I love Ayacucho!! March 4, 2013

 

I hope your week was phenomenally wonderful! Mine sure was! Can I just say that I thought Lima was way cool, but Ayacucho is INCREDIBLE!! :D It is soooooooooo beautiful here! The weather is amazing, there are rainbows, it rains on and off, it is super clean, the people are suuuper nice and suuuuper loving and oh man. I just love it! Also, my companion Hna Cahuas is the best! We get along super well and we have great unity and a whole lot of good times together! :) Basically, I feel really, really blessed to be here!

This week was way good! Getting to know the area, getting to know ward members and investigators and contacting abunch of people! The investigators that we have right now are so special and they are so ready to have the Gospel! These people here have such a desire to follow Jesus Christ, and I feel so blessed to have the opportunity to help them know how. :)

About half the people here (mostly the older generation) speak Quechua! So...depending on how longI am here (hopefully for a while..:) I will be able to learn Quechua as well as Spanish! After 6months, I feel completely comfortable speaking and understanding spanish! Woot! WHat a blessing to be able to speak two languages! :)

I dont have too much time to write too many details, BUT I just want to say that I am so blessed to be here! This week the focus seemed to be in the power of the Priesthood, and how important this power is. The Priesthood, that was on the earth when Jesus Christ was here, again is on the earth, and only with this sacred power of God are ordinances able to be performed and be valid in the eyes of God.

I know this gospel is true, Presthood power is real and I LOVE being a missionary!!! :)

Con mucho amor siempre!!!!
Hermana Elisheva Ali

Ayakucho!!! February 25, 2013

Hola!!!!!!!!!!!

 

I hope you are all doing MARVELOUS!! I was super excited to receive your emails of love and news and support. Thank you :)

 

I have some SUPER exciting news!! :) I have been transferred to where I wanted to go! Haha Ayakucho!!!!! Its up here in the mountains! It is BEAUTIFUL. Pueblito means little town. And thats exactly what it is! Super cute! Well....its not exactly super little. But its a town that has the historic aspect of Peru. The women with their dresses and babies in their shawls, super hard workers, super humble, AND a lot of people speak Quechua!!! :D I have a feeling that I will be here for a while and I am super excited!! My new companions name is Hermana Cahuas! There are 12 weeks of training and she has only had 8 weeks. So in spite of my new area, and new language, I am also  training! Haha I am suuuuuuuuuper excited to be here!

 

Ayakucho is about 9 hours from Lima. It is super green and super beautiful. I encourage you to look up pictures on google. We left Lima last night at 9:30pm, had a bus ride of 10 hours...(the bus driver was suuuuuper slow) and arrived here at 7:30 this morning! I am pooped. But it was fun! And the drive was beauuuuuutiful! (the part that we saw with light this morning) haha.

 

Anyways...I dont have a super long amount of time. BUT I wanted to inform you of this exciting news!!! Next week I will have more news of new investigators, new family´s that we are teaching and hopefully I will be able to describe a little bit better Ayakucho! haha. I love you all!

 

Con mucho amor siempre,

 

Hermana Elisheva Ali :D

 

 

 

Livin the life! February 18, 2013 update

 

Hoooooooooooooooooooooooooola !!! :)

Soooo I havn´t heard too much from ya´ll in a while! I hope everything is going well and that your lives are full of happiness and good things. If you feel so inclined to give me a little update, feel free :) Haha I would LOVE to here from you. Anyway, as for me...this week was a good one! Again, it seems like this week flew and I was JUST writing you all. However, we were working super hard this week! We taught a whole bunch of lessons, found new people interested in learning about Heavenly Father´s plan of happiness AND we had a baptism this past Saturday! Luis Leonardo :) He is nine years old and is probably one of the funniest boys I have ever met in my life. Although he is young, he was so ready to make this covenant with his Father in Heaven, He bore his testimony afterward and the spirit was super strong. I love the spirit that young people bring. They are so innocent and close to our Father in Heaven, I just love it :) Attached are a couple of pictures from his baptism. 

We have also been teaching  a family that are related to a recent convert. Nellie, Angie, and Diego. Send them your prayers. Nellie, has never before believed in our Savior Jesus Christ, and is unsure if God exists. However, we had a lesson with them a couple of days ago, and we talked about faith and prayer. She gave the closing prayer in the lesson and she started crying because the spirit touched her heart. She told us that she was comforted, and felt peace in her heart. It was a super special experience. We are praying really hard for this family so that they might be able as a family, to be baptized and be able to be sealed in the temple for time and all eternity. :) 

We also had lunch on Saturday with a super adorable family. Attached is a picture of them as well. :) Haha. Something exciting also happened in Church yesterday. I was asked to give a talk...in Spanish! Haha I was super nervous because the only talks I have given, have been in English. Lessons are a whole different story because if I forget how to say something, my companion is there to help me out :) Haha but everything went well! I talked smoothly and I was able to share exactly what I felt I needed to share, repentance. AND to top that off, my companion and I also ended up teaching another class! Haha. But it was good. I am now confident in my spanish abilities and I can speak no problem! Woot! :)

This week, on Saturday, we have transfers again! This time, I am almost 100% positive that I will have a change of companions, possibly area, and maybe be training a new missionary. We shall see! I really want to go to Ayakucho, a part of the mission Lima South that is in the middle of nowhere with mountains, and sheep and where there are ¨pueblitos¨ :) We shall see where the Lord needs me to be! This Saturday, I will find out, and next monday, I shall let you all know! :)

Con mucho amor siempre,

Hermana Elisheva Ali :)

Hola from Elisheva-- February 11, 2013

Hola! I feel like the week passes super quick, and I am back here writing you all again! Haha. First of all, say thank you to Patty for her package! Also, Congratulations Josh and Candice!!!!!! I wish you both the happiest marriage ever :) This wek again, nothing of too much consequence happened again. Haha. We worked super hard, knocked more doors, contacted a lot, taught lessons and lived the normal mission life :) I love it so much!!

However, something of consequence did happen this week as well! I finished the Book of Mormon again!! My testimony was strengthened all over again and I had the opportunity again to pray about the truthfullness. :) I love that Heavenly Father has blessed us with the opportunity to be able to recognize and know truth through the Holy Ghost. I cannot describe the peace that came into my heart when I asked Heavenly Father to know if what I read was true. My heart was literally full. I know without a doubt that the Book of Mormon really is the word of God. It testifies of Jesus Christ and teaches us everything we need to know. I encourage you all to give it a try. Read it, ponder it, and ask Heavenly Father if it is true. You will receive an answer. :)

The photo attached is of the dog that we live with...Dana. She is always sitting like this and we die of laughter everytimg we walk in the door because it is Fat Kitty position! Hahahahaha Dominic, Franko and Mom. Remember Katurn? Good stuff.

Sorry this is a super short update! Next week will hopefully have more details and more activities because we have another baptism next Saturday! Holler!! :)

I love you all! Write me of events that happen in your lives :)

Con mucho amor siempre,
Hermana Elisheva Ali :)

(SORRY, she didn't attach the photo of the dog!! Hopefully next time!)

Febrero! February 4, 2013

Hola!

 

Happy February!! This year is flying! I cant believe it´s already February. Seriously. Im learning here on the mission that time is one of our most precious  gifts and we shouldnt waste a single second! How is good o´l USA? I havnt heard much news of the happenings over there in a while :) How are things? How is everyone? I am a bit jealous that it is cold there...and winter. Haha it´s super hot here every day! However, the plus side is that by the time summer is over here...I will be a completely different color :) A couple of people have already thought that I am from Argentina...so it will be that much more convincing that I am actually Latina! Hahaha. Its about 90-96 degrees here in my area everyday plus humidity because I am on the coast. It´s basically the weather of Florida! But it is beautiful and there is always a nice ocean breeze to enjoy :)

I didnt have enough time to attach pictures of Jorge´s baptism last week now I do! Haha. Also, attached is a picture of my companions and I in Javier´s house ( our investigator that is 91 years old) He´s the best! And also another baptism of Hannah! She is 8 years old and just the cutest. She was baptized yesterday afternoon by her dad. I just love how strong the spirit is at baptismal services. So beautiful and so special! I love how simple the Gospel of Jesus Christ is and how it is everywhere simply and clearly in the Bible, in church, in the Book of Mormon and in every teaching of Christ. We need to have faith in Jesus Christ, repent, be baptized by someone holding proper authority, receive the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands, and Endure to the end, living the commandments and being obedient every day for the rest of our lives. I love it! So simple, but SO important and necessary for salvation. :)

This week was a good one. Hermana Sanchez (my companion) and I worked super hard to meet every one of our goals this week and we found a lot of people who are interested in learning more! We also found another investigator who is 83 years old and has no teeth :) He is wonderful! Nothing of too much consequence happened this week except a lot of hard work, a lot of knocking doors and a lot of teaching!

I also gained an even stronger testimony of fasting and prayer this week. Hermana Sanchez and I fasted this Sunday for somethin in particular, with a prayer to start and a prayer to end, and Heavenly Father responded with exactly what we asked for! I know that it is because we had faith and we were willing to put in effort to make it happen. :) 

Heavenly Father knows us. He knows our struggles, and if we ask, he will bless us with what we need. :)

I love you all and hope to hear from each and every one of you! That is about all for this week :)

Con mucho amor siempre,

Hermana Elisheva Ali :)

 

 

 

Transfers and a baptism! January 28, 2013

Hooooooooooooooooola!

I hope your week was swell!!!!! Mine sure was. Well, I did not get transfered nor am I training a new missionary. However, our new third companion got her visa and left for her mission (Colubia, Bogota Sur) this morning! :( My companion, Hermana Sanchez and I are in the same ward, same area and ready to continue working hard and inviting others to come unto Christ this transfer! Usually there are 6 weeks in one transfer, but this transfer is only 4...so we shall see what happens in a month! 

This week was a good one! Last monday, we went to a historical spot of Peru which reminded me of downtown Sacramento! Haha. It was a spot overlooking the ocean (attached are pictures) and we took pictures and enjoyed the view. Apparently ¨Huaca¨ isnt a place...it means a place (any place) of historical significance. Hahaha oh man spanish. I learn more every day! Haha. 

In other news, I am out of training! 12 weeks! I feel accomplished. :) However, I know there is so much more that I will learn as I continually to serve faithfully.  My companion and I are now co companions! :) Im excited for this new part of my adventure!

This past Saturday, we had the opportunity to have the baptism of Jorge Mendoza!!! What a wonderful person he is! Super receptive to the spirit. One of the most humble people I have ever met with SO much faith in our Heavenly Father its such an example! His baptism was a beautiful experience. I love listening to peoples testimonies after their baptism because you can just see what a change they have made in their life. 

In his testimony, he shared something that really stood out to me. He said, when he emerged out of the water, he literally felt a part of him that was empty before, was filled. The following day, when he was confirmed a member of the Church and received the Holy Ghost, he described it as an undescribable sensation where he literally felt the spirit enter him. What a testimony builder! And what an amazing experience!!

I love being a missionary!!!! :)

Also, I want to add in that I LOVE the ward I am serving in! Las Villas in Chorillos :) We have supportive members who just love missionarys! Haha we are very spoiled with love...and large portions of rice :) 

Anyways, I think that is just about all for now! I love you all! Write me of exciting events that happen in your life! :)

Con mucho amor siempre,

Hermana Elisheva Ali

Peru!! January 21, 2013

 

Hola!!!

 

How are things? Any exciting news? Any new marriages? New things I should know about? I hope your week was amazing and super full of happiness, gratitude and fun activities! Let me know! I would love to hear about all of your lives :)

As for me...it is still mind boggling that I am actually living in PERU!!! And I am serving a mission, something that I have looked foward to my entire life. It´s actually happening! And I love it!!! :) Sometimes, I just observe my surroundings and think to myself how blessed I am to have this incredible opportunity to be here and share this wonderful Gospel with the rest of my family (that live here in Peru :) Really...its amazing! And its flying by waaaaay too fast! Haha

This week was a good one! Every week, we set certain goals to be able to work for havng to do with our investigators, or people who have the desire to learn about the church. This week, my companions and I worked super hard to reach them, and ended up doing even better than what we planned. We also have been praying specifically for the things we need in our area, and the things that our investigators need. Heavenly Father blessed us SO much. When we are specific with the things we ask, he blesses us with exactly the things that we asked for. We contacted a lot of people, had a lot of different lessons and this week flew! But it was good. :)

This upcoming monday we have transfers! Also...I finish my training!!! The first 12 weeks of being the the mission field is training. Learning how to teach the people, according to needs and well...for me...studying the language as well..ahahah. BUT this week I am done!! Woot! :) Also...transfers could mean that I change locations, companions or even that I might be training a new missionary! We shall see. We find out on Saturday so I will let you all know :) Also...this Saturday we have a baptism! Jorge Mendoza. I will tell you more about him...with pictures next week!

We are going to visit a place called Huaca today! Im not 100% sure what it is...but I think it is a historical site here in Peru, so I will have pictures of that next week. :)

Attached are some pictures of my companions and I, and a few others that are in our zone (our area) I just love them all bunches!!! :) Anyways, that is just about all for now, next week I will have more exciting information! Haha

I love you all and I pray for each and every one of you daily :) Stay faithful and turn to Heavenly Father for every challenge that you have. He understands and He loves you.

Con muchisimo amor siempre!!
Hermana Elisheva Ali :)