Feliz Dia De Gracias. (Happy Day of Thanks.)

Hola Familia Y Amigos, Y Feliz Dia De Gracias!

(Hello Family and Friends, Happy Day of Thanks to you!)

This was a very fun week. For P. Day last Monday, we went to a park and played  "Capture the Flag," and none of the Latinos had played it before, but they all loved it! We watched a movie afterwards.

This was my first real week in the area, so I got to know the people in my area a little bit more, so that was good. On Tuesday, I gave a Zone Training on the parable of the three missionaries: “Wiley Coyote, El Chapulin, and Rocky”. (Don’t even ask for an explanation). But it all boiled down to this: Diligence, Versus Intelligence. There are so many missionaries that are super diligent but never see fruits because they don’t do things intelligently. Likewise, there are a ton of missionaries that are super intelligent but never see fruits because of a lack of diligence. 

For each member of the Zone I printed off a picture of Steve Prefontaine with my favorite quote by him: “Dar Algo Menos que lo mejor de ti es sacrificar el don.”  (To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift.) Friday, my Companion and I went around with the mission driver and Sister Erickson to do room revisions of all the rooms in the Zone, and everybody had the picture of Steve Prefontaine taped up on the wall.

On Thanksgiving, my Companion and I wanted to do something to get the Zone pumped up, and all the American missionaries seemed a little down because of the lack of Thanksgiving dinner. So, after a lot of talking to people, coordinating, and phone calls, we managed to organize a complete Thanksgiving dinner for the Zone with Turkey, Mashed Potatoes, Gravy, Vegetables, Rolls with Jam and Butter, and hot apple pie for dessert. The American missionaries were practically in tears, and everyone else loved it too.   It was a great experience. 

We had interviews with President Erickson on Friday, and we made some specific plans to help the missionaries. We had a baptism on Friday, but I’m not gonna count it as one of my converts because I didn’t teach her, but we are happy she was able to be baptized.   There were some problems with the font, and it was spewing up sewer water from outside and we couldn’t get it to drain. Needless to say, we had to relocate the baptism to a chapel up in the hills. 

Enough about the Zone, In OUR area, we have 4 progressing Investigators, one of which we have a baptismal date for the 12th of December. His name is John and he is super cool. 

Yesterday, we brought the whole Zone to the Ward Missionary activity to sing “Called to Serve” for the opening hymn. We were practically the Tabernacle Choir or better:) 

Yeah, sorry for this email that was all over the place, it was kind of a crazy week. BUT, the work of the Lord is progressing here in the Zona Carabayllo, and I am grateful for that. Thanks for all your prayers and keep me posted with all the fun stuff that is happening! 

Love, Elder Reschke. 

P.S. For P. Day today, we have planned "La Carrera Asombrosa" AkA THE AMAZING RACE/URBAN SCAVENGER HUNT. 

Should be fun with tres leches cake for the winners:) 

P.S.S.  The scorpion death toll is now at 3. We got another one this week!

Questions Elder Reschke Answered this Week:

Over all how was your week?

This was a good second week as Zone Leader. I am thoroughly enjoying life.  The thing about being a Zone Leader, is that you are CONSTANTLY on the telephone!  But it was a good week.

How is your companion?

Things are great with my companion, Elder Romero, we get along great.

Did you get your Christmas packages?

Yes, I got the packages!  Thank you SOOOOOOOOO much.

The turtle cookies are so delicious.  So, I think that the gifts you sent for kids,

I am going to send with a Ward member who is going to visit a village and help them out.  I feel like this would be a good place for them.  

Thanks a million!

Miracle of the week?

Our Zone is a lot more happy than before.

Scripture of the week?

Juan 1:4 (I think he means John 1:4)

“In him was life; and the life was the light of men.”

       Elder Reschke received the homemade cookies I sent.

        (*Note from Mom:  When Jake was little, we had a neighbor named Spud. 

    Spud had a ladder that Jake thought was so tall, it went on forever.

      He was very impressed with this tall ladder. 

        And so, from the time he was three years old, 

                        Jake would always say to me "I love you higher than Spud's Ladder."

    This became a little tradition with he and I.

And even now we always end our letters with 

         "Love you higher than Spud's Ladder."):

                                                               Baptism this week:

                                                          Colorful Peruvian dancers:

                                                                    Peruvian dancers:

                                                           Peruvian Thanksgiving:

                                Yes that's a roll of T.P. on the table (we forgot to get napkins):

                                   Peruvian Thanksgiving.  The Bishop helped us out.
                                            A lady in the Ward made the pies,
                 but we had to coordinate everything and make lists of the food to buy, etc.,
                                 they had never made gravy so I had to explain that.
                                                                    They did a great job:

                                                               Peruvian Thanksgiving.