1st Week in Guadalupe

 Well, first email from Guadalupe!! It’s been a good week, and crazy fast too. Monday, Hna Holmes and I took the bus here, about 4 hours, and no one was here to pick us up! We waited about 15 minutes then the zone leaders got there. Hna Holmes went to Pacasmayo, and I’m here in Guadalupe, but at least we're still in the same zone! My area is huge and is mostly dirt roads, mud-brick houses with dirt floors, and lots and lots of sun. and people have told me that it will only get more hot...Wednesday we had district meeting, and that was fun to see other missionaries. Here in zona Guadalupe, everyone is in pueblitos (towns) that range from 10 minutes to 40 minutes from each other. Our district is us and the zone leaders in Guadalupe, the elders and hermanas in Chepen (10 minutes away), and the elders in Pueblo Nuevo (also 10 minutes away). One of the elders in Chepen, Elder Olsen, went to Timp Academy and we were friends for a few years, so that was cool to know someone already. Friday we had a lesson with a family with 6 kids and the parents don't know how to read. That’s pretty common here, and not a problem I had in Cajamarca, but it went well, we just have to explain things pretty simply. On Sunday I got to see Esther and her kids!! She is Hna Delgado's convert and I knew them in Cajamarca, but then they moved here! They live in the elders area but at least I get to see them at church. It’s been a fast week, but I love my area! My comp is Hna Mancilla from Bolivia and she is 26 years old. That’s a little weird to think about sometimes...but she's cool and we get along. My blue shoes are almost as grey as my grey shoes because of all the dust, I definitely miss paved roads. The food here is a little different too, I’ve had chicken feet and fish heads in my soup, but worry not, I did not eat them haha. I do miss Cajamarca and my ward there, but I’m excited to be here! I was reading in Alma 27:17-18 the other day and it's super cool: 17 Now the joy of Ammon was so great even that he was full; yea, he was swallowed up in the joy of his God, even to the exhausting of his strength; and he fell again to the earth.

 18 Now was not this exceeding joy? Behold, this is joy which none receiveth save it be the truly penitent and humble seeker of happiness. Let’s all try to be truly penitent and humble seekers of happiness so that we can be swallowed up in the joy of our God. I love my Heavenly Father, and I love this work! Have a great week!

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