Jamie's letter April 18, 2011

Okay, so this week has been good. We've been working hard, and the Lord is definitely blessing us. One of my highlights was being able to finally attend Sacrament meeting yesterday for the first time in...3 weeks, more or less. It was so good to be able to take the Sacrament again. I didn't realize how much I needed the peace that the Sacrament brings until afterwards. We also had a good number of investigators show up, which is always a blessing. We found this one family that we've been working with. One of their daughters, Rosa, (24) attended with us yesterday, and she said that she felt such peace and tranquility. She also wants to learn to play the piano, so I'm thinking we're going to start up the classes again. She really is awesome, and her family is too.

Kelly was confirmed yesterday too, which was a great blessing. We visited her Saturday, and her little boy has been sick. She told us that she would have to take him to the doctor at 8:30 in the morning, because it was first come first serve sort of deal. We were sad, because that meant she wouldn't be confirmed for another week. We talked to her about faith though, and if she showed her faith to the Lord by coming to church first, even if it was just for Sacrament, she would be blessed, as would the health of her son. She told us that this was true, and she showed up all on her own with her two boys. Her blessing was really beautiful too.

On Thursday morning, we had the opportunity to have the Stake Relief Society president come with us to visit people. She has so much love for the people here. Really, I want to be like her when I grow up :) With every sister that we visited, she knew exactly what to say, even though she didn't know their different situations. We went with one hermana, Rosario, who is the sister of Hna Ceferina (one of our recent converts) who is going to be baptized in an Evangelico church soon (this church gives us problems some times...but we continue to have patience). We talked about the healing power of the Atonement, and the blessings that we have received through the Gospel. And by we, I mean mostly the RS Pres, Hna Gina. Really though, she was amazing. The Spirit was so strong. We all knelt down and asked Rosario to offer the prayer. She started, but she was crying, and couldn't do it. Hna Lopez finished for her, and it was something so powerful. I felt the Spirit so strongly. I'm so grateful for the wonderful sisters that I'm with, for the wonderful spirit that they bring.

Easter here I think is a bit more of a bigger deal than back at home. They celebrate "semana santa" (holy week) on Thursday and Friday. They don't have classes or anything. I think the Catholic church has extra masses or something (but I'm not sure). We're having a branch activity this Friday from 10 in the morning until sometime in the afternoon. The elders quorum is going to to make lunch for us (which in reality, means we're going to help, because the elder's quorum consists of...4 or 5 people). But I think it will be fun. We have a baptism for next Sunday, which I think will be really good. A young girl named Veronica. Her sister is Katty, another recent convert. I'm seeing more and more the blessings of the Lord in my life here. The first couple of weeks of this transfer were kind of weird. It felt hard to get momentum to work, with Hna Lopez being sick for a little bit, and then with the Conference and the elections, it's been hard, but I feel like we're going to be blessed for our efforts.

Why do I love being a missionary? Alma 26:2-5 (-ish) and Alma 29:9-10 I think are good reasons why I love being a missionary :)
There are so many reasons. I love the people I've met. The other missionaries, the people here in the branch, our investigators, recent converts. It's so satisfying to hear something like "I was having a bad day, but when you showed up, I just felt peace." And to know that it is because of the Gospel of Jesus Christ that we have that really can help people change. I can also feel the change inside of me. I know that this has made me a better person, a better teacher, and will be such a blessing to so many people.

I haven't gotten your package yet, although I did get a package from Erin and J.J. From what I've heard, it's not unusual to have a package get lost. Keep sending them though. I'll get the majority of them. And the ones that I don't get, well, hopefully other people can enjoy them...

I know that the church is true. I think I say this every week, but I'm so grateful for the chance that I have to be a missionary here, in Peru. It is hard, but the blessings are so worth it. I love you all!
Hna Williams