Another month gone by, hope you all enjoyed Halloween.. here in Peru there aren`t many that celebrate like we do.. it has a bad rep here.. they say it`s a satanic day.. but there were quite a few kids in costumes asking for candy.. they don`t go house to house like we do, but rather shop in shop.. because there are a lot of little stores one the streets. I was thinking about the usual ward carnival we had and wishing there would have been something similar here. 

This week was a little bit slower for us, but ended up being a good one! We are working towards getting David to be baptized this Saturday, but if we don`t finish his lessons we will postpone it until next week. He is doing really well and is enjoying the lessons.. he is a little shy and doesn`t ask many questions unless in a really low voice during gospel principles.. haha. But I am sure he will keep progressing.

Anyi is doing great.. even though her family doesn`t want to listen and her parents aren`t super interested and don`t want to give permission for her to be baptized she is sticking with her decisions. She`s 16 and probably one of the most focused girls I have met.. When she started learning about the gospel she changed a whole lot of things. She`s been to church for two weeks now and stays throughout the whole thing. She told us yesterday that she had a boyfriend, but after learning about the holy ghost she said a prayer and asked God if she should be dating him and received a strong answer.. she didn`t hesitate to act on the answer she received. I am so proud of her.. and am praying her parents will soften their hearts.

We haven`t had much luck finding Franklin this week.. we left a Book of Mormon with his dad to give to him, but we aren`t sure he has gotten it yet. He still hasn`t come to church so we are not sure exactly what we will be deciding to do this week.. if we`ll keep trying a little longer or if we will drop him for a while.. 

Facundo is awesome (8 year old nephew of Miguel who was just baptized). He is probably one of the smartest little boys and his prayers are very sincere.. He is gaining friends in primary and loving being at church, we are starting to teach his older sister Karen who is 19 and a little rebellious, but we think that little by little she will soften up. Miguel´s dad who never has wanted to listen to us finally gave us the opportunity to teach.. so of course we shared the Restoration.. he told us that he really enjoys reading so we are going to bring him a Book of Mormon and I am sure that if he really reads the whole thing and prays about it he too will join with his son and grandson in the church. It´s amazing to see how the Lord works on people little by little to soften their hearts.

Alejandra.. Edith´s little sister is also doing well.. but yet another problem with permission.. her mom says it is really soon for her to be baptized, but she is loving young womens is reading the BoM every day and really putting forth her effort to learn. The young men and women are doing a great job of befriending her and she said that she feels like never before.. she said for the first time she doesn`t feel alone.. I realized that good friends really make a huge difference in our lives.. I am so grateful for the wonderful friends I have had that have pushed me to make righteous decisions.. Be the friend you would like to have.. a frase that we should all put in practice. 

We had an interesting lesson with a younger guy named Renzo.. he didn`t let us teach in order and just wanted to learn about the BoM.. we tried to explain and we invited him to pray.. but he said that it would be better for him to ask his uncle, who is the pastor of his own church.. after about 10 minutes of explaining why it is always better to ask God he didn`t have many desires to keep listening so we headed to another lesson.. Remember that... before looking for help from anyone else.. the first person we should ask is God.. He will always tell the truth, and give us the most perfect answer.. I know that is true, and have really come to have a great testimony of prayer here in the mission.

One day this week all of our lessons fell through and it was about 8 at night... I had an impression to look for a reference that the elders had given us about a month ago.. I had gone to look for her 3 times without success and it wasn`t the time the elders said she was home, but we went anyway.. To my surprise she opened the door and was really happy to see us! She had been wondering when we were going to go and visit her.. she is a very happy 27 year old and loved everything she learned from us.. We are going to keep visiting her and I will keep you updated on her progress. 

Rubi and Jorge are doing really well and are very strong in church. Yesterday Jorge was called to be a ward missionary and we are really excited to get to work with him in these next coming weeks. Rubi cried during testimony meeting yesterday.. the spirit was really strong. I also felt impressed to share my testimony. It was one of the most spiritual experiences.. when I walked up to the pulpit and began to speak I felt as if I was listening to someone else.. my voice was different and not just from the microphone.. I felt every word that I testified.. I know without a doubt in my heart that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the true church here on the earth.. I know God lives.. He loves us.. no matter who we are or what we have done. If there is anything I have learned in the mission it is that God has a perfect love for His children.. never forget it! I love you all, have a wonderful week!!

Hermana Imbler

P.s. My companion and I in Chilis... mmmmmm (one of the very few american restaurants here in Peru.. first time I have been there and it is just as good!)

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My title line is short, because literally I have no time to write... Sorry everyone! I am stuck looking for all the classes I have to take... I think real life is a little more stressful than missionary life..

First off.. HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD (tomorrow!) I love you so much and hope you know you are the bestest dad in the whole wide world! Thanks for your example in everything!!!

This week has sure been a good one! We have gotten to know many new people and we are seeing the ones we love progress! Facundo is the nephew of Miguel that was just baptized, and we are teaching him.. He is only 8 years old, but probably one of the most intelligent kids I have ever met. We are planning his baptism for the 15th.. the good news is that he has a great uncle who will help keep him on track!

David Soto is a 22 year old kid who has come to church quite a few times in the last few months, but every time we had tried to teach him he was always busy or our appointments fell through, but finally this week on Wednesday we were able to teach him. He is a pretty shy kid and gets embarassed really easily but has a lot of desires to learn. We invited him to be baptized and.... He accepted!!! So November 8th we`ve got his baptism planned and we are really excited for him! His older brother is a member and is engaged to one of the members of our ward.

Looks like the bell just rang... and I`m outta time! I love you all! Have a great week!

Hermana Imbler

It`s hot... and when I say hot I mean hot! Out of nowhere San Juan de Lurigancho upped the degrees and we are now in Summer.. although at night when then sun goes down it is still pretty cold.. I know I say this a lot.. but where does the time go? 16 months in Peru and only 2 to go until I will be not only dreaming of a white Christmas but living it.

This week I have had a lot of time to reflect on my time as a missionary and really look at the changes I have made.. and there is nothing better I can imagine doing... The experiences I have had have truly changed who I am and have changed who I will yet become.. I have come to love the Gospel more fully and more intensely than before, and I couldn`t have asked for a greater blessing than that. 

During the week we had some really great experiences..On Wednesday we were able to do service for a sister that is in a wheelchair and her husband left last week for Venezuela. We had one of those ¨First observe, then serve moments¨. At first we were planning on helping her make earrings, because that is her work right now, but entering the house we made an observation and decided to clean and organize what we could. After 2 hours and a house much cleaner we helped her start making her earrings. Her daughter Adizela who is 17 has been really close minded and cold with us.. but after seeing how we helped her mom she really opened up. She is less active, but we are praying that little by little she will open up.

Edith and her sister Alejandra are doing ok.. I would say Alejandra is a little better. Edith hasn`t come to church since the first week we met her. She still listens and has desires to be baptized, but she isn`t fully putting in her part.

One of the best experiences we had this week was Thursday... we were a little late leaving the house in the afternoon and then every single one of the lessons we had planned fell through.. we needed to stay close to the house because we were going to do divisions.. so we thought about it for a while withoutmuch success.. I then remembered a great contact that we had made the week before so we headed to her house. To our surprise she happily opened the door and invited us in. Felicita has 4 kids from 8 to 27 years old. Her husband passed away 6 months ago and she has been struggling a little bit. We talked about the plan of salvation and the Spirit was strong. We really feel as if she will progress. 

I`m thankful for the time that God gives me to learn.. every moment we have is really precious..so let us not waste time being sad, angry, resentful, but let us rather enjoy the peace and joy that the gospel brings. I love you all so much!! Take care!

Hermana Imbler

Llama, Conference, and Spiritual Promptings

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Hayley Imbler	10:37 AM (2 hours ago)
to Kathleen, me, Michael, Tania

After almost 16 months in Peru I finally found a llama and was able to take a picture with it! Haha I know that that probably isn`t the most exciting of news, but for me it was pretty cool!!

How is everyone doing? I`m here starting my 4th week with my companion here in Bayovar and we are doing great! We don`t have any baptisms planned for this month unfortunately.. many of those that were progressing have dropped the lessons.. such as the Gordillo family.. and a few others.. So we are working on new investigators! We have found a whole lot this week which has been awesome and we have been blessed by following many promptings of the Spirit. On in particular sticks out to me.. we had a lesson not so sure planned that was close to our house.. we were heading there and I felt as if we should look for someone to teach that was nearby before going to the other lesson.. when that thought came to my mind my companion turned to me and said ¨I feel like we should go teach Elba..¨ I agreed.. we knocked on the door and found that Elba, a member (almost active haha) had some of her family over to visit.. Her sister, niece and husband, are not members, but have heard a lot about the church from their family members. Elba´s sister Ana was not too excited or willing to listen, but Evelyn and her husband were definitely prepared beforehand to receive the message. I prayed fervently to bless Evelyn in the operation she is going to have this week and we began to share.. the whole time I felt the Spirit so strongly and words filled my mouth.. Tears of joy filled Evelyn`s eyes.. They are not going to be investigators in our area, but I feel so grateful to have had this wonderful experience! Never put off a prompting from the Spirit.. no matter how small it may be.

I was greatly blessed to be able to watch conference both last week by internet and this week it was transmitted in our chapel.. I feel like I got double revelation.. haha, but honestly it was the best! I love General Conference so much! I feel like every single message in some way is directed personally at me. I loved listening to the talks in Spanish.. it was super cool to hear their native language for the first time ever! Hugo E. Martinez said something that really hit me.. Ël que sirve sirve, el que no sirve, no sirve.¨ Translating to the best of my ability.. He that serves, serves, he that doesn`t serve, doesn`t serve. So we must serve others or we are useless servants.. Maybe that`s a little strong, but in the scriptures it does tell us that when we are in the service of our brothers we are only in the service of our God. 

I loved so many things, and will probably make reference to many in the next few emails these weeks, but what I loved most was what our beloved prophet Thomas S. Monson shared.. We do not have to walk physically where Jesus walked to follow His ways.. How true is that statement! We don`t need to walk the shores of Galilee to follow the steps of Christ. We must follow Him in word and deed, thoughts and acts. Let us be Christlike in everything we do. One of the greatest blessings of serving a mission is that I have learned to become more like Christ. I am far from being like Him, but closer than when I started and I know He would be pleased with the progress I have made. So I invite you all to make a goal.. before you make a decision, however small it may be think.. ¨What would Jesus do?¨ It will change you.. little by little, and then looking back you will see the difference.. you will see the changes you have made.. it`s not hard, in fact it`s the easier way. 

I love you all so much! Thanks for your continuing support!

Have a wonderful week!

Hermana Imbler

Que Pachuca por Toluca???

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Hayley Imbler	10:30 AM (12 hours ago)
to Kathleen, me, Michael, Tania

That means.. what happened.. in Mexican terms.. because my new companion is from Mexico!!! Hermana Osorno is probably one of the most beautiful missionaries..not only in looks but in her personality as well! I am so excited to be able to work here in Bayovar with her during these next 6 weeks! 

Recap of the week! Monday.. my birthday was probably one of the most boring, but it`s ok.. we just spent the day saying goodbye to people because my old companion was leaving (she got sent to Comas). But the good part was that the Vallejos family all remembered.. they bought me a cake and everything which was super cute! 

On Tuesday we had transfers.. I waited nervously to see who would be my new companion.. At the end they called my name and I was so happy to see that my new companion would be Hermana Osorno.. Like I said before she is the best! And I am also excited for the Mexican food we are going to make.. haha! So on Tuesday we headed back to our area, but... unfortunately we were only there for a few ours and we got a call from the assistents... my companion had to go to immigrations.. so we headed to the offices.. Tuesday night I stayed in Independencia and then was there all day with some other sisters.. We got home later that night and headed to bed..

Thursday we had a district meeting and then afterwards we were finally able to start working in our area.. we got stuck in some lessons that lasted a reallly long time, but at the end we visited Rubi and Jorge which was fun for them to get to know my new companion.. I think they are going to get used to her fast.. just like I have! Friday we had quite a few lessons.. including the last lesson with Miguel as an investigator because on Saturday he got baptized!!! But more of that in a moment.. We had a good lesson with the Gordillo family, but they are still struggling with some doubts.. 

Saturday.. we had service.. we painted a few classrooms of a school, which was fun! Later we had to get ready for the baptism because it was combined with some other missionaries. It was great and Miguel was able to be baptized.. when he shared his testimony I almost cried.. it was so sweet. Afterwards I had the priveledge of watching the General Women`s Conference.. I learned so much from that. One of my favorite things was that President Uchtdorf said.. God loves you RIGHT NOW.. he loves us no matter what.. it`s not important how many friends you have on facebook or followers on twitter.. it`s not important how popular you are.. because God loves you for who you are! Never forget it!! I love you all so much! Take care!!

Hermana Imbler