March 13, 2017 (Hermana Fitzpatrick's birthday!)

Well, 

The hour has come for the last letter home. I honestly can`t believe it. It still doesn`t feel real. But, this week on Thursday I fly to Iquitos so I really only have until Wednesday in my area here in Pucallpa. It really is bittersweet and really odd to think that it is coming to an end. I feel ready but at the same time I don`t want it to end.

Russ told me that the last week can have some miracles and I can echo that thought because I pretty much already had my last week and I was so full of gratitude and love for my Savior. Well, we had another surprise opportunity to give talks this Sunday. At least this time they told us when we got to church and not when they were announcing the speakers. I was able to bear my testimony of the Savior and how much I love Him. What an honor it was for my last Sunday in my ward. And this week we had the baptism and confirmation of Hno Jose. It was such a blessing and miracle to be part of his conversion. This man wanted nothing to do with the church for years and then didn`t want to commit to a baptismal date for more than a year! What an incredible change of heart he has had, I know that his wife will follow his faithful example. 

Well, I will be home next week. I don`t think I will write next week so don`t worry about writing me. I will just tell you all in person. 

I love you all so, so much and I love my Savior and His gospel that I will have the pleasure of sharing this last week in my mission. 

See you soon!

Hermana Fitzpatrick

March 6, 2017

I was able to activate my card thank you!!!

- Peruvian piñata umisha about to fall

I am SO proud of everyone this week. What a stellar week for the Fitzpatrick Fam! 

- sunny days

Well, it was also a pretty good week here! I just wanted to share a miracle that has made my week:

Since I got here to Pucallpa we had been visiting the parents of a missionary serving from the ward. They aren´t members but have been receiving the missionaries for more than a year! The wife has always been more receptive and they both listen and read but would not commit to a date to get baptized. The husband just had a lot of doubts and didn´t want to and the wife didn´t want to get baptized without him. It had been so frustrating to just keep visiting them for almost three months with nothing. So, we decided to drop them and not visit for a while. Then, last week I felt like we should just stop by and see them. We found the husband and just chatted for a little bit and then he asked us why we hadn´t been coming anymore. He had missed our visits and had kept reading his Book of Mormon. I commented that I was going to leave soon and shock of all shocks José, the hardest of investigators, is going to be baptized this Friday!! What a blessing. Seriously the most blessed I have felt in my mission/life. Just to see how his countenance and attitude have changed in the days since he made that decision has been a testimony builder to me! He just looks lighter and brighter. He is so firm in his decision and even though his wife is not going to be baptized he is going forward solo. Such a great man. Photos coming soon. 

We also had the baptism of Hna Zoraida and it was so great because I loved her testimony where she shared that we invited her to pray and she prayed and received the answer that it was true! It´s that simple! Although she doesn´t know everything she is going forward with faith!!

- bringing the chicken to church

Love you all! See you soon! 

Hermana Fitzpatrick

February 20, 2017

We took a little visit this week to Parque Natural, the zoo here. We saw some lions, tigers, and pumas. Oh my! And some sweet little monkeys and parrots. Fun thing about zoos here are that you can get really close to the animals! You can even touch a monkey. I almost got bit by the little otter thing they had. Who knew those things are ferocious? But we had a good time. Technically the zoo is part of our area so we did some proselyting too. 

This week was kind of a blur but we had some progress with Zoraida and her son and we are going to see if we have a baptism this week! I really am praying that we can because it would be Hna Vera`s first baptism here. 

Things are going by so quickly and I am really just trying to hang on but that`s really all that happened this week. 

President also came and we had a zone conference and interviews. It was the quickest interview of my life! He just asked me how much time I had and then congratulated me and said we would see each in a couple weeks for my final interview! Whoa Pres! Not there yet! But, we are getting there. Officially a month from today. 

We also have a new bishop!! It was a big surprise this week in church but I really think it will help the ward come alive a little bit. I am really hoping because 50 at church is heartbreaking. 

Love you all! See you next week!

Hermana Fitzpatrick

February 13, 2017

Wow this week was really long and went by fast. How about that?

We had changes and I....stayed in Pucallpa and stayed with Hna Vera. I am happy I will be able to finish out here. I am hoping we can help some people reach baptism before I leave. 

It was a HOT week. So incredibly hot I thought I was going to melt. Mornings are typically hard to work because it is hot and people aren`t really home but man it was hot this week! The sun beats down really hard here in Pucallpa and we are both sunburned pretty bad after this week but, we woke to finally some rain today and a cloudy day. 

- sunset on the main road

We have been contacting a lot this week trying to find new people. I like knocking doors because you just never know who is going to be on the other side! I used to be afraid of whether they would say no but now it doesn`t really get to me. There is always another house! We have met some interesting characters contacting and we are going to see how it goes this week.

We were in Sacrament meeting this week. Which, by the way is supposed to start at 8:00 but started at 8:30. The Bishop was announcing the talks after the sacrament and just so happened to mention the missionaries! Oh, that´s us! So we gave talks on Sunday. Didn´t know that was going to happen but I talked about keeping the commandments. It really is the way to happiness and peace!

We also had a mission night in the ward and had some references from that. It was like a family home evening but in the chapel. Refreshment - a hot dog wrapped in a buttery pastry. Super delicious. 10/10 would try again. 

I am doing well. I feel ready for another week to start. New faces and new places to go is always refreshing. 

- working some new braids and thinking of you mom

 - Chilenito made a picture of me with my pigtail braids

 I love you all! See you next week!

Hermana Fitzpatrick

February 6, 2017

Well, well, well,

Sorry about last week. Not a lot going on but I will try to be more specific this week. 

Oh man, let`s just start with the big guy. So, golden family that we walked into the house and told us they wanted to get married and baptized has had some REAL challenges in their papers. And, I have had to do everything which has been a little stressful. First, we couldn`t find their birth certificates because both of them were born in little pueblos on the river. So, we went into some deep investigation coordinated with some people with some boats and, miracle after miracle, we got the birth certificates! Thought the coast was clear. Turns out it was not. Went to the municipalidad because the hermano had been married before and we had to get a copy of his divorce for his new marriage. Well, shocker of all shockers, there was no divorce. He is still married and divorces take a lot of time to get through. Oh man. We were discouraged. Thought that it was done for for February. Then, we went one last time to the municipalidad and checked with the lawyers and they found that he had a separation! but not a divorce...yet. They had done everything but the last step. Another couple of miracles and the divorce is being processed and we are on track! Deep breath, forehead wipe, and we are still going. We have had a lot of challenges with this wedding that have nothing to do with their conversion or desire to get married and be baptized and it has really been evidence of opposition in all things. But, we have also had so much divine help and little coincidences that aren`t coincidences at all that I know Heavenly Father is in the details of our lives. 

We also started auto pensioning breakfast and dinner this week and it has been delightful! Getting to decide what I want to eat, how much I want to eat, and take my time to do it has been great. I just felt a special peace in the morning in my studies as I was able to eliminate that small stress and really focus on the Spirit and meditating and learning. 

 - a little turtle we are hoping to eat soon!

 -this is a cholao - what is it? we aren`t sure either but it was yummy 

 -eating a cholao

I really liked a mission president`s quote that I found in a Liahona this week about the five things we have to eliminate as missionaries (and people) so that our faith can be efficient:

-doubt

-discouragement

-lack of diligence

-disobedience

-distractions

It really is so true, not just for missionaries but for everyone. I can feel the Spirit working more tangibly and actively in my life when I distance myself from these things.

- ward activity this week playing volleyball- this is literally more people than show up at church

 - Zoraida went to church! with her son!

I have enjoyed reading Jesus the Christ and the New Testament and I have been reading about the apostles. One thing that has called my attention is the imperfectness of the apostles and their lack of understanding of Christ`s mission even though he was there and with them. They were simple men, called of God and fulfilled their office to the best of their ability, but sometimes failed in their responsibilities because of their own frailties. I have learned especially as a missionary that we all have our weaknesses and the gospel really is taught by the small and simple but each missionary is called of God. I really liked the conference we had with the general authorities because Elder Bednar basically told us to stop feeling bad about not being good enough and to just do what we can and it is good enough. It was something that I needed to hear and I have been reflecting on what is ¨good enough¨ for the Lord. It`s really hard to know that but the Lord always lets us feel His love even when we aren`t ¨good enough¨ by the world´s standards. I am so grateful for His grace and His love.

Today I enter into my last six week transfer as a missionary. Wow. That is weird to even type or think. I don`t know where I will end or who I will be with but someone asked me this week what I want to achieve in this last transfer. I don`t think it`s something you achieve in one last transfer, it`s something you achieve throughout your whole mission but I just want to take advantage of every last second that I have here in Peru as a set apart representative of Jesus Christ and His church. That is my joy and privilege-

-walking down the street at sunset

Hope that was a little more informative. I love you all and will talk to you soon

Hermana Fitzpatrick

January 30, 2017

This week was good.

Time is flying and we are already in the last week of the change.

We had big news on the mission front. Big changes! The whole schedule and agenda and indicators have changed. We had a great worldwide training with some apostles and other general authorities. It should be a big change but I am excited I think it will be better. 

Not much else. Just lots of rain and lots of fun! 

 Love you all!

Hermana Fitzpatrick

January 23, 2017

Wow,

Just a little spiritual experience we had this week. We have been contacting like crazy trying to find new people. We were passing by this house and I felt like we should contact. The lady lied to us and didn`t want anything but we contacted the house next door. This young woman opened the door totally surprised and told us - I`ve seen your movie! We were like what movie? Turns out she had gone to buy a movie from one of the thousands of people that sell pirated movies and ended up buying Saratov Approach! It`s a movie about missionaries in Russia that are kidnapped. She had moved to Pucallpa from a little town on the river and had never seen missionaries but because of that movie she was interested in hearing us. She listened to us and told us - I think you came in just the right moment. The Holy Ghost is the best guide.

Raining a lot. Lots of mud but having fun,.

Got a call from Pres. last Monday at 10:34 pm and Hermana Lazarte had changes! Surprise changes but she went to Tarapoto! Ahhh I miss it so much! But she left Tuesday and Hermana Vera and I are here. Things are going well.

Much love

Hermana Fitzpatrick

January 16, 2017

This week was good.

I am getting adjusted to training. Mis hijitas are really great and just always help me to be excited to learn new things. They went to Iquitos for some migraciones stuff and left me alone for a day but it was all good because I statyed with the Sister Leaders.

Weather wise it is raining. A lot. Every day. But, I finally have my boots which you can not live without here and things are good. 

We had 21 people at church this week but we are working on it. Hoping the ward doesn´t get demoted to a branch or combined with another ward. It´s pretty crazy.

Looking forward to a new week! 

I loved studying the new Gordon B. Hinckley book. I love the chapter on missionary work where he says that everyday should be a good day in the mission field. So true! Every day you can see the 

Lord´s hand. This is His work. I love Him and love being His servant.

Love you all! Have a great week! 

Hermana Fitzpatrick

January 9, 2017

Wow! What a week!

We are getting to used to being in a trio and I am getting used to training and being here in Pucallpa - it´s pretty similar to home actually! Everyone told me it was the hottest of all the cities but I think it is the coolest one I have been in because the sun is really intense but there is always nice air running through. There is one catch though - ALL the streets here are red dirt. They call Pucallpa la tierra colorada. It´s all beautiful and fun - until it starts raining. Then, EVERYTHING turns to the stickiest, thickest red mud schlop you have ever seen. Everyone hates the rain here because they can´t even get out of their houses. For reals. See photo dos for evidence. I had my boots in Iquitos for a week before the sister leaders could get them to me and wow, I was dying. The mud is real. Houses here are almost always wooden and the people are a lot more humble than in Tarapoto, or Iquitos even, but they are ten thousand times friendlier! They all say hi to us going down the street which was different! Very friendly people! The children especially love to chase us down the street and ask for cards yelling ¨hermanitas! hermanitas! tarjeta! tarjeta!¨ 

- view from my house - we live on the third story. very nice and airy

 The ward is really small - we have about 50 people attending weekly. But that has made it easy to get to know everyone and we are working with less actives. There are a ton of less actives. 

- made chocolate chip cookies with the chocolate chips you sent mom! Turned out perfect! Thank you! They were great for our FHE!

Pucallpa also has a mall! It´s the first mall I have been in in more than a year! So crazy! How do people even construct things that big! I forgot what a supermarket is like and how convenient it is! Man! Crazy stuff. Plaza vea is incredible. We eat lunch there every Monday. 

We had an amazing experience this week. There is a family that the missionaries have been visiting for three years! We had never gone but we coordinated with the sister to go by and meet them. We got there and found out the brother had been attending but, because his wife didn´t want to get married or baptized, stopped. We were able to talk to her and she told us, listen, I had a lot of doubts and ´buts´ before but I have had a change of heart and I just want to get baptized. We were shocked and so was her husband. They are going to get baptized and married this 4 de February!  The Lord blesses our obedience and can definitely change even the most difficult person.

So that was our week, finding blessings, getting stuck in the mud, getting shut out of houses but let into others, and feeling the Spirit guiding us every step of the way.

Love you allll! 

Hermana Fitzpatrick 

January 2, 2017

Thank you for all the photos!!! well, surprise of all surprises... I had changes!! 

I am now in.....PUCALLPA! And my companion is...actually companions! Two! We are in trio! My first one! My comps are Hna Vera and Hna Lazarte. They are both from Boliva and they are both new to the mission! I am training them! Both of them! At the same time! It`s pretty crazy but we are learning as we go. 

-mis hijitas! 

 Pucallpa is super different than Iquitos and Tarapoto and all the streets are mud! When it rains - which is every day - it turns to straight schlop. Can`t do without boots here. 

-when it rained and we put plastic bags to protect ourselves

I will send you more details next week. Love you all! I am doing well! Home strech of the mission and the Lord wants me working my hardest until the end. 

Hermana Fitzpatrick

December 26, 2016

- interesting nativity scene here 

 -getting a paneton from Rocio. Ate the whole thing in one night! Que horror!

December 19, 2016

Wellllll 

Back from the long awaited hiatus I am here for the update of a lifetime. Christmas time came like a thief in the night and we are all wondering how did we get here? Answer: plane from Los Angeles to Atlanta to Lima to Iquitos and 15 months later and here we are. It´s been a special Christmas season because the focus on service this year has left me thinking more about the Savior´s example that He left for us. I have felt my love for the Savior grow infinitely during this time and I know He lives! He was our perfect example. Missionary service has been the biggest blessing in my life and has helped me grow to know the Savior more and love Him more deeply. 

-getting into the Christmas spirit

 -our mission leader loves us! 

 Highlights from this week:

-the rain! Wow what a beautiful blessing it has been. And with the new umbrella I am unstoppable. My companion forgot her umbrella one day and we were in the house of a less active and the sky went black. No joke, black. One minute it is hot and sunny and bright and the next there are uncontrollable winds blowing and the sky is negro. But, luckily the less active had a poncho that everyone wears on their motos and was able to throw that on. It was so funny! Just her little head was peaking out and the less active told her she looked like a pregnant gnome with her bag. Good times. But it was waterproof so that´s the good news. 

-we have the Christmas conference with the mission this Wednesday and every zone has to prepare a song to sing. Our zone had nothing! So my comp and I wrote a little mix of a couple hymns. We thought we were going to practice it on Wednesday during lunch so we ate so fast. We told the motokarrista to fly and we got to the chapel super quick, only to realize that the practice was for Thursday. Ahhhh... 

-No one could give us pension in the mornings so we are now making our own breakfast. Let´s just say it´s a lot of cereal and yogurt.- It´s a great mix. 

-We changed pension to an eternal investigator who loves us...too much. She has a restaurant. She is feeding us such delicious food but I can´t stop eating!! I have even taken to the Peruvian habit of eating a pile of white rice every day!! No!! I swore I never would! But it´s so good! Killing me with the amount of love she cooks into every meal. Oh, Gloria

-Finished the Book of Mormon again this week! I could feel once again the truthfulness of that book and I love it. I was able to understand even more this time around and I am ready to start again! 

I am SO excited to talk to you! We will see each other soon! 

Hermana Fitzpatrick

December 5, 2016

Well! What a week! 

The Christmas spirit has been full brew here and I am really feeling it. Last year I tried not to think about it and that made it end up being sadder. But this year we are full blown Christmas all the time. It has been a great week. Even the weather is in our favor most of the time. It`s starting to rain a little more. I really enjoyed the Christmas devotional and the spirit that it brought. It was an excellent Sabbath day because in the afternoon we were also able to help a recent convert and a less active do family history and you could just feel the spirit throughout the whole room. It was a great day.

- I got the package!!!!!!!

Spanish is coming along and I am feeling more comfortable.

Not much to say I`m out. I`ll talk to you soon. Love you all!!

Hermana Fitz

November 28, 2016

So, this week was odd. We had some REALLY hot days and were suffering for a couple days there. But then on Thursday it was cold! I am not kidding! It was a cold and wintry day. It reminded me of winter time in California and it made me think of Thanksgiving back home. I hope you ate a lot of Turkey for me. I ate bbq chicken and yucca. A jungle classic!

- We printed out quotes and hung them on old mosquito net holders we had to make our house more home-y. This is from when we made peanut butter cookies! Delish! Miss Robby a lot :( but at least I see her every Monday)

- Making causa rellena - it`s potato with chili and then filled with tuna and onion and mayo. Sounds gross tastes delicious! 

We are trying to work more with members this week. We had ward conference here this week. Usually it is just like any other Sunday, right? Wrong. In Peru conferences are a big deal. They are announced a month ahead of time. As we walked in they gave us complimentary pens! With the ward name on it! Luxury service. Flower arrangements were brought in and there was even a flutist to play the prelude! We don`t even have a pianist on normal Sundays! Just a spectacular Sabbath. 

My companion is from Bolivia. She is from the same place as Hermana Laura and she is 27. She was a convert when she was little and all her family except her mom are members. She also lived in Brazil for a little bit so she speaks Portuguese too. 

We aren`t really allowed to go to the offices that much, only with permission but I always annoy them to see if there are packages. It`s called faith! The offices are a weird world though because they just are always in there typing and working away. It`s like a little business not a mission. There are three elders in there and the assistants. 

Having the mission home close doesn´t really mean anything because we still aren`t allowed to go. But, I am hoping for Christmas they will do a devotional there like last year. It`s nice to go to the mission home because it is a huge mansion and it really feels like we are more of a family when we aren`t in a chapel. 

We had a newbie from Pucallpa stay with us this week while she did some immigration papers. It was so weird to be an old sister! It reminded me of being in the beginning of my mission and even though I still have time left it is odd that it is slowly coming to an end. 

- My comp is in the middle and a sister that stayed with us this week. Hermana Pac from Guatemala

That`s all for this week! Looking forward to the Christmas devotional this week! I will be watching! 

Love you all! 

Hermana Fitzpatrick