Feb 23~ When Lightning Strikes!

Eating 50 cent hamburgers and fries

With Elder Leonard (friends from the CCM)

Hey Everyone!

So this week flew by again! We had a great week!  D. is getting baptized this Saturday and we have like 5 baptisms programmed for March, so I am way excited! We are working way hard! 

SO something crazy this week. Here in Huancayo we always get a bunch of random lightning storms! So I was on divisions with Elder Herron from my District and the lightning started and we were walking... and lightning struck about a block in front of us! So sketch!!!! It was the loudest thing ever!!! 

And also funny story this week. So in one of the areas in my District, they have this overweight  investigator that is like hiding from the Police, idk why...... but we went to visit him and he has this huge lock on the outside of his door! So we got the impression that no one was home!  But we peaked through the window and we saw him laying on his bed! SO I yelled his name and was like, We are the missionaries! We want to visit you!  And he didnt move....and then I yelled Hermano!! We see your feet!! And when I said that, he slowly moved his feet out of our sight and slowly put them under his covers!! hahahahahah I was dying for about 10 mins!! Idk how he ever got out of his house or if hes still locked in there??

Anyways, something I realized on my mission. There are two things people need to experience to really change, or be converted spiritually . The first the power of the Atonement, and the second, the power of the Holy Ghost (a witness from God). The message we take to the world as missionaries is that Jesus Christ lives, and only through his Atonement and His gospel we can be changed. Any type of sorrow, challenge, problem, or sin we have, can only be fixed through the power of the Atonement. The feelings we receive from the Holy Ghost as we are healed by the our Savior Jesus Christ is a spiritual witness that we are changing, or have changed. I have felt this personally in my life and know without a doubt that my Savior lives, and loves us. But the question is What can we do everyday to change or become better, to change or to better ourselves spiritually or physically? Its something we need to do everyday to become the people that God wants us to become, but it doesnt happen overnight, its a process! 

I love you all! Hope you have a fantastic week!

Love,

Elder Baca

Hey Mamacita!! Yah I'm awesome!!!!!! I was sick yesterday but doing better today!  Como estas!!! I'm feeling great!! Loving the life as a missionary without a doubt!!!!!! BEST ADVICE THAT I RECEIVED was from dad when he told me to get lost in the work!! I feel the same way as these elders it's crazy! Thats awesome you guys had that panel!  - okay answers!

1. Our ward has about 100 people that assist. Ward council is awesome! We are getting a new Bishop this week bc the old one moved

2. D., she lives below us, is the godchild of our pension

3. And idk what happened to her! She's been like that her whole life I think! She needs a cane 24/7! Hma Estella! and her daughter is good! They went to Lima this week! H. is my best friend! It's going to be sad when I leave!

4. My distirct- I have Elder Torres (Honduras) Elder Herron(Reno NV) Hma Silvester (Texas) and Hma Lopez (mexico city)

Feb 16~ Temporal and Spiritual Things

Me and Elder Hilton in middle!

Wow!! This week volo!! (flew) It was the week of changes!

Started off the week with a multi-Pday in Huancayo! It was awesome seeing all the missionaries from Huancayo and seeing some of my old companions, Elder Hilton!  We went to this giant park and just played soccer all day!

Something funny this week, we went to go visit a less active member that has some health issues( he's a big guy).  He lived in the states for 10 years, and now is back in Peru. He's about 65 and half the time he walks around naked and when we have lessons with him he just talks the whole time. He lives alone and likes to tell white lies...so he told me he has 2 girls that come over to his house to make him meals all the times... he calls them his two "friends" (there's another word he used, we cant publish!), idk i think I laughed for about 10 mins. Then I saw him Valentines night walking in the middle of the street again going to visit his "friends" hahahah!

So my companion and I are staying together this change but now I'm training and District Leader! SO that means i am in charge of a certain amount of missionaries in my District! Whooh! 

Spiritual thought of the week that I loved from Mosiah 2:41 (Book of Mormon, page 151)- says that we will be blessed in temporal things as well as spiritual things, and we will be so blessed and happy, but only if we keep the commandments! SO- Keep the Commandments!

Love you all!

Elder Baca

MOTHER!

Answer me a quick question, why does Moroni have a trumpet??  (on top of most temples-it symbolizes the spreading of the gospel and the Second Coming, Matthew 24:31)

Thanks! I have to give training every week! 

Happy there's no such thing as President's Day here in Peru!!!

AHH Happy Valentines Day!!!! WOW !! FANCY FANCY!!!! Sounds like fun! Miss those dinners!!  You guys are so lucky, 4 day weekend! I cant believe gma and gramps are leaving so soon seriously!! It'll be an awesome experience!! NONE OF MY INVESTIGATORS came to church but we do have a baptism in 2 weeks of a little girl named D.  Japanese for I love you!! hahahah! But yea hoping this week is way better! Some times people just don't want to keep with their commitments and its way frustrating.

Wow Ethan is throwing some heat! Just watched all the vids dad sent me! KEEP IT UP!! 

Here in Huancayo its way hot in the day and pours at night, but so pretty! SO GREEN!! Wow times already up!!  i love you mom!!! Hope you all have a wonderful week! Love you all!

Elder BACAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

Feb 9~ The Huancayo Times

Holaaaaaa! 

Whats up whats up! Hope everyone had another awesome week of life!

This week was awesome for Elder O. and I! We had 7 people that came to church yesterday and a lot of people that havent been to church in a while! One of the Guys that came to church was JUGGLING in the middle of the street to make money, and about 2 weeks ago we stopped to talk to him, (he has some problems so we weren't able to understand) but we gave him an invitation and he came to church yesterday all dressed up and everything! Also our investigators that are progressing the best are F. and J.! They are bf and gf and are 22yrs old! Their entire family are members of the church, and they have come to church a lot! But the thing that made me the happiest is that they both know the Book of Mormon is true!  And J's little brother who we are teaching yesterday told us he wants to go on a mish!  Also, we have this kid named C., he lives up north but has been to church twice and is progressing super well. He's 15. They have baptismal dates for the 7th! 

Also in my area, there are random streets that have a bunch of dogs, normally my companion has his giant umbrella and fights them off and I start just chucking rocks at them. But yesterday we were walking down this dog invested street and all these dogs starting charging at us....but they we all like little shitzoos...so one of them went to bite me in the ankle and I straight up drop kicked it in the face and it did about 5 backflips. And then they all sprinted back inside to their houses hahaaha it was hilarous!

Ya but anyways, hope you all have a great week. I know that Jesus Christ lives, it's the message we need to take to the World.

Elder Baca

Mom!!!!!!!!! calling in !! mom! rogerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

I'm doing good,  today we have a multi-zone Pday and are going to some place to play soccer! Te PROMETO that Ill send pics next week!  So its rainy season, but a nice chilly rain!! But Im keeping warm! I love it!  Everyone is doing good.  Yah he's doing better! He's from Chile and is 26!!  I'll have some more updates next week hopefully!  We are fasting like every week as a zone. There just isn't baptisms in the zone!!  But I'm starting to see the fruits of the fast!   And exactly-we cant just change people! They NEED TO DO IT!  But I've learned I can take a person step by step and show them how to change! It's the best!  JD! ? Hows your training going?!  Learning some patience I bet!  And wow sweet story from the Ridleys! Thanks for sharing that with me! And I love that quote, awesome!  WHAT SARAH GOT MARRIED! WEIRD!! 

MY FIRST LOVE WAS MY MOTHER!! :) And yes!! It's called Dia de Valentino! Im going to teach the Law of Chasity to everyone Thursday and Friday and Sat.! hahahah that was a joke

Feb 2~ 8 Months

Que tal !! 

Wow cant believe I'm already hitting the 8 month mark, so crazy how fast time is going! So this week we found some new investigators, and lots of them have problems. One of them, doesn't have any money because her husband was assassinated about 2 months ago. We talked with her and then the next day she had to disoccupy her house and moved. Another lady and her family we taught this week are awesome. Her name is M. and has 3 kids, one of them is 12 yrs old and a basketball freak! He loves the Bulls and the Lakers, so when he found out I like the Lakers too, and I live by their stadium he was freaking out!  She also has another kid that is special needs, he was in and out of a coma for almost 2 YEARS, but survived, so crazy. SO the lady has a lot of faith, and really wants God's help right now, but without a doubt she knows God exists. It was an amazing experience being able to teach her this week, helping her out with all her problems. 

One of the things I love about the mission is the ability to help anyone, with any type of problem or challenge, being able to help them realize that really God loves them and wants to help. And through Jesus Christ, His gospel and his Atonement, we can really overcome any problem or challenge. Every day I'm out here I really grow in my faith and testimony, that the message we have as missionaries is without a doubt, true. And that it really can help anyone!

Love you all hope you all have a fantastic week! AND go to the GYM! I can smell the Pizza and Hamburger grease from here! 

Love,

Elder Ryan Baca

(Ryan's response to finally getting a copy of his patriarchal blessing)

Mom,

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS I'M ABOUT TO CRY SERIOUSLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

IM SERIOUSLY SO HAPPY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THANKS !! HOW DID YOU GET IT?!

Awesome!!! --I read it (Jacob 5) about 5 times and the last time I was like WHOAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I understand! hahaha