I'm getting transferred to Vergara

August 2, 2016 

Monday - we left early to teach Juan and Edison, the 2 kids that got baptized on Saturday, apparently a cyclone came through, so it was raining like crazy and it was super windy. 

Tuesday - we went go to do the zone t-shirts which took forever because none of our ideas were working. Then that night it was also raining pretty hard. Not much else happened  

Wednesday - haha so we went by an investigator and started talking and asked her if there is anything we can do for her, and she said jokingly, well I have to make this cake, and we said oh we can do that, so she looked a little surprised and said OK!! here you cook and I’ll go do my laundry, haha so we made a pretty decent cake and she did her laundry, then we ate it afterwards, it was great.

Thursday - can’t really remember too much, oh no I do,  we had a huge war with those little cain plant things, while going through the field, Childs got hit in the arm and started bleeding, I got some funny videos but they won’t send because they are too big,I’m not sure how I will send my best man speech video thing.

Friday - we went to figure things out with the church and the baptismal font because there was no hot water, so a bishop from another ward came and figured it out. Then we cleaned the chapel more.

Saturday!!!! - we had our baptisms today. Well, they were that night, it was at 8:00pm because the ward had a temple trip. But we were at the church all day cleaning the font, then waiting there while it filled up, it was super slow, it took about 6 hours and it wasn’t even that high. But then we had the baptism, I baptized Juan first, and at the end people were saying I didn’t do it right because his foot came out of the water. The witnesses said that it was good, and someone said I said another “y” then there was supposed to be, but I knew I said it right. But yea, my first baptism felt great, then after I just felt like I messed, but I got over it.

Sunday - I thought I was gonna confirm Juan, I was excited and nervous, but the bishop did both of them. Other than that, we just went by some members and less actives.

Monday - we had a choque de fuerza in Malvin, then had a choripan, which is hot dogs but with chorizo’s. Then we found out that my comp is training, so I’m leaving and I’m a mother now!!! (because your trainer is your father and the old comp is the mom) But yea then we figured out I’m leaving. So we went and bought 2 packs of 16 cookies to play alfajores that we are going to milk and eat today, 8 each. But then in the night we figured out I’m going to Vergara, which is a very well known pueblito, and well known for being the worst area in the mission. There are about 15 members and we get 3-4 lunches a month. So I’ll be using a lot of money probably. And starving for a while, but I think the president brings food out to those pueblitos every now and then. But yea so I’m going to my 3rd area and I’m a little excited but also not, because I love my food

Well yea, I had a pretty good week, I’m sad to be leaving. I really liked this house, and my comp, we got along really well. Talk to you soon. 

Love, 

Elder Grigor

The things we throw at each other in the fields 

I was super cold one morning 

We love McDonald's 

My first baptism 

Saying goodbye to families in Aeroparque 

Cool sign 

It would’ve been nice to have been there, but I’m needed here.

Monday July 25th, 

I forgot my planner at the house so I’m just gonna give a big summary of the things I can remember. 

So we went by tons of people this week. 1 guy his name is Homberto and he’s less active, but we have been reactivating him. He still hasn't come to church yet, he says he wants to. We even gave him clothes to come so he wouldn't feel uncomfortable, and shoes, but he didn't come because he said the shoes were a little too big.

Another thing - we are teaching a member his name is Edison and we’re baptizing him this Saturday because he’s 9 and still hasn't been baptized. So we’re just about done teaching him and we are baptizing another 8 year old. He’s the son of an investigator that comes to church every week and wants to get baptized, but isn't married yet. Her boyfriend says the start of next year when they finish building the new house, but I doubt it will happen. Pretty much every problem that people have with getting baptized is they aren't married and their spouses don't want to. We started teaching him last Friday and he’s getting baptized this Saturday. 

Another thing I heard that Nancy got baptized, our investigator that we found and taught from from Santa Lucia. Woohoo! It would've been nice to have been there, but I'm needed here. 

Then we had something bad happen. We were contacting all morning and we were fasting as a district for the work in our areas. Before lunch we went to the church to break our fast because it was close. Someone left a door open and some guys got in and sprayed the fire extinguishers everywhere. Some rooms there were completely yellow with the dust. So we spent 3 hours from 2-5 on Saturday cleaning the sacrament room and a little of the hallway. Then a bunch of members came to help with it. 

So I’m doing good. Everything is pretty normal here. We had a little of rain here and there, the house is super cold, oh and I got a little sick but it was going around to everyone.

Oh also today we had to clean the house for inspections which happens on every house by the senior missionaries. So me and Childs went for a nice little run this morning to the church to grab cleaning supplies, lost the phone, but talked to some dude if he had seen it and he gave it to us. Haha but it was good to go for a run again. I miss running ,I need to do it more but no one ever wants to go with me, but yea that’s about it

Love

Elder Grigor

Some members, the littlest one we are going to baptize this Saturday 

Last p-day, the Ravioletta 

Our landlord keeps giving us more Nesquick 

Canadian Pacific and my Canadian Shirt 

All the mess from the vandals. Sad to see something happen like this

Trying to help people come to church

Monday July 18, 2016

Tuesday - We had a Intercambio of our zone, so I was told I was leaving my area, so I packed all my stuff and got ready to go, and I went toooo.... AEROPARQUE A and they live in our house, so I packed all my stuff for nothing, but yea it was pretty good. Elder Sosa was supposed to leave his area but only has 1 month in the mission so I kind of took over. I also lost 500 pesos that day, which is about 20 dollars, I think it fell out of my pocket.

Wednesday - we walked to villa del tato which is about a 30 to 40 minute walk, and we found a golfball on the way over so we were passing it around, then I missed a catch and got hit in the head, not too hard though. Then a family was like screaming at us while having a party, “heeeyy little rich things are invited” so we went over and contacted them and have an appointment this week I think. Haha pretty funny that that came out of that situation. 

Thursday - made a lot of appointments, passed by people and they weren't home, except for one couple. We planned a noche de hogar ( family home evening) with them and we’re gonna make beaver tails. They found a recipe online so I’m excited for that, and her daughter - it’s weird how much she looks like Jessica, 

Friday - can't really remember but not a lot happened

Saturday - played volleyball at the church it was pretty fun, I crushed a hit at one guy though, he didn’t let that go. But then we had a lesson with Karen, and I brought the dvd player so we could watch the restoration, but I forgot the charger and it died, so we talked about the sabbath day and it was really good. Then we tried to go by a less active who we’ve been working with to give him clothes to come to church, just some old ones we found at the house, and he wasn't home but we ran into him on the way home and he said he’d come.

Sunday - so neither Karen or Homberto came because it was raining and the group that walks from their town didn't come, so maybe next week. Then we had a good lesson with a new investigator and she said she missed church this week and would come next week. Then we had a fun noche de hogar to finish off the night.

Monday - we had a Raviooletta at the church, basically the members just made a bunch of ravioles,  played games and then ate, then I started this email.

Everything is good here. I got on late so I probably won’t have too much time today, but oh well.

Love

Elder Grigor

All of our plans fell through - but we will keep trying

Monday July 11, 2016

Monday- so we crossed the field and I slipped again, and then we had a noche de hogar with the Cuenca Vilches, it was pretty sweet and then we taught them how to milk alfajores

Tuesday- was awful. So in the morning we decided to go to Villa del Tato, which is a small village away from our town, about 7 Kilometers round trip. We left at 10:30 so we basically just walked to a bunch of Almacens to find Alfajores. Then on the way home we walked past 3 gated communities called La Tahona, and they are suuuuuuper nice even for back home. Then they also have a huge golf course there, and we found EL ALMACEN.  We looked at the map which is pretty far zoomed out and usually almacens are just tiny little stores, and on the map it showed EL ALMACEN, so we went there and it’s awesome. They have a chiropractor, sushi, a huge meat place, definitely going back there. Then we went to lunch and all day it wasn't really raining, but it was just mist all day. So we went to lunch had a huge lunch I had 5 milanesa sandwiches, a plate of rice a couple pieces of pizza and 3 bowls of desert. Then we walked around and all our appointments fell through, it was miserable, but then we had another noche de hogar and we made that sweet pan de carne thing.

Wednesday - we had a interview conference with our president, so we were there until 5 doing practices and listening to talks, and usually I hate practices, but after my interview with President I kinda enjoyed them. Then we had a noche de hogar with some less actives so we basically did nothing all day.

Thursday - we had a bunch of appointments fall through, but had a really good lesson with 2 investigators. We taught the restoration again and they both seem like this is something that they would like. One’s name is Roxina and the other is Karen- they’re cousins.

Friday - we had a intercambio and since my district is my house,  the hermanas and I went with Elder Childd to his area. It was fun - we basically talked english all day, and hahahahahah I threw super cold water on Elder Childs in the shower. There’s a window for the shower under shoulder height for everyone else, me it’s like under my chest. Our kitchen is like 90 degrees with the heat, so he had the window open.  I threw water on him and he was screaming soo loud, then we tried to close the window and I threw another one and hit him right in the face. The owners wife saw and started laughing super hard. Then we went out and just joked around, it was nice to talk english a full day again.

Saturday - in the morning, we brought my dvd player to Karens house and watched the restoration with her. Unfortunately Roxina couldn't come, but Karen really liked it, and said she would come to church next Sunday because this week was Father’s Day and she was super busy. Then we had basically a missionary workshop thing with the members in our ward.  One elder before us (who went home) started it, but no one showed up, so we are gonna have a 5th Sunday lesson with the members and talk about how to be missionaries at home.

Sunday - I didn’t love today. At first it wasn't bad, a young dude came to the church for the first 2 hours, and sacrament here is last, so we might go stop by his house sometime. Then we had a sweet day planned. We had nice firm plans and a noche de hogar, well allllllllll of our plans fell through, we even went by 12 more people all across our area and no one was home or were busy with company. But we found an investigator that we have been looking for for a while, turns out her house it 1 house over from the trail in the field we always cross. so we talked to her for about 10 minutes and her daughter looks a lot like Jessica, it’s weird. I’ll have to get a picture sometime.

Monday - we had a zone activity, played volleyball which was fun, then milked alfajores, and 2 guys had a contest and 1 guy ate 14, which was crazy. The other one threw up at 10, but I think I’m going to try to beat that sometime.

Anyways, this area is sweet. We have 11 new investigators in the couple weeks we’ve been here, but this week plans fell through.  But they should be better this week hopefully.

Love,

Elder Grigor

The muddy field 

My muddy pants 

The family we ate Alfajores with 

Alfajores 

Walking through the field 

My cooking towel- I stay real clean! 

The owners cat, he always runs in when we turn on the heater 

The bag of candy that the ants got to 

We are working really hard

Monday July 4th 2016 

Tuesday- I’m not really sure what we did, me and Elder Solano are working really hard here so time is flying by. We taught the 9 year old in this member family, he never got baptized yet. Basically everything he sees, of somebody else’s, he asks if you can give it to him, or buy him one, even in church, he goes to everyone, he’s pretty funny.

Wednesday- we had this amazing lunch, they call it pan de carne. Basically they just take meat and make a huge square and put cheese and ham inside, then roll it up. Anyways it was amazing and I said, as a joke, we should ask her to have a family home evening with us so we can learn how to make this and then eat it again. So Elder Childs went out to ask her and said: “hermana, this was amazing we need to get this recipe, and she said oh just come over one day and well have a family home evening and I’ll make it for you guys, then we can have desert too.” We were all freaking out, it was soo funny, so were doing that Tuesday night.

Thursday- We met the new mission president today, President Eddy. He’s really cool I think he’s from Orem, or something like that. He has a kid serving in the Dominican, an 18 year old leaving to BYU in august, a 16 who’s plays basketball, then a 15 year old a 12 year old, and a 9 year old, and all of them are living down here. I don’t know how happy I would be to move down here for three years, but that just shows their will, for the work. Then we had sloppy joes for lunch, and me and my house took 2 guaranas (really good brazillian pop) home to our apartment, they had tons left over.

Friday - today was normal. We had a full day planned, we taught a ton of lessons and found 4 new investigators.

Saturday - so today it started raining, a little on the way to lunch, which was across the field and about 1 km down a huge road, and on the way back it started raining pretty hard, we were all pretty miserable until I just started messing around. Then we were all having fun just throwing water with our umbrellas. Then on the way back, I slipped in the field and got super muddy, I have pictures but I forgot my pendrive. Then volleyball was canceled because of the rain, so we stayed in the house until 4 trying to dry our clothes off then went out to work. Then went to a Capilla Abierta in Walvin, but the Elders have to go out on those to get people to come to them, and it was still raining hard and there was nobody, so we tried for a while then gave up. When we went back, there was food at the church, it was hard not to eat because we were fasting

Sunday - we went to church, and it was Fast Sunday. 2 members gave us food to take home, and I took a little bit thinking I would get seconds and everyone would do the same. Nope, they took the rest. So I was pretty mad about that one, then I went to go eat my suckers and a colony of ants got them and tore apart the bag and ate most of my suckers, so I killed them all in my rage and ate my last 2 suckers. 

Monday - I went to sign papers today so I can stay in the country, then came to email home, and tonight we have a family home evening with some members.

This week was awesome, I really liked it. We worked hard, but also messed around a lot, and we now have 10 new investigators since we came to the area to white wash. I just need to keep working on my Spanish, but it’s sooo much better then last week. ya thats about it

Love

Elder Grigor

I love Canada

Dear Family, 

Wednesday - Went to tres cruces and met my new comp, (who I already knew) and we went to our new house, which I don't like, it's basically a cave, the lights in the front room don't work, it's always cold, and I go last to shower and Solano uses all the hot water. So yea it's awesome. But then me and solano went around getting to know some of the members and got to know each other a little better and yea that's basically it.

Thursday - I started running out of money since I had to buy a pillow becuase they never gave me one when I got here. so I'm cutting into my emergency funds, but we just went around contacting, found a couple good future investigaotrs and got 1 new investigator. He's 17 and has a 2 month old kid with his 16 year old girlfriend. So yea..

Friday - we had a zone meeting and got to know everyone, and Nielsen is in my zone!! He's the new secretary in the offices, probably because his leg is messed up and he can't walk too much. Then I got my package from home!!! I love the shirt and the poncho. I already ripped it, and it got a little burnt when I went too close to the heater. Everyone was jealous of my candy, and that I got 2 packages already. Oh and me and Solano wore our touques out from home, he has one that says Peru on it. But also we walked a ton today. Our area is pretty big and all dirt roads, and we walk back and forth across the area alot for appointments. For some reason it gets super foggy here at night and sometimes you can barely see anything so me and solano when we were walking back to our house on the highway we starting walking like monkeys just to mess with people. Then we went to an investigators house of 10 years now, and during our lesson their roof was dripping on my head, haha kinda hard to focus with that, I had to keep wiping my hair and I tried moving too but it just followed me. Plus his house smells like dog poo, that also made it pretty hard. 

Saturday - we walked a lot again. Theres this huge field in-between the town we live in and a pueblito where some members live. So we cross that all the time and sometimes get pretty dirty. Then we met this family, I think they're investigators and we were just getting to know them. They said they play volleyball at the church on Saturdays, and the dad coaches. I said that I love volleyball and they said I could come help coach. It might be good because we have a future investigaotrs that plays there too. Then coming back we visited some members and he said to not walk through the field at night because it's dangerous. So he took us on a long walk to a road that connected to the highway. We walked about 1 hour out of the way instead of 10 minutes through the field, it wasn't fun.

Sunday - we were all introduced to the ward; except for Child's, he's the only one that stayed in the ward. We had a non member come to the church with his cousin I think, and he asked for a Book of Mormon. We gave him one and I think we're meeting with him this week. We went to Hermano Lopez's home - the member we visit across the field. We walked around with him for 2 hours getting to know the pueblito called bella vista (the town across the field) then we went to that old investigators house. I gave him a blessing because I think he has the flu, and he gave us a package of waffers each. 

Monday - woke up and ate, cleaned the house and now I'm emailing in a mall because I think it's the only one that is in our zone, 

I got really homesick this week, but I'm good now.

Love 

Elder Grigor 

***sooooo... I forgot my camera in the shuttle that took me to my new house. umm don't know if I'll ever get that back, so right now I'm just using the pics on my companions camera.

"Me and my new house mates" 

"My new poncho!! Happy Canada Day" 

"This is the landlords cat that chills with us sometimes" 

I'm getting transferred!!!

June 21st, 2016

Dear Family, 

Ok Tuesday-we had a zone intercambio so instead of just the people in your district you go with anyone in the zone (except sisters) and I came back to Santa Lucia with Elder Stewart, my zone leader, so first we had lunch with a member who I had never been to before, so we got lost for a while then we found it, and they have a suuuuper fat dog, like a 70 pound lab. I didn’t get a picture though, then we just did some visits, Elder Stewart is super cool and works super hard, he’s got about 4 months left.

Wednesday-we went back to Alspiedras and I bought 3.5kg of cereal for the next 2 weeks for about $12. I think I got myself a pretty good deal. Then we basically hung out with the ward mission leader all day because we had lunch with him, which usually goes long, then we visited some less actives and went back for a noche de hogar (family home evening) with the ward mission leader and Pierce took pictures with them because we knew he was leaving.

Thursday- was pretty normal we went to the book store thing and talked with the lady there, and a drunk dude came in speaking english to us a little, then spoke english to the lady at the front and starting laughing, then we all started laughing. But then everything else was pretty normal.

(I mixed up the day here,I wrote the Friday as Thursday so at the start it may sound weird because I tried explaining the papeleria thing)

Friday-we went to the papeleria which is like a book store?? I’m really not sure. It’s like Staples but owned by normal people. We talked with her for a while and we’re actually becoming pretty good friends. We gave her the first lesson and gave her a Book of Mormon. She was really excited and told us that she wanted us to come over to her house to hang out more, and to play playstation. Although it was tempting, we said we could come over, but no playstation. She's super funny.

Saturday- was just a normal day. We didn't have too much but we taught Gonzalo about temples and the importance of them and what happens in there. It was good because his member wife was saying that she wants to go do baptisms for family members there but can’t cuz they aren’t married so that’ll be a good push for them so they could get baptized really soon depending on the marriage date.

Sunday- We had stake conference today and it was super late at 4. So we took a bus at about 2 to get there early so we could do some choir thing in front of the doors while people walked in. On the bus we talked to a drunk guy for about half an hour. He was pretty hard to understand but he was drunk and I can barely understand when other people talk to me. When we got there we did the singing thing, and Elder Eduardo a member of the 70 spoke, then we took a bus home that the church rented.

Monday- today was crazy. So we had lunch with Wilson, the first counsellor who's in the wheelchair, and he’s is awesome. He always gives us guiso which is just vegetable soup with some meat. Pierce got pics with him, then we went to Washington a less active member and Pierce got a call half way through saying that he was white wash training in Santa Lucia. Then President cook realized that it was Pierce and said, oh your going to Parque de plata as a district leader, and we still don’t know about your companion yet. So then I started to get pictures with everyone after that, because we knew I was leaving but we just didn't know where. So then we just had some normal visits, I didn’t get a picture with Wilson but the one in the Liahona will do. Then we got home, and I’m going to the zone este (east) so east Montevideo in somewhere called aeroparque (aeropark) ITS RIGHT NEXT TO THE AIRPORT SO I WILL HEAR PLANES GOING BY ALL THE TIME, (whoops didn’t mean for caps but whatever) yea crazy!!! and I’m companions with Elder Solano, he has 2 changes left and he’s in my zone right now. So I’m leaving white wash to go whitewash another area, so hopefully Nancy and Gonzalo will stay good. I can say that I helped to bring about a change in them.  Well maybe not Nancy, the Furtado family did that, but we did find her. 

Tuesday- this morning we started packing and I got everything in my bag except for my cereal. I can stuff that in my backpack because I have barely any money left and there’s still lots of it.  After this were gonna go to Maria Esperanza and say goodbye to all them. I think they are throwing us a goodbye party or something. 

Pretty crazy week, next week will probably be a pretty short email because we’re white washing. That’s when we both go there and don’t know anything about the area, but I’m excited and I have a Peruvian to help improve my Spanish.

les quiero

Elder Grigor

My extra large bag of cereal!!! 

This furniture store was super comfy!!! 

             This lady on our wall looks like Hailey, I never noticed that until now.

  We made a huge asado thing, ooohhhh I forgot about that! We used all of our               dried wood and made a a big fire thing for Pierces 1 year. 

We had to use a nasty old shirt in our backyard to get the fire going!!

 

"My desk compared to Pierce's haha" 

(Elder Grigor's desk in the one on the right side)

I said: Your desk is so clean!!!! What happened to you???? hahaha

  Then he told me: haha I don't know??? I hate having messes

** good to see he's learning some good habits :) 

Rosanna and Emanuel are recent converts here.  

The Furtado family who visit Nancy with us. 

Their son is super cool too, we always mess with him.

Another family in our ward, the Layes family. 

They are super cool too. 

I hope they will still be there when I come back 

Washington and his wife 

The lady who owns the papleria