Heyyyyy!

June 1, 2015

I just wrote a really long letter and the computer turned off… sO I

don´t feel like writing anymore. Just know that life is good and one

day I will respond to the questions about how I got to Puno..  Just

know that I am here and I am super happy!

The weather is freezing here and we sleep with lots of blankets and

beanies. I am so grateful for the long garments.  They save my life!!

My pensions are great.  I think they have a little more money because

we have been eating a little more better.  Like KFC one night! Whoo!

But they fry things a lot more so my stomach is not too happy. But

thanks for the Pepto Bismo mom! It’s the greatest!

I sent a package, so be on the look out. It contains some things for

the family.  And also type of food thing called maza mora.  Its like

drinking a sentsy candle, if you ever wanted to know what that tastes

like.  I don´t know if I like it or not but we eat it a lot in the

nights.  So enjoy!

Ungoogable facts about Peru.

1.        People are really blunt here.  When they describe people

they always call them fat and the Hermana that we lived with told me

that another Hermana fell down the stairs because she was fat… haha

its kind of hilarious when you translate it into your head.

2.       People didn`t decorate for Christmas until the day of , but

they are still Christmas decorations out to this day.  It’s like the

opposite of the US.  We start decorating way to earlier and they leave

the decorations up till June.  Oh Peruvians. I love you.

So Last P day was the greatest!  We went to a dock by Lake Titicaca

and took a ton of pictures.  And then we went to a noche de hogar with

a really cool family in the ward.   They are hilarious and we had a

lot of fun.  We played the flour game and I totally lost, sorry don´t

have pictures of flour all over me.

This week was a little different because Hermana Quezada had to go to

Cusco to finish papers to go home.  She was gone for four days because

there was a strike in Puno and no one could leave or travel.  So I was

with other hermanas and we shared sectors.  It was a little stressful

because I don´t know the sector very well but it was the best because

I was with Hermana Love from the CCM.  She is doing great and we had a

lot of fun contacting one night together.  She has great Spanish and

taught me some new words.

Finally my companion came home and we had some great visits.  We have

three really great investigators that are going to get baptized

hopefully this month.  I want Hermana Quezada to leave with these

baptisms!  We are working really hard and we are loving it.

Puno is beautiful and I love it here.   I was a little home sick for

Tamburco, but we have great members in the ward too.  Sorry for the

shortness of the letter but  I just want you guys to know that I love

you and I am so happy here!  It was the best choice I ever made.

We have three great investigators here in Huascar. They are

progressing really well and even though we know they are ready they

are having a hard time recognizing their answers. I know that if they

continue to read and pray that a sure answer will come. Hermana

Quezada is the best and i wish I had a little more time with her. I am

learning so much for her. She is always happy and smiling and is just

a joy to be around.

This week I have been studying Alma 5. I love this chapter because it

is so applicable to every one. Missionaries, menos activos, non

members. I just love the image of the Pastor calling His Sheep. he is

always calling us and we only need to listen and come unto him. I have

been thinking alot about how we help others come unto Christ and how

we personally can come unto him. I think the main thing we need to do

is humble ourselves and be repentant. If we do this He rejoices and he

is so happy with us. All of this made me think of the story of the

prodigal son. I love this story because of the example of his father.

When his father sees his son, He runs to him and he is so happy. I

think we are like the prodigal son. We have all sinned we all commit

errors, but if we repent and return to Him. He will be so thrilled.

Gracias for eveything! Have a great week!

Love Hermana Russell

Harbor at Lake Titicaca

Hermana Quezada and Russell