Plumber

Hola Madre

I am still in Peru sweating and loving the heat. I continue to look at the weather forecast for snow but I think the forecast is broken because it reads the same thing everyday sun, sun, and sun. 

The bigs of the week. Let me explain the title. I became a plumber will on my mission by fixing something very simple but nobody really wanted to. A toilet. Now this toilet had been filled and nobody wanted to get near it for a long time. I had heard it has been broken for transfers once again transfers. Well I went down to the first floor bathroom where this toilet sits in stink. Put on one of those dust masks to help the smell. Try to flush. Yes, it is broke like it has been said. Fill a bucket with water and do a gravity flush. Where you just fill the bowl and it pushes it down. Do that a couple of times. Now I fill the tank it does flush through. Found the problem to be filling the tank. Touch the stopper and poke somethings. Water starts to enter. Oh, it is working again. One more try and yep it now flushes. The water fill stopper was stuck. That is the official plumber term for English in Spanish it is agua llenar para.

That was big news. Next is interexchanges. I stayed in Paijan and an Elder from Chocope came and that was an experience to say. I had no idea what streets were which. Telling a moto in gringo Spanish a police station didn’t work as well the first time. Second time the moto understood. Lots of contacting and return appointments. I don't know too much Spanish to have a long conversation so I make the short and to the point. Lots of people were met this way. Good news is I made it through the day and survived.

Last big news was we had a baptism for this 13 year old boy. His mom and sister are members but he is not. First lesson extended the invitation and he said yes, he does want to be baptized and become clean. Well one problem he was leaving for Lima for a week. So, we weren't able to teach him. He returns and we teach the little lessons quick and get a baptism done all in one day. He shared a testimony and I witnessed what it really meant for him and how he feels. It was amazing to see it all work out.

It is a long email so this are quick bits. Had my first lesson rejection and felt really sad this family doesn't want to listen but all have agency. Played with a puppy. and gave a talk on the Book of Mormon. Watch Safety for the Soul by Holland and The Book of Mormon by President Benson for the basics of my talk. 

It is a huge blessing to serve a mission and the others around me. Continue to be examples and read the Book of Mormon. Also don't be afraid to share this special book we have. We are the only church that has a book that contains all of the doctrine of Christ taught simply and clearly that a child may know the way to salvation and exaltation.

Love Elder Cormack

Torta (Cake)

Buenas Tardes,

La semana pasada fue muy bien. Comí mucho pastel. Nueve ayer y dos viernes. Entonces mucho torta. Hicimos contacto normal. Y encontré dos personas posiblemente enseñar más.   

Translated: Last week went very well. I ate a lot of cake. Nine yesterday and two Fridays. Then a lot of cake. We made normal contact. And I found two people possibly teaching more.

We'll start from the beginning of the week because that makes the most sense. Nothing much happened till Friday. Had a zone meeting Wednesday. Went to Puerto a couple times and sweat in the hot sun along the beach. Found new people along the way. This week contained a lot of blessings.

 So Friday the day before Saturday. I don't know what is cooked with the fish but it had done something to me and it was requiring a break time. Which lead to me telling the pensionista no more fish it isn't helping me. So now I usually get a little something different. Like chicken or egg. I do practice my Spanish a lot while eating meals.

PEANUT BUTTER!!!

Saturday was also big. Went to Puerto once again to teach the new people we taught and then find out they aren't home. Puerto is about a thirty minute ride in a bus. So we try to make the most out of it. Meaning we met some menos activo. Leading to a reference for Chocope. A blessing of going to Puerto that day.

Then Sunday. It is my companions birthday. The reason for so much cake. Mostly every member visit involved cake. And I have a weakness with dessert. When it's mostly chicken and rice. The dessert becomes heavenly and just vanishes like it wasn’t there.

I also found more of how much the Book of Mormon is a testimony to itself. As I have read the first portion of it. I have learned so much that is revelation from our Lord. That Jesus is the Christ. I end with that simple one sentence testimony. Jesùs es el Cristo

reminded him of Wyoming

reminded him of Wyoming

Love Elder Cormack

Feliz año nuevo

Hola, Madre Cormack

Este semana yo aprendí más en la idioma español y como año nuevo es en Perú. Yo comenzará con el año nuevo. La pueblo de Perú build these scarecrows and I guess that they burn them. We were just walking around and seeing these people them. Confused like usual. I found out the next year (2020) that they burn them to celebrate I don't know why. That was my New Year’s Eve. Quiet and relaxing.

Nothing much that had happened this week. Taught lessons and planned a goal for baptisms this month. 6 baptisms por la mes de enero. We are searching and have people prepared and continue to teach. So it has been a good week being able to teach the gospel. I see a difference in my language and that it is much better than the first day I arrived in the MTC and Peru.

At least I know he's eating...

I also contacted a person from Kenya. I was able to see how his Spanish was. While we were talking he kept saying how fast I have learned the language. That was good to hear.

Painted the bishops house, I may be a pro when I come home with painting. Had lots of fun at the bishop’s house and the other missionaries. Joked around in practicing Spanish and people watching while waiting for the bishop to get paint.

Not much from this week. I also learned in my studies that what is written in the scriptures is worth a lot. The scriptures are hard to write being on gold plates. It says it in the scriptures of Jacob 4:1. Then going to the footnote in Ether. The lord will make all things strong when you humble yourself and find your weaknesses.

Love, Elder Cormack

Christmas and New Years

New Years Resolution:  MaKenna and Mom are going to do a better job updating the blog with Jake's emails... We'll try to get them done by Tuesday Evening.

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Christmas and New Years

This week I will start with Tuesday. It is Christmas Eve it is a party for the people of Peru. They eat their big meal and celebrate through the night with fireworks and then sleep in on Christmas. We went and visited families and tried to do some contacting. I had pizza for my Christmas Eve dinner. It came from Papa John's. Muy rico. And chocolate y Panetón.  

Then Christmas. I read the Christmas story to start off my day in Matthew and Luke. Learning language is a blessing in this way. Luke 2:6 is different in Spanish then the English scripture. English says Mary will deliver. Spanish says she will give a light. I enjoy the Spanish one because it is true. Christ is the Light of the world and brings light into people searching through darkness. 

After Christmas was contacting and teaching people. The normal missionary schedule. I enjoy it so much. Bringing the best gift one person can know.

Went on interchanges with the Zone leader had a fun day. They have so much energy and reminded me to have fun on the mission as well when teaching. It is our time and will go quick. It was needed. Well while in Casa Grande their area I put down a baptismal date and helped one more person start the right path. It felt so great. I taught and helped people get baptized but never put an actual date with a yes.  

Other than those not much happened this week. Remember the Christ is our savior and we can all be a help in his work with temple work and sharing with friends. Be a light unto others like Christ and an example. 

Love, 

Elder Cormack