Week 20, Izcuchaca, Peru

Excerpts from a letter Aaron sent to Cara this past week:
"I'm not sure where to start telling you about how things are here.  First, Peru is crazy.  There is some stuff here that I'm not sure I'll understand the whole 2 years I'm here.  The way people live down here is so different!  And some times it's hard for me to deal with.  I've seen a lot of stuff that has made me ask, "why!?!"  The people are different too, but the awesome people we are teaching right now, they are great!  The mom has so much faith!  And their little girl is really cute.  One thing I've really come to learn or something that has become "real" to me now is the fact that everybody IS A CHILD OF GOD!  Before, that was just something I would say, but I'll tell you it's true!  I'm going to be honest, this is not the easiest thing I have done in my life.  The fact that I'm in pretty much a different world and a new language for me has been the cause of a few really hard days.  I get so frustrated sometimes when I'm trying to teach or just talk with people and I can't say what I feel I should say or even just express myself.  It's really horrible when people don't really pay attention to you because you can't speak well.  I have had people start laughing at me  while I'm trying to offer a prayer, and even in the CCM here in Lima during the practice teaching session.  There have been some days where it just makes you want to cry.  It is very humbling.  Now I just laugh myself and don't care what anybody thinks.  I just have to do what I've been called to do.
The food here is another story.  You already know some about that.  A few days ago our cook lady member person (she's awesome) had some cook books out and I went through and put my initials on stuff that sounded good.  So now, thanks to the grace of the Lord, we are eating with a little variety.  There is still the soup for lunch everyday with the random piece of chicken or cow you've never seen or heard of before, and when you see it, you're just. . . . hmmmm?
You wanted to know about the person I baptized.  His name is Miguel Angel Alverez Mendoza.  He's 18 and he has his own little tailor shop.  His dad is a member, but he is an alcoholic, like every one else in his family, which is really sad.  Miguel is really awesome.  He's still having some problems, but considering his circumstances he has a lot of faith.  It's really hard to get people to follow through on their commitments.  A lot just won't come to church, which really is bad, because we can't baptize them until they do.  We keep working hard, and we have some really awesome people that are progressing.
I want to let you know that I KNOW that the church is true, that Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer, that the Book of Mormon is not just a book, but it has power because it is the Word of God!  I know that Father in Heaven provided this gospel for our happiness in this life and in the one to come.  And I know the Word of God has power to change a man from what he used to be, to a Son of God.  I share that with you in the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ, even the Son of God, Amen.
P.S.  "For behold, it is as easy to give heed to the word of Christ, which will point to you a straight course to eternal bliss."  Alma 37:44

Week 19, Cusco, Peru

Hi Mom, this week I fell down a manhole - well something like it - just one leg though, but we were trying to find this guys house in the dark and I didn't see it, thought I'd let you know.  Also we had our stake conference this week with President Monson and Elder Christopherson and another Seventy and the Relief Society President, so that was awesome.  Elder Christopherson speaks Spanish very well so that was really cool, and I actually understand about 80 percent of was being said so that was sweet.  There is always gaps with words or expressions I don't know, but for the most part I understand. Still working on learning how to talk though, progressing.   I was told that for 4 months I speak very well, but still having a difficult time once and a while, but looking at where I started from I think I'm doing ok.   We're still working hard down here.  One of the Hermana`s we are teaching told us that we are an answer to her prayers, that was awesome!   She even traveled all the way to stake conference in Cusco, I can`t wait till she is baptized but we have to wait for her and her husband to get married, but he`s working in another city till probably December.   It will be awesome when it happens and he really likes the church and everything too.  I also taught this couple about the importance of marriage and everything and after we left their house I was just like WOW - what just happened?   I don't think it was me speaking, but yeah,  that's the best stuff that has happened this week.   I'm out of time but I love you guys, and hope your week is great! Here is some pics of the ancient Inca salt mines we went to and some ruins. 

Week 18, Cusco, Peru

Note:  Aaron's two last letters were short and mostly in Spanish.  I would have posted them anyway, but they did not translate well.  Sorry!  Here's this weeks letter:

Hi Mom, I'm glad you had a great week with everybody, tell Brett I hope he does well on his test.  Hey, tell Grandma happy birthday for me this week too, please, and that I will write her soon.  Tell Cara good luck for me with her starting school.   I got my package 2 weeks ago it only took about 3 weeks.   Sorry, but there is so much stuff that happens throughout the week sometimes I don´t remember it all, but thank you very much for sending me the stuff I needed, however maybe next time you could perhaps send some home made cookies or something like that!  This week has been really good.  We have a new little family that we are teaching and they are awesome.  The mom has come to church the past two weeks with their daughter and they stay for the whole thing!  (which here is a big deal)  We have some others that are progressing well too.  Yesterday we were teaching a guy with his wife for the first time and we were teaching the restoration,  my companion started to talk about baptism and the guy said,  "What do I have to do to be baptized?" it was awesome!  I hope things keep going great with them.  Oh yeah,  I forgot to tell you I´m first counselor in the Elders quorum.  Everything is going good.   I hit 4 months yesterday, it´s crazy the way time works once you're a missionary everything in the past feels like a dream.   I can only imagine what it will be like 2 years from now!   Anyways, I love ya and I'll talk to you next week.