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 :)

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 :)

March 7, 2016

Spiritual experience of the week-

We are seeing many amazing things here in the area. Yesterday we felt the spirit so strong teaching a less active family the last lesson so that the mom and daughter could be rescued. (the dad was rescued last week) I was sharing my testimony with them and I just felt over come with happiness and I told them, we really do love you guys so much, we are so so happy for this great change that you have been able to see and all it took was to recognize things that you already knew. It is so important to treat less actives like investigators and just give them all the love you can. Unfortunately a big problem we see with less actives is that it turns into a routine with Mormon message videos etc, but if you satisfy their needs WITH the 5 missionary lessons, they will come back soo strong! We are planning on going to the temple with this family the 24th along with our Ward mission leader and some other recent converts and rescues to do work for the dead, and this family that I'm talking about is taking the classes to be sealed here in a couple of months!!! :) When we diligently do what we are supposed to do in the Lords way, not our way, he will always bless us more than we can even imagine!
-

Love,
Elder Lambson :)

September 14, 2015

Such an awesome week! I love my companion and my district. The wards great, the people even greater. I love hiking every day, the views are so beautiful! The activities are going awesome and we are finding a ton of people to teach!! Baptisms for the month of October looking good! I love my area so much. Chosica is amazing! I am feeling the spirit so strongly in every moment, its the best thing ever! Testimony growing stronger and stronger every day. So much revelation and so many awesome experiences. Lots of service as well! I'll send more pictures next week! I love you so much!!

--

Love,


Elder Lambson :)

August 17, 2015

Weddings: The families are progressing super well! Thank you so much for your prayers because 2 of the families almost didn't make the date to be married, but the state extended one week more!! Haha its so crazy. So 1 couple was on track, everything ready, the other couple just decided to do their own wedding and not the massive, and the other two couples hadnt been able to complete every requirement but were so happy when they received one more week to finish everything to be married on September 6th!

Temple: We are taking America (a less active sister that we rescued) and her daughter J (who was baptized on july 4th) to the temple this friday along with another family, J and her daughter! Its going to be so cool!

Baptisms: We have 2 on track for their baptismal date on the 29th of August, one is M, she is 11, we are reactivating her family and her dad who was against the church has softened his heart and is allowing her to be baptized because she really wants to! The other is Hermano J, he is one of the couples getting married, his wife was less active, they are getting married on the 27th in their own wedding and he wants to be baptized on the 29th! All of this is so amazing and makes me so happy and there are many other families like this that we are reactivating and finding others who are prepared to make this sacred convenient with God, 

Testimony: Baptism is awesome! Im so happy I was baptized and now I get to thank the Lord by helping others have Faith in Him, Repent of their sins and transgressions, be Baptized, receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, and Endure until the end! Follow Gods commandments and you will be blessed. I think about how happy I could be in life with out the Gospel, but then I realize that its multiplied by 100 because I DO have the Gospel in my life, and with so many blessing that God has given me, it is my sacred duty to help others feel this same amazing happiness and joy. God Lives, He is our Father. Jesus Christ lives and is our Savior. They both love us soo much. There are so many blessings prepared for us, they are just waiting until we take that one step in the darkness and show them how big our faith is. Don't hesitate. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Love you, Have a great week!
--
Love,
Elder Lambson :)

In the back of a Moto Taxi! Everyday!

Painting!

Huaycan city! (Im in Las Lomas, De Huaycan)

With N and E! They're getting married on the 6th of September!

We put the crazy dog on the wall.
Millanesa and the Pension, Hermana Santos

June 8, 2015

We had transfers this week! My old companion was called to be a zone leader in Campoy! I'm so stoked for him! He has an amazing story, when he was 9 his mom died of an illness, and when he was 12 his dad died of a heart attack. He has 3 older brothers and the 4 of them took each other of them selves alone working hard. With time the 4 of them were baptized and he says the Faith in God and the blessings are what kept them alive. He being the youngest of the 4 reached the age to be able to leave on the mission and they made the choice to leave together, they sold the house and almost everything they had, and 3 of the 4 brothers left for the mission the same day, one to Chile, and the other two to different places in Peru. 

When we were put together as companions, he was at a hard time in the mission, he had 19 months and was a little depressed and confused. The two of us were able to work together and forget about our selves and put all of our efforts towards the work of God, We really had lots of trials like not having a Ward Mission leader the whole transfer, having very difficult leaders and other problems in the ward, and in many occasions we came back just exhausted from climbing the hills all day long, but we were able to follow the guidance of the Spirit and give it everything we had and I can tell you that we literally saw miracles from God. This last transfer was the fire that we needed, to mold and shape us into the kind of missionaries the God needs. My companion left being a Zone Leader and I stayed here and Im now the District Leader and I am also training again. 

And now I want to tell you my second son and new companion Elder Granda from Ecuador is also the best! His testimony has truly inspired me. Our area lives up to its name "Las Lomas" the hills, and more hills. He is a guy with a little more weight, not the best physique but he climbs those hills like an animal. He has to wait for a while at the top to catch his breath but every time we climb I love what he says to him self, "Its all for the Lord, its all for the Lord, these people need me." Its such a blessing to see a young missionary with such motivation and to know that God is trusting in me to help mold this excitement that he has and make him into a great missionary and servant of God to keep changing the lives of others through the spirit and his sweet and true testimony. 

We are now working with our recent converts to be able to bring them to the Temple! The Temple is the Goal! Never forget it. Families can be together forever!

Love,

Elder Lambson :)

February 9, 2015

Oh yeah thats so weird that the papers didn't get through to you guys (in the package I sent) I put in a note for our family explaining everything (I sent) , and a note for the Jackmans but really weird they didn't make it through. I sent my watch back because, I slipped on some slippery stairs and when I landed the force on my wrist from my hand broke the watch but its an easy fix over there in the states.

Hope Sally (Dave) can keep getting better, sippin on his Tab and watching politics haha. So cool to hear about Parker and that he is actually doing stuff with his life! And its good that Alex is busy studying, Id like to hear more about him and how everything is going, I tell lots of people about Alex and I tell them Im the first missionary in my family because my brother had an accident and wasn't able to go, so I'm out here doing everything for him too. And wow my mom is amazing! I cant' believe the Parade is already here again wow. It feels like no time at all that I was just chillin in those sweet houses saying Hi welcome to The Parade of homes ..... haha. 

So cool how you got to explain the Restoration (to Kaleen's Primary class)! I explain the Restoration every single day! Its amazing! The kids sound so funny haha. 

Some of my experiences this week, we got to go to the Temple Thursday, we changed a tire on a moto taxi, saw a drunk dude get punched in the face by another drunk dude, got marriage and dating advice from a 71 year old Islamic man who apparently still "does it" once a week but not twice because he has to be careful. haha   We did a big service for this family up on the mountain side doing more than 5 travels up and down gigantic stairs with giant speakers tables and bed frames in our church clothes, and taught the Gospel to many blessed people like this one sister who was a reference, that had a dream two people in white were going to come to her house, so cool right. ¡Yo amo Peru! ¡Yo amo la mission! haha so funny and so awesome, what a week. 

Spiritual thought, "Those who don't show their love, simply don't love" -Shakespeare

If you love someone tell them! We have been teaching lots of families to show more love to their families, tell your kids you love them, give your parents a hug, just little things to always be sure that the people you love really know it! I love you soo much!! Have an amazing week! Trust in God and he will deliver you!

Love,

Elder Lambson :)

February 2, 2015

Hey guess what.... I HAVE A SON! Haha I'm training a new Elder. My comp is fresh out of the CCM his name is Elder Barrios from Cochabamba, Bolivia. Its awesome!!! I have 7 months experience and I still don't know everything but we are doing great so far! Im loving it. Some great advice that I received was to just act like you own the place, its all about the attitude, don't let this new Elder see any fear in you, because in reality there is nothing to fear, if you put your trust in the Lord he will guide you. I have been a little stressed but I know if I just keep giving it my all, trusting in the Lord, and being obedient to his commandments that we will receive the strength to keep going and endure. Like I said I don't know everything, I'm still learning bastante (pretty much?) everyday, but one thing that I am able to do is show these people how much I love them, and, as a representative of Jesus Christ, show the people how much He loves them too! We'd do anything for the people that we love, and if I want to be able to say that I love my Savior, then I will do His work the way that He intends me to do it..that he intends US to do it! I know that this work is the Lord's and I am so happy to be anxiously engaged in this amazing cause!

Update on some people that we are training, the 18 yr old, that is atheist.... he is really searching hard to find out if God exists has searched in almost every church and with lots of missionaries is really starting to make a change, at first he was really closed to lots of stuff, just kind of a negative attitude, but as we have continued to teach him, be his friend, visit him, and bring him to church with us I really have seen him open up and he is starting to gain a testimony that God exists and that he really does care for him. He has been reading the Book of Mormon and has told us that he has found lots of answers to his questions, it is awesome to see how he is changing as he receives this light. I know it might not sound like much but we always ask him how he is and he would always say eh mas o menos, (so so or ok) but now he is saying bein (good)! Haha. 

Other really cool investigators that we have are two brothers, that are 19 & 13, they are way cool and when we taught the fall of Adam and Eve they were just like Wow, they had never thought about it in that way, that it was necessary for the Fall and that God always has a plan for us, they said it was like getting hit by a car with what they learned.. haha, cause their whole lives they had just thought yeah first sin nothing else, but when we explained the doctrine in the Book of Mormon why it was important and what it means for all of us they were amazed haha. They are understanding everything really well have been to church, and should be baptized this month of Feb, one brother also says he might be interested in serving a mission! 

And another way cool investigator is M who has a date for the 21st to be baptized. He is a dad of 4, they are really poor and live in a small house on the mountain side, he and his wife sew pants and shirts. He is soo cool! He is a slow learner, but when we explain things and he reads them 2 or 3 times he understands perfectly and he loves it. He also loves serving people, always likes to help his neighbors and do nice things for people so he also likes that about the church, he is doing great, he has been to church and is reading a little bit of the Book of Mormon also, we are going to try to teach the whole family too but its kind of hard to find them all in the house at the same time, but with his testimony growing so much I'm sure his family will see it too and see the good that the Gospel brings!

So many other awesome people too but for now those are some of my coolest amigos here. A little bit longer of an email, please pray for them! Especially for F so he can receive an answer!

 I love you guys and miss you all soo much but I'm so happy to be here, I'm loving every second! Grandpa sent me an awesome quote by Russel M. Nelson "Faith is the antidote for fear" And its so true! "..Me gloriaré en mi Dios, porque con su fuerza puedo hacer todas las cosas.." Alma 26:12
Keep up the great work! I love you!

--

Love,


Elder Lambson :)

December 15, 2014

I still don't know how all of this works (calling Home on Christmas) either! But there is a pre call that is for 5 minutes to let you guys know I'm going to get on Skype so I guess you guys need to get a Skype and we will go from there. Next week I will know for sure. 

Our investigator, 70 yrs old, was going to be baptized last Saturday but we decided it would be better if he goes to church one more time. So we went yesterday and he said he feels so good and is more sure about the Church now. In the class he was answering questions, sharing his testimony, and making jokes too haha. He is the best. There are transfers tomorrow, I'm pretty sure I'm going to a different area! We will know tonight. All I can say Is I am soo happy to be a Missionary, the world is getting worse and worse everyday. For this we have to be even better, not only as Missionaries but every member of the church. 3 Nephi 12:13-16 first talks about how we are like the salt of the earth, but what good is salt if it doesn't have its flavor. We are Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Saints but what good are we if we don't practice what we preach, show and live the things that we believe in. It then goes on to say that in reality we are the Light of the world, and with a Light like this you don't hide it, rather shine it from the top of a hill for everyone to see and follow. I know that these things are true and I know that once someone gains this Light of the Gospel they should always be sharing it with others not only through their testimonies but more importantly through their actions. If you aren't getting better... you're getting worse. We need to always remember who we are and what covenants we have made with the Lord. I know these things are true and we have to work harder than ever to guard our faith because these really are the Latter Days. I love you guys so much and I'm so grateful for all you do for me, have an amazing week!

If you havent seen it yet, Christmas.Mormon.Org the beautiful new video by the church.  Its the most wonderful time of the year!!

-- 

Love,


Elder Lambson :)

November 10, 2014

Hi - Haha yeah I know Brother Torgenson (he's the Uncle to one of Parkers soccer teammates) he is awesome! He interviewed me my first day in the MTC we were pretty good friends my whole time there.

That's sad to hear about Britton, typical Snow Canyon tragedy.  We have some amazing students.  I got the letters from the SCHS Missionary moms, pretty cool. I gave Bubby some good scriptures last week to help.

(I told him an RM in our Ward gave Sharing Time in Primary) That's going to be funny when I go back and share stories with the primary kids. I loooove the primary kids here. They are soo cute! Seriously there are some of the cutest little kids here in my ward I love it.

Tell Alex thank you so much for the music! I know he loves me haha. I'm sure Vanessa has a lot of business right now. Margot loved the towels, she is awesome. And Hector, we always play chess with him at his house haha he is addicted! Im winning 4 to 2 with him. Thanks for raising me with chess, I'm a well rounded person. Haven't gotten Kelly and Rachels package, but got Jackmans. Haha I have so many ties now, I need like two tie racks. I got some stuff for you guys to send but it might take a while so yeah.

That is super good dave is actually getting a permit (for the YM Priest bon fire Wednesday night, last time the Fire Dept and Police showed up)  haha. 

My new comp is pretty cool! We have been working really well together. I am leading the area, doing all of the responsible stuff like finding people to teach, making sure we have members to go with us, scheduling service and lessons, and then he is teaching the lessons. That's my weak point right now but I have been getting so much better at spanish! I understand literally 97 percent of things and I am able to communicate with people with what ever I want to say. 

We had some awesome lessons last night with families and I'm actually telling jokes now and I can say basically what ever I want. I can really feel the help of the spirit every day. Something that happened the other day that was really cool is after a lesson with some investigator this little girl asked me "why are you always so happy?" and it made me think. I don't know, I'm just super happy. I have the Gospel of Jesus Christ in my life, and right now my only job is to help other people have it too, how can I not smile haha. This is the best work in the world and I am a big part in it. I love smiling at random people in the street and seeing them smile back, maybe its because they are thinking "what's up with this crazy gringo" but at least it brings them a smile haha. Not everyone is going to listen to our message but every time we share our testimonies of our Savior it brings a little bit more happiness and hope to these people, every time we talk to someone we are planting a seed, maybe we can harvest the crop and bring them to baptism in our transfer, and maybe they need more time and other missionaries will be able to take advantage of what we have started. All I know is that I love it here and I love the people soo much! I know this is the work of the Lord and I can feel his love for everyone of his children each day I try to fulfill my purpose as a missionary  I love you guys too and I miss you so much! I wish you could meet all of the people here they are amazing! Keep strengthening your testimonies every day! The gospel is awesome, I love you have a great week!

These pics are just before the transfers with Elder Haught and Elder Balderrama and the pensionista family



My new comp is from Iqitos Peru and has 10 months in the mission











Love,


Elder Lambson :)

September 1, 2014

Hi - Thanks for your emial. I'm glad that everything is going well in the ward. Cool that we got some new people. Hope everything is fun. I love you mom and I hope the family is well.

You should read the book ''Our Search for Happiness" by Russel M Ballard, it is awesome. Also you should read the account written by Oliver Cowdrey at the end of JSH.

I am having an awesome time in Peru and things are getting better every day! P day was awesome last week! We played 4 games of soccer and I had 3 goals! The natives were shocked! A greengo scoring goals, what? I have Bubby to thank for that. He taught me everything I know about soccer.

I gave a talk in sacrament this week, it was only 5 minutes I talked about missionary work. It was all in Spanish and the Ward understood me ,haha so that is a good sign. My testimony is growing everyday in Spanish and also in general! The people here are amazing and I want to help them all to have the light of Christ in their lives!

Today for Pday we are going to a huge market to go shopping. Thank you for everything. I love my family so much!!! And because I love my family I want to help all of these other families to have the same love I do because of this Gospel!!


Love,
Elder Lambson

Phone Call

As far as I know Elder Lambson is in Peru.  He called home Tuesday night and we were able to talk for about 15 minutes.  We put him on speaker and all of us (Dave, Parker, Alex, Michael Sullivan and Kaleen) talked and laughed together.  He said he was SO busy in the MTC.  He didn't have a chance to write in his journal the way he use to at home and he never wrote anyone a hand written letter.  He loved the MTC but is ready to get to Peru.  He loved his Spanish classes, said his teachers were the best!  He learned a lot of spanish and was able to bear his testimony in it.  He got sick once, and apparently so did the rest of the MTC.  There was a horrible flu going around that most Missionaries got.  He left the Mexico Airport at 11:50pm and was scheduled to arrive at 5:30am.  I had hoped he would email me letting me know he's safe and sound but I haven't heard from him yet (Wednesday 7pm).  I guess No News is Good News.

Elder Kiel Lambson
Peru Lima East Mission
Calle Los Agrologos 368
Urbanizacion Las Acacias De Monterrico
La Molina, Lima 12
PERU