A Week In America

Hey everbody!

I just want to say that this week was a week full of joy...thanks too all the food I received! To Ben and Becky, Papa, and of course you guys, I love the combos and the cheez-its! And the candy was super good!  THANK YOU FOR THE FOOD! You really have no idea how much it comforts me. The way to a missionary's heart truly is through his stomach. Though mine has been hurting this week, just because I have gorged perhaps a bit too much.

You will also see from my picture that your sweets weren't the only American things I was eating this week...that's right I got some Pizza Hut pizza! We went to one of the few malls in Trujillo with the whole zone for P-day, and lo and behold Elder Vanden Bosch (one of my real good buddies and the only missionary that I have known since day 1 in Provo) and I spot a PIZZA HUT. So we throw down 36 soles each for a family size pizza and dug in. Truly, it was one of the best afternoons of my life. I miss America.

We are geared up to really do some work here in what is most likely my last week in Alto Moche. We have two people ready for baptism this upcoming Saturday...please keep them in your prayers! I really am going to miss this place. I have definitely made a lot more friends than I did in Huarmey. The members here are great! They give us references all the time, and most of the time those people get baptized. (If you have a friend that wants to hear the gospel, refer em to the missionaries!)

Hope you all are doing well. I love hearing from everybody (thanks to Tanya, Garrett and Charlene for the constant letters and cards), and I hope you guys like hearing of what's going on in Peru, complete with pictures! (Sometimes)
Keep up the good work. Don't forget to read and pray!

Love you all
Trace

AH!

Dear family

Well, I apologize that I have been really bad at time management once again, and so only have 5 minutes to write the community letter, but I hope you enjoyed the personal ones!

This week, as you can see from the picture, was another baptism week! Brayan is a special story. He was a reference from his girlfriend actually, and he is a PROFESSIONAL SOCCER PLAYER here in Trujillo. He plays for UCV, the big professional team in the city. That's right, my dream is officially come true...I baptized a professional athlete. He is an awesome kid though, honestly. He had a few struggles and problems during the lessons, but he took the step of faith anyway. We are so proud of him. The sweetest moment was afterwards in the bathroom when we were changing out of the wet clothes, and he looked straight at me and said "Elder Levos, I really am clean aren't I? All my sins are gone huh?" With tears in my eyes, I told him YES! It is all gone and all washed away. He then told me how he plans to change the public image of the professional soccer player here in Trujillo (everyone sees them as womanizers, drinkers, etc.) He told me he wants to show people that there can be good soccer players too. What a great and happy story.

Thanks so much to the Siller family for their package! I got it this morning...and I might have eaten  half of the stuff inside already. Thanks to my boy Ryan for his letter as well. I will write you back ASAP my man. Hope everything is well with your family!

I love you all. Hope eveyone is staying safe and doing what they should!

(For those of you who don't understand exactly what the importance of baptism is...PLEASE visit www.mormon.org to find out! It will change your life like it did Brayan's!)

Take care
Love
Trace

Ello...

Hello All,

My apologies for some pretty crappy letters this week. I am feeling pretty darn sick today, so I'm just kinda spaced out. For that, there are also no pictures. However, I will definitely send them next week. Sorry for being a bum.

Everything is going great here otherwise. We had the baptism that didn't end up happening last week. It's a young man named David, who was pretty nervous, but is a good guy. Next man up: a professional Peruvian soccer player who told me that he wants ME to baptize him. Yep, baptizing a pro athlete on Sunday... basically my dream come true.

Sounds like you are having a ton of stuff to do with all the animals. My companion always laughs because every once in awhile we will see an animal or two in the street here in Alto Moche and he will always ask me "Does your family have that thing on the farm too?" And the answer is almost always yes. Haha. Chickens, ducks, burros, etc...

Time is going by so so fast. I probably only have 3 weeks left here in Alto Moche, and it is anyone's guess where I go from here. It could be further in Trujillo or farrrrrr away. I just hope it is somewhere cool.

Miss you and love you all. Keep doing good work.
Love to All
Trace

Bittersweet

Dear Family & Friends,

That is definitely the word that described our week: bittersweet. We had a baptism run away from us this Saturday. He supposedly had a giant test that he "forgot about" at the last minute and therefore didn't show up on the prescribed day. We went to look for him and even sat outside his house for an hour waiting, but he never came. It was certainly frustrating. He didn't go to church the next day either, and when we finally found him, he expressed some doubts and concerns. We of course will continue to work with him, but when people break their commitments, it can certainly be tough for us as missionaries to keep pressing on.

However, the sweet also came. We found an amazing young man named Elmer who wants to get baptized. I was actually in a different area on a work exchange, but Elder Acuña tells me that he and his temporary companion were walking along the street heading to an appointment when they saw a really old lady carrying a giant bag of sand. Of course, they stopped and offered to help her. She accepted, and they took the bag to her house, telling her who they were along the way. Just then, her son, Elmer walked up with a wheelbarrow to help her carry the sand. He listened to them, accepted a visit, and here we are one week later with a baptismal date and a very excited young man who wants to change his life. The gospel plan is perfect, and when we are always trying to be servants of the Lord, He will help us find the people who are ready for His truth. I am glad my companion and the other missionary were being examples of Christ at all times that day.

Hope you like the picture of me with the old car! Love ya

Trace

Beaches

Hello fam!

This week I got to see a ton of beaches, for one reason or another. (Don't worry, I am working hard...the entire zone I am in is surrounded by beach.) The one I am sending the picture of is in Moche, where my zone leaders are. We went contacting in their area for a day, and my companion and I passed an entire neighborhood of super nice houses and the beach as well. Living here wouldn't be so bad, minus the food, I suppose.
We have had a lot of new investigators this week! We have focused our efforts on finding new people and befriending them in church with the members. Oddly, that is one of the hardest things for people to get used to.

Here's a story from today that might give you a little peek into life with a Peruvian every day. I found it funny and thought you would enjoy it dad, since you are the one who gave me my love of sunflower seeds:

(Me eating sunflower seeds)

Elder Acuña: Hey, whatcha eating?
Me: Sunflower seeds
Elder Acuña: Give me some!
Me: You won't like them.
Elder Acuña: Cmon I just wanna try em.
Me: Well, you have to eat them in a specific way.
Elder Acuña: Just give me some!!
(Hand him a seed)
(He chomps down and chews the whole thing to pieces immediately)
Elder Acuña: This is disgusting and it cuts my mouth. You Americans eat some weird stuff.

Needless to say, I laughed. The culture barrier can be pretty funny sometimes, but you learn to get used to everything. Send me some flavored seeds! Ranch and dill pickle especially are delicious.

The area I am in, really is beautiful, at least if you look out to the east. Where I work and proselyte every day is just a giant sandy hill, but the people are nice. I am finally starting to hit those middle months of the mission where things are starting to run together. I hope my letters aren't too lame. Throw me out questions for what you want to hear!

This picture is of me and my comp in front of an old abandoned city of the Incas. Pretty cool tour!

Love you all
Trace

Changes, But We Didn't...

Hello all!

It is true, the changes were given to us last night, but nothing changed here. I am still in Alto Moche with Elder Acuña for 6 more weeks. I was happy with the results, but not really surprised I suppose. We figured it would happen, because I have only been here for 3 months. However, I will almost assuredly be out of here after this 6 weeks.

Everything really is going great here. I wish I had more to tell you guys, but we are just working hard every day and doing what needs to be done! We are actually teaching Kevin's family (the kid who got baptized last week), and also some of his friends. He has really been a great help for us.

It is finally starting to cool down here! The weather really is crazy, because some days it is hot as all get out, and other days it really isn't bad. It is always like that in Peru though. You have a ton of different climates here all the time.

Hope everyone is doing well. Can't believe that the summer is almost over for everyone. Time sure flies right? Feel free to throw me some questions about what you guys want more information on. As a missionary, things that would be crazy for you guys become totally routine for me. Weird, I know.

Love ya
T

T

Awesome Week!

Dear Family,

We had an AWESOME week this week, not only because we had a baptism of my favorite convert (to this point), but we also are now teaching his whole family (picture enclosed) who are MARRIED and willing to listen. Does it get any better than that?? The young man's name is Kevin, and he also received the priesthood on the same day. We are so excited for him and his progress. He looked awesome in his white shirt and tie.

Other than that, we are just working on finding new investigators. It is a bit hard these days, and winter seems to be making people's hearts a little colder too, but they are still listening well enough. We only have one week left in this change, but I believe that I will be staying here still. Wick!

Hapy birthday to Papa!! 70 years old is a long time...but you're still going strong and you are still the best Grandpa ever! Thanks for all that you have taught me!

Love you all. Hope you enjoy the pics and that you get this on time.
T

Pics aren't working. I will send them next week!