September 1, 2014 Pictures in Camana, Peru

Jose Luis Quispe!  My first baptism!

Kevin Moreano and my companion Elder Atencio!  My second baptism!

My area in Camana.  It is called Habitat.

That's what most of the houses are made of....sticks and dirt.  It is very humbling.

Arequipa

Beach in Quilcad.

Yeah take notes Jadeyn and Sister McCook.

This picture is money!!

At the beach in Quilcad, Peru.

A picture that perfectly describes me and my companion from the CCM. 

Elder Peart.

September 1, 2014 ~ Week 9

So this week was absolutely amazing. 

This past week, all 230 missionaries in the Arequipa, Peru mission traveled to Arequipa for a special devotional, Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the 12 Apostles was presiding and he gave an amazing talk!

Before the talk we had the opportunity to shake his hand, ALL 230 missionaries.  We only had 5 to 10 minutes to accomplish this.  When I went to shake his hand he said to me "Elder McCook, I am proud of you."  The feeling could never and WILL never be forgotten!

He truly is an Apostle of God.

Also 2 of my investigators got baptized on the 30th and the 31st of August. I had the opportunity to baptize one of them! His name is Jose Luis Quispe, he is 16 years old! The feeling was amazing!  Also Kevin Moreano who is 9 years old was baptized as well!

Today also marks that I have been serving on a mission for 2 months!  Time really does fly.  My Spanish is still sloppy but it is amazing to think that I have been living in another country and speaking a second language for the past 2 months.

Word of the week: Pecado- sin

                            Pescado- fish

(Yes, accidentally I have said that our fish can be made clean through the atonement of Christ...)

¡Chao!

Elder McCook

August 25, 2014 Pictures in Camana, Peru

Pictures of me and my companion in Camana, Peru.

August 25, 2014

August 25, 2014 ~ Week 8

Week 8

August 25, 2014

So some more details:  my area is Camana.  It is the same name as the city.  There are 14 missionaries in my zone: 6 in my district and 8 in the other.  In my district there is Elder Stay, Atencio and Andersen.  Andersen is one of my really good friends from the CCM so we are pumped to be with each other.  Also there is Hermanas Waldren and Garcia, they are absolutely the best.

The money exchange rate is 2.7 - 3 Nuevo soles for every 1 American dollar.  I always buy this package of cookies called Casinos, they cost 2.19 Nuevo soles. And they come in packages of 24.  It is such a steal.  American name brand food items are still the same price as in America.  Skittles are 4 soles… in other words $1.20 in the US, I think.  And toothpaste is so expensive.  18 soles or $6 in the US and I’m 100% positive couponing doesn’t exist so yeah that part is lame.  So please send toothpaste and skittles :)

Inka Kola is the bomb, and Coca Cola is too, but they are expensive compared to the knock off brands of Oro and Kola real.  I also drink Sporade which is Peru’s version of PowerAde or Gatorade I guess.  But it is very good. 

This Thursday my district and I are going to Arequipa for a special devotional, NEIL L ANDERSEN will be speaking, I am so pumped.

So the 30th will be the baptism of Jose Luis, I am not sure who will baptize him, either me or my companion.  On the 31^st of August, after church Kevin will be baptized too!  We are hoping for Nefi to be baptized that same day too, but Nefi comes from a part member family, him and his younger brother are the only members.  So we need to get parental permission before we can do anything. 

But all is well in Camana!

Word of the week- Arizona (Arizona)

                            narisona (big nose)

Yes I have accidently said that I am from big nose

Chao Elder McCook

August 18, 2014 ~ Week 7

Week 7

August 18, 2014

This week was amazing!

Last Tuesday, on August 12^th, I and 29 other missionaries flew from Lima, Peru to Arequipa, Peru.  After finding our luggage we met with the president of our mission, President Zobrist.

We took a tour bus, where several experienced missionaries told us some information about Arequipa and took us to around the city as well.

After the tour we ate lunch and then President Zobrist read a list of missionaries who would not be in Arequipa for the first 3 months of their mission.  I was on that list!

I am currently in Camana, Peru; it looks exactly like Tucson, Arizona except it has a beach!  I am in Camana with 11 other missionaries, 3 of which friends from the Missionary Training Center. 

My companion’s name is Elder Atencio. He has been in the mission field for 17 months!  He is from Chile and knows some English but we mainly communicate is Spanish.  He is the absolute best.  We live in a one room- one bathroom apartment.  We also have a pensionista.  A pensionista is someone who will cook breakfast, lunch and dinner for us and will wash and dry our cloths.  We pay her a monthly amount (called pencion in Spanish), hence, pencionista!  Our pencionista is a member of the church and her name is Betty, but we call her Mama Betty!  So when we eat, we go to Mama Betty’s house, which is about 500 yards from where we live. 

Elder Atencio and I live a little outside Camana.  So if we need to go into town we would use a mototaxi.  A mototaxi is a motorcycle with 3 wheels and it has a little caboose on the back half of the bike that can seat 3 people.  I love it!

My first week was awesome!  Elder Atencio and I asked 3 of the people we were teaching if they would be baptized, and they all said yes!  Their names are Jesus (9 yrs. old) Kevin (11 yrs. old) and Jose Luis (16 yrs. old).  The baptism dates will be on August 30th and the 31st! I’m super excited! 

Word of the week: Camana es el maximo- Camana is the best

¡Chao!

Elder McCook

August 7, 2014 Pictures while in the Peru MTC

My Moms favorite picture I have sent home so far.

Average breakfast at the Lima Peru MTC

                         

The elder in the blue shirt, elder wright is my cousin!  Uncle Bill knows him!

Me with some of the Elders.

Latino Elders that I haven't talked to before, came up to me and asked for a picture.

Me and my companion Elder Peart

The Lima, Peru Temple

The view from a store.

August 7, 2014 ~ Week 5 Peru MTC

Week 5 ~ Peru MTC

August 7, 2014

¡Hola!

After today I will have 5 days left in the Lima Peru Missionary Training Center.  On Tuesday morning I will fly to Arequipa, Peru with about 10 other Elders and Hermanas.  I’m so happy to have been taught Spanish here, and I love all of the Latinos here.   I’m so grateful for the opportunity I’ve had to surround my life in complete Spanish for these first 6 weeks.  I have truly been humbled with the culture here.  The people don’t have much, actually they don’t have anything, compared to the way I have lived back home.  It is amazing with the amount of Spanish that I have learned here I feel so ready to just get out in Arequipa and let people know of the truth of the restored gospel!  However it will take a lot of time until I can fully understand what everyone else is saying.  Next email I will be in Arequipa!

¡Hasta Luego!

Elder McCook

Word of the Week: Voy a Arequipa (Im going to Arequipa!)