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Where he lives

January 2, 2012 - Week 2 here!

Mom and Dad!!

Hey thanks for your letters so much!!!  I love to see how things are going there!  I´m so mad though my camera cord won´t work here so I can´t send any pictures!!  I´m so bummed out!  My companion said he had to buy an adapter so I guess thats what i´ll have to do.  So i´ll try again next week I guess!  I want you guys to see this place so bad! Its crazy.  Right now its soooo hot.  Especially today.  But that sounds like you had a lot of fun on new years!  I´m glad you could play some ping pong.  For new years here we spent it with some family that were just baptized.  It was really cool but they played music like the whole time and I did´t know what to do.  I just tried not to listen to it.  The funny thing is we hear music all the time as we are walking and most of it is from America!  Its funny because no one knows what they are saying.  But yeah new years was like Christmas with tons of fireworks.  We had to be in by 9:30 so it woke us up at 12:00. When we went to the members house they had these things called ¨Globos¨ and basically they are like mini paper hot air balloons.  They light the candle and it rises.  Well the family lit one and it was going up and hit a powerline and bursted in flames and fell in front of house.  It was crazy!!  It was pretty cool though. We got the fire put out so no big deal.  Anyways it sounded like quite the trip to new york and I guess back home as well! Thats crazy you had a 12 hour layover in pheonix! At least you made it home safe. haha  Dad thats funny how you played santa claus! I wish i could have seen that for sure!  I bet that was really hard to say good-bye to them.  I´m so sick of good byes too.  I swear it seems like I make friends here and then we leave each other but luckily I get along with everyone in my district.  I feel a lot better that way.

Well some more news about here is we had 2 of our investagators get shot this past week.  Don´t worry though its not as dangerous as it sounds.  One was one of our investagators husbands(not legally married) and someone stole his motorbike or something and shot him.  the other one was riding his bike in public about 9 or 10 at night and shot him in the leg to rob him but they didn´t take anything.  We gave him a blessing.  Its crazy though.  Thats pretty unusual.  I debated on telling you guys because it makes it sound a lot scarier here than it really is.  But other than that things are coming along good.  Every day I can understand spanish better.  I know its not me doing it.  Its so frusrating because I want to teach people but I don´t know the words well enough.  It is coming slowly but surely.  I wish people could just see the importance of our message.  Some people are funny.  We were teaching this catholic guy and he was trying to tell us Joseph Smith was in the bible and that we didn´t teach him anything new.  It was pretty funny!  Everyday is an adventure here though.  Mostly its a lot of walking.  We were teaching this one guy that knew nothing about church or anything and as we were teaching they just lit up some ciggerettes and offered us some and so as they are smoking we invited them to baptism and one of accepted and seemed really interested.  So it was pretty funny.  I hope he gets baptized but it will be some work for sure.  You have to be legally married before you can get baptized if you are living with someone else.  Most people just say they are married when really they aren´t.   Anyways I love you guys so much and don´t forget that!  And one thing I´ve learned is that getting out of your comfort zone is when you grow the most!  So don´t worry if you get callings in church or anything. haha Its just a chance to grow and better yourself.  There is nothing better than being able to help people come unto Christ! This is the hardest, frustrating, but best experience ever!!  Everyday is sometimes difficult but when we can help someone, it makes it all worth it.  I love you guys so much!!!  Know I think about you guys and pray for you guys every single day.  Best of luck and thanks for being the best parents ever! I can´t thank you enough!

Con Amor,

Elder Peck

December 26, 2011 - Mom and Dad!!

Mi mamá y papá!!!

Hey first off I want to tell you how much I love you guys and loved hearing and seeing all the familiar faces! I don´t know if you heard me say it but i love you guys so much! It was so hard to get off of skype to say good bye. For real. It hurt so bad!  My companion cried too when he said good bye as well. Entonces todo bien.  (all good).  I wanted to tell you more stuff but the people I was staying with were right there and could hear us.  I don´t think they understand English really, probably not at all but still.  Its really different here but I really like it.  I honestly feel like I´m camping though sometimes.  My pension (apartment) is way ghetto. haha  There is a crack over our door and we can see outside.  Its not horrible but a lot worse than anything in the USA. We sleep on 2 old mattresses on the kitchen floor.  I just sleep in my sleeping bag.  I feel really bad because I forgot my camera so I can´t send pictures today but hopefully next time for sure.  The food here is a little different than I expected.  Its a little more bland with lots of eggs. I hope I can learn to like them or something that would make my life a lot easier.  People are pretty kind here and so its okay if I don´t eat them I think.  And I got some big news!!  I drank Soda here!!!!  I did it on Christmas eve.  I forgot to tell you yesterday!  People keep offering it to me all the time so I figured it was a good occasion and that the soda is probably safer to drink than the water.  it was so nice drinking pop again. I forgot how nice it is with all the bubbles.  But yeah its a lot different here than America thats for sure.  The houses here are pretty crappy except for a few.  I think their attitude is like if it works, use it.  Because their houses are way missmatched with brick, tin, wood, and whatever they can find.  Everything is a lot more dirtier too with trash everywhere.  I think I´m getting over being clean here because I have no other choice.  Its so weird to think how far away I am from home.  Its like a different world away but I know this is where I need to be.  I think i´ll be home before you know it. And an update with my spanish: I can´t talk!  I can understand probably 50 percent but its so hard to say what I want.  The accent is really strange here.  Its like an italian accent in Spanish.  I don´t know how to describe it.  I know in time though I will be able to speak it.  i´ll just keep trying every day.But thats basically whats going on here.  If you have any questions let me know!  Well I love you guys so much and so does Dios (God)!  Keep being strong and I hope we can all go through the temple when I get back! Its so important!  I just love being able to serve the Lord every single day and spread the gospel. Its the best!  Well i´m so proud to have you guys as my parents and i love you so much!!! Take care and tell hi to Jenny and uncle zach and his family and everyone else!  Sorry this letter is random but I just wanted to get my thoughts out as fast as I could.  Entonces queiro ustedes saben que pienso ustudes estan el mejor padres en el mundo! (I want you to know that i think you guys are the best parents in the world!)  Thats for the support here! Take care and i hope you flight home went well! 

Con amor, 

Elder Peck 

December 24, 2011 - More information

Hey dad I can´t wait to call ya!!!  I´m only supposed to write you a quick note to tell you that I´ll be able to call you tomorrow!!  I hope you´ll have your phone! I´ll call your phone first if I can but if not try to have skype ready if thats possible.  Things are crazy here I´ll be able to e-mail ya monday for sure and i,ll try to send you some pictures too if I can! This place is so different for sure!  People usually only have cement, tile,  or dirt floors.  I feel like I i´m camping for real.  Its awesome though.  It feels like I´m sleeping in our shed in our old house kinda.  We have tile but still. I´ll send more pictures.  Well i better go I love you guys so much!

con amor,

Elder Peck

December 21, 2011

Brother and Sister Peck,

  I wanted to write and let you know that your son, Elder Peck, has arrived safely in our mission.  I´ve attached a couple of pictures of his first day.  His trainer is named Elder Griffin and they will be serving together in an area called Luis Guillon.  His preparation day will be on Mondays so you should expect an email from him each week on that day.  Sister Stapley and I are very honored to have Elder Peck in our mission.  This is truly a great and marvelous work and Elder Peck has so many blessings in store for him as he serves the Lord faithfully and diligently.  Thank you for your love and support.  

Best Wishes,

Michael J Stapley
President, Argentina Buenos Aires South Mission

December 21, 2011 - I´m Here in Argentina!!!

Dear family,

I made it here!!!  I made it here just fine and got my new companion Elder Griffin from Texas! He´s way cool.  It´s so different and crazy.  Well i´m writing to tell you i´m going to call you on Christmas at 2:00 or 2:30 Argentina time which is 4 hours ahead of Utah so you might have to do the math... I might be able to skype you so make sure one of you has that set up. Lacy should have a skype I can call.  E-mail any questions you may have. That would be so cool to see your faces! I´ll be able to e-mail you saturday and tell you more.  So e-mail me by friday if you can.  Well I love and miss you guys so much!  Adios! can´t wait to talk to ya.

con amor,

Elder Peck

December 15, 2011 - Feliz Navidad en New York!

Hola familia!

!?Como estan!?  Espero ustedes estan animado por Navidad!!  There was my attempt in Spanish.. haha I can't believe I'm going to Argentina in just 4 days! Its so crazy!  You guys are probably in new york now which is just as crazy!  I hope you guys make it there safely!  Lacy, I hope you made it there okay. I prayed for ya and have been thinking about you flying.  You guys will have to e-mail or dearelder me and tell me how it goes!  I wish I could be there so bad to see all of you!  That sounds like so much fun.  It really made me miss you guys a ton and I hope you guys know how much I love and care for you guys.  I can feel your support and that is huge.  Thanks so much for everything, I have seriously have been given so much!!  You guys are awesome.  I can't wait to hear your voices on Lunes (Monday)! That is going to be so awesome!  I'm going to have to figure out that phone card, I'm sure its not going to be too hard. Basically we can call whoever but I doubt I'll call anyone besides you guys and Jenny. I'm so excited to talk to you and tell you everything!  Even though really I've told you basically everything. Oh maybe I'll call trevor/Deputy too!  Do you think I should call them?  Oh and I got to leave the MTC for the first time in 8 weeks to go to a doctor. The best part was driving in a car again!!  I got goosebumps literally driving and seeing real people!  It was kind of a scary feeling stepping out into the world with Jesucristo on my name tag.  I felt a lot more responsible for how i acted.  Also I kept thinking..."Should I go talk to that guy overthere...is he mormon?"  haha it was pretty funny.  I was only gone for like an hour and half but still.  It was kind of comforting to come back to the MTC for some reason but don't get me wrong I'm so excited to get out of here!  I love the spirit and the stuff I learn here but I want to get out there and start teaching real people.  The biggest thing I'm worried about in Argentina is not being able to communicate! haha My spanish is not very good yet but I'm trying!  I'm way slow at talking but I think its starting to click more and more.  I think its going to be such a culture shock when I get there.  I'm just trying to prepare myself for the worst but hope for the best.  I'm sure this next week is  going to be one I won't ever forget thats for sure. Oh and another thing I'm going to be sending a big envelope with all my letters I've gotten here back home because I don't think i'll have enough room for them.  I'll keep some letters but I don't think i'll have enough room for all of them.  Thanks so much for everything though! You guys are awesome and I'll talk to you in 4 days! :D

Love, Elder Peck

December 8, 2011 - FELIZ NAVIDAD FAMILIA!!!!!!!!

Dear Family,

First off...I HAVE THE BEST FAMILY IN THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Thanks so much for the packages!!! That was so awesome!!!  It doesn't really feel like Christmas time here except for some Christmas lights but other than that it seems normal. So thanks so much for those swedish pies! Those were the best! I shared them with my zone and they absoultely loved them.  I loved them so much! Great idea!The funny thing is they were just as excited about the newspapers in there as well since we don't hear about anything in the outside world. It was so funny.  And thanks so much for "Jesus the Christ" book in scripture form! That is so cool.  It is going to be so much nicer to read for sure.  Also thanks for the phone cards too those will be awesome.  And last but not least thanks for the AK 47! I want to see it so bad.  I like how you arranged those pictures too haha I was like oh cool they sent some picture and I put them aside for a minute while I opened the other box because everyone wanted to see what I got. Then I looked at them and I was shocked! I was so excited! My friend here from Panaca, Nevada was pumped too. It was funny.  I can't thank you enough! You didn't have to get me anything!  Paying for my mission is enough of a Christmas present to last me a lifetime. I can't thank you guys enough for real.  You really know how to make my Christmas special even when I'm not with you guys.  I hope you are all having a great Christmas time.  I hope when I'm down there I will be able to send you guys something cool.  I could buy you something here but there really isn't anything good here.  I'm so excited for you guys though to go to New York! How exciting!  Well I can't thank you guys enough!

Some news here is basically the same.  Haha Not a lot happens here but I did run into another Elder Peck!  That 2 now! What are the chances? He is related to Martin Horton Peck too.  Thats so crazy.  Also this week Elder Steven Snow (Garret Snow's dad)  talked here!  That was pretty neat.  I think he was your bishop or something??  I'm not really sure.  Do you remember Parker Westoff?? He is one of my friends I wrestled with him once at home...anyways he is in my zone too now! Its crazy how many people I know in my zone.  Hey dad who won the Mayem Vs Bisping fight?? I've been curious to find out...  Sorry my letter is all over the place and probably pretty bad english too.  I've been trying to speak spanish 100% of the time and its really tough but kind of fun.  I'm probably at about 85% if I try to in spanish.  I can't wait until I can actually speak it fluently.  Its getting better though I think.  Its scary to think I'll be in an all spanish speaking country in like 11 days or something like that.  I should get my travel plans today I think so if I do I'll see if I can e-mail or write you again.  But yeah its pretty much the same here.  If you have any questions let me know!  Are you putting these letters on my blog? Just curious??  Anyways I sure love and miss you guys and I can't wait to hear your voices!!  Anyways take care and thanks again!!!

Love, Elder Peck

December 1, 2011 - Hola familia!

Hey family!

That sounds like you guys had a lot of fun at Grandma's in Moab!  I was thinking about you guys all day.  Thanksgiving was actually pretty cool here I guess.  At night they gave us all popcorn and the whole mtc watched "17 Miracles" and it was awesome! If you haven't seen it you should.  I wish I could have gone over to texas gulf and kens lake with you guys. what an adventure!!  Hey so I got the package with the ties in it mom, is that the one you were talking about?  because I got that one and then you said Lacy was going to send another one?  I'm confused a little no worries though.  Anyways some news going here is I'm no longer District Leader! Usually we are only it for 3 weeks and thats what I expected.  Its so nice not having to worry about all that stuff.  My companion is the new district leader which is great because now he actually wants to be a little bit more obedient!  But only a little bit. We are doing pretty good but he still drives me crazy. hahaha  At least we can teach together well now.  My spanish is coming alright I guess, nothing special thats for sure.  Its always a challenge to speak it but I think as soon as I get in Argentina I'll do better because quite frankly I don't have a choice. haha  Only 2 and half more weeks to go!  I'm so excited!!  Not that the MTC is bad because its really a cool place but a change of scenery would be nice.  We had to say good bye to my roommates this monday and that was tough.  One of them asked me to give him a blessing, that was really a cool experience.  I was so jealous that they were leaving.  The good thing is though now my companion and I have the room to ourselves.

 

Okay a story really quick...so I was sitting down at breakfast on sunday and we were talking to these elders and one says to me "wait you are elder Peck too?"  I was like yeah I am and I looked to my left and there was another Elder Peck sitting right by me!  Turns out he was related to Martin Horton Peck too!!! How crazy!!  I mean what were the chances that we would sit right by each other?? The lunch room is huge too!! I read that story of Martin Horton Peck by the way and what a guy!!  He is inspirational thats for sure.  Anyways that was pretty cool.   Also some other news is Jessica Ferguson is in my zone!!  That means I'll see her a lot! I haven't had a chance to talk to her yet because she just got here yesterday but still!  I mean the chances of her being in my zone were way slim.  Just so you know how big a zone is, there are about 4-5 districts in a zone  and each district is about 6-10 missionaries. 

 

And hey you guys don't need to get me anything from Christmas! for real!  There is one thing I kinda do want though... and that would be "Jesus the Christ" in scripture form not just the book. I've been reading that lately and it is so awesome! You could even use my money to get it!  But really I don't need anything! I think I'm going to send some stuff home that I don't need but maybe not.  Could you look at my bank account and tell me how much money I have in there?? I can't really check it here and I've kinda spent some money since I've been here.  I had to pay like $50 for one of my shots when I first got here but it was no big deal because I had some money from Mike that he gave me.  And thanks so much for paying for my mission!  This is the best investment for me right now.  thanks so much!  i can't thank you enough.  I miss you all like crazy and think about you all every single day!  I love hearing from you and if I could I would write back to you everyday!  Just know how much I love and miss you guys! I'm doing great though so no worries!!!!  Well take care! Thanks for the prayers!

 

Love Elder Peck

November 24, 2011 - Happy Thanksgiving!!!!!!!! Love you all!!!

Hey Family! 
Happy Thanksgiving!!!! I'm going to be able to e-mail ya today! First off thanks for the ties and package, that was awesome!! I love my new ties there are way nice too. Also thanks for that hair stuff! I may need you to send me a few more in a few weeks so I'll have some down there if thats alright!! I'll let ya know... And mom they aren't the same ties I already had. :) Thanks so much for all of the letters though they were so nice! I got like all of them on tuesday it was great. The dearelder printer was down or something monday so I didn't get any dearelders until the end of Tuesday. And mom how dearelder works is they print off all the dearelders each night on a big paper so sometimes I have like 3 letters on one big paper. they are so nice though. I look forward to go pick them up at the mailbox. Dearelder will work when I'm in Argentina too but they will have to print it off here in Utah and then send a whole bunch of them at once in Argentina at the end of the week I believe. Also I should be able to call at one of my layovers before I head down to Argentina so I don't know quite when that will be. I will get my travel plans a week and half before I go so I will e-mail you then with all the information. I can't wait to talk and hear from all of you! then I get to call you a week later haha. I got an e-mail from Elder Mclaws (My friend going to the same mission) and he sent me all these cool pictures of him there. They look so cool! I'm so pumped to go now! He said we will have clean water to drink there so that is always good. He says its not that bad but definitely not like the MTC. The MTC is pretty nice so its okay. My roommates are leaving Monday for the Resistencia Argentina mission (The same one as Elder Stout). I'm sad to see them leave but that means I'm only 3 weeks away! It kinda scares me because I don't know Spanish at all! I've been speaking a lot more though and its helping a little bit. Its coming slowly but surely. I teach like 2 lessons a day in Spanish just about. Its a challenge but thats why I'm here to learn and grow as well as help others. I really love learning here its just so nice. Sometimes my district is way loud so it makes it hard to study but I think we are getting better I hope. My companion and I are starting to get along better. I think I'm only district leader until sunday because usually you are only district leader for 3 weeks so I'll see if they switch me out. I kinda hope they do so the other elders in my district can have the experience. Its been a challenge as district leader just because sometimes i have to be the bad guy and say no to stuff or tell people to get on task and stuff. It has definitely been good though. I'm getting more comfortable talking in front of people now which is a blessing. Everyday I'm out of my comfort zone but thats the way it should be. I already feel like I'm a different person than I was when I got here. Its really kind of a weird feeling but good at the same time. I'm pretty comfortable with the schedule and everything here. I saw 2 elders kind of play wrestling this week and it made me so homesick for wrestling. I want to wrestle so bad its killing me! I would pay money to wrestle at this point. haha Dad have you ever heard of the knee knocker?? What about the triangle choke?? Just curious. Anyways some of the highlights this week is I have been able to hear from 2 apostles! On tuesday Elder D. Todd Christofferson spoke to us and then this morning I was able to hear from Elder Russell M. Nelson!! Its cool being so close to them and being able to see them. There is nothing like hearing them speak. Well I hope you are having a great Thanksgiving family tell everyone hi! Its really weird not being with you guys but I hope you know how much I love and miss you guys! You are my motivation and I really appreciate the prayers! I love you guys and tell hi for me to everyone. Tell Grandma Linda thanks so much for the cards too those make my day! Happy thanksgiving!
Love, Elder Peck
P.S. I'm going to try and send some pictures home if I can this week!