Last Letter Home From Peru 6/20/16

t's been such an amazing journey. It has been so so special to serve here in Lima Peru and know these people who are now so dear to me. Today I was able to visit my areas and many of the people who I was able to teach in these past two years and it was so sweet to feel their love and care for me. I have been able to come closer to feeling the true love of God for everyone of his children and for the perfect love that Christ showed for us as he Atoned for our sins. I have been able to serve with all my heart might mind and strength and break the skin of my knees every night praying for each and every one of these great brothers and sisters of mine. 

As my mission concludes I feel perfectly content with the work that God has given me the chance to perform, for the opportunity to serve him, and for the blessing to become more like him. I know that the Gospel of Jesus Christ changes lives, it has definitely changed mine. I know that in this dark and fallen world that we live in, Christ is our light. I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the true church of God and that He guides it through a chosen prophet and seer and 12 apostles. We are guided by God. I know that the Bible and the Book of Mormon are the word of God and that they are our compasses that guide us to pace and calmness. I know that Joseph Smith saw a pillar of light brighter than the sun, and that his prayer was answered by God the Father and his son Jesus Christ. I love my savior and I am so grateful for the blessing to serve him for these past two years. Obedience to the commandments is how we can not simply live, but truly prosper by the hand of God every day. I know these things are true, and I know that if I always remember them and put them in practice, my testimony will continue to grow stronger and stronger. I know these things with all my heart, and I share this in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Love,
Elder Lambson :)

June 13, 2016

So I forgot to explain the pictures last week. I got sick again, I was in bed for a day with a migrain. It was the worst headache I have ever had and I couldnt do anything. My companion took care of me, and the pension brought us food but I couldnt even eat. I woke up feeling so bad in the morning, but all though I felt so bad we couldnt not go to a service we had planned with a new family we are teaching, I worked up enough strength to get out of bed go barely to the street, we got a taxi and went to house, I tried helping but I ended up just out of it on their couch while my companion helped for a few hours. I felt like I was going to throw up when we were leaving but we managed to get to the room in another taxi and I just crashed all day until the next morning. The project was super cool, we are helping them put in a second floor inside of their house, but its withe metal bars, it reminded me a lot of my eagle project. They are a family of three, and they are so great, they recognize the spirit when we have taught them and they know that the restoration is true. We were able to help them again this saturday and I was able to actually help haha. We finished the bars and started puting in the wood, it looks super cool and it is going to help them have so much more space in their home. (I will take a picture this week) they went to stake conference this weekend and it was a powerhouse. They loved the messages. Sandy, and her daughters Ariana and Kimberly also went to the conference and they loved it. Their baptism is this weekend :)

This week we also had a very special visit..... We met and got to shake hands with Elder Ronald A. Rasband of the 12. It was soooo coool. He is awesome. The church really is guided by God through the Prophet and the 12 apostles. They are chosen by the Lord himself and I know that they are his special witnesses. It was an amazing training and I felt the spirit so strong.

So its my last week in the mission. Its a bitter sweet moment. I cant really explain how I feel knowing its my last week as a full time missionary, but I know the work never stops. All that I have learned in these two years are going the foundation of a happy life being anxiously engaged always in a good cause. Im going to continue sharing my testimony, continue to invite others to come unto christ, and continue living the commandments of God being a witness of him at all time in all things and in all places. A city on a hill can not be hidden.

I love you guys so much! See you soon :)

-

Love,
Elder Lambson :)

This is Pablo! He is a recent convert, we buy cookies from him every day :) 

and a Family, they are members. We put the goal with them to read the Book of Mormon together as a family this year :) 

June 6, 2016

This week we went to the temple. It was a great experience. I was able to meditate and reflect upon the great blessings in my life and what is to come. I read my blessing and felt a great peace to know that the Lord has blessed me chapter after chapter in my life. Now the time is coming to start new chapters and I have the Lords promise that if I complete with my part, He will always be there to carry me and open doors that I wouldn't be able to imagine by myself. 20 years old and I have had some of the most amazing experiences, now to imagine "what else does He have prepared for me?". Its mind blowing. But I know that if I take advantage of everything God gives me and make the most of each and every experience, He will continue to trust me and give me exactly what I need to progress, and continue to help those around me. He is always willing to give, but He invites us to complete our part first so that we can progress. It's all thanks to Him. See you soon!! I love you so much, thank you so much for all of your prayers, love and support. 

--

Love,
Elder Lambson :)

May 31, 2016

I don't remember if I told you or not but a few of our investigators from my last ward have been baptized in these past few weeks.  One boy is 9 and was baptized the week after I left, I was so happy, he wanted me to go back to baptize him, unfortunately at the end we weren't able to travel, but my companion told me everything went well :) Then this weekend B was baptized :) We found her contacting a building and it turns out that her mom was a less active member for over 20 years, she is now rescued and her daughter is a member too :) 

The work is going great here. Like I said we have half the area full city, but there is another part that is also super busy, but a little more similar to the rest of my areas. Of course not AS receptive just because of the life style and movement of the place. But we do have a small family of three with baptismal dates for the 18th of June :) The mom and her two daughters, They are doing so well :) 

We talk to at least 15 people every day on the streets or knocking doors, and you really do have to be creative sometimes haha. Every person has a whole life behind them, something that makes them who they are, we have to find a connection with each person we talk to, everyone has the light of Christ within them, we just have to help them recognize it, and most importantly... feel it. Nothing happens by coinsidense. (I need to study spelling again when I get home) (and grammer..) anyways. Better said, God always knows where we need to be and when. It is not by chance that our P day was changed (We are going to the temple today tuesday). It was programmed by God. Yesterday we met one of the best profile investigators you can imagine. He came up to us in the street and we talked for a minute, he said he was feeling a spiritual emptiness and had dedicated his day off of work (that was specifically that day) to look for the truth and find answers to his questions. He was going to all of the churches he knew close to his house and asking who he knew were priests, or pastors. He felt an impression to go up a street to the home of another friend where he had already gone, but decided to go anyways, and chose to take a different path than normal, that is just when he saw us walking down the street and we began to talk. We told him we could go to his house at that moment, so we went. He told us his life story, he let it all out and we shared the plan of salvation. He said we were sent of God to answer his prayers and that we had answered many of his questions, and also answered many questions that he didn't even know he had. It is such a blessing to see how God works miracles and how if we follow the spirit he will put us exactly where we need to be to bless the lives of his children.

The spirit is so real! I love you!! Have an amazing week :)
--
Love,
Elder Lambson :)

May 23, 2016 - One month and 3 days until his Homecoming Talk

So this week we taught in the 7th story of a 16 story building. We are contacting lots and lots of people sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ so that they can have a better life. There are some who are prepared, and some who are humble enough to allow them selves to be prepared. You could say we are "sifting through the mud to find the gold." There are some great people here. This week we talked with many many new people and we were able to take out many visits to return, we arrived to many doors and many were not able to receive us, but we keep inviting, sharing, and searching. There are people who the Lord is preparing and if we show him that we really want to find them he will put them in our path. 

This week we met a lady and her 2 daughters, they are awesome, they are a true miracle and proof that the Lord is guiding us. We were able to teach them twice this week and help them understand the importance of gospel in our lives and they have a baptismal date for the 11th of June! Like coach Day taught us we have to have URGENCY! Every second counts, you have to give it all until the final whistle!!



--
Love,
Elder Lambson :)

May 16, 2016

Half of the area is in Surquillo, and the other half in Mira Flores. Its on the coast, its the last area of the Lima East mission on the border of the Lima South Mission. I don't have pictures of my new area yet haha. My companion is cool! His name is Elder Betancourt, he is from Bolivia. He has 6 weeks in the mission and I have 6 weeks left. Haha all week we were making that joke to the members, he would say "I have 6 weeks in the mission." and I would say "I also have 6 weeks in the mission.... until I go home." haha. 

I love the area it is soo cool!! The ward needs a little work though. President had come here the week before to speak in there sacrament and by what my companion says he burned them pretty hard haha but I'm here doing all I can to build the relationship between the members and the missionaries so that together we can find everyone who is ready to receive the Gospel of Jesus Christ. There is so much potential here! We have a goal to find all of the business professionals that we can, to be able to teach those who will make an impact on the church and help it to continue growing. Its been fun haha. A little nerve racking at first but we were able to find a few this week and it was awesome. We taught a family in the 3rd floor of a 10 story building this week, the first time that I have had to pass through security, and take an elevator to teach a lesson! It's awesome though! It really helps you to take a look at things with a different view point and I'm grateful for the new blessings, and also the new trials as you can imagine haha. 

 
We are working with a few atheists as well and it has been so interesting, and so powerful to be able to testify that there really is an all knowing and all powerful supreme being who created us, and even more wonderful is that he actually knows each one of us personally and loves us more than we are capable of comprehending. Mind blowing. I love it.
Adventure is out there. Have a great week :)



--
Love,
Elder Lambson :)

May 9, 2016 48 days until Elder Lambson's Homecoming Talk

This was such a great week working with Elder Chota. He is from Tingo, Chachapoya, las amazonas. He was kicked by a horse when he was about 15 and cancer began to grow in his leg. Due to the rapidness of the growth the only option left was to amputate. He gets around just fine with his one leg and his crutch. 

He has been living here in Lima with his brother and he has always had the desire to serve a full time mission ever since he was converted in 2011 when he was 16. This week with the permission of the mission president and the stake president he was set apart as an elder and worked with my companion and I all week long. Depending on our informs he will be able to start his papers to head out for 2 years. He has done an awesome job!!! He is such a trooper, he has worked hard and hasn't shown one sign of weakness or lack of self confidence. Its been a great privilege to be able to work with such a great example like him!! 

My companion Elder Moreno from Mexico is also a great example and a dear friend, he will be staying here in Universal ward and will receive a new companion as the zone leader here in Santa Anita. As for me... :) Im headed out to finish the training of a new elder just starting the mission in an area called Surquillo, Surco. Its one of the top 3 richest areas in the mission haha. Elder Moreno said that the first time in his life that he ever saw a Ferrari, was in this area haha. So Im super excited. I know that its going to be an amazing experience and I know that all that I have learned in these 22 months is going to be necessary to strengthen this ward and this new Elder who is going to be my las companion in the mission.

We had an awesome week!!

This week we found out some awesome news, we have a young woman with a baptismal date that is progressing so well, she is so intelligent and understands so well. Apart from knowing, she has also felt that this gospel is true. We taught her with her mom yesterday who we have met a couple of times and has also come to church. She told us that she knew the church when she was 16 and that she was baptized too! She had fallen away for college and relationships and then got involved with other religions. But now she understands better the church and has found the true path again. It is such a miracle that now the difference between her and her daughter is that now they will be doing it together. They are going to strengthen each other and its going to be so awesome! She will be baptized on the 28th. 

It was awesome talking to you guys on mothers day! I love you so so much!! The Gospel is real!!! It makes bad men good, good men better, and truly changes human nature! Let Him work miracles in your life!
--
Love,
Elder Lambson :)