Week 41- I believe in Miracles

Dear Friends and Family,

First of all, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY LITTLE SISTER JULIE (This Saturday) and Amanda Packard on Wednesday!!!!

Second, I believe in miracles. Let me just start off with that Monday was pretty good. I was in Cusco and for the first time in a while, I was a normal walking missionary… well for the most part. A little limp doesn’t change anything.



Me, Hermana Giron, and Elder Kuroski

Well, to start off the week, HORRIBLE. Tuesday, I was robbed, or fell out of my pocket, somehow during the morning. Well, what was lost in my little coin purse is 750 s., my usb with ALL of my mission pictures, my credit card from home, my mission credit card, a memory chip 8gb, and my copy of my ID. SUPER fun, right?! Well, I continued with my day trying to put on a brave face. Well, it was transfer day and one of the sisters from the beginning of my mission came and then I just cried. She let me cry with her for like 5 minutes and then I remembered a talk from Brother Daurio about attitude. I decided that nothing would change the situation with my attitude and the only thing I could change was my attitude. So I decided to take a hot shower to take away the stress and then be happy! It worked. I completely forgot about my great loss. However, during all of this, I was reminded of great sacrifices people have made for the gospel. I thought of the pioneers of the church. They gave up their valuables to construct the Nauvoo temple and then? It was ALL destroyed and they left their homes and ALL precious things for what was most important. What was lost was important, but I still have all of my memories and friendships. Plus, I have printed off lots of pictures and emailed some home too and so not ALL is lost. All is well. Really!



My companion and I!!!

Then we went to the transfer reunion. I was SUPER nervous as to who my new companion would be. Well, I will let you all know that a pregnancy lasts about 9 months give or take. Here in the mission, when you are training a new missionary, we say that you have an hija (daughter). There were only 2 new missionaries coming and I wasn’t going to be training. However, training lasts 2 transfers. I received Hna. Saavedra who is my ‘’step-daughter,’’ So now that I am just barely past my 9 months, you could say my daughter came just a little bit late. I definitely wasn’t prepared for it, but she is a really good companion. I met her when I had my cast in Cusco. She is from Peru and is actually a visa-waiter. When she gets her visa, she’s going to Salta, Argentina.

Next miracle. I was in Cusco until Thursday and I was able to visit some people from my old sector. It was so good to see them all. The Bishop took us to the terminal when we were leaving in a taxi and thank goodness he was with us to call the elders because the taxi ended up with a flat tire. I was so happy to see that I had made an impact. It was super sweet when one of the sister missionaries there right now was telling her new companion about the area and how the members are so wonderful and that it all began with Hermana Espinoza and Hermana Lang!

Well, I am halfway through my mission. It seems so weird. Like a whirlwind. My first companion went home and I had the opportunity to spend the night with her before she left. We talked about all we went through and how much a mission really changes your life. I couldn’t trade this experience for anything else really. It brings so much joy and growth and you really can change lives. I have my family for eternity. A little sacrifice is worth the hard times to help other families be together forever as well.

Next thing, my sister Cassidy always says that I need to plan her wedding. I don’t have any experience planning weddings but that will soon change. Pedro and Nancy are going to get married May 25th!!! And then Nancy and her 2 kids are going to be baptized… we are still working with Pedro about getting baptized as well. Also, Fernando is planning his baptism for the 11th of May! Super excited and there’s lots of work still to be done and people to see.



Hermana Inga, Creek, Me, and Martinez

I believe in miracles. I cannot say that because of my attitude that my USB and everything else has magically appeared, but I can say that the Lord has changed my perspective and brought a greater joy into my life than I would have imagined. I LOVE being a missionary! Thank you all for your support. I pray for you and love you all.

Love,
Hermana Lang

Week 40- Walking, Running, and Jumping for joy! Oh, and NEW ADDRESS!!

Dear Friends and Family,

 

Exciting news, I am now running and jumping for joy!! Woohoo! My ankle is all better… ok maybe not quite so, but I am a champ at walking and as for stairs, I’ve almost got them mastered… the running will have to come with time!

 

Familia Supo, the littlest girl is Linda who was baptized
Saturday with her little brother Ronald who I think is
hiding, or trying to in the lap of his mom.

I’m still in Cusco. Physical therapy went from 3 days to 7 days to 10 which means that I am here till Wednesday still. I don’t have a ton of stories to tell you BUT Linda was baptized Saturday (although I wasn’t there L ) and I am super excited to get back to Puno and really work! This transfer, there are only like 6 missionaries in total that are coming so a lot of sectors are being closed, but I think that the next transfer there are like 10 sister missionaries coming and a lot of elders, but not entirely sure.

 

So my exciting news of the week is that I have read a TON. I read ‘’Our Legacy,’’ ‘’Our search for happiness,’’ Doctrine and Covenants, and about half of the Pearl of Great Price. I didn’t bring my Bible with me unfortunately, so the New Testament will have to wait a few days.

 

I met a super nice member the other day and I was talking with her about her desire to go on a mission. She said that she really wants to and is preparing. She then said how she had seen me before a few months prior with Hermana Espinoza and she looked at both of us (who are really tall, especially with heels) and said wow They are so pretty, I want to be a missionary just like them! It was super sweet. Made my day!

 

Well, I think that is just about it. I hope all of you are doing well and I am excited to go back to being a normal missionary this coming week and tell you all of the exciting news! I love you all.

 

Love Always,

Not sure if I sent this before, Camila and I.
She's the pensionista's daughter!

Hermana Carly Jo Lang

NEW ADDRESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hermana Carly Jo Lang

Misión Perú Cusco

Ave. La Cultura 2417

Frente al Urb. Santa Ursula

Capilla Mormona

Cusco, Perú

 

 



Guava... it's a weird fruit. And what we call
guava is called guayaba fyi.

Week 39- The Lord blesses the weak!

 Lake Titicaca

Dear Friends and Family,

 

So the exciting news of the week is the Cotrado Family. A member asked me if I was visiting them because before the missionaries were teaching the family and they said to come back after they had established their restaurant. I looked in the area book… no record of them, but we decided to pass by the family anyways. We taught about the Book of Mormon to the family and then I had to travel to Cusco, so we put our next appointment for the following Saturday. Well, when we went, only the mom was there with the kids and she hadn’t read what we had left. So we decided to read with her. Well, as we were reading, we asked her if she wanted to be baptized. She said yes, I NEED to be baptized and her 2 kids too. Well, she’s not married and we were about to talk about it when her spouse came home. The subject then changed, but he’s super awesome! He really wants to learn and progress. He just has a little doubt of deciding before knowing it’s true. He really wants to study because he was Catholic before and then decided that he felt deceived by what they taught and how they acted. But he had read up to 2 Nephi 31 in the week we hadn’t visited them. AND, he came to conference yesterday which was really good to be able to hear the prophet speak and to talk about missionary work and to talk about the obedience to the commandments. So, hopefully the whole family can continue progressing but they have already said that they feel the spirit when we come because they have desires to be completely honest with us which doesn’t happen with other people.

 

Next thing is that my mission president has now been called to be the area authority!! And Alfredo Salas too! I felt super privileged to have both of my mission presidents called to be general authorities… well Alfredo was only kind of my mission president… only as a mini missionary. But still SUPER excited.

 

Also, Linda and her little brother who is 8 years old are going to be baptized the 20th of this month!!!! We also have Fernando who recently returned from a long vacation and said Hermanas! I need to prepare for my baptism now that I’m here! From the little bit that we have talked to him, he is already prepared. He knew everything that we teach and was telling us about Alma and Corianton and the Law of Chastity and that he couldn’t remember where it was in the Book of Mormon where it talks about Christ coming, but that he wanted us to show him so that he could read! SUPER AWESOME!!! Miracles are happening!!

 

Next, I now have a new mini missionary. Her name is Maribel and super awesome. She’s a 20 year old girl who lives in my area and is helping me lots because she knows the members and less actives and everything. 

Baptism

Well, yesterday, we had a baptism! First thing is that Marycielo has SUCH a strong testimony even though she is only 9 years old. The other thing is that another elder who is ending his mission came to baptize her. It was fun to be with the elder and his family because well… they’re from Utah! It was super weird to talk in English though.

 

Cute story. We taught a Mom and her sister and her daughter. Well, the little girl is named Valeria and we talked about Joseph Smith and then Thomas Monson, the prophet. We showed her pictures and at the end Valeria asked if she could photocopy the picture of the prophet so she could remember who he was!

 

Well, time is flying by. This past Friday, I completed 9 months in the mission! Wow. I feel like yesterday that I left home… So much changes, but it all happens WAY too fast. I don’t miss a lot outside of friends and family now. I love Peru and the people… I think I’m more used to Peru now. Funny comment. I was watching General Conference and I thought, ‘’Wow! Everyone is SOOOOOOOOOOOO White there.’’ Haha well… I guess that’s what happens when you’re in Peru a long time.

My foot as of yesterday... It looks normal, right?

 

Well, I hope that everyone is doing well. I love you all.

 

Love Always,

Hermana Lang

 

 

Week 38- Happy Easter... a day late and from.. guess where? Yes, back in Cusco.

Me dressed up like a grandma because
only 90 year old people use wheelchairs...
The elders in my area dressed me up.

Dear Friends and Family,

The Impossible Goal

 

Be ye therefore perfect; even as I am

I begin to crawl to the ever distant destination

Mom and Dad there to teach me—to support me.

Little by little, I learn to walk

And step by step I begin to grow

They always say, ‘’Dream Big!’’ Right?

So I put my dream in perfection

 

Time flies by and my childhood dream?

Seems to be just that—a dream.

I’ve learned so much but the impossible goal

Seems, well, out of reach.

My imperfections leave bumps and bruises—scars and reminders

But life doesn’t just stop, it drags on

 

Until one day, I fall.

I sit there and think

Why stand up? Why continue down this path?

After all, my destination is impossible

Abandoned, broken, hopeless—Lost in the darkness

I’d like to ask, Have you ever felt this way?

 

In the distance, I hear singing

I look around, but no one is there…

‘’Fear not, I am with thee, oh be not dismayed

For I am thy God and will still give thee aid

I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand

Upheld by Thy Righteous Omnipotent Hand!’’

 

I look up and there He is with His hand outstretched.

Astonished, I ask, ‘’How did you know where to find me?’’

He just smiles and says,

‘’Because I remember.

A little over 2,000 years ago, I was here too.

I lived your trials, walked your afflictions

Suffered your pains and illnesses—yes, I even bore your sins.

I knew where to find you

Because I remember.

Yes, I remember when I walked this path.

I remember what it felt like.

I remember it all

And knew you would need someone when the time came.’’

 

With that, I grabbed His hand and

Together, we started down that path again.

He told me about His life—

 

Gethsemane—bleeding from every pore, suffering for the world.

Betrayed by a dear friend—with a kiss!

Mocked, beaten with 40 stripes save one,

Crown of thorns--.the King of the Jews

Nailed to a cross to hang helpless in front of all.

Then… It was finished.

Buried to rest, but not to reside

3 days passed and He arose and took up His grave.

He lives!!! and He conquered all.

 

That impossible goal I mentioned?

Remember that word, perfection?

Well, we often confuse ourselves with what it means

Perfection—complete or whole.

With Him? I am complete

The destination may still be in the distance

But I walk down my path with Him at my side

And that impossible goal?

Is made possible.

 

No, I didn't get fatter. I was super sick yesterday
and my stomach was swollen. It's normal today.
But this is me with my cast! Super happy it's off.

Well, a little about my life this last week. I am exhausted and super sore. I’m back in Cusco and cast free!!! But... I am another week with crutches and no walking. I travel back to Puno tonight and in another week, I will be back here in Cusco to check up on my ankle. It is much better. Honestly, thank you so much for the prayers and encouragement. It is still swollen and beautifully colored of greens and blues, but I think in a few days, it will be gone!

 

The exciting part is that Saturday (unfortunately, I wasn’t there) Saturnina was baptized. She received her fair share of trials. She has had a testimony of the truthfulness of the gospel for a while and her 2 children are members. However, the rest of her family including her husband are not supportive of the church. For that reason, she has never been baptized. Well, we did everything to help her feel that she had the strength to do it. Her interview came and in the middle, the elder came out and talked to his companion and they decided it was best that she talk with President Calderon. I had done all that I knew I could do, but thought we should pray for her once more. I prayed in my heart and then about 10 minutes later, she walked out with a smile on her face!!! She thanked me and I handed her a card for her to read the next day at her baptism that I would miss. I still have yet to hear from the elders with how her baptism went exactly, but the Lord really does bless us.

 

Life is hard right now, but the Lord loves me and blesses me in so many ways that I can’t count.

 

At this time of year, I hope we can all remember our Savior. I wrote this while waiting for the doctor and it is how I feel personally about my Savior. He literally makes the impossible possible.

 

I love you all and wish you the best week.

 

Love Always,

Hermana Carly Lang