Lima, Peru Temple

Lima, Peru Temple

Monday, January 26, 2015

January 26, 2015

Well first of all, we didn’t get the house approved with that family so we are still living in our small house. Also, one of the elders in our sectors said something stupid to the family so there was a lot of unnecessary drama that happened which I had to fix up. Anyway, everything is good now. We found another house that is basically the same size so we are working on getting into there and hopefully we can move in sometime this week. Other than that, everything else is good. Me and my comp are still getting along good and we are working hard. We have quite a few people progressing right now which is really nice. However, I’m not sure what happened to William. I called him and made an appointment with him for Sunday but he never showed up so I’ll keep trying with him.

As for taxis, I’m so used to them now so I feel like when I get home I will feel like everyone is driving slow and really calm. Road rage will never again exist for me. Anyway, those other places you told me about are all in the Valle Sagrado zone so I don’t know them. As for the buildings, I only know that for the Cusco stake, we have 5 or maybe 6 buildings and like 7 or 8 wards. As for the other stake in Cusco (Intiraymi), I don’t know for them. Other than that, everything here has just been really chill; we are just getting a lot more rain now. Sorry I don’t really have much to say. But man, I feel like this change is flying by. I don’t feel like it’s already been 2 weeks since we had changes.

Just a little funny story, this morning we found a gigantic spider in our house so I just told the others to kill it and then went into the other room. However, they decided to put it on the end of a broom and then bother me with it. Since I was so freaked out, I was looking for things to throw at them and the closest thing to me was my sausage stick that I’ve been saving. So I chucked that at them but consequently broke the packaging so tonight we are gonna eat my last sausage bar.

That’s pretty crazy what you guys are doing with the house. I feel like I won’t recognize anything when I get home. Also are they gonna be staying in my room? I also feel like my room will only be the only constant when I get home. (Kinda like that scene from Labrynth where there is the replica of her room in the garbage dump so then she thinks she’s dreaming but when she leaves her room she realizes that it all actually happened.) So maybe you can just start calling me David Bowie, the goblin king, when I get back.

Anyway, that’s all I got for this week. Glad to hear you’re all doing well and I love you all.

Elder Halverson


Monday, January 19, 2015

January 19, 2015

Well this week was pretty fun. First off we haven’t moved into our new house yet, we move in tomorrow morning so that will be fun. Tonight we have to get everything packed up. So yea we have just been living in the other Elders' house this whole week and it’s been pretty cramped. Plus we all share 1 bathroom. Everything has been going good with my new comp. His name is Elder Largent and he is from Oklahoma. He is really tall so it looks a little funny with us together right now. Also he has 1 more change (6 weeks) in the mission than me. We actually know some of the same missionaries in the CCM because when he left I came in. Basically this week I’ve been introducing him to all of the people we teach and stuff. All it’s been my job to help the new sisters learn the sector so whenever they need my help, they give me a call.

So this week has been pretty busy for us. Also the work here has been going really good. Right now we are teaching 2 different families as well as 2 other investigators who are all progressing. As for William, I’m not sure what happened to him. We had an appointment with him on Sunday but he didn’t show up to the church in the morning or for our appointment. We passed by his house afterwards but he wasn’t there either. He doesn’t have a cell phone and he doesn’t have our number I think. Anyway, I hope he just went somewhere that day and is back now. We are gonna pass by his house later this week to check to see if he's back. But yea, it’s the same guy I told you about on Christmas.

As for beard hair, my facial hair grows a lot thicker and faster now so I think at least I could give dad a run for his money. However, when I get home I just want to grow my chops back (which will now be so much better).

Today for P-day we did this really fun hike were we had to hike up a small river and then it lead to a cave where there was a small waterfall inside. It was pretty fun, just really hot and tiring. Also I lost my sports shoes in a taxi so I had to buy some new ones for like 35$ :/  Anyway that’s about all the news for this week. Crazy to hear that the Seahawks might win again, that would be super crazy. But don’t feel bad, I also need to start working out too but instead of losing weight I need to gain weight. I think I weigh around 120 pounds right now or something. Food here just hasn’t fattened me up. Well I love you guys and glad to hear all’s well with you.

Elder Halverson






Monday, January 12, 2015

January 12, 2015

Hello Everyone,

First off, my comp is fine. He just felt a little week after being in the hospital for so long. It was actually kinda funny, he was wondering how he got typhoid fever because he said he received all his vaccines. Then when we got home we checked out his vaccine list and he has them all except typhoid fever. Also the hospital is actually a clinic so it’s pretty nice. It’s still Peruvian but it wasn’t sketchy, thankfully. It also seems that my chances of getting married first are slowly diminishing. 

Anyway this week has been pretty normal. We have this one investigator though who is just golden! His name is William and he is about 27 years old and also has epilepsy. He is super awesome though, he's a little shy but has come to church 2 times in a row and showed up right on time which is a miracle for Peruvians. When we also teach him he has questions but when we explain it he accepts it all really well. He also came to a baptisms the other elders had on Saturday. Anyway I’m just super happy with him because I was the one who contacted him at the beginning of the change. So I just hope he will continue to progress.

Other than that changes are today. My comp has a change to be the zone leader in the other zone of Cusco. I’m staying here and my new comp is an American named Elder Largent. Also we are now getting sisters in our sector so we are going to have to move our house but thankfully there is a Sister in our ward who wants all the Elders in our sector to live with her which will be sweet because her house is a lot bigger and nicer than ours. She will also cook for us so we won’t have to go somewhere else to eat.

Well that’s about it for this week, I’m going to have to send you pictures next week because the internet is super slow right now. But I love you guys and hope you all have an awesome week.

Elder Halverson


Tuesday, January 6, 2015

January 6, 2015 -- Hump day and Machu Picchu

Well this past week was pretty awesome. First off, my comp left the hospital Sunday night so we were finally able to go back to work like normal. This week was also nice because we have new investigators that are living with some members. They also recently had a baby too and they want to have a good family relationship and so their child can grow up in a good home. So we'll see what happens with them.

For new years eve we just ate dinner with some members and I brought over one of the cheeses and sausage sticks to share with them. They really liked the sausage but only one of the kids liked the cheese. That really confused me because they only have one type of cheese in all of Peru and it is basically a bad form of squeaky cheese. Not to mention that smoked cheddar cheese is like the best type of cheese ever. Anyway, other than that the other thing that happened is once again everyone fired off fireworks at midnight but this time it was a lot more.

I now officially have one year in the mission and as tradition calls, I burned a shirt. But don’t worry because it was one of my really old shirts that I brought that I think I have only used once. I also got all the sweaters you wanted as well as hats for everyone too. I’ll send you pictures of what your choices are but you will have to console with Aaron and Kelly as well because I bought each of them one too. 

As for Machu Picchu, it was amazing! It really takes your breath away when you first see it. You and dad will definitely have to come see it one day. When we first got there in the morning, it was raining a bit and there were clouds surrounding the mountains. It kind of gave it like a mystical feel. Anyway, the clouds cleared up later so I was able to get some wicked pictures. We also had a tour guide take us around the whole city so it was pretty cool to hear the history of Machu Picchu. As for right now, I am just really tired from the trip.

Well, I love you guys and hope that you will all have an amazing week! 

Elder Halverson 


 Hump day tradition -- burning a shirt.
Ashes of the burned shirt.
Machu Picchu Pueblo 

 Machu Picchu


 Our Christmas presents :)