Choir from Tooele

Question time:
1. How tall are you? How much do you weight? Do your clothes still fit?
    Ha ha ha. I dont know. Quite flattering, though. I have worked extremely hard for that my entire mission. Looks like its paying off maybe$ (the question mark button on this keyboard doesn't work, so I will put a $ everywhere that there should have been a question mark)

 Chance looks a little bigger!

 2. Did you find a homemade soccer ball?
     No...... But I can find one here in Chimbote......

 3. What is your release date? NO, we are NOT going to come pick you up!
      Ha ha ha. They told me that I fly home and land on March 25, but the travel takes 2 days, so I have to leave on the 23. Funny, right$ I am SO far away from home.

 4. Any ideas for Christmas? I am starting to think about it since I have to ship it next month.
     Just get me that banjo........ ha ha ha ha. Other than that, I would very much like it if you could donate everything that you would have spent on me to Primary Childrens hospital. People need so much help......... or, donate it to Kendal Levine. Even better. I really mean that. It would make me smile to hear that it happened.

 5. I cant remember, do the Peruvians celebrate Halloween?
     Not really. Last year they didnt do anything that I noticed.

 6. Are you taking lots of pictures now? Did you find an adapter cord?
     Yes. I will send some now.

 7. Still studying German?
     Yes. But my progress is slow. I do a bunch of the excercises in the book every Sunday night. Thats my "German time." Ha ha ha

 8. Do you ever get American type food? I know you have pizza, Ive seen Papa Johns in the pictures. But does it taste the same?
     Papa Johns here is not the same. But its been so long since Ive tried the American kind, that I cant really remember what it tastes like..... Ha ha ha There is also a Burger King here in the center, but I think it too is different than it is in the states.

 9. When is your next transfer? Do you think you will be transferred?
       No. I honestly believe that I am riding this area out until the end. I will end here, I am sure.

 10. Did you get to see Conference yet?
       Yes. WHY DIDNT ANYONE TELL ME THAT A CHOIR FROM TOOELE SANG$ I saw so many people I recognized! It was the coolest little treat to see Bro Reynolds and Sister Wright singing. I am glad they still exist. Ha ha ha. I loved Elder Uchtdorfs talk. He always hits home for me. "Lord, is it I$" That one was my favorite I think of this conference.

I am frustrated to tears with these junk computers...... someday, I will tell you about them when I can do it through talking to you face to face. Ha ha ha. They are the worst. But oh well. You are used to not getting pictures, right$ Ha ha ha ha ha. I am sorry.

I thought about Hayden this week too, dad. He is such a cool guy. I miss him to death. He has left a great example for the young men of the stake. Trials come, but they dont define our actions. As President Heder said, "our circumstances dont define us, they reveal us." I have come to understand that much more in my my time here in Peru. He was so right. So profoundly right. We have the power to overcome our trials. We either choose to do it, or not.

We are working with 2 really great families right now. We are hoping for a huge success with them. They are great people, but they have come from a DARK past. ha ha ha. Pray for them.

 

-Elder Boekweg

Leadership Council- Thank You Sister Marler!!

 

 

Chance sent these pics today of him in Chimbote.

 

He got a Camera!

1. Tell us about your conference watching experience. Was it in Spanish? Did you watch it with members? At a home? Was it live?
    Haven't seen it yet..... In Peru this week was elections. It is illegal to have any kind of meeting during the elections, so we were not able to see any of it. It will be rebroadcasted to this country this weekend. Weird, right? We didn't even go to church this week.........
   
2. Do you get many letters these days?
    The missionaries from my group have started to write amongst ourselves because nobody else does. Ha ha ha ha.

 3. Is it starting to be summer there?
    Summer never ends here.

 4. Do you want me to put money in your account for you to just ship our package home to us?
      I am afraid it will get robbed doing it like that. I already arranged for somebody to take it home in 6 weeks.

 5. Can you buy more Ecco drink and is it expensive? Dad is hooked on it and the only place I can find to buy it is straight from Trujillo Peru!
     I KNEW he would love it. I do too. I'll have to send him Kimbo. It's like Ecco, but stronger. I like Ecco a bit more, I think. It's great.

 6. Will you ever have an Ipad or facebook on your mission?
      When the world goes inside out, and all the pigs in all the world sprout wings and fly, then swim like fishes, THEN, will the Perù Trujillo Mission have Ipads.

 7. Do you know your exact release date yet? Once I thought you told me March 23. Is that right?
     Don't come pick me up. Ha ha ha ha. I'll let you know when my date is when it's closer. I love you

 8. Have you seen any cool stuff lately on your pdays?
     Nah. Chimbote is city. Not much by way of ruins or anything here. But it's got a cool and very stinky fishing bay.

 9. Still playing soccer? Can you still buy soccer jerseys?
     Yes. and Yes. I will need some more money if you want nice ones. But junk ones I can get for like 10 soles. (3 bucks and some change.) Just let me know what you want. Holland, and what else?

Sounds like the bigger world is changing outside of mine. I hope Kendal is okay. I also hope that Kaylee Hopper feels what she needs to do. I also have been thinking a TON lately about Kelly. 

I am a witness that we are creations of a God that loves us very much. I feel His love every day. I am not perfect, but nobody else is either. All the same, I try my very best every day to do all the things that Jesus Christ has asked of me. I do it because I love Him. And I only feel comfortable when I know that He is happy with me. This drives me to do everything I can to make it happen. It is not easy, and I mess up more times than I can count. But I know it's all worth it in the end. I invest my life in the things that really matter in the end. And I love it. The greatest part is that this kind of happiness is available to everyone, if they themselves are willing to accept it and pay the price for it. What is that price? It is a willingness to admit that we are wrong sometimes, and that we can't fix the damage we have done alone. That is where the Atonement of the Savior comes in. He pays the rest of the debt that we owe. He only asks us to say sorry and try harder afterwards. It is so simple. Repentance is so open and free. It is bitterness at it's start, but even greater sweetness at it's end. The Savior repeatedly tells that His arms are extended out to meet us, and that we need only trust in Him. He will clean us. We can be free from our sins, and the horrible burdens that come with them. Nobody is happy in sin, and He knows this. THAT IS THE PURPOSE OF ALL OF THIS. That we can be happy again, despite what we have done and have our slates wiped clean. Please remember this always.  There is nothing in God's plan that causes permanent suffering. It is the only intelligent thing to do. More important than mine, is God's love for you. He and His Son Jesus Christ have been planing your happiness for eons and eons. They want you to have it. What they do not want, is for us to suffer and be slaves to this world, because there is no kind of lasting happiness there. The world's solutions will never solve the world's problems. They only deepen the wounds. Have a good week!

Pretty normal week. Ha ha ha. Went to leadership counsel for the billionth time. ha ha ha. Maybe I'll show up in a pic?

Tell me how Erin's homecoming is. 

I bought a camera. But now I need an adapter cable...... ha ha ha ha. I am so dumb......

Thanks for the message dad. I love you. I have never seen your head with hair since I was 4 or 5, I think........

Courtney. I love you. I wish I had more time to write. Just think that in 3 months, I'll skype home again. Then 3 months later............................ I stinkin' come home....... wow......................

I love you mom. Thank you for being the most faithful writer of my mission. I always know I have at least one Letter waiting for me. 

- Elder Boekweg

Hot Air Ballon Crew!

Well..... sounds like another week indeed HAS flown by. Every week feels one day shorter.

I am SO jealous of that Pink Floyd concert.....................

Crazy that Erin comes home so soon. 

 

 

Uncle....... Buttermilk nuggets plus Hot tub plus Zombies....... is such a thing possible? Why, such a level of pure ecstasy would rip a hole in the very fabrics of time, I'd say......... therefore, I believe we have an obligation to the race of men to try it.............

Don't have too much to say this week. Just that I am increasingly interested in the idea of talking to Roberto in Spanish when I get back. I am so excited. I will be able to talk to him in a way that nobody else in the family can.......... 

 

 

Don't have any new pictures as my camera is still under the weather..........

 

Milton, my convert from last week, got the Aaronic Priesthood this week. He is so cool. And so scary.... ha ha ha I love that guy

 

 

 Hope work is good............... Got a question for you.......... can you believe that in 5 months and like 25 days or something I come home? I feel like I REALLY don't have enough time left. I can't believe it has gone so fast up to this point. My group is officially the oldest white guys in the mission now. All the young white guys think of us as the gods....... ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha. Like I used to think about Elder Young. That is so weird.............

 

I am really trying to get a package sent home to everyone. I have so much stuff to send that nobody wants to take it home in their luggage..... But I will find a way.

Sounds like I may have a summer job when I get home. Hot air balloon crew! Ha ha ha ha. Elder Bramble really is getting his balloon, and he says I am good to go with him. He's going to get me trained in skydiving as well, supposedly. I really think it could work, too........ this might be NUTS.....

 

I love the mission. I was talking to my companion about it, and it is the only place that you can be happy every single day. Nowhere else allows you to never have to think about yourself. And I have learned that thinking about others is way more worth your time than thinking about yourself. Selfishness is misery.

 

With that being said, you should know that it is also the hardest thing I have ever done. Ha ha ha ha. With sweetness, comes equal bitterness. There are really hard times as well. But when everything is said and done, it is worth every second. To the young men of the Carr Fork ward, I say, "GO ON MISSIONS. Don't make excuses. Don't be afraid. You will be ready when God needs you to be." Just trust Him. He is, after all, the grad designer of the entire universe. Seems like it would be easier to have faith in the very thing that created us and sustains our lives. But some people can't overcome the doubt. Just have faith, and everything will be alright.

 

I love you mom. Thank you for always being a rock in my life, and the lives of countless others. A mother to many. 

Tell Amy Bate that I am still waiting for her letter. Ha ha ha. And that I love her.

Tell dad, "comfortably dumb"

- Elder Boekweg

 

Lots of Pictures

Chimbote Zone



Questions:
1. Did you watch the dedication of the Ogden Temple?
     No.......

 2. Why havent you bought a camera? Please get one right away.
       I am afraid to buy one....... What if a better is just a day away?

 3. How did your t-shirt turn out with Linzi's art?
     Good. I will try to send one home.

 4. I am very concerned about your answer last week to the dental work question. What has happened to your teeth?
     My "permanent" retainer has been broken for months and months and months....... ha ha ha. There's no place to fix it here. The cement is falling apart. I am waiting for it to fall off completely, but two teeth still have it good. I'll worry about when Im in the US of A

 5. How did your baptisms go? What are the people like?
     One is named Milton. He is awesome. I would run in fear of him if I saw him in Salt Lake. THUG. But he's so sensitive to the spirit. Truly a chosen man. The other is Shandè. The missionaries have been teaching him for some time now. He is cool also. I did not get any pictures, but I made my companion promise that he would transfer me some.

Sister Marler said we need to gather Family History information about our own families..... so I need help from you guys. Grandma should send me everything she knows or remembers about the Barlows and that crowd. Yeah? Deedre keep em coming.

Elder Uceda visited us this week. It was AWESOME. He said they are going to open the temple sooner than we think! Maybe I'll see it as a missionary!? That would be the greatest thing ever.....

 

 

I really wish I had more time to write.... ugh...............

Tell Grandpa Thorpe that I thought about him this week. That jeep pic last week made me laugh.....

 

 

Dad.... don't forget about my truck. Ha ha ha.

I love you guys I am so excited to tell you all these crazy things that happen here..... I just wish I could tell you more in the short hour I have to write.

I'm so glad I took these pictures of Santiago de Chuco...... because I don't think missionaries will ever be there again. What an adventure that was!

 

 

Doesn't Erin come home this week? 

 

 

 Also...... COURTNEY IS A CLONE OF MOM. What  on earth!? 

When does AJ Walters get home? I'd like to send him a message sometime...... I just don't know his address.

 

 

 

There you have pictures...... :) Now tell me I'm a good boy. Ha ha ha ha ha. I was thinking about it this week, and realized that I haven't sent pictures home in several months...... ha ha ha ha ha ha ha. I am such a bum. Dad oughtta love the one of the house. He'd live there if it were an option, I am sure. Check out this funky tree in the Andes! Totally covered in moss. Kind of creepy.

 

 

 

- Elder Boekweg

 

 

 

 

God's got the Plan

Questions:

1. How did you like your playdough haha?
     Fun. Ha ha ha. I love you mom.

 2. Can you see the temple from your area?
     No. Temple's about 3 hours from here.

 3. How is the work going in Chimbote? Any baptisms scheduled?
     Yes! 2 for this Saturday. I'll do my best to get pictures sent home.

 4. What is your companion like? He is from Chile?
      He is the best. Hilarious. He is learning English, and is constantly saying the funniest stuff. Ha ha ha ha ha-

 5. What do you do with the winter clothes now haha?
      I think I might send them to the mountains for the guys that need them. Is that okay with you?

 6. Did you get that T shirt made from Linzi's drawing?
     Today I'm doing it.

 7. Did you buy a camera?
     No

 8. Have you needed any dental work since you've been there?
     I'll tell you later. :)

 9. How is your toe healing? Will I get a bill to my insurance for that?
     Good. and No. Mission covers it.

Thanks Uncle. We are alike in so many ways. I love you

Grandpa Jeep pic is sweet.

God requires our whole being. Not just part of us. Not just the bigger part of us. All of us. He will work patiently until we surrender every part of our souls to Him and His Son. Not because He wants us to be generic robots, but because He loves us, and knows that doing this will lead to an end of greater happiness than we can imagine. He puts us in fires to make us fireproof. If we willingly surrender all that we are, then He doesn't have to take anything away. He wants our progression. He wants our success. Everything that he does is for us and it will always be that way because He is our Father. Don't doubt Him. Don't give up on Him. Because He never, never, never gives up on us. We are valuable and precious to Him. We become like Him, when we act like Him.

 

God's got the plan.

-. Elder Boekweg

 

 

     

Trujillo Peru Temple

1.Did you get my package yet?
    YES! Mini M&M's are great. Thank you so much!

2.When is the Trujillo Temple going to be dedicated?
    They tell me September of next year. I keep thinking, "The only way I'm coming back is if Deedre takes me" Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha. We could volunteer at an orphanage, too! I know a few good ones. I'll be her guide! Ha ha ha ha ha. Seeing as how I'll be a poor college student, I don't think I'll be able to make it back. Which makes me SUPER sad. I spent my whole mission telling people about the importance of that big grey building in Huanchaco, but I won't see it completed. It's like eating a whole plate of rice, and having to leave before they serve the cake.

3. Do you watch general conference live?
    Don't know. But it's coming right up, eh? Pretty crazy. Seems like NO time passes inbetween them.

I was talking to a guy this week in his door. I noticed that one of his teeth was wiggling as he spoke. Imagine my suprise when this very same tooth simply fell out of his mouth down onto the floor. I thought I would laugh, but as the man just kept talking like nothing had happened, I just kept listening to him...... True story.

I am sorry to hear about Kendall...... I will keep her in my prayers. God has a way of making missions really interesting for each of us. Imagine her story after all this....

Linzi, I need you to draw me a pirate ship sailing through a galaxy..... use your imagination.

 

I love you Amy Bate.

I got your beard pictures from the cabin....... everyone thinks I was born on the "other" side of the railroad tracks. Ha ha ha. Iove you guys.

Not much time this week....

Vans are lame! Trucks are cool! Ha ha ha.

I love you Dad. Comfortably Dumb. Be where you are. I wrote you a message on the wall of a bathroom stall the other day. Everyone else had done it......... Thought I'd throw one up in English.

Mom. You mean the entire world to me. There is no person on this earth that I am more excited to see in a few more months than you. I hope you are doing well. Don't let uncle eat all our food. Ha ha ha.  I love him too.

Sorry I never send pictures home..... ha ha ha. Everyone hates me for that, I am sure. I am in the coolest place on earth, and don't ever send pictures of it........ ha ha ha ha ha. I just can't figure out these computers..... they are hard. It takes so much time to send a picture that I would have no time to write anthing. And my camera doesn't even work.

I have a question - Can Deedre send me more family history stories? I loved reading those 2 stories about the Calls.

Got to go! The internet hotspot geshtapo just taped my shoulder. If i don't get off, he'll charge me another 2 and a half cents. Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha hah ah a. 

Love you all!

- Elder Boekweg

 

 

A couple of pictures of the progress on the Trujillo Peru Temple.

 

New Socks!

Mom -

Another week flown by.... bueno, Chimbote is the tierra prometida. In other words, Chimbote rocks. I have never had help from the members before here. I am used to having to carry the whole or branch on my back, but the members actually help here! I rode in a TRUCK on Sunday to go pick members up with a member named Felix. I smiled like an idiot the whole time because after having been the only person who cared about the work for so long, I was too happy to contain it. It reminds me of the apple in CasaGrande. I only had 8 or 9 weeks in the mission and was really missing a few things from home. Then I found an apple that appeared miraculously. I cried when I found it, because I knew what it was. I knew what it tasted like. It was something I was familiar with. I cried the whole time I ate it. I'll have to tell you more of the things that happened in CasaGrande later....... there really were some miracles that took place there. I didn't write them in my journal or write home about most of them, because they were kind of sacred to me at the time, but I can testify that God knows us and our needs, and loves us so much that He is willing to give us the things that will make us happy.

 

1. When and why did you eat hamster or guinea pig?

     Casa Grande we ate Kui, (Guinea pig) beacause that was what the husband of my pensionista brought home that day.

 

2. Is the food going to improve in the city?
    No..... rice still. The only difference is that we eat in a different room than our pensionnista now, so I can easily pass the gross things to my latin companion. Ha ha ha ha.

 

 3. Still have a maid?
     We do not have maids. Pensionista only cook and wash clothes. But they leave the house to us missionaries. They never enter our houses.

 

4. What is your apartment like now? Hot water?
     Hot water yes. Finally. The trick is that the water in Chimbote shuts off after 10. So you'd better wash your hands and things in the morning. bvvvvt.

 

5. Should I have Larry send the camera or can you buy one in Chimbote?
    Whichever is easier. I can buy one today.

 

 6. Is it warmer in Chimbote?

     Chimbote is hot. Funny qoute about the mission: "We have hot water when we want cold water, and cold water when we want hot water."

 

7. You should be getting 2 packages right away from gma Boekweg and me. Let me know if there is anything else you need?

    Could you send me a yoga workout routine? That would be sweet. I need to balance my Chi levels every now and then. Seriously though, it would be cool.

Here are a few things that came to my mind this week:

 

Linzi Kelsey: You are getting incredibly good at drawing. I couldn't believe how cool that album cover idea was. I am going to try to put it on a shirt here, becasue it only costs 3 dollars. Send me more! THANK YOU FOR THE SWEDISH FISH AND OREOS.............. 

Funny story: we were talking with an old lady when she told us the story about her husband who had an enlarged heart. (I guess that is actually deadly.) She told us that the doctor asked her husband had been cheating on her. When she said no, the doctor said, "that's odd, because a man with a heart this large could easily love up to 2 or 3 women." Me and my companion laughed just long enough to see that she wasn't kidding........ She really believed that that could be a side effect of an enlarged heart! That's what you get here for medicine, sometimes. Deedre ought to love that one. That was the serious explanation of the sickness.....

Let's see...... There is a gang here in my area called the "pecho rojo" gang. The "red chests." Apparently, they bust quite a few people up.... but I guess they mostly stick to their hill. It's their territory. I don't fear them though. It's sort of hard to believe that a few young idiots could hope to beat angels in a fight. HA! Also, I usually scare the living daylights out of people now. Huge muscles, and all.......

There's a lot of new missionaries in my zone, and they all call me "old." It's weird to think that I have become their "Elder Young." It's come full circle now. Funky.

 

 

Tell uncle I love him.

 

Tali: she's at BYU!

Tell dad he is cool. I use his "be where you are" quote in pretty much every meeting I have to teach something in. I want to do that same hike with him next summer. Sorry your beard is gone. man.

I got Grandma Boekweg's package and I am LOVING having new socks. I put them on and thought, "Now I remember what new and clean socks feel like." It's like heaven on your feet. I didn't realize it, but all my socks are severely beat up.

Anyway, I love you all. One more week, eh? Enjoy it all! New school year, couple holidays coming up, snowfall soon. Awesome. 

- Elder Boekweg