Letter from November 28

Here in Perú things are going great as always.  Yesterday we baptized an investigator that is 20 years old, it was a very spiritual experience, because she didn’t want to make the decision to be baptized at the first of the week, but thanks to the help of the Lord and the power of prayer and fasting, she made the decision and was very happy.  Her family came as well which was very good because I know they felt the spirit strong, her sister has a baptismal date for the 10th of December, and we will be working on the mom for the end of December, the dad is a member, he was baptized as a little kid when he attended with his parents, but he has been inactive for many years, but starting with the baptism yesterday he will be making his way back to church.

The family that we were introduced to last Sunday is awesome! They are ready for the gospel. They are a family of 5, the two parents, the daughters that are 21 and 19, and the son that is 7.  They are having some family problems and are suffering from the loss of their daughter 7 years ago.  We showed them a video that’s called “Together Forever”, they loved it, each one of them cried when they saw the video because it gave them the hope that they could be together forever, and return to see their daughter again.  The mom said that the video and being in church that day, helped answer many of the questions that she has had for many years that no one could answer. They all want to be baptized and be members of the church, which is a great sign so early on, but the minor challenge is that the parents aren´t married, so that will be the challenge we will have to overcome so they can be baptized together as a family, and later of sealed in the temple.  We talked with them about the 17th of December for their marriage, because they are both from here so it will be easy to get all their papers filled out and signed.  We will be helping them to overcome their fear and take the decision

Other than that things are going good!  Last p-day in La Oroya, we climbed a huge mountain and arrived at a small ancient city at the top. They are everywhere here, it is awesome.  Today we will be playing some soccer, it should be a good time.  Although I don’t play like I used to play, haha.  As for other news, my pensionista cooks so good! Seriously, she cooks the best, she isn’t quite as outgoing as my other pensionistas but she is awesome.  Great lady!  My companion is cool too, we are getting along nicely, and things seem to be going very well.  In the zone we are improving and it looks like we will be seeing more success in December. Nos Vemos Pronto!

Elder Riggs

Letter from November 21

It has been yet another great week here in the Mountains of Peru.  We had the conference Wednesday, with Elder Waddell of the Seventy.  He really is a special witness of Christ and it was such a pleasure to be able to meet him and receive training from him and talk with him.  He had so much power you could feel it just listening to him and talking with him, a very special guy.  I learned so much and was edified during the conference.  It helped me to see in what I need to improve on.  Elder Waddell also speaks awesome Spanish, I hope that at the end of my mission with consistent study I can speak like him.

This week we have had a few struggles, but so many blessings!  We had a baptism planned for yesterday, but the investigator didn’t show up, we went to her house and she wasn´t there.  We had no idea what was going on, but later on in the night we talked with her by phone and she told us that the night before she had some big challenges and wasn’t able to come.  Right now we are just there to support her and cheer her up.  That’s about all we can do.  Pray for her, she needs it big time.  Satan always puts big challenges the days before a baptism, and something that I have come to find out is the stronger or more converted the person, the bigger the challenge, but I know she will overcome it and be able to continue forward. 

Yesterday we were able to teach 12 new investigators, 3 complete families. I have been praying to find families to teach and help and the Lord is answering my prayers.  Thanks to some references that we received yesterday we were able to find 3 families that are so great.  The best news is that at least one of the families is married and we are pretty sure that one of the others is too.  They are families ready for the gospel.  What a blessing it was, I will keep you posted with these families and their progress.

This week I also went to the area of Junin, it’s in the zone. I went there to do a division.  It was freezing, haha and you wouldn’t believe what happened. We were a long ways from the apartment and it started to rain hard, without umbrellas, and man was it crazy.  We ended up
talking to a lady outside in the rain for about 25 minutes, no joke, ha I was literally soaking wet and cold, haha! Well that’s pretty much the news for this week.  Have a great Thanksgiving dinner.  I love you all very much and wish you all the best. Take it easy!

Elder Riggs

Letter from November 14

I went to Lima this week, and man was it awesome!  When we got there in the downtown city, I was literally in shock.  The houses were so nice, there were a ton of newer cars, and it seemed like everyone was so rich.  As you know I have been in Province for about 10 months now, and the areas that I have been in have been pretty poor.  I can’t lie though, it seems so normal to me now, it’s part of my life, but when we arrived in Lima it was quite different.  I can’t imagine how it will be when I arrive home!  As for the Conference, it was the best. In Lima I also ate better than I have eaten in all my mission.  I got to eat Pizza Hut, Dunkin Donuts (I didn’t even know that existed here), an awesome chicken sandwich from a fast food restaurant. I was loving it!  Still haven’t had McDonalds, how about that?  The conference was like a big sleepover, all the zone leaders from Provinces sleep in the mission offices and it was a good time. I got to see some of my buddies and it was very enjoyable.  When we arrived back here in La Oroya we got right back to work and although it has been a short week here we had some great success. President Ardila taught us and helped us to see that if we trust in the Lord and go to work, he will help us to complete the goals that we have put. This week we have done that, and we have made great progress, we have the goal of 3 baptisms this month and everything is looking good at this moment, and I know if we don’t doubt the Lord will help us to complete our goal. We have a few families that we are teaching, but there are some challenges with marriage.  As I mentioned before its one of the biggest challenges in this mission, but one of the families has the desire to do it, but they want to wait until February so they can finish the construction of their house, we will be helping them to do it earlier.  They are an awesome family!

Other than that things are going great!  This week we will be traveling to Huancayo for a conference with one of the seventies, he talked in general conference, his name is Elder Waddell, I am stoked to listen to him and meet him! Take it easy!!

Elder Eggs, Elder Ritch, Elder Ritz, Elder Ex., Elder Rees, etc.

Letter from November 7

I had no idea that La Oroya was so high up in the mountains 16,000 ft. is way high. That’s probably why every time I go to the pension, I get tired and am breathing heavy, ha  just thought I was being a little girl, but now I have an excuse.  To get to the pension we also have to climb a big flight of stairs, so that also adds a little more work, but as far as my new pensionista, she is a great lady.  She is different than the other pensionistas that I have had, she is a little bit older, more quiet, but she cooks great and she is way nice.

Here in Marcavalle is a branch, the members are awesome, very supportive and great people. It doesn’t matter where you go you will always find so many great members.  It also doesn’t matter where I go in Peru, there will also always be members that have trouble pronouncing our last name, ha.  Last Sunday they asked me to get up in sacrament meeting, introduce myself, and share a short testimony. When the branch President was introducing me he said, we have a new Elder serving in the branch, Elder Ex.  hahaha I don’t know which is better, Elder Ex. or Elder Ritch.  Good times!  I love the ward though, they are all the MAN!  We also have quite a few investigators that we are teaching and finding, they are all really great people, we are having a little problem with Sunday,  a lot of the people that said that they were going to come didn’t end up coming. That’s one of the biggest challenges in the mission, oh and right now we are also teaching two couples that aren’t married, but have the desire to be married. We will be helping them out in hopes of a marriage by the first of January. Thanks for all your prayers.

As for today, P day is going to be a little bit different, when I finish writing you, I will be boarding a bus with my companion headed for the city of Lima.  It’s been a while since I have been there. Tomorrow we have a meeting with the President.  At the first of every month we travel to Lima to have a meeting and see how all the zones are doing and receive zone leader training from President Ardila.  I’m way excited, I heard it is awesome, the food is great, and there is usually a pretty cool activity. I do worry a bit when we have to leave our area for a few days, but I know the Lord will take care of the area while we are gone.  We will be coming back here Thursday.  I will let you know how it was in next week’s letter.  Other than that things are great.  My companion is a good guy, we get along very well. Talk to you soon! 

Elder Riggs

Letter from October 31

Well I´m in a new area now with a new companion and a new calling.  Last Monday night, I received a phone call from President Ardila.  We talked for a few minutes about my area and how things were going.  I told him that things were going great and that we had a few baptisms for the weekend.  He then responded and told me, well Elder Riggs, tell your companion that he needs to continue helping those investigators so that they can be baptized, because I have some news for you.  He told me that the Lord trusted a lot in me and that he had called me to be a zone leader. After he told me, he asked me how I felt.  I responded truthfully and told him that I felt surprised.  And now I am found in the Province of la Oroya, my area is called Marcavalle, and the Zone is called Tarma.  Boy is it cold here. It’s up in the Andes Mountains, but i have plenty of clothes and a heater in our room, so don’t worry. Also I have been blessed with a companion that likes to run.  How cool is that!  He is Peruvian, my third Peruvian companion. We have gone out running already and man did it feel good.  We went about 15 to 20 minutes and I didn’t die. I don’t think too many people here have seen awhite boy run, because I heard quite a few people say “Corre Gringo, Corre” (run, white boy, run) ha good times!

When I left the area of Pilcomayo it was a little sad.  I have to say I have really gotten used to coming and going so it wasn’t too hard, although I feel like the members and converts were such good friends to me.  Tuesday we had some appointments and I had a chance to say goodbye to a few of my converts and the members.  A few people cried pretty hard when I told them that I was leaving.  If you remember I told you about older couple that lived in very humble conditions, well they both ended up crying pretty hard.  I felt sad too, but it’s part of the mission.  I also visited Flor and her daughters with Sister Mari. Then my pensionista, she also cried a little bit.  The grandma that lives there and eats with us as well, well she didn’t cry but she did ask me for a bottle of my pee and she was dead serious.  WHAT?? I didn’t end up leaving it though. I acted like I had forgotten. ha  I will always have a great memory of Pilcomayo and will always remember the great people that live there.  

As for my new area, I enjoy it a lot.  Saturday we had a baptism.  It was good to see.  I had to leave a few baptisms in my other area but came here to a baptism.  So I can’t complain.  I’m in a mining city.  We have quite a few investigators. I know we will have success here.  I hope that we can help the zone out and improve in the month of November.  I should be a great change! I´m excited!  Well that’s about it, hope all is well and I love you all very much!

Elder Riggs