Week 35- Huanta, Ayacucho, Peru: Santusa's Baptism, Training, Huanta Ayacucho

Santusa Calsina was baptized the 13th of December and confirmed the following Sunday. I have learned so much from teaching her as to what faith is, how really faith necesitates action. It is a hope that have and confide in and have the spiritual strength to accept what results. Faith is power.

I was transferred this last cambio, Elder Gomez is taking over the area with his new companion who he is training. Today I arrived in my new area, Huanta, Ayacucho. My mission President, President Douglas, told me that he had completely forgotten that my mom was from Ayacucho as he gave me this new asignment, so there's a definite reason why I'm here.

I am in a trio and will be for a couple weeks as Elder Oliden helps my new companion and I get to know this area.

My new permanent companion is Elder Gonzales de Bolivia. I have been privileged with the opportunity to train him in his first 12 weeks of his mission. I can already tell that he is a very diligent and willing to learn. We will see how this all goes with time, but all will be great!

I love and miss you all!

Elder Bromley

Santusa's Baptism

The temple

Elder Gonzales y Elder Bromley

Week 34- Las Palmeras, Lima, Peru: The Plan of Salvation

This week Elder Gomez and I had the wonderful opportunity to have another lesson with la Hermana Santusa where we went over the questions for her baptismal interview, the actual ceremony is this Friday the 13...hmm. haha

Elder Gomez and I left her Alma 11:40-45 to read as her "homework" the time before, of which she read in her giant Book of Mormón. These few verses pertain to the resurrection, or as it says in the scriptures, restoration of the body and spirit in its perfect form.

Now, this restoration shall come to all, both old and young, both bond and free, both male and female, both the wicked and the righteous; and even there shall not so much as a hair of their heads be lost; but every thing shall be restored to its perfect frame, as it is now, or in the body, and shall be brought and be arraigned before the bar of Christ the Son, and God the Father, and the Holy Spirit, which is one Eternal God, to be judged according to their works, whether they be good or whether they be evil.

Now, behold, I have spoken unto you concerning the death of the mortal body, and also concerning the resurrection of the mortal body. I say unto you that this mortal body is raised to an immortal body, that is from death, even from the first death unto life, that they can die no more; their spirits uniting with their bodies, never to be divided; thus the whole becoming spiritual and immortal, that they can no more see corruption.

Santusa, being a widow, had a different countenance during this lesson we had, and she was nearly brought to tears as I re-read these verses to her. The words to another scripture were brought to mind as the spirit filled the room.

Others were abasing themselves, succoring those who stood in need of their succor, such as imparting their substance to the poor and the needy, feeding the hungry, and suffering all manner of afflictions, for Christ’s sake, who should come according to the spirit of prophecy;
Looking forward to that day, thus retaining a remission of their sins; being filled with great joy because of the resurrection of the dead, according to the will and power and deliverance of Jesus Christ from the bands of death.

These words, found in Alma 4, described a humble portion of the people of Nefi, that after several wars, many brothers, husbands and fathers were lost in battle. The atonement of Christ was the only thing that they clung to for hope, and the blessings they received for doing so touched the lives of many.

I hope all of you can read the scriptures this week and put yourself in the shoes of the people in the Book of Mormon.

I love you all!

Elder Bromley

Week 33- Las Palmeras, Lima, Peru: Santusa

Hello everybody!

To add to that list of weird food I've eaten is cow tongue, which actually wasn't too bad.

Today I want to talk about an investigator we have, Santusa.

Santusa is a widow as of less than two months. She has four kids, two of which live with her, and she sells vegetables for a living. I met her through a member who brought her to a church activity and we talked there and she accepted an invitation to hear more about our message. We passed by the next night and she wasn't there, but as we were driven back to our apartment, we saw a woman carrying a big scale, to weigh the vegetables, in both her hands walking by herself down a dark road, a journey that I am sure is familiar to her. In her valiant effort to make it to our appointment in time she was walking as fast as she could and she breathed hard as she got in the taxi. In my head rang words from Jeffrey R Holland, "Don't you give up. You keep trying."

Brothers and sisters, find these souls that are walking by themselves and help them come unto Christ. Help the missionary effort - the work of salvation.

Elder Bromley

Week 32- Las Palmeras, Lima, Peru: Busy Week (and PICTURES!)

Really quick just want to give an inventory of what I've eaten so far on the mission,

Octopus, Chicken crop, Chicken feet, cow heart (antecucho), cow stomach, cooked chicken blood, and other vital organs of chickens. ¡Lo máximo!

This week has been really busy; my companion and I went on 24 hour exchanges with our zone leaders, the next day the mission president left with us (he said he prayed, looked at the board of missionaries, and the faces of my comp. and I were what he decided to choose), and the next day the mission president's wife came to inspect our room. That aside we were able to visit a ton of families this week and find several new investigators. The mission is great!

I love and miss you all!

Elder Bromley


And here are some pictures, with captions by Elder Jeff:

Elder Gomez y yo

Our weight set

Real life red potion from Zelda

Huevos de codornís

French Toast

My last zone

Week 31- Las Palmeras, Lima, Peru: Awesome Week

This week was awesome. We were visited by Elder Russel M. Nelson, Elder Rasband, and two other seventies this weekend. This church is run by Christ. I know it.

I don't have much time but in other news we found a woman who is a widow as of a month. She now has a baptismal date and has come to church thanks to the members help. Support the Elders and Sisters.

Chau!

Week 30- Las Palmeras, Lima, Peru: 13th Week in Peru

Just finished my 13th week in Peru and Elder Gomez and I are working hard. My camera still doesn't work but next week I'll try to send some pictures.

This Sunday I was able to share an awesome experience with one of my converts, Mickey. All last week he had been practicing reciting Moroni 4 y 5 and this Sunday he came prepared in his white shirt and tie to bless the sacrament for the first time. I sat next to him at the table and made sure he was comfortable. I helped him read and recite the blessing of the bread and his second try he got it.

If there are new members in your ward right now please do something kind for them. I have never seen such pure desires to serve the Lord before than in Hermano Miguel. Help those who recently entered the straight and narrow to cultive the fires of their faith.

Thanks for the love. Keep doing what you know is right.

Elder Bromley 

Week 29- Las Palmeras, Lima, Peru: Transfers

So I am still here in Las Palmeras! My companion now está in Ica and my new companion is Elder Gomez. He is from Honduras and I feel really good about this transfer; he and I are going to do our best to do the Lord's work here.

The last couple of days we have been receiving all kinds of support from the ward and missionary work as a whole has a different feel to it. I cannot tell you enough about how much members can help the missionaries. Yesterday, we went on divisions and while my companion was with the Ward Mission Leader, I went with the 1st Counselor of the Bishopric and taught the Restoration to a member and her non-member friend and as my comp was training several members how to share the gospel, I was setting up a family home evening with members and this investigator for today. And this was just the first hour. 

All of you who are reading this email, please ponder to yourself what you can do to be a missionary. Not to help the missionaries, because every member should be a missionary, but to share something with someone else. President Hunter said that a good indicator of our own personal conversion is our willingness to share the Gospel with others. When you share this message with a friend (the Elders or Sisters can help train you so you can do so comfortably) you are showing the Lord you love Him by acting on faith that he is preparing people. Invite someone to listen to the missionaries, gift a soul to the Lord the Christmas, change someone's eternity.

D&C 18:10, 15, 16

Elder Bromley