November 28, 2016

Kia ora whanau!! 

This week has been pretty neat, I tell you what. 

One of our investigators was out street performing on Saturday and he's so good! We were trying to street contact by the lake and he's jammin out with his guitar and singing reggae music in his poncho and so it made it real difficult to hear people but I still can't get over how good he was. 

We went to a dorm/hostel for a lesson with Tommy (from Nigeria) and we sat down in the kitchen and living room so it was kinda weird because there were 3 or 4 other people in the room too. In the middle of the lesson, a Vietnamese man came in and sat down and asked, "Do you understand the Bible in English?" 

"Yeah we do!" 

"Can you teach me more about Jesus?" 

We have no idea how he knew that we were there but we taught him on Saturday and then on Sunday, we taught him again and he brought his friend with him! 

So we're winning the missionary game. 

Love you all! 

Love,

Elder Benjamin

November 21, 2016

Kia ora whanau!! 

I don't have much to say, but if you vote for me, all of your wildest dreams will come true. 

Really though, we just did a lot of finding this week. Visiting formers and potentials, street contacting, putting our names on a list a funeral home, all the good stuff. We meet people from all over the world here and it's such a cool thing! Egypt, Nigeria, Tonga, Samoa, India, Brazil, Costa Rica, Germany, France, Sweden, Korea, China, Australia, Colombia, Canada, USA. So I'm basically a tourist, in a white shirt and tie, in one of the most beautiful places on earth, teaching people about Jesus Christ on the streets, trying to be louder than the street performers. It's so much fun. 

This week, I was called on to use the priesthood. The experience is too sacred to share but suffice it to say that I know that the priesthood I hold is real and that it came from God. I know that it was restored to the earth through Heavenly Messengers to the prophet Joseph Smith. 

I love you all! 

Love,

Elder Benjamin

Mosiah 18:30

Kia ora whanau!! 

P was baptized this week!! The font was a portable one in an industrial part of town so that was real cool. It was one of the most peaceful baptisms I've ever been a part of. My companion baptized him and I was able to confirm him on Sunday. Such a blessing. I'm so grateful to have been an instrument in the hand's of God. 

We saw D again this week. At the end of his lesson, he asked us how he can continue progressing. 

Today is the first day of transfer 2 in Queenstown! Elder T and I are still here together. 

Sorry I don't have much else to say. I literally can't remember what happened last week. 

Love,

Elder Benjamin 

Mormon 9:11

Kia ora whanau!! 

This week was *literally* the fastest week of my life. It drives me crazy that the time goes by so fast! It almost feels like I don't have enough to enjoy it. And to top it all off, I had a dream that I was coming into the SLC airport at the end of the mission and Matt, Stockton, Preston, Tyler, Isaac, basically everyone from Viewmont was coming home at the same time and I spent what felt like 30 minutes just wondering where the time went and being so upset about it being gone. 

But then I woke up and it's P-day so I'm still winning the missionary game. 

We got an on-line referral this week! We went to go visit her and we found her and her husband. They're from Columbia and they're looking for a church and to be a part of a community more than they are. They were so excited to "listen to the word of God" ( aka the Restoration)! It's amazing how well God prepares his children. And I couldn't help but think, "Ya know, I bet Austin and Phillip had stuff like this happen a couple times every week in Peru." 

We've been working with P quite a lot but he's always sleeping when we go see him.  But when he was awake, he told us, "Just wake me up!" Then we realized that we could've had about 4 more lessons with him over the past 2 weeks if we would've done that... soo.... but HE came to church this Sunday as well!! HE stayed for the whole thing even though he wasn't feeling well and he should be getting baptized this Saturday. Pray that things go well. It's also a bit difficult because the closest font is 2 hours away and the lake is too cold for him so we're looking for options. Pray that things work out! 

The work is good. God is good. Elder T's cookies are good. 

Love you all! 

Love,

Elder Benjamin