JUST DO IT

hi, everyone!! thanks for all of your e-mails!!! you are the greatest!!!!

this week's temptation: peruvian amazon chocolate

so, remember our investigator, diomedes (who loves having the spirit in his home and "doesn't want it to leave with us")? we left a book of mormon with his mom, and he started reading it! we haven't been able to set a teaching appointment with him (because our schedules always seem to clash), but we stop by often and leave him new reading assignments - and he reads everything!! one day when we caught him at home, he basically recounted to us the story of the BOM from the jaredites down to present day (pointing out that "we're descendants of the lamanites"). WHAT?! that very rarely happens here - we were so so happy!!

we had district p-day and played games in the mission offices!

katy (another investigator) came to church for the first time on sunday, which was also super exciting!! she stayed ALL THREE HOURS - big news, people!!!! with a baptism date set for the 19th of march, she just needs to get herself legally hitched, and we're golden. :) we'd also like to meet and teach her live-in boyfriend, who travels A LOT.....it's a work in progress! but, katy has gained a testimony of the book of mormon and joseph smith!! and, it's so neat to see her progressing right before our eyes!!!

this was lunch

yes, i ate it all :)

my comp and i are studying (in "preach my gospel") how to find new investigators, because right now we've basically only got diomedes and katy. we're also praying for the "faith to find!" we use the members a lot - they're awesome and give us referrals, but the referrals don't live in our area. we also "contact" and find a few investigators by "iniciativa propia" [their "own initiative"], but it's a painstakingly slow process.

this is the fanciest dinner i've had in a long time 

anyway, missionary work is so great, and i love being here!! it's hard, but it's worth it. if you're deciding whether or not to submit papers, JUST DO IT. don't over-think, just do it!!!!! well, i mean pray about it a little, but then SEND 'EM. it'll be the best decision you ever make!!! i promise! love you all. have such a good week!!!

hermana wood

More from this week's message to Hermana Wood's youngest brother:
guess what, goober? i ate a fish head for lunch!!! i totally didn't know it was a head until i flipped the fish piece over with my fork. it was sooo funny, because i almost screamed!! then, i started laughing so hard that i cried!!! and then, my comp started crying!!!! and literally, we couldn't stop for about 7 minutes. it was hiiiilarious. and, i ended up eating the fish head - so, that's cool. :) hahah.

Instant message (e-mail) dialogue with Hermana Wood's dad:

Mark: Six months ago, you would've been so grossed out by that fish, you would've refused to eat it! Congrats on being brave!!

Amber: right? i'll eat basically anything now. on my list to try is turtle, crocodile, and anaconda. :)

Mark: Whoa! Do they eat those things??!!??

Amber: yeah!! our pensionista talks about them, haha. imma ask her to make them for us! :) also, look up the recipe for tallarin verde and especially aji de gallina (my favorite foods). :) i think they'd be easy to make!