Gocta

We went to Gocta last Pday. It is one of the coolest places I have ever been in my entire life. I had gone there about a year ago, and even having seen it before it did not disapoint. It is an absolutely massive waterfall. We hardly saw anyone and it was so pretty. It is such a big fall that the water just turns into mist by the end. I was in awe just looking at the thing. I can't even describe how cool it is. We were able to go underneath the first part of the falls and the second. The hike was a beast but was worth every second. The pictures I took were from over a half mile away from it because once you get up close to it it is too big to capture in the picture. 

Last monday I had gotten ready for bed, said a prayer and was getting in bed. It was cold so I went to grab a blanket from the dress in the other room. I went opened the drawer to get it out and the entire dresser fell on me. It is a huge tall dresser that has three parts. The top part fell on my head. Somehow, the Lord protecting his missionaries being the only reasonable explanation, I left with a gash behind my ear and a minor headache. I don't know how it didn't crush my head into a pancake, break all manner of bones, etc. I am so lucky. The gash in the ear blead like crazy for a few days. I probably should have just gotten stitches. But finally it stopped bleading. As painful as it was, I am so incredibly lucky

During Christmas time we were teaching a family we had found in Pomalca. I had talked about them in a few emails. Familia Cabrejos Pacherrez. The wife getting baptized this week and asked if I would participate through zoom. So cool

There was a hail/lighning storm this week that was absolutely crazy. The hail hiting all the tin roofs was so loud and the lightning was right in the city. All that time in the burning hot really made seeing ice balls falling from the sky quite a joyful experience. 

The electric shower isn't working lately. The cold water has got to be no more than 40 degrees. It is seriously so cold. It is only about 55 degrees in the house in the morning, so the water is absolutely freezing. It comes straight out of the mountain so it is unbelievably cold. I have to do the hokie pokie one arm in one arm out one leg in one leg out for a couple minutes until I get up the courage to stand under it. After washing my hair I get a brain freeze. I absolutely hated it for the first few days but now I actually am starting to kinda like it. I get out of that thing feeling like an absolute man

The power of the sacrament is so strong. Yesterday it was pooring rain. The rain hitting the roof made it really hard to hear anything. Rain was leaking through the roof of the chappel and dripping into the seats. And yet the spirit can still be felt. I have seen all manner of different chaos during sacrament meetings in peru, but all have one thing in common, the peace that can be felt. 

The work can be kinda demoralizing sometimes here. The normal day usually includes 4-5 hours of contacting catholics that want nothing to do with us. It is completely different than any other area I have been in. I have started praying for and studying miracles and it has changed the way I see the work. I have started realizing the miracles that almost constantly are happening. I have never been an OMG HUGE MIRACLE SEND IT TO THE ZONE CHAT 5 times a day type missionary (and wont ever be) , in fact I usually find that kinda cringe, but lately I cant even count the number of times I have seen miracles throughout the day. I don't think God is making more things happpen, I think he is helping to realize when he does. Thats been a really cool lesson for me. 

Moroni 7: 

27 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, have miracles ceased because Christ hath ascended into heaven, and hath sat down on the right hand of God, to claim of the Father his rights of mercy which he hath upon the children of men?

29 And because he hath done this, my beloved brethren, have miracles ceased? Behold I say unto you, Nay; neither have angels ceased to minister unto the children of men.

We belive in miracles. We believe in angels. 

Happy birthday to my estimado amigo Clayson James Woodward as well. What a good guy.