WE ALL REALLY DO...

LOVE SOMEONE PREACHING IN PERU!!



Happy New Year!

Hey everyone! Happy New Year! That's great that you guys had a great Christmas and I'm glad to hear that everyone is safe and happy. Did anyone get any awesome presents? Thanks everyone for the presents you´ve sent they are all great and in one piece!! haha Christmas was completely different this year. It was really hot and humid and there were mosquitos!!!! ha I had to spend Christmas Eve with another companionship in our room and I had to share my little bed with another elder. In Peru they have their Christmas dinner at midnight and then after they open their presents and stay up until around 3:00 to 6:00 am. Then the next day they just visit family members and hang out in the plaza, and if you´re not a member you drink, a lot!!! Everyone was drunk in the streets and everyone sets off fireworks until about 2:30 in the morning.

 Christmas Day I woke up and got to call my family. It was the best gift I've ever received to do that, and after we went to Pacasmayo and played soccer until 1:30. After soccer we had our Christmas lunch and watched movies, How to Train Your Dragon and Madagascar. After that we went back to our rooms and all the natives called their parents and we just chilled in our rooms until we went to bed. For Christmas dinner here they have turkey, which is really expensive for them to buy and tamales, paneton, bread and chocolatada or hot chocolate with real chocolate. Overall my Christmas was really fun.

 Does anyone have any fun plans for New Years? I don't think we do anything for New Years because i'ts dangerous to be outside. We have to be in our rooms by 6:00 pm I think.

That's crazy that in another 3 weeks or so that my mission will be 1/4 the way over. It's going by way too fast and I hope I'm doing what I'm supposed to because I still feel like I don't know spanish or how to teach yet, haha.

 For service projects here all we´ve done so far is help shovel dirt into someone's house one time, one time we did patch work on cement walls to prep the walls for painting and the other time I helped the pensionista in Pacasmayo cut out Christmas ornaments that she sewed for her friends and family. Overall I was able to have a really great Christmas because I had the chance to learn more about the Savior's birth and the blessings that we have in our lives because of his love and atonement. We truly should remember every day of the year the things he has done for us, but in these moments of the holidays we are able to strengthen our testimonies of this and make it our priority. I don't have my scrips with me but I think it is 3 Nephi 13:30-33 or something that says we shouldn't worry about worldy things and should put the Lord first. I know this is true and that we should do this during the holidays.
 I love you guys and hope you have fun this week,

love TY

3 Nephi 1:13

"Lift up your head and be of good cheer; for behold, the time is at hand, and on this night shall the sign be given, and on the morrow come I into the world, to show unto the world that I will fulfill all that which I have caused to be spoken by the mouth of my holy prophets."

On this Christmas Eve let us all remember and be grateful for the birth of our Savior ... the reason for the season!!

Merry Christmas from Guadalupe!!

Hey everyone Merry Christmas!!!! How is it there in Utah? Here it's just getting hotter and hotter. It stopped being nice weather about a week and a half ago and now its just too hot and humid. haha

 It's just a little bit different weather than I'm used to for Christmas.

 The mosquitos are starting to spawn now too so they are starting to bite....haha. My new companion is Elder Samayoa and he is awesome. He is very confident and has been zone leader for more than 9 months. He is from Guatemala though I must have mixed that up in the email.

What are you guys going to eat for Christmas dinner and for New Years? Everyone always asks me what we eat and I can't remember!! haha My mom said that the weather report says it's in the 70´s here but I don't know if that's right. There is a huge difference from Trujillo to Guadalupe. It's like going from central Utah to Saint George. So if you figure out what its like in Guadalupe let me know.

 I cant wait to call you guys!!! I haven't really thought of what to ask you yet but there isn't really much going on here that I can think of, so I hope you have questions to ask me. I know I haven't written you hardly any letters on my mission yet so I've made it my new goal to write you a letter every pday now no matter what. I enjoy getting letters from you and I know you would feel the same way.

 I bought a usb and saved all my pictures on it and plan on sending the memory card in the mail today if I can. There is about 350 or 400 pictures on it. When you get it don't plug it in our computer though because it might have a virus. My usb already has a virus and that might too. Everyone downloads things illegally here so they get viruses except its not illegal here I don't think. haha

 The program went great and Sister Turk was very coordinated and helpful. She did about all you can do to make 100 young men sound good and look like they know what they are doing. Elder Samayoa knew a lot of people that came so I got to meet a lot of people from Trujillo. I miss you guys a lot and wish I could be there for Christmas but I know I'm going to enjoy Christmas this year. Even though there is no snow here, and not many lights, and not many Christmas songs, and I'm not with my family, and I don't get to relax and have a vacation it is the best Christmas I've ever had. I have more love for my family and what they do for me than I've ever had. I'm grateful for every little thing that I have back home. Also I have more of the spirit of Christmas because I get to talk about the Savior all the time and give service to others. The other day when I got a letter from my dad I was happier than I've been in a long time. It made my Christmas! It said that his back is doing better than it has ever been since I left on my mission. It just made me know that my family is being blessed and that they are alright and that they are okay. If we have the Spirit of Christ in our lives we have the spirit of Christmas... always remeber in these days about the greatest gift we've ever received.

Our Savior Jesus Christ and his atonement. 

"We all enjoy giving and receiving presents. But there is a difference between presents and gifts. The true gifts may be part of ourselves--giving of the riches of the heart and mind--and therefore more enduring and of far greater worth than presents bought at the store." -James E Faust

Dear Lord who blesses us with love

Please send this day thy spirit from above

As this thy son, accepts a call from thee

Help him we pray to learn humility

Direct his footsteps everyday

And keep him ever walking in thy ways

Inspire him as he spreads the gospel plan

Lord, hold him in the hollow of thy hand

In the hollow of thy hand as he grows from boy to man

Help his understanding deepen and increase

In the hollow of thy hand as he grows from boy to man

Let him know the special blessing of thy peace

Dear Lord, who hears and answers prayers

Please keep thy servant always in thy care

As he prepares to teach his fellow men

Oh keep him safe and bring him home again

Protect him from all worldly ways

And always send thy spirit when he prays

Give him the courage of a righteous man

Just hold him in the hollow of thy hand

In the hollow of thy hand as he grows from boy to man

Help his understanding deepen and increase

In the hollow of thy hand as he grows from boy to man

Let him know the special blessing of thy peace

As he faces life’s demands

May he take a valiant stand

Give him shelter in the hollow of thy hand 

TEN REASONS WHY A MISSIONARY CHRISTMAS IS DIFFERENT
-Written by Sally Tielemans

1. Last Christmas we were counting our money; this Christmas we are
counting our blessings.

2. Last Christmas we were giving thanks for gifts from stores; this
Christmas we are giving thanks for gifts from God.

3. Last Christmas we valued things that were costly; this Christmas
we value things that are holy.

4. Last Christmas we were wrapping gifts; this Christmas we are
wrapped up in the work.

5. Last Christmas we looked into people's eyes when we spoke; this
Christmas we look into their hearts.

6. Last Christmas we prayed to obtain a testimony; this Christmas we
pray to share our testimony with others.

7. Last Christmas we were impatient with the weaknesses of others;
this Christmas we are working on our own.

8. Last Christmas we read the scriptures as a duty; this Christmas
we read them as a joy.

9. Last Christmas we thought it was enough to celebrate the
holidays; this Christmas we are finding ways to consecrate them.

10. Last Christmas, Peru was just a place on a map; this Christmas,
it is a place in our hearts.


Hey guys! The changes are here........and I'm staying here in Guadalupe for at 1 more change. The news though is that Elder Perry is going to Primavera, Trujillo. My new companion is going to be Elder Samayoa from Guatemala. Everyone tells me that he is a great missionary and very nice. This is going to be his last change so I'm his last companion. I hope I don't ruin the last few months for him haha. Now I have to remember where everyone lives all by myself and lead the area for a while. Also I won't be able to speak english at all anymore because I finally have a native companion. This will pretty much be my first native companion because my other native companion was Elder Rojas in the CCM and it was for 3 weeks and I pretty much didn't know any spanish then. Also I think that I'm going to be the only gringo in my district. Elder Samayoa is going to be the district leader also for my area.

President Turk did come to Guadalupe for the priesthood meetings this last week but Elder Perry and I had appointments and we had to go to teach.

Elder Perry says that we pretty much get to pick when we want to call on Christmas so I will try to call 7:00 Christmas morning unless Pres Turk has other plans for us. We go to the Christmas pageant on the 19th I think in Trujillo and I don't know if we will be staying there or coming back because Guadalupe is 2 1/2 hours away from there. I got your boxes and presents and everything and I will wait to open them on Christmas and share with Elder Samayoa thanks!!!!

The fair was fun... it was pretty much a bunch of booths selling clothes and different kinds of food from Cajamarca. There were a few ladies from Cuzco that were selling sweaters made from alpaca wool and Elder Perry and I bought some. Also they had a bunch of carnival rides and foosball tables and we played foosball with one of our investigators the first week of the fair on pday.

 I bought a flashdrive so I'm now going to save all my pictures today and send you the memory card. You don't have to send me anything more in the mail because I don't really need it and I don't have room anyway. I'd rather you just save the money for a vacation or something when we get back or for the mission fund.

It doesn't really seem like Christmas here yet. People somtimes put out one string of lights in their front window and like 5 or 6 investigators have Christmas trees out, but that's about it. I'm glad I was born in a place where they celebrate Christmas a lot. I'm glad you guys get to go to the Christmas dinners and I hope you enjoy them. If you do anything fun for Christmas let me know. Also I need to come up with a few ideas for ward activities to do an activity with the ward where I can invite investigators so if you have any ideas let me know.

Tell Steve I said hi and thanks and make sure to tell Grandma T to say Merry Christmas to Grandma Selma and Lecta too. I hope Grandma Wilk had a good birthday and you guys had a good anniversary and I hope this next week is fun for you guys. I miss you guys and love you a lot. I think about you all the time and wish I could be there for Christmas. I pray for each one of you whenever I can and I hope you guys are happy. Good luck in this next week and enjoy your breaks with school and work.

Also this week I learned the strength of the hymns of the church. a lot of the inactives here don't remember hardly anything about the church or what we believe because they have been inactive so long but when we talk to them for a while they tell us that they remember a few of the hymns and even some of the words still. The hymns are very powerful ways of getting messages across and learning about the gospel and they invite the spirit very strongly. I know that songs are prayers to our Heavenly Father and that every time we sing we feel the spirit of the lord.

Well I have no more time to write so I better stop. Good luck this week and stay happy...Elder Wilkinson 

Fair in Guadalupe!

 

 

We were the only family with children in the restaurant. I sat Erik in a high chair and noticed everyone was quietly sitting and talking. Suddenly, Erik squealed with glee and said, 'Hi.' He pounded his fat baby hands on the high chair tray. His eyes were crinkled in laughter and his mouth was bared in a toothless grin, as he wriggled and giggled with merriment.

I looked around and saw the source of his merriment. It was a man whose pants were baggy with a zipper at half-mast and his toes poked out of would-be shoes. His shirt was dirty and his hair was uncombed and unwashed. His whiskers were too short to be called a beard and his nose was so varicose it looked like a road map.

We were too far from him to smell, but I was sure he smelled.. His hands waved and flapped on loose wrists. 'Hi there, baby; hi there, big boy. I see ya, buster,' the man said to Erik.

My husband and I exchanged looks,

'What do we do?'

Erik continued to laugh and answer, 'Hi.'

Everyone in the restaurant noticed and looked at us and then at the man. The old geezer was creating a nuisance with my beautiful baby. Our meal came and the man began shouting from across the room, 'Do ya patty cake? Do you know peek-a-boo? Hey, look, he knows peek- a-boo.'

Nobody thought the old man was cute. He was obviously drunk.

My husband and I were embarrassed. We ate in silence; all except for Erik, who was running through his repertoire for the admiring skid-row bum, who in turn, reciprocated with his cute comments.

We finally got through the meal and headed for the door. My husband went to pay the check and told me to meet him in the parking lot. The old man sat poised between me and the door. 'Lord, just let me out of here before he speaks to me or Erik,' I prayed. As I drew closer to the man, I turned my back trying to sidestep him and avoid any air he might be breathing. As I did, Erik leaned over my arm, reaching with both arms in a baby's 'pick-me-up' position. Before I could stop him, Erik had propelled himself from my arms to the man.

Suddenly a very old smelly man and a very young baby consummated their love and kinship. Erik in an act of total trust, love, and submission laid his tiny head upon the man's ragged shoulder. The man's eyes closed, and I saw tears hover beneath his lashes. His aged hands full of grime, pain, and hard labor, cradled my baby's bottom and stroked his back. No two beings have ever loved so deeply for so short a time.

I stood awestruck. The old man rocked and cradled Erik in his arms and his eyes opened and set squarely on mine. He said in a firm commanding voice, 'You take care of this baby.'

Somehow I managed, 'I will,' from a throat that contained a stone.

He pried Erik from his chest, lovingly and longingly, as though he were in pain. I received my baby, and the man said, 'God bless you, ma'am, you've given me my Christmas gift.'

I said nothing more than a muttered thanks. With Erik in my arms, I ran for the car. My husband was wondering why I was crying and holding Erik so tightly, and why I was saying, 'My God, my God, forgive me.'

I had just witnessed Christ's love shown through the innocence of a tiny child who saw no sin, who made no judgment; a child who saw a soul, and a mother who saw a suit of clothes. I was a Christian who was blind, holding a child who was not. I felt it was God asking, 'Are you willing to share your son for a moment?' when He shared His for all eternity. How did God feel when he put his baby in our arms 2000 years ago.

The ragged old man, unwittingly, had reminded me, 'To enter the Kingdom of God , we must become as little children.'
Sometimes, it takes a child to remind us of what is really important. We must always remember who we are, where we came from and, most importantly, how we feel about others. The clothes on your back or the car that you drive or the house that you live in does not define you at all; it is how you treat your fellow man that identifies who you are. 

Alma 53:20

And they were all young men, and they were exceedingly valiant for courage, and also for strength and activity; but behold, this was not all - they were men who were true at all times in whatsoever thing they were entrusted.

Hey guys! I can't believe that it's December already. It doesn't seem like the Christmas season at all here. Happy Birthday this week Grandma Wilk!!!! and Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad!!! We had two investigators with birthdays this week that we went and visited and brought them cake. They are brothers and their birthdays are 4 days apart, so it's kinda like Sadie and me. We also have a birthday coming up for a less active teenage kid that we are going to go try and visit.

 One of our elders left this week in my district. Elder Hererra... his real mission was Venezuela but his paper work didn't come through for 8 and a half months so he is finally leaving now. We watched the church Christmas devotional last night but we went to the pensionista's mom's house and there were 3 kids running around screaming. About 40 percent or more of the kids here have ADHD problems. Their parents never taught them how to act and I'm thankful more and more each day for the manners that my parents taught me. I got Grandma Tuttle's presents this last week so tell her thanks and not to worry about them. I have a question about your presents though. Did you say I could open the yellow package that you sent me or no? I can't think of anything that you could send me, maybe a little bottle of eye drops.

 That's crazy that Preston is going to Brazil already, and that I'll have 9 months in the mission. I'm glad that Brittani's shower went well and that you guys had fun at the Christmas work party. Is dad going to Steve's Christmas dinner this year? I sure wish I could eat at the Roof right now. 

 I'll be sure to let you know about when I can call you and I'll try for Christmas morning at 7 here.

Hope all is well and that your next week is great. Today were going to the beach for pday and later we're going to the big fair that they are having in Guadalupe.

 The other day I was reading in Alma 37:6-7 and it teaches that by small things do great things come to pass. I can apply this to my mission but I feel that it could help you guys too. The Lord converts people just from one little conversation that I have with someone or some little thing that I say during the lesson that makes them know it's true or by one little example that I show. In our lives we can receive huge blessings from obeying one little commandment and by helping someone with something or being an example. Then we are able to accomplish great things in our lives. I know this is true and I know the Lord can help us with every little thing in our lives and that we are blessed when we put our trust in him.

Good luck with this week and I love you guys.

 TY

A Missionary Christmas

I skipped the sales after Thanksgiving. The thrill just wasn't there.

No pictures taken with Santa Claus, My decorating has no flair.

His presents are shoes, shirts, and ties, two suits and socks...no fun.

I've bought him all white clothes because...

This year I'm giving Christ my son.

I've spent more time in the temple, my testimony stirred.

I've reread November's Ensign, Felt strength come from His words.

Our family prays more frequently. My tears are quick to run.

Abraham seems closer because,

This year I'm giving Christ my son.

I wonder how those Lamanite mothers, gave their sons to war?

Or how the pioneers chose Zion, their sacrifice was so much more.

My loss will be his presence, I'll miss his smile a ton

For two years we will pray for him,

I'm giving Christ my son.

I stare at his face when he's not looking. I memorize his eyes, their

shine. He's always hungered for the part of him, that makes his soul

divine.

The stories and lessons he always heard, His choice and mine are one.

I'll put my faith in God's hand, This year,

I'm giving Him my son.

Past gifts have lost their glitter; I think I finally understand

Christ's birth should be celebrated by giving Him a hand.

It's because I know Christ lives and reigns that all his packing's done.

My gift has taken years to make, This year...

I'm giving Christ my son.

I know there's One who understands, the sacrifice I'm making.

Who knows the gift I willingly give, The toll it will be taking.

For He has done it all before Greater love - there could be none.

For years ago God gave to me,

His only begotten son.

The hands I washed, the hands I held, The hands I taught to pray;

Now knock on doors to find the ones Who will listen to what he'll say.

Because I know Christ needs him, Until all the gathering's done,

My gift has taken years to make.

This year...I'm giving Christ my son.



Hey guys...ya sorry last week was really busy and I didn't have a ton of time to write you guys about everything, but nothing really crazy has been happening lately just the same old stuff. Elder Perry got sick last week and had to sleep for part of the day. Also there was an incident in Pueblo Nuevo with the missionaries and one of the members that is mentally handicapped, and a little crazy, so they are moving the missionaries to Chepen which is a better area anyway, because they haven't had a baptism in Pueblo Nuevo for 9 months. Elder Perry and I have been looking for a room and a pensionista for them a lot this week. It has been hard to find one. I got your yellow packet package but I haven't gotten the two white boxes yet. I'll let you know when I get them. Today I'm going to go buy a usb port so I can save pictures on it, because the one you gave me doesn't work. It is just a card reader that is for a different type of sim card. I'm not sure how the calling thing really works yet. I think we get to pick more or less when we want to call but we have 45 minutes I think and I'll be sure to think of things to ask you guys too.

Were in the outskirts of the mission pretty much so we never really hear anything from anyone. Yes, for Christmas we are going to Trujillo on the 19th to have a pageant and to sing carols in the nightime. Last year they did something for Christmas besides proselyting but I'm not sure how its going to be with President Turk.

We have been struggling the last 2-3 weeks with having progressing investigators and new people to teach. I can't remember if I already told you but we had one baptism for a 22 year old girl named Anita Ruiz a few weeks back. It was a really special baptism and there were about 30 members there which is a lot for here. We have one 11 year old boy that wants to be baptized but his parents don't want him to, so we can't. We had another investigator with a date but he doesn't have a testimony yet and he had a problem with the palabra de sabiduria (Word of Wisdom).

 The other day I read the story of the strippling warriors. I know every missionary that's ever been has related this story to themselves, but I liked that I could apply it to our famiy right now. You guys have taught me everything about the gospel like they were taught. The strippling warriors cared more about the happiness and safety of their families than themselves and I feel like that all the time because all I worry about from home is you guys and that you're happy and safe. I know you are receiving blessings from the Lord, because I can tell just from your letters.  I pray everyday that if I do receive any blessings from this work that I want you guys to receive them. Also, in the story the men had never been to battle before or experienced those things in their life, but they were strengthened by the Lord. I know now that I've never explained the gospel to anyone or had any experience teaching but I know the lord will help me overcome it. Also in the story it explains that the warriors were able to be great in the war because they learned from their mothers to obey with exactness in all things. I have definitely learned the importance of being responsible and working hard from my parents and I know that to be an successful missionary or successful in anything, it is through obeying laws and commandments with exactness. I know that when we obey we are blessed, and that we can't receive all the blessings we need unless we obey with exactness.

 I love you guys and pray that you will have the strength and help from the Lord to follow the commandments and be happy. I'll talk to you again next week and have a lot more to say I promise.

PS... this week we are going to the Virgen and to the Fair of Guadalupe so I'll be sure to take pictures. And for Grandma weve only had one baptism this change so far, so we aren't avaaraguing as much but it will get better soon.

Any candy is great compared to what they have here and I'm so so so sorry its cold! If I could send a package of heat from Peru to you I would.

Con amor,

Elder Ty

Ten Things To Be Thankful For...

Email Mondays

President Turk's Blog

Pensionistas

Prayer

Super Companions

Dog Dazer II

Mosquito Repellent

US Postal Service

Christmas Phone Calls

The World's Best Missionary!!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

It's been 4 months!!

Wow I can't believe it's already been 4 months. It doesn't seem that long. I only have like 5 minutes to write today mom, so I'm sorry. I got the Christmas package last week so don't worry about it. I also got the package from Grandma Tuttle so tell her I got it. That's crazy that Gabe is already leaving. I don't have much to say to him except that you have to have faith that the Lord will strengthen you in the things you don't do well. Tell him to never get discouraged with himself and never compare. Don't try and prepare for things in general, or for things in the future, just work as hard as you can for today and what you have planned for tomorrow.

Don't worry I'd rather have snow now and you would too. The mosquitos aren't too bad yet and the heat either, but it is getting pretty hot and pretty soon I'll be sweating all day every day.

 I'm going to try and copy pictures today to send them and I'll write you about my stories and converts.

 I'm sorry for the short letter and I love you guys. I know this work is true and we receive blessings for every little thing that we do.

Love TY

Casa Grande Zone Conference

President Turk did interviews while the Elders

played paper, rock, scissors...

...then they practiced for their Christmas program, and

auditioned for narrator parts...

...they had a 'Preach My Gospel' Speed Search

like a scripture chase,

for Cereal Prizes.
These are precious to them.

Captain Crunch went first then Frosted Flakes believe it or not...

...missionaries love 'Preach My Gospel'...

They love cereal too!!

Hey guys, ya we had a Zone Conference last week and it went really good. A little more than half the missionaries were there from our mission. It was a 2 and a half hour bus ride to Trujillo but it was good for studying. We listened to President Turk and Hermana Turk talk. Watched some videos of the district, practiced teaching skills with our separate zones and then we all read and compared the vision of Lehi in 1st  Nephi 1 to the first vision. It was really good and really motivating. 2 weeks ago we only had 8 baptisms in the entire mission so Pres was really worried. He gave us a lot of advice that will help us to improve.

I'm either going to save the pictures to a cd or to the usb drive that I have if it works when I can. Trust me I have already thought about it, it's just harder to get it done than it seems here. I'm taking pictures but I don't have a ton yet. We're only allowed to take pictures on p day and our area doesn't really have anything interesting in it. I've attempted to take pictures of the landscape and houses for you but the landscape is really weird. I could send one picture that looks like I'm in the middle of the dessert and then I could turn around and take a picture that looks like I'm in the jungle. Some places are really fancy and then other places look like a bomb went off somewhere. I try to write about as much as I can so just keep telling me what you want to know about. I don't have much time to write. I don't really describe my day because it's just a normal routine for us. We get up at 6:30, breakfast at 7:30, study from 8:00-11:00 and then teach. Lunch is at 1:00 and then we teach til 6:00, then we have dinner and then we teach again. We go to sleep at 10:30 and then start again. Once a week we have a district meeting and also once a week we have a ward mission leader meeting. Right now we are teaching lots of families but only a few 5 or 6 are progressing. The problem for 3 or 4 of them is that they are not married. That is probably the most common and hardest obstacle for us here. It costs too much to get married and they can't get work off either. We are teaching 3 of our recent convert's friends in his house and they all say they want to get baptized. The next hardest obstacle is the procrastination. Peruvians forget everything and you constantly have to remind them of things. When you ask them to do something they forget or put it off until the last minute. They are very teachable though, and accept what you say almost all of the time.

 I got the next package from you with the Halloween candy last week and Hermana Turk said something about a Christmas package from you, but I don't know if it's mine or if you sent her something... I didn't understand.

 Oh ya and after the conference Pres Turk took us all to Rockys and it was good!!!!!! I sat like 2-3 people away from Hermana and President.

 I can't believe that happened to Isaac that's too bad. I taught lessons to him a few times in the CCM. He was fine then so I hope he gets better. Do you know what virus it is? Everyone in Guadalupe talks about something called peste bubonica. I'm taking care of myself though so don't worry.

 I don't have time to write much more so ask me about Christmas again next time and I'll tell you. Right now we are teaching the Familia Valderama. The mom has come to church lots of times and her son too. They both want to get baptized and the little kid Martin is 9 and already knows more about the scriptures than I did when I was 14. The father believes what we teach but doesn't really want to commit himself yet. They say they are going to get married in Jan. We have a baptism this Saturday for a girl named Ana. I'll tell you all about it next week.

Take it easy and I'll tty next week. 

Ana Maria Ruiz on the day of her baptism!!
Elder Wilkinson and Elder Perry

Multi-Zone Conference

November 10, 2010

mmm.....chicken and fries!

(he is in both pictures on top)

Getting some love from the President!

(top right hand corner)

Where's Tyler...can you find him?

Still in Guadalupe!

Hey guys, just another week here in Guadalupe!!! Ya Elder Perry and I both stayed in Guadalupe and we are happy. He has 71/2 months here in Guadalupe so it's like the home for him. The people here are a lot nicer and different he says and I think he's right because Pacasmayo and Pueblo Nuevo were a lot different when we went there. That's crazy that we had a shooting again in Clinton... really everything exciting and interesting is happening while I'm gone. I haven't gotten your package yet, the one after the Skittles one, but I'll let you know when I do and I'll be sure not to open the white ones. Dad's lucky that he got to go pheasant hunting!!! I was bored today for p day so I looked up all the hunting words in the dictionary, but I didn't bring my paper with me so I don't remember all of them just that deer is venado, buck is gamo, pheasant is something like faisón and I can't remember the rest. Elder Hannemann went to Viru and I have heard from him once and yes we are teaching lots of people but Elder Perry is doing most the teaching. Thanks for your advice it made complete sense and I really needed it. It's harder for me to teach than it is to speak spanish and I get really frustrated. They do have Facebook but I'm not sure who does and the internet is surprisingly fast. Love you guys and tty later. TY

Pictures from the beach!

These are pictures from the beach in Lima,

 taken on their tour while in the CCM.



Halloween!

Hi guys. I don't know yet if I'm getting transfered because they haven't called yet. I should know by the end of today. We don't do a whole bunch on pday though. We usually go to one of the towns in our district and either watch a Disney movie, or play soccer, or go to a cool historic site, or lake, or mountain or something but we don't have any of those in our district really. We went to the beach a couple times but now that it's summer were not allowed to. Halloween was pretty much the same as every other day here because today is their Dia del Muertos or The Day of the Dead. It's a holiday and all they do is go visit their dead ancestors and some pray to them. Last night though some of the kids dressed up in masks all over Guadalupe and they go to all the stores and try to ask for candy. They usually don't get any though. We took some of our candy though and when they passed by our building we would say quiere dulces? Want some candy and then they

would all shout Halloween Halloween! Because they don't know trick or treat so we would throw them down candy from the third story. Also for pdays we all have to gather together to do internet and we have to be in church clothes. Yes we eat all our meals at the pensionista's house and it is usually at 7:30, 1:00 and 6:00 that we eat but we just come whenever we can. All we really eat is soup, rice, chicken and bread with

different flavors and variations and I don't really know the names of them yet but they are all good. I like ceviche de pota but were not allowed to eat ceviche de pescado because it is raw fish but pota is cooked . It's some sort of fish with onions and lime juice and some other things in it. I got your package with Starburst and Skittles and pictures of you in an airballoon if that's the one that you are talking about. That looked like it was fun. All the natives kept asking me for the picture of Sadie. They think that it's funny to ask about your

sister and for pictures of them. It only rains here like 5 times a year so I'd rather be in your situation. ha I'll let you know about the change and when I get my Christmas present haha. I can't believe that everyone is getting married now. It's going to be so weird when I get back. This week Elder Perry went to a training in Trujillo and I went to Pacasmayo from Monday until Wednesday night. I was with Elder Rojas and Elder Herrera they are both from Lima. The language is still really hard for me and I've been trying really hard not to be frustrated this week. It's been really hard for me too this week with teaching. They know so little about almost everything that it's hard to know what to say. Anyways stay safe and happy and I'll tty later TY

"Christ alone can save the world,

but Christ cannot save the world alone."

 -- David Livingston



Just another week in Guadalupe...

Hey family! Que pasa? Elder Perry was really happy when he saw your picture to him and he says thanks and that you made his birthday awesome. He says he wants to come visit you guys when he gets home so he can meet you and tell you about me. We did have a district conference yesterday and it was great. Hermana Turk wasn't there though, I don't know why, but I hope everything is alright. In Peru the wards aren't very big so they don't have wards and stakes, but they have ramas and distritos. So it was Stake Conference yesterday. Presidente Jave, the husband of our pensionista, is the District Presidente. He spoke and so did Presidente Turk. It was great and he spoke about the new temple that's coming. It should be done in 2 years so I hope they build it really fast so I can go before I leave. There are 8 missionaries in my district which is the Guadalupe District. There are 20 missionaries in our zone which is the Casa Grande Zone I believe. Only the 8 missionaries were at the meeting, but we do have to travel to the other areas a lot especially because Elder Perry is district leader. I can't believe Jessica and Brittani are getting married while I'm gone, and that Gabe hasn't even started his mission. He is going to be so much more ready with already knowing the language really well. His mission is going to be so much different than mine though. ha I can't wait until he gets back, and Gabe, Chase and I can speak 3 different languages to each other and 2 different dialects of spanish.Haha That's good you're teaching the story of Job. You should email it to me so I know too. I'm learning a lot but I still struggle to teach stuff a lot. It takes some faith to be a missionary, but it's really not to bad if you can teach and speak. haha One day I'll know how to do those I hope.... dad says he wanted a misssionary moment but I don't have any really interesting ones yet. We had another baptism this week so maybe you can explain this. His name is Arturo and he was baptized by his recent convert brother who has been a member for 2 months. It was really fun for them to do that and it really built their relationship and confidence. However, only 2 members came to the baptism. The support of the ward is not very good here. It is so important to support the new converts in the first few months of their conversion because this is when they feel uncomfortable in church and don't have any friends. I also learned the importance of home teaching this week. There was a inactive kid that we found that hasn't been attending church. He hasn't had a desire to go really but said he would go with us. He was hanging out with kids that weren't members when he was active, but now he doesn't have many friends and he is inactive. If the ward would have just visited him, and befriended him, and included him he would be active. It's important to keep visiting the inactrives because something in their lives can change them and when we befriend them they'll always have a way back into the church. I have no more time but thanks for writing and I'll write again next week and I should know if I'm getting changed or not by then. Ty

Elder Perry, their pensionista and her family.

She is the one who cooks their meals for them. 

Hermana Kelly Jave, Presidente Jave, Neil and Gemma.

Elder Perry and the man who owns the

 internet shop where they write and receive their emails!

To My Missionary Son
 

Go, my son, and heaven bless you!  I have read each precious line,
Of your heart's responsive throbbing, to a higher call than mine.
God has spoken, you have heard Him, and tho through tears, these eyes be dim,
Your affections for your Mother, shall not mar your love for Him.

Could I bid you stay from fondness, when the ever ruling hand,
Marks your path to duty clearly, and in faith you understand.
No, tis yours to be obedient, and tis mine to be as true.
Go, my son, where duty calls you, and my prayers shall follow you.

Dear to me are every pathway, which your precious feet have trod.
But I give you fondly, freely, to your mission and your God.
You and I must never falter, in the work we have to do,
Go, my son, where duty calls you, and my prayers will follow you.

 I shall pray for you how often, with the waking hours of morn,
Through the labors of my household, and when the night is coming on.
If a Mother's prayer can guard you, Mid the dangers you must meet,
God will surely reunite us, on a day divinely sweet.

I have loved you from the hour, that my lips first pressed your brow,
Even tenderly, but never, quite as tenderly as now.
All I have is His who gave it, what he bids me, I must do,
Go, my son, where duty calls you, and my love shall follow you.

Heaven protect, and bless you always, Holy angels guard your way,
Keep your spirit from temptation, and keep your feet from going astray.
To your parents, ever faithful, To your God be ever true.
Go, my son, where they have called you, and my prayers shall follow you!

And my prayers will follow you!!

Baptism 2 and 3!

Hey I'm glad you liked the scripture references. Ya Elder Perry is a really great missionary. He says his parents are coming to visit him in 3 months to pick him up. He is just being nice though when he says I'm doing good. haha I can write okay but reading out loud and speaking, not so much. Teaching is the hardest part for me though, I never know how to explain it to them because I've always been around people that knew and believed the same things as me. That stinks that the job didn't come through for Sadie tell her to keep trying and she'll get one. Once she gets the job she'll be able to keep it forever so don't worry about it as long as you keep trying, and tell her no I'm not skinny it was just the picture. I have gained a lot of weight here so far. I officially lost my six pack and I hope I don't gain anymore. That is my pensionista that you saw and her two kids Neil and Hemma. They are hilarious and really loud. lol She is a really nice lady and her husband is the District President or Stake President. I'm always forcing myself to finish meals because they are so big. Tell everyone to write to the mission home. The zone leaders receive everything and have to deliver it to us. I have gotten grandma's package but not yours yet. The best way to write, I think, is Dear Elder so tell my friends that they have no excuse not to write me. If Dear Elder doesn't cost anything then write as many letters as you want, but if it does don't worry about it. Don't worry about sending stuff in packages that much I really am fine, and don't need anything and before you send those cds will you find out if they will work in the cd players here or if the different voltage will effect it. I'm glad it's cooling down there because its getting a lot hotter here. Pretty soon it's going to be miserable. haha I keep having dreams a lot now about hunting for some reason. The other night my entire dream was driving to Idaho to go pheasant hunting with dad, and stopping to get jalapeño corndogs at a gas station and watching other people shoot pheasants. It bummed me out when I woke up. haha We now have a baptism scheduled for this Friday for a young guy named Arturo. He knows the church is true and has been waiting for a while to get baptized and is now able to. We have 1 more girl named Anita that will be baptized this week or the next. I'm glad Britanni found someone to marry, that's just crazy that she is. My friends are going to be married too when I get back it's just all crazy. I'm excited to get a letter from her and other people too. Tell all our cousins, aunts and uncles I'm sorry I haven't written yet and that I haven't forgotten about them I'm just trying to get used to stuff and learn a language. haha I'll try to write as soon as possible. I love you guys and hope everything is going well. If you want to attach pictures to your emails you can. Have fun this next week and let me know what happens. I'm off to watch Star Wars and play soccer for my p day. haha Oh and the random fact of the day is......that public breastfeeding is true here. The count for me now is 3 times in someone's home and 1 time in sacrament.......its not distracting at all......ugh!!!!!!!! Plus they have a statue of a lady breastfeeding in the city next to us in CHEPEN haha its weird. Sorry to end the email that way but just wanted to inform ya...haha chow TY

Where is Guadalupe?



Tyler is in Guadalupe,
which is a small town north of Trujillo.

Elder Wilkinson and Elder Perry

WELCOME TO THE MISSION FIELD!!

Hunting Season in Utah

Hey family hows it going? Just another week here in Guadalupe. I was thinking about home the other day and how it is October now, and this means hunting season. I was really sad that I couldn´t go hunting but I know my dad has a lot of good hunts coming this year, and I think I have received revelation for my family concerning this matter. This scripture should help with any contention that may arise between a specific two people, but I will not mention who.....Gen. 27:3-4 I hope this scripture can help with any problems that may arise but if there are further arguments on the matter please refer to Prov. 21:19. Any arguments after reading these two scriptures are useless and against the teachings of the scriptures. Please do not disobey these revelations that were given to us for our personal use. If you do not believe these scriptures are to be used in our own lives please refer to 1 Nephi 19:23. YOUR WELCOME DAD!!!!!!!!!! ha ha anyways now that I have talked about the important stuff, I'd like to talk about conference. It was really amazing! I loved every single talk and it was a real motivation for me. We were not allowed to go on Saturday because we couldn't get an investigator to come but we went to priesthood session and Sunday session. My favorite talk was probably the talk from President Monson on gratitude. I've really had my eyes opened about gratitude lately since being on the mission. We have so many more temporal things in the states and so many luxuries you don't even notice until you have been somewhere else. I will always have a greater appreciation for everything after my mission. But most importantly I have grown immensely in my appreciation for my family. The more I see broken up families and the problems of other families the more I realize the importance of family and how lucky I was and still am. President Monson said something like most often we forget to express our gratitude to the ones that deserve it the most, and that we feel grateful for but dont express it. I just wanted to tell my family that I am grateful for every little thing they've ever done for me and that they are the most important thing in the world to me. Also what I liked about President Monson's talk was that we should be positive. It has been hard staying positive lately because of not knowing spanish or how to teach people (I don't know how you do it for a living mom) or not being able to talk to family and friends but I've learned you need to take everything as a learning experience and have fun with it. I try to enjoy learning spanish even when I'm struggling. He said that prayer is the way to stay positive and that has definitely worked for me. So if you are trying to stay positive listen to the prophet and pray. I don't have much time to say more but thanks for writing me it is the only other thing that keeps me going. I love these peoiple and this work. The food not so much but you can't have everything can you?..........have fun this next week and don't forget to write and get my friends to write. They must not love me I guess cause I haven't gotten any from them... I haven't got any packages but I'll be waiting thanks though. I'm trying to take pictures and I'll send them when I can. Glad to hear everyone's all right and thanks g and g for writing me too:)

3 Nephi 5:13

Behold, I am a disciple of Jesus Christ,

the Son of God. I have been called of him

to declare his word among his people,

that they might have everlasting life.

First Baptism!!

Hey hows it going? Ya all day yesterday I read in my apartment in spanish for about 8 hours, haha but no I didn't get rest we are never allowed to sleep. I need it though. Guadalupe is a little town where everyone knows everyone. It looks different than I was expecting. It is already getting kinda hot and we are only in spring right now. It's supposed to be really hot in my area in the summer and once summer hits they start to grow rice and then the mosquitos hatch. My area is the worst for mosquitos in all of the mission so I hear. I might get transfered but you never know. I like Guadalupe though. It is about a 1.5 to 2 hour bus ride north of Trujillo and it is just a few miles off of the coast. Our apartment is on the 3rd floor in the Pasuela, this little laza right off of the town center. It is small but we have the whole 3rd floor to ourselves. It is 200 soles a month which most people can't afford. My pensionista is Hermana Kelly and she is really, really nice. She takes care of us and is about 4 minutes from our apartment we go to her house to eat. She has one little 2 year old boy named Nil and a little 7 year old girl named Gemma or Hemma in english. Another person does our laundry. We drop it off on Monday and get it Thursday. I hope Grandma and Grandpa are still doing good and you guys too. I have had a lot happen this week. I got sick on Saturday and threw up in the morning. Our appointments fell through so I was able to sleep for a couple hours and now I'm doing better. I think it was a sandwich someone fed us that had mayonaise on it that was bad. Because of elections there is a law that no one can have meetings of any kind. That includes church and General Conference. We can't watch it until next week. I think it's like the only place in the world. So next week is conference for us. It's hard for missionaries though because we can't get progressive investigators if their not going to church and we don't have it for two weeks. We are teaching lots of people. Most of them are inactives because the ward is struggling a little here so we try to reactivate a lot. Others are just a few families we are really trying to work on. We had a baptism on Friday!!!!!!!!!! her name is Ana Maria. She is 20 and Elder Perry had been teaching her for a few months. All I did was bear my testimony to her like 2 or 3 times so I didn't have much to do with it, but I guess you could count it. haha I try to take pics but I only can on p days and there is nothing to take pictures of. What I will probably eventually want is cds. I have a cd player but no music. I would like Mormon Tabernacle choir, normal and Christmas and also on p days we can listen to Disney soundtracks, also classical music like Beethoven and stuff too. ha I guess I'll write more next week just ask questions if you have any and don't worry about me.

 tty later, TY

Guadalupe Peru!

Hi mom! I have been called to serve in Guadalupe Peru. It is north of Trujillo and really dry and dusty haha but the people here are really nice. We are the only missionaries in the entire town and my new companion's name is Elder Perry. He is from Provo Utah, so I'm actually able to talk to him. He is a really good missionary. The language has been really hard but Elder Perry has helped me through it this week. The mission rule is no emails to anyone but family so would you email my friends and tell them to write me letters because I can't respond anymore. My pensionista is great, Hermana Kelly, and the ward is really nice but small. There are a lot of inactives here and that is one of the challenges of our mission, the inactives. We have a lot of people that want to be baptized but there are just some things holding them back. Most of the time it's because the couple isn't married yet, they just live together. We have already come across some pretty crazy things so far, just about the things that happen in the lives of these people. Guadalupe is really small and tranquilo or calm. All of our inestigators are nice and everyone knows everyone else in the town. I haven't felt threatened once because everyone knows the missionaries here and that they're good people, they just don't want to make appointments with us. I got your package and it was great, thank you. I had a bit of a sweet tooth though and it's almost gone. I got the package from grandma as well and that was great too. haha That's cool you got to talk in church ha I hope you like it more than I do. I'm starting to get a lot more comfortable here. Being in the field is a lot different than I thought, but I like it. I wrote in my journal everyday before the field, but I haven't been able to once yet. Also weve been so busy, I haven't had a language study yet. My desire for the investigators to get baptized is strong. Almost all of them know it's true. It's just hard for them to change their lives because of money problems. The men have to work all day long and when they get time off they just want to sleep. haha Anyways I'll try to explain more next week, but don't worry about me. I like my area and district. Once the spanish comes all will be good. I'll pray for Sadie and all of you guys too and I'll talk to you next week. So all I can email now is you and grandmas.

Chow, Ty

Tyler's trainer Elder Tanner Perry from Provo...

Lima Peru Temple

Lima Peru Temple

Tyler was able to attend the temple every

Saturday while he was in the CCM.



Pictures from Trujillo...

We are so lucky to have pictures of Tyler's first day in Trujillo.

Thanks Sister Turk!!

The whole group...9 new missionaries!

Elder Hannemann and Elder Wilkinson with their new pillows!

It's the simple things...



He's there!!

Dear family,

I am here in Trujillo. We got here at about 5:30 yesterday, all is well.

Last night the missionaries, and President and Sister Turk picked us up from the airport.  Then we had dinner and went out and proselyted with the missionaries here.

It was fantastic!!!

Love,

Elder Wilkinson

This place is awesome and I hope you're good.

I'll write next week. P-Days are Mondays.

He is almost there!!

This is the last week in the CCM...then off to Trujillo!

Motto for Trujillo Missionaries:
Do you want to be a bird that walks, or a bird that flies?

100% obedience...
Tyler is going to FLY!!

Only 1 more week in the CCM!

Wow I can't believe it's been more than 52 days too!!! Everything is going by so fast. I'm only going to be able to stay in an MTC for 6 days or less now. Everyone has been telling me that President Turk is really nice, and that's too bad that he's sick.  Hopefully he still has time to come pick me up from the airport. That's cool that Justin is getting his braces off soon. That means I'm going to have the most crooked teeth out of our family.  haha Please tell him to write me and quit being a little poop.  Where are you in the Book of Mormon?  I'm going to start reading a little from the Bible too pretty soon. I just have to finish the D&C first. I should finish today or tomorrow.  What class are you teaching again in Primary? That's funny that they know more than you. You shouldn't feel dumb though just do what Papa always says...If you can't dazzle them with brilliance...haha. That phrase has really helped with teaching people since I pretty much don't know what to say, or how to say it right now.  It is true though. The best lessons I have had are the ones where you really act like you are telling them the most exciting thing in the world.  They should let me email again the day before I leave which could be Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday.  Everyone leaves at different times so I'll let you know when I am leaving. Today is probably the last time going to the temple for 2 years. That sucks, but I am going to really enjoy every second of it today. Things are going really great here, and I'm getting along awesome with my companion. The only thing I have been struggling with here recently, is lot of the other elders in all of the districts. A lot of them are still very immature and are constantly talking about things back home and not forgetting the world.  They are never quiet during personal study, so it's really hard to get a good study in. I'm glad my companion and I can stay focused when we need to be.  Because of this I'm trying to work on my patience, but since you've lived with me for 20 years you probably know how good I am at that....haha. Our last proselytismo went really well.  Our new area was nueva era and it was a little nicer that our first area.  There weren't very many inactive members to visit so my companion and I were chosen to just do contacting the entire time. It was a great experience. We were able to give out around 10 folletos and 2-3 Book of Mormons.  Even the people that don't want to listen to you will, and are still nice. One guy was a little mad though, but we just smiled and told him to have a good day.  We came up to talk to another group of men and they told us to leave them alone so they could enjoy their beers. It was pretty funny! We met a few middle aged women at one door and they were very patient with us and seemed really interested. We also met a teenage kid named Frank.  He didn't believe in God and didn't know why he was here on Earth. We set up appointments for most of them and we visited one other lady. She was really old and lived by hearself.  Her family never visited anymore and she was in a wheelchair and blind in one eye.  It was very sad.  Her husband died from a disease 35 years ago and she was pretty much all alone.  She said she loved music and we sang her a song, Nearer My God To Thee in spanish.  We shared a few scriptures with her, Alma 38:5 and John 16:33 and a few others, and let her know she wasn't alone  and that God loved her. We bore our testimonies  and set up another appointment.  The longer I'm here the more I realize how much we have in the church and in the US.  Other than that nothing else has really happened here so far.  If you are going to send me stuff please don't spend a lot of money.  I repeat please don't! I don't want another earplug incident.  haha The taxes to send packages are really expensive. I don't need anything yet and the only things I want are Dr. Pepper, Mountain Dew and american snacks They don't have good potato chips like Sun Chips and stuff, just native stuff and Lays and Doritos. I don't know if I will be needing more stamps, because the mail here is weird.  They don't have stamps or anything, they just pay when they send it so maybe try to find out about that, but don't send any until you find out, or I do...I still have a lot.  If you do send stuff, just send stuff you know I like but definitely wouldn't have here.  They have more than you think, but other stuff is just weird.  Just remember I don't need a lot, and don't send it if it's going to be a waste or burden.  I love all of you guys and I know you will have a good time this next week.  Tell Justin I'm glad he is trying hard this year in school, and that it will definitely be worth it.

tty next week, TY

President and Sister Turk

This is President Terry Turk

and his wife Sister Janet Turk...

Tyler's Mission President!

Trujillo Peru

This is the Plaza de Armas in Trujillo Peru!

This picture was created by Sister Turk.

Thanks Sister Turk!!

Only 2 more weeks!

Hola! This week was just another awesome week in the CCM! Oh before I forget will you send an email for me to Elder David Mortensen and give him the address for Trujillo so he can write me?  He was asking for it.  Tell Zach that is awesome he finally got over 200 bowling, I can't believe he hasn't started yet.  When is he in the field?  I didn't take my camera on the tour, because I didn't want to get robbed, but some others did.  I'll try to get them from them.  I'm really getting nervous that I only have 14 days left  until it's the real thing. I can't believe it! I still like my new companion a lot and I've had a lot of hilarious experiences with him this week. The trip to the city was awesome.  There were a lot of cool buildings and people bought a lot of stuff.  McDonalds was the same, and I really needed those Big Macs. Rice is getting old at the moment.  The beach is awesome, but nothing like California. No Sandy shores, but mostly rocky. My companion caught a little crab in the rocks and we played with it for a few minutes.  I just barely used my card today and I spent 51 soles so probably like 18-20 bucks.  I still have like 240 soles in cash so don't worry about that.  Anyways the mail is due on Wednesdays and I wrote you a letter on Sunday and forgot about it, so you probably won't get your letter for 2 more weeks, sorry.  Mail takes a week to a week and a half and I think DearElder takes a week and a half tambien (also). Some words in spanish are so much easier that english, so I'll probably never stop using them. Anyways some of the funny things that happened this week...We got mail last Saturday and were just sitting around reading our letter and then all of a sudden Elder Talbot says, "I think I got your letter!" He started reading off my email to you from last week or the week before!!! How did he get that? Anyways aparently his mom was getting upset at him for writing crappy emails and said he needed to stop writing to girls. She then proceeded to say here is an email from an elder there, that I want your emails to be like.  IT WAS MY LETTER!!!!! the funniest part is that he hasn't told his mom yet that I'm his companion, so unless you have she didn't know! It was so funny. He is still giving me crap about it. Another funny thing that happened is that for one of our classes we went out to the soccer field and we blindfolded our companions. We had to direct them in spanish where to go and weren't allowed to touch them. I thought it would be funny to play a prank on Elder Talbot.  We started directing our companions where to go and he didn't know directions well in spanish. I got him really confused and brought him to the end of the field. I then proceeded to direct him right into the metal soccer post! He was walking pretty fast  and he hit the pole perfectly right in the center of his forehead.  It made a loud ringing sound and it knocked him backwards.  Everyone was laughing so hard, it was hilarious. He was fine though and thought it was funny too.  Later that day when it was time to get ready to sleep everyone went to take showers. Elder Hannemann takes really long showers so when we finished we reached over his shower door and stole his towel.  We stuck it in a shower clear across the hall and left and made him run out to go get it.  Ha ha he wasn't shy at all and just ran out to get it just laughing the whole time. Classes have been going really good here still.  After 3 weeks they just start over again for grammar and teach you the same principles again.  Ensenanzas (trainings) are getting better and I'm still improving little by little. I hope birthdays went well and everyone is doing good. Talk to ya next week, TY