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
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