic religion.  He does not like the drinking and fiestas.  This man has two daughters whom he adores.  We shared a little bit about the plan of salvation with this man and talked about the possibilities for his family.  Hna. Villegas and I have an appointment for this Tuesday to teach the man in his home.  I am trying to have a lot of faith right now.  Because this man is so golden, I`m kinda scared to teach him.  I`m trying to remember that God only works according to our faith.  In addition, I`m trying to remember that if I have the Spirit while I teach, God will make up for all my weaknesses.

Here`s another inspiring story from the week.  Yesterday, a family attended all of our church meetings simply because they felt they should come to our church.  I was confused for a long time because I could not figure which member had invited the family or which companionship of elders had brought the family to church.  I was confused because nobody had brought them.  The father had dreamed that he needed to change and that his family needed to come to the LDS church.  I`m trying to have lots of faith for this family too.  I`m trying to have the attitude that this family will enter the temple shortly.  I honestly feel scared, but I know that God will only work according to my confidence in Him.
  
In the photo of the pathway lined with rocks, I am in a town called Ollantaytambo.  Ollantaytambo is even more amazing than Urubamba.  It`s sits in a valley and on all the hillsides are Inca ruins.  I`d recommend looking up this town in google.  Hna. Villegas and I are really happy because President Calderon recently changed the rules for our rama.  There are four companionships in Urubamba and he recently said that we can work wherever we want in the rama.  Initially, each companionship had their area and Ollantaytambo was not part of the area of Hna. Villegas and I.

The photo of the baptism is from Feb. 6th.  The senior couple in Urubamba, the Schellenbergs, helped this couple to marry, and they were baptized afterwards.

In the photo of my companions and I with instruments, Hna. Villegas and I are in our pension.  Our pensionista and her husband play Peruvian instruments for performances.  Their music is beautiful.  The elders in the picture are my district leader and his new greeny companion.



 Remember that I love each one of you!!!!!!!!!  Please give my dear nephews and neice great big hugs!!!!!  Remember that "trials are not the end, just bends in the path!"
 
 
All my love,
 
Hermana Blunck II