"I haven't been doing this for a year..." (June 13, 2016)

They are not kidding when they say that time flies in the mission! This past year has just been crazy, wonderful, life-changing! I can't believe all the people that I have met and come to love here in Peru. I wouldn't change the decision that I made to come on a mission for anything! 

I have the classic, "I ran out of time." But! I promise to be better next week! I feel like I had a lot to tell you too!

Elder Rasband was awesome! He shook everyones' hands. Because we traveled overnight, we had time to do a session at the temple and spend time there.

Elise at Mission Meeting

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY DADDY! AND GRANDDADDY! AND PAPA!!!!!  You're the best daddy and grandfathers in the world!

LOVE LOVE LOVE,

Hermana Elise Joyner

Lima South Mission

What Goes Up Must Come Down... (June 6, 2016)

Elise & Hermana Esperanza

More like what goes down has to come up again. I'm learning very viable science lessons here in the mission.

Week one in High-acucha has been quite a week indeed! Opening an area is actually pretty fun. We have started from zero. Literally, zero. We were left with nothing to work with. No investigators, no less active, no records of anyone! So we can only go up from here. We’ve been working with the leaders and the DL’s a lot and have been developing a system of work that will function best here in Garcilazo. We have seen so many miracles this week through our efforts and the tender mercies of the Lord. We showed up to houses and the people have just barely come home from a long trip but we were able to find them. There were a lot of people who asked us, “Hermanas, how did you know I was here today?” We didn't, but God did! It's been awesome!

Elise & "Mama Carmen"

Our area is gigantic. It used to be two areas, but they combined into one. Our maps (yes, there are more than one because of how big the area is) are all messed up and complicated. I know now why Pres. Jones would take us out into the middle of the woods at Girls Camp and teach us orientation. It’s so that I can read a Peruvian map of Garcilazo, Ayacucho! 

My companion is cute. She has five months in the mission. She is from Argentina and still has that accent. She's a hard worker and is ready for everything! I'm still the Hermana Leader of Family History. Whoever is in Las Villas, Chorrillos is the Hermana Leader but this assignment chose to follow me to Ayacucho. I have to do trainings, give reports, create systems to improve Family History in the mission. You might say I'm finding my way to leave my mark on this. #HERMANAJOYNERESTUVOAQUÍ  It's good! I have really come to love Family History! (Dayne, we are gonna take that class together, O.K.?) This week, amongst the fun of opening an area, we’ve also been house hunting. One of the first things the Zone Leaders told us when we got here was, “Oh, Hermana Joyner, just so you know, you’re dueño (landlord) is kicking you out. You have to find a house and moved out by June 15th.”  AHHHH! We had been looking all week. On Thursday, we got calls from the dueño (landlord) pressing us, so we basically had to find a house that day. I was praying and praying and praying! And then we ran into the Primary President. She had seen a “For Rent” sign and thought of us. We went to the house and took a look, met the owners, jumped through all the mission hoops, and got it approved. It was a miracle! The Hermano lived in Utah for 8 years and he and his wife have a great respect for the church and the members. It is seriously a prayer answered! God watches out for his missionaries! I have seen that time and time again. Everything always finds a way to work out.

Elise, companion, Jorge & Ada

So this week, we got some pretty exciting stuff! Tomorrow (Tuesday) night, I get to hop on the bus again and head back to Lima. We have our monthly leadership council. Then on Thursday, Elder Rasband will be here to talk to all of the Lima Missions and the CCM (MTC) (almost got to see you Maddie!). Then, Thursday night/Friday morning, we'll come back here to Ayacucho. I'm excited (well, not for the bus rides after what happened last time…)! I've had the luck to be in the Mission at just the right time. Elder Bednar, Elder Robbins, Elder Godoy, and now Elder Rasband! How nifty is that?! I guess I'm supposed to learn a thing or two.

Well, I'm out of time and things to say. I hope everyone enjoys their vacations and reunions and whatever else you've been doing. Have a great week!!!

Love,

Hermana Elise Joyner

Elise & Ada

Climb Every Mountain, Search High and Low (May 31, 2016)

Well, my friends, that's what I'm doing! Transfers have come and I am now climbing the mountains of AYACUCHO!!!! Searching high and low with Maria Von Trapp. I thought that was pretty clever. I'm proud of myself! Ayacucho is where everyone in our mission wants to go because it's GORGEOUS!!! Google it! Not only that, but I'm here opening the area with my companion, Hermana Calderon. She is from Argentina. We both came from Lima.  Fun stuffs! We met the Bishop and our ward mission leader yesterday. They are super nice and excited to have Sisters in the ward. We are still the leaders of family history. My assignment just followed me to my new area. Wahoo!!!

The bus ride here is 10 hours. We left Sunday night at 9:30 pm and got here yesterday morning. WORST BUS RIDE EVER!!! I got so sick because of the altitude difference. And I was sick yesterday morning as well. After lunch yesterday, I was fine and I'm fine now. It just took me a little to get adjusted. It's still kinda hard to breathe because we are so high up. But it is gorgeous here! At night, you can see ALL the stars! Even stars that don't exist in other parts of the world.

Well, I'm out of time (as usual), but I will write you a really good letter next week!

LOVE YOU!!!! And enjoy the family reunion!

LOVE LOVE LOVE

Hermana Elise Joyner 

Oconee Enterprise (May 23, 2016)

(Instead of a formal email this week, Elise answered some questions from a reporter for a local newspaper.  Here are her answers.)

Missionary Questions:

1) What have you learned about from your mission?

The biggest lesson that I've learned from my mission here in Peru is that the changing power of the sacrifice that Jesus Christ did for us is real. This sacrifice, called the Atonement, is when our Savior paid for our sins and suffered so that we can have the opportunity to return to live with our families and our Heavenly Father. I have seen people completely change and improve their lives as they use the Atonement in their lives. I have seen drug addicts put aside the drugs and depend on God. I have seen families unite because they trust in the Lord. I have personally felt the Savior lift me up in this past year that I have been serving Him. When I have thought that I couldn't go on, He took my burden and helped me continue in His service. I know that this is only possible through this sacrifice that Jesus Christ did. I know that Jesus Christ is my Savior and Redeemer and through Him, everything is possible!

2) How has your mission strengthened or changed your faith?

My faith has grown immensely! Before my mission, I believed and lived the principles that we are taught in the church. As a missionary now, I live these principles and doctrines fully 24/7. As I live the Gospel of Jesus Christ, my testimony of the truthfulness of this gospel is confirmed day after day. I know the joy that comes from reading the Bible and the Book of Mormon. I know what it is to truly converse with my Heavenly Father. I know and experience the blessings from keeping the Sabbath Day holy. There are a lot more examples that I could use, but these are just some. I now know what I want to change in my life personally when I return after my mission because of my increase in faith in God. 

3) What is your intended career path after your mission, and how do you think your mission will contribute to that profession?

As of right now, I am looking into studying elementary education. My mission will help me a lot with this! I go out and teach people every day. I find people who cant read or who have never had the opportunity to study. In these cases, we have to adapt and change how we speak so that they understand the doctrines. This will help me as I learn to speak and adapt topics to children. 

4) Aside from the theological learning, what have you learned about the culture and people where you are located?

I LOVE PERU!!!! It was definitely a culture shift for me coming from Oconee County, Georgia. The people are so open here. They greet everyone and anyone with a kiss on the cheek. Even if they don't have much, they want to share with you. The food is so good! Every plate contains chicken, potatoes, and rice. SO MUCH RICE! The biggest meal here is lunch. We always start with a soup and then the main dish. They spend all morning cooking so that the family has a good meal at lunch. The houses are very different. I have spent most of my time here in Lima. There are no yards. All of the houses are pegged together with no space in between them. Everyone has a dog or three. The people here accept you as you are and just love you! I LOVE PERU!!!!!

Hermana Elise Joyner

El Espíritu de Elias (May 16, 2016)

Another busy week flew by! Goodness me! It's starting to go way too fast! One more month and there goes a year! 

This week was super full of family history things. We had skype trainings, intercambios, temple trips, lessons, and plannings. They keep us going down here!

Last Thursday, we were able to go to the temple and do a session. I just love the temple! Have I said that before? Because I do! We did the names of one of the sisters in our zone because she has like 249 names reserved, so we knocked the number down to 241. It was good just to go and meditate in the celestial room. It truly is the House of God. Afterwards, we went and got burritos at Burrito Bar (YUM!) and then there is a lady who makes custom dresses cheaply, so we went and got fitted for those. I'm pretty excited. 

Well, I have no time today, so I'm just gonna end here.

I know that the church is true. I know that it contains the fullness of the gospel with the proper authority and priesthood power. I know that the Book of Mormon is true and that if you read it and ask Heavenly Father if it is true or not, you will receive an answer and know that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God. I know that Heavenly Father answers our prayers. I know that He has blessings waiting for us if we open the door with our obedience. I know that through the expiacion (atonement) of our Savior Jesus Christ, we can change. We can repent and become new, become better than before. I know that if we live the gospel, we can return to the presence of our Father in Heaven together with our families forever. 

LOVE LOVE LOVE

Hermana Elise Joyner

¡Que alegría fue a verles! (May 9, 2016)

Skyping on Mother's Day

It was so good to see and talk to you yesterday! It made me really happy. COLE IS GONNA BE TALLER THAN ME!!!!! Seriously, we gotta do something about that... But it was fun and I'm glad the technology worked so that ALL of us could talk together. That was pretty neat! GA, CA, Canada, and Peru! 40 minutes went too fast! Oh well, next time we talk we can take as long as we want (.......). 

This week was crazy full of meetings! On Tuesday, we had leaders council and then in the night, another companionship of sisters came home with us to stay the night to be able to go to the sister's meeting on Wednesday. That meeting was awesome! All 30 of us sisters in the mission got together and had breakfast, received training, did a few games and activities, had lunch, took a million and a half pictures, and just had a good time! It's super fun because you can do things and say things with only sisters that you wouldn't say if there were Elderes present. It was a more special meeting. After that meeting, I went home with another sister and worked in her area for the night. Thursday, we went and had a zone council where we give all the information that we learned in leaders council to the rest of hte zone. Friday we had a multi-zona conference. That was pretty neat because the mission doctors for hte area of northwestern south america came and spoke to us about health and what we can do to have mental and physical health. It was interesting and kinda funny because one of the doctors is from Australia so he was speaking Spanish with his accent and it was like what.... But it was good! And then on Saturday we did our weekly planning because we were in a meeting on Friday. And yesterday was Mother's Day, so you know, we chatted with you for a bit. Busy busy busy! And then this week we get to go to the temple on Thursday to be able to do a session! WAHOOO!!!!! But that also means that we don't get P-day today.... but that's ok because TEMPLO!!!! And on Saturday we are going with the converts and rescues for family history so that they can do the bautismos vicarios. I love the mission! I have really come to love the temple because of the deeper understanding that I get when we teach about it and family history and when we can go. The Templo really is the house of the Lord. GO! TO! THE! TEMPLE!

PONDERIZE!!!

Alma 56: 47&48:

 47 Now they never had fought, yet they did not fear death; and they did think more upon the liberty of their fathers than they did upon their lives; yea, they had been taught by their mothers, that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them.

 48 And they rehearsed unto me the words of their mothers, saying: We do not doubt our mothers knew it.

I love these verses! I have the luck that in my case it is so true! They had never gone out to battle in their lives and here they are, a bunch of jovenes, being sent out to defend their families and freedoms. And it is all beacuse their parents were being true to the covenants they had made with God. What an example they had in their lives! What an example I have in my life! I see my parents being true to their covenants, so here I am in the battle field. Like the warriors, I dont fear; I only think on the liberty of the people of God. Why? Because I doubt not that my mother knows it. Thanks mama!

That's all I got for you today! I hope you all have a wonderful week and share the gospel! 

AL TEMPLO!!!!!

LOVE LOVE LOVE

Hermana Elise Joyner

May, Meetings, and Mothers! (May 2, 2016)

May is here!!!!! And so is Fall!!! AHHH!!!!! I'M SO EXCITED!!!! These past two weeks, a coolness has come to Chorrillos. The mornings, nights, and when the sun goes down in the afternoon are a bit chilly. Not cold yet, but chilly. However, when the sun comes out in the morning and afternoon, it's still kinda hot. But not as hot because the sun isn't as bad. But still. I'M SO EXCITED!!!

This week, May has brought us a mountain of meetings! Tomorrow, we have the Leader's Council, Wed is a special meeting just for all the Hermanas of the mission, Thurs is our Zone Council, Fri is a Multi-zone Conference here in Lima, and Sat is our weekly planning, with Sunday being Mother's Day. BUSY BUSY BUSY!!!

Pres Letter quote (he likes us to write a miracle each week if you haven't noticed)-  

"Miracle of the week! This week has been full of tender mercies from the Lord. The miracle that touched me the most was the power of service. Patty Cerna is a less active who is very closed off and has always avoided us since I got here in Las Villas. We finally caught her outside of her house Friday afternoon. She was knee deep with things to do in and outside of her house to prepare for her family that was coming in town. She was super stressed, so when we offered to help, she accepted. It was such a surprise and miracle that she let us past the gate. As we began to help her clean up her yard, we started to talk to her and found out a lot of little things that we could converse about and ways we could tie it to the gospel and testify. She said that she she was super grateful and liked to talk to us. We set up another appointment to teach her family this week. Her husband and son are not members. I know that when we strive to work with the menos activos, we can have the promise that Elder Godoy shared with us. We are finding through our less actives!"

(The promise from Elder Godoy was that if we worked to rescue more less actives, our baptisms would double). 

I don't remember a scripture being given from this last week, so.... PONDERIZE MY OWN SCRIPTURE READING!!!!! I was reading in Alma 43 this morning. I really liked verses 19-21.

19 And when the armies of the Lamanites saw that the people of Nephi, or that Moroni, had prepared his people with breastplates and with arm-shields, yea, and also shields to defend their heads, and also they were dressed with thick clothing—

 20 Now the army of Zerahemnah was not prepared with any such thing; they had only their swords and their cimeters, their bows and their arrows, their stones and their slings; and they were naked, save it were a skin which was girded about their loins; yea, all were naked, save it were the Zoramites and the Amalekites;

 21 But they were not armed with breastplates, nor shields—therefore, they were exceedingly afraid of the armies of the Nephites because of their armor, notwithstanding their number being so much greater than the Nephites.

Even though there were so many more Lamanites than Nephites, they were afraid of the Nephites. Why? The Nephites had armor. They got up and got dressed that morning for the battle! They put on their defensives. Comparing with the Lamanite army, they didn't have anything. Just a little cloth that didn't cover much. Numbers don't matter when you don't have the necessary protection. SO, let's take a personal application here. What do you put on as your defense every day? Is the enemy afraid of you even though they have a bigger team? I know that as we do the little things each and every day, we are building the spiritual protection that we need. Read the scriptures, pray, serve, go to the temple, ask Heavenly Father what else He wants you to do and then do it!!!!! I love all the things you can learn from the war chapters!

That's all the time I got for now. Talk to you in... 6 DAYS!!!!!!!! (talk to my folks in 4...)

LOVE LOVE LOVE

Hermana Elise Joyner