So I just finished my first week in Peru. It has gone by pretty slow actually but not in a bad way. It just seems like we've done a lot. I'll start at the beginning.
After that first day of relaxation and such, I got to know my companion better and meet our teachers. I have one teacher, Hermana Flores, from Lima and another, Hermano Galo, from Lima. They don't really speak a lot of English at all so they look to me a lot to explain things sometimes. We have something called T.R.C. which is one North American district and one Latino district. We teach two people who are our progressing investigators. We teach with our Latino companions. We also have an english-speaking companion just for class time since our classes are separate. In 3 weeks we'll be in class with new Latino companions since they only spend 3 weeks here. Anyway, during the T.R.C. it's as if whoever is teaching is the same pair of missionaries (seen week after week) and we all watch and give ideas to do better and stuff. So what I'm getting at is that I sit up front on the mini stage and wear a translater mic like from Stake Conference and translate for the Americans/english-speaking elders in my district who need it. I was also asked by the Zone Leaders who have already been here for 3 weeks to translate the Temple Class since about 17 Latinos just went through the Temple for the first time today. Everyone liked my translation since I would tell jokes when appropriate, haha. It was fun and I'll probably be translating more. I don't know how I can do it. I remember a time not long ago when I couldn't understand what Spanish was and I let it just pass through my ears. But now I can get the message of what they are saying and know what they are saying. But I'm really only pretty good at gospel talk right now, haha, hopefully I'll get better at other talk too.
I'm trying to talk more since I can understand and the Latinos say I'm the best "gringo" at understanding and look to me during meal times or whenever to explain something they are trying to say to their english-speaking companions. Every day we have an hour at 4 for actividad física. We play futbol with both districts so it's with the same people in the T.R.C. group. It's set up so you get to know people pretty well. It's nice. So far 3 of the best Latinos that we play with have come up to me after and said "juega bien", that I play well at soccer. Haha, I try. I'm not used to using my feet yet but just being able to run fast and not trip all over the place goes a long way in soccer. There's a sand volleyball court right next to the huge turf soccer field and on Saturdays we aren't allowed to play soccer so that's what we played. I had fun jump-serving and showing them what sport I am good at. The Latinos who have never played are btter than the gringos who have never played, haha. They also have foosball tables and ping-pong tables here that you can play between meals and such because you get an hour for lunch and breakfast and 45 minutes for dinner. I win at ping-pong too, haha, but there are 4 other Latinos and 2 gringos who are pretty good and we have fun.
So I'll tell you about my companion. He is Elder Cabrera from Nicaragua. I'd send you a picture but I don't have the cable, any word on that? By the way, destroy the other recommend if you ever get it, I got a new one. Also, the Temple was really nice today. I listened to it in Spanish, the whole thing! And understood pretty much all of it because I know it in English so well. The Temple is very small though. Afterward, I bought a Peru soccer jersey and corbata at a little family owened store across the street.
Okay, so my companion from Nicaragua is a really funny guy. He's probably the most outgoing out of all the Latinos, and knows the most English. Which is funny because I know the most Spanish. He and I are great at teaching together, I think he's the smartest one out of them all too. He wants to study Nuclear Physics at BYU because he wants to get into alternative energy. How perfect is that? He also likes physcology which is funny and I see it in the way he teaches. He asks questions like "So are you doing it out of love for the Lord or tradition?" He is going to the Lima South Mission.
I want to set some goals with Spanish since I've been kind of learning from here and there and not being specific. So that's my goal this next week: To have specific goals.
I hear it takes about 8 days for a letter through dearelder.com to get here. So if anyone wants to write something long and personal or what not I would say do it through that for now since my time is actually pretty strict on the computer. It takes time to read so send something not urgent through the Pouch or dearelder.com. Sorry I didn't get the address for the Pouch yet, I left it up in the room and I have just a couple minutes left.
I love you all, I love you mami. I know that this is the true work of God. I know miracles can happen if we are only faithful and obedient. I appreciate the opportunities I get here to recognize some faults of mine and work to improve them. I'll record in my journal some funny stories this week so I can remember them for next week. Pray for me as I will pray for each of you. Oh yeah, I met an elder from Arequipa and he was so happy to hear my mom was from there. He put his arm around me and started talking quickly about how she must be so pretty and how that's so great. :) Les quiero much.
Hasta Later!
Elder Johnson
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