July 28th, 2014

Dear Family,

First of all sorry about all this confusion with the emails, the CCM has been really unpredictable while I've been here, so that is why you are getting an email today. It will normally be on Thursdays, but this week our P-day is on Tuesday because it's independence day today, and the CCM President is taking us to the oldest city in both the Americas here in Peru! It's about 3 hours away, so we won't have anytime to write tomorrow. 

Life couldn't be better for me here at the CCM. I am so blessed to be here serving my Savior. I am amazed every day how much I grow and learn. Everything seems to be falling right into place, and I couldn't be happier. 

Last P-day we were kind of lost in the middle of the city, because all of the advanced people left us, so my district and I had to use the best Spanish we knew to try to figure out where some of the stores were that we were supposed to go to, but luckily for us all the people here are so kind and understanding, so we found our way.

Saturday was a really cool experience because we got to go out and proselyte! Truly a humility check for me, because I realized how much I have back at home.  As I walked past houses that were made of 4 boards and that's it. Even though the people here have so little they are all so happy and so nice. While out proselyting, we contacted 8 different people and set up appointments for them to meet with the missionaries in the area. Everyone here is so receptive to listening to a message about Christ, which I think is way awesome!

Every day I grow so much, and I know that the Lord is helping me all the way. Even when my companion and I are role playing and giving lessons to our teacher words just come to me and it's like I've been speaking like this forever. That is a true testament of the Spirit and the gift of tongues, because I don't know if there is any other way to learn and apply Spanish this fast! I know I am blessed and I thank my Heavenly Father for it everyday!

I love you all and I pray for you! Always remember to keep the Spirit close and listen to the promptings that it gives you. I love this gospel and I know it's true!

Love, Elder Thorpe

P.S. There are so many dogs here! Oh and we literally just had a mini earthquake here!

July 24th, 2014

Dear Family,

This first week here in Peru has been absolutely fantastic! I arrived lateTuesday night, and got put straight to work! The first day was a bunch of orientation stuff, which normally I'd be way bored during it, but I wasn't because I'm here on the Lords errand serving my Savior. The food here is so wonderful, even though we have juevos every morning and arroz con pollo for every lunch and dinner, but there are more options we can choose from as well. 

My second day in we learned so much that I could barely hold it all in, but I think it has all settled in now. We were all interviewed by our branch presidency, and I was called to be the district leader, only my second day in! It has been such a huge blessing already to serve with such valiant young men and women, and I am so blessed to have such a wonderful district that looks to me for advice and help. Oh also on my second day they were giving haircuts, and I didn't think I needed one, but the hair cutting guy tapped my shoulder to get my hair cut. I think he just really wanted to cut my hair. 

So that wasn't it for the excitement of Thursday... Some investigators were brought in so that we could teach them, and they were friends of one of the teachers here and they spoke a little English.. Well as we all talked with them, I was prompted to give them a book of Mormon, and so I did! Turns out the next day, one of the investigators was my teacher. That's something I will have to laugh about!

There has been so much going on this week, but I only have such little time, because a lot of our computers are down, so this is what I would like to share with you.

As I have only been here in the CCM for 1 week, I notice Christ and his atonement every single day constantly. It has amazed me as I have stepped back from the world, and I am here now, how many tender mercies I see on a daily basis. I have been blessed so much with the language. It has come to me so easy, and I feel comfortable speaking with a lot of the people here on the streets. There is one language common to everyone, and that is the language of the spirit. I know this because as I went through the temple today I didn't quite understand everything, but I knew exactly what was going on because the spirit was so strong!

I love you all, this Church is true!

Love Elder Thorpe

P.S. sorry I only had 30 minutes to write, so tell everyone I will write them allnext Thursday!

July 14th, 2014

I just wanted to thank everyone for their support at my farewell.  I am truly blessed to have such a great family and friends.  I am excited to go out and serve my brothers and sisters in Peru.