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.