I'm Killing The Mosquitoes!

Well hello there everyone :) 

It was a GREAT week! Wanna know why? Yeah? Okay :) Moises and Jesus accepted a baptismal date!! Can I get woot woot?! Oh yeah :) Moises accepted first and then when Jesus found out he was like, well I wanna be baptized too :) Jesus was adorable. He told us that when we come to his house it’s like there’s two angels with him and that when we´re there he can’t help but smile cause we make him happy :) Told you all I´m an angel, and you never believed me ;) It was great though.

Reyneri, another investigator, is getting baptized this coming Sunday so that should be great. What’s really great is that her mom is inactive, but since we´ve been teaching her daughter she has SO many desires to go back to church. She’s really excited and has promised to come back because she realizes something is missing in her life. It will be a great day :)

I’ve never told you about Ana I don’t think... Maybe. But this week with her was so great. She’s gotta be like 40 and is single living with her mom who’s really sick. Right now she’s taking care of two nephews as well and one is about to turn 8 so we’ve been teaching him. We were secretly really teaching her though haha. But now she knows she’s an investigator :) She really appears like a sarcastic, "I could care less", type of person, but she really opened up this week. Her whole entire family is members. Seriously. ALL of them! She’s grown up with the church. This week we challenged her to baptism though and she said no. She said she has a lot of anger against her dad who was a member but then was an alcoholic. She said she can’t ask God to forgive her when she can’t forgive her dad. She said that her dream was to grow up, get married, and have kids, but since her dad left she is here with her mom. She just started sobbing and was like, I don’t know what I’m gonna do when my mom dies. She is super sad, but we´re really trying to help her. Pray for her! She’s one of the strongest people I’ve met. She doesn’t like to show that she’s sad, but we now know the whole story and she just needs a lot of help. 

It was really cool cause we were in a lesson with her and read the scripture D&C 6:22-23. We were tryin to help her recognize that God IS answering her prayers. She read it and everything just went silent. She was just staring at the verses. Something I’ve learned in the mission is that when there’s silence the Holy Ghost can really work with a person, and that’s just what happened. She looked up and was like, "You just gave me my answer. That silence just answered my prayers. I’ve been waiting so long for an answer, and now I have it." The spirit was SO strong! She has her answer, but she just needs to do something about it. 

Lots of amazing things are happening here in Sullana. We have a new bishop, and are really working more with the ward. I’m starting to love it here like I loved it in Piura, which I never thought would happen, let’s be honest haha. But it’ ss been a great week. 

Okay funny story! So the mosquitos here have gotten worse this week and Saturday night I forgot to use repellent. I wake up Sunday morning and Hermana Callizaya is like, "How´d you sleep?" And I tell her that I slept great and she goes, "Oh really? Cause you were killing mosquitos all night in your sleep." haha! She said I was walking around our room clapping my hands in the air and she was like, "Hermana Roper, what are you doing??" And I told her "Hermana calm down. I’m killing them. I’m killing the mosquitos!!!" And then I clapped my hands in the air again and said, "Yep. Got 2 that time." Then I climbed back in my bed and went to sleep lol. What the heck?? I know I sleep talk, but seriously? Hermana Callizaya was a little freaked out but I honestly remember nothing! If one day she wakes up and I’m not there she knows why...

Anyway, it’s been a great week. You’re right, mom. Last year at this time our family became an eternal family, and it’s a week I´ll NEVER forget. I realize, now, more than ever, how amazing it is that my family is eternal. I am so grateful! I KNOW families are eternal. I KNOW God´s plan is perfect, and He wants us to be happy. Sometimes I think we get too involved in worldly worries, when really we just need to realize how amazing life really is. We´re here to be happy! We need to enjoy EVERY minute. One thing that alllll the money in the world can’t ever buy is time. The time we have here is so important. I’m so grateful for the life I have. I love you all so much! And.... HAPPY BIRTHDAY TOMORROW, HAIDYN! Love you so much sissy :) You’re growing up too fast. Hope you have the best day. I´ll be thinking of you all day I’m sure :) 

           Have a great week everyone! 

Love,

Hermana Roper 

We Remember Him Every Day :)

Hola Familia :)

         Another week in Sullana! It’s been a good, but super crazy busy week. I’m lovin Sullana more every day :) Easter was good here…. Just like any other day haha. Yes they celebrate here… BIG time. They’re big time Catholics so it’s crazy! It was so hard to even find anyone to teach all weekend cause they were all inside watching Jesus movies! One guy asked Hermana Callizaya why us Mormons don’t do anything special for Easter and why we don’t remember him and what he did for us and she was like, “Us Mormons remember Him every day. We don’t need a special weekend to remember what He did for us.” That’s right! It’s true though. We should remember Him every day. I’m glad you all had a great Easter though J Everyone looks so great!

         This week, like  I said, was  a crazy one. We had two exchanges and guess what? I survived! The first one was with Hermana Stringham from Salt Lake. She is hilarious! Also a blog stalker haha. Just like you Mom! But sooo funny. She reminds me a lot of me when I first started the mission… Just stressed about the language. But it DOES come. We had a lot of fun, and of course it’s always fun to vent in English J We ended up going back to the room early though because it was like nobody has ever seen two Americans or something! Everyone was staring… And it was dark… And the men in motos are creepers… So we were smarties and headed back to the room haha.

         The second exchange was with Hermana Cisneros from Ecuador an that was good too. Oh! Speaking of Ecuador… I’m going to Ecuador Friday and Saturday for my visa! They just told me last night J That was random… Yep.

         Anyway…. Our investigators are good. The buggers just won’t come to church! Moises came, but doesn’t want to accept a baptismal date. He just says he wants to get baptized, but not right now. What the heck?? Oh! We finally got to teach their mom again and she loves it. I don’t see how this family isn’t baptized already. Seriously.,. She is the sweetest! She said she has a lot of faith and now all that’s left is to choose a religion.

         We also have a new investigator Reyneri. She’s a cutie. She’s 12 and her mom is a member. She should be getting baptized here in two weeks-ish.

         One bummer of the week: Ricardo’s mom. Seriously. We had one of those missionary experiences like Elder Holland talked about in Conference except I didn’t walk away with potatoes in my hair. So she’s the one that wont let him get baptized. Well Saturday night we didn’t have any credit on our phone to call people and the closest place to get some is at the bus station. She works in a little snack shack there and we had been talking to her every once in a while until she sent us a text and asked us to stop. Well, we decided to go back. She let us have it! She pretty much told us that Ricardo won’t be baptized till he’s 25 and if he does she’s kicking him out. She had Hermana Callizaya in tears and then I just had to smile and tell her, “Thank you for letting Ricardo come to church. We know he’s who he is because he’s had a mom like you as an example.” That’s proof I’ve changed! Ooooo I wanted to tell her some other not very nice things… But I’m a missionary. I’m a representative of Jesus Christ. And I couldn’t. And it was so hard. We don’t know what to do now. She said if we or he insists to be baptized she won’t let him attend church. We also can’t go teach him anymore… So that was seriously a bummer. We’ve been quite bummed about that.

         Sorry this letter is so short. This computer wouldn’t work and AHHH. I had to switch computers like three times. I promise pictures and a longer letter next week! J Love you all so much!

Love,

Hermana Roper  

Exact Obedience!

Hola Familia! :) 

         Okay first of all, LOVE the pics haha! You all kill me! Haidyn is so different though sheesh. She’s growing up too fast! Stop it. Pleeeease? Love you all though :) 

         This week was a good one :) I can’t believe April is already half way over. Time is flying, and I still feel so lost here in Sullana! Oh I also got the package you sent, and LOVED it! Loved it all :) My companion did too :) I shared everything with her.... Except the sour patch kids. Mom, you should know by now I don’t share my sour patch kids ;) But really. Thanks so much! 

         This week we’ve been working hard. We have a lot of great investigators, but it seems like they’ve all just hit a wall and don’t want to commit to baptism. It’s frustrating! Jesus and Moises were doing great till their mom said she thought it was all too fast. Now they say they want to be baptized in October. Ummm. NO. But the good news is that we got to talk with their mom and teach them all. We gave her a Book of Mormon and assigned her to read the intro. Well, God is amazing, and instead of reading the intro she flipped open to Alma 32 and LOVED it. She was so impressed and said it really got her curious. Since that day, when we arrive at their house, she is ready with our seats, her Book of Mormon, and ready to learn :) If we can get her to church I know she’ll love it. That’s our goal this week. 

         We also have a lesson with Ricardo’s mom tonight. AHHH! We’re not really sure what we’re gonna say, but our plan is to go in focusing on her and not just asking permission for her son to be baptized. If she can apply it to her life, and feel the spirit she’s going to let him get baptized. Hope everything works out tonight. Psh. Who am I kidding? God has a plan :) 

         We also have Denis who committed to baptism May 3^rd. Yay! 

This week we found a new investigator, Conrado, who too came to church yesterday. He’s great! When we found him he was so sad. He’s 60 somethin and when we found him and started talking to him, he just started crying and said he was to the point he just didn’t want to live anymore. I just wanted to hug him! (Too bad he’s a man and that’s against the rules or I would have...) He came to church yesterday though and loved it. 

         This week we also had Zone Conference in Talara. I just love President Rowley! (In a not weird way.) Hermana Callizaya was like, "I wish I could carry him around on a keychain and have him tell me what to do." Seriously! Love listening to him speak. This conference really focused on the Book of Mormon and Family History. (Everyone should fill out one of those booklets!) There’s one thing I loved that he said though. He looked at us all and said, "Do you have a testimony?" We were all lookin at him like, "Well, duh, President. We’re missionaries...." and then he goes "What time do you wake up in the morning? Do you exercise every day? What time do you go to bed?" Then we we’re all lookin around avoiding eye contact haha and he says, "Thats how you show it. That’s how you show you have a testimony. Through obedience in your mission and in your life you show you have a testimony. Every day from 6:30 to 10:30 you show it." He’s great huh? It really got us thinking. Exact obedience :)

         We also had our first exchanges this week, and I survived. Yay! Tomorrow I’ll be here in Sullana though with an American that just got here that knows no spanish... That should be interesting. Oh! And did I mention I’m still lost? We’ll definitely be carrying the map around all day.... 

         Okay now for some funnies :) First of all, one member, Zully, is my favorite. She is so strong! Her mom passed away two years ago from cancer. One of the strongest people I’ve met. She’s 18 and also hilarious. She leaves with us every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Well Friday we were headed to an appointment and there was a newborn kitty that was homeless and crying and sad...... So we took it with us. It’s against the rules for us to have a pet, gosh darn it, so we started knocking door by door asking if someone wanted it. Okay now for the funny part. Zully knew a word in English, but didn’t know what it meant.... Boobs. lol. I tried explaining, but it didn’t make a difference. That’s what she decided to name the kitten. We went door to door and she would knock and say, "Quiere Boobs?" which is "Do you want Boobs?" I was dying laughing! Then she goes on to give the kitten a last name.... Another English word she knew.... Please. Boobs Please. She named the kitten Boobs Please! Haha! I know I totally shouldn’t laugh, but wow. SO funny! When people try to talk in English here it is the funniest! I’m totally immature.... But whatever. 

         Another funny story that happened yesterday. There’s a ton of construction here in Sullana because of water problems. All the streets are torn up and it’s awful. We were headed to an appointment and the street was soooo torn up. It was hard for us to even get to the house! So we start talking (as we’re arriving at the house) and say, "Wow. If there was a drunk walking around here he’d fall for sure!" then step inside the door to see drunks. Lots of them. And they just looked at us like, "Yep. We heard that." SO awkward! They left pretty quick haha. And they didn’t even fall in a hole! Proved us wrong. So funny though. Our faces were soooo red. 

         Our ward here is all reading the Book of Mormon together too before December. I thought it’d be neat if we all do it. We can all read the Book of Mormon before I get home. That means you all have 7 and a half months to do it :) We can do it! I finished the Book of Mormon today so I’mm starting tomorrow again :) Pleeease do it :) 15 minutes every day! Yeah? Okay :) Also... Remember to go to the temple every month!! :)

         Thank you for everything. Really. Love you all so much! Hope you all have a great week, and a great Easter! LOVE YOU!

Love,

Hermana Roper 

Cows and Livers

Familyyyy!

         I. Ate. Cow. Testacles. And liver. Oh my gosh. You could say Sullana is definitely an interesting area... I was just eatin... Thinkin the meat was just super chewy or something. And there Hermana Callizaya is giving hers to the cat when nobody was looking. I thought she was being nice and feeding the cat. Nope. She knew what we were eating and didn’t even tell me!!! We leave the house and I ask, "What did we just eat?" and she goes, "You don’t want to know..." So then of course I wanted to know and she finally explains to me, "We ate the member of a man... Well, not a man. We ate the member of a cow." If you could have only seen my face! SO gross. The Peruvians don’t waste anything, that’s for sure! 

         Okay... Well. Besides that my week was pretty calm. We went Tuesday to Piura and we are both feeling a little better about our assignments and what we have to do. We went to the mission home with all the zone leaders in the mission and learned lots :) This week we will be starting exchanges with the other Hermanas so that should be fun. I’ll get to see Hermana Arce soon in an exchange too! I miss her! It should be good though.

         Then Wednesday we were in Piura again but at the hospital. My companion has a stomach problem. We waited in Piura 4 stinkin hours! But shes all good :) 

         Then Thursday we had Zone meeting which was just like a repeat of Tuesday when we all talked with President Rowley.  Pretty much, long story short, we didn’t have much time in Sullana this week. We didn’t even have a full day to work this week, which was a bummer. We were a little scared that our area is going to weaken with our new assignments. It seems like we’re never here! But with every minute we had, we worked hard. 

         This week we set a baptismal date with Jesus for the 26th and Moises hasn’t accepted yet. We wanted the 19th but their mom said it was too fast, gosh darn it. But they both came to conference this weekend so that was a big step :) 

         Ricardo also came to conference... BUT. His mom texted us this week and asked us to stop visiting her. :( Ricardo wants to be baptized so badly! We need a miracle. 

         Conference was great though huh? At first the satellite didn’t work. We were all freaking! The church here didn’t have enough energy or something so we missed most of the first session. I too, LOVED Elder Uchtdorf’s talk, just like you mom. I went into conference with a question. I had been praying to know how I could enjoy the next 8 months of my mission more than any other time. I want these next 8 months to count. I’ve learned that time in the mission flies and I don’t want to let one second pass me by. I definitely feel like I received answers to my prayers. Many! One of them was from Elder Uchtdorf. Be grateful. It’s so simple! If I can just be grateful for the small things, and be grateful in every circumstance, everything will turn out just fine. I honestly don’t know how I ever slept through conference! So great. Tell Ty that when he’s in the mission he won’t be sleeping like in that pic mom sent haha. I love conference. 

         This week Hermana Callizaya shared a poem with me that I liked for missionaries. Its a little long, but I liked it. I’m gonna copy it for you all :) 

         I really am so grateful for the mission and to be here, even if I’m eating cow balls ha! It’s crazy to think how far we’ve all come in this past 10 months, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything. The mission has changed so much! Hermana Callizaya and I were talking about the hard times in the mission. Yes there are hard times, but the good definitely outweighs the bad. When we remember the good times, the bad times don’t even matter :)

Hope you all have a great week! :) Love you all so much more than you’ll ever know.

Love,

Hermana Roper  

THE ALARM RINGS AT 6:30; I STUMBLE TO MY FEET.

I GRAB MY COMPANION'S BEDDING AND PULL OFF HER SHEETS.

A GROAN FILLS THE ROOM, IS IT ALREADY TIME TO ARISE?

IT SEEMS LIKE JUST A SECOND AGO I WAS ABLE TO SHUT MY EYES.

THE MORNING ACTIVITIES FOLLOW-STUDY, PRAYER AND SUCH.

WHEN IT'S TIME TO LEAVE THE APARTMENT, YOU FEEL YOU HAVEN'T ACCOMPLISHED MUCH.

"WE HAVE A SUPER DAY PLANNED," MY COMP SAYS WITH A GRIN.

I LOWLY UTTER A FAITHLESS BREATH, "YEAH, IF ANYONE LETS US IN."

WITH THE WORD OF GOD AND MY FAITHFUL SCHWINN, WE RIDE OFF IN THE STREET

PREPARED TO FACE ANOTHER DAY OF HUMIDITY AND HEAT.

IT'S 9:30 IN THE EVENING, THE DAY IS ALMOST THROUGH.

MY CHAMPION AND I ARE RIDING HOME NOT ACCOMPLISHING WHAT WE THOUGHT TO DO.

WE RIDE UP TO THE MAILBOX, HOPING TO RECEIVE A LOT,

ONLY TO LOOK INSIDE AND HEAR MY ECHO REVERBERATE "AIR BOX".

WE GO UP TO OUR APARTMENT, THE DAY IS NOW COMPLETE,

THE ONLY THING TO SHOW FOR OUR WORK IS A CASE OF BLISTERY FEET.

IT'S PAST 10:30 P.M., MY COMPANION IS FAST ASLEEP,

SILENCE ENGULFS ME ALL ABOUT AND I BEGIN TO WEEP.

IN THE MIDST OF SADNESS I KNEEL DOWN TO PRAY;

I NEED TO TALK TO FATHER, BUT I"M NOT SURE WHAT TO SAY.

"OH, FATHER" I BEGIN, "WHAT HAPPENED TO US TODAY?

I THOUGHT WE'D TEACH SOMEBODY, BUT EVERYONE WAS AWAY.

MY HANDS, MY ACHING HANDS-WORN, HURT AND BEAT;

IF OUR AREA WAS ANY SMALLER, WE'D HAVE KNOCKED EVERY STREET."

"WHY ON MISSIONS ARE THE DAYS SO MUCH ALIKE?

THE ONLY DIFFERENCE ABOUT TODAY WAS THE FLAT TIRE ON MY BIKE

WILL YOU SEND SOME COOLER WEATHER?  THE HEAT IS KILLING ME.

I SWEAT SO BAD, IT GETS IN MY EYES, IT'S VERY HARD TO SEE."

"WHY DO I HAVE TO WEAR A HELMET, ISN'T YOUR PROTECTION ENOUGH?

PEOPLE ALWAYS LAUGH AT ME AND CALL ME STUPID STUFF.

PLEASE SEND US INVESTIGATORS SO I MAY GIVE THEM WHAT THEY LACK;

I WANT TO GIVE THEM BOOKS OF MORMON, THE WEIGHT OF THEM HURTS MY BACK."

"AND WHAT ABOUT MY FAMILY?  THEY DON'T HAVE MUCH TO SAY,

I'M SICK OF NOT HEARING FROM HOME DAY AFTER DAY AFTER DAY.

OH FATHER, WHY AM I HERE? AM I JUST WASTING TIME?

SOMETIMES I JUST WANT TO GO HOME, I'M SORRY BUT THAT'S ON MY MIND."

"MY COMPANION, HEAVENLY FATHER, WHAT ARE YOU GIVING ME?

THE WAY HE RIDES HIS BICYCLE, I DON'T THINK HE CAN SEE.

NOW YOU HAVE IT, I CAN'T GO ON, I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO;

THAT, MY FATHER IN HEAVEN, IS THE PRAYER I HAVE FOR YOU."

MY PRAYER NOW FINISHED I STAND UP, THEN JUMP RIGHT INTO BED.

I NEED MY REST FOR TOMORROW; WE HAVE ANOTHER LONG DAY AHEAD.

SLEEP STARTS TO OVERTAKE ME, I SEEM TO DRIFT AWAY,

THEN IT SEEMS A VISION TAKES ME TO ANOTHER TIME IN ANOTHER DAY.

I'M STANDING ALONE ON THE HILL THE VIEW IS VERY NICE;

A MAN WALKS TOWARDS ME AND SAYS, "MY NAME IS JESUS CHRIST."

TEARS OF JOY WELL UP INSIDE, I FALL DOWN TO HIS FEET,

"ARISE," HE STATES, "FOLLOW ME TO THE SHADE - YOU AND I NEED TO SPEAK."

MY ATTENTION'S TOWARDS MY SAVIOR, TOTAL AND COMPLETE.

HE SAYS, "YOUR MISSION IS SIMILAR OF WHAT HAPPENED TO ME,

I UNDERSTAND HOW YOU FEEL, I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GOING THROUGH;

IN FACT, IT WOULD BE FAIR TO SAY I'VE FELT THE SAME AS YOU."

"I EVEN KNOW HOW YOU FELT WHEN NO ONE LISTENED TO YOU,

AT TIMES I FELT, NOT QUITE SURE WHAT ELSE THAT I COULD DO.

I KNOW YOU DON'T LIKE TO RIDE A BICYCLE, FOR YOU A CAR WOULD BE SWEET;

JUST REMEMBER THE DONKEY I RODE WASN'T EQUIPPED WITH 21 SPEEDS."

"I UNDERSTAND YOU DON'T LIKE SWEATING, IN FACT IT'S SOMETHING YOU HATE;

I REMEMBER WHEN I SWEAT BLOOD FROM EVERY PORE, OH THE AGONY WAS GREAT!

I SEE YOU DON'T LIKE YOUR COMPANION - YOU'D RATHER HAVE SOMEONE ELSE

I ONCE HAD A COMPANION NAMED JUDAS WHO SOLD MY LIFE FOR WEALTH."

"IT'S HARD TO WEAR A HELMET AND HAVE PEOPLE MAKE FUN OF YOU,

I REMEMBER WHEN THEY PUT THORNS ON MY HEAD AND CALLED ME KING OF THE JEWS.

SO YOU FEEL BURDENED DOWN BY THE WEIGHT OF YOUR PACK,

I RECALL HOW HEAVY THE CROSS WAS WHEN THEY SLAMMED IT ON MY BACK."

"YOUR HANDS HURT FROM TRACTING AND KNOCKING ON DOORS ALL DAY,

I GUESS WHEN THEY POUNDED NAILS INTO MINE, I ACHED IN A SIMILAR WAY.

IT'S HARD NOT TO HEAR FROM HOME WHEN YOUR FAMILY'S NOT THERE TO SEE,

I LOST COMMUNICATION ON THE CROSS AND CRIED, 'FATHER, WHY HAST THOU FORSAKEN ME?'"

"WE HAVE A LOT IN COMMON, BUT THERE'S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN US YOU SEE,

I ENDURED TO THE END AND FINISHED MY MISSION, SO FOLLOW AND DO LIKE ME."

HE EMBRACED ME WITH HIS ARMS, AND HIS LIGHT FILLED ME WITH HIS LOVE,

WITH TEARS IN MY EYES I WATCHED AS HE WENT BACK TO THE FATHER ABOVE.

I STOOD WITH AWE AND WONDER WHEN A BEEP RANG IN MY HEAD,

I LISTENED AND HEARD THE ALARM, THEN REALIZED I WAS IN MY BED.

MY COMPANION LET OUT A GROAN.  "6:30 ALREADY, NOW WAY!"

I SAT UP AND SAID, "COME ON, I'LL EVEN CARRY YOUR SCRIPTURES TODAY!"

NO MATTER WHAT WE GO THROUGH, WHEN WE FEEL WE CAN'T TAKE MORE,

JUST STOP AND THINK ABOUT JESUS CHRIST, HE'S BEEN THERE BEFORE.