Week 26*

First of all so glad I am not in the Philippines right now but I feel and pray for the people there. We got to see Elder Nelson and he was just there and talked to us about the miracle of God saving every single missionary. Like the 200stripling  warriors. 

So yeah we got to see ANOTHER  apostle! That's the 3rd one in my mish! This time it was just our mission and I was in the front row! We got to sing for him and got be so close! A once in a lifetime experience! He is such an amazing man and I can just feel his spirit. Christ's spirit!!  He and his wife talked (in english awyeeeeah) and it was JUST the perfect thing to hear right now.

" God uses the unlikley to do the impossible!" We are the few. I am the unlikley.

There are 7 billion poeple on earth. There are 14 million members of our church. and so that ratio is 1:500! Our job is to bring the restored gospel to all the earth! IMPOSSIBLE RIGHT?  Well that's the way God works! to prove that he can do the impossible. 

"When you give all you can and do all you can do and it is impossible still...that's when God goes to work!" I feel like I'm at that point right now. And now I have faith that this is when God is going to get to work and make this impossible job possible! 

Peruvian Puff Pepper- So the other day I am a silly person and we are waiting outside of a house(and when I say house, I mean shack)  waiting for them to open up the door ( and when I say door I mean push a piece of sheet metal out of the way). I see this plant with little peppers on it and I'm like hey Hermana little green Peppers! Thinking they were just little bell pepppers...NO. Turns out it's the hottest pepper in Peru and I decided to put it in my mouth. Wish I had a video of this story. Needless to say I'm freaking out and just in time they open up and I'm there almost crying and then we have to go teach a lesson while im BREATHING FIRE!  But no the story doesn't end there. Later I decided to rub my eye. Guess what was on my hand...yep. So I basically went blind for a little bit. Screaming and making a scene in the street. But hey I'm good now. It was all in all a pretty funny experience. 

I love you guys and I love this church. I testify that Christ is the head of this Church and we are His people. Stay faithful. Demand Excellence of Yourselves. Chau! Love, Hermana Quist

Week 27

First off thanks everyone for the Bday wishes! I feel loved! This was a pretty great bday. I was planning of not telling anyone, but everyone knew somehow. But yeah, it was pretty chill all day and I thought I was safe. Then Bam! One of my ... no my favorite family, threw me a party! So sweet of them. They are my Peruvian family for sure! I was pretty embarrassed, but it did make me feel important, so I guess it's ok. They went all out. Balloons, cake, presents, (even the elders gave me stuff!) Food! ( we actually got sick after and threw up all morning, but hey that's how the morning after parties usually go right?) They got this cute doll candle top thing that had a plaque and a long modest skirt on hahah! I'm 20~! whaaaat!? I'll come home only 20 too. Weird right? I'll be a RM at 20! 

I hit 6 months this week and wow! WOW! Can you believe it! Where has the time gone! Only a year left! ahhhh! nooo!

So we are basically fast and furious up in Peru! You know how they have the nitrogen boost thing in the movie..well they have that here too. #streetraces!

They had elections yesterday so we didn't have church. Turns out everything shuts down on election morning because it is mandatory to vote. So we didn't get to go renew our covenants :(   The sacrament is so great. The happiest way to live is repenting every day and taking the sacrament every week. It's just a nice clean way to live! Without sin! Think of it! Do it! 

Oh oh. Ok, so this week, we taught a lesson and we didn't understand why it smelled so bad in front of this guy's house where we were sitting. And the smell stuck to us. Literally. I smelled real bad. Had to take a shower when I got home but I dragged that stink into other people's houses. Turns out that all their... let's call it bathroom water... just soaks into the ground where we were sitting.  I almost threw up 3 different times. Wow this just smells like.....Peru.

Ummm, what else. Got a good pick up line this week. Not like the usual harrassment, hop on my motorcycle, mamasita, type of stuff. This was clever. And clean. If I understand the Spanish right. Which I did. He's driving by on the bus and shouts at us "Hey where are you going? Huaylas? Miraflores?.... Cielo?" And for all you non bilingual people out there, he asked us if we were going to heaven. Pretty smooth. And yes, I smile everyday when I realize that I am bilingual. Take that high school spanish!!!!

So we had (like every week) a goal of 7 new investigaters for this week. We never actually get 7 but this week we made a goal with faith and just made the decision that yes we are going to get them! With the PROMISED divine power of God! And guess what WE DID IT!  It has been a really good week and a big faith growing week. FAITH WORKS, GOD WORKS, AND FAITH IN GOD REALLY WORKS! Every day we went out with faith and did ALL we could do to get one, then it was amazing to see how God would provide us the opportunity! We do all we can, then God goes to work. I have a testimony of this principle.

I love you guys! I love the Lord! Chau! 

Hermana Quist!

Week 25

Chole Quist? Idk about that. Also Elle Quist that just sounds like elequent. Sam is just the best route to take here. And you all know it!

Tell me what going on with the primary mom? Havin fun? 

Also Dad,go hang out with Greg please. haha

Alex email me ok? and Do your hw! LOVE YA BUD

Adam- the temple is awesome and just know your not going to understand everything and don't even try to. Just try and feel the spirit.

What are some fun jokes I can play on the Elders? I need some ideas? ANYONE!?

I'm sending christmas letters! Wow like the 3rd handwritten letter I've written haha.

I have 1 year and 6 days left in my mission! WHAAAAAAAAAA!? No way! noooo!

D rose and I are living it up, teaching it up and have one with a baptism date! yeah! We had a bit of a lull but we are pickin up the pace!

We had 6 at church yesterday and ITS SOOOOO AWEOSME! Not only when investigators  show up but menos activos too! I love seeing fruits of my work! Other people say they can't come to church because they can't leave their house alone or it will get stolen...which sucks because  that is a pretty valid excuse haha. Sketch. Also all the lights in the street stopped working so we have got to walk more carefully now.

Here's a pictures of our apartment after 2 other sister missionaries had to sleepover for a few nights because they couldn't stay in their apartment 

Thanks for all. I love you and I miss you! CHAU!!!!!!! Hermana Quist!~

Week 24

I can't even describe how amazing it feels to hear about how many missionaries that are going to out and how Grams and Gramps are going too. We are going to get SO many blessing. I can't stop smiling when I think about how united our family is in the gospel even if we are so far away!  

NOOOOOO TRANSFERS! We don't know why because our president basically told us we would. But I guess the Lord has some more work for us to do. And good! Because we really are just overcoming some difficult times and now we are entering into the time to receive the fruits of our obedience and work! I am so happy! D rose and I are soooooo great together. I am having a fun time. 

The other day I had the absolutely worst day of my mission. It was just so terrible. I don't need to tell you why but just know that everyone is catholic here! EVEN THE MORMONS ARE CATHOLIC! But God is good and at around 8 in the night that terrible day he sent us a member. She fed us, talked to us, and even sewed my shirt haha. God knew we gave our all that day and he does NOT  abandon his children in their times of need. The members here are so great. I have my Peruvian family here. The family Yarin. They are so great! 

Sometimes I feel like I'm not making enough of a difference. Then I read this quote by Utchdorf - ¨The Lord knows where you are, and he will use you in his own way, and for his holy purposes, those who incline their hearts to him.¨ So it doesn't matter what I feel like I am doing. Because I am here with all my heart inclined to him. I don't know God's purposes and I might never know the effect I'm having here. He knows his children and knows what they need and will use me to give it to them. I  AM A TOOL! haha. ( want another FHE assignment? Look up >Elder Bednars talk about the 20 franks or be good girls and boys, then relate it to me and you guys) I even had another example of this the other day when we were talking to a man who we contacted and didn't think anything of it, but later found out it was the direct answer to his prayer. Tears were shed and testimonies strengthened. God uses me even when I don't know it. 

Peru is so pretty! ( from far way) Because actually it's pretty disgusting. 

You guys should move here, because you would be so rich....but then you would be in Peru so...your choice -haha

The dogs in my last area Canete weren't as fortunate as the dogs here in Lima. They have clothes here! Even the homeless dogs have clothes here! PROBRECITOS!

So this is my house- Yes I basically live in a catholic church. It's so great.

It's gunna be wierd coming home without a line of guys waiting just to meet me.! What am I going to do!?

These are new cards we have to give out to the members. Basically the best idea ever! It says how the members can give a soul to the Lord for Christmas! We have already received some of these back! Maybe you should do this in your area!?

Love Hermana Quist!

Week 23

My area is so close to the beach 

¨Surely the Lord smiles upon the one who desires to come to judgment worthily, who resolutely labors day by day to replace weakness with strength.¨

This is my new favorite quote and I know its true and have been learning so much here. There are the times that I feel like I am falling short. But guess what? I am trying. And as long as each day we try to be better than the last, through repentace and the grace of the Atonement of Christ, we will please our God.

Every morning I wake up at 6:30, say my prayers, go running out in the streets of Peru and can hardly believe that this is real sometimes. Then for breakfast I have a yummmy mango every single day with some bread and Avacado. Its pretty much the best. But I will admit I think I am getting fatter. Not alot, but all we eat here is rice, potatos and more rice. So that's that. But don't worry there is this thing called ¨6 months till sexy¨ for the last 6 months of the mish. I'll put that into practice alright!

So yeah the guy that was in love with me, I thought he was actually interested in the gospel too because I am a little naive girl. But nope. We presented him to the elders and then I thought he was going to continue, but I guess he told the elders he wasn't there for the lessons. So that is great. I'm pretty upset. I just never see the bad in people! I had so much hope for him and he really seemed like he wanted to change. 

Then our only investigator with a baptism date decided we didn't talk about the bible enough and doesn't want anything to do with us. I have no idea how that blew up so fast. He was so ready then bam! Pretty sad. I think God is trying us right now. >Becuase we have been working so hard! and nothing is happening. We don't have people to teach! This isn't how it is supposed to go. I am suppose to be in Peru changing peopels lives and baptizing! But I had a good talk with the comp and as long as we are doing all we can it's going to be good enough for God! That makes me feel alot better

But I haven't let myself get discouraged because  that opposes faith and I need faith! Its not even funny how much I didn't know before the mission. This amazing and everlasting gospel is just unfolding before my eyes day by day, experience by experience and I am so thankful. I will never be the same. There is just so much more to everything. I love this church.

So Peru is crazy-

These people are a crazy mix between the laziest people I have ever met and the hardest working. They work allllll day but then they don't do anything! The are an oximoron.

They are also the most unreligious religious people I know.

Do you have a car that barely functions and has no gas? PERFECT you can be a taxi driver here°!

I see my jetta here all the time. You know your car is ghetto when they have it here in Peru. 

So yeah I had a little experience with the devil! Pretty scary. I have totally run out of time too so i will totes tell you about it in a week! I love you guys!!!!!!!!

Here's a moto. It's what we travel in here. Scary!

Week 22

HAVE 5 MONTHS DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!  This is craziness! But I am here and each day I just want to be here more and learn more and bring more people to Christ. This work is the happiest, most fulfilling,hardest thing in the entire world. I do not want to come home in a year. It's too short.

So story time boys and girls: And maybe not the good kind haha. So we have a problem. One of our investigators is .... in love with me. I know that sounds funny but really! And it got pretty weird the last lesson. So yeah, we are giving him to the elders in our area. We will see if he still progresses. :[ 

Next, welp I kinda had a Terry Wood situation last night.(if you know what I mean).

Also had one of the happiest moments in my mission. We find this less active kid who is 26 and he is way honest and straight up with us (which is the best) and we were like how is your relationship with God? "Bad" he says.  haha welp at least he is honest. So he told us all about how he just got baptized because his family did and he never really felt that spirit that everyone always say they feel. And he wants to know why and how we have faith. So we taught and we taught with the spirit and at the end of our lesson I was testifying  and extending some promises and I looked at him and he was just crying. Ah! He felt the spirit. Then he came to church and in that moment when I saw him in the chapel  I felt something. Probably the happiest feeling I have ever had. It just was just such a  small thing but my happiest moment on the mission. 

 I have realized that there is a big difference in my Spanish when I have the spirit. We gave a couple lessons last week and it just flowed. I was surprised at some of the words I said that I am sure I didn't know before. I love doing this work IN THE RIGHT WAY. That is when the Lord will bless us with his spirit and we will see real conversion.

Our mission president said how he doesn't want baptisms! He wants real growth! There is no difference in a new member and a member reactivated! We are focusing on less active members so much now. 

Peru is one of the only South American countries without a training program for the members yet, But it starts next month! I am so excited because the work is going to grow! It's a plan called "la obra de Salvacion" and it is going to rock Peru.  We are going to really do the work in the right way.

I love you all and I miss you- but not too much! / Hermana Quist!!

By the way, I have decided the baby's name will be Sam ( as in samantha)

Week 21

Happy B-day Big AL! I love you! Try not to grow up too much before I get home! Speaking of getting home I am at 5 months which is basically 6 months which is basically 1/3 of my mission! Which is basically my whole mission! AHHHHHHHHHHHHH I already feel the part of me that doesn't want to come home.

So I am in Chorrillos Laureles. Look it up. Its pretty sweet we've even got a Pizza Hut here! Yeaaaah. It's way different and my arera is actually super small.  I was not transfered for danger reasons. It was because we had some missionaries in our mission that were temporary and they left to their real missions.

 I am with another North American! Which is never done! This is the first time Pres. did it because there is going to be alot more North Americans coming. It's pretty dangerous having 2 gringas together. I am with Hermana Del Rosario basically my favorite Hermana from the group in the MTC .We could not believe that we were going to be comps. It's basically so fun! We are so funny together. It's hard to be funny in Spanish and I feel like a different person when I can be funny and talk in English. SO it's nice to be able to express myself and be myself for a change. It's hard though because we don't want to talk in English but we do alllll the time. And now somtimes the English slips into my Spanish! But it's ok because we are only together till the end of this transfer then I am probably going to train a newbie here

( mark my words!) 

This area is a little more sketchy. We totally have drunk people out in the streets all the time. I almost pee my pants everyday, I am so scared. But God really protects us, so I don't feel too in danger. But yeah we have had some experiences. I tell you them when I get home haha. Also the other day we were attacked by a dog! It BIT my backpack. AAARRRREE YOU KIIIIIIIIDING ME! I was so scared! I kicked it in the face too! Yeah! I also hid behind my poor comp.

Speaking of poor, I was throwing up all morning. This was the first time I have gotten sick. We ate with the members last night and something did not sit right. #livinthelife! #joyofeatingwithmembers

The members REALLY like us. No joke. They love us. And this ward is already so much better than my branch in Canete. There are actually people that do their callings! I think ima love it here. 

Everyone says how we are their angels and go on and on about how much they love us. But it's just because right now God is using us to show his love for his children. It's weird being on this side of things. And its really helping me love them more, because I can feel the love God has for them when he uses me to show his love. God is good.

We tried to make Choc chip cookies (Gregs recipe) didn't really work out! But its just because they have weird and different ingredients here! Everyone  thought they were delicious so thats all that matters.