A mighty CHANGE of heart... or area...! (November 15, 2016)

Well, to start off, sorry for the lack of a letter last week. Sometimes, there is just no time. I don't know how but there just isn't.

Secondly, transfers came and went! And I went with them! It was quite the surprise because we thought that Hna Russell was gonna leave because she had been there 3 transfers already. Well we got the call, and I am opening an area in Villa Maria with Hermana Ybañez from Argentina and... HERMANA WINWARD!!!! My CCM comp! Another trio! But this time a trio makes sense since I am leaving before the cambio. We went around and met members yesterday and a few investigators. They are so excited to have sisters! It will be a good 4 weeks. There is a lot of potential here!

Here is a funny story for you. Last week we were on an intercambio and Hna Nielsen came with us while Hna Russell went with her comp. Hna Pereyra is still not doing too good, so in the middle of the day we had to go back to the house for a while so she could rest. It was really hot so we opened all the windows, but the wind shut the door to the room with the bathroom and shut and locked it. We spent 30 minutes trying to pick the lock, and then finally the landlord just jumped out the window of our third story room and jumped in through the window with the door and unlocked it. It was super funny and just like it would happen to us.

Out of time! 

LOVE LOVE LOVE YOU!!!!

Hermana Elise Joyner

"There's change comin once and for all"- name that song! and show! (November 7, 2016)

Mormon 9:27-28

Cambios next week!

LOVE LOVE LOVE

Hermana Elise Joyner

Exodus 15:22 (October 31, 2016)

Oh, hey!  So I know I didn’t send a letter last week.  I just got really excited for all my world travel pics!  Anyway, let’s see what I can share for this past week.  Let’s just say it was a little crazy… We started out with no water for 5 days.  YAY!  It was actually just a funny Peruvian experience that makes me laugh.  Especially because it’s not the first time nor the last.  Shall we just say that I was super excited to take a shower after that…  In the midst of our lack of water, our compañera Hermana Pereyra got pretty sick so she’s been in the house since last Monday and Hermana Russell and I took turns going out with members.  It was really weird.  I kept turning around to look for my companions.  

On Wednesday, while I was playing nurse to Hermana Pereyra, we were sitting in our chairs playing a card game when everything started to move.  I’ve felt little temblores (tremors) here and there my whole mission, but this one was a lot stronger.  It was funny because it was the first one Hermana Pereyra has even felt in her life so she started freaking out and running around the house and then after it ended, she started praying for another one because it was really “fun”.  She’s a character!  On Thursday, we couldn’t find a sister to go out with one of us, so we all had to stay in.  Well, about halfway through the day, the power went out in Cañeta.  It was fine until it started to get dark.  We pulled out our flashlights and started playing card games (not easy without the light).  Then we stared out the window and watched the people try to make their way around without street lights (there’s a surprising number of people who can’t do it…hahahaha….).  It was an interesting night.  The lights finally came back at 10:15 pm, just in time for bed…  But there wasn’t water…  

On Saturday, Hermana Pereyra and I had (as Hermana McGinn called it) our “Big Day Out”.  I took her to the doctor in Lima.  The best part is that across from the hospital is a McDonalds…  It was a really good lunch…for me at least.  She couldn’t eat anything.  We’re only about 2 hours from Lima.  It’s a little different than my overnight bus ride.  

So another crazy story from this past week.  Our pensionista’s (maid) husband is a “meat man”.  I don’t know how to call it really in English, but he sells meat for a living. (she means butcher)  So she always gives us random parts of things.  Livers, stomachs, who knows what.  This past week, she stepped up the game, and as Dad says, she went to ‘a whole ‘nother level!”  She gave Hermana Russell and I our plates (Pereyra being too sick to eat it) and we started eating.  We took a couple of bites and Hermana Russell says to me, “I feel like we are just eating fat.”  We asked our pensionista what it was and so casually she states “cow utter”.  I have officially eaten the utter of a cow.  I will say that it’s better than the stomach.  Oh, only in Peru!  

So, tomorrow is Noviembre.  AHHH!  Que CRAZY!  I don’t know how I feel about that.  Where did Octobre even go?  We just got started with it!  Oh yeah…  HAPPY HALLOWEEN!  Eat something pumpkin for me.  

Let’s get spiritual for a moment.  I’ve been listening to the song that the choir sang at the last conference, “Take Time to Be Holy.”  How often do we take time to be holy?  To just sit and feel the spirit and receive revelation.  That was something that I thought a lot about this past week as I’ve been in the house.  I took time to turn the music off, sit in my chair, and just think.  It’s amazing what can happen when you do so.  My invitation to you this week is to find (and if you can’t find, take) time to be holy.  And then note the difference your life is after the week.  Something different will happen because it happened to me.  Well, that’s about all I got for you this week!  Hopefully my companion will get better soon so we can leave the 3 of us again.  I really love our little trio!  It’s just a fun group.  So, LOVE YOU LOTS and hope that you have a great first week of November (ahhh..)!

LOVE LOVE LOVE

Hermana Elise Joyner

(no letter, just pictures) (October 24, 2016)

Miracles happen every day! (October 17, 2016)

I don't have time to write an email but here is my miracle of the week!

"Miracle of the week! This is something small but for me was a real miracle. We are teaching a family and another investigator with fecha that live in the same passage way. In that passageway, there is a GIANT dog that always attacks us and wants to eat me. On Saturday, we had an important lesson with the two families, but when we went, the dog was sitting in the entrance impiding us from entering. I said a specific prayer in my heart and sent my companion to the dog. She walked up to it and then passed it. Then my other companion walked up to it and passed it. Then I walked up to it and passed it and we were able to have our lessons and set a marrage date. When we went to leave, we did it in the same way. After the last of us passed the dog, it started barking and running to attack us, but we were already outside. I know that if we say specific prayers, our Heavenly Father will answer us will specific answers. He is there to protect and guide us."

 LOVE LOVE LOVE YOU!!!!

Hermana Elise Joyner

Take Time to be Holy (October 10, 2016)

OK, dear loved ones.  I’ve not had time to write or really do anything because we’ve been busy.  I’ll try to scratch out what I can now.

Lomo Saltado

Esperanza

So the week before (last week in Ayacucho), we headed down to Lima for leader’s council.  It wasn’t as fun this time because the temple is closed.  When we got back, we had that morning to do service, so we went over to Magali’s house and she taught us how to make Lomo Saltado and I made my birthday cake.  So I made the cake and took it out of the oven and it smelled super good and looked super good and I was super excited.  After it cooled, I went to take it out of the pan and it wouldn’t come out.  I almost had it, but then my companion came and shook it really hard and the cake fell and crumbled out. So in my baking expertise, I took the super liquidy frosting (which still tasted yummy) and make a chocolate cake mountain!  It still had the same test, the form was just a little different.  IT WAS SOOO GOOD!!!  But I can’t eat super sweet things like I could before in the U.S.  Peru has changed my sweetness tolerance.  But it was fun to be able to bake again.  

Farewell to Ayacucho

And then General Conference!  Oh I just love General Conference.  It’s just a spiritual feast all weekend long.  I got permission to watch it in English, so it was me and 4 Elders.  I was in the back with my snacks and they were up front with their snacks.  Oh the things I do to watch conference in English.  And then that night, we got the transfer calls.  Saddest call ever.  I’m excited to be here in Cañeta but I’m so sad to have left Ayacucho.  That place and the people really have a special spot in my heart!  Anyway, I spent the night packing (worst part of transfers) and then 6:30 rolled around and I woke up for my BIRTHDAY!!  It was such a good birthday.  We watched conference and listened to the prophet’s voice, had a picnic outside of the church, ate birthday pie thing, ran around saying goodbye to everyone, ate chicken with the Bishop’s family, and watched a special video that was sent to me for my B-day.  THANKS FOR THE VIDEO AND THE B-DAY WISHES!!  The other sisters got a kick out of the pics you chose.  “That was you?” “Yup, that was me!”  And I the little touch of the Pippin song you threw in there.  I just rolled my eyes and then started singing along.  Thanks Mom and Dad and everyone!  Nighttime came along and we were running around getting the suitcases and running to the bus stop.  When we got there, a ton of people from the ward showed up to send me off.  It was so sweet.  I’m gonna miss them.  I traveled on the bus for the 13th and last time.  That part I will never miss.  

Companions with Diana

Now I am here in San Vincente.  Our area is HUGE and so diverse.  It’s like farm land mixed with sand hills mixed with beach towns mixed with humble mixed with little bit wealthier mixed with who knows what else!  It’s awesome though and has really big potential.  We even had a baptism this last Saturday.  Her name is Diana.  I only taught her like twice but she is sweet and seems like she really had her conversion.  So, I am in a trio!  Hermana Russell and I were in the CCM (MTC) together and we are with Hermana Pereyra from Uruguay.  They were companions before and I’m just joining them.  They are really fun and hard workers.  We get along well.  And it’s fun to have a gringa companion… Last week we had two more sisters staying with us because they didn’t have a house.  Five sisters in one house is a lot.  So we would go out on divisions everyday.  We finally worked in our own trio for the first time on Friday when they moved out.  Here’s a fun fact!  Here in our house, we lose water all the time.  One time, we went two day without it.  And there isn’t hot water.  But you get used to it:).  

Hermana Pereyra, Russell, & Joyner

This past week I had a bit of a cold.  It was funny because by Saturday, my comps started to get it too, and they planned for us to sing at the baptism.  It was the funniest little choir!  Three sick sisters without voices singing Primary songs.  I wish I had a recording of that!  Here in Cañeta, we are still the sisters of family history and I’m still the Family History leader in the mission.  I feel like that may follow me until the end.  AHHH!!!  It’s fine; I’m learning a ton with this responsibility and getting that Spirit of Elias a little bit more each time.  I have really come to love family history here in the mission!  DO IT!  Find your names!  GO TO THE TEMPLE!  I just love the temple.  It’s a special place.  Take advantage of the closeness you have to the temple.  Especially if you live down the street from it…Dayne…  Ok, I’m out of time but I want to ask you a question.  What are you doing to apply what you learned in Conference?  How have you been changed by the Spirit you felt?  Find a way to come closer to your Savior this week.  Have a great week!  I LOVE YOU!!!

Hermana Elise Joyner

(no subject) (October 4, 2016)

I have no time so here are pics and I will write a letter about last week and my b-day for the next week. Thanks for all the birthday wishes!!!

Yes, I got transferred. I'm now in San Vicente, Cañete with my companion....s...... TRIO!!! Still doing the family hist thing.

I LOVE YOU!!!!

Hermana Elise Joyner