La Venta!

AKA the world's greatest area, with Hna Erickson, the world's greatest comp!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

La Venta. We were whitewashed in. It was Elders. But drumroll..........they were good Elders! They have all the papers, maps, and Elder Godfrey only got moved across the street and is in our district, so he came over the first day (with permission) to introduce us to everyone. The transition has been ridiculously smooth for a whitewash, and the house was even clean. And they even left us water. 

But, mejor (better), let me show you. My front door. It was literally love at first sight in this area, and it hasn't cooled since. 

This morning, I made cherry juice after climbing the cherry tree for all the ripe ones. (And trying to avoid being seen by the downstairs neighbor because I'm not completely sure about fruit tree etiquette).  I just throw them in the blender with water, strain it, and add sugar and water to taste. If you want it more creamy-ish you can boil it with the sugar. Pero ya. Facil.

View from the house. 

 

I'm still in the capital, but only technically. When I got the call, I was sad, because I wanted to get a different view than the cement and buildings. But when I got here, I feel like I'm in the campo (field). It's still kind of city, but way way way more open and great. 

They have so many sisters. They say this area is a tiny bit dangerous, but it seems fine and tranquilo from what I've seen. 

Oh, where to start? Everything is so wonderful here. 

Contrast of the view in Piantini.

I don't know what I did to deserve this. Nothing I'm sure.  The area is golden. We inherited some great investigators with dates, but we've also already found some new ones (all references) and put some fechas (dates). Everyone loves us. The rama (branch) here is only 2 years old, but on fire. The branch president will be a mission president one day. I'm calling it right now. Our ward mission leader was actually in the CCM (MTC) with me, but had to come home a month and half ago for health reasons. So he picked back up as ward mission leader, which he did for a year before his mission, and he is on top of it. Outrageously so. The rama has these noches de amistad at least once a week in people's houses, and the Elders said they never had to contact, because they pick up so many references this way. 

Las Caobas, our zone. We're the only 4 Hermanas in the zone, which is new for me. 

This morning we ran to seminary (30 minute walk) early in the morning. They have tons of youth that go to seminary, the majority aren't members. This rama is insane. Last night we had a consejo de barrio (what's it called? ward council meeting?) that should have been filmed and broadcasted. I can't describe how incredible the work is progressing here. I'm so blessed and I don't deserve it. People are just flocking to the church. We had 17 investigators at church. 

Our capilla (chapel). 

Everyone loves us. The members are so excited and help us so much. They personally know all of the investigators and help us. The investigators love us. The investigators neighbors love us. I'd say the only person that doesn't is our ward mission leader's mother. He's been trying to convert her for years, and she wanted to make it clear that girls in the area was not changing anything. 

All the kids know our name already, and yell "Peck" and "Erickson" when we pass. In Piantini, most of the members still had no idea I was in the ward. The last day in the area they were asking if I had barely gotten transferred in. And here, everyone already knows us.

My favorite investigator from Piantini. Luisa. 

Flashback to last week.  My birthday cake.

Investigators:

Gloria, 16, needs a parent signature to get baptized, she's willing to get it dishonestly, but that;s probably not a good idea, so we just need to smooth things with her parents, who are very catholic. She's given up drinking alcohol, coffee, is looking at  her music choices differently, and is giving up her short shorts. She read the entire for the strenght of youth pamphlet in one day, and had it completely highlighted and marked to talk about and ask questions about the next day.

Yolanda: 14. A shoo-in, as the Elders say. They had only taught her once, so she's pretty much ours, and she adores us. She wants us over every day. She gave me a purple glitter pen because my favorite color is purple. She's getting baptized oct 5 and she's super excited. Goes to seminary every morning. She's living with her aunt and uncle who are recent converts. (as in 3 months recent, and he's already Elders Quorum President).

Antonio and Iris: Cute couple, 3 little kids. Read the Book of Mormon every day. Just need to get married. They started coming 2 weeks ago. 

Carlos Miguel: 11. His grandparents don't like the church, and said he couldn't be baptized. They then said that if he read the entire Book of Mormon, then he could. Ha. We'll show them. He reads every day and is halfway through second Nephi. 

And tons of others. These people are so good. Hna Erickson and I are constatnly giving each other shocked looks when they tell us what they've read or what they're doing to be a part of this church. It's incredible. 

I'm so happy. Down to my aching toes. 

Love, Hermana Peck