Nov 24~ Cambios...and Muchos Cosas Mas

Hey everyone!  I hope everything is going good. So yep I probably had the craziest week of my mission. So last week I got transferred about 20 mins away from my old area with a Elder Mendoza from Argentina and was with him for about 2 days...but while we were walking up to this house, there were a bunch of dogs chilling outside.  So they run away when they see us coming but one of them came up behind me and cheap shotted me in the back of the leg!! SO I had to go to the hospital because the bite broke my skin!!  I am now currently enrolled in rabies shots every 5 days for two weeks!!  But don't worry the bite isn't that big it's all better now.  That night they couldn't give me the rabies shot, so I had to come back the next morning...but the same night after a really long night... I get a call that I am getting transferred to TARMA the next morning after I get my shot!  And my (new) companion is Elder Mason (he has 1 change less than I do, from St George)...so the next morning, I get my rabies shot and then went off to Tarma! It's such a sweet city...its like the city you have to pass to enter into the jungle cities so the drive was beautiful!  Then while I was unpacking my stuff the taxi that drove me to Tarma...well I got my satchel jacked with all my scriptures, camera, and glasses. :(  SO yah, I was bummed for a solid 3 days about that. Six months of studying in those scriptures! I got some new ones and maybe I can get glasses here. The area I am in is one of the hardest areas of the mission but I am ready for the challenge!! 

But despite all these crazy things that have happened to me this past week, I am still so happy! It's amazing how happy being a missionary and doing the things I do everyday makes me feel!  I am truly grateful for everything God has given me! Hope you all have a great Thanksgiving!!

Love Elder Baca

MOther come in mother repeat ooverrrrrrrrrrrr

Hey I hope you guys have a great Thanksgiving this week! I love you so much and the fam and I really hope you guys enjoy the holiday seasons!  Sorry I didn't write a lot this week...internet is wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyy slow and had to write Pres H.!  I love you!

Nov 17~ Cambios and Borrachos

Hey Everyone!! 

Hope everyone is doing good! So tomorrow we have changes and it's like 95% sure I'm leaving because I already have 3 changes here!  I'm so bummed to go, because our investigators T. ( no not the Black Rapper) and E., are getting baptized next Saturday. Its probably the hardest thing for a missionary to teach someone all the lessons and have these amazing investigators, and then to get your area switched :(  But its so sad because all of our investigators are like saying in their prayers when we finish a lesson, "te pido que Elder Baca puede quedarse aqui en Huancayo por algunas meses mas" (I ask you God that Elder Baca can stay for more time) or they have all been saying to me in the saddest voice "no se vaya" (don't go..). Or other people telling me that they are going to cry when I leave! hahahah!  It's pretty sad, not going to lie because I am way used to everything here and everyone, but I will go wherever God wants me to go and I'm just happy our investigators are getting baptized!  I'm not too bummed, because my mission is awesome! Im pretty sure Ill find amazing people that are ready to hear our message in any area, and Im pretty sure I'll find peeing drunk guys that know English in about every area also!  I'm starting my SISTER mission this week actually (18 months to go). It was really a humbling week for me week...our pension told us that before her and her fam joined the church she was physically and verbally abused by her husband, her was a super drunk, and they literally lived on a dirt floor...but it all changed when 2 missionaries knocked on her door. Now her husband is the nicest guy ever and they have the best fam...crazy how the gospel can change people. At times our investigators call us doctors or psychologists because we help people out with just about any problem..but I don't know if I could help people out with their problems, major problems, without the Gospel. So yes, everyday out here is humbling and it'll take me about 2 years to just type all the experiences and lessons I have learned!  But what we do as missionaries changes lives! And families! I'm a witness of that!

So to inform you all what a normal encounter with a drunk guy in Peru is like (there are so many just about any where you go, and any time). So usually it starts out with a bunch of fat drunk guys yelling in English..." HEY GRINGO" or "HEY Mr" or " GOOD MORNING" ..and then it follows with usually a pretty drunk statement like ..." You need to pay me, Im the boss of Peru" or "you know I'm a UFC cage fighter feel my muscles"  Or, a bunch of spiritual questions like "I want to change, I want to change help me" followed by a lot of religious questions.. and then its usually followed by a lot of crying and hugging attempts. And then usually a couple hours later I see the same drunk guy passed out in the grass....yep so now you all know what a normal day in the streets of Peru is like!

Also I got my head shaved by this mullet lady last week..so yep in other news, I look like my beautiful dad Dave Baca:)

I love you all and hope you have an amazing week!!  

Trompo Master

 

Killing that rice with my Taco Bell sauce!!!

Mom, GETTING ME TRUNKY WITH THESE TEMPLE PICS!!!! haha BUENOS Dias! Okay first of all I can't believe Jarred finished a year already! And Im freaking out Alex Boye is coming to talk to everyone! HOW? I love his music! So crazy!  It seems like you are pretty busy with everything...just a question has in Ward Council? That's been the huge stress here in Suda America is about ward council!  But now ours are pretty good! But yea I have cambios..usually an elder sticks around in a area for 2-3 cambios max! Im super excited to get to know the mission!! Oh and my pension this week she bought me this sandals as well as some for you! aahah! SO I'll give them to you in 2 years but that was nice of her! Yah but the weeks are starting to legit fly by now!  like I'm already a 1/4 done with my mish!!!!!!!!  AND I feel like i have so much more to learn and everything- i feel like i am spiritually maturing and getting way humbled everyday! Love you! Hope you have a good week and thanks for the food!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Love, Chimee!!!!!!

Nov 10~ Trompos

Eating a fish head

...and enjoying all the fish I didn't catch

QUE TAL!!! 

Wow I can't believe its already Pday again! So crazy how fast the time is going now! SO this is my last week probably in Nuevo Horizante here in Huancayo because transfers are next week, so we will see where I am heading off to next Tuesday! But I'm loving my area I am in right now! We have some sweet investigators, that will unfortunately be baptized after I probably get changed, but our ward es lo maximo! Yesterday I gave another talk in church about the power of the Holy Ghost in our lives! But I was way sick yesterday (nausea and D) so I was hoping the whole time I wouldn't pass out or throw up while I was talking, but everything turned out good. I think I'm finally starting to put some weight back on with the 5 pounds of rice I eat everyday! And my companion and I are now officially TROMPO Masters, they are these sweet Peruvian TOP like toys!! You can do all types of tricks with them it's so sweet! hahah! But I hope everyone has a good week this week! Remember, God loves you! 

Elder Baca

Can you write me real quick with everything that happened this week!! I love reading that!! AND OH GOT YOUR PACKAGE LAST TUESDAY!!!!!!!!!! HECK YA!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THANK you so much! LOVE YOU!! Those shoes are like slippers and feel fantastic on my toesies! Thanks MOM!!! Love You have no idea how much the support from you guys helps out and coming from a gospel familia! Took it for granted before my mission but will be eternally grateful! Only got 18 months to go, because my comp and  I are going home the same day..like May 18th...I'm not trunky I swear (trunky is the term we use for people that want to go home) hahah  And dang braces, lucky!!  Tell them they are lucky to have braces!! --I was studying about the Spirit, go read 1 Nefi 33: 1...Really is essential for a missionary (the Spirit), but it's important for members to know that before baptism people can feel the power of the Holy ghost, and it's up to us to create this environment by testifying of the Restoration and of Jesus Christ! Tell everyone I said Hi!  And I pray your package gets here and my letters get to you!!  I love you MOM!! The weeks are starting to fly! Love you! 

Nov 3~ Halloween and Cabeza de Pez

Que Tal Familia Y Amigos!! 

So this week was way good! This emails going to be short but I have a ton of pics to send! Looks like everyone had a sweet cross-dressing Halloween....well, I dressed up as an abuelita (with my Peruvian dress and everything)! hahaa and today for P-day we went up in the mountains to this park and went fishing and had this giant picnic thing! Oh and I legit ate a fish head today, eyes and everything ;)  Peru is so beautiful! I hope everyone is enjoying life! Love you all!  Also had a lesson with a Catholic High Priest this week...hahahaha it was so fun!

Elder Baca

Hey Mother !!! Your package is already here!!! Ill get it tomorrow! I have some sweet pics to send!

WHAT  THE HECK!!!  I am freaking out about how tall ewees gotten!! Torque ???? seriously!!! hahah chekc out my pics I just sent!!! And Torque Seriously! CRAZY!!! And yea the Casio, not my nice one. Hit me up wtih some news!!! What's going on in the US and with the fam! And Murr town!  LOVE YOU MOM!!!  I GTG!! Sorry time was way quick! GTG WORK! Love you! Tell everyone I said whats up!!

Halloween!

This is M.! The family that we live with

Estoy pescando por PEZ

Classic fish pose with all the fish I didn't catch.....

Oct 27~Los Pitufos...and CHEWY Baca

Buenos Buenos Buenos Dias today! 

Hope every one is enjoying the daily life of an American Citizen! SO I want to talk a little about the culture this week I have adapted to. This past week on Saturday, they had an Peruvians Next TOP Dance Crew Competition..its so funny like everyone gets in their dance crews and does all this Peruvian dances all day in this huge stadium that's in my area! But all the dance groups were outside practicing and its just a lot of swirling with big colorful dresses! Also there's this Peruvian music I hear all day..its called Huano...more like whining but go listen to it and try to not get it stuck in your head! Yep so that's my Peruvian culture update.

Everything is going way good In my ward, I think I had the most amazing experience with the Spirit last night in one of my lessons!  SO we are teaching these two teenagers named TUPAC (yes Tupac, but he's Italian) and his sister, and also their mom. The thing is with their mom is that she thinks all the churches are the same, and she told us that before our lesson about Baptism, and the Holy Ghost. Honestly, I don't even remember what I really said, the Spirit was so strong, and all i know I said is exactly what she needed to hear. We taught her that as missionaries we aren't just trying to get more members in our church, but we are trying to bring people unto Christ through Baptism, Un baptismal verdedero con Poder y Authoridad, y en la manera de JesuCristo.  And even though Jesus Christ was perfect, He was baptized to keep the commandments of His Father. But she was talking about the Sacrifice of Jesus Christ, and how He even asked his Father to let this CUP pass from me...so that showed he had imperfections... SO when she said that, i replied with something like this ... I think it can apply to everyone, "Jesus Christ...He was perfect, perfect in every way imaginable, but when he was suffering and dying for everyone in this earth, suffering and bleeding through every pore for our sins, I know he was going through a pain we can't even imagine that  pain He felt was unbearable, but He did all this this because he loves us, He died for us because He loves us. And it is through Him we can Eternal Life, can be clean of every sin...but the question is..How can we accept this sacrifice?"  And she said, we can accept his sacrifice by following His example-which is exactly right...we need to follow His example, in every way and aspect of our lives, and as we fully follow Him we need to be baptized the same way he was. So my point in sharing this is not to just share what she said...but I want all of you to think, How can YOU accept the sacrifice Jesus Christ did for you...in your everyday lives? 

Want you all to know I know this church is true- this is the Church of Jesus Christ, if it wasn't true, I wouldn't be out here. Jesus Christ is the way, the Light, and the Life..and truly through him we can obtain wternal life, but through his sacrifice and Atonement he didn't eliminate our personal responsibility to accept this sacrifice everyday in our lives. I love you ALL! Remember this!! =) 

And everyone go see "Meet The Mormons"!
Love Elder Baca

My pensionista and the fam I live with...they call themselves LOS PITUFOS 

(the Smurfs)

con Chewy the parrot

And eating tacos...if you wanna laugh look at the guy in the background!

Oct 20~ Love Notes from Elder Tasker

Me and Elder H.

Whats Up Everyone!!

It's crazy how fast the weeks are going by now!! My new comp Elder H. and I are doing work!! We are finding so many people to teach and everything! So this week I dont really have any possesed stories or anything like that! Hahaha But I swear people have been praying for me to make my food get better, because ever since my new comp arrived, the food has been actually really good! (or I am just getting used to it idk) And since I'm on the topic of food, whenever I am eating and talking with the fam of the pension.. I always hear these little footsteps by the door..and guess who starts walking in the door because he wants food... CHEWY the Parrot.  And before I know it, I hear him climbing up my chair, and then he's directly behind my head asking for food!  I think it's the funniest thing! SO yah, I really hope everyone is doing good back in Los Estados Unidos!! Love you all and remember the Lord has given us the Gospel, honestly to BE HAPPY! So BE HAPPY! Love you all! Going to make some TACOS right now!!

OH! I forgot, but one of the Elders from my zone went to Lima this week for paper work, and guess who he saw at the temple! ELDER TASKER!! SO, I got a little love note from my cousin in Lima this week, pretty sweet! 

CHOW, 

Elder Baca

Padres!! Que tal Como estan ust! Espero que sepa que les amo mucho! Realamente! Siempre estoy orando para la familia y mis padres tambien! Mi compiii es bien chevere! Estamos viviendo las reglas de la mision con exactitud! Yea it hurts my brain a little to write in English! haha! I hope the fam is doing good! Tell me how the Meet the Mormons movie is! So crazy its already almost Halloween.  I feel like the mission is just going to fly by!  Hows Ewee's eye doing! From those pics they are getting HUGE!!! Holy!! Seriously! No seriously, I feel so comfortable and adjusted in the mission, the D is going away, and teaching is just my fave thing to do now! It's SO crazy how the mission can just change your outlook on life in a matter of months, really just want to thank you for everything you have done for me. (Uncles) Jim and Spence wrote me super long notes...  I love you both so much, families really are eternal and I'm so grateful I get to spend eternity with the Craziest Family in the World! BUT THE BEST! Love you both! Have a good week! 

Love Chimee!!!!! Make E & E some pork burritos this week! hahah my only request!

Oct 13~ Como te Llama?

Muy Buenos Dias!!!! Como estan!! 

Hows everyone doing! Love hearing form you all! So this past week I finished my training *finally!! and I got a New GRINGO companion!! His name is Elder Hilton and he is from Holladay, Utah and has about 2 more weeks than me in the mission!  He went to Utah State last year and is a Music Major, violin Major, so that's pretty sweet! Walking around with him, literally all the people just stop and stare at us because he is about 6'4, and I am 6'2 and everyone has this look on their face like we have come to exterminate them or something. hahah It's so funny! But yea its going super good with him so far!  We are finding so many more families to teach, people to teach, and everything is just going great! 

So I watched conference this past weekend and dang was it amazing!! I hope everyone had the chance to watch it, and recibed answers to their personal challenges and prayers.  I loved Elder Bednar's talk and President Uchtdorf's. Seriously amazing! 

SO I hope everyone has a good week, Love you all! Im sending my story about the posessed lady! Oh and I got the coolest llama shirt this week.... "COMO TE LLAMA" (como te llamas?)

MOther!!!!!!!! How is everything going! First off just want to tell you I love you and always will!! Hope everything is going good at home! That's so crazy that they have a movie now about Mormons! (Meet the Mormons).  Everything is going good here in Peru!!  And new investigators! We found a couple families this week to work with and a 15 year old too, but its the just the first week we started working with them! But yea everything is going good! Ill have more time to write next week! SO proud you finished the BOM! Seriously is so amazing! Learned so many things from it! Remember prayer, morning and night and scripture study every day and FHE on Monday!!! SOrry for not always obeying this but now that I'm a missionary I know this will help every active family and continue ours as well!! I love you mom tell the fam I love them too!!! hahah love you!  Cuidadse!! Su espanol es bien bien bien mama!! 

Love you!

Elder Baca