¡BIENVENIDOS JOSE!

So, Jose was baptized! Woo Hoo!! 

Ah, Saturday was such a wonderful day. It was just beautiful. A really perfect day for a baptism. Hermana Alvarez (yes, I'm still with Hermana Alvarez. YAY!) and I were talking about how great it's been with Jose. Starting off as just a contact in the street, to now being a new member. He's really changed since the first time we met him, and having the opportunity to watch him take this next step in his life was awesome. On Friday night while we were teaching him, he asked us about the Priesthood. We explained it a little more, then my companion said, "If you want, you can baptize your best friend, Jhordan, because he accepted a date for the 18th of October." I wish so badly that you all could have seen his face when we told him this. He had the biggest smile on his face, and he was so happy! He said, "This church is great!" En serio, how amazing is this? THIS IS WHY I'M HERE IN PERU!!!! 

Hermana Alvarez and I with Jose

All in all, this week was a little difficult, but I don't really remember much of it. Mostly I remember how wonderful Saturday was. Most upsetting part about this upcoming week is that I won't be able to see General Conference this weekend. Darn! Here in Peru, elections are on the 4th and 5th, and it's a law that everyone has to vote or you pay a huge fine. Also, to ensure that everyone votes, ALL churches will be closed. Us as missionaries are supposed to treat it as a normal day. It'll be weird, that's for sure. My Stake that I'm serving in, will be watching Conference on the 11th and 12th. So, don't tell me about Conference next week... please! 

My Peruvian Twin
Dayana and her little brother Cristhian

Well, I am now past my 6 months! My companion was pretty funny on Thursday. She told me, "I know you're not a greenie anymore, but you'll always be a GRINGA!" She's pretty great I have to say. That night. I walked out of the bathroom, and on my desk was a little cake, Snickers (don't know where she found them), M&M's, and the cake had a 6 candle on the top. She sang, "Feliz 6 Meses!" lit a match to light the candle on the cake. She is seriously the coolest cat!!

My 6 Months Cake

Anyways, I love being a missionary and I am so happy to be serving here in Canto Rey. And I am also so happy to have another transfer with Hermana Alvarez. She's awesome!! 

My Companion and I being the Dorks that we are.
Playing on a Members Bike.

I know I'm needed here in Peru and I know without a doubt that this is the true and restored church. I love and miss you all dearly. Keep the missionaries in your prayers!

Con mucho amor,

Herm'ANNA' Karratti

Predicando en Peru

6 Months!

Time flies, that’s all I can say. It flies!

Today ends yet another transfer, and to be honest I’m a little nervous. My companion, Hermana Alvarez, has over 4 months in this area, and she thinks that she might be getting transferred today. No!! I don’t want her to leave!  She is seriously the best and I am so lucky, But, I guess we’ll have to see what happens later. Well, this week was pretty darn good! We had a ward talent show (which was a HUGE success), Jose our investigator has his baptism this Saturday, I was in a trio, and I got a PACKAGE WITH GOLDFISH!!!!

 This past Friday we had a Ward Talent Show, and it was awesome! 

Show de Talentos

The 4 missionaries in my ward with Miguel our ward mission leader performed a skit. If you search on YouTube “Missionary Car Ride” you’ll see the skit that we kinda copied. It was a lot of fun! I guess when I get home everyone can see the video. Other than that there were a lot of other skits. My companion and I were also in a band! Lifelong dream achieved! I can now happily say that I was in a band, and I even sang in this said band. Hey Bryant, I sang one of your favorite songs, “Introducing Me!” 

Also, super exciting...WE HAVE A BAPTISM THIS WEEK!!! One of our investigators, Jose is seriously golden! His baptism is this up coming Saturday and our entire ward is excited. This week he came running into the lesson with his Permission Slip. "My mom said yes!" We are so excited. Really I cannot wait until Saturday.

So, this past Wednesday my companion had to go to Immigrations (I hope I spelt that right) and so I was in a trio for the day. It was actually really good! We studied and taught a few lessons. I honestly like being with just one companion better than having 2. One is a lot easier. But at lunch we were playing with Play-Dough with a little boy and it was fun. I attached a picture of it!

My Trio!

MOM! I GOT THE PACKAGE!!! And since I seriously ate all of the goldfish in like 20 minutes. I kept the wrapper and made it into my planner cover. I get to see Goldfish everyday! Hey everyone, if you love me, send Goldfish! They don't have here in Peru and I miss them dearly. But really Mom, thank you so much for the package. I loved it, and all the post-cards. It made this missionary really happy! Thanks a ton!

MY PACKAGE!!

Lastly, this week my companion and I watched Roosters Fight! It is super duper popular here. And there are competitions for it with trophies and all. One of our recent converts, Coco (the one we had a birthday party with) has over 400 roosters that he raises and trains. We were meeting with him and he gave us an address to meet him at with his family. We went over and he was at this place where there was roosters... FIGHTING! Weirdest thing I have every seen in my life. Not a huge fan, but afterwards my companion and I went down to the ring to take a few pictures. Hope you enjoy!

My Companion and I in the Rooster Ring

Anyways, it's crazy that I'm almost at 6 months. Time is flying and I am so grateful that I have this opportunity to serve here in Peru. I love my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and I know this church is true. I love and miss you all!! 

Con mucho amor,

Herma'ANNA' Karratti

Predicando en Peru

This Week was Wonderful! Really it Was!

I just love being a missionary and serving here in Perú.

This week was my companions birthday, we committed someone to baptism, we didn’t have any electricity (okay, that was the bad part), and being called an ELDER!  

So, Hermana Alvarez is 20! Woo! This past Friday was a beautiful day! First of all it was the first day in almost 2 weeks where there was sun! It’s been over-cast, raining, and freezing for these past 2 weeks. But finally, we have sun! And it’s starting to get hot here. Oh no… Anyways, my companions birthday! So, every Friday night we have a “noche misional” in the church. This past Friday we had a BINGO night, which was VERY successful by the way. Afterwards we went to a members house and had a little party. Cake, friends, and great memories. Again, one last time… FELIZ CUMPLEAÑOS HERMANA ALVAREZ!!!

Birthday Party for Hermana Alvarez

Birthday Cake!!

Well 2 weeks ago, my companion and I contacted 2 teenage boys on the street, they had their guitars on their backs and we just decided to talk to them. We invited them to the English class on Wednesday and didn't think too much about it afterwards. Well, Wednesday comes, and guess who was at the door waiting for us to start our class? Those same 2 boys with their guitars. Well after the class we started teaching them, Josè and Jhordan, and now they are progressing really well! Jose, who is 16, accepted a date to be baptized! Woo! But we are waiting for his mom to give him permission. She said that when can see a change him him she will sign. But really he is great! We give him sections to read in the Book of Mormon and we meet with him the next day, and he has finished the sections and wanting a new chapter to read. We are really excited for Jose! Actually, excited for both of them!

My Band!!
Jose and Jhordan with a few other members.  I sing and they play.

Anyways, the only bad part of this week was being without electricity... And that also mean, cold cold water! Here, all water is cold. If you want it heated, it's done electrically. If you want a hot shower, you turn on the water, then you flip a switch and it heats the water. Well, for some reason, last Monday night when we came home. we didn't have any light. Nor did we have light for the rest of the week! Not fun having a cold shower... But, it sure does wake you up in the mornings! But don't worry, we now have light and hot water. So Hermana Alvarez and I are very happy about that!

Lastly, apparently I'm an Elder!  Last Tuesday we had a multi-zone conference. And I was given a certificate for completing my first 12 weeks in the field. There's a training for the new missionaries, and once you've completed you recieve a certificate! Well, I finished... but one of my brothers gets my certificate since it says, "ELDER KARRATTI" When President handed it to me, I looked at the certificate, laughed and said. "Presidente, soy una hermana." He looked at it, grabbed it back, rolled his eyes, and started laughing. Everyone else started laughing, as well. And for the rest of the conference I was referred to as "Elder Karratti".

Elder Karratti

Again, I love being a missionary and it's crazy that I am almost to my 6 months mark! Time sure flies when you're having fun! I know this church is true and I know I'm needed here! I love you all and miss you dearly! Pray for the missionaries! We need it!!

Love you all!!

Con mucho amor,

Herm'ANNA' Karratti

Predicando en Perú

Buenos Dias a Todos!

Wow! This week went by so fast! it's hard to remember everything that happened.

Thinking back on this week, all I can really remember is a clown, a pig head, finding new investigators, and just teaching with the spirit. Other than these, I don't really remember much else. If I do remember later, I'll be sure to mention it.

This upcoming week is Hermana Alvarez's birthday! Same day as Brandon's. HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRAND!! Last week was a recent convert, Hermano Coco's, birthday. Our Mission Leader has a business, he's a clown! He does birthday parties and other fiestas. He also works for Hermano Coco in his shirt printing business. So, on Friday we had a "Noche de Hogar" (FHE) in their house, but really it was a birthday party for Hermano Coco. It was fun! Sadly I wasn't able to celebrate the party with Hna. Alvarez since we were on a work visit with the Sister Training Leaders. My comp. was in another area while I was here with Hna. Molina from Ecuador. She's a really good leader. But I'll just say I was really happy to have my companion back afterwards. 

Birthday Party for Hermano Coco

So, more weird food! Check eating a pig head off my bucket list. Yesterday for lunch I had a pig head! Apparently the family that we ate with has a tradition; last person to enter the room gets the head. Guess who was the last? Me. Weird experience having a pig head stare at you while eating lunch. But! It was actually really good. I might just have to walk in last once more. 

My Pig Head ... Smile Porky!!

Well, on Saturday it was both super hard, and super great! All of our lessons that we had planned fell through. It was about 6pm and we hadn't taught a lesson. Our mission leader, Miguel, was with us and he offered a prayer asking where we could go to teach. We all received the feeling that we should go down this street that we usually never walk down. We stopped to talk to this woman and her daughter in their little shop. They were really interested! The came to church yesterday, and when we went back for another lesson yesterday, their whole family was there waiting for us! Golden Investigators!! They're married (which is VERY rare here), and they have 3 little girls. I am so excited for this family!

 

Our Gospel Doctrine Class.  We're slowly getting bigger!

Anyway, I love this new area, and I love the members here. They are always willing to help. Just to name a few for example. Miguel (our unofficial Mission Leader). He was baptized in March, and has the strongest testimony of anyone I've met. He has pretty much devoted his life to missionary work. He always wants to accompany us in the lessons, and we are so lucky to have him! Another family that I absolutely love is the Huapayas. He's the 2nd counselor in the bishopric and she's in the Young Women’s. They have 3 children who are so great. I told their son, Christian, that my brother has a Master’s Degree in Video Games. And then he told his parents, "I'm moving to Utah to study Video Games!" I love this family!!

Familia Huapaya

I couldn't be happier to be a missionary. It's the greatest calling ever! Know that I love you all and miss you very much. Also know, that I know this church is true! God does answer prayers and He wants us to be happy. The Book of Mormon is the word of God. READ IT! It can and will change your life. I love my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ and I am so blessed to be serving here in Perú. I love you all! Have a wonderful week!!

Con mucho amor,

Herm'ANNA' Karratti

Preachin' in Perú

I’m the Brownie Master!

Can I just say that I LOVE being a missionary?

Really, it's the greatest thing I've ever done. I love serving, I love teaching, I love meeting new people. It's just the bomb.com (ask your mom) This past week was really good for Hermana Alvarez and I. Visiting the Center of Lima, teaching English, making more brownies, and just being goofs!

So last Monday, my Zone went to the Center of Lima, and it was really fun! We toured churches, famous museums and just explored. 

My Zone this past Monday in the Center of Lima

We went on this one tour which took us to the top of a mountain which over looks all of Lima. This said mountain of course had a gigantic cross on the top which lights up at night. It's called "Cruz del Cerro San Cristobal" it was really interesting! Our favorite part was taking pictures at the top looking over all of Lima. Lima is HUGE! I only serve in a tiny part of it. Holy Cow it's big! But anyways, it was fun being tourists for a day.

My Companion and I with Hermano Miguel
(a member from our ward who came with us to Lima Central)

This past week, my District was trying to think of ideas on how to get more references and have more investigators. Then we thought of doing english classes. So Elder Wagstaff and I teach an English class every week in the chapel. We even had one of our investigators bring her 5 year old cousin, and she honestly knew more than everyone else in the class! I wrote "Estoy feliz" on the board and she yelled out, "I am happy!" How a 5 year old knows so much English, I don't know. 

So the lessons are going pretty well. We have a family that we're teaching that is really progressing. Elena with her 3 daughters. Fiorella (19), Antuanè (16), and Ariatna (8). We only started with Antuane but then we met her family and they wanted to listen, as well. Lately though, Antuane hasn't been wanting to listen to us, it's kinda sad but we're not giving up! Fiorella, her older sister is really progressing. She loves reading in the Book of Mormon, and she even accepted a baptismal date for the 27th of this month! We are all really looking forward to it!

Anyways, I don't know why, but this ward LOVES brownies. Everyone is always asking me if I'll make brownies. So yesterday, a family in my ward, the Huapayas, had us over for lunch and while Hermano Huapaya made lunch. I made the brownies. He's a chef for a big restaurant here so the food was really yummy! And to top it off we had brownies at the end. So, it was really delicious! Ha! Practically everyone in my ward wants me to make them brownies. 

Lastly, this week Hermana Alvarez and I have been such goofs! As you can see from some of the photos I've attached, we just go crazy sometimes! With our sunglasses, to being swag masters. We are just nuts! I love my companion.

My Companion and I ... The Dorks!

Well, I love you all and I miss you a ton! Know that you're all in my prayers and that I think of you all often. Pray for the missionaries... we need it!

Con mucho amor,

Herm'ANNA' Karratti

Preachin' in Perú