Sept. 24th, 2011

Dear Family,

Well im ending one of the most eventful weeks of my entire mission. It has been a really great week.  First of all on Monday we had Family home evening with a family in our ward.  their last name is Hooker. The dad of the family is a returned mission president and an area 70. That was a fun family home evening.  It was kind of funny because what he did was pull out an old powerpoint from when he was a mission president and lectured us on it.  It was pretty funny.  It was great though because we were able to gain the confidence of the family and the mom of the family trusted us enough to give us the reference of her mom.  So it payed off.  That was a neat experience.  the next day we started a "mission tour" with Elder W. Christofer Waddell of the first quorom of the 70.  On Tuesday morning president went to pick him up from his house and met us in a chapel in Lima.  We had to go early to get everything ready.  Then him and President Manning showed up with their wives.  From 9 in the morning to 3 in the afternoon was
just him speaking to us.  It was really awesome.  The spirit was super strong.  But that wasnt even the best part.  After that we went down to Pisco which is a town about 3 and a half hours south from  Lima. We rode with President Manning, Sister Manning, and Elder Waddell.  It
was a really neat experience because we could just speak with a general authority in normal conversation.  It was funny because he seemed more eager to answer our questions than we were to ask questions.  But we got to learn a lot about what it is like being a general authority and some of the experiences he had been able to have.  It was nice to see more than just the general conference side of a general authority.  He was just a really great man.  And the neat
thing is he will be speaking in the priesthood session of general conference.  So keep your eyes open. W. Christofer Waddell.  We had basically an identical meeting the next day and then headed back up to Lima.  then the third day we had another conference in Lima for the
remaining zones that had not participated earlier.  One of the other neat things was that my companion and i were able to sit on the stand with him because we were conducting the meetings.  Never thought that i would be conducting a meeting of a general authority.  Wierd.  But
super awesome at the same time.  The area that im supposedly working in right now, (Even though we dont get much time to work there) is completely different then the other areas ive been in and has been a good learning experience.  The biggest challenge no longer is people understanding basic doctrine because the people here are generally educated and quite smart.  Also the people in this part are some of the richest people in Peru.  It is definitely one of the richer parts of Peru.  The people are not as open, but the church is a lot stronger here because there are good leaders.  The people are much more educated as well.  Interesting how that works.  We are really close to where the church started in Peru.  There are many members of our ward
that 40 years ago were part of the first branch in the country.  now there is 98 stakes in Peru.  Talk about rapid growth.  So thats whats going on in my area.  I did get the tape recorder.  Thanks a lot that was great.  I loved hearing from everybody.  I especially loved hearing Keagan talk.  thats crazy.  Im starting to realize how much things have changed since I've been home.  I think i have missed the births of 5 going on 6 babies since I've been here, not to mention the entire remodeling of the house.  I looks a lot different by the way. Thats a lot.  But i am having some really great experiences.  Today we have a baptism!  Im really excited for that.  It has been almost two months since we have baptized.  turns out as assistant we have no time to find people to baptize.  Its a little depressing but we are doing what we can.  So tonight a guy named Angel is being baptized tonight.  He was an orphan.  He is 22 years old and has finally found something to fill the big hole he has inside of him for not being raised by parents.  Im really excited for that.  This week that is coming we are going to be traveling a lot.  On Monday we are taking a 7 and a half hour bus ride to one of the furthest zones away thats called Nazca.  then the following day we are doing a training there. and the day after taking a bus back. The day after getting back we have to get up at 3 to take an airplane to Ayacucho.  The mountain city, to do a training and we will come home the next morning.  So lots of traveling.  Should be fun.  Miss you all tons hope everything is going well.  See ya

Elder Hesselgesser