Week 60

LETTER FROM JORDAN - WEEK 60 (7/27/15)

Well there goes another transfer!

We got the transfers call in and it turns out that my companion and I are both staying here in Vista Alegre! But there were a few changes in our zone. A lot of the missionaries that are leaving are heading up to the new part of the mission in Caja Marca, and we are also getting a new zone leader from there.

Well we finished off the transfer pretty well. On Saturday, our stake planned an activity to bring all of the new members from the past 2 years to the temple to do baptisms for the dead. It took a lot of planning and interviews, but we managed to have a good group go. This is one of the convert families in our ward:

I was also able to participate in doing some of the confirmations for the baptisms. This activity made me realize that these people are not used to going to the temple frequently because the closest one was 8 hours in a car away, but we are helping them get the habit of regular temple attendance.

So this week is Peru's independence day, el 28 de Julio. So to celebrate, our stake put on a Noche Peruana to celebrate and it all turned out great!

Well with transfers comes getting to know a few more missionaries having new experiences. These are things that I will never forget.

Elder Terry

Week 59

LETTER FROM JORDAN - WEEK 59 (7/20/15)

There flies by another week full of miracles.

This week, I was able to show a few of the talents that God has given me. On Thursday, we had a Multi-Zone where the zones of Casa Grande, Primavera, and Central got together, which is really funny because those are the 3 zones that I have been in! A few days before, President Marler asked if I could give a musical number in the meeting, and I decided to play a piece for piano and a singer, but I whipped out the sax! Some people were hesitant with the sax but after we performed it, every one talked about how much it invited the Spirit in the meeting. (I included the pictures in last weeks blog).

On Saturday, we also had a huge stake activity where we watched the movie, "Conozca a los Mormones" (Meet the Mormons). But before it started, we also got to hear a few musical numbers from the missionaries in the stake and again, I got to play the saxophone.

But the biggest news of this week is that we had a baptism! On Saturday, my companion was able to baptize hermano Segundo Del Castillo and he is one of the best converts that I've had!

His family

The baptismal service went really well, but the best part of it all was when he got to share his testimony after he was baptized. His wife had died last November and on mother's day of this year, he visited her grave in the cemetary right next to the temple. So the missionaries contacted him and sent the refferal over to us in Vista Alegre. He shared probably one of the most powerful testimonies of the Book of Mormon and the Plan of Salvation that I have ever heard from a recent convert. It is amazing to see how the Spirit of the temple is working here in Trujillo.

Until next week!
Elder Terry

Week 58

LETTER FROM JORDAN - WEEK 58 (7/13/15)

Well this was a really interesting week, but I don't have too much time so here we go!

Well this week we were super busy planning a whole bunch of teaching opportunities. This week we had a total of 3 Family Home Evenings with a Ward Activity that we had to plan. We did a lot of running around and calling to set everything up, but it all turned out really well. For the ward activity, we talked about the importance of prayer and not just praying to go through the motions, but really expressing what we feel. My companion and I did a pretty awesome skit that I translated from the Little Book of Teaching Tools (thanks mom) and they really liked it.

Our area is pretty nice and we have some really good investigators that we are teaching. This Saturday, we have scheduled a baptism! His name is Segundo Del Castillo and some missionaries contacted him when he was passing in front of the temple to visit the cemetary right next to it and they sent us the refferal. He is really nice and his wife died in November from a pelvis cancer (not very common), and the Gospel was exactly what he was waiting for. I hope it all turns out fine!

Well, as some of you know, my grandpa passed away last Monday. I got a call from President Marler on Friday, advising me about the occurence. I guess I wasn't super surprised but it was still not easy to hear. A lot of times we teach that our trials help us grow as people and in our testimonies and now I understand from experience. It has helped me to think a lot about our plan here on this Earth and has helped me to strengthen my testimony even more. Just know that this has not made me work any less than what I have been, but in fact has made me share my testimony in a more powerful way.

We also had a multi-zone conference and I got to play my saxophone.

Multi Zone Conference with Central, Primavera, Casa Grande

Elder Terry and Sister Neilsen provided a musical number,

so beautiful!

Jordan is in the back row, 4th from the left.

Well thanks for all of your support, and nothing can stop the work from progressing.

Elder Terry

Week 57

LETTER FROM JORDAN - WEEK 57 (7/6/15)

Well there goes my 3rd week in my new area, Vista Alegre!

So let us start of with some noticias...

First off, as of July 1st, the Peru Trujillo Mission was officially divided into the Peru Trujillo North and South Missions! So in the old mission, we had about 250 missionaries and with the division, the North mission lost 108 missionaries to the South mission, but we now have 64 more missionaries from Pacasmayo, Guadalupe, and Caja Marca, which were part of the Chiclayo mission. The South mission also got a few more missionaries from the Lima West mission. So I guess that in our mission there are approximately 200 missionaries (don't quote me on that).

Also with the mission split, the mission offices of both missions were changed. And you'll never guess where they are now. So the North mission office is now a part of the Primavera building, the last church I was going to! While I was there, part of the building was under construction. But the even weirder part is that the South office is now in the California building, which is the same church I go to right now! It's a little confusing because the South office is actually in the North mission, but I guess it doesn't really matter.

So here is the new office address, which you can now send me packages (same address as my last church building):
--------------------------------------
Élder Jordan Terry
Misión Perú Trujillo Norte
Teodoro Valcárcel 512
Urb. Primavera
Trujillo, La Libertad
Perú
--------------------------------------

Let's see, this week was also the 4th of July! It's kind of sad, because we did absolutely nothing to celebrate, other than wear a patriotic tie. But there was a really strange coincidence that I found out yesterday. So now that it's 2015, we celebrated the 239th anniversary from our independence in 1776. Also, I calculated that there are exactly 239 chapters in the Book of Mormon. Wow. Just a weird coincidence.

This week we were also able to have a pretty cool Noche de Hogar (Family Home Evening) with a less-active family and an active family combined. We taught a lesson about fasting, which was that Sunday, and then played some fun games. One of them we went around stacking matches on top of a bottle and hoping they didn't fall. It got pretty tall:

And of course, the family supplied the refrigerio.

So yes, the big news about the new gay rights has spread even to Peru. It's kind of interesting because homosexuality isn't too common here and it is really looked down upon, so we got a few strange comments from some random people about it. But, I guess it was something inevitable and it is yet another sign of the times.

Well... this was a longer email, but there is a lot going on here and the work is pressing forward more than ever with an even stronger focus on the temples now that there is one up an running. I will write back next week!

Elder Terry

Week 56

LETTER FROM JORDAN - WEEK 56 (6/29/15)

Otra semana milagrosa que pasó aquí en Vista Alegre!

My new area is great! In comparison with my past areas, it might be a little more dangerous in some parts, but the people here are amazing.

So in the Vista Alegre Ward, we have a general attendance of 150-160 and the services are Sundays at 8a because we share the church building with the California Ward. The church is pretty big and I get to play piano again during sacrament meeting. All of the members are really kind and have given me a nice greeting into the ward. Strangely this Sunday, they just changed the bishopric which is going to be really interesting for us.

Also this week, we had a leadership meeting where all of the leaders (Zone Leaders, District Leaders, and the Sister Leaders) and their companions area all trained together. Afterward, we all had a huge lunch from a restaurant called "Gringo Loco" where we ate these amazing stacked burgers.
(my companion taking the selfie)

Also in these past few weeks, we have been teaching a really nice couple, Angel and Marisol. But the interesting part about that is that Angel is a really less-active member and Marisol is and investigator... and they are both deaf. They are really amazing people and have a really good sense of humor. They are helping us learn some sign language and it is a lot of fun to teach them. We just write the points on the board, use pictures, and a whole lot of scriptures with some broken sign launguage. So far we have taught them about the Restoration, the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and explained them about baptism. The only problem with them is that Marisol is legally married to some one else, but now Angel and Marisol are living together, so it is going to be a huge process in being able to get them baptized.

Well that's all I got for this week, and don't forget to write me!

Elder Terry

Week 55

LETTER FROM JORDAN - WEEK 55 (6/22/15)

There goes my first week in my new area, Vista Alegre!

So I'm now here in my new area with a new companion ready for some new experiences.

So my companion is Elder Simper from Vernal, Utah and we have the same call date so we have the same time in the mission. He is a recently called district leader (which makes me junior companion) and has now been in the area 3 months.

So yesterday was the DEDICATION!!! and it was truly an experience that I will never forget. President Uchtdorf came with Elder Bednar to dedicate the temple and it was amazing. I got to go to the stake center to watch the first 2 out of the 3 sessions but surprisingly our ward council was able to get us some tickets to go inside the temple for the 3rd session! We weren't in the same room as President Uchtdorf, but in another room in the temple. Before the session started, they entered into our room and shook hands as many people as they could, but they didn't make it to me. But afterward, I was able to squeeze through at the right moment and get a hand shake with President Uchtdorf. It was amazing!

It was all truly an amazing experience. Here are the news on the website:
https://www.lds.org/church/news/youth-pay-tribute-to-rich-culture-at-trujillo-peru-temple-celebration?lang=eng
https://www.lds.org/church/news/president-uchtdorf-dedicates-second-temple-in-peru?lang=eng

Until next week!
Elder Terry

Week 54

LETTER FROM JORDAN - WEEK 54 (6/15/15)

Well this has been a really interesting and slightly difficult week for me here in Primavera.

So everything was going pretty smoothly this week, just a little nervous about the transfers that were coming up, until we get a call from the zone leaders on Friday...
They told us that they are going to end up closing our area after this transfer and that we should get everything in our area prepared for other missionaries to come in. :o
In our ward we had 6 missionaries: 2 Elders and 4 Sisters, and it was divided into 3 areas. So due to a lack of missionaries entering the field this transfer and for a few problems with the ward, President decided to take out the Elders from our ward. This means that they will be left just the 4 Sisters.
That all really took me by surprise. Here is a picture of our last Ward Council:

Well on the brighter side, at least they gave us a few more days to pack up our stuff!

Then on Sunday we received the official call to find out where our next areas are going to be and I will be going to... Zona Central! I'm going to the Vista Alegre Ward and my new companion is going to be Elder Simper, someone that was in the CCM at the same time as me, so we have the same amount of time in the mission! I'm not really sure about any other information, but next week will have all of the details. And it turns out that I'm going to get to stay in the North Mission!

Also, THIS SUNDAY IS THE TEMPLE DEDICATION!!! We found out that Elder Uchtdorf is coming with Elder Cristofferson, so that is going to be amazing. We get to watch the dedication through reproduction in the Stake Centers, but it is still going to be awesome.

Well, another transfer gone by and only a few more to go! I hope to work hard in my new ward and to help even more souls come unto Christ.

Elder Terry