Another trip to Otuzco

I am so jealous of Medardo's truck....... ha ha ha ha hah a ha ha ha. Where did he find that thing!? That's like a captain america truck! I've got to get me one like that. Wooden panels and all....... that's so sweet...... Ha ha ha ha ha. Start looking, dad. Ha ha ha. I LOVE trucks like that. Just imagine throwing a pig into the back of that thing..... ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha

 

Tyler has hair....... I have never seen him with hair. Lookin' good brother!

 

I went to Otuzco again this week. I went inside the "Virgen de la puerta" cahtedral with President Marler and it was crazy...... Sent some pictures. It'll scare dad.

 

The other picture is of the walls of Chan Chan. People say it's where Samuel stood on the wall and got shot at. They are HUGE walls. There is this one place where they fenced in an entire farm... It's crazy.

 

Anyway, I am sure my letters will be cooler when I am transferred. Just be patient! A few more weeks, and I begin the greatest adventure of my life so far..... It's easy to think about doing things like this when you don't actually have to do them. I am grateful God has blessed me with this new opportunity. I can't imagine a better way to live the Book of Mormon.

 

I don't have much time this week, but I figure with all the pictures, this should be enough.

I love you a ton,

 

Elder Boekweg

 

Mothers Day Call

Happy Mother's day tomorrow!

 

I am sad to hear about Brother Vincent moving. I love that guy!

 

CONGRADULATIONS COURTNEY on being FFA PRESIDENT!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (She can totally get in to USU if she wants now.) NOW MAKE STANSBURY HIGH REMEMBER FOR THE LAST TIME WHO THE BOEKWEGS ARE..... Because after this, we are no more.............

Skype will be great. You are going to LOVE the package I sent home. Ha ha ha. It made Sister Marler cry because she thought it was so cool.

Got two big letters out to you. Phew.

 

Umm.... I don't really have a lot to write this week............................ Just that I love you all. I am excited to talk to y'all tomorrow. I don't think you could keep Uncle away with a stick.

 

I'll talk to you later. Enjoy the....... cool package. The pants are yours. 100% Peruvian, they are. Hope they fit.

 

No time left. I love you. I'm stoked for tomorrow.

 

-Elder Boekweg

We had a great time skyping with Chance on Mother's Day. It was so good to see him and hear his voice. He is doing great and is very happy. Also I got the package he sent and it was full of the best stuff ever! I love it!!

Another week flies by.

Another week flies by.

Questions:
1. Speaking of packages- did you finally get yours? I sure hope so.
     I did! Happy year mark, right? It was cool. It took me forever to figure out the balloons.... ha ha ha. I spent a half hour looking for any kind of letters in the bottom of the package, and eventually gave up. Then I inflated the balloons and found your notes. Cool idea!

 2. Is Sister Marler due back on Sat? Did Pres. ever leave and go home? How are they doing?
     She is back. President never left. Sounds like they lost 3 relatives in one week....... God tries the righteous to see if they really are just that - righteous. How would we ever know if we would stick true to the Gospel if we never had to choose between it and other things? It can make us happy in any situation.

 3. How was the baptism of the lady you told us about?
     Pushed back another week.

 4. Do you speak in church very often?
     In Casa Grande, it was almost every other week. Here, I have done it only a few times.

I am glad to hear that absolutely nothing has changes at our house since I have been gone. Courtney still with her animals. Dad still with ZZtop beards. I am sure Kirk Bullough is crazy jealous. I am finding out that I have a pretty sweet beard myself.... I can't wait to see what kind of power is stored in my chin..... ha ha ha ha ha ha ha.

Tell Shawna Taylor that I love her. I thought about her this week. She was such a patient neighbor. I am amazed at the shear love and patience that she showed to an idiot teenage boy with cool long hair.

Sorry I don't have any pictures this week... again. or a poem, or really anything that is interesting... ha ha ha ha. Writing home is getting harder every week.

I need a few things........ I would love a copy of "the infinite Atonement" by Tad R. Callister. I got special permission from President to have it on my mission. I would LOVE it..... please send it my way fast....... just a cheap copy. And if you could somehow slip in my German book, that would be cool too. Ha ha ha. Or more protein.....

Nobody writes me anymore..... Paper letters, anyway..... I used to get some from ward members or friends..... and now.... I think I am old news! Hahahaha! I guess this happens to every missionary when they get older in the mission. I would love a letter from grandpa Thorpe. A gigantinc, hand-written letter about whatever he wants to write about. Maybe one from Austin. I worry so much about him.

I love you very much. Be ready with questions for me on Mother's day so we don't waste even a second. Because the next time I call home, I will see you all 3 months later. It won't even matter in December.... ha ha ha ha.

I love my Savior Jesus Christ with all my heart and soul. Not a soul on this earth can tell me that He does not live and direct this work. He does live. And He does direct this work. He paid the price for our sins, and because of Him, we too can live again. It is not all that comlicated, really. We just do our best here, and He makes up for the rest. How merciful is He. How full of love and understanding. I know that He loves us, and that we never walk alone when we go where He has asked. Even if we don't understand it all completely, if we act in faith, somehow everything will be alright. He has promised us so. We cannot see the whole picture, or the end of the road, but He can. And I trust in Him completely to get me there. He is my only hope. I love Him and am grateful with all the power I am able for what He did for me. He died on Calvary to pay for the wrongs that I do.

He lives.


-Elder Boekweg

Surprise visit from Roberto's parents

So for my questions. Ive been dying to ask................
1. How did you like your surprise visit from Robertos parents!! That is so cool. I cant believe they drove all the way from Lima just to check on you. Juana told Joylynn that she was going to do that sometime, I cant believe she really did. I bet you were so surprised. They called Joylynn and Roberto to report that they had found you and you were healthy and very nice. They said you were polite and friendly and your spanish was very good. Tell me more!!!!!!!!! (Roberto is Chance's uncle. He is from Peru. His parents live in Lima.)
    So I am in the middle of a "change plan" (that is when I coordinate all the changes in the mission, aka "how eveyone is getting to where they are supposed to be" which is the hardest part of my entire job, and I get a call from a Zone Leader. He tells me "there are two people here in my church building and they say they are your family.... do you have an uncle..... Roberto?" I laugh and say yes, because I thought it was Roberto and Joylynn. Turns out, it was his parents. So President says I can talk to them, and thay they would have to come to the church building that I was in. They came, and by some miracle of the 8 planets and wind resistence, I was even able to have lunch with them! Ha ha ha ha. Roberto looks exactly like his parents.... I guess that makes sense. Ha ha ha ha. His parents are super nice. And..... I gave them the package that I had been waiting to send to you. You are going to love it.... But there are some VERY VERY VERY Valuabe things in it.... I really hope that nothing bad happens to it, or I am out a TON. Roberto's dad is coming May 9 to Utah. he tells me. So be on the look out for him. It is cool to know that I have family here. President thought it was hilarious that somehow a White missionary had family here that was willing to travel 8 hours in bus from Lima to Trujillo just to meet me. They sacrificed a lot to be there. I wish I was abelt to have spent moretime with them. But I couldn't quite explain that I had to keep working because I was a missionary. They wanted to take me to Lima with them. Ha ha ha. I had to tell them "maybe another day," but I think they left happy.

 2. How much money do you get from the church on your church debit card each month? Dad is teaching the young men how to live on a mission budget and our missionaries here get $110 per month. I was curious how that is different from here.
    I get 750 soles a month. That's like 250 dollars. Now, that includes all food, laundry, housing, and personal/transportation here in Perú. But we are one of the least expensinve mission on the earth, I have heard. I am sure my advice on Money is useless to those who serve stateside. Ha ha ha.


 3. Did you end up doing anything special for Easter?
     Nope. Ha ha ha. I am telling you, holidays don't count as a missionary.

I really don't have a lot of time this week.... I only Skype home once more after this next time on Mothers day. Also, only one more general conference...... that is SO weird.


I went to Casa Grande yesterday again. And going back today in a few hours to see a baptism.

Sorry.... Power went out in Perú for a while. Guess I'll finish this letter now... Ha ha ha.

 

 

Thanks for the pictures:

Dad is terrifying.

Courtney is too pretty for her own good.

Mom doesn't look older than 28

It's odd to see everyone growing up and progressing without me... I feel like I am outside of the family house looking in through a window. I see everyone getting taller, and in Dallon's case, buffer, and I just think, "Time is flying SO fast."
 

I don't know much else to say.... I also, as true to my form, have no pictures to send home.....

I have been far too busy to write poems lately..... even on my P-days. Things never slow down here. I just get more and more and more to get done. it's crazy.... I really cannot imagine a more stressful job for a 20 year old to have. I love it.
 

Hey Sadie, drop me a line sometime.
 

You too, Linzi.
 

I was thinking about Jared Handley today in the bathroom. He was in my dream last night. We were playing music in the basement. Where is he now? What is he doing? Is he alive? Ha ha ha ha.
 

I love you all. I really wish we had just a little longer to write home. My letters home must STINK.... Ha ha ha. Sorry for always writing the same thing home. I used to wonder how the older missionaries could be done with internet time in 20 minutes and call it a day...... but in some way, I kind of get it now.... there is just so much to say, and not enought time to say it.... Plus, I could never answer every person.... so it's better to just not pick. Ha ha ha. I love to hear from people, and it is always appreciated. But I really have a short window for writing back. I would need days to get it done every week. So until 2015, I hope my lame letters somehow get the job done. Brayden's letters home are so superior to mine! Ha ha ha. But that's just our personalities, too, I think........ Ha ha. Hi Elder Fivas.
 

Okay.... I guess I will sign off... I love you all, especially mom, and hope you all have a good week. Everything is good down here. Waiting for an earthquake! They just had one in Chimbote. The south of my mission. Be cool if I get to be in one here in Trujillo.

Love-
Elder Boekweg

Working Hard

Wow... what a week. I worked SO hard. Never got to bed before 12, because we were out running around Trujillo with mission business and airport problems until 11:30 every night. I am so tired, but I don't feel it. Maybe it will catch up with me and I will sleep for 6 weeks straight as my first transfer at home again. Ha ha ha ha ha ha. I love being this busy. I am addicted to slaving myself away. It is cool to be able to work so hard for the mission. It is an answer to my prayers. Looks like I have 6 more weeks here in the office. That makes 6 transfers and 9 months here in total. It's been a good run. I am hoping I get sent to the mountain area of the mission next.... we'll see, eh? I am a bit worn out of the city and dirty beach. The air here is not clean. Ha ha ha.

 

Perú is so cool.

I guess I get to Skype home again in just a few weeks. I'll still be in the office, just barely, so everything should be easy just like last time.

Remind me to tell you about the cancelled Argentinian flight story when you skype me. And the Chileans. I am convinced that I have the most stressful job that any 20 year old in the whole world can have.... ha ha ha ha ha. Ironic, right?

Grandma Boekweg's story this week was super cool. I know the feeling....... Sometimes it's terrifying to think that we could botch somebody's first impression of the church. Yet somehow, God helps us, and we always come through when it's needed.

Grandpa Thorpe. He's cool.

Can I ask for a special letter to be sent to me from Tim Crump, Easton, and all the others who are preists? I want to talk to them about missions. Just have them tell me how things are in their lives.

Questions:

1. Did you get your package? I have not received yours yet. Hopefully soon.

   No I didn't. And.... I actually haven't sent yours yet... I am looking patiently for one very cool thing to put in it...... sorry.

2. Will you have special Easter plans?

     Nope. Ha ha ha. To be honest, holidays don't really exist in the mission field. I don't even notice them.

3. When is your baptism?
    Next Saturday. I'll send pictures.

 

I love you all, I am out of time this week!

-Elder Boekweg

 

 

Chance and his first MTC companions Elder Leavitt and Elder Cunningham, celebrating their 1 year mark!!

Visited Casa Grande

Well....... I guess the 2nd verse is sung. I can't believe how short a year feels from this end of it.

 

Questions first:

1. Did you get our package?

    no

2. Is Elder Leavitt a relative of Governor Leavitt?

    Elder Leavitt's dad's cousin is governer Leavitt. Elder Leavitt knows him well, he says. Like an Uncle.

3. What was your favorite talk in conference?

    Elder Boyd K Packer's testimony was incredible. Apostles don't usually word it like he did. This may have been his last one, eh? I love that guy. As for a "talk" I would have to pick Elder Uchtdorf's "sleeping during the revolution" talk.

4. Would you like me to send you a copy of the conference issue in English?

    I think I can get one in English here.

5. How is the Sister Missionary taking over medical coming along? When will you give her the medical responsibilities?

    She has already taken over the health responsibilities of the sisters..... but, as fate would have it, she herself got sick this week, and so I have still been helping sister's with their health. Ha ha ha ha ha ha.

I went back to Casa Grande this week. Visited my old family. I love them so much. Then I got to drive back to Trujillo with President talking about doctrine of the priesthood. I wish I knew half as much as President Marler. I wonder how a man even gets so smart. I will miss opportunities like that when I leave the office.

Did a training for my ward with Elder Zavaleta about how to have a good ward counsel meeting. The obra de salvación requires every ward to become efficient in that process.

Courtney-  I love you and focus on school. Just DO IT (Nike). Make your priorities right. Homework before friends. It is hard, but it has to be done. You learn those valuable skills in high school, and they are a pattern for the rest of your life.

Dad I really miss your humor. Listen to "wish you were here" for me today.

I love you and I hope you have a good week.

-Elder Boekweg

 

 

 

Helping Hands

Lets go over the questions first:

1. Are you getting better? What did you have?

    Yeah I'm good. I think it was another round of bronchitis.

 

2. How was the earthquake and tsunami- did it affect you at all?

    We had an 8 inch Tsunami here in Trujillo, Perú. Ha ha ha. Slept right through it.

 

3. Where will you  be watching conference?

     Don't know..... probably the stake center. I will be honest, though...... watching it in Spanish is just not as cool. Voiced over is so lame compared to their real voices..... but oh well.

 

 

4. How did you like the llamas? We loved their outfits! Did they spit at you?

    No. Ha ha ha. But it was the first llama I have seen in my PERÚ mission in a year. Funny, right?

My Dearest April,

 

I’m writing to you from the war,

I’m exhausted,

But these people still need me more,

I don’t understand,

Much of the world over here,

But I’m trying,

To get over all of my fears,

 

And my dearest April,

I’m dying without you in my arms,

And I get so tired, call me a liar, I burn in the fires I set for you,

And I’m running dry,

Killing the time,

But I can’t seem to find, a better way,

My dearest April…

 

-Elder Boekweg

 

Ha ha ha ha ha ha. I told myself I would right that home when the time came..... and here it has come. Wow. That was a pretty quick year. I remember standing in the Provo temple grounds and being scared out of my mind. Ha ha ha. Can't believe I haven't been with you all in that long. Mostly, I am just excited that Uncle can't say his "Long time no see, and ever longer time and still won't see," -thing. Because now it's not true. HA HA HA! 

 

I cannot believe that Courtney just went to prom....... my little sister who was missing teeth for like 25 years...... she can't be that old already..... That is so nuts.....

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LINZI KELSEY! Enjoy the big ol' 21! WOO WOO!

Mom..... your birthday present will arrive late.....ha ha ha. But it will be worth it!

I love Betty Castagno's letters. They always make me way happy. I love her. I wish she would send me more!

The Lord lives and is directing this work. I bear my testimony that he is at the head of all if this. We are only His hands. I testify that He is good. He loves us more than we could ever know. He is patient. He is loving. He is understanding. He is happy. And it is my privilege every day to tell people that they can be as happy as He is. I wish more people would take it upon themselves to dig deeper into the Gospel, because only there can we as children of God find the happiness we all crave. It's simple.

Not much time this week. I love you all!

Especially mom!

-Elder Boekweg

 

 Chance and Elder Leavitt organized the Helping Hands service project in Trujillo.

 

 

 

 Chance driving the "Trash Bike"

Elder Leavitt and Chance are companions