Pizza and Mangos!

Chulucanas!

 Last Day in Paita

 At the Sister's Meeting with Sister Gozan

 Donkeys are everywhere!

Welcome to Chulucanas!

"I Believe There are Angels Among Us, Sent Down to Us, From Somewhere Up Above..."

Hola Familia!

So great to hear from yall! Sounds like the cruise was a blast mom and dad, and I cant believe how much baby jacob is growing!!! I finally got a picture of him printed out and have it on my desk. I LOVE IT. and I love seeing him grow in the pics you send jess! What a cutie!!!! I want to pinch his cheeks off all the time. 

We had lots of moments whens this week. Here are a few... Moment when...

-we get asked if we are from the circus by some kids again. This time we responded yes and they got really excited. :)

-A boy with a waterballoon has that smile on his face saying im going to get you wet and boy did he, all up in our faces and everything! haha!

-we are in district meeting and we are singing a hymn in english, but i forgot it was in english and I said, remember to sing energeticallly, because thats what the top of the hymn says, but try saying energetically with spanish pronunciation, and its super funny. we all couldnt stop laughing! 

-We are in ward council and presidente Aguilar, the first counciler, says that ¨Este reunion va a ser corto como una mini falda.¨or, this meeting is going to be short like a mini skirt. hhahahah and we laughed. 

This week has been another great one with lots of miracles! We were able to find and teach finally Leslie, Eva, and Betsy, three of the investigators the Elders before us had, and they were ALL at church!!!! It was such a miracle because the power went out and I was super sad because I thought no one would come to church, but wow, everyone did! Even Graciella, a less active, we were sooo happy!! :) Without the fans going it was a wee bit more hot, but thats what hymn books are for, to fan ourselves. :) With it being vacations for everyone here until march, everyone is going on trips and to piura and lima, so it ahs been a challenge finding our recent converts and all the less actives on our lists, but this week we really were able to do so much work and be led by the spirit to do it! 

Disonel and Tempora (his mom) really are progressing! They went on a trip to Tumbes which was sad, but they get back this week. Tempora is the sweetest mom who wants the best for her kids. She said at first she was listening to us for her kids, but now for herself--there is a complete change in her. Before it was well, in my church, casa de oracion, and she always refered to that. Well they were at church 2 weeks ago and loved it and want to come back. I sure hope they are reading their book of mormons on their trip! We found them asking for directions to a house of a member. I know the Lord guides us in everything we do, even in the people we ask for directions. :)

Another miracle was finding Katty! REmember miguel, the 86 year old with altzheimers, parkinsons, and knee problems we were teaching? well his grandaughter was visiting him, and was baptized 6 years ago, but went inactive after a year and she is 21 now. She said she was praying for a sign for what she should do in her life, and then the Elders showed up to give Miguel a blessing becasuse we asked them to, and she said she knew that was her answer! So we are teaching her all the lessons, because she does not remember too much from when she was baptzied. Im so thankful to see the hand of the Lord working so maticulasly so that we can find who is prepared to return to the church!

Hermana Gozán got sick this week which was no fun, but I wqas albe to do divisions with Cynthia, a member who is 25, and the primary president, and preparing to go on a missino! She is so great and it was fun for the 2 days together being companions. :) 

So I had the greatest experience this week! We were in a neighborhood called Michaela, and on our way to Ñacara, and around the corner comes Grandma Garlick! Or at least I thought it was!!! She was the jolliest old lady with white hair, dressed in white with the bluest eyes! She was SO excited to see us and ran up to us and gave us hugs! She started talking and has the greatest accent-she is from New Zealand. She is a nun too! The first thing she said to me was, I know you, where have I met you before, I know you! I said I wasnt sure but maybe we had met. She randomly would start talking in English, but I would respond in spanish, I feel bad if Hermana Gozán cant understand! When she found out my name was Hermana Garlick, she licked her lips and said MMMM hahahhah it was so great! No one here knows what garlick means, but it was way fun that she did. :) I felt like I was talking to my grandma the whole time, we started talking about what we do as missionaries and waht she does as a nun. She was in Columbia before, and now here for I cant remember how many years but lots! She gave us her address and invited us to come over for coffee one day next week. Hermana Gozan goes. well maybe chocolate, we dont drink coffee. She said thats ok! hahaHer name is Maria Clada Aldiridgi or something like that :) Before we left a cute little skinny boy with dirt on her face ran up to her and gave her the biggest hug and just held it there. Ok way too cute! When she said bye to us she said, ¨chau loves¨! This experience had sister gozan and me smiling so big. She really brightened our spirits and made me feel like I was talking to someone I had known forever. Ill let you know how our visit with her goes this week. Im so thankful for that fun experience. I know she was an angel that God sent to us. I want to be a missionary like her. :) 

Well, off to work work work! I like what it says in Predicad mi Evangelio about diligience and work. THe more we work, the more we ahve the spirit, the more we have the spirit, the more we can touch peoples hearts, and the more we have joy! I was reading in Jacob 5 today and found all the ways we should be diligent in there. As we trust in God he will help us and give us strength to be diligent in all our labors! Now its time to keep forgetting ourselves and getting to work! 

LOves, :)

Hermana Garlick

Teaching in the Rain!

Querida Familia,

What a great week it has been! Full of sweet experiences and mangos of course. :) The best part was probably when we were teaching Roger, his wife misseli, their mom Tempora, and her son Diosnel. We found them asking for directions to a members house. (We find soo many contacts through asking for directions..haha!) We were teachiung about repentance, and the spirit was strong. Roger hasnt been able to keep the commitments because he feels guiltyu for living in sin. We explained it doenst matter the sin, through christ we can be completely clean and forgiven. Then it started to rain! We were teaching outside of course, and it wasnt too bad so we stayed. but it made me think of the primary song I love--I want my life to be as clean as earth right after rain, I want to be the best I can, to live with God again. I am so grateful for Jesus Christ and for the Atonement. I know it is real and true! 

Hermana Maura, a member has taught me the definition of patience! She takes care of her dad miguel who we are teaching who cant hear too well and needs a lot of help, and her sister who has special needs who was just baptized a  year ago. She is such a great example to me of someone who lives each day for the Lord, and is so selfless! Everytime we go we come out with a huge bag of ciruelas--this super delicious fruit! 

The members here are THE BEST. They remind me a lot of the wonderufl members in Paita as well. Hermama Canayo has been such a help! Everytime we leave with her we get about 10 references. Everyone here knows everyone, so it makes member work so great and helpful and important! She has 4 daughters who also teach with us too. They are so fun and I am so grateful for this family and for the families here. This is the house we have the exercise class at Mondays so it has been fun jamming out with them to efy music! haha! 

This week we had a mutli zone conference and talked a lot about personal revelation. We talked about Enos and how when his soul hungered, he prayed fervently, in fact he wrestled with the Lord, and was able to receive some really important revelation for his life. Prayer is crucial for us to receive revelation. I was thinking about experiences I have had with prayer, and I remembered the day we were having a mia maid activity and I was in the car with mom and lili and we were looking for paxtons house. We had no idea which one it was, but sweet Lili, recently baptized a month or so ago, said that we should say a prayer! I dont remember who offered the prayer but I remember the sweet spirit we could feel when mom and I looked at each other. I got out and knocked on a door, which wasnt it, but the next one, out comes paxton! I know it was through the prayer of faith we were able to find the house of paxton so quick! Our first idea to knock every door in the street would have eventually worked too, but when we turn to the Lord and pray for help, he gives it to us! I have been applying this more each day and have seen how the help of the Lord comes, when we pray for it!

Ready for another fun and sunny and wet week here in chulucanas! February starts the rains that turns the streets to rivers people are saying...looks like we will need to buy some boots, but we will see! :)

love yall the moon and back!
Hermana Garlick

ps New favorite find of the week: mango jam! mmmmm!

Turtles, Cockroaches and Water Fights, Oh My!

Hey fam!

Chulucanas is super great. It has been a great week...we are not getting lost nearly as often and we are learning to drink lots of water so we are not dehydrated! This month is a little crazy here, because its carnavales!!! basically this means the town is in a huge water fight all month!!!! everyone has water balloons on every corner and in every moto. We have to dodge so many! they only got us twice, and me once in the bus through the window..how rude! haha its kind of fun though and exciting. The gringa is the biggest target too...I feel bad for Hermna Gozán..haha but we learned that if we talk to them and say hi to them they usually dont get us wet, so thats good. Its a good lesson in life, when you pray for and do good for your enemies, well they aren´t your enemies any more. 

There was an earthquake this week! During our companionship study. I really felt like i was in the movie freaky friday in real life makell! haha But anyways everything was ok and it only lasted about 5 seconds. We have definitely been experiencing new things here! Including when we were in a lesson and i felt something touch my foot, and looked down and did a little shreak, it was the head of a turtle popping out! haha Also, after the earthquake we had a whole bunch of new frineds in our room (cockraoches)...but i think we got rid of just aobut all of them:. Thanks makell for building up my immunity against things like that since i was always the one that had to kill them. :) 

So I love this town so much! 80s music is really big, so thats fun! Everyone knows everyone whcih is so great when we are with a member...weso many references each time!. Not many tourists come here so I get a lot of looks! But thats good because then the people will talk to us more. :)

Im teaching Hermana Gozan the peruvian culture, food, and language...there are tons of words different. Shes already getting her peruvian accent on. :) She has been teaching me about honduras, its so fun! And Im practicing my Honduran accent. :) 

I got the Christmas eve letters this week and a bunch of Christmas cards! thanks yall! I loved reading those!

We started teaching Miguel, jorge, Roger, and manuel this week. They are all so great and have been prepared for the lord for our message. Miguel is 86 and has Alzheimers...but he has such great faith. he asks us every week where we are from. I have learned so much from him and his faith in Christ, Im excited to be here and work with all of these wonderful people here. I know this is the Lords work and I know its true! I know its through our faith in him that we can do hard things. Love you all so much and thanks for your prayers!
love, Ali

We're not in Paita anymore...Welcome to Chulucanas!

Chillin with Hermana Gutierrez on P-day in Piura!

Con Hermana Gozan en la casa de la mision

New Area, New Companion, New Modes of Transportation, and New Year!!

My dear family!!!!

Boy do I have a lot to tell yall! Chulucanas is so great! And Hermana Gozán too! She is from Honduras and is so great. She has been a member her whole life, is 23, likes to play instruments, and paint and draw! She has such a strong testimony and already is such a great missionary. In so many ways she is the one training me! I am so happy for this time I have to be companions with her!

 Chulucanas is way great! The whole city is divided in 2 areas, ours is the area with the hill Ñañañique, everything on the side of the road Roman Castilla. It is hotter here than paita, thats for sure! But its overcast after 4 or 5 every day so that helps. There is no need to knock doors here, everyone is already sitting outside with their doors wide open! I hav nver drank more water in my life! We are constantly thirsty but we keep going! :) Chulucanas is known for its mangos, and the president of the branch told me thats because the soil and water are sweet. So thats the secret to delicious mangos from chulucanas. Also there are bunches of Alissons here in peru, but with two s´s... no one gets it right! haha but anwyays mom and dad, thanks for giving me a peruvian name! :) The main mode of transportation is moto, and also there are a ton of Donkeys!!!!! I love seeing all of them around, it is so fun. There are no supermarkets, but th small stores do just fine. (but hopefully when we go to pirua we will be able to buy some things..)

 We have been working like crazy trying to figure out the area and where all the investigators, and members live. We found out opening an area means that two new missionaries replace two others--we were glad to find that out! haha There were elders here before...we sure found a lot of surprises in our room---including a  cockroach collection! Other than those surprises it is going great. The church is super small and reminds me of the one in Puerto Rico we went too! The sisters in Relief society already asked me to have an exercise class, so we had that this morning which was way fun! I lvoe it. Also sister rowley asked me in the sisters meeting friday to teach about exercise and health, so that will be good too! I love that I can still do what I love and help others through my talents. 

So we have been contacting like crazy this week. It is so fun talking to everyone, the people are so friendly, and there are also way mre catholics here than paita. We were talking to two older ladies who are sisters and they were so sweet and they kept laughing their heads off in the lesson. It was so cute and we had no idea why they were laughing but it made me think of me and my sisteers and I decided tahts how wer are going to be when we are older. Sit out on our porch together and just laugh and enjoy the breeze.:) anways We found a ton of new investigators prepared by the Lord through it too! We also have a few progressing investigators progressing towards baptism! I know that as we exercise our faith the Lord blesses us with miracles. It may be a little hot and a few mosquitos, but nothing will stop the work of the Lord from going forth! In spanish the word esperar means to wait, and esperanaza means hope. Waiting for miracles to happen doesnt mean sitting around doing nothing. It means having a hope in Christ and putting that hope into action. I know as we continue to put our faith in the lord, wait on him, and have hope, we really will see miracles, even if it takes a while! 

I am so thankful for the tender mercies of the Lord--the day I was with Hermana Gutierrez as I moved here to Chulucanas was just what I needed and it was so great being her companion again! We went to la plaza de armas en piura and I bought some new sunglasses (kell i got it down from 35 to 15--you'd be so proud of me. :) In the night we were able to go and teach and it was so great teaching with her real life investigators. cmpared with our ten minute lesson to juan in the mtc, to now, we sure have come a long way and been blessed by the Lord. I am so excited to keep working here in Chulucanas and to b an instrument in the hands f the Lord. Thanks for all yur lvo and prayers, love yall so muich!!!

les amo mucho!

Hermana Garlick