Elder Reschke Serving in Peru.: Monkeys!

Hola Familia Y Amigos,

First things first, the Krispee Kreme donut story ya´ll have been waitin for. Well that day of changes, a Sister Missionary from Mexico was finishing her mission. Her parents came to pick her up, and they brought her Krispee Kreme donuts, which thrives in Mexico. So, she gave me one, and it was super tasty:).

Morevoer, the Zone is super excited! And super unified. Everyone has told me that the Zone is better than it ever was. We had a fun P. Day on Monday: The Amazing Race: Peruvian Edition.

The challenges were as follows:

Take a team selfie with a dog from the street.

Take a team selfie with a tower of playing cards.

Take a picture of a team member chugging a bottle of Inka Kola.

Take a team selfie with the Peruvian flag.

Take a team selfie with a parked motto...five points bonus if it was a convee.
Take a picture of a Sister scoring a soccer goal.
Etc.

There were also bonus items:

A nail.

A feather.

A live cockroach.

A teammate eating a plate of pure rice.

In the end we met up with the other team by chance and we had an epic race back to the chapel. The winning team won coconut cream filled cookies, and the losing team had to eat a burning hot red pepper. Sadly, even though my team got the live cockroach, we didn’t win. And we had to buy a lot of Jello and Ice Water to cool the burning of the hot pepper.

This week we had to make our monthly Zone goals for December and we had a special Zone Leader’s Council Meeting in Independencia with all of the Zone Leaders. We received an awesome training by President Erickson about implementing the power of the atonement in our teaching as missionaries. We really need to explain to people the power they can see in their lives if they accept the atonement of Jesus Christ, but explain to them they they have to use their agency to do THEIR PART. THERE IS NO OTHER WAY.

I am definitely going to be implementing that in my teachings as a missionary.

This week it was my turn to do the work visits, so I did five work visits in five different areas this week. Everyone in the Zone is working super hard, and EVERY companionship has a baptismal date for the month of December, so it looks like its going to be a White Christmas after all.

Yesterday, we had to do a TON of baptismal interviews which went well, and we are excited to help all these people progress towards baptism.

Our own area is doing rather well. We have one baptismal date, named John, who is doing really well. This week we are going to put a fixed date with Gilberto for the month of December.

We met a nice member lady last night when I had to go to Santa Luzmilla so we could interview her boyfriend who is getting baptized this month. She was baptized by the Hermana missionaries 26 years ago in Piura. She gave us Lonche, which was nice. Lonche is like Peruvian dinner that they eat at 8 to 9 o’clock an usually consists of herbal tea or Ecco or hot chocolate, and little rolls with cheese or meat.

I am so honored to be a missionary, and to be here and help the work of the Lord progress. We are doing a world wide initiative from the church called “Un Salvador Ha Nacido: A Savior is Born.” I am so excited to share this glorious Christmas Message with the Peruvian people in the month of December.

We are really in the Christmas spirit as a Zone, and we have a Hermana that is going to print out the Zone Christmas card!

I know this church is true and that Jesus Christ lives and loves every one of us.
NEVER FORGET IT!

Much love,

Elder Reschke.

P.S. *Note to Mom: I met a couple of Senior Missionaries form Northern California.
They just got here, and they know Placerville and love going to Apple Hill.

P.S.S. Things are going great here in the mission.
I am super happy to be a missionary, and super happy to be able to help others.
Have a great week.

Questions Elder Reschke answered this week:

How was your week?

It has been a good week.

And I have just one thing to say “Carabayllo is on fire!”

Last month there were 7 people baptized.

But, this month there are 10 confirmed baptismal dates already,
and we just need to do some more interviews to have more.

Every companionship in the Zone is going to baptize in December.

You could say we are working hard!

Have you opened any thing from the Christmas package we sent?

I have been opening the letters every day which is a lot of fun.

Which letter was your favorite?

Ha ha they were all good!

Ya can’t name favorites!

How do you like the turtle cookies?

The turtle cookies are super tasty.

I have to hide them when I leave the area on a work visit!

Do you have much time to teach with being a Zone Leader?

It’s mainly teaching in other areas!

But it’s great, because we are all on the same team

and it all contributes to the work of the Lord.

What is the weather like now?

It’s getting super hot out! We don’t have to wear suit coats until April 1.

Miracle of the week?

The miracle of the week are three baptismal dates.

Scripture of the week?

Helaman 5:9-11:

9 O remember, remember, my sons, the words which king Benjamin spake unto his people; yea, remember that there is no other way nor means whereby man can be saved, only through the atoning blood of Jesus Christ, who shall come; yea, remember that he cometh to redeem the world.

10 And remember also the words which Amulek spake unto Zeezrom, in the city of Ammonihah; for he said unto him that the Lord surely should come to redeem his people, but that he should not come to redeem them in their sins, but to redeem them from their sins.

11 And he hath power given unto him from the Father to redeem them from their sins because of repentance; therefore he hath sent his angels to declare the tidings of the conditions of repentance, which bringeth unto the power of the Redeemer, unto the salvation of their souls.

Elder Romero and Elder Reschke.
Last Monday night we listened to Christmas music,
put up our Christmas tree, and ate paneton`,
the traditional Peruvian Christmas bread. Super tasty:

Christmas tree all decorated:

Ready for December:

In my area:

This picture is a Latino version of the famous "Second Coming" picture that I fell in love with. A 90 year old lady has it hanging in her house.
It is a one of a kind...this is the only and original copy:

This week we saw two different monkeys.
One was in a cage where we ate lunch,
and the other one was just tied up to a tree.
He was eating a lolly-pop which made us laugh like crazy!