Dustin's July 25th Letter

2011 July 25

Dear Mom,

My week was great. Glad you enjoyed Girl’s Camp, I know how much you love to spend time with the young women and I know they love it to; you are a great example for all of them. The family reunion sound like it’s going great and that you’re all in for another week of fun and games. That`s great that Travis got a job at the hospital! I`m happy for them. My companion pretty much loves all the candy but I think he likes Swedish fish and Junior Mints more than anything. I was wondering if you could send me the recipes for BBQ sauce, Pizza Dough, and the Oatmeal chocolate chip Cookies, in you next e-mail. It would be great. Thanks :) This week we had a baptism! Patricia Carolina Barrantes Velasquez was baptized by Elder Zuniga and I confirmed her yesterday. This week we didn`t have very many lesson with members (13) and next week the YSA have an encampment and we have interviews and trainings. So it will be a fighting battle to meet our goal, but it is definitely possible. We will have 2 more baptisms this Saturday and we are teaching many others that are progressing and that will get baptized in August. Sorry if I don`t put a whole ton of information in my e-mails about my investigators but I try. We also found a couple families this week that I can see as eternal families. Just have to work, work, work. My companion and I have been in the same area together for 3 months and the area is quite small and the room even smaller. We were beginning to get a little bored of each other and walking down the same streets everyday but we`ve  found the solution, we are going to reorganize EVERYTHING and get creative. If you have any ideas we are open to suggestions :) But we`re handling it well and with the help of the Lord we are getting better every day. Anyway, That`s my life and I love you Mom!!! I have one more year to give it my best. Keep me in your prayers.

Love,

Elder Divis

Dustin's July 18th Letter

2011 July 18th

Dear Mom,

One year as a full-time missionary... seems like so long ago but at the same time like yesterday. But I still won`t consider it one year until next week cause the little certificate they gave me in the MTC says I don`t end the mission until the 25 of July (but its close enough) Everything is going good down here in good old Iquitos. We didn`t have any baptisms this week but the next two week we`ll have a few. Yesterday I gave a talk in sacrament meeting and taught the Gospel Principles class and we sung a special musical number (I sang so you know it wasn`t too good:) it went well. I got your package on Wednesday! Thanks for all the goodies, sheets, peanut butter, BBQ sauce, and most of all the letter from William :) I am enjoying it all (my companion too:) This week we struggled to find new investigators and didn`t find many but we still had a successful week otherwise. Hope you had fun at girls’ camp. Tell the family that I love them and say hi to everyone. The weather here is pretty much how it is there at home it gets pretty hot for a couple days then a little thunderstorm or two and hot again. We are just entering in summer here, so it will rain less and the sun will burn more. Wish me luck (but don`t worry cause I have tons of sunscreen :) I love you Mom and can`t wait to hear back from you.

Love,

Elder Divis (Dustin)

We did a service cutting down ``weeds`` with machetes’

Dustin's July 11th Letter

2011 July 11

Dear Mom,

Thanks for the E-mail! My week went pretty well. Dad seems to be doing well with his work. How`s he liking the traveling and all that? Hope you`re all having as good of a time as I am.

Tomorrow are transfers! And I am staying here in Iquitos, Woo hoo!! Elder Zùniga and I are staying here together. 3 transfers together. This week we had 2 baptisms and the ward also baptized two 8 year old kids. They all got baptized in the same service and the room was overflowing with people (literally, everyone didn`t fit in the room) but it was a great experience. I baptized Idelmaro Rojas Rios (21 years old) and he wants to serve a mission!!!, and Williams de la Cruz, baptized his nephew (12 years old) and he got the priesthood yesterday. We`re also working more and more with the members. We had 30 lesson with members present! and we have two baptismal dates for the 23 of July. Silfo Pizango and Patricia Barrantes. I love doing missionary work. It makes me unremarkable happy to see the converts preparing and passing the sacrament, receiving calling in the ward and even receiving the Melchizedek Priesthood and filling out mission papers already :) I have a lot of work to do and I know the Lord will lead and guide throughout my life to bring many to Him. I love you mom and can’t say how grateful I am for all you do. Say hi to the family and the ward.

Love,

Elder Divis

Cesar, Elder Zuniga, and Idelmaro 

(from left to right) Raul; Ward Mission Leader, Brayan,

                                            Williams, Bishop Braga, me, and Idelmaro

Dustin's July 4th Letter

2011 July 4

Dear Mom,

My week was great! That’s sad that Cameron and family got sick right when they had planned to come but hey, that’s life right? But you`ll get to see him in a few short weeks and Andy and Divina`s family. Sounds like the family is as good as ever and it makes me happy to hear how the family is doing. it`s finally getting a little hotter there, eh? The only weird part is the LOWS, here they just give the temp. and then to hear that it was getting dark around 9pm! The sun has gone down at 6 to 6:30 in my world for almost a year. This week we didn`t have any baptisms but we have 2 planned for this weekend and we found some really great investigators this week. The weather here has been ´´cold´´ that means about 60 degrees and I am starting to feel cold almost as often as the Peruvians. I think it is due to that fact that I have been living in the Amazon Rainforest for 8 months. I still have not got your package but I am sure it’s already in Lima and the ZL are going there this week so when they come back they`ll probably have it. I got the package that Laura sent me!!! Thanks Laura and Craig and Kendra!!!! I am super happy for Jordan and that he is excelling in work. I love the pictures; everyone says that Jordan and I look exactly the same. The great room looks amazing. Jeff and Dad have been doing good work. I love you mom, and I receive blessing everyday thanks to you and you example and desires to serve the Lord, serving others.

Love,

Elder Divis