Monday, October 27, 2014

How do you make God laugh? Tell him your plans.

What a beautiful week this was! 
Really, it was awesome!  I also learned a lot this week. First of all, I want to thank you all for your thoughts and prayers. Especially for my companion, Hermana Alvarez. This week was a lot better than the last. We were a lot happier, my companion is healthy and we had a wonderful week!

I Have Finally Seen Llamas Here in Peru!
First off, a big huge welcome to the newest member of the Canto Rey Ward. 
JHORDAN VILLAVERDE!! 
The New and Clean, Jhordan!
I don't know if you all remember, but I told you a little about Jhordan before. He's one of Jose's (who was baptized a month ago) best friends. Well, the original plan, or let me rephrase that. Our (my companion and I) plan was the "perfect story plan". Jose would baptize his friend and everything would just be perfect. Well, this plan was supposed to take place last week. Last week while we were at the church waiting for Jhordan we recieved a call from him saying that he wasn't going to get baptized. He didn't feel ready. I'll be honest, my companion and I were really sad about it. That night when we were back home we were talking about what happened. What went wrong, or what we did wrong. We finally realized that we planned this entire baptism, one without Jhordan. But most importantly, without asking Him, Our Heavenly Father on what we should do. Once we figured that out we talked with Jhordan. We apologized and decided that we would move more slowly. Well, we were in a lesson with him on this last Tuesday and Hermana Alvarez had a prompting to ask Jhordan if he would be baptized on Saturday. I looked at her really surprised. "What?" Jhordan went quiet for a moment then said, "Yeah... I'm ready." Well this past Saturday, we were able to have a wonderful baptism. But more importantly, I learned a very important lesson. "If you want to make God laugh, make a plan.... without Him!" 

Jhordan's Baptism
Hermana Karratti, Jhordan Villaverda, Hermana Alvarez
Also last Monday, I had American Food!! Woo!! About an hour or 2 away from my zone, actually right where the mission offices are, there is a mall. A pretty big mall. And inside there is a Chili's. Anyways, the mission has extra money or whatever, so they offered every zone in my mission a free lunch at a restaurant of our choice. My zone chose to eat at Chili's. And it was soo good! I've missed American food.

Chili's!
Anyways, this week is Halloween! Woo! It's almost November! Woo! I've been a missionary for more than 7 months! Woo! I love being a missionary! Woo! It's the last week of transfers! Wo... wait that's not a woo. I don't want my companion to go. Let's just hope that we could maybe have one more transfer together. Now, that would be amazing! But really, I am so lucky to have this girl be my companion. I have learned a lot from her and I am really grateful for her decision to serve a mission. I miss you all and love you all! Keep the missionaries in your prayers. Have a wonderful week!!

Con mucho amor,
Herm'ANNA' Karratti
Predicando en Peru

Monday, October 20, 2014

I ATE BUGSY!

Good morning everyone! 
How's everyone this fine day? This week for Hermana Alvarez and I was both great and not so great. I've finally eaten Guinea Pig, my companion and I were yet again as dorky as ever, and sadly poor Hermana Alvarez was having some bad health problems... poor girl!

First off, yes it's true. After 7 months of serving here in Peru, I have finally eaten Guinea Pig or Cuy in Spanish, and surprisingly, it was really really good! Yes it is a little weird trying to eat around the little paws and the whole fact that there isn't a whole lot of meat. But ,now I'm a Peruvian because I've eaten Cuy! And I really like it... it's delicious! 

The Head of the Guinea Pig
The Little Paw
Well, in my ward, Hermana Alvarez and I have earned new names. Hermana Loca and Hermana Crazy. Mainly because we are both completely NUTS! A family in our ward this week bought us some soccer jerseys from Colombia and my companion was so happy! We took a million and one pictures with them, and every day is just a party. I love this companion of mine. 

COLOMBIA!!!!
Hermana Loca and Hermana Crazy (you decide who is who)
Lastly, please oh please keep my companion in your prayers. This past week was very tough on her, and it even included a few trips to the hospital. She's doing a little better. But not quite 100% quite yet... poor girl. I can't give a lot of details, but this week she wasn't able to leave the house a lot and she couldn't really move a lot. Her body really took a hit but thanks to many prayers and love, she is slowly getting better.

My Crazily Awesome Companion
Good Times with Hermana Alvarez
Well, I love and miss you all. Sorry not really much to report this week. I spent a lot of time this week in the hospital with my companion so, there isn't really any big news to tell. I am grateful for this time that I'm here in Peru. I know this church is true and I love it!

Have a wonderful week!

Con mucho amor,
Herm'ANNA' Karratti
Predicando en Peru

Monday, October 13, 2014

I’m Basically a Soccer Champ!

What a week! A very long week too.
A lot happened, but at the same time it feels like nothing happened. Last Monday we had our mission wide soccer tournament, Wednesday my companion and I changed houses, and I guess we liked our house so much that we didn't leave our house until Sunday. Yep I'll tell ya... what a week! 

So last Monday (wow it seems like it was a month ago) we had our "Mundial" the mission wide futbol tournament. It was a lot of fun. I even saw Hermana Espinoza who just hit her year mark this week. That was great! Also we played futbol. Which I can saw after almost 7 months of trying to play it... I still suck! I don't think I'll ever be good at it. But oh well, I still have 11 months to practice. Other than that it was really nice seeing the other missionaries. Mom, Elder Harrison Miller sends his love to the family. It's so weird talking to him and calling him Elder Miller, not Harrison. We both laughed at how weird it was to see someone from home. Anyways, the other St. George Morningside Stake missionary sends his love!
My Zone Last Week at the Mission Wide Futbol Tournament
Wednesday my Zone had a service project. They helped Hermana Alvarez and I move. We didn't move very far from our old house, but our new house is very nice. And the whole entire apartment has a roof! We're both happy about that. 
Our New Humble Abode
Well on Wednesday night my companion and I decided that we didn't like the outside anymore so we were going to stay inside for the rest of the week. Ha no I'm kidding... Hermana Alvarez started feeling really sick on Wednesday night, we went back to the apartment and she went right to bed. Thursday, the Elders came over to give my companion a blessing and I was just assigned to be her doctor so to speak. Thursday night, I got sick. When the doctor stopped by, they told us that we had what seemed like the flu. What a great weekend it was for us! NOT! But one thing that really surprised me was the support that we received from our ward. We had members come and bring us food, the Elders passed by frequently, we had no more than 30 minutes without someone stopping by to check on us. Even though it wasn't fun being sick, it was really nice witnessing the ward come together to help us. My companion and I are feeling a lot better now, still not 100% quite yet, but we're able to leave the house and work. 
My Cute Companion and I
I am really looking forward to this coming weekend. We have a baptism! Jhordan, the best friend of Jose will be getting baptized this week. Jose is very excited to baptize his best friend, and Jhordan is very excited to have Jose baptize him. I'm soo excited for the whole thing!!!
Probably my Favorite Restaurant in my Area.  It's Pretty Much the Greatest!
Well, I love you all and I hope as always that this finds you all well and happy. I am so grateful that I have this opportunity to serve a mission here in Perú. It's amazing! I am so thankful that we were able to watch General Conference, well for you all last week, and for me yesterday. It was a fantastic conference. I love you and miss you al! Thank you for your love and prayers! Have a wonderful week!

Con mucho amor,
Herm'ANNA' Karratti
Predicando en Perú


Saturday, October 4, 2014

Hola St. James Ward

¿Como estan?
I hope this finds everyone well and happy. I am doing fantastic here in Peru. Just ..."teaching and preaching and working as missionaries do..." Can you believe it's been almost 7 months? Time surely does fly.Especially when you're having fun!

My companion, Hermana Alvarez who is from Colombia, sends her love. We are doing wonderful here. Last week we had a baptism with a young man, José, who's 16 years old. He even wants to serve a mission! I told him that he should get called to the St. George, Utah mission. How funny would that be? 
Hermana Karratti (left), Jose (center), Hermana Alvarez (right)
We also have some baptisms coming up at the end of this month. It's all really exciting. I love being a missionary!! In my Ward that I am currently serving in, I am known as Hermana Piano. I play the hymns every week, and I am always asked to play for every activity. (Thank you Sister Terry!) I am also asked quite frequently to teach piano, and English. 
Missionaries get to try Many Different Foods!!
Anyways, during these 7 months of serving my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, I have learned to rely on Him. He is there with his hands reaching out for us. All we need to do is take his hand. He loves us, He loves YOU! I know this to be true. I know that this church is true. I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God. Read it and you can know for yourself. I hope and pray everything is well with all of you. Pray for the missionaries! And please write! We love letters.
May God bless you all.

Con mucho amor,
Herm'ANNA' Karratti
Preachin' in Perú