Recto Fuego

Hola a todos! Qué tal, como están? Esta semana fue muy buena.  Hemos visto milagros, como siempre.

My compañera and I have seen miracles with contacting people in the street.  As missionaries, we walk literally everywhere and are trying to talk to as many people we can on our way to a destination.  Usually, here in Lima, or what I have at least seen, the people are always running from place to place and don't give us the time of day.  We're lucky if we spit out an invitation to church and if they take a little card. But this week, we contacted a mom walking with her toddler and she stopped walking (a miracle), listened to our invitation, and asked if we could come to her house tomorrow to talk about God with her.  We said of course (claro que si) and were at her apartment the next day.  We taught her about the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and she committed to pray, read, and go to church.  She wants her whole family to be a part of the church and said she had felt like something was mission in her life. You guys, not many people say or realize that in the first lesson.  And she just happneed to walk by us in the street that day....there are so many decisions that combine to lead us to walk by a person that it blows me away that we were able to find and contact her.  She showed up to church yesterday all by herself and loved it. She has plans to go to a sewing activity with the Relief Society on Tuesday and a fiesta de Halloween with her husband in the stake center on Thursday and we have appointment #2 set for Wednesday.  Wow, she's so prepared.

Another contact we made in the street last week agreed to listen to us the upcoming Sunday and so we met with him and he's awesome. He had listened to missionaries years before, but as a rebellious teenager, he got bored easily and wasn't very interested.  Now he says that he's curious and wants to learn more and draw closer to God. We can see a lot of potential in him as well.  #milagrospordias

Helbert and Luisiana are both progressing very well towards their baptism dates, so we're happy for them, and praying like crazy. As usual.  Other than that, my comp and I get along great and are workin' hard. and walkin' hard tambien.  We love the Lord and His work!

So I guess I better explain the subject line...it's an inside joke that Hna Lundgreen shared with me from her time at the CCM where they translated slang phrases in English directly to Spanish.  In Spanish, they make no sense, so it's funny.  Recto fuego (Straight fire) is our favorite.  Fácil dinero (easy money) is another.  Now that I know a little more Spanish it kinda makes me cringe, but also laugh, so that's fun.  Hna Lundgreen (mi hijita) is so funny.

Until next week!  Love you guys. Happy Halloween!!
❤️ Hermana Lowe

pizza hut on p-day

granadilla!  It's actually pretty yummy despite the fact it looks like a fish gave birth in there. 

cute comp pics! We def bought matching pjs and had a photoshoot!

I LOVE THIS GIRL

Also found a Shawn Mendes shirt and snatched that real quick

pics w/our mini-pizzas and shawn shirts

I think it's time to toss these soles...

Our pensionista made us charm bracelets♥️

snapshots of Pedro Laos, a part of our area

Hanging on electric wires (JK mom, don't worry, we steer VERY clear of those)

"I wonder if this is good with manjar"

I'ts been another great week here in Lima!  The sun is peeking out of the clouds some days in the afternoons, so that's good.  I'm a little scared for the summer that is quickly approaching, because all the members say that it's fuerte, but I'm from socal, so I should be fine, right?

October's almost over, so that scares me.  Often times I feel like the time is flying by so dang fast and so uncontrollable.  I'm just trying to enjoy every single second and learn as much as humanly possible while here in Perú!  I absolutely love it.  I don't want it to end.

My companion has discovered manjar and has fallen in love (although she was supposed to lock up her heart b4 coming on the mish, ha ha), nah I'm just kidding.  She just loves it and eats it with everything - truly learning from her mother (me).  I love her so much and we have a blast every single day.  We have already seen so many miracles and have a running list of inside jokes together and it's only been 3 weeks.  Ya fue.

So I'll tell you guys about one of the miracles.  We stopped by an investigator's house, whom are hard to find all together at the same time.  We were able to find at least both parents and the youngest daughter.  We shared with them the message of the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Wow.  It was an amazing experience.  I was leading and gave most of the lesson because my companion is still learning.  I was able to answer all of their questions (which I consider tough because the Dad is a lawyer and a bit intense) and in return, ask them good questions.  Let me clarify: it was not me nor mi compañera who taught that lesson.  It was 100% the Holy Ghost; 100% divine inspiration.  I can't even begin to describe how it feels to be an instrument in God's hands like that, but I literally just spoke and spoke and asked questions fluidly.  In SPANISH, mind you.  My mind was never blank or didn't know how to respond....there was always a thought/answer placed in my mind.  It was incredible.  I can't even remember much of what was said...even walking down the street right after the lesson, I had already forgotten.  I do remember that after giving the majority of the lesson, I asked, "How can you each know that everything we've said and shared tonight is true for yourselves?" and the usual answer is like though going to church, searching the scriptures, or praying and asking God, right?  Well, the Dad answered and said something like, "Oh, I already know that it's true.  I can feel it. I know that you haven't lied to me." and the mom responded, "I want to cry because that message was so beautiful. I can feel that it's true. Thank you." Like what??  No one has ever given me an answer like that in my whole mission.  I was like, wait, what?  Did that just happen?  Did they really just say that?  They felt that from our lesson??  I was astounded and felt the spirit so strong in that moment.

My testimony is now even more strengthened on the power of prayer (because I prayed so hard going into that lesson), the importance of practicing teaching, the undeniable truth and power of the message of the Restoration, and the power and influence of the Holy Ghost.  He truly is the real teacher.

This was an amazing and spiritual and sacred experience for me that I wanted to share with you guys.  I never want to forget it and want to keep having experiences like it; I want to keep strengthening my testimony, and change people's lives.  I'm praying so hard for this beautiful family and their spiritual progression.

Thank you for reading all this.  You all mean a lot to me.  Have a fantastic week.

Love,
   Hermana Lowe

Not pictured from this week:
Man peeing in the bushes in plain sight the other day.
More dogs in tutus and t-shirts owning the streets
Eating chicken, rice, and potatoes on the daily
Looking out the window everyday and still not believing that I live in Perú
Eating 3 sol pizzas with our ward mission leader
Lima traffic
My companion's squidward shoes
Beautiful chalk art and street vendors
etc, etc, etc....

mi vecinito gordito, Garfield

  -still my favorite

another legendary "find" by Hna Winter: A&W ROOT BEER- MY FIRST TIME DRINKING IT IN OVER A YEAR

     -Made my year

     -I was so deprived

     -I hope my Dad appreciates how dramatic I am

     -We obviously made rootbeer floats with it 😍

Pancake breakfast in intercambios

the companion wall

Hna Lundgreen and I making picarones with some members! (Peruvian donuts)

"Mi casa es tu casa"

We love Perú 🇵🇪❤️

It's been a wild week!  Leading an area I feel like I don't know very well while guiding mi hijita on how to be a missionary and communicate with the people has been interesting and awesome.  I love every moment and I'm being pushed out of my comfort zone everyday.  Sometimes I still can't believe that I live in Perú or communicate with the people here in Spanish.  Couldn't have done it without God.  He gives me the strength to do His work everyday.

We went to the beach today, so that was fun.  I feel like I've written that same sentence a few times now.  Except now it's hot so I really felt like I was in Cali.  I provided sunscreen for all the elders so just wanted to give my mom a shout out for saving them all from sunburns.   You da best, momma.

We taught a young mother, Luisana, with her 2 flipping adorable daughters this week about the Plan of Salvation so that was definitely a highlight.  They're Saray (7) and Briana (1).  I'll keep you updated on them; they're gonna progress....I can feel it.

We are also progressing with Helbert.  He has all the lessons and is so ready for baptism!  He's just waiting for his mom to be a little more open to the idea of his conversion and put himself a baptism date for December.  We're hoping to push it up and praying hard that his mom's heart will be softened.  He's a great kid and wants to go on a mission!  We love him.

My comp and I just enjoy walking aournd our area together and we always see the cutest things: dogs, puppies, kittens, babies, old people, etc.  So we alway ssay, "We love Perú." And it's so true.  This country has my heart.
Until next week my friends!  The church is true!

❤️ Hermana Lowe

Multi-Zone pics

Halloween treats

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Mom & daughter

Elder pyramid

Zone pic