BIG CHANGES!

Dear Mom,

BIG CHANGES. So..... right after the Christmas talent show President Marler made a huge announcement. The mission will be split in two. Trujillo North, and Trujillo South. Needless to say, he now neeeds to make twice as many leaders for the mission by July. So I imagined he would probably make a few of us old leaders trainers to raise up some more guys that already knew a few things about leadership by the time the new mission was opened. And......... I am one of them. Yup. I am going to be a trainer until the end. My last two changes will be spent in a place called Alto Moche, which is on the very southernmost point of Trujillo, literally on top of the beach. It may be the poorest place I've been so far. I am not sure if it's dangerous or not yet, but I'll let you know, It's what's called an invasion, which means that it's just a group of people that decided to set up camp there without anyone's permission, and they came in numbers so large that the police can't kick them out. So it's very, very, very poor. But those are my favorite places.

I am very sad to leave El Carmen. It was a great area. But I trust the Lord in all His direction, and I am willing to do whatever He wants. It's kind of funny how different my mission has been from the norm. I have lived it all in reverse! ha ha ha ha ha. President Marler called me this morning and said that he has agonized over this since I was called to the office, thinking that I should train from the very beginning, but never knowing when it would happen. So he took his last opportunity to set me up. I will be a district leader also, as I open this new area. Oh yeah, it's a new area, which means that it'll be somewhat like Santiago de Chuco was with almost nothing to start from. I am excited. I love hard things.

I have never been so................... aware of things. This is going to be the end of my mission. I will leave this new missionary to go home. That's INSANE. Only two and a half months left. It's this odd feeling of peace, anxiety, excitement, fear, and more than anything else, simply eeriness. It's going to be over so fast. I hope I can take these last two changes and be an awesome example for this new missionary. I'll probably show up on the blog with him this week. Keep an eye out.

I don't have much else to say. I am stoked about the banjo! Now I need a Dobro. Ha ha ha ha ha ha hah ah. But seriously, I am really excited about that. I put the picture up on my wall when I opened it in November. Just kidding.

Shauna Taylor wrote me by the way,  I love that lady. She's so funny. 

Dad......... is a massive bison of a man. What on earth happened to me that I turned out so small? People don't believe me when I show them pictures of dad. They all say, "do you mean your step dad?" Ha ha ha ha. Oh well.

I love you all. I guess I will talk to you again next week...... from my final outpost. See ya!

- Elder Boekweg

 

So thankful for technology and the opportunity to Skype with Chance on Christmas Eve!

Christmas Day Talent Show, Trujillo Peru

 

Christmas Call

Well mom...... I also do not want to write too much, because even though I've spent two years half a world away from you, we always seem to run out of things to talk about in our one Christmas call home a year. Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha. It just takes too long. I'll tell you everything when I get back. Ha ha ha. Or I'd have to spend the rest of my mission just typing. So be ready for a long probably really weird story when you see me again.

I still love the work more than life itself. I am working hard here in "El Carmen," and am working on a big plan for the stake, We want 1,000 people attending church in the stake by march. It would be the first time it's ever happened in the history of the stake!

Please come with a bunch of questions..... because I could talk about thousands of things....... and I therefore have NO clue which to choose. But this will be your last chance to ask Elder Boekweg something in person. The next time you see me, I'll just be Chance again. Weird, right?

I'll try to take some pictures of Christmas day too with your packages. Though I make no promises.......... ha ha ha ha........................ I'll do my best to remember.

y'all should see my SWEET toe right now. It's heinous. It's like my trophy for having walked for so long. Ha ha ha ha. Remember the pioneer shildren song? Ha ha ha ha ha ha hah a

I love you all. Sorry I'm not very photogenic. That blog always seems to catch me at my worst. Someday I'll do a good photoshoot. HA HA HA HA HA.

HASTA VER

- Elder Boekweg

 

 

This is from the Christmas program last weekend at Plaza De Armas Trujillo Peru. Glad to see that Chance still gets to play the guitar and sing! You can find the video of his song on my Facebook page.

 

 

 

 

Christmas Program

Not much to report this week. Just the usual run. We did the zone training this week. I used the lights you sent me to get everyone in the Christmas spirit. Thank you for those. My other gifts are under a small tree we bought.

Christmas Skype home - dec 24 still, but now at 8 o'clock Peru time. I will be skyping home from my bishop's house. He's cool.

We are doing a guitar/harmonica number in the Christmas show. I am sure Sister Marler will post it this week. And if not, next week. It's in Spanish this time. "Cristo ha Resucitado" number 122 in the Spanish hymn book.

I enjoy hearing that everyone thinks I look older. It's about time. I have felt like I looked too young forever. Ha ha ha.

 

There have been a series of murders and robbing's in my neighborhood lately. Also, a new guy just won a political position here. I don't really know much about him. He might kick gringoes out of Ancash (where I am) just like he did in Huaráz. Stuffs getting crazy. We'll see what happens. 

 

I am fine. Not sick. Not scared. We feel angels around us always. What more could I say?

 

I got the Thanksgiving letter from the Boekwegs! Thank you!!!!!!!!!

 

Happy Birthday Brayden and Austin!!!

 

I love you all, 

Enjoy the picture of Chimbote.

 

-Elder Boekweg

 

 

Mountain Hat

Alright.................... I am not extending. Nobody else in my group will do it with me. Ha ha ha ha. And we won't make it to the dedication anyway. They say it's between may10-june10. So I will be coming home in March. On the 25th. There wouldn't really be a justifiable reason to do it. I was called with specific dates of start and finish, I guess.

We are working with 5 awesome familes right now. We are going to need many miracles. We need 4 marriages, 1 divorce, and 12 baptisms to take place in the next two months. Pray for them. It can happen.

I need you to send me the recipe for carrot cake. The lady that washes our clothes wants to make some for Christmas. Hermana Liz. She's insane. Ha ha ha ha. But cool, too.

 

The Christmas packages got here. They are under our little tree that we bought. And yes, the mountain hat is MINE. I got no credit for it on the blog. Everyone thinks it's sweet.

 

 

 

 

I don't really have much to say......... I love the work here. It's going good. I wish my zone would get into more people's houses, but they are doing alright as well. 

Hey dad. Comfortably dumb.

 

 

Out of time. I love you all. Goodbye!

- Elder Boekweg

Extending????

Questions:
1. What did you do if anything for Thanksgiving? Im pretty sure you didnt have turkey haha.
     We did a zone fast. ha ha ha. I didn't remember it was thanksgiving this year....... it was sort of a lame holiday even before it didn't exist here in Perú........

 2. Are you baptizing in Chimbote? You never mention anything about baptisms.
     We had a few last change, but nothing too recent. We are working with 5 complete families. They progress more surely, but less fast. That's why we are demorando with this.

 3. Who is the new AP since Elder Zaveleta went home?
      Elder Brown from Provo (He's half Nicaraguan)

 4. Do you need new white shirts?
     Nay

5. How is your health? Everything good?
    Well..... aside from the fact that HUGE cockroaches run up and down the walls every night, everything but my mental health is fine. I am so tired of stepping on them in the morning when I get out of bed...  there's just so many...... you really can't avoid it.

I am glad to hear the package made it. The tops are for dad. I figured he'd like them. All street children here play with those. And those are high-class ones. They cost less than one dollar a piece. Ha ha ha. 

So................ change of plans..... I might be extending again. Ha haha ha haha. President asked if me and Elder Leavitt were going to do it..... I guess that means the window is still open........ 

Sister Boody called you? I was in the exact same ward as her for like 15 months..... ha ha ha ha a ha. She knows everything about my mission, practically. Funny, right? I hope she didn't say anything bad............ ha ha ha ha ha ha

Thanks for the letter Sadie! I love receiving them. I wish I could send letters back.......

Mom. I am glad you liked the poem. Pretty deep, eh? Pink Floyd-ish, I would say. I still want a banjo....... that is the sincere desire of my heart. HA HA HA HA. SUBMIT TO THE BANJO.

Dad. Grandpa is funny. thanks for the pic. I would like to go explore the desert with you sometime. That place in FAR southwest Utah where there is absolutely nothing but dirt and wierd people wandering around in it.

How can I get back to the temple for the dedication? I think it's going to happen between may 15 and june 15. I will BARELY miss it even with an extension. We will know for sure this week, I hear. I am desperate to get back for that. Sounds like just about everyone in my group will be coming back for it. They're kind of a well-to-do lot of guys. I can only imagine how it would be. I am sure I could stay with people probably for free. Food is cheap. All I need is the ticket.......... THAT'S the expensive part...... We'll see, I suppose. I just don't think I could do it. I have no idea how much it would cost to fly here and back. And I would only have a few weeks to earn the money, really. Maybe I could come back after the dedication in like, December or even next year sometime. We'll see....

I love everyone. Until next week,

-Elder Boekweg

 

**Thank you Sister Marler for the picture!!

 

 

 

Elder Pearce, Elder Stephens , Elder Bates, Elder Gonzalez, Elder Boekweg and Elder Bramble practice,
"Have a Jolly Holly Christmas"

The foundation for the rest of my life

Questions:

1. Will you be skyping or calling this Christmas?
      Skype or calling. Whichever you prefer.

 2. Is your debit card working ok for you?
     Yes

 3. Can we have some more pictures with your face in them? Also I would like to see how much you have grown.
     Like tall? I think I am two inches taller than when I left, I think.

 4. Do you know how I can contact Elder Nelson just in case he doesnt call us? We havent heard from him yet. I know he has probably been soo busy. He just got home last Wed. (***The package came today! Thank you Elder Nelson!!)
     Nah. I know how he is. I told him to call you so that you could ask him how much it costs. He probably just sent it and ate the price in heroism. He's like that. Ha ha ha.

 5. Did you know Kaden Hansen got married last week?
      Yes. Cool. Congrats!

 6. Are you still looking for a homemade soccer ball?
      Yes. The search is slow. I don't have much free time.

 7. Have you eaten anything crazy lately?
     Mmmmm......... lots of fish. Chimbote is the fish capitol of South America. It smells SO fishy here.

 8. What are your church services like? Do you have a building in this city?
     Yes. My ward here is probably bigger than Carr Fork. we have a weekly attendance of around 150.

 9. Do the members in this area support you? Do you eat meals with anyone?
     Yes. It is the best area I've had, in that regard. Members like to help here.

 10. Do you still have a pensionista? Do you do your own laundry here?
      I have a pensionita. Hermana Iris. She is the best one I've had. Also, I think everyone has the wrong idea about them. They aren't like "maids" that are eternally washing our clothes and things. They have small restaurants, and we pay monthly to eat there. Our clothes are usually washed by a volunteer member. neither of them ever come to our house. They aren't allowed to. We clean the house and everything like that. ha ha ha

 11. What are you eating now? Anymore chicken and rice?
      My pensionista is the BEST now. She is the only one that doesn't make us eat rice if we don't want it. Chicken, well...... there's no way to avoid it here. But it's more fish here in Chimbote. LOTS of fish. But fresh fish is pretty sweet compared to what we were eating in the mountains..... they eat some gank stuff up there. Ha ha ha ha ha. Chuño.......................

 12. Do you still get to play a guitar ever? Will there be another Christmas program?
        No guitars here. But yes. Don't know if I'll be in it this year.

MAN Grandpa Boekweg is funny. I love that guy.

Mom...... I feel like from here on out, my emails will be really boring. ha ha ha ha. I feel like I have drained the tanks on what to talk about through email. Everything else has to be told in person to be told right. 

Do you think the Tooele hospital needs help from a translator? I did medical translation for almost 10 months here........ That might just be a SWEET job to get me through college..... that was my epiphany this week. I'd move to Provo, and just translate there. I know all the medical terminology in Spanish. What do you think?

Is Jared Handley still alive? Ha ha ha.

When are Terrance and Courtenae getting married? Like, next week, right?

Do you still hear from Sadie?

Also...................... I have to write my "go home date" this week. So......... I guess I'll put March 23 like normal. I will have put in a full day by then, and I feel peace about doing it. I would like to stay longer, but if there is no reason, It's probably better if I come home on time. There are complex legal things that the mission has to do when alien missionaries extend. It's very hard for everyone. And I would only really get 4 more weeks out of it. One month longer. So I guess you can write it on the calendar. I'll land in Salt Lake on the 25th. But only because President won't let me extend just one or two weeks to make "my dearest april" happy. ha ha ha ha. Or else I'd do it. That's alright....... that song is still going to be amazingly strong afterwards anyway. Can't wait to sing it with the full weight of 3 Aprils in a row behind it. The song will finally be "finished." It will be a song that took me three years to write. Ha ha ha ha. I'll be able to take it right out of my heart, with the full knowledge of what it truly means. No longer just hollow predictions, but rich and colorful memories that I never want to forget. My two greatest years. The dearest part of my life. I have given everything that I am to this work. I love God with all my heart. Pay attention to how you feel when you read that, because I want you to know, mom, that I have done nothing to dishonor our name here. I have tried my very best every single day. There have been many times when I have not known what to do, and I have made mistakes because I have lacked knowledge; but I have sincerely thrown my whole self at this. I have held nothing back. I have focused all my energies on this work, and I have served God the Father and The Savior Jesus Christ the very best I knew how. I have never picked disobeidience. I have striven to choose that which is best in every decision I have made since you sent me off 20 months ago. I will continue to do so until the end. This is not just 2 years of a mission here, it is the foundation for the rest of my life. 

I love you,

Elder Boekweg

The happiest moment of my entire life

Hi mom,

Questions:
1. Do you still have your Christmas tree from last year? I am getting your packages ready and wondered if you still have your decorations.
    I do not...... I am sorry. I still have the ornaments, though.

 2. Any needs before I ship your Christmas package?
     Nay. JUST A BANJO

 3. When do you have to tell Pres. about your extension?
      This very same week. :) But they say the dedication is in June, probably....... so it looks like I'll be home in March. but I might extend another couple weeks or so........... guess we'll see.

 4. How is your toe doing?
     Still don't have a nail. I've got about half. My goal is to have it all back by the time I come home so I can walk barefoot on blessed carpet without grossing everyone out.

 5. How is your retainer doing?
     Meh. It's probably fixable. Not too bad

 6. Is your voice recorder still working? I cant remember if it needs batteries?
     Still works. That thing is a tank. It needs no batteries.

 7. Did you tell Elder Nelson that I will pay for the shipping for the package or however he wants to do it? We are soooo excited to get it. Cant wait to see.
     He's going to call you this week. Says it'll get there by the end of the week. You can open it whenever you want. In fact, it might be better if you open it sooner than later so that you can enjoy what's inside longer.

 9. Did you get my package yet?
    RASPBERRY OREOS ARE THE BEST THING EVER. Thank you so much! I loved it!

ummm.......... I am thinking of things to write........

I am losing Elder Oyarzo today. That bums me out. I love that guy. My next comp will be Elder Gonzalez, whose parents are from Costa Rica, but who was born in Seattle. He likes Pearl Jam. I think things will go just fine. Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha. 

Lane write me. I love that guy too.

BIG NEWS:

Remember the familia Saldaña-Castillo from Casa Grande? My beloved converts from up there north? THEY GOT SEALED TWO DAYS AGO IN LIMA. Elder Zavaleta (who went home 3 days early just to see it) called me from the temple, and let me talk to each of the members of the family. It was literally the happiest moment of my entire life. I have never felt happier in all my mission. 

Comfortably dumb. Love you dad

Courtney.......... animals are for eating. :) Ha ha ha ha. But your rabbits are cool.

I don't have much time, so I have to say goodbye for this week. But the familia SALDAÑA was worth the week. And the year..... and the 20 months. :) Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha

I love you goodbye!

 

-Elder Boekweg

 

  The first pic is just me overlooking my area, and the second is Chimbote from a mountain that I hiked.