Frio Rico Time! A Post from Sister Turk October 23, 2012

Frio Rico Time!

If you look closely in this photo

You will see why all these missionaries are smiling...

IT'S FRIO RICO TIME!

Can you see President Turk at the check out stand

buying each of the Elders in the Porvenir Zone

and ice cream sundae bar?  They are called Frio Rico.

We love them around here.

It takes very little to make us happy.

Remember...  Wong Grocery Store is right below our office.

Missionaries are coming and going constantly in this place.

And just today, as I was at the check out stand earlier

buying the refreshments for interviews with Elder Cook and Elder Fackrell,

one of the cashiers was asking us where our church was.

She would like to attend and find out what makes

the missionaries so special.

You can believe that those Elders stopped getting the groceries

out of the cart and pulled out their agendas.

They had her phone number and address before

I could get to the grocery cart myself.

The bag boy that was helping us is one of our favorites.

He was a less active member and after having all these missionaries

coming through and encouraging him and getting him back to church...

he is now planning on serving a mission.

He also has one of his bag boy friends taking the lessons too.

I am going to talk to my favorite security guard about the gospel too.

He is great.  Wong is our home away from home.

We are grateful for a beautiful grocery store filled with nice people.

 President Turk asked each of these missionaries 

how the Book of Mormon has impacted their lives...

The stories are each precious and unbelievable.  Where do I start.

I can't tell you every story but I can tell you 

that each of these missionaries will never be the same because of the 

witness that they have received about the truthfulness of the

Book of Mormon.

They have each had the burning in the bosom that they cannot deny.

Tears were shed as they talked about these sacred experiences.

It's the most beautiful thing in the world to hear these young men 

and women testify that they know that there

is a higher calling to life than just going through
the motions of this time on the earth.

There is a real purpose that makes us feel fulfilled
and guided and full of joy... 

Some of our missionaries have memories of seeing
their parents reading and studying

the Book of Mormon when they were tiny...
Others remember reading the book 

at night with their mothers.  Some never read it on their own until 

high school and a few not even until the MTC.

(we would not recommend this)

One of these missionaries, at age 16, took the challenge with his Bishop 

to read the whole thing straight through without stopping.

The Bishop said that he would do it with him.

So they read for 22 hours straight.  He said that he didn't 

get tired.  He stopped to eat a couple of times.

He said that within the first few chapters his heart was pounding and 

he had the burning go throughout his body...

and he knew that what he was reading was true

and that it would change his life.

And it did and it has... and now it is changing

those that he is teaching and 

those that are reading with him here in the mission.

Another missionary said that his family was falling apart.

He couldn't believe what was happening.

Not one of them was active in the church and not one of them

was doing what they should be doing.

They were miserable and living in chaos.

He went home one day... when he was about 17

and found himself alone in the house.

He felt an overwhelming sadness come over him

and he could not stop crying.

A very strong impression came to him that said...

"you know what you need to do"

He stopped crying.... Looked up at the Shelf

and picked up the Book of Mormon and started to read.

He said that the he had the most incredible witness of his life.

He cannot even explain the burning that started at the top of his head

and flowed down through his body.

He knew that what he was reading was true.

He took the Book of Mormon 

and ran down to his Bishop's home.

He asked him what he needed to do to get his life

back on track.

The Bishop told him that he needed to prepare

himself to serve a mission.

From that point on he started to change his life...

he has been a light and example to all those in his family

and his friends and now all those he is affecting here on the mission.

I love these stories...  I could tell you a thousand more just like these.

Sweet.... Everyone... read the Book of Mormon!
Receive your own witness and story.

Porvenir Zone Includes:  Zone Leaders Elder Brian and Elder Hurley
Elders: Nelson, Quispe, Gómez, Russell, Fullmer, Alva, Chatwin, Patiño,
Coronado, Palma, Beazer, Camarena, Nystrom and Salazar

September 24, 2012 Jeremia 33:3

Dear Family,

This week was really great! The scripture of the week is Jeremias 33 verse 3. Sounds like you guys are doing really well. Im trying to send the pictures that didn´t send last time so.. enjoy! This week was really aweseome. Yesterday we had 8 of our investigators come to church. We have a couple of people who may be baptized this week. There is a girl named greissy who has been active in the church for a long time and has wanted to be baptized for a while but hasn´t been able to cuz her dad doesn´t want to give permission. Her mom is a member but doesn´t want to go against her husbands will. We have been trying to teach him since I got here. We finally got the chance this week. Focused on him and and some really great lessons with him. The spirit totally helped us now how to reach him and he opened way up. He even shared some spiritual experiences that he had had in his life. And he was even choking up as he did it. In the end he told us that greisy can be baptized if she wants but he whats to consult it with his other older children( who are less active members and a lot of the reason he didn´t want her to be baptized and not fulfill her commitment). We are going there to do family home evening tonight But she could possibly be baptized this week. We also found an 18 year old girl who was listening to the missionaries before I got here. Turns out she is really prepared and knows all the lessons and was just worried what her mom would think about baptism. We taught her mom this week and she seems happy about the idea. So hopefully we can see these miracles this week. Sounds like everyone is doing great and as busy as ever. Hows jett doing? does he walk? does he talk? how is is physical development haha? there are always moms with there babies here and I always think of how jett would be doing. Overall life is really good and we are really close to completing our goal as a zone, this is the last week, we lack 5 to complete the goal, and we have 4 dates in the zone for this week. So we know we can do it. Thanks for all your support! Loves,

ELder Hurley

September 17, 2012 3 Nephi 27:10

Dear Family. This week was great and faith building.

The scripture of the week is 3 nephi 27 verse 10. I have lots of pictures to send but I cant cuz i only have 5 minutes to tell you guys everything I want to. We baptised Jesus this week. It was a really hard week for him. He has a handicaped child in a wheelchair. In the start of the week his kid had to have his kidney removed. In the middle of the week, the same kid got Kidney stones. He had a really trying week. But pressed on with faith and didn`t drink and Got baptized. He is 47 and really awesome. We are hoping to baptize his wife next. Sounds like there are lots of changes at home. THATS AWESOME THAT WHIT IS GETTING ENGAGED!!!!. CONGRATS. I approve. Im so happy for her for reals. we do have the best family every and we are all maturing so rapidly! This past week was awesome. We did a training for our zone for like 2 and a half hours that went really well. Our zone is really animated and we are doing all we can to complete our goal this month. THis zone hasn`t met there goal since april. Today was awesome. WE went to a little lake thing as a zone that was only like 15 minutes away. We also climbed up this huge sand hill, played frisbee and a little futbol and ate lunch. It was so fun. Ill send pictures next week cuz I cant write now. Dad, according to my little minister card I end the 15th of may 2013. Its gotta be really close to that if not that exact date. Mom was talking about maybe wanting to come pick me up. It really depends on you guys. I defenitely want to come back to Peru some day and yes there is a ton here for tourists haha. Well I gotta go. but ill write more next week! thanks for writing me everyone!

elder Hurley

September 6, 2012 from Sister Turks Blog

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2012

A Look at the Leaders...

 Zone Leaders have a huge responsibility.

They are over all the missionaries under them... 

which could be 12 to 24 missionaries... they watch over

their health, their baptisms, their living conditions, their money,

their special assignments, their exchanges, their teaching skills...
their total welfare!

This is a lot of added work to their already full schedules.

But guess what?

We don't hear any of them complaining.

They just get the job done.

They are the best ever!

* denotes new Zone Leaders

 Elders Casanova and Gamboa- Casma Zone

Elders Mendoza and Araneda* Esperanza Zone

Elders Frietz and Saldivia - Central Zone

Elders Mamani and Northcott - Palermo Zone 

Elders Castillo and Marquez - East Zone 

Elders Escobar and Armstrong - Viru Zone

Elders Brian and Hurley - Porvenir Zone

Elders Johnson and Vera - Laureles Zone

Elders Felt* and Contreras - Chimbote Sur Zone

Elders Davila and Pillajo - Primavera Zone

  Elders Herrera* and Yat - Huaraz Zone 

Elders Olivares and DelaFuente - Chimbote Peru Zone

Elders Merida* and Prebe - Casa Grande Zone 

Elders Cornejo and Mecham - Assistants 

Elder Richards Personal Secretary to the President

Elder Cook Financial Secretary

Elder Mieles Secretary over Physical Facilities/Mailman/Supplies

Elder Castillo Secretary of Records

It is a long day of training and they have only just begun.

Now they change their clothes and head out

to do a service project at some of the Chapels.

Then they change their clothes again

and head out to a night filled with lessons...

They are Excellent!

September 10, 2012 Alma 32:37

Dear Family,

This week was really really great. I am way excited for this new change. The scripture of the week is alma 32:37. A seed is such a great example of Faith. Cuz it is the motivation, and the result. Our faith will continue to produce more faith if we nourish it. My new area is centenario in the porvenir zone. Elder Brian is also way cool and we have about the same desires in the mission. He is from kaysville. He wants to be a doctor also which is cool. He sirved in the office of the mission in finances and health for a time which is cool. This last week was really good we worked really hard. There is a lot of pf families here. Which means people who are members but not everyone in the family is a member. There are a lot of these people who are ready to baptized but just cant without permission from their parents. Porvenir is different than trujillo, its like more country like and not city. The mission home is probably like 30 minutes from here. Speaking of trujillo, we went there this week for zone leader council with president. These meetings are always so awesome. We ate kentucky fried chicken. (maybe there is a correlation between the being awesome and having good food) haha. We have one baptismal date. A brother named Jesus. He is an older man but is the head of the family which is awesome. He should be baptized this saturday. so wait, whit and tom are getting married officially now? that´s awesome!!! I kind of got that impression indirectly reading dads letter but is it like official now??? you gotta tell me these things more directly!! haha anyways congrats whit!!! is there a wedding date or something? Thanks for the ideas and updates about dentistry papa. I feel like when I get home I will just talk to everyone haha Ive learned to love meeting people and Im excited to be a dentist and meet so many people. Overall life is good thanks for writing me papa. have the best week of your life. 

Elder Hurley

September 3, 2012 John 6:46

Dear Family,
This week was good. Thanks For writing me. The scripture of this week is john 6 verse 46. Dad thanks for making me laugh with your english class. haha. I face this every day because the latins also have a responsibility to learn english in there missions. So its funny the many confusions that happen. Well Ill just jump right to my transfer (they call them changes here). ive been changed to be over the zone porvenir. which is in trujillo. My companion is elder brian who is a gringo. my area is called centenario (again haha thats the name of my area right now in huaraz) Im excited. I already know elder brian and he is awesome. Im leaving tonight in the night time to go to trujillo. I have some really great relationships with the people here in huaraz so it will be hard to leave. a lot of members and some converts have told me that they are going to wait at the bus station and send me off tonight. I love the huaraz, its more familiar. Im sure Ill get used to the city again in no time though. Our baptismal date maria is doing really great. I can see her change and being more repented and humble. The spirit is strong and I know she´ll be baptized on the 14th. Im not gunna be there though haha. but thats how things are in the mission. mom wanted to know how megan could prepare. tell her to focus on studying chapter 3 of preach my gospel. that is what we talk about every day of our missions and im still studying it even 16 months into my mission. the second counselor of our ward is now fully active. Being able to activate him by the spirit has been just as satisfying as a baptism. he sat on the stand yesterday for the first time I have ever seen. He even bore his testimony. The spirit works miracles. Overall, I love you guys so much. We are so blessed to have the true gospel. There isn´t any other way to eternal life. Im thankful to my parents for bringing me into the world with the gospel so available. And Im grateful to our heavenly father for giving me a testimony of my own of his true church and gospel. an inspiration that I got this week was that the only way we can show jesus christ that we are remembering him is by taking of his body and blood as we take the sacrament. Even praying every day isn´t enough to remember him because we pray to God not to him. I want to invite you all to prepare now to partake of the sacrament worthily this sunday repented, so that you can start the week of totally clean. I know these ordinances are real because I have felt it. Have the best week of your life!
Elder Hurley

August 27, 2012 2 Corinthians 7:8-10

Dear Family this week was grood. The scripture of the week is 2 corinthians 7 verses 8 through 10. This week was good. we finished off the month with 12 baptisms in the zone. Our ward went to the temple and 4 of my converts here in huaraz went to do baptisms for the dead which was cool. We returned to that orphanage aldea to help more. we are pick axing and shoveling around their wall so they can paint it. today we went to some ruins that are close by huaraz. that was cool. they were closed so we couldn`t go in them but we got some good pictures from outside. This sunday are transfers. Im almost positive that im going to be changed. Ive been in huaraz for 6 months. I love it here but its cool to know other places. We talked in church yesterday which was good. Spanish is so normal for me now and english is what is foreign. Today on our way back from these ruins there was some tourists from australia. They couldn`t even understand us speaking spanish and I spoke to them in english but it was kind of hard haha. We also went to a place called caraz to do some baptismal interviews twice this week. We have to travel a lot. want to talk about the people im working with. A sister named maria accepted to be baptized on the 14th of september. She has been investigating the church for about 15 years. we had a lesson where the spirit was so strong and she has been coming to church every week now. We talked to her husband hector, who was baptized in january or so. Ive never seen him in church my whole time here. But we talked to him about repentence and priesthood and that he if he wanted to could baptize his wife. He came to church yesterday and didn`t want to leave the building. Hes such a great guy, I could see his repentence in his eyes. He also talked with our bishop to make goals to receive the preisthood and baptize his wife. Way cool. WE also found a reference named wagner who came to church the past week but yesterday no. but he attended a lot of times before he came to huaraz. The last time we talked with him he accepted a date for the saturday, its still possible but going to be hard cuz he didn`t attend yesterday. But we are helping him. He is in huaraz working on become police. Overall Im happy. THanks so much for sending me pics. The remodeled house looks amazing. The office today called and said they found my package. apparently whoever sent it here put the mission address wrong, and it was sitting in some bus place for like 2 weeks haha. just to make sure you guys know the address is 
Elder Hurley
Mision peru trujillo
Avenida Larco 849
3 piso
Urb. La merced
Trujillo-La Libertad
Perù 
 Got a letter from dayton this week which is cool cuz I wrote him a letter last week that I am going to send today. People do have shoes. Everyone has like soccer shoes. We walked to this place far from my area with this old lady who is a member, and she wore like these athletic soccer shoes haha. it was funny and cool. Well love you guys have a great week!
Elder Hurley