See ya in 2014!

First I will tell you all that we were able to Skype with Chance on Christmas Day. It was the best Christmas present we have ever had. We laughed and talked and asked all the questions we wanted to know. Chance told us a few mission experiences. We got to SEE Chances face and hear the most beautiful testimony ever. What an awesome amazing experience. We love our Missionary!!!

 

 

 

 

Chances email this week:

 

I cannot BELIEVE that 2013 is on the way out...... this year didn't even exist. When I think that back in February I was in the Tire Warehouse, I am blown away....... If this year went this fast, next year will go even faster in every respect. I will be home before you feel like I was ever gone. Sleeping in that new bed...... driving a new-old S10........ playing that NEW BANJO.......... :) That is what I want for my birthday. I am serious. Ha ha ha ha ha ha. 

I am glad you think I look older. It´s about time. Sometimes, I look in the mirror and wonder how I ever got this old. The last thing I remember was going to gym class in my Freshman year of high school. Since then, time has blurred by. I don´t remember anything since. You should see the size of my pecks. I work out like an animal every night. It´s the only way I keep from going insane. I am taller, and buffer. It´s stinkin cool. Not to mention my beard..... ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha. Maybe I was just a really late bloomer. I am grateful that I am still hairless, though. Phew.

 I showed everyone a picture of Roberto, and everyone agrees that he really does look like the most Peruvian man who ever lived. I can't wait to talk to him in his own language.
I don't have much to say this week, because I told you so much on Skype. So I guess I will sign off until next Saturday.....

I genuinely love everyone I left back home. I look forward to the day when I can see you all again. But until that day, I am happy in the service of the Lord. I know that I am exactly where the Lord wants me to be right now. And that´s all that matters.

See ya in 2014!

 

Con el amor de cien soles,

Elder Boekweg

 

 

Its sooo HOT!!

The Christmas program went good. ITS HOT. It is so blasted humid here...... oh my heck, I'm dying. I just sweat ALL DAY. I never dry off. I live wet. I sleep wet. I get out of the shower and it feels like I didn't. My clothes are always wet. Garments never dry out. Bed sheets are soaked every night. It is so hot...... 
Tell the Boekwegs to not worry about me missing Bingo, because dad´s beard easily takes my place at any party. That thing is awesome. My companion told me that he thinks I got switched out for another baby at the hospital when I was born. Ha ha ha.

Time goes so incredibly fast. Another week. Toast. I remember the 4th of July.... it was like 2 days ago in my mind.

I miss uncle´s laugh. Thanks for sending me the video. Can you send me a video of the basement? I want to see my old kingdom............

Got a letter from the Bishopric of the ward. Those guys are the best.

I see God´s hand every single day. He really does work with us. He is not as far as we all think. I believe that the Spirits who are no longer a part of the tanglible world we know really are all around us. They are protecting us. They are lifting us up. I know it. I have felt them. Sometimes, I will have a strange feeling that some spirit that loves me is with me. I think I really have never at any point of my mission been alone. I also believe that Tristen (Chances little sister) is close to me a lot. It´s the most inexplicable knowledge...... I have tons of help from the other side.

I am a little scared for the call home..... I haven´t talked to any of you in almost 9 solid months now.... I don't know what I will say. SO much has happened sinec April. It´s hard to think that none of you were there for Casa Grande..... that was SUCH a hard time..... ha ha ha ha ha ha. I am so weird now. None of you will think it´s me.... There is no way that I can convey everything that has happened since April in 1 hour. It cannot be done. You all had better just be ready with questions. I don´t want to waste any time thinking… ha ha ha.

 

Brett….. I love you too, man. It´s good to hear that you are all happy still….. you and your buffaloes. Your testimony is sincere. I feel it. Take it and run with it. One strange thing that the mission has taught me is that people aren´t as far from total church activity as they sometimes think. And God will tell that to you if you ask Him. So… ask Him.

 

It´s weird to think that Stewart Thomas has over a year in the mission now…. I feel like I went to his farewell YESTERDAY. It is so crazy……

 

Any young man who is able to serve a mission should. We know who we are. And if any young man should choose to stay home, he has forfeited the blessings of two years living directly and personally under God´s care and love and teaching. We are all called to this work. And we need each other to succeed. No young man serves “his” mission, but he serves his part in God´s mission. We all need each other. It is a war. We need more men on our side. Every young man has an order to march at the front for a time, and should we choose to disobey orders, we become subject to a very dangerous and dark battlefield. Christ is our Master, and He needs us to be active workers in this. We are all in this until it is over. I ask every young man who reads this to please consider serving a mission. Pray about it. Don’t be afraid. The Savior has a way of keeping us very close to Him while we are away from our families. Is a mission hard? Yes. Is a mission void of sadness? No. It is filled with the most extreme highs and lows that I believe human are even capable of feeling. You have days when you go to bed completely beaten and broken. But you will also have days and moments, really, that make up for all the hardship. When you see someone make changes for good in their life, you will feel what the Savior feels when we become more like Him by obeying Him. Many young men feel like they simply cannot afford the sacrifice of schooling time, or the time away from their girlfriends, families, comforts of home, etc. To each of them, I would like to bear my testimony that you cannot afford to not make the sacrifice. The Savior paid the price for each of our souls with His blood. It was very inconvenient for Him. So, too, should His followers experience likewise a taste of the difficulties He was given. We cannot fully understand the Atonement of Jesus Christ until we ourselves have felt something similar. The pain you feel on a mission will enlighten you. It will change testimony into conversion.

We live in different times than did anyone before us. God´s kingdom has changed. It has hastened. We need to keep up. This is where the line is drawn between the people who have testimonies, and the people whose hearts are truly converted to this Gospel. It is no longer enough to be a Sunday saint. the days have passed when simple church attendance and a chapter of the Book of Mormon a day would keep the endowed member of the church safe from the outside world. I see how hard the adversary is fighting against us. I see how much he wants us to fail and be miserable. I beg each of you to ignore the temptations that will come in the future. We can´t afford to fail. Ours is the duty to not only do what is necessary to save ourselves, but to help our brothers and sisters who are lost to do what they need to do to qualify for salvation. Don’t ignore them. Do the hard things when they come. Share your testimony…. And if necessary, use words.

 

I send my love, Merry Christmas,

-Elder Boekweg

 

Plaza De Armas Christmas Program 2013 Trujillo Peru

The show began with Elder Boekweg and Elder Smith singing some of E. Boekwegs original numbers.

 

Lots of Questions!

1. Do you want me to make you a live account for Skype?

Na. I have no idea how any of this is going to work..........

2. Do you know yet when you will be Skyping us and for how long?

I can Skype either the night of the 24th or anytime on the 25th. How does the 25th at night sound?

3. What will you do on Christmas day besides call us :) (don't tell me nothing, because I saw your Thanksgiving celebration!)

I really honestly don´t know..... I think we´re going to a devotional that President is doing......?

4. Will you take a pic of your Christmas tree and send it to me? So I can see how cute it turned out.

It shall be done

5. Have you come across any homemade soccer balls yet?

Negative. They don't really make soccer balls... they just use really cheap ones, usually. But I can ask some kids if they´ll make one for me. Would that be as cool?

6. Have you spoken in Church before?

If I had a nickel for every time I've spoken in church in Perú, I would have a few dollars

7. Do you give blessings often?

Yes. A bit less now, but still pretty often.

8. Do you always have to be with your companion being in the mission office?

The interesting thing about personal secretary is that I often find myself alone with sisters........ and I just got permission from President today to help one get into a car by PICKING HER UP WITH MY ARMS..... ha ha ha. I am the official mission ladies´man. Im constantly in awkward doctors room listening to sister´s health problems...... ugh...... But with all that being said, My companion and I do a lot of splits. with Everyone and their dog.

9. When you go out late at night does your companion go with you?

We stick together.

10. Who is your companion? Elder Tway?

yes.

11. Do you have cockroaches there or any other huge awful bug?

I saw the most gigantic ant ever in my laundry yesterday. It had to have been at least an inch long. Yes there are a ton of cockroaches, too. Big ones. 2 inchers are the small ones.

12. How much do you weight now? Have you grown at all?

165 or so. Maybe a bit less. But in my defense, I did also grow like 2 inches recently, and have been working out like a maniac here in the office. You should see my guns. They´re sweet now. Ha ha ha.

13. Will Sis Marler post the Christmas festival on her blog so I can see you sing your song?

I actually didn't have time to write a song..... I am sorry... I am SOOOO busy here, that it took back seat.

 

14. Yes I can get blades here. Inkafarma is the greatest thing ever. It´s a store with all that stuff.

 

I sent you some pictures of the clinic that I spend hours a week at.......... There are SO many pictures of the virgin Mary. These people have such a firm knowledge that God lives. Ask ANYONE in the street if they believe in God, and they will look at you weird, as if to say, "is that even a question? Of COURSE I believe in God. How could you not?" The problem here lies in people´s humble pride. Everyone thinks they know everything about the Bible. Ha ha ha. I had a taxi driver yell at me last night about how Mormons believe in another Bible, and it was of the devil. He told me that if I had read the Bible, I would know that God would never send us more Bibles. I smiled at him, and bore my testimony. I knew he wasn´t listening. But it was my duty as a missionary to make him choose to follow Christ of not. Be an agent unto himself. Take responsibility for either acting well, or acting poorly.

I love my mission with my entire soul. It means everything to me. It is really, really hard sometimes. It is an investment. We pay everything we have, and we get back 100x more. When you give your ALL to Christ, you´ll find that He can support you in any circumstance.
 

Kaylee Hopper - Send me an update!
 

Brett Paulick - You too, man!

 

I still can't believe Mason is married..........

- Elder Boekweg

 

Pics Chance sent of the clinic

 

 

Following the Spirit

Mom,

Holy cow. The spoons are perfect. Ha ha ha ha ha ha. Brayden will always have a special place in my heart.

The video that starts with Courtney worked. None of the others did. Every single person in the office asked who she was. You´ve got to quit sending me pictures of her. I´m going to get mugged. But it was so cool to see you all again in motion! I wish Dad would have said more than 2 words! He looks like Reb Tevya. Ha ha ha ha. Nobody believes me that he is my dad. They all think it´s uncle....

 

....... a moment of silence for the cool car of my youth............................................................................................................................................................................................................................ thank you. I will suredly miss it. I knew it would sell fast. Nobody can resist red hick cars. But the truck has got to be a single cab. None of this back seat garbage.

 

I GOT YOUR PACKAGE! I love the tree. Ha ha ha ha. I am excited to open the other part in a few short weeks. I must say, that my absolute favorite thing to get in the mail is pictures. Solid copies of pictures. I love them. No matter who they are from. I just like to look at people. Ha ha ha ha.

 

Watch the mail, Courtney........

 

I suddenly have like........ ridiculous amounts of facial hair. I can´t believe it. I could totally grow a full-on beard if I weren´t a missionary. Ha ha ha. Also, I get to work out every single night, minus Sunday, and it´s finally starting to pay off...... hehehehehehehehehe. Manliness has been enhanced by aproximately 16%.

 

Grace Duffy is so awesome! I am so grateful for people like her, who selflessly give to almost perfect strangers. I am happy to serve a mission knowing that people like her are behind me.

 

Taylor Gregrich..... be good! Merry Christmas!

 

Kaylee Hopper........ I need another update! Your letter made me extremely happy.

 

I hope my pictures make everyone happy. Ha ha ha. You all know how much I hate taking them. Ha ha ha ha ha. I finally figured out how to put them on my computer.

 

This week was so fast. One of the nights I was out in the streets until 11:30pm making copies of a paper that Elder Grow needed for his talk in Chimbote. That kind of thing happens to me a ton in the office. I am constantly out late and up early. The office has taught me a ton about following the Spirit, because there arent so many black and white fire and brimstone rules. We have to do things like stay out too late. You always have to listen really close to see if what you are doing is making the spirit happy. We have very little repetitious activities. Every single day is 100% different than the day before. Study always takes time at a different hour of the day. Everything we do is.... different........ I never imagine missionary life like this. Ha ha ha. I have never worked so hard in my life. I work hard from 7am, sometimes earlier, to 10:30pm every day. I think I could support a family like this in the states. A bilingual secretary who is also a doctor for the CEO of a company. I work like 16 hours a day......

 

I guess that´s it for this week........ I am excited to talk with everybody in 3 weeks.

 

I love you all. I send you the best from the land of Perú.

 

- Elder Boekweg

 

p.s. - ROBERTO - tiene enseñarme hacer chicha morada cuando regreso a los estados. Tambien, quisiera preguntarle ¿para cuál equipo exactamente jugaba? ¿Municipal, tal vez? Recuerdo un photo que me mostró hace tiempo y Usted tenía un polo parecido a los del equipo nacional de Perú.

 

 

 

 

 

The End of 2013

I have some bad news.... The videos did not work! Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! But it´s cool. The weeks here fly so fast that it doesn´t even feel like I´ve been waiting for them.

1. What is your church like now?

    They actually have a real chapel here. It´s nice. it´s not quite as humble as the one in Casa Grande. The members here are awesome, particularly the bishop. He works hard.

2. Did you get my packages yet?

   Nay

3. What kind of food are you eating now? Do you cook for yourself at all?

    A lady cooks lunch for us, but we are on our own for the rest. That usually means that I survive lunch to lunch. Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha

4. Have you made any friends in Trujillo?

    Not as many as I would like. Our area is REALLY void of people. It´s like, 10 city blocks full of newly constructed buildings that people don´t live in yet. Most of the teaching oportunidades que tenemos vienen de las hermanas en nuestro barrio. Hay algunos lugares donde no pueden estar en las noches porque son demasiado peligroso, y por eso, a veces enseñamos a las personas que no son en nuestro area, técnicamente.... Entonces, es difícil encontrar amigos aquí....

 

I cannot believe that 2013 is dying out...... I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT I LEFT HOME BACK IN APRIL................. IT´S ALREADY BEEN SO LONG........ IT´S GOING SO FAST.......

 

I don't have a lot of time this week, but I love you all.

love, Elder Boekweg

 

 

Third Mile

Questions first:

1. How were the Ruins?

    It was the coolest thing I have ever seen. Lamanite sacrificial altars and stuff........ I´ll tell everyone all about it when I get home. But I´m pretty sure Jesus Christ was very near there at one point as well....... It is so crazy to hear everything that the ancient people (Moches) believed.... some of it is very similar to our own doctrine, but you can see how it got corrupted just a hair, and sent the whole civilization into apostasy.

 

2.What are you doing for thanksgiving?

     Nothing..... ha ha ha ha

3. Is it warm yet?

     YES......... It´s SO humid here.......

4. Have you sent your package to Court yet? She is anxiously waiting.

    Nuestro secretario de suministros es nuevo, entonces él está aprendiendo un montón de cosas, y todavía no ha aprendido como enviar paquetes. Lo siento.

5. Where will you be skyping from for Christmas? Will you Skype me or me Skype you? Do you know what time yet? ( I am trying to figure Skype out)

    I have NO idea about any of that.... I´ll let you know when I do.

6. Did you get the missionary newsletter? How'd you like it?

     I finally got it a few days ago. I liked reading about all my friends. I can´t believe so much time has passed already.

7. How did the peanut butter popcorn work out?

     Everybody LOVED it. Sister Marler says she is going to make me make it more often.

8. How is your song coming?

     Well...... I have not had time to write it yet, except the chorus.

Can´t send pics. The USB port of my computer broke.... And the very heavens know that I cannot fix that..... ha ha ha ha.
 

Imagine this.......... Imagine that you have been waiting for 3 weeks to get a letter from one of the prettiest girls you know.... Imagine it is your only communication with her. Now imagine that the box of letters arrive. You run to the box to open, and begin searching through the box for your letter. All the letters look good except one, that is on a plastic bag. You shudder as you wonder if it is yours. You pull it out. It IS yours. You see the words "WE CARE" on the bag, followed by an explanation that the US postal system handles over 200 billion letters each year, and that accidents happen....... You remove the letter from the bag, and find that half of the letter has been ripped to shreds, probably by a machine on a conveyor belt somewhere......
Yep......
It stunk.

But equally as happy, I received Kaylee Hoppers letter, which shot happiness through every inch of my soul. I was SO happy when she told me she was going every week. I smiled for 2 whole days afterwards. Keep it up, Kaylee! Woo Woo!

I just want everyone back home to know how much I love them all. Every single one of them means so much to me. On my mission, I have missed a few things like Alternative rock, World War 2 documentaries, late night zombies games with Uncle, etc........ but the thing I have missed most of all by far is the company of people I love. There is something that you come to understand when you are far away from familiarity.... A kind of coldness that is inexplicable. And you come to this point, where you understand that if you truly love Jesus Christ, you will keep walking. So you keep walking. And then you get to another point where you understand that you will be walking a while. But you still know that you love Jesus Christ. And so you keep walking. You get tired. You get really lonely. You suffer sometimes. You struggle with a thousand things. But you still love Jesus Christ. And so.... you keep walking still. And even amidst the thickness of trials and loneliness and rejection and ridicule, Christ can make you happy. Nothing can change that.

It´s all about thinking "outward." When we focus on others, and LOSE OURLSEVES, nothing else in this great wide world matters. Selfishness is the fastest highway to misery. We kill ourselves when we try to take care of ourselves above all else. It is so ironic.

One last thought.... I think that in the past, going the second mile in life was sufficient. Going to church and obeying the word of wisdom was doing a lot. But everything that I am figuring out about the Gospel indicates that the journey doesn't stop at the end of mile two. This life is about going the third mile. Not just go to church, but bring friends. Not just read scriptures, but study them. Not just raise children, but teach them. It is the hardest and most rewarding way. And it is the only way that will do.

I love you mom, dad, Courtney,

-Elder Boekweg

Just a couple pics

This week Chance wasn't able to write much of an email. He just let us know he was going to visit some Incan Ruins with his Mission President on his P-day and didn't have much time.

Sister Marler posted a couple pictures on her blog today of the missionaries preparing for the Plaza De Armas Christmas program. Looks like fun!

Chance practicing the drums