Peruvians Come In All Shapes and Sizes, But Mostly Small WEEK #1 Aug. 16, 2018

Saying his final goodbye!

Hey guys so this week has been awesome but also really busy. I got on the plane to go to Atlanta and the kid I was sitting by was from Grace Idaho and he was also going to Cusco! We sat by each other on the next flight to Lima as well. While we were on that plane, there was this 21 year old guy who was flying to Peru for the first time, and it was also his first time out of the country! We talked with him for a little bit which was fun. He was really confused why there were so many of us wearing suits and all going to Peru. We told him that we were all missionaries for the church of jesus christ of latter day saints, and that we were going to peru to teach people the gospel. right after, he said  ok, tell me about your church. Me and elder campbell looked at each other and were like ok! we shared a couple things with him and he was super nice about it all. He did have some difficult questions though and i wish we could have had a couple days to teach him more but we did an alright job for our first lesson. It was kinda fun teaching him, but at the same time it was also really hard because he had some difficult questions. We got to the airport in lima and kinda didnt know where to go, so we just kinda walked around looking for a guy holding a jesus christ sign. Funny thing, everyone is really short here. Most peruvians are super short and have really small hands and really small feet. Just a really small person. And its weird because we were on the plane with some peruvians and they were not dark skinned at all, they were like white people!! it was weird! Peruvians come in all different shapes and sizes, but mostly small.

Last family photo for a while.

Brotherly love!

Most of our days have been the same. wake up, study, breakfast, classes, lessons and more studying, lunch, classes, dinner, classes, study and then go to bed. I felt like i have been here for so long and the language is hard. especially when some peruvian man or woman all of a sudden comes at you with like 100 words per minute. But im getting better with phrases and words and kinda of talking to the latinos. 

On monday we had to wake up extra early to go to interpol so we could work on our visas. It was going to be our first time outside of the walls since we arrived and we were all freaking out!! This littel taxi driver guy comes to pick us up in one of those little vans that can hold like 10 people in it. Just a fun fact, everyone that drives here drives like there are no rules and they can do whatever they want, im pretty sure we almost died 5 times on our way to interpol which was only 10 minutes away. We were actual missionaries and it was our first time out in the real world. the CCM (its what they call the MTC in Lima) is exactly what the mission presidents wife said it was. A paradise in the middle of a crazy world. that is totally true! we have these huge walls that surround our building to either keep things out, or to keep us in. the weather is usually really cold and today was the first time we have seen the sun all week. But the CCM is not just a paradise, it is also a spiritual prison, lots of rules and they are very strict on pretty much everything. But honestly it is amazing here. the grounds are beautiful and the physical activity area is huge and awesome!! We have like 3 small soccer courts, one full size and 2 basketball courts that are only for our use and have huge walls surrounding them. it has everything we need here. all of my roommates and mi compañero are so awesome. my companions name is Elder Boyle and he is from Eagle Idaho.  Elder Abrath is 20 years old and from salt lake city, elder chamberlain is 18 and from salt lake as well. and then we have too elders who are already fluent in spanish and are awesome. Elder Salazar y elder Dahl. all the elders in my district are awesome as well. I love them all and they are all so fun, and they are totally as lost as i am at times. I have met An elder spackman who is dennis spackmans nephew, (Dennis is our favorite bus driver at home) and i have two friends from school that came down here with me!! and i also met up with Elder Nichols from ridgeline, I dont know if you know jackson Nichols but hes a good dude and hes here!!

Jake and his favorite friend Tyler shared a mission farewell.  These two girls have been in Jake's primary class since they were BABIES!  Love these kids!

we have had many devotions and i love it when we have choir practice. Yesterday we had an Elder Held from colombia talk to us and that was awesome. today for prep day we went to the temple in lima and it was so awesome! the session was all in spanish but we had those little translater things. And we took tons of pictures of the temple and i bought a peruvian tie form some guy on the street! I dont think i was supposed to do that but me and my companion did it anyways. Then we did a flippin ton of laundry. and I was feeling sick today but i took some advil and now I feel great. I have a testimony of advil! I dont have a lot of time but I love you guys and miss you all.

I know that I came here to be a messanger of Heavenly fathers message and I know that the scriputres are true and that jose (Joseph)😁 smith did translate the book of mormon and restore this gospel.

Love elder clawson.

Packing and going to visit Grandma Roberts before the airport.  As she hugged Jake he just burst into tears.  Grams looked at him and promised she'd be here when he got home!  She'll be 90 in a couple weeks.  We love you Grams!!!

MOm, I love you and miss you tons. I dont have too much time but Thank you for all you do for me and feel free to send me packages of stuff if you would like! but probably dont cause it might take alittle bit and i forgot the address. I love you all and I cant wait to email you all next week. 

I love you mom!.