Well
it's been another fun week in Puno. We haven't had tons of time to teach
because we've been planning the next multi-zone conference that we have
on Wednesday with an Area 70. The conference we had with President
Harbertson went really well. We did it at a beach in a place called
Charkas. It's pretty cool to be able to say that I've been to a zone
conference on the shores of lake Titicaca, the highest navigable lake in
the world. Anyways, it started out really well. We had all of the
district leaders give short trainings, spiritual thoughts really because
they cut our time down but it was still good, and then Elder Cando and I
and the other zone leaders from Juli did an activity with a training.
Elder Cando and I talked about unity and how we need to help each other
as missionaries because we all have the same goal. We tried to do an
activity where they had to walk a trail with candles and they couldn't
let their flames go out, but then a ferocious wind came in and we
couldn't even get them lit, so that was kind of a bust but we ended up
getting the same message out of it. President Harbertson talked a lot
about the different roles that men and women have in the priesthood, and
how it doesn't work without both, and sister Harbertson talked about
how sins bring burdens into our lives. It was a great conference. It
ended up getting really cold towards the end though and we had to finish
in the tour bus that we rented haha. It was still fun though.
As
far as my duties as a zone leader go, I'm basically just a babysitter
for other missionaries. We have to deal with any sort of tomfoolery that
the other missionaries pull. Luckily, our zone is awesome and we don't
have to deal with much. We also have to plan things like
multi zone conferences, travel plans for any missionary that get to
travel, and stuff like that. We get a zone fund every month that we have
to keep track of very meticulously or we end up losing money and have
to pay out of our pockets. We also get to travel to Cusco once a month
for leadership conferences and then conduct a zone conference afterward
to give all the other missionaries the information that we received from
president, do trainings, practices, etc. It's fun I suppose. I like
being in a position where I can help other missionaries. I don't LOVE it
but I won't complain any more than that. I suppose that God has a
reason for calling me to this position, so I'll do it. I find myself
being about twice as tired as I've ever been though. We're up late a lot
because we have to be doing something, making phone calls, passing
numbers, etc. It's great.
As far as Puno goes,
so far I'm loving it. It's super cold but super cool. It's very pretty,
and the people are a lot nicer than in Juliaca, haha. The members here
are excited to help us with the work. I haven't really met any of our
investigators yet though, just the Ofelia lady I mentioned last week.
Elder Cando is the bomb. We get along great. He told me the other day,
"I've enjoyed my entire mission like crazy, but this change I've been
enjoying it even more." He told me that it was because of me, because I'm
cool. That made me feel good inside. He's probably one of my favorite
companions as well.
Things are good here in
Puno. The food is great. I'm always hungry now, too, for some reason. I
think it's a combination of stress, walking a ton, and the cold. I like
my area and my zone. I love you all and hope you have a great time in
the wilderness. Sometimes it scares me that I'm in a position of
authority and that God is really putting all this trust on my shoulders,
but I know that he'll always be here to help me every step of the way.
God is real. Jesus Christ lives. They love us and always know what's
best for us. Until next time!
Loves,
Elder Tate
