"And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives!" (December 5, 2016)

This is Elise's last mission email.  She sent it in Spanish, so we had to use Google Translator to understand it all.  Hope it makes sense.  

"Y ahora bien, amados hermanos míos, esta es la senda; y no hay otro camino, ni nombre dado debajo del cielo por el cual el hombre pueda salvarse en el reino de Dios. Y ahora bien, he aquí, esta es la doctrina de Cristo, y la única y verdadera doctrina del Padre, y del Hijo, y del Espíritu Santo, que son un Dios, sin fin.  Amén.”  2 Nephi 31:21

Yo sé que esta es la iglesia verdadera de Jesucristo.  Se que José Smith fue el profeta escogito para restaurar los poderes necesarios del sacerdocio otra vez a la tierra. Sé que por medio de este poder, podemos tener familias eternas.  Es la parte mas bonita del evangelio!  Se que somos hijos de un Padre amoroso. El nos ha dado todo para que seamos felices y que regresemos a su presencia despues de esta vida.  Sé que Jesucristo es mi Salvador y Rendentor.  El es la luz y vida del mundo.  El pago por mis pecados, sufrio por mis sufrimientos, Dolores, afliciones, enfermedades, todo!  Es mi Hermano mayor. Mi major amigo.  El camina a mi lado cada dia.  Lo sé.  Lo siento.  Nunca me deja sola.  Sé que solomente por medio de El podemos ilegarse a nuestro Padre.  Sé que el Libro de Mormon es verdadero.  Sé que fue escrito por nosotros hoy en dia para guiarno y server como nuestra brujula al camino correcto.  Si que la obra historia familiar es una obra divina de amor.  Sé que para llegar a la vida eternal, tenemos que ayudar nuestros antepasados tambien.  Sé que el unico lugar donde pademos hacer esta obra ese n el templo.  El templo es tan bonito y tan especial!  Amo mucho el templo!  Hay un espiritu alli que no se encuentra por otro lado.  Amo ser misionera, amo esta obra, y amo a mi Padre Celestial.  Lle visto tantos Milagros y tiernas misericondias.  Lle visto y le sentido de la realidad de la expiacion.  No puedo explicar el valor que tiene mi mission.  Siempre estaré agradecida a mi Dios por dejarme trabajar en su vina y conocer sus hijos preciosos aqui en Perú.  Soy cambiada para siempre.  Sé que estas cosas son verdaderas y solo son una partecita de mis sentimientos y testimonio.  Lo comparto en el nombre de Jesucristo.  Amen.

Con Mucho Amor, 

Hermana Elise Joyner

“And now, behold, my beloved brethren, this is the way; and there is none other way nor name given under heaven whereby man can be saved in the kingdom of God. And now, behold, this is the doctrine of Christ, and the only and true doctrine of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, which is one God, without end. Amen.”  2 Nephi 31:21

I know that this is the true church of Jesus Christ. I know Joseph Smith was the prophet-elect to restore the necessary priesthood power again to earth. I know that through this power, we can have eternal families. It is the most beautiful part of the gospel! I know that we are children of a loving Father. He has given us everything so that we may be happy and return to His presence after this life. I know that Jesus Christ is my Savior and Redeemer. He is the light and life of the world. He paid for my sins, suffered for my sufferings, pains, afflictions, diseases, everything! He's my older brother. My best friend. He walks beside me every day. I know. I feel it. He never leaves me alone. I know that only through Him can we become acquainted with our Father. I know the Book of Mormon is true. I know it was written for us today to guide and serve as our compass to the right path. I know that family history work is a divine work of love. I know that to reach eternal life, we have to help our ancestors as well. I know that the only place where we can do this work is the temple. The temple is so beautiful and so special! I love the temple very much! There is a spirit there that is not found elsewhere. I love being a missionary, I love this work, and I love my Heavenly Father. I have seen so many miracles and tender mercies. I have seen and felt the reality of the atonement. I cannot explain the value of my mission. I will always be grateful to my God for letting me work in his vineyard and meet his precious children here in Peru. I am changed forever. I know these things are true and are only a part of my feelings and testimony. I share it in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

With Much Love, 

Sister Elise Joyner

ILUMINA AL MUNDO! [Light the World!] (November 28, 2016)

Thanksgiving Dinner

Hi family! It's Monday again! I don't know where this week went! Too fast for the likes of me!

Thanksgiving came and went! We spent the day being extra thankful for lots of things. And then on Friday, our pensionista, Hna Kathy made us a Thanksgiving meal. She's super cute! And her little boys and adorable too! They run across the street when they see us so that they can tell us hi. 

Friday, we started our Christmas music! EVERYDAY ALL DAY!!!! CHRISTMAS!!!! We had a leadership meeting last week, and they presented the Christmas video to us and the initiative. I AM SO EXCITED!!! It's such an awesome idea. 25 days, 25 ways to serve others, 25 ways to be more like our Savior. Will you do it? I will! Look at the link I put at the end of my email and see how you can get started. Dec 1 is a worldwide service day. GO FORTH AND SERVE!!!! YE ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD!!!

I'm out of time... I know... every week. I promise a really good email next week!  

Have a good week!

LOVE LOVE LOVE!!!!

Hermana Elise Joyner

https://www.mormon.org/?cid=HP_FR_25-11-2016_dMIS_fmorg_xLIDyL1-A_ 

My life is a gift, my life has a plan... (November 21, 2016)

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!  Here’s to the third one I’ll pass in the mission (you know, because I celebrated it twice last year).  We’ve got big plans!  Here’s a funny story I forgot to tell you last week.  One night in Cañete, we came home and it was my day to have the keys.  So I go and open the door and my comps saw a kitten outside our door, so they started playing with it while I went in the house.  All of a sudden, I hear a scream from outside.  Hermana Russell, “Hermana Joyner, a rat just ran into our house!”  Are you kidding me?! My comps come running in and I grab a bowl and join them.  They look at me and Hermana Pereyra says, “What are you going to do with that?”  “I’m gonna catch the rat.” “Bahahahah! Hermana Joyner, we said ‘cat’ not ‘rat’”. So, the baby cat ran into our room and kept running beneath beds and I have a video of us trying to catch it.  But in the end, who was the winner?  SOY YO!!! I caught the cat.  HIGH-FIVE SISTER JOYNER!  I just love those two wacky sisters.  Anyway, like I said last week, I had cambios to Villa Maria del Triunfo.  I made it back to Lima one last time.  It’s about 15 minutes away from San Juan and from the Mission Office, is about 30-40 minutes (I think, I haven’t tried yet but San Juan, it was 15-20 minutes, so I just added a little time).  

I’m still doing that family history thing.  My companions and I are actually starting the program here in our Zone.  They did it before but they travelled all the way to the Sisters in San Juan.  Now we are bringing it back here.  So this past week was awesome!  So many miracles!  First, off, the barrio Union is AWESOME!  All of the members are super excited to have sisters here.  It’s been like 5 years or more since Hermanas have been in this ward.  Everyone wants to accompany us and introduce us to their friends and the Bishop and Ward Mission Leader are great and our pensionista is just the cutest with her little kids.  God had led us to so many people who have been really excited to receive us.  

Here’s a fun story.  I had to move houses for the second time in my mission.  This time, we just let the Elderes do it while we sat outside and watched the car while they went up and down the stairs.  Alex, as I said last time, CLEAN YOUR HOUSE!!!  But, we are place now and our pensionista lives down stairs and brings us food sometimes.  I like food.  Fun fact, there is a hill in our area where almost all the new converts live that is like 350 stairs.  Guess where they live.  Stairs numbs 315-350.  It’s just so Peruvian and I love it!  It will keep me workin’ hard till the end!  

So this past few weeks, I’ve been working on Christ-like attributes.  This past week was paciencia (patience) and this week is humility.  As I was studying those two yesterday and today, I found a scripture in the Bible that talks about how from tribulacion (tribulation) comes paciencia which is followed by hope which is followed by faith which is followed by knowledge which helps you progress and grow.  So then that brought me back to 2 Nefi (Nephi): 2:11 and how opposicion (opposition) is necesario (necessary) in all things.  We are here to learn and to grow and the way that it happens sometimes is by passing through the refiner’s fire.  We had a brother accompany us to a lesson with a new investigator who has passed through some really tough stuff.  He talked about diamonds.  They start out an ugly rock, but as it takes more hits and beatings by the Maker’s hand, the rough edges start to fall away and take form into a priceless jewel.  But without the tribulacion, it could never get there.  Just a fun thought for ya!

Well, I don’t have time to write much more.  Just know that I love you SOOO MUCH! And I’ll be gettin’ a real big hug ready soon… (but not too soon…).  Have a great week and TAKE TIME TO BE HOLY!  

Love,

Hermana Elise Joyner

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)