THERE are MANY PEOPLE who QUESTION WHY BAD THINGS HAPPEN...

Mommy and Fam and Friends!! 

How goes it in Cali? Well I'm super jealous of Izz´s adventure. I've lived in Peru for almost a year but I've never been to Machu Picchu but my two sisters have already been. Hopefully one day I will arrive there. 

Well this week me and my companion had a great experience where we learned the Mission President is called of God and receives inspiration, and when we obey the rules or commandments, we are blessed and receive miracles. This week in our zone meeting our leaders informed us of a new rule that the president is going to enforce in this mission. Well, the rule actually isn't new but President Risso didn't put so much stress on it.  We aren't allowed to teach anyone of the opposite sex without an adult male present, member or nonmember or a holder of the priesthood. I know that in the states this was always a rule that the missionaries lived by. But here it's pretty hard cuz basically we only teach women cuz the men work from 6 in the morning and return at 9 or 10 at night sometimes and there aren't very many priesthood holders in our ward. But we have been obeying this rule and the Lord has been providing the way. We usually never have lessons with the accompaniment of members but the members this week stepped up and have been helping us with our lessons. This week we almost had 20 lessons with members going with us. The members play an important role in missionary work and without them it's hard to have success. This week we had a visit with Karen. We went with 3 sisters from the Relief Society and with a counselor from the bishopric. Everyone was able to bare their testimony about the gospel and Karen, even though she's a little unsure, really felt loved and was grateful for the visit of the members. Her baptism date is for this upcoming Saturday. We are gonna see what happens cuz she didin't come to church this Sunday. 

We have a new investigator named Pamela. She's in her 30s and has been Catholic all her life.  She has had a strong desire to be closer to God because she has been diagnosed with cancer. Her aunt is a member and is a great influence in her life. We have only have had one visit with her but her desires to change and to know Christ have inspired me. When we pass through trials we have 2 decisions. We can come closer to God or fall away from Him. There are many people who question why bad things happen to them but Pamela is a strong women who knows that her Father in Heaven loves her and that her trials are only making her stronger.

Well I'm so happy that finally we are not working alone in this work and that we have the help of the ward, because really the members make all the difference. Well I love you all and hope the best for you.  Keep firm in the Gospel and pray for opportunities to share the Gospel.

besitos

Elder Harper

Our zone with our new mission president, Mark Williams