Nov 30~ The Fourth Quarter

What up! Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving Week! 

I'm hitting 18 months this week in the mish, and I cant believe how fast the time has passed by!  This week was alright for us, it was the anniversary of Cerro de Pasco, so there were just a ton of drunks in the street and a lot of parties all night long. THe good thing is, we changed rooms so we dont live by the "center" anymore. To be honest the mission is super hard at times, I would consider Cerro De Pasco as one of the roughest places to be in just for the food, weather, etc... but an ex missionary told me that while he was in the MTC, an Area Seventy (leader) came and talked to all the missionaries, and in his talk he happened to talk about Cerro de Pasco and how it is just considered a rough city because of everything that goes on. But he said the missionaries have success because of the ATTITUDE they have. To be honest its been rough at times, I really have had to rely on the Lord a ton because Idk what else I would do, and I know he has helped me have a good attitude about my area and this city. I have really learned here that our ATTITUDES can change a lot. I know without a doubt that our attitudes can effect everything we do, I mean it depends on our attitude if we can reach goals and have success or not. SO no matter what happens to you all, just have a good attitude about everything and I know things always seem to work out when we Trust in God! Well, thats something I learned this week! I love you all and am so grateful for all of you, and for the support you are giving me! Have a good week! 

Heres some pics:

Thanksgiving day eating pizza, playing soccer, eating some burgers we made, and saying goodbye to my buddy Elder Horsely 

 

Nov 23~ Gobble Gobble!

Mis Queridos Causas,

Les quiero decir, feliz dia de gracias! Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Dang all I have to say is it is COLD here in Cerro now, it snowed for a good 5 hours yesterday! 

The weeks are flying so fast now I cant even believe it. Taking the time to think what I am grateful for over this time I have had in the mish, has really made me realize the love my Heavenly Father has for me. First off, I am so grateful for my Savior Jesus Christ, there have been so many times in the mission where I have felt alone or inadequate or have just had hard times, but I have felt the loving comfort of my Savior so many times. I know without a doubt he is my older Brother, and has become one of my best friends. I am so very grateful for his atoning Sacrifice. I am so grateful for my family as well, being away from them for awhile has really made me realize how much I love them. I know that families are eternal and are super important, more important then any type of iPhone 6 or the new Xbox one! I am so grateful for the gospel as well! I know it blesses lives! I know there is no EARTHLY PROBLEM that cant be solved by the HEAVENS! I love telling that to people because I know the gospel really does bring hope and peace. Being without worldly things for a year and a half and, well even more than that, being in Cerro de Pasco, has really made me focus on the important things. It has made me enjoy the little things even more like ( hot water and a nice 3 dollar chicken with french fries) hahaha   Well I love you all, think about the things you are grateful for! 

Love, Elder Baca 

Nov 16th~ Sweet Week

What up everyone! 

JDS HOME!!!!!!!!! That looks so unreal what the heck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  SO it feels weird to be the only Elder Baca in the family now! I am super happy for my bro! He had a fulfilling mish! This week was a SWEET WEEK. We started out the week in Huanuco which was paradise, and then we found a GOLDEN investigator that was a reference from a member! He's a 35 year old single guy that is looking to change his life, he was actually thinking about taking his life this past week but we were able to help him out. we visited him on Saturday, and he has a Bautismal date for the 19th of December! He showed up to church like 20 mins early yesterday and told me "I cant stop thinking about my Bautismal date, I really want to do this". So that was pretty sweet!

In other news, I finished the Book of Mormon again for the second time in Spanish, it took me 6 months but it was worth it! I know with all my heart its true because I had the opportunity to pray and ask God again, and I got the most peaceful feeling again reassuring me that its true! We also did a service project on Saturday out in the middle of nowhere. we basically took a HUGE pile of DIRT and moved it to the second story of a house with Buckets. It took almost 4 hours to finish, but it was worth it! 

Love you all! Heres some pics ! 

Love Elder Baca

Eating in Huanuco

Service project

Ice cream in Huanuco

Nov 9~ Travel and Costumes

Whats up everyone! Dang all I have to say it is really nice to be back here in Huanuco, the weather is perfect! Yesterday was our multi zone conference here in Huanuco (Juan-uh-co), and today is our PDAY so its good to be back for a couple days! 

My week was pretty solid, but there wasnt that much time to work! We started off the week by dressing up for Halloween and playing games in the church! I rented a mickey mouse costume for 3 bucks so that was sweet! hahaaha We went to Huancayo last Tuesday and Wednesday for the Leadership Council, worked a couple of days and then headed off to Huanuco Sunday night! 

I cant believe my bro is finishing his mission! I cant even imagine how he feels right now, I know the mission isnt easy but its the best thing for our lives! I also can testify that the Gospel changes lives, I know my bro has seen that over these past two years and I see that almost every day out here. Have fun at home! Love you and thanks for your example! well I love you all! PAZ! 

Elder Baca 

Elder Baca as Mickey Mouse

Nov 2~ El Dia de Los Muertos

Hey everyone! 

Another week down here in Cerro! Leslie got baptized on Saturday (Halloween)! It was a pretty sweet service! She just thanked us for being super patient with her because for a long time she didnt believe the things we taught, but finally she just kept reading the BOM and praying, and kept asking, and she felt it was so true! It was awesome to hear her testimony after her baptism. These things Ill never forget! 

Yesterday was the Day of the Dead, its a huge Latin holiday, especially here in Cerro! Everyone just goes to the cemetery and visits their relatives that have passed away, and they bring them things that they liked. SO there was nobody home, but we went to the cemetery yesterday to talk to people about the Plan of Salvation and how they can see their loved ones again thanks to Jesus Christ.  It was a good experience, some were receptive, others were not but it turned out to be a good week! I love you all! have a great week! Shout out to my bro JD, LAST WEEK IN THE MISSION, NO TE PONGAS TRUNKY! 

-ELDER  BACA 

Pics of baptism, and like a tiny part of the cemetery.

Mom! Mom Mom!!!   I bet you are excited right now, Im excited for you! I cant believe JD is already coming home! That is blowing my mind seriously!!!!!!!!! Well hope you guys had a good Halloween. The pics are sweet, and also tell Jenn and Gray Congrats, thats awesome, so happy for them! Well this week flew by and Im looking forward to this week because tomorrow iI am going to Huancayo, and then Sunday afternoon to Wednesday I will be in Huanuco! So expect an email on Tuesday next week!! THE DAY before JD comes home!! SO what are the plans with him? You guys are having get together and then you need to make him some CHICKEN, POTATOES AND RICE so he knows how Peruvian food is hahahah!  Well my scrip this week is 1 Nephi 15:13-14, its a long one but I already got it down this morning!  I'll finish the BOM again in SPANISH this week, Im loving it! Some things I need are ummm a new belt and thats all I can think of! Well I love you MOM! Times flying, Im loving the mish seriously so many great experiences, y btw havent missed a day in my journal since the start of Sept, theres some funny stuff in there! Love u mom! Have a good week! 

ELDER BACA 

Oct 26~ El Frio

Hey everyone! 

I hope you all had a great week! I am staying here in Cerro with my same companion Elder Fernandez from Chile (who happens to be from the same ward as Elder Taskers comp right now) small world hahaha. This week was a solid week, and went by super fast as well! Its been super cold here lately and now I have the "burnt cheeks" as everyone calls it here! THE FRIO BURNS! 

My Comp and I are having a baptism this week!! Her name is L.! She has a pretty neat story I mean her parents are evangelists and super hard core but she met the missionaries through her bff thats leaving on a mission soon! She reads the Book of Mormon like a BEAST and has a super strong testimony about this book and the Gospel. Its been cool to see her progress over these past couple months! 

Also we are teaching a GOLDEN investigator that was a reference from his bro. He was studying to be a Catholic priest for 15 years, but had a ton of problems, is going through a divorce, but a really humble guy. We have taught him about the Restauracion, the Book of Mormon, and the Plan of Salvation, and everything makes perfect sense to him. Its awesome! He told us before we started teaching him that he felt such an "emptiness" in his life and wants to fill it! And as we have taught him about the Plan that God has for him and about the Restoration of the Church of Jesus Christ, he has been able to fill this emptiness up and understand the love God has for him and his child! Its been sweet teaching him, he has a bautismal date for this month.! I love being here in the Mish, its been amazing so far! Love you all! 

Elder Baca 

Oct 19~ Oye Gringo!

Well the title of my email has to tie in with an experience I had this week! 

Just so you all know, there are 2 white people (from the U.S.) in all of Cerro de Pasco, myself and another sister missionary. SO when the Peruvians see me, they always just start yelling GRINGO!!!! ( it means white man), seeing a white person here is like seeing an alien seriously. So this past week, we were walking in the sketchy part of our area to an appointment we had, and out of no where this guy that looks a lil' tipsy starts yelling at me "OYE GRINGO!" so I looked at him, and went up and started to talk to him. His name is Polo (shirt in Spanish), anyways he seemed like he wasnt too interested in why we were here as missionaries.  I invited him to church and he left. On Sunday, probably the worst feeling a missionary can have is when no one shows up to Church, I was feeling disappointed because with my Comp we worked super hard this week. So I said a little prayer, praying that someone would come to church. Literally like a couple minutes after that prayer, I see Polo walk in all dressed up and sits down in the bench, and then 2 more investigators walk in as well! It was a prayer answered seriously, and they all stayed for the 3 hours of church and had an amazing time!

 SO what I learned this week- inviting is our responsibility, as missionaries, or as members. We just need to invite. I mean the worst that can happen is that our friends or family say No ( if your in the US), or if your in Cerro de Pasco you can tick off an  Evangelist grandma and have her run inside to go call her elderly husband to beat you up ( btw that happened to us yesterday, we took off running hahaha the elderly are sketchy here). The choice is yours! 

We found a sweet fam as well this week along with a couple other sweet investigators, changes are tomorrow so I am looking forward to staying here in Cerro! Love you all! God bless! 

¡Elder Baca! 

That lady's coming back next week!! She left because she works out of town, but in other news we got some solid investigators now!! Im looking forward to telling you more about them! SO happy you got to do the work for your ancestor! Its awesome! Im grateful for Grandpa Tom, Ive showed some peeps my arbol (tree) and the freaked out! -Im about 165 pound now! Yes ive lost about 20...crazy. But its okay i am hittin it hard at the gym! THe weather is rough here. The cold literaly burns!! I love you guys so much! Time is flying seriously. Im like the old guy in the mish now, seriously its scaring me! hahah  
Love you mom!   Elder Baca