The Legacy We Uphold

Wassup y'all! Good afternoon from Perú!

Man this weeks been wild. Prepare yourself for a novel .

First of all, I had probably one of the most spiritual weeks in my entire mission thus far. It started with Zone Conference, where I got to catch up with my MTC comp, Élder Kasparian! It was so awesome to get to see him again and to play soccer on the same field. Also, I scored one of the most clutch goals ever! 

Back in AZ we had Missionary Institute, where we talked about principles and other stuff that helps us as missionaries. I bring this up because this week our mission president shared a principle that I've learned back in AZ, but also expanded on it a bit. This is the Lahonti Principle. There is so much to this story (if you want to read it I'll suggest Alma 47: 1 - 20) but essentially a wicked man named Amalikiah wants to kill the cheif over the armies of the Lamanites so he can take control of the Lamanite armies. Lahonti climbs and fortifies a mountain, and after 3 times of trying to persuade him, Amalikiah gets Lahonti to come out of his fortifications just a little bit. He then, through strategy, kills Lahonti and takes the whole of the Lamanite army.

My mission prez had so much good principles he added to this story. For sake of space I won't add them here, but in my google photos I'll add his insights.

Google photos: https://photos.app.goo.gl/zMFicdiJw1MUPPj4A

Bus ride back from Ica they were playing a terrible movie, so I got to practice my devotion and mental stability to draw my eyes away from the screen. Thanks Dad for the practice  

Finally got my Muñeca (doll) that one of the members here made me!

Started building a new room in our house! Actually had a service based around that today! Can you guess where the photos are???

Interviews with Prez were this week also! My mission president is literally the coolest and my conversations with him always uplift me. I got to off load a bunch of crap and in return was spiritually uplifted it was amazing.

Gave my first anointing in Spanish! That was pretty lit.

- SATURDAY/SUNDAY -

BRO CONFERENCE IS SO LIT

My Dad calls it the "Spiritual super bowl" and this week I could definitely see why. It was so hype. Me and One of the Elders here were constantly going "YES!!!!" to the messages and announcements. We both shouted for joy so many times, I cried like three times, it was so awesome. 

BRO A TEMPLE IN LEHI UTAH WUUUUUT.

For those that don't know I used to live there. I screamed YEEEEEES!!!!!! when Prez Nelson announced that temple. Bro so hype!

There was so much gold in there to! I'm definitely rewatching conference and taking serious notes on like ever talk they were all spitt'n bars!

Today

Bro we're gonna have a solar eclipse! The second on the mission! I'm so excited! And I AIN'T MISSING THIS ONE!!!

We just finished a service where we made and hauled cement to help our pensionisto make a floor for the new room. We hauled it upstairs too! GUESS WHERE THE PICTURES ARE LOL  

Aight bet spiritual thought.

So, I could pull like a thousand from Conference, Zone Conference, or my interview with Prez.

I'm gonna pull one, though, from a thought I had like 2 weeks ago that hasn't left me alone for these 2 weeks.

Which is... The Legacies we uphold.

I, as a missionary, am literally carrying on the work of our Savior, Christ himself. Missionary friends, that applies to you to. Let that sink in. 

We are quite literally his hands and his feet. His hands of service, to uplift the hands that hang down, to strengthen the feeble knees. We are the feet of Christ as we walk our many miles, bringing the vital words of our Lord and Savior to every willing ear. It doesn't matter where in the Vineyard you have been placed. You uplift and strengthen where God has placed you. 

But, heres the real kicker. 

After Christ's mission here on Earth, his hands and feet were peirced to the very cross he carried.

Where he died, forgiving all, that We. May. Live.

We are God's hands and Feet during this vital work. That means that we, too, will be pierced by the world by nails that very well may kill us. But, we must forgive them as our Lord did. For, just like him, we will rise again.

He suffered, bled, and died that He might rise again.

And so that we could follow Him.

This is the Legacy that we uphold. As imperfect as we are. 

And I will not fail Him.

In the name of our Lord and Gracious Savior, our Hero, even Jesus Christ himself, Amén.

- Élder Bahnmiller 

Wouldn't ya know. Milagros

This is probably why the area split, honestly.

As a result of me and my comp working in the area me and Fuentes never worked in, we have found like 22 people within the last 2 weeks. 15 were this week

Guess we got work to do.

Wassup fam!

We had some pretty cool finding miracles this week!

To start off, me and my comp had reached our goal of 6 new people pretty quick. By Tuesday we had reached our goal, and were on cloud 9.

I then had an exchange where everything that could fall through fell through. We attempted to contact one of our progressing people, but he wasn't home. His brother answered, so we asked if he wanted to hear more about God. He's now a new!

Pulled up to the wrong house, and the lady that opened the door was interested 

Then, within the last 10 minutes of our work day, we were gonna knock another door or two, but I had a prompting to ask a guy walking by us if he wanted to hear a message. In the middle of talking about faith, his wife pulls up and also listens. Turns out he's inactive... for a different church . They were really happy to show us where they lived and we got their contact info.

So like 3 transfers ago, I had invited a man to baptisim and he had accepted. After our next contact with him, where he was in the middle of a job so he couldn't talk to us right then, Élder Fuentes said we needed to drop him. Me, not knowing anything, agreed. I had a prompting to go visit him, and told Fuentes, but he didn't want to, so we never did. The prompting has been coming every now and then to visit him.

I finally acted on these promptings, and me and Élder Gavidia went to talk with him. He was still interested, and was so happy to see us. He quickly accepted more visits from the missionaries.

I feel so terrible now. Not that he's excited to see us, but... I can't believe we dropped him.

A couple other things that happened...

- Our Zone Leader and Penchanisto had their  birthdays, and they were on the same day. We had 2 parties!

- Service project where we moved the most massive pile of dirt! Saw so many cockroaches and spiders it was fun

- On the bus ride to Ica (we have multi-zone devotional today and tomorrow) they were playing Ready Player One. In spanish

Pensamiento Espiritual:

(Spiritual thought)

During this last week I was seriously humbled. In both that I need to listen to spiritual promptings, but also that I need to be calm and collected in all times. 

Whats crazy is that I thought that I was sufficiently humble. (I'm not trying to brag about my humility... just analyzing from a perspective of one who was humbled)

And yet, there is always something we can learn.

My invitation this week is to keep an open mind. Sometimes things that happen in our lives make no sense. But if we look at them through an eternal lense, things may begin to make some sense.

Love yall! Have an awesome week!

Élder Bahnmiller 

1. Sunsets in Perú are something else

2. Dog

3. Anti-Bahnmiller (like no one will get this)

4. The gang moving a giant pile of rubble infested with insects!

*terrifying finger gun* pew-pew!

Ehem! a yes, another week, another P-day, another email!

*pew-pew!* ehem.

Anyway, so quite a fat chunk of stuff happened this week. 

To start off, I had to say goodbye to Fuentes. He's now dead. (Hense finger gun)

Elder Gilberts dad also died, so we spent a day or 2 working together, which was lit.

Heres the issue to end all issues. Fuentes took my phone with him so he could communicate with Lima. I thought that was a good reason, so I gave it to him. On the ride home, the ZLs ask me if I have it. Upon finding out no,  they're like bruh, thats the area phone and im like noooooooooo

So yeah. Worked blind in my area for the first 2 to 3 days.

Which reminds me...

I've got a new comp! And he's awesome! 

Me and Elder Gavidia have like the same sense of humor, and he loves interstellar! I know this because I pulled out my violin a d he just goes "please play interstellar". 

Also... my area split! That means there are now 4 Elders in my area now. The other 2 are seriously awesome guys.

Another thing I found out... Fuentes taught me like nothing.

Ok hold up. He taught me a lot. The culture, attitudes to have, the necesity to be organized...

I was just struggling trying to show the area to the 3 new Elders. It was tough.

We've been playing a lot of Uno, show'em no mercy, which is lit. Literally has a draw 10 card, and stacking is a rule, so... drawing 30 cards aint uncommon its nuts.

In terms of spiritual content...

Elder Gilbert seemed apalled that I was gonna knock doors (during our exchange), just doesn't work here. I was just like *activate Arizona powers*

Heedless to say, we found 3 news through knocking. So I think that was pretty effective.

What this showed me, though, is that if you have the right attitude in this work, anything is possible even the impossible.

I invite y'all to reflect on something that you've said is "impossible". Maybe its a goal, maybe its an upcoming event, who knows? Look at it through a different angle, different perspective. An eternal perspective. It actually works (3 news!!!)

Luv yall fam!

Elder Bumblebee

Or, Dumblebee

Que!?

1. New comp!

2. Dinner???

3. Last zone selfie

4. Last selfie with Fuentes

5. Depainting a room 

6. Last comp Here to Slay game

Miracles That Shake The Earth

Hola todos! Cómo está?

For me, I'm a little shaken, honestly 

Guess y'all are about to find out why

To start the week off, I got to have a pizza party! Me and my comp threw a pizza party for all the people that have gone tracting with us. One didn't show, but we got almost everyone to go. 

We definitely didn't realize just how expensive the food was. It was like 100 soles for 2 pizzas (delicious pizzas) which is like 33 dollars, so yeah even expensive in the states. We had fun though, so thats good.

That leads me to Thursday. 

On March 7th, 2024, at 11:32 am, while I was watching one of President Nelsons conference talks, Chincha and Pisco got hit by a mag 5.6 Earthquake. It was 26.3 miles away. Shaking lasted like 10 to 20 seconds

It was quite crazy, because the ground was very much shaking. We all ran outside, and after it had passed, waited for aftershocks. None came, thankfully. 

We had an epic lesson, where the lady we were teaching was very focused on what we were teaching. It is so fun for me when I explain something and I just see a light of understanding turn on in someone. It's literally the coolest feeling ever.

My ZLs ran to Lima for a who-knows-what kind of meeting. Important thing was that I had a package in Lima they picked up. They sent me a picture that they had it, then a couple of hours later said they forgot it. I went to bed sad. Next morning they said that they actually did have it and they were just pranking me. 

But in any case I have to thank my incredible Grandparents for the awesome american candy, (thank you SO MUCH I'm so happy!!!!) And my parents for the sheet music. I've started learning how to play Day One from Interstellar on the Violin!

Then, finally, last night we got a SECOND earthquake. 1:29 am, mag 4.9, 22.5 miles away. Don't ask why I was awake, but this one was slightly weaker (duh)

But in any case, time for the spiritual thought!

During the really cool lesson we had, the ladies husband said that he'd recieved a dream where 2 angels and a dove gave him a book written in English. Me and my comp are very convinced it was the book or mormon. What this shows, though, is that God is definitely preparing people to hear the word! I'm just so excited to be on the receiving end of these blessings!

Invitation: see how God has prepared things for you in your life! And make sure to thank him, too!

1. My first rat! Plus its flattened rat.

2. Definitely not this year

3. Profile picture?

4. Cameras awesome

5. Magic

6. Picking rocks

7. Pizza!

Perús most wanted

So... somehow news got out I have a Violin. Problematic. Because I've had so many people ask me to teach them the Violin.  Problem is I haven't played in like 3 years, and I only have like 7 years of experience. How do I teach 7 years of experience in like 12 weeks? Might I add with 3 years of rust?

Aka I'm doomed.

Anyway!

Wassup guys??? How's your week been? I'd love to hear from y'all. Nothing like getting an email from friends at home 

Oh get this our water heater somehow knows when I want to take a shower, and stops producing heat like wut. But it's ok because I've started to love cold showers! They wake you up in the morning, and I get a small energy boost! It's epic!

Another thing! This ones kinda weird, and my immediate family has already shared their distaste of this, but I had the opportunity to try Cat. 

Don't recommend, because its literally chicken with an after taste.

Plus, apparently it's illegal to eat cat in Peru. Didn't know that till after the fact, but now I'm a criminal so thats terrible.

We played Uno with a member. That was fun, because no one knew how to play correctly. My comp kept adding rules, and didn't like some of the actual rules it was so random. But, regardless, I won all 3 times  Yatusabeman!!!

Also, I did some painting. Different from my painting in AZ, because this time we painted one woman's house and changed the color of another woman's wall. All in one day, it was epic. I also drew a family tree on her wall, because she wanted one. Somehow forgot to take a picture, so I'll take one next time we stop by.

Another service project! This time we were digging through dirt for ceramic tiles. Random but the guy wanted them so he could build a garden for his mom.

Also had the most massive burger of my life. Pictures below. Literally the size of my head. Picture doesn't do it justice.

Spiritual thought!

Let me tell you, there is something quite intense about walking around at 9:00 at night in an incredibly sketchy area in a 3rd world country. Definitely didn't do that at all this week .

In any case, it was dark enough for me to look up and see the stars, but also an incredibly faint Milkyway. It was so cool because I haven't seen it in SO long. But, God knows when we need a little pick-me-up. It honestly shows to me how he knows his children individually, and wants to bless them as much as possible.

This weeks invitation is to look for God's hand in your life. When you honestly look, He is always there! Even in the minute details!

A la proxima!

Elder Bahnmiller 

1. Burger

2. More burgers

3. *When you realize only 3 people care about your google photos you spent 3 hours setting up on a crappy phone* https://photos.app.goo.gl/zMFicdiJw1MUPPj4A (If its cause I'm boring than thats fine. Im not mad no one actually wants to see my pictures. Just a little sad but thats fine, thats life)

4. Painting

5. We got rain!!! And Rainbows!!

6. Ehem... introducing, gato (aka cat)

When you try your best...

Hola one and all! 

In terms of on the edge of your seat content, this email is going to be unfortunately short by a mile. But some cool stuff did happen this week, so lets get into it!

First off... last P-day and the subsequent multi-zone devotional. This was a crazy multi-zone, honestly. My zone lost the fútbol tournament, and not for a lack of trying. Afterwards, we went and had lunch and I had REAL PIZZA for the first time in like 2 transfers it was lit! To end P-day off we went and climbed some sand dunes... pictures below!

The devotional was also insane. I got to see a friend from my MTC district and a friend from my reassignment, so that was awesome. Also, I don't know why, but we sang I am a child of God in Japanese. (Might have something to do with the fact that mission president or his wife served in Japan... dunno)

That was pretty awesome, not gonna lie. It was super refreshing to just... hear something other than Spanish.

This last District Council I was given the responsibility to do a workshop for the rest of the Elders. It was quite strange being on the giving end, honestly. I'm used to getting told "you suck, do better", but like the other end is terrifying! I am giving advice to missionaries who have been out longer than me, who are staring me down and disecting my brain it was strange.

So we are teaching a 9 year old, who happens to A. Not be baptized and B. Loves the Violin. On our last lesson, she asked us to bring the violin over, so she could see one for the first time. She has watched many YouTube videos on the violin, and absolutely loves the instrument. What was sad was she said she didn't have one because her Dad didn't have enough money for one. 

I brought it over, and she was really excited. I showed her how to properly hold the instrument, the bow, where to play, and the notes. I don't think she realized just how hard playing this instrument is, because she looked really confused and started trying to do extremely advanced stuff that not even I can do. (Aka plucking the string with her left hand. For reference that hand is the hand you use to place notes, and the right hand plucks (plucking is the equivalent of strumming one string of a guitar)). She was extremely happy though it was so cool.

What was epic though was her dad got involved. He tried the instrument out and showed us a video on YouTube of his and his daughters favorite violin player. Afterwards he asked where we had bought it, and it seemed like he was contemplating buying one. 

We found (with help) one of the most insane people I've had the privilege of teaching! In my whole mission! He is super eager to hear the word and he's literally reading the pamphlets like wut. Also, he's actively trying to get to church its awesome! Can't wait to see him progress!

Let me think... did we have any Ls this week? I mean, the title of the email...

Oh! I lost a game of Here to Slay to Elder Vargas, so he's bragging again

Got nipped by a cat. That was... weird

In other news, I taught my Comp how to make omelets. They're... pretty good... 

Oh! We got RAIN in the middle of our work day! It was so relaxing walking in the wind and rain its so cool!

And finally.... today's plans

Apparently one of the Elders A. Got a shirt for everybody that has our zone on it so thats cool and B. He's gonna get cat for us all to try. Dunno how I feel about eating cat, but we'll see how it goes!

Till next week!

Elder Bahnmiller 

1. RAIN!!!!

2. PIZZA!!!!

3. We had a movie night where 2 investigators showed up, so that was awesome

4. Random tree growing(?) In the road

5. Saw a legit shepherd and his flock of sheep

6 - 9. Sand + wind = sand dunes

Mathematically Impossible

This week was honestly... quite long. Its crazy how the weeks are all running together. 

Only 3 big things happened this week, in my opinion.

1. Exchange. Again

Another double gringo exchange! And not in my area! The exchange was pretty awesome, except we had walked like 3 miles by 4, so my feet were killing me.

My Spanish popped off also, so that was awesome. We had a crazy lesson that went quite literally every where, from plan of salvation to... mission rules? Like what? Also I was talking the entire time?! Like WHAT?!?!? 

Next day when exchanges are supposed to end, we get a call from our flustered companions asking where we are, they are at a service and need our help.

We suit up and head over. The service is moving a large dresser upstairs. Only problem. A dresser is to long to get out of the door (a wall was built to close to the door to let it out). I measure and declared it 

"Mathematically impossible". The brother helping laughs and commences to break the wall holding the door. Peruvian math is different than American math I guess 

2. Interviews with Prez!

My Presidente Misión is so awesome. We were cracking jokes and it was honestly so cool. But he is also serious when he needs to be, and he's full of advice its awesome. 

3. Multi-Zona P-day!

Currently in Ica Perú as I write this for Multi-Zona, which seems pretty awesome. Just finished a Zone Soccer tournament, where I got kicked in the head with a soccer ball. Again. Also Chincha lost, so thats cool. 

I think I'm gonna tie the spiritual thought in with the title of this email. There have been many times where I've said "This is impossible." And yet, one of my favorite missionary sayings is that all things are possible through Christ. He suffered infinitely in a very finite amount of time. Turn to him and he will help you achieve the "Impossible".

Elder Bahnmiller

1. Pizza hut!

2. Ah yes, a dung beetle

3. Comps!

4. An average selfie

5. Hands after building a floor

6. Forgot to mention a lady wanted us to clear a whole bunch of dirt for a concrete floor. Needless to say it was soooooo fun! (And painful. Previous pic for reference)