This week sure was different. In total, 22 people left on Wednesday to go to their missions, 15 from my district and 7 from the older campo group. Both my companions left for their missions. Elder Haymond, who's in the Lima Central mission, was supposed to leave on Tuesday, but had to wait because there were major riots in Lima that resulted in the president issuing a lockdown for the day where everyone had to stay in their homes. He's a communist president who hasn't been keeping his promises, so the riots have been pretty huge. I've heard from some elders already out there that there's lots of broken glass in the streets and that one elder might have accidentally been tear gassed. I don't know if that last one's true, but I heard it from someone. All buildings were closed so the group leaving couldn't pick up their visas until Wednesday. Hopefully these things calm down so I can get mine and go to Trujillo, where I assume it'll be much nicer and hopefully free from much political strife.
Wednesday was definitely the weirdest day here so far. It seems like I was outside for the entire day saying goodbye to people because the times were staggered. We'd say bye to some and then 30 minutes later come out again to say bye to others. Both my comps left in the afternoon. I'm not much of a crier, but I shed a few tears when they left. When it was their time to leave, elders would clasp each other's hands and give the bro hug and hermanas would hug each other, but a simple handshake between elders and hermanas sufficed (It's against mission rules). They'd get onto the bus and those of us staying would line up along the road to the gate and cheer them on and even give hi-fives from the car as they drove out into the next stage of their mission. It was both sad and happy to see them go. They're on to do what they were called to do and can't wait to get mine. I'm not jealous that they got theirs and I didn't get mine, but as long as I do get mine I'll be fine. It was a little bit more sad than a typical MTC farewell would have been because we've known each other for double the time we're supposed to, and a lot of that time was spent doing nothing but talking to each other. I can't wait to bring the napkins to the CCM reunion we'll have in a few years.
Remaining from my zone are me, Elders Zaitzeff, Whitehead, Tobler, and Graham, and Hermanas Cox, Wardell, and Villanueva. We don't really have a set companionship and I'll trade off who I'm with from day to day depending on where I want to be. The teachers have started teaching Spanish classes to us, now that all North Americans here are finished with classes. One hour in the morning and one hour in the afternoon. It'll be good for me to review it before going into the field because I've definitely been slacking on studying Spanish every day. We call ourselves the Lost Zone and our permanent zone scripture is Mormon 8: 2-4,
"2 And now it came to pass that after the great and tremendous battle at Cumorah, behold, the Nephites who had escaped into the country southward were hunted by the Lamanites, until they were all destroyed.
3 And my father also was killed by them, and I even remain alone to write the sad tale of the destruction of my people. But behold, they are gone, and I fulfil the commandment of my father. And whether they will slay me, I know not.4 Therefore I will write and hide up the records in the earth; and whither I go it mattereth not."
I've been studying the 4 gospels pretty deeply recently and my goal is to finish the gospel of Luke by Easter. Learning about Jesus Christ and being in awe of him, his ministry, and his sacrifice, just like Ulisses Soares said in the last conference, is one of the best ways to truly come to know Christ and increase your faith in him. I encourage everyone to study the last week of the Savior's life this week to be in awe of his perfect life, atonement, and resurrection.
I've continued to practice the piano and am getting very close to being able to play "He is Risen" all the way through with no mistakes. I also arranged the song, "Like the Sea" from the "Samuel and the Sign" episode of the animated stories from the Book of Mormon by Living Scriptures and have a recording of it that I'll post on facebook sometime soon.
Other than having everyone leave and getting new companions it was a pretty standard week here at the CCM. Hopefully my visa will come this week so I can begin serving the Lord in my assigned mission! I hope you have a great week and let the holy ghost be your guide!
Adios!
Elder Jensen
1. 14 snails
2. I don't know what this picture is
3. My trio
4. My new comps with some latinos
5. The CCM entrance
6. The Jan. 13 zone
7. The Cuzco temple
8. Everyone's face looks scary in the dark
9. Distrito Amulek elderes
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