Week 27: Multi-Zone Conference

Hey all, 

This week was a great week, not a ton happened, but it was still the best week ever. Started on Tuesday with our multi-zone conference. The theme was repentance, it was really good, I learned a lot, and it was nice to see friends that I haven't seen since the beginning of my mission. 

Tuesday I also completed 6 months from when I entered the MTC. 1/4 of the way done, its crazy, its starting to fly by so fast now. So to celebrate I bought a liter of coke, and burned a tie. Funny story of the week, we were at a mission call opening for a member that got called to Lima, but we were sitting in his house after wards really bored, so we put a fake call on our phone. So in 5 minutes we would get a call and pretend something came up and we would take some snacks and leave. But we got handed some food right as the phone went off, so when my companion went to reach for the phone, he smacked his food out of his hand and all over the floor. We then had to clean it up, and then we had to stay another 20 minutes until we could find another good time to bounce. 

I also saw a dog this week that had a leg with out skin, the entire leg you could just see bone and muscle, it was super cool, I wish I had my camera to take a photo, then I also saw a huge pitbull that got strangled to death by its owner with metal wire and throw into the street. Classic Peru. I also spent 20 soles this week only on soda dias (saltine crackers), I eat them for breakfast and dinner almost everyday. 

Sunday we had our stake conference, and we confirmed a baptism that we are going to have this Saturday. If all goes well we will have 2 baptisms this Saturday. Then today we went to a big mall here in Piura, ate Papa Johns Starbucks, and went shopping, I bought 3 cool pairs of socks for 20 soles. That's about it for the week, it was awesome, but crazy that its already the half way mark of the transfer. 

Love and miss you all a ton, 

Elder Luke Gruber

Week 26: Sand Boarding

Hey all, 

So this week was a great week! It was a week that was filled with lessons, a lot of hot sun, and sweat. One of the best experiences, was we have an investigator named Mafer (shes 21, but looks 15) that is studying to be an English teacher, so she asked at the end of our lessons if I could talk English to her for 10-15 minutes. Then I had a thought why don't I teach her the restoration in English, she can learn English and the gospel at the same time, so 10 minutes turned into an hour, and we talked all about the restoration, Joseph Smith, and the Book of Mormon. It was super awesome, we both felt the spirit really strong, and she should hopefully be baptized this Saturday if all goes well. The best part was my companion just sat there bored out of his mind not understanding anything. 

I also discovered the greatest secret, if you buy a liter of coke from a glass bottle, its basically the same price as a personal sized coke, so I have been buying a lot of coke and inka kola. This week we also helped the zone leaders move rooms, their new room in basically an entire house and has a huge kitchen, I was slightly jealous. 

Then this week we also had our interviews with president. Everything was normal except he asked us to teach him repentance during our interview, so that was super stressful, but it turned out really good. 

This week for p-day we went SAND BOARDING. Its about an hour and a half south from where I am at. So with permission from president, we left Sunday night around 8, then got there, but because it was Sunday we couldn't buy dinner and we were starving, so we went knocking doors trying to find a member to give us food. We found one, and awkwardly sat in her house, "getting to know her," while dropping hints that we were hungry, then she brought us out juice and crackers and made the night. Then we woke up at 4:30 am this morning to go boarding super early and beat the heat. So we left, at about 7 we got into a convey and starting heading out, but right as we left my stomach gave up and I jumped over two people to the tiny window and threw up everything that I had and then lost my hat out the window. But the sand boarding was super hype, its a lot funner than it looks in the videos and photos. Then we went to the beach and chilled there. It was a hype day. 

Tomorrow we have our multi zone conference with president, which I am hype for to see some of my friends from other zones. Every day here is the best day ever!!! 

Love, 

Elder Luke Gruber

Week 25: SUPER HOT

Hey Everybody, 

One week down in my new area. My new area is huge, a lot bigger than my last area, and there is nothing but houses. My last area had restaurants, stores, and different things, but here is just houses, its a weird change. I thought since I'm closer to Piura there would be more things. My area is also a million degrees, it is a lot hotter here than in Piura, everyday is just death, I want to die, just sweat sweat and more sweat. My area here is also just a desert. Just sand, and sun, with dirt roads, and nothing around. Its been a weird transition. 

 I am also now only 3 minutes away from the airport here in Piura, so on Tuesday we went and said good bye to all the missionaries going home. Then there are constantly planes taking off and landing and they are so loud. It still scares me sometimes. 

We found a really cool investigator this week, he is from Ecuador and is a professional soccer player, he is down here signing a contract with the biggest team here in Piura, hes progressing really well, and has desires to be baptized so that is super awesome. This week some big black bees decided to take over our room, they made homes in the wood beams that support our roof. So me and my comp bought matches, and have been burning them out of their holes, also when we can we use our broom stick and kill them and play baseball. So far we have killed 17 of them, and there are still more. We also have a rat living in our room, and 2 birds decided to fly in and hang out one afternoon. 

So today for p-day we went to Piura to one of the malls where they have a CHILI'S, we ate lunch there and it was like walking into the celestial kingdom. The food was amazing, listening to American music. It was tal vez the best food I've eaten here yet. Then also they have STARBUCKS! So of course with my Seattle blood I bought a Venti Carmel Blended Cream (it was 15 soles, so pretty pricey, but 100% worth it.). My new companion Elder Villegas is also super cool, we get a long really well. 

That's about it for this week, it was super fun, super hot, and super excited for the future, every day here is the best day ever!!! 

Love, 

Elder Luke Gruber

Pictures below are of what my apartment looked like when I arrived in my new area. 

I have cleaned since then.