(No Subject) (August 29, 2016)

Monday is here again! This week was super fast. We helped the new sisters get settled into their area a little bit. We are now 6 sisters here in Ayacucho, yo being the only gringa. Guess whose Spanish is about to get really good! MINE!!!! Hahahaha, it's fun, the only other zone that I had like this was exactly a year ago in my first zone. Woah.

Ana & Elise

Here's a little miracle moment for you! This past Friday, another ward had a baptism, so we invited our investigator Jimmy (who is getting baptized next Saturday) to attend and see how it is. The baptism started late, and Jimmy told us that he was on his way from work. We sang, we prayed, we listened to the talks, and no Jimmy. We went into the room with the pila (font) and they started the prayer. During the prayer, I heard someone run in behind me and I thought it was the elders who were just outside. They perform the baptism, and I turn around and there is Jimmy! He made it in time for the ordinance! I just started laughing and it was like "Oh hey! Welcome to the baptism!" It was super funny but just a miracle that he ran in just in time for the most important part. God knows what he is doing!

So today, Hna Martos (the new hna lider) and I travel to Lima for concilio de lideres. What does that mean??? MAÑANA TEMPLO!!!! I'm pumped. I love the temple! I love that we get to go to the temple so often. Technically, it's not in our mission bounds, but we are so close that yeah. Perks of being a lider from Ayacucho! The only downside would have to be the bus ride. I just don't do well with that. It's like 10 hours of just rocking back and forth up and down. I think that everyone needs to experience it at least once in their lives. 

This past week, we went to do service with Hermana Magali and her daughter Ana who got baptized a little while ago. We cleaned her house and then she taught us how to make ahí de gallina. It's super good! It's like that chicken sauce that you make, mom, with the noodles, but this is Peruvian and you eat it with rice (of course) and potatoes. And then I made peach cobbler because peaches are a favorite fruit of everyone here. It was fun and I sent you pics.

Well, I am out of time! I hope you have a super rockin week!

LOVE LOVE LOVE

Hermana Elise Joyner   

Peach Cobbler!

All in His timing (August 23, 2016)

TRANSFERS!!!! Except for us. Hna Calderon and I are still here in Garcilazo for our 3rd transfer together. I think I forgot to mention cambios last week... sorry!

This week was a mix of fun emotions! Happiness, sadness, and SUPRESAS!

Let's start with sadness. For the first time in my mission an investigator has dropped me. Rosario (the single mom with the two kids) told us that she doesn't have any time and doesn't want to be baptized. I felt like someone was breaking up with me. I've come to love her and her family so much, that it just makes me so sad that she and her family don't want part of the gospel. I know that they will come to their time when they will be ready but I just wish that I could be here to see it. All in the Lord's timing and His hands!

Supresa next! We went to the baptism of the other sisters this last Friday. They had prepared and sang a few musical numbers while Hna Stodtmeister played the guitar. When they had finished, Stodt said "We have one number mas. Hna Joyner, come here!" What. Huh? She called me up on the spot to sing while she played the guitar. It was fine but also really funny because it was just a spur of the moment, "oh hna Joyner is here she should sing", type of deal. Not the first time it's happened if you know what I mean...

Happiness! We have an investigator named Jimmy. He's been more or less lately, but we found him again last week. He went on a trip to Lima where he discovered that he has an uncle that is a member. They went to the temple together and had a "Come to Christ" moment. He is super excited about the gospel and just wants to be baptized! We are working hard with him so that he can overcome a few addictions and be firm and fiel in the gospel. 

I feel like I had more things to tell you but I don't remember right now because I left my other agenda at home. Whoops!

I am so glad that I get to stay here in Ayacucho! I feel like there is still so much work here for me to do and people to find. I feel like I have more of a connection here than in the other areas in my mission. God really does prepare people for each one of us to find. I know that He loves all of His children and wants them to come back to Him in their own time. 

I hope you have a great week and find a way to come closer to the Savior.

LOVE LOVE LOVE

Hermana Elise Joyner  

Anything Can Happen If You Let It (August 15, 2016)

This week was pretty awesome!

First of all, little Anna (12 yrs old) got baptized on Saturday and we rescued her mom and her two older brothers. Everything went well and smooth (after we jumped over the few obstacles that always come right when the baptism is about to happen). She got baptized, and there was such a special spirit in the room when they performed the ordinance. The water was super cold (especially aqui in ayacucho) so when she entered the font, all we could here was "Oooo, ahhh, oh, frio! Obispo! Frio!" It was too funny! Poor kid, she did it though! Hermana Stodtmeister played the guitar, and I and my comp and her comp sang the hymn about Joseph Smith's prayer (I don't remember what it is called in english) to the tune of Come Thou Fount. I'll try to obtain one of the grabaciones that someone took.

From Pres letter- "Miracle of the week! This past Saturday we baptized the youngest child of a family that we rescued, the Familia Huaman. The dad, however, has been super cold in the whole process and escapes every time we go to visit. On Saturday, he was present for the baptism of his daughter, Anna. After the ordinance, Anna and her mom gave their testimonies. Then we gave time to Crisostomo (the dad) to bear his testimony. He stood up and bore his testimony about the spirit he felt, the importance of staying true to the gospel, and the correctness of the decision that Anna took. It was a miracle! The wall that he has had broke down as he let the spirit enter his heart. After the baptism, I was able to talk with him a little more and get to know him. We then were able to set up an appointment to go visit him this week. I know that the Lord provides a way and a time to help all of His children come back to the fold, even the hardest hearts."

Funny story! On Friday, we were walking around, and it started to thunder and lighting and sprinkle a few drops here or there for like 20 min. I was ready for the rain but it just wasn't coming. I made a comment to my comp, "If it is gonna thunder, just rain already! I don't want just a few drops here or there for all the noise it's making!" I should've just kept my mouth shut because God answered my comments with giants balls of hail mixed with rain. It was so funny! But that stuff hurts too! I learned my lesson about complaining. 

Thanks all I got time for for today! I hope you all have a great week! Think of something you can do differently this week to make the Savior the center of your thoughts.

LOVE LOVE LOVE

Hermana Elise Joyner

Sé que Él vive.

Cleaning Day in Ayacucho!

That one time the other sisters in the zone forgot their key in their house so they had to come and stay with us and I had to pump up the air mattress with a hand pump. PJ Party!

AUGUST!!! (August 8, 2016)

I haven't really been writing much lately. Sorry ‘bout that!  I get distracted easily on Mondays:). Anyway, life here in the mission is super good as usual. Still here in Ayacucho, teaching, and the living the Gospel!

So this Saturday, we have a baptism!  We’ve been working with a less active family since we got here and their youngest isn’t baptized.  So, this week, the mom and two brothers will officially be rescued and Anna will be baptized.  They are a cute family.  Anna is 12 and her brothers are 15 and 17.  We’ve really been able to see a change in them.  At first, they were super sarcastic and annoying and didn’t want to participate.  But now, we have the spirit in all the lessons.  They are great and contribute more meaningful things.  The fun part about the baptism is that our Ward Mission Leader is going to travel, so we’ll be left on our own.  YAY!  No, but it will be super good.

This past week we traveled to Lima for Leader’s Council.  I love that bus… I don’t know how to describe it.  It’s something you have to experience for yourself.  My favorite part, as always, is that Hermana McGinn cooks lunch.  It’s always super good!  Afterwards, we got to go to the Temple and to a session and eat Subway cookies.  #perksofyourbusleavingat9pm!  The Temple is always just what I need!  It’ll be weird to do it in English again because I’ve done it so many times in Spanish.

I love all my areas, but I feel like there is something different about Ayacucho here.  I feel like I connect more with the members and the people we teach.  I think I’ve learned to love more and more throughout my mission and it’s getting put into practice now more than before. 

Well, I didn’t finish writing the hand letter because I ran out of time, and now I don't have time to finish in an email. Life is great and grand and we'll talk next week!

Love Love Love

Hermana Elise Joyner

Re: The Lord My Pasture Will Prepare (August 1, 2016)

First of all... HAPPIEST OF ANNIVERSARIES TO THE BESTEST PARENTS IN THE WORLD!!! Seriously, I couldn't have been blessed with better parents! I hope you have just the greatest day ever.

Also, HAPPIEST OF BIRTHDAYS (on Sunday) TO THE NEWEST TEENAGER!!!!  Cole, I can't believe you will be 13! How crazy is that! Tan loco, digo yo!

Little bit of President's letter-  "Last night we had a lesson for the third time with a sister and her teenage son. Her son is one our 15 menos activos. As we entered the house, the son (Nelson) had shut himself in his room and wouldn’t come out for the lesson. We began to talk to him from outside and convinced him to come and participate. We had a great lesson and were able to find a little bit of his iceberg. When we left the house after, his mom followed us out. She gave us each the biggest hug and just said “Gracias hermanas. Nadie ha podido sacarlo de su cuarto para escuchar acerca de la iglesia, pero ustedes han podido hacerlo. Gracias hermanas! Estamos volviendo. Gracias.” It was such a tender momento for me that reminded me of why we do what we do. It shows me the power of working with the 15 nombres. These are people that the Lord is preparing to listen to us specifically. Que grandioso es nuestro llamamiento!"

This past week was pretty uneventful. We had fiestas patriotas. Independence day for Peru. But really, it's a three day holiday where everyone goes on vacation, so we walked a lot last week. It was fun though to see the different ways that the families here in Ayacucho celebrate. HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!!!! 

Tonight, Hermana Stodtmeister and I travel to Lima for concilio de lideres. What does that mean? I get to go to the temple tomorrow!!!! HUZZAH!!!!! I love going temple. It is such a blessing to be in a mission that has a temple so close that I get to go so often. 

And ponderize rápidamente! 

Alma 34:3

And as ye have desired of my beloved brother that he should make known unto you what ye should do, because of your afflictions; and he hath spoken somewhat unto you to prepare your minds; yea, and he hath exhorted you unto faith and to patience—

I like this idea of personal revelation. When we want to know what to do, we can turn to Him and He will help us. But I like the phrase "prepare your minds." If we ourselves aren't prepared to receive the revelation and help, the Lord will wait until we are ready. We need to exercise our faith and patience. There have been a lot of times when I have wanted answers to my questions, but I myself wasn't ready to receive His instruction. He waits for us to come to Him, read our scriptures, put forth our effort, and sometimes take a step into the unknown. There is a quote that Brother Campbell shared in our Sunday school class one time. He said "All will be right in the end. If it is not right, it is not the end." God won't let us go too far without helping us along the way. He will make all right.

Anyway, I'm out of time. 

But, I love you! I love the temple! I love the Libro of Mormon! I love this GOSPEL!!!!

LOVE LOVE LOVE

Hermana Elise Joyner