Well this was an interesting week in Jaen.
Here in this zone they are struggling with lessons with members and then also the numbers of new investigators. We worked hard to have a member come out with us as often as possible. Also Elder Nordhoff has been helping me a lot more with my spanish.

We noticed a great improvement in lessons with members, but there is still a long way to go. 

Something interesting is a member from Elder Nordhoffs old ward came to visit for a day. I knew him too , this kid was a mini missionary for a whole change. It was cool he came and visited with us and caught up with elder Nordhoff. I guess when elder Nordhoff came into his ward he found this kid smoking drinking and stealing lots of money from his relatives. It is amazing to see how much of a change the missionaries had in his life. He is now preparing to leave for his mission this next Wednesday. He will be going to the Buenas Aires South mission. This kid is so awesome. So basically he stayed for a day and after he left it made Elder Nordhoff a little trunky to the point he just wanted to just contact and go eat. The next day his was ready to work.

So this district is a little funny because it has a funny name that the previous district leader put. It is called Las Galletas. First it translates to cookies... Which that is what  to paires of Sisters think the district is called, because usually someone brings cookies. But really Elder Miranda asked Elder Nordhoff for an insult for white people and elder nordhoff told him cracker. Galleta means both cookies and crackers, but only the elders and our pension, and the ward mission leader know the joke. It is even more true now because the district is pure Norte Americanos.

This week I also did an interchange with the zone leaders which were really enjoyable. The zone leaders actually get to cook their own food which is cool and which sucks some times. I learned quite a bit from the zls and just how to plan to teach. The only part that sucked is what the zl bough for dinner was just a bunch of rolls and milk. Which is lame... so I shared the food of the other zl.

Anyway it is freaking hot here. I have been told here the seasons are just freaking burning hot, or crazy raining seasons, so I guess I will have to get used to it. The only thing that sucks is that since it is hotter we must drink more liquids and really in this mission they don't give you much personal money to buy, but asi es la mision. 

Well best of luck at home,

Elder Mecham

June 8, 2015

Well this week I had transfers. I said goodbye to Elder Unruh and then we went to the changes meetings. It was really hard saying good bye to all of my old area. I will miss all of them. Especially the bishop.

The changes meeting are always interesting because well you get to hear President and his wife give news about the mission. Like if the are opening any areas or if a general authority is coming. President talked about the coming up dedication of the Trujillo temple. Basically I will not see the Trujillo temple unless if i come back after my mission. This change was also very interesting because it was the last time people could be sent to the zones Cajamarca and Guandelupe because after the changes the mission split.

I was called to somewhere far away from everywhere like the Chiclayo and all the other zones. I was moved to a city called Jaen. Which is about 6 and a half hours away. I am still in The mission Chiclayo though. I am now in a ward called Morro Solar and my area is morro solar 2. I was nervous that I was going to get my first Latino companion, but nope it did not happen. The cool thing is I am companions with someone that was in the first district. I am also in the same area that my trainer elder Jarmon went to so the pension knows him. He was here for 5 changes so basically a really long time.

My companions Name is elder Nordhoff, he is from Sandy Utah. He is a cool guy. He played football for Hillcrest high. The coolest part is he knows Arabic. His friends are all Muslims and he is huge into history. He also really likes Palestine. He has the Palestinian flag hanging in the room and he has a bunch of free Palestine shirts. I think it is kind of funny.

Jaen is super hot. The cool thing is is it actually has a lot of plants and greenery. My old area Kennedy was just a bunch of dirt. It is somewhat hard to sleep here because it gets so hot in the room. I am happy to be here though.

All is well, I am still adjusting and doing my best to learn this area.

We also had a baptism,

June 1

yeah I have changes

so today I have been packing, we played soccer and also pulled out money, we then ate with a member for lunch. I will  this area. Tomorrow I will be changed to who knows where...

This area was amazing. I will really miss the bishop. 

This week we set a baptismal date on Miguel, I wont be here but I hope for the best for him.

I am doing well but I am nervous for this next week.

May 25

My week was okay this week. On tuesday, we walked to our district meeting and on the way we just contacted and handed out a bunch of temple open house invitations. The district meeting was really good too. Elder Mortensen talked about finding the miracles that are promised to us. The key is through obedience, diligence and faith. The Book of Mormen promises miracles and they do come. He also challenged us to seek the joy that comes from the work. I was all happy to start working again, but, my companion got super sick. Tuesday we did not leave the room. Then because we live in the same room I got sick the next day. We did not end up leaving the room until friday after weekly planning.

Oh, a funny thing this week, for the missionary ward activity they decided that they were going to watch a movie, and had a movie night. They put of in charge of finding the movie. We tried to get a hold of a copy of the testaments in spanish. Sadly it did not work out, but the Young Single Adults representative said that she had a movie and all would be taken care of in the end. When we showed up she showed us the movie. One it had nothing to do with the church. And the other funny thing is Elder Unruh looked on the back of the dvd and the movie was rated R. We tried to explain that they should not watch the movie. But I guess people in South America just do not understand the whole rating system. They have all been desensitized. So while the ward watched a rated R movie we ate popcorn and chatted with the bishop.

We found a new family, an entire family that we have began teaching. They seem pretty interested. I hope they progress, so they can eventually get sealed in the temple. They even went to the temple open house. The members, by way say the temple is gorgeous. Sadly, we will not get to see it. but I have a chance if I get changed missions which I doubt it. 

Well all is well. THis is the last week of the change then I will probably have my first transfer.

Elder Mecham

May 18, 2015

Life

This week was just another hard word week. We did splits this Sunday and we had a lot of success. I can say for my Spanish I can survive and live in a different country now.

But if it comes to answering the phone haha, it takes time and some repetition on the other person{s part, but it is all coming along.

We have an investigator that has now been coming to church frequently with his family who are members. I am hoping that he will accept a baptismal date that is for the 30th of may. Their family is heading to the Trujillo open house this next week on Saturday, so hopefully that does the trick for him. I would put money on the house of the Lord to help move the work forward.

About transfers to the other mission. All of Cajamarca and Guadelupe these two zones are going to the other mission. Basically how it will work is that the missionaries who are in these two zones will just transition over to a different mission. They will have a new president and all. 

There is a possibility that I go to the new mission. It would be idk different. I have become accustomed to President Williams and how he teaches, but I would more than willingly go to the other mission. I have 2 weeks left in this change and then yep I will have my first change.

Oh yah, this week there was a multi zone meeting. Basically we get together and learn how to be better missionaries. The best part is that they feed you good food too. We had pizza hut. That was the best. The other great part is seeing the other missionaries from the other zones. I saw 3 other missionaries that came to Chiclayo with me. One that was actually in my district in the CCM. THey were all doing well. The best part was I was actually able to have conversations with the latinos from my group.

President gave some great trainings. One on Jacob 5. But the main focus was how we should use the scriptures more in our teachings. The president did a demonstration with the assistant. And basically on the spot the assistant, Elder Lalli, answered all the presidents questions by reciting scripture masteries. It was amazing. So now my goal is to get the scripture masteries down in spanish.

Well life is good. LG

Elder Mecham

May 11, 2015

Hey
This week was really enjoyable, yet just another good week. A missionary came home this week, so the ward was super excited. So excited that they just skipped ward counsel. It was a strong ward counsel that consisted of the Bishop and the Relief Society President. The ward mission leader actually told all the others to not come... Well one day the counsel will all be there. Algun dia. But we did are part anyways.. When life gives you lemons... or limes make cebiche because it tastes better then lemonade, but lemonade is good too. I not gonna say no to a good lemonade. I just like food in general. I could dedicate a whole novel to my obsession with food. Starting with rice. Well ya right.

Mothers day here is a huge deal. Pervuvians celebrate basically all of the holidays in the united states and more. Mothers day hear basically starts on thursday and then it goes through the rest of the weekend. The ward put together a huge talent show. We were going to perform something, but with the typical mormon standard time, plus the pervuvian hour the did not start the talent show until 9:30pm which is the time we have to be in our room. The next day we just heard how great it was. We also heard the the show went until midnight. Pervuvians know how to party.

Basically i am doing all right. I am enjoying the Libro de Mormon. Today I read the part where Ammon dominates the freaking lamanites. The best part is I love how it describes the preparations of the sons of mosiah. The prayed and fasted. The feasted and knew the scriptures. It is my goal to qualify like them for the company of the spirit. They are beasts.

Love you all. Feel free to send packages. El Inka cost less. 

Elder Mecham

May 4, 2015

4 DE MAYO 6 monthes 

That only means I have 18 morhtes left to work my Heart out

I am Happy, yet a little sad... I love this work.

Cool sats

" baptisms Blanca Santos and Gina Vidarte

And lots of Contactings, lessons, ... etc.

Higlights of My week

Interchanges with Elder Mortensen

I learned to to better ask for references

For the best success there is a need for 19 new investigators every week

Contacting is not that bad

Have fun with the mission

Stay bust and obedience brings miracles

CONTACTING Funnies

Adude called us up and asked if we were to die today would we go to heaven... The way he asked the qeustep was strange and his tone of voice.. I felt like it was a trap. So I asked him what the heaven were to him.

He got upset and started jumping to conclusiosn, and he attacked the church. The best part was w he told us he knew us and that we were teaching blasphemy. Elder Unruh said, [ Really, then what is my name ( covering up his tag9. Dude ¨ummmmm.... well the libro de mormon, uh, what does mormon mean? Elder Unruhy, Ïts a person.... The Dude; ¨NO! MORMON = POLYGAMY!! Then the guys stomped off. I was then thinking Silly paster, Hate, is of the devil. 

Then we ran into other drugs. but that is usual.

 Ginas baptism= amazing. I gave a mensaje which was easy. The best part is her uncle baptized her. I was in tears because I was overcome by the spirit. I could feel that the lord accepted this baptizsm.  It is amazing. I feeling I cannot desribe with words. I love this work. The church is true. Amamen.

My district leader and I on interchanges