Hey Hey Hey
Well, this was probably one of the most stressful and busiest weeks that I have ever been experienced on my mission; and yet, I probably had the lowest numbers I’ve ever reported. (Ha ha.) Um, so on to explaining, I guess. The thing that took up the most time this week was the big branch talent show extravaganza that we did here Thursday night. We didn’t have much help from anyone else in getting everything ready, so that took up A LOT of time during the first four days of the week. It was extremely difficult getting people to commit to doing acts in the show, and that was probably the most stressful part. So we spent forever trying to get that organized - that and the fact that like most activities here down south, started nearly an hour and a half late. It was scheduled for 7 pm, and there are always a few poor souls that show up on time and have to suffer with nothing to do for at least an hour. By 8:15 pm we had a decent number and finally started the show. It started out really small but a few minutes into it we had about 50-60 people which was a great turn out – more than we get in sacrament meeting…and it included members and investigators. We even had investigators do talents. It went really well and we had about 20 different acts, which was plenty. There was some pretty cool stuff, too. I have it all detailed in my journal and can’t remember much right now. I ended up playing guitar and singing with a few other people in three songs. Let’s see, Elder Tietjen squirted milk out of his eye (seriously, he did), Elder Wariner walked around on stilts, and Elder Russell did a juggling/clown act that was the funniest thing I have seen in a long, long time. We had other people sing and dance, Michael Jackson impersonations, and all kinds of good stuff. It turned out really cool. So it was a good stress reliever to have that done.
Next up, Cecilia got baptized!! It was pretty much a miracle, because we hadn’t been able to visit with her in the first three weeks after last teaching her about baptism. She was very excited to do it on Saturday. It was awesome! I seriously couldn’t believe we were able to have that go through. (Oh wow, "Hey Yeah" just started on the internet café radio.) Cecilia had talked to a couple members about baptism even before we taught her about it, and that was probably the key that got her excited in the first place. So she got baptized on Saturday. Here in Chacha we drive everyone down to a river in a van. We were on our way down when we had a little incident where we had to back up on the mountain road to let a car pass. The women in the back seat were not down with that…and started screaming and crying. No joke. They were pretty sure we were all gonna die. I was talking to the driver telling him to stop and let us direct him from behind just to be sure. Luckily, we made it all the way to the river and back, alive. Oh, and I got to baptize her. So, I have a river baptism now! Awesome! It was interesting having the service on a river shore line. We did a musical number with the missionaries, too. It went really well. It was great to be a part of a baptism again. It’s been a while, so it was nice to have that miracle come our way.
Next item, we have cambios, and I am kinda sad. I mean, who am I kidding? I was expecting it, but it sure would have been cool to be with Elder Tietjen for my last change. Anyway, he is leaving for Sullana, Elder Russell to Paita, and Elder Wariner also to Sullana. And just like that our little group of gringos has been stripped apart. Dang. But it was a good run - a really, really good run. I loved it. So what will I be doing for my final change? Training! Ahh!! I am so excited! So we are all leaving for Chiclayo tonight to get to Piura tomorrow afternoon and I will be back with my baby little missionary boy on Thursday. Well…we enter the final chapter. Please pray for me to train well.
Funny stories – we had a lesson with Lucero and her family and she had me help her plug her stereo into the wall. So, as a joke, when I stuck in the plug and I started shaking and screaming. Elder Tietjen and I thought it was funny…but Lucero wasn’t laughing very much. In fact, she yelled. It was awesome. Next, we bought ice cream and when I went to give it a lick it fell off, and while the girl was scooping ice cream for my comp, I screamed, and caught my ice cream, scaring the scooper girl and even my comp. Yep, I did a lot of screaming this week. But, I did save my ice cream. Last story, we had a lesson in the church with Rosario and William, watching the Joseph Smith movie. About halfway through it the bench that they were sitting on snapped, buckled, and they fell backward. That sure woke everyone up, especially William, who always sleeps through our lessons. Haha, they were fine and it was pretty much hilarious.
That’s good for this week, I think. So, as I enter the final phase of being a full time missionary, my mind is reflecting a lot on how I want to feel in six weeks. I hope to be able to do everything possible to sprint to the finish. Please pray for me, pray that my "son" is awesome, and that we will get along and love each other. I am grateful to still be here as a missionary. My mission experience has been more than amazing. I can’t wait to help young men get on their own missions so they can have these great blessings. The Church is absolutely, positively true! That never changes!
Elder "Yupanqui is a Grandpa Now!" Royal
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