Elder Colyn Quinn

Colyn's final thoughts as he reflects on these blessed, past two years

2010-10-26T12:08:00.000-07:00

Tuesday, October 26, 2010 -
What is the Mission???
The Mission is a dream. A Missionary starts by entering into a new world—no phone calls home, no homemade food, missing his family, and being permanently placed with a unfamiliar companion. He accepts to live by strict rules knowing that the Lord will bless him if he does so. As time goes on, he learns more about life—how to overcome trials, the principles of raising a family, what to look for in his future wife, etc. And without noticing it, he starts to worry more about the people he is currently with and solving their problems than he does about his own family. He loves the people and they love him back. And when the time comes for changes, tears are shed, both his and theirs, because of the precious moments they have spent together, never knowing if it will be possible to see each other again. Two years go flying by and then comes the unstoppable moment of stay or go. This Missionary, knowing that his time is almost up, feels both a sense of sadness and happiness. He recognizes that he is going to have to leave behind his newly-developed family, but knows than an overly-excited family is waiting anxiously for his return home. This is the Mission—two years of selfless service given up to the Lord so that this Missionary, his family, his converts, and those he has come in contact with, can be blessed for the Eternities; the two most cherished years of this young man’s life…
Thank you to all those who have supported me and kept me going strong for these two years. I could not have done it without you. I love you and thank you so so much.
Les amo,Elder Colyn Quinn

He is COMING HOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2010-10-26T11:02:00.000-07:00

To the Followers.....

This is Susan, Colyn's mom. I just wanted to share some feelings about these past two years and having Colyn gone so far away. When the day arrived when Colyn and I had to be separated for two long years, I think we both didn't realize how really hard it was going to be. In the MTC, watching the movie that they share with the families before the inevitable separation, Colyn was so nervous that his legs were shaking. The closing prayer was being said and I reached out and put my hand on Colyn's leg as to try and comfort him and he responded with relaxing. He held my hand throughout this whole ordeal, as he always did when we sit through Sacrament meeting together. And when the final hug came to say goodbye, we could not let go of each other. My arms were grabbing at him as to try to take something home with me. The last thing Colyn whispered to me after he told me that he loved me, was.... "I'll be back."
Those were the last three words that I heard him say while he was still in my sight. I have hung on to those words these last two years and drawn strength from them, knowing he would be back. And now HE IS COMING BACK!!!!!! This wonderful, glorious day of him coming back is here!!!! I am truly blessed! My Heavenly Father, for some sweet reason, granted me such a privilege when he sent me such a Prince of a son as Colyn is!!! He knows he is a child of God. He came here obedient, has always remained obedient and I pray that obedience will continue throughout his entire life. He loves his mom. And for this, I can never thank Heavenly Father enough for this choice blessing of having Colyn share his life with me!
Thank you for checking in and keeping up on Colyn's journey in Peru. He has felt your love and it means the world to him! He has had much success on his Mission, again baptizing three more souls this past week. He is grateful to the Lord for allowing him to be where he is and to experience "loving the people he serves".
November 3, 2010 seemed like an eternity away, and now my boy is returning home!
Love to all , Susan - A loving mother of an Awesome Missionary -
(as Colyn would say to every mother he called when letting them know when their son's would be arriving home....he would say to them either in speaking or in writing.....
"Thanks for being a loving mother of an Awesome Missionary")

"The Mission has been the best experience of my life"

2010-10-26T10:45:00.000-07:00

Monday, October 18, 2010 -
I think I'm starting to get really lazy about writing home because I know that I will be home soon enough to just tell it to you. Next week will be my last week to write home. Can you believe it??? This month is just flying by. What are you guys going to be for Halloween??? What's the creative idea this year???
We had a very cool baptism this weekend. His name is Leonel Chavez Olaya. He is 18-years-old and lives with his Grandma because his family is separated. Before teaching him the Gospel, he was involved with drinking and hanging out with bad friends. He had always worn a mouth piercing, but we just taught him the Gospel and read the Book of Mormon with him. He himself had to make the change. On Saturday, I had the privilege of baptizing him. Just before starting the meeting,we were in the bathroom changing into our white clothes and we had a really good conversation. He took out his mouth piercing never to put it back in again. He has made so many changes to get to this point. He showed up yesterday dressed in a shirt and tie (given that the shirt was mine, the pants were my companion's, but he looked like a stud). He will be a Missionary in one year's time. How cool is that??? I am doing fine. This week was probably the best week of work that I have ever had in Lima. It was such a fun fast-paced week.It flew by like nothing. I have to tell you that there are many moments where I just wish the next to weeks could pass by in a flash,but I have many more moments telling myself that I don't have that much longer to put on the Missionary tag and be a full-time representative of the Church and of Jesus Christ. The Mission has been the best experience of my life...I love you Family. Love, Coco

"Only 24 days and the Best Friends are back together!!!"

2010-10-12T11:27:00.000-07:00

October 11, 2010 - (A note to all the followers....for the past few weeks, Colyn has not been writing letters home because he and I have been exchanging emails for two hours every Monday morning. So I have compiled the last month's worth of Colyn's conversations and put them in one post.)

September 20, 2010 -
Mom,
We find out changes on Saturday night this week, so I am way excited to see what happens. I am pretty sure that I will be staying where I am to finish my Mission because this is my last Change, but we'll see what Heavenly Father and President have in store for me...
About the weather... I think we are just barely finishing winter, barely because it is still freezing, but we have had some warm days where the sun has been shining. We are just starting spring, but summer will be here for Christmastime... And I'll be at home... Wahoo!!!
Love, Coco
I still haven't heard anything about Yolanda, but I assume that she is doing okay... I just can't wait to see her again...
Wahoo!!! That means we'll be talking every Monday until I go home... only 7 more I think... Can you believe it??? Everyone asks me if I'm trunky, but I just tell them no, but my family is... Hahaha. I love my family.
Love, Coco
Don't worry... You'll be seeing enough of me in a little while. I just hope you don't get sick of me talking to you because we have to catch up on two years of life... That might take a while... :)
Coco
Are you kidding me Mom??? It would be awesome to have Chase open up his Mission Call the day that I get home!!! It won't take away from anything. I didn't think you would want to wait to open it until I get home, but it makes me feel so happy that you want to wait to open his Mission Call until I get home... We will be super anxious for an arrival home and a send-away call... It will just add on to a great night... PARTY ALL-NIGHT LONG!!! And if it seems even better... I will get home and we can just be with the family and good friends and then we can have the big party another day, like on the weekend...and Chase can invite his friends and the Family over to watch him open his Call... You think he'll be getting his Call before I get home?... That is so exciting!!!
Love, Coco
Yes. Comas is part of Lima. It's a little prettier than my other areas have been in Lima, which makes it nice as well, but nothing beats the Jungle...
Coco

September 27, 2010 -
Good News!!! I am going to finish my Mission...in COMAS!!! I am so happy. I am going to stay for my last Change here and that makes me feel really good. I now will not have to get to know a new area, new members, new house, new companion, nothing new. My companion, Elder Zárate and I are both staying. It is so nice. And I am so excited to end my Mission as a Zone Leader in Comas!!! At the same time, I am sad because my friends are leaving the Zone: Elder Smith and Elder Cridlebaugh... Elder Smith is going to be a Zone Leader in Lima and Elder Cridlebaugh is heading off as District Leader to the jungle of Iquitos. I am so jealous... But it is what the Lord has planned... I'll be seeing Elder Smith every once-in-a-while, but today is the last day I will be seeing Elder Cridlebaugh. It's sad to see friends go and they think it is so weird that I am going home this Change. They don't believe it, just like I can't believe it. It has gone by so fast. We have plans to hang out after the Mission so we'll see where life takes us...
I Love you....Coco

October 4, 2010 -
Mom...
Is you there? Because I didn't get my sweet Mother's e-mail this week...
Coco
(Yes Coco....I am here...)
Hallelujah!!! I love my Family!!!
Mom, How are you doing??? Less than one month left... Can you believe it? So, this weekend we didn't watch General Conference because down here in Peru, their Elections were going on, and it is illegal to have any type of reunion in any place, so there were no Church meetings this weekend, and yesterday, we weren't even able to leave the house. We stayed inside all day studying, organizing, and just enjoying a day off... We are going to watch General Conference this weekend the 9th and 10th. And Fast Sunday is going to be the 17th so this month is just going to fly by... WAHOO!!!
You got my packages!!! How fun is that??? I thought you'd like what I sent. Mom, I still need you to select your ten favorite photos of me in the Mission...not baptisms... And get them sent to me...by tomorrow. Tomorrow, we are going to the Temple so I will be able to write you again tomorrow... Hey Mom, Dad tells me that you are trying to make everything perfect for my return home. But Mom, don't stress out. I just want to be able to enjoy the day with my family. Don't be so overwhelmed with everything that you can't even enjoy the day. I want it to be a nice enjoyful day...
The couple that took the packages home is the Nelsons. They are the couple that have been spoiling us like crazy with pizza, hamburgers, french toast breakfast, grilled ham and cheese and pretty much anything we wanted. I felt so bad for them because the husband Elder Nelson got really sick down here. He had some kidney stones and an infection in his body so they thought it would be better to go to the USA to get taken care of, recuperate, and then come back to finish the Mission. They are planning on coming to my Homecoming Meeting and I will be inviting them. They didn't want to go and I felt sad for them, but I know they'll be going back out to serve...
I know. Nathan is finishing his Mission... Can you believe how fast that went by??? I will get home, and then Nathan White gets home three weeks later. Isn't that weird? Our whole group of friends are going to be getting home within the next couple months... How exciting...
I love you so much....until next week....Coco

October 11, 2010 -
HELLOOOOOOOO!!!
ARE YOU THERE?????
(I am here Coco.....)
Mommy!!! I love my Mom!!! How's the day treating you???
Hey. I still haven't gotten my credit card yet??? Do you think it would be possible for you to send me some money through Western Union? Honestly, I am living on nothing. It stinks to not have money. I am not able to spoil my companion, or buy a soda or treats at nighttime, or take a 3-liter pop to a Family Home Evening, because I can't spare even one cent right now. So do you think you could do me that favor. Just put the money in Western Union under my name, and I will go and take it out. What do you think???
I am so glad that you are enjoying school. Only three weeks left and I'll be able to help you with your homework... How does that sound???
Hey. Did Chase get his Mission Call yet??? Or is it this week that it gets there??? Are you sure you can wait til I get home to open it??? I honestly cannot wait. How exciting!!!
(Coco, I told all the sisters in Relief Society yesterday...."this time next month (meaning fast Sunday) my best friend will be home again with me!)
Is that right? Only 24 days and the Best Friends are back together!!! That seems so crazy. I miss my Best Friend so much. But we know that we wouldn't change anything for these two years...
It's time for me to go. I love you so much. General Conference was really good this weekend. They talked a lot about the importance of the family, which of course made me feel really good. I love you and hope everything is excellent. Until next week. I won't be writing in the morning because we are going to a Museum in the morning. I will be writing in the afternoon at about 2:00pm Lima time. I love you. Thanks for your help. I'll let you know tomorrow about the money. Thanks...
Coco

October 12, 2010 -
YEAH!!!!! I'm rich!!!!!
I got the money out yesterday!!! Thanks for taking care of me. You saved me. I love you and miss you so much. Take care.
Love, Coco

"Every prayer makes a difference"

2010-09-13T10:16:00.000-07:00

September 13, 2010 -
Hey Family,
Oh if I could put into words what a wonderful weekend it has been. We had the greatest time this weekend. All week long we were trying to get together all the papers we needed for two couples to get married so that the wives could get baptized. Starting with the first couple… Carmen Mejia. She has been waiting for three years to get baptized. The problem was that her husband, Marco, never wanted to talk with the Missionaries and would never leave his room if they happened to find him in the house. We went last Monday night to visit Carmen and see how she was doing and if she had talked with her husband about the Wedding. Her husband was there that night. We knew that he had never come out to meet the Missionaries before, and I was just praying and praying that he would come out and just talk for a sec… And guess what??? He came out. I honestly couldn’t believe it and was so nervous to talk with him. We stood up when he entered the room and then I just had to sweet-talk him. He is a really nice guy. I talked to him for about ten minutes and asked him to get married to his wife just so she could get baptized. We sat in silence for about five minutes, almost laughing and smirking and smiling, because there was a Spirit that was telling all of us that he was going to say “yes”… And he accepted. He said that he would get married only so his wife could get baptized, but that he didn’t want to be obligated in any Church things… That was the first couple…Carmen and Marco
The second couple has a completely different story. The husband Henry is a Returned Missionary, but has been going through many problems in his life. He and his sweet wife, Yizza, live in a one-room rented house where they have to share a bathroom with other people and their bed, table, kitchen, and chairs are all in the same room, the size of the room I lived in at our house in Riverton. They are so humble and have been going through so many problems. At first, before I knew her, Yizza didn’t want anything to do with the Church, but she came to love it and wanted to get baptized. But she needed to get married first. We had to help them baby step by baby step to get the papers ready. The Wedding was on Saturday and they handed us the last bit of papers at Midnight on Friday night, just after I had made a batch of rice crispies, but that is besides the point. But everything worked out. This is the second couple…Yizza and Henry.
Saturday afternoon, we headed early to the Wedding and guess who else was getting couples married…ELDER STEED!!! It was so good to see him. I don’t know if I’ll see him again until we are both in Utah because he goes home in a week… The couples both got there and the Wedding went just fine. Everyone was so happy that they got married and we couldn’t wipe the smiles off of our faces. With me, my Companion, the two couples, their witnesses, and the couples’ families, there were 26 people who went to the Wedding from our Ward. So to come home we just called a bus from the street, kicked everyone else off the bus and told it to take us to Comas. The 26 of us all piled into the small bus and had the funnest hour-and-a-half bus ride ever going to the Chapel for the Wedding Reception. I think I was laughing the whole ride home. (The Peruvians have a really good sense of humor.) We didn’t get to stay long for the Reception because it was already late, but I left my camera with the Bishop so he could take pictures. It was a special night… Weddings are always great!!!
Then yesterday was the Baptism. We have also been teaching a Young Woman named Yosselin and her Baptism was yesterday as well. I baptized all three of them…Yosselin, Yizza, and then Carmen, and what an experience that was. The water was freezing and my hand was shaking in the air as a said each Baptismal prayer, but each one was perfectly fine and even though they were cold, they went under the water and came out fine. Carmen is 44-years-old and has had some health problems and felt so cold, but knew that she had to fulfill the Commandment after three years of waiting… I have never seen Henry, or Yizza, or Carmen, or their families smile so much as they did this weekend. Honestly, it was one of the best experiences that I have had in my Mission. I started off the week by having my wallet stolen, but that didn’t matter. The week ended so perfect that I can’t even start to thank Heavenly Father for letting me be a part of these events in these families’ lives. So I just want you guys to know that everything is going great. I honestly love the Mission and it is so true that I am starting to get sad that I am going to have to leave it all behind for a while, but every Missionary has to start and end his Mission. And of course, there is always the happiness and joy that come from knowing that we (you, my family) are not that far away from seeing each other. Just know that I am enjoying the Mission. I absolutely love it and wouldn’t change anything for it. It is one of the best decisions I have made in my life and just look at how much we have been blessed. I will just keep working until the end. Keep praying for me, for my companion, for the Missionaries in my Zone, for my investigators, for my converts, and for all of the friends that I have made. Every prayer makes a difference. Thanks family for being my support and my inspiration. See ya soon…
Love, Coco

"I'M 21 - YEARS - OLD!!!"

2010-09-13T07:33:00.000-07:00

September 6, 2010 -
My Beautiful Family!!!
How’s everything going??? Everything is going great down here. I’M 21-YEARS-OLD!!! Can you believe it? I feel so old…just kidding. I still feel like a little kid, and I love it. What did I do for my Birthday??? Hmmmm… The whole Zone came over in the morning to our house to pick up their clean clothes and they sang “Happy Birthday” to me, and I was surprised by getting egged as well… By egged, I mean get hugged by some of the Missionaries to distract me and then getting raw eggs crushed on my head. It was an experience. My shirt, my tie, my shoes, my pants were covered in goop from raw eggs. It was kind of gross, but at the same time, a fun experience. It is a Peruvian tradition that when someone has a Birthday, they get egged. The Saucedo Toledo Family (the two twin girls, their older brother, and their mom) threw me a small Birthday Party at their house in the early afternoon. It was a sweet moment to be with them. They are such a humble family. And of course, I had to eat pizza for my Birthday so we all ate Papa John’s Pizza as a Zone. It was delectable!!! I would say that it was a pretty good day. I sure hope we are going to celebrate it when I get home… Oh, I almost forgot the best part of the day…I got my package!!!...on my Birthday… It worked out perfect. Going to pick up the pizza, we passed by the Offices and my package was there… Today in the morning, I made Rice Crispie treats to share with the Zone… They are delicious. Thanks for thinking of me… Thanks for the box of treats… What a good idea: Starbursts and Skittles… I love them… And I love the music. It is so great to finally have my music back… Thanks for always taking care of me. Thanks for the special Birthday package. I really loved the fun hand-written letters… They made me laugh… I had a pretty good 21st Birthday!!!
We had two special Baptisms this weekend: My companion baptized Lady Brillith Canaza Cueva. She is a fifteen-year-old girl whose family has been less-active for a while. Her Grandma is the only active member and recently went to the Temple to take her Endowments out. We hope that Lady’s Baptism will activate her mom and family. Yesterday, I had the cool opportunity to baptize Giancarlo Miguel Begazo Navarro. He is such a cool kid. He is 19-years-old and actually was born in the Church to parents sealed in the Temple. He even received his baby blessing, but for trials that happened in his parents’ life he wasn’t active in the Church and never got baptized. His dad and sister attended his baptism. It was a really spiritual experience…
I love you family and will be talking to you next week. HAPPY BYU SEASON!!! I LOVE IT!!! GO COUGARS!!! Go have fun and be safe…
Love, Coco

"I remember why I am out here..."

2010-08-31T15:43:00.000-07:00

August 30, 2010 -

To Chaser -
You are going to have so much fun at College. Just be careful okay. Don't go off and do stupid things. Think of it as the High School Musical Summer, just a little bit more calmed down... Remember to sleep. Don't stay up all night, every night with your friends... Do your homework and don't procrastinate. And get all of the big projects done so that by the time I get home you won't have anything to do, and we can just hang out!!! WAHOO!!! I can't wait Bud...(Everywhere I go, I carry around the picture you drew of us three brothers sleeping together on Christmas Eve because that is what I am most looking forward to. I don't care if we are getting older, we can still be little kids inside. Christmas is the best time of the year!!! And everytime I pull out the picture, I remember why I am out here and it motivates me to just keep Enduring to the End... Thanks for the pictures... Send me more...)

I love you bud and can't wait to watch your performance of Hairspray... Just a little bit more...

Love, Colyn

"You get the first hug and kiss."

2010-08-31T11:43:00.000-07:00

August 30, 2010 -

Hey Happy Family,

WOW!!! 22 Months down…2 to go… Can you believe it??? It almost seems like time doesn’t even exist anymore. It just keeps passing before our eyes, and it’s hard to believe that this experience really is shortly coming to an end. I’m turning 21 this week!!! 21 years have passed by so fast. Can you believe it? It seems like yesterday that I was in the Hope of America Program, going to the Space program at Provo Elementary, winning the State Championship as a Philadelphia Phillie in Baseball, playing a tricky salesman in Anything Goes and an All-Star Basketball Player in HSM, and graduating from Riverton High School and SLCC. Time just FLIES by!

BYU Football starts this week!!! Wahoo!!! Go Cougars!!! I’ll be home in time for the Rival Utah game. I am so excited…

And tell Dad, "Are you Kidding Me??? Of course I'll be awake to talk to you"... It don't matter if I'm wide awake the whole plane ride home, I will not be able to sleep when I get off the plane because I will be so excited to just sit and talk with you guys... I don't plan on sleeping for like three days straight... We are going to have so much to catch up on... All I know is that I am going to see you guys, break into tears, hug you, and then just start laughing because of how happy we are all going to be... Mom, just make sure you are first in line. You get the first hug and kiss.

Wow. That day is going to come so fast. I love you so much…

Take care until next week. I love you!!!

Love, Coco

"I had the privilege of baptizing them, which was so much fun."

2010-08-16T11:58:00.000-07:00

August 16, 2010 -
My Beloved Family,
I love you so much and just want you to know that I miss you a ton. I don’t have a ton of time to write because I was doing reports for the Mission and our Zone. But I do have a fun story to tell.
The two little twin girls that we have been teaching, Ana and Samanta (8-years-old), and their older brother, Carlos (14-years-old), got baptized this Saturday. I had the privilege of baptizing them, which was so much fun. The water was freezing cold because the fonts down here don’t have heating systems, and every time that one of them went under the water and came out, they would be a little startled and would just giggle to make the cold feeling go away. It was quite a show. The mom and the dad both attended. The mom always goes with them to Church and supports them in everything. The dad supports them in everything, but because of work and studies, isn’t able to do everything that he would like to with his wife and kids. But he put aside the time and arranged his schedule well enough to be able to attend their baptism and it turned out great. They still need to get married, but I know that God will help them do that, and that soon the whole family will be members. What a special family. (Ana Luz Saucedo Toledo, Samanta Alicia Saucedo Toledo, and Carlos Orlando Saucedo Toledo).
We also had a good American Homemade French Toast with Bacon and Scrambled Egg Breakfast as a Zone made by the Missionary Couple Elder and Sister Nelson. It is so much fun to have them in our Zone because they really do spoil us. I love having them because they just make us laugh and keep us going every time that we see them…
We had Zone Leader Conference this week and it was super fun. I sang with Elder Steed all of the songs that we used to sing when we were in the Offices together because this is his last change. We can’t believe how fast time has flown by.
Chase got skunked??? HAHAHA. That is hilarious. I love you bud. Heather Rimmasch is getting married??? I hope Grandma and Grandpa Olsen are doing good? Is Grandpa doing okay? I got a package from Mindy Olsen this week. She sent me a picture of Rachel’s wedding with two Libros de Mormón (Books of Mormon) with her testimony translated in Spanish to give to two special people. What a sweet package. She said that she constantly checks the blog and loves knowing that she has a nephew in the Mission…Tell her thanks for me because I don’t know if I’ll be able to send a thank you letter. Let her know that I got the package and that it will be put to special use and that I appreciate her thoughtfulness in thinking of me! I love you Family and miss you even more. Take care.
Love, Coco

"I love it the most because it has blessed my family"

2010-08-16T11:44:00.000-07:00

August 9, 2010 -
Hey Family,
I really don't have a ton to write today because I just got done writing you on Friday for a two-week time period...
So this week is Changes...and what will be my Change???...dun dun du duuh (sound effect)...Comas as Zone Leader...I'm staying right here in good old Comas. My new companion is going to be Elder Zarate, and he is Peruvian...I am so excited to have another Peruvian companion. They are so humble, just like Elder Llacsa over a year ago... Can you believe it??? This Change is already over... Elder Llacsa is going home and so is Elder Garnica. They were both such good comps. I loved being with Elder Garnica this change. He has such a big heart and we had many spiritual experiences this Change. I am hoping that this Change will be even better... Only two left so I want to enjoy them and just keep working and being obedient. The time is going to pass like nothing. We already realize that it does pass by...and we love it... :)
How was the Peru Lima North Mission Reunion??? I am super excited to go to it the next year...and who knows? Maybe I'll be married by then... :) What do you think about that? I don't know in what moment it will happen, but all that matters is that we keep progressing in life. And the only way to keep progressing will be for me to find my Eternal Companion and for Chase to go on the Mission and for Dallis to keep preparing for the Mission and for all of us to fulfill our Church callings... This is what God wants. He wants us to be happy and He wants us to be successful. This is what the Church helps us to do...live life to it's fullest having success and enjoying every moment... I love life. I love the Mission. I love being a Missionary. It is one of the best experiences in my life... I love it the most because it has blessed my family...it has blessed you guys... You are my inspiration to be here and it helps me keep going every single day. I love you guys so much, and you know that I miss you even more... Love you Forever!!!
Love, Coco
P.S. Sorry for writing such a short message, but you know I love you...

"She means the world to me"

2010-08-16T11:35:00.000-07:00

August 6, 2010 -
My Splendiferous Family,
So I wasn’t able to write until now because we were in Trainings all week long. They were excellent. Monday through Thursday, from 8:30am until 4:30pm, we were in the Offices receiving new trainings that the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles have established. Starting in May 2011, the Missionary Training Centers are going to start training the Missionaries using a different system so they have to start capacitating the Missionaries that are already in the field so that by the time the new Missionaries get here, we are on the same level. It was wonderful. Basically, I had a whole week full of the Spirit because I really felt like I was learning. These trainings are going to help us out so much more. Basically, the Prophet and the Apostles want us to start depending more on our Heavenly Father rather than on President or other leaders for help in receiving revelation on how to help out our investigators. It is going to help us out a ton. It will also help us focus on listening to the Spirit more and trying to follow His promptings always. The work is much more full of the Spirit this way and I love it. And because of these trainings, I wasn’t able to write until today.
But why am I writing at this hour of the day??? We had P-Day today because on Monday we were in trainings… We took our Zone to the Center of Lima today and it was lovely. The sun was out and shining bright so we weren’t freezing all day, which was excellent. We had time to go to the Museum of Natural History and shopping and lunchtime together at McDonald’s (MickeyD’s)… It was just a fun day. I found some really good places to shop and was able to buy a few more Nativity scenes. They are so cute, with the Peruvian beanies and everything. I still haven’t been able to find a Jungle Chess Set, but I should find it before I go home… You guys are going to have a blast when we come down here. We had a sweet member Mom go with us today and she showed us the sweet shortcuts and the best places to buy cool things for the cheapest prices. She also said that she would be more than happy to go with us when we come to Peru as a family… The people are so loving and kind down here. You honestly do not need to worry about me. You know the Lord is taking more than care of me. We really are so blessed!!!
What else do I want to tell you??? Well everything, but I don’t have time…
So, I got the Zone to watch High School Musical 3 fair and square. Nobody really wanted to watch it, but we all put the movie that we wanted to watch in a hat and mine got pulled out four times fair and square… They all really enjoyed it; they just don’t want to admit it… Hahaha… :)
Oh my gosh… I got my package!!! I couldn’t believe the generosity of the package. All of the hygienic stuff is really helping out. Thanks. Thanks for all of the treats as well. The other Missionaries and members have enjoyed them as well… :) I was so happy to receive the hand-written letters from the family. The winner would definitely have to be Chase’s letter, which was only drawings, but they mean the world to me. I love the one with Dallis, Chase, and me all sleeping together on Christmas Eve…December 24, 2010!!! WAHOO!!! I can’t wait… :)
So I got a phone call from the Assistants the other day while they were in Iquitos. They gave me a phone number and told me to call it telling me that it had something to do with Hermana Yolanda, the convert that I adopted as my Grandma. (Mishel and Anthony are her grandkids.) I called and couldn’t believe the news they told me. Her health has been really delicate lately and come to find out that she had been in a coma for 9 days when I made the phone call, which was the 28th of July. They said that everything in her body was now working fine and that they were just waiting for her to wake up, and they wanted me to just be aware of it. I don’t know how she is doing now, but we need to pray for her. Please pray for Yolanda and for her family. I want everything to be OK. She means the world to me and I want you guys to meet her more than anything so you can see the lovely and kind person that she is. I love her. So please keep her in your prayers and I will try and get more information about her status as time goes on…
Other than that, I am doing perfectly fine. And it sounds like you are doing great. Mom, that is the funniest Tipanogos Hiking Trip story I have ever heard. I was laughing the whole time I was reading your letter. Thanks for telling me. Are you now done with summer semester and can just rest for a while? I sure hope so because you deserve it!!!
Chase, good luck in Hairspray! You know that I think you are a Superstar…well, the two of us. Duh… I love that you haven’t lost your groove. You are awesome. Take care Bud.
Dallis, I can’t believe you’ll be driving when I get home. That is crazy.
Dad, we are definitely going to hang out all day long when I get home, be it in front of the television, in St. George, in Disneyland, in New York, or in Peru, we are going to be together. Father and Son Forever… I love that…
Family, I love you so much. Take care until I talk to you next… I love you!!!
Love, Coco
P.S. The next time I write I’ll be telling you about Changes because they are this coming Wednesday, the 11th of August. Who knows what will happen???...I love you.

"HE chose the perfect place for me to be...Peru."

2010-07-29T17:17:00.000-07:00

July 26, 2010 - Hey Wonderful Family…
I now don’t need to worry about you guys too much because I know that you are doing okay. I also know that we don’t have that much time left and I will be able to see you, hug you, and talk with you, but there is still time left to keep working…
So, not much happened this week in my life either. We just keep on working hoping for the best in every moment. We are currently teaching a really cute family. The mom and kids were at Vania’s baptism last week and now we are teaching them. The dad is a hard worker, 24/7, and when he is in his house he is sleeping, but we were able to talk to him one time for about 15 minutes. The parents aren’t married so the mom isn’t going to be able to get baptized yet, but she attends Church and listens to the lessons, and is totally supportive of her kids… The kids, however, are so ready for baptism. They are so smart and intelligent… Carlos is the oldest. He is 14-years-old and is a reader. He loves to read and is a very patient kid with his two Little twin sisters… Samantha and Ana. They are both 8-years-old and even more intelligent than Carlos it would seem. They are full of giggles and are constantly laughing and they make everyone else around them laugh as well... It is so much fun to teach the three of them with their mom because they always understand, answer questions, and participate in the lessons. We always leave from that house satisfied with the visit and we have more gull to keep working… The kids are preparing to get baptized on the 7th of August so please pray for them… Pray especially for their parents so that they can get married. This way the mom will get baptized and be the example for the dad. He’ll come around when he doesn’t have to work and study every single day… Pray for them…
So, we tried playing volleyball last week, and it was absolutely horrible. It was nothing like Pucallpa. Nobody wanted to play, nobody knew how to play, and I just felt so small compared to the rest of the world… Okay, maybe I’m overexagerating, but really it wasn’t fun at all. I’ll just have to wait until I am back in Pucallpa to enjoy an exciting game of volley… But it wasn’t a total loss of the day because the Nelson Missionary Couple prepared us all home-cooked hamburgers. I put a ton of onion on my hamburger just like I love it. They were so good. It is so fun to have a married couple in our Zone because they spoil us to death… :) But as for volley, I will just keep the talent hidden until it comes time to use it. :)
Our Ward had such a fun activity on Saturday. It started off with a Gastronomic Festival of food from all parts of Peru: jungle, coast, and sierra (mountain range). It was so much fun to try food from every part of Peru. I was super full by the end. Then there was a Ward Talent Show and who was going to miss out on that? I had to participate of course… There were so many great numbers: sketches, songs, dances, and every other talent you can think of. One guy immitated Michael Jackson and did the moonwalk. Everyone said that his feet moved like if they were to have wheels on them. The Young Women did an awesome dance to Beyonce’s song “All the Single Ladies” and the the Young Men also performed a cool dance. It was so fun. I sang a Spanich pop song called “Coleccionista de Canciones” by Camila. It was so much fun. The best part was that a good member friend of mine, Ivan, accompanied me on the guitar. We didn’t have much time to practice and the performance was a little rough but everyone loved it, the Bishop, the Stake President, the children, the girls, the guys, everyone. Ivan was so nice to help me out and he did a great job. Yesterday everyone was calling me Elder Camila and we would just laugh and laugh. It was so much fun! I felt like I was back in my place where I love to be…on stage singing my heart out for an audience that just wants to take it in… Oh, I cannot wait to be back on a stage with lights, microphones, music, costumes, props, and everything… I honestly miss it so much. But there’s not that much left.
It feels so weird being in the Mission and starting to get old. I am one of the oldest Missionaries as for the time in the Mission… I know that I can do it. I know that I can Endure to the End. Like President Mickelsen always said, “You only need two things in the Mission to have success: Hard Work and Obedience.” That is all I want to do so that the time just keeps flying by and so that my companion and I can have even more success… I love being a Missionary and I love serving the Lord. He chose the perfect place for me to be…Peru. I love it here and can’t believe that I don’t have that much time left to live with my Peruvian Family. Pray for me always. Pray for my investigators. Pray for my converts. Pray for my Mission President. And always pray for our family. I love you guys so much and miss you even more. Take care until next week and please don’t forget about me… :) I love you.
Love you forever,
Coco

"I LOVE MY ETERNAL FAMILY!!!"

2010-07-29T17:11:00.000-07:00

July 19, 2010 - Hey Family,
How’s life going for everyone? I’m doing pretty good. Other than being freezing cold all the time, the Mission is going fine. We had a baptism this Saturday. I had the privilege of baptizing Vania Nicole Chavez Rodriguez. Her grandma is a recent convert to the Church of ten months. I feel bad for Vania because her parents are separated. Her dad doesn’t support her in anything and her mom lives in Italy working, so she is in her grandma’s custody. She has gone through so many trials and really wanted to get baptized to have the comfort of the Holy Ghost in her life. This is another reason that I thank Heavenly Father everyday for having such a special family that will always be together and will never be able to separate. I LOVE THAT THOUGHT!!! I LOVE MY ETERNAL FAMILY!!!
I got a package this week from the Canches Family in Independencia. Estrellita sent me a little note with a Machu Picchu bag and a Peruvian beanie. (I currently have the beanie on because it’s so cold outside…) I love their family so much and can’t wait to visit them before going home… :) I’m still waiting to receive that package that you guys sent. I can’t wait to get it…
Oh by the way, the address of the Mission changed because the Offices got moved, but don’t worry, if you sent things to the old address, I will still be able to receive the packages and letters because the West Mission’s Offices are still in the same spot and they can just walk the things you sent over to the new North Mission Offices. The new address is (so that you can tell everyone and start sending stuff there (I wouldn’t send things after the end of September because I don’t know if they’ll get here in time…):

Av. Carlos Izaguirre #124
Independencia, Lima 28
Perú

It’s a small world after all… This is so funny. So, I just got in my Ward in Comas and there is a Sister that just got back from her Mission like six weeks ago. Her name is Giovanna Julcapoma. We were at the Church the other day and she asked me if I was in the Peru MTC in November 2008. And just so you know, before talking with her, I thought she looked familiar. I told her yes and she told me that she was there too. She was Sister Thaxton’s companion. I couldn’t help but laugh and think about how fast the time passes by. She served in the Peru Arequipa Mission and now she’s a returned Missionary working hard in her ward and soon I will be too… It really is a small, small world…
So everything’s going fine. Today the Missionary Couple, Elder and Sister Nelson, are going to cook American hamburgers for us in the Chapel and we are going to have a volleyball competition. Finally… a little bit of volleyball. It just isn’t the same not being in the jungle…hot weather, shorts and sandals, with volleyball, without failure, every Monday… I miss it a ton. Not that much time left. Can you believe that half of July is already over??? I can’t believe it. July’s almost over, August is Extended Family Trip to Heber and the MPLN reunion at Landon’s house, September are Birthdays and school is back in session, October is General Conference and Halloween, and then there’s nothing left… It will pass before we know it… Just keep going strong and we’ll be so surprised by the speed of time…
I love you so much and miss you even more. Keep praying for me, for my comp, for the Missionaries in my Zone, for my investigators, for my converts, and for yourselves. You deserve it. I love you family. You’re the best!!!
Love you forever!!!
Coco

"It was nice to be "HOME" for a second and say a prayer..."

2010-07-29T16:57:00.000-07:00

July 13, 2010 - “We are Family!!! I got all my sisters with me… oh yeah, We are Family!!!” Hey Fam. I’m just walking along minding my business…and enjoying the Mission…
This week was Interviews and I had the awesome opportunity of being the Zone Leader that goes with President’s Wife to inspect the Missionaries’ houses. It was so much fun to go with Sister Blunck and Elder Martelo to visit the houses and have a fun talk with Sister Blunck. She is so sweet and had so many questions about the life here in Peru. She has never been to a third-world country and is still going through a little bit of the culture shock, but loving being here. She doesn’t know Spanish, so just like any Gringo, she is having to learn the language as she goes along. We had a really fun talk about our families and everything. I also had a good talk one-on-one with the new President. He is such a nice man and has so many desires to help us out as Missionaries to become better teachers of the Gospel. I also had a Temple Recommend interview with him because mine has already expired that I got before the Mission. That tells you that I have a lot of time in the Mission doesn’t it?… Let me tell you that the Temple Recommend interview was a little different, you could say easier, being a Missionary and being here in the Mission. I honestly could say yes or no to the questions without having to doubt, and I could even share my testimony because I have come to gain such a sure testimony of this Gospel. It was a really special experience and guess what? The only person that signs the Recommend other than me is President…only one interview… It is a different experience… I am excited to keep working here in the Mission with President and Sister Blunck. :)
As you guys know, I am not a huge seafood fan, but I got served seafood this week and guess what? I absolutely loved it. To start off was a soup and in the soup was fish chunks, recently-taken-out-of-the-shell oysters, a crab’s arm (the big Sebastian pinchers…), and algae (seaweed). It was a delicious soup, and I have to say that the crab was really good. I think I am starting to like the seafood and will be eating more of it when I get home… The plate was a fried fillet of fish served with a delicious creamy orange-flavored sauce. It was delightful, delicious, and delovely. Really it was one of the best meals that I have eaten in my Mission… Strange, I know, that I was able to eat seafood, but it was really good.
WE HAD A BAPTISM THIS WEEK!!! My companion baptized Ricarda Violeta Cueva Suarez. She is about 70-years-old and her husband just got baptized two weeks ago. And her husband’s sister that lives with them (72-years-old) will be getting baptized the first week of August… We are so excited for this sweet couple because in one year’s time, they are going to be able to go to the Temple to be sealed as a Celestial and Eternal Family!!! What a blessing that will be in their life… Someday, for the example they are setting as parents and grandparents, all of their family will be members of the Church. What a special thought…
Mom, don’t worry about me. Yes, I can wait to come back to Peru, but I would love to at least come back maybe just with you if the whole family isn’t able to come down (just like Elder Rich and his Mom) but I just wanted Chase to be with us because he’ll be leaving for the Mission soon after I get back… Peru has it’s heart waiting with open arms for you guys to come down…especially Pucallpa… But yes, I would love to take a vacation to Disneyworld or New York (WICKED) or Washington D.C., etc. Let me know what you decide. Just so you know, I know that they have already boughten my flight home… Can you believe that? I don’t know if you got the itinerary yet (I don’t have it), but you should be receiving it soon…Wow, that’s another reminder of how close it is getting…
Sorry that I can’t be Link in Chase’s show. It is one of the roles that I would love to play some day… I can’t wait to start singing and dancing back up again when I get home… :)
Doug Fidler? Are you serious? I love him so much. He was my Zone Leader when I went to Iquitos more than a year ago. I’m pretty sure that I sent him a Christmas card this Christmas. I don’t know if he got it, but I sure remember him. He helped me out so much in the Mission. He helped me realize that the Mssion is possible and ispired me a ton. It makes me feel good knowing that he rembemered about me after all this time…Mom, I can receive packages really fast now that I am in Lima… Please send it asap along with a big bag of midgee marshmallows and a box of rice crispies. I would like to make some homemade rice crispy treats… We have a place to cook in my house right now… :) Any other fun treats that you would like to send me will be accepted as well. (Hint…Hint…) But please don’t send a ton. You don’t need to be spending lots of money on me. Just be prepared to spoil me when I get back home…
We went to the Temple today, which was a wonderful experience. I haven’t been to the Temple in like five months because I was in the Jungle… It was nice to be “HOME” for a second and say a prayer in the Celestial Room thanking God for the amazing Family that I have, for helping me get this far in the Mission and asking Him to keep blessing us… I love the Temple!!! After going to the Temple, the Missionary couple Elder and Sister Nelson invited us all out to eat Pizza Hut Pizza. It was super good… Our Zone had a fun day… I love you guys so much!!! Say “Hi” to the dogs for me. I miss being able to play with them and lay down in bed with them… I’m sure they miss me too right? Not too long left and I’ll be playing with them in our new home… Oh I am so super excited, but I just need to keep working hard and helping out the Missionaries in my Zone… Pray for me to have strength and to receive everything I need to help them out. I love you so much Family and miss you even more…Take care.
Love, Coco

"...which would be a wonderful gift for me!"

2010-07-29T16:48:00.000-07:00

July 5, 2010 -
My Dearest Family,
Today’s going to be a short note home because I just barely wrote you on Wednesday…and the most exciting news was the Change of Pucallpa to Lima. It really was hard to leave Pucallpa behind, but now I just need to keep working where I am and endure to the end… :) (2 Nephi 31:20)
On Thursday we had Zone Leader Conference. It was really nice. We got to meet the new Presdient and his sweet wife. President and Sister Blunck. He speaks Spanish really well, but his wife is just barely learning, but it will come with time. They also brought one daughter with them that will be leaving to serve in the Peru Cuzco Mission starting in September. Sister Blunck is really nice, just like any Gringo Mom. (She’s kind of a mix of you Mom, mixed with Elder Rich’s Mom…) :) She is really sweet with so many desires to learn Spanish and to help the Missionaries… President Blunck is really nice as well. He read with us 2 Nephi 31 and it was like Family Scripture Study, every one of us sharing what we thought about each verse. It was really interesting to have his perspective of the Doctrine and help me increase my knowledge and understanding. He is going to be a great President for this Mission…
I have a great ward here as well. It sure isn’t anything like Pucallpa, but I do have a great Bishop and great Ward members that are going to help us out a ton in the work. I am so excited to just get to work and have the members’ help because that makes everything nice. I don’t know if it is going to be Lima from here on out, but I think it will be. I think I am going to stay in the area where I am until I finish my Mission. Why do I think that? Well, I am going to send my Companion home this Change, so I will almost definitely be staying the next Change to take care of the area and the Zone. Then I will only have one more Change after that one, and I think I will just want to stay where I am to not have to get to know another area and other members and everything…unless it is possible that I go to the Jungle for my last Change, which would be a wonderful gift for me… But I think Comas is going to be my home for a while. Keep me unpdated on the weather there…Just so you know…it’s freezing cold, and there isn’t snow…just like we don’t like it. If it’s going to be cold there better be snow… :)
Hey, could you send me some ideas of fun activities that we could do as Missionaries in our Zone? I need ideas of activities. Also, send me a list of good recent Disney and animated cartoon movies (Pixar, etc.) because we can watch one movie a Change, but I would like to know which movies are good so we don’t just watch any regular movie… Not many are fans of HSM so I can’t make them watch it… Go HSM!!!
Just so you know, my P-Day is every Monday except for the week that we go to the Temple. Here in Lima, we go to the Temple once a change. I don’t know what week or day that it will be still so it might come unexpected. Since the Temple isn’t open on Mondays, P-Day gets changed in that week so don’t worry if for some reason you don’t get an e-mail from me on Monday. I will write on the day that we go to the Temple, but if I know beforehand, I will let you know so that you won’t have to worry too much. I know you worry just because you love me. I love you so so so much…
Just keep praying for me and know that I love you all and miss you even more. July is already passing by. Can you believe it? Only 3 Fast Sundays left… I love you. Take care in all that you do…vacation, school, work, home, Church callings, worrying about your boy in Peru, everything… I love you so much. Take care until next week. LOVE YOU FOREVER!!!
Love, Coco

"My heart still really aches for Pucallpa"

2010-07-01T21:55:00.000-07:00

June 30, 2010 - Hey Celestial Family,
I am so super excited for everthing that is going on right now. I’m sorry that I had to leave you in suspense. I was busy doing Changes on Monday. You are never going to believe everything that is going on. It is all good. Sunday night, I flew into Lima and I stayed the night in the Offices, which was way fun to return back to where I lived for more than 7 months, now those Offices are of the West Mission!!! Monday were the Changes!!! I had to leave Pucallpa behind, but I will talk about that in a sec. I want to first start with my Change… I am here in Lima in the Zona called Comas! I am going to stay in the Peru Lima North Mission to finish my Mission. And guess what??? I’M A ZONE LEADER!!! I got moved up to Zone Leader, which is going to be so much fun. It is a lot more responsibility, but I am ready to take it on. President Pérez asked me in my interview last week if I was ready to take on new responsibilities. I told him that before, no, I wasn’t, but now, sí. He told me that I wasn’t going to be in the jungle, but that I was going to have a good companion. I love my Companion!!! His name is Elder Garnica and is from Tarija, Bolivia. He is so nice, a Little serious, but super funny, and we get along great!!! We want to have so much success in our Zone, in our Area, and just enjoy this Change. This Change starts today 30 June 2010 and ends 11 August 2010. And guess what? My companion is finishing this Change. He doesn’t want to get “trunky” at all so I have to help him out. No, not really. He’s not “trunky” and we are going to have a ton of success this Change. We are both Zone Leaders and with him having 23 Months and me having 20 now, we are going to have so much success…
I hit 20 Months! Can you believe it? Another month has come and gone. Oh, where does the time go. 4 Months in Pucallpa passed by like nothing.
I have to tell you guys something. On Saturday, we had a huge Ward Fiesta and we played games all day long and in the nighttime, the Ward and all of our friends threw us a going-away party… (Oh, by the way, Elder Padilla got sent to Iquitos, still as Junior Companion…) The Ward really loved us. On Sunday, the Bishopric asked my comp and I to bear our testimonies in Sacrament Meeting. He went first and then it was my turn to finish the meeting. I was totally fine bearing my testimony and sharing my love for them, but then I just had to look at Zoila Panaifo (the Mom of the Family that I baptized…) and she was in tears… (Flashback to Mission Farewell, Riverton Park Ward, 26 October 2008. I saw my Mom crying…) Totally embarassing, I burst into tears right then and there at the pulpit. By the end of the meeting, every Mom and girl, and even some of the men and good amigos were in tears… It was a great moment that I will never forget… Then in the nighttime…EVERYONE, and I mean EVERYONE, came to the airport to say goodbye to me… I recieved gifts and cards and hugs and handshakes and by the end of the two hours waiting in the airport to enter into security, I didn’t want to leave. They even made me sing one last time…in the airport. I of course broke out the Spanish/English High School Musical and then it was time to go through security. Hardest moment in my life… Everyone broke into tears again. I shook Zoila’s hand and gave Tedy a big hug and broke into tears… I was leaving behind a huge family in Pucallpa… I almost couldn’t stand leaving them behind… But it was time to go. I went through security and then had to wait about 15 minutes. When I left outside to walk to the staircase and climb into the plane, everyone was on the second floor looking out the glass windows waving and blowing kisses and I just kept waving my hand until the very last moment when I had to enter in the plane… I can honestly say that Pucallpa took my heart away. I cried all day Sunday finding it hard to believe that it came to an end… I left my heart in Pucallpa and I cannot wait to go back. (I know that I loved Iquitos, but I can now say that Pucallpa is by far the best place that I have been…) I have to come back. I’m sorry if this sounds like a cheesy story, but my heart still really aches for Pucallpa: the friends, the volleyball, the members, the converts, the fun experiences, and all of the amazing things that happened while I was there… I’ll be going back soon…
Well, I don’t know if you guys are in tears after that story, but my eyes are sure watery… But let’s get to some happy news. Mom, don’t worry about school, just get the grades and study good. You know the Church is true. Nobody can ever take your testimony away. It is what will give you Eternal Life with me, Dallis, Chase, and Dad... (okay, let’s not start crying again Colyn…) We are going to live together forever because of the right things that we are doing. I have no doubt that we are going to be an Eternal and Celestial Family. That thought gives me so much hope and motivation. I know it will happen…
I am enjoying really cold weather here in Lima. I went from shorts, sandals, sunglasses, sunscreen, sunshine, and rain in Pucallpa to two pairs of pajama pants, two pairs of socks, a shirt, a sweater, a scarf, a beanie, and gloves here in Lima. We don’t have air conditioning which means we don’t have heat either. I just snuggle up really good in the nighttime. The great thing is that I get to shower in hot wáter… Yes!!! And I have a really nice house that I live in… I have a flat area without big dusty hills. Yesterday, my comp and I bought Papa John’s Pizza to celebrate my 20 Months in the Mission. :) I have great members and we have good people to teach that I still don’t know, but that are preparing to get baptized… I am super excited to work here in Comas, Lima. Our Zone has seven companionships. All are Elders except for one, which is a Missionary Couple for Utah, Elder and Sister Nelson. She served a Mission in Uruguay a long time ago and knows Spanish, but her husband doesn’t. They are super nice and funny. We have four new Missionaries in the Zone. They entered in the Mission on Monday. Remember when I only had two days in the Mission. Oh, that was so long ago, and aren’t we happy to know that so much time has gone by. My goal is just to help these new and young Missionaries so that they can be even better than I am, which isn’t too hard, because I’m not the best Missionary:) I am so excited just to work and have a ton of success… Pray for me to be a good Zone Leader and to be able to receive the revelation I need to direct this Zone together with my companion Elder Garnica, with the accent on the “i”.
Family, I love you so much and I miss you even more. Just keep going strong because there’s not that much time left. Don’t worry about me. I am fine. Pres and Sis Pérez go home today I got to see them on Monday, but will not be seeing them anymore. Tomorrow is a huge meeting for all the Zone Leaders in the Mission and we are going to meet the new President. I am so excited and happy. I love you so much. Take care.
Love, Coco

"I feel so loved!"

2010-07-01T21:48:00.000-07:00

June 24, 2010 - Hey Super Family,
I’m sorry that I haven’t been able to write until now, but here I am. Today is the 24th of June, which here in the Jungle of Peru is a huge Holiday. Dìa de San Juan. It is a day that everyone celebrates the remembrance of John the Baptist. Remember that last year, I was in Iquitos for this Holiday. Everyone eats Juanes which are the rice balls, with olives, chicken, and boiled eggs… I am not a huge fan of Juanes, but I can eat them…
President and Sister Pèrez’ Farewell was so nice. We had the interviews Monday morning and then in the afternoon, we all went to lunch and had chicken, french fries, salad, Coca-Cola, ice-cream, and just pure good conversation. Of course, I sat next to President and Sister Pèrez because it was the last moment that I was going to be able to share with them. I love them so much, and they love me too. In my interview with President, I told him thanks for everything and I told him that my family and especially my parents were very thankful for everything that he and his sweet wife have done for me. I also thanked him for helping me progress. He told me “no” that he didn’t do anything, but that I was the one that had done everything to progress. What a humble and nice guy. He also told me my Change, but I will wait to tell you guys on Monday… You are going to be surprised… It was a super nice last interview with President Pèrez. Sister Pèrez was really nice. I had a quick conversation with her while everyone else was occupied and she thanked me for everything, for being more that just a Missionary and friend for them, but more like their son. She gave me a sweet gift from them: a white tie for the Temple. On the back it says: “Un Nivel Màs Alto” and their names. I"ll let you guys look up what it means. It is a really special gift. Sister Pèrez was super funny saying that she is super “trunky” right now, and her husband as well. She says that it is impossible to not be “trunky” when the time is almost up. She says that her family reminds her every minute how much time is left (hmmm, who does that remind me of???). She says that it is okay to be “trunky” but we just have to work until the end. ETTE. I didn’t cry, but I felt really satisfied with everything that they said. I am going to miss my Uruguayan parents. But everything is okay.
I recieved some letters and cards from converts and members. The best cards were from Gladys and Estrella Canches from Independencia. I also received a package from Bailee Paxman…DORITOS!!! I feel so loved…
Family, just know that I am super good and will be writing soon…Monday. I love you so much. Take care and be excited for the Changes!!! I LOVE YOU FOREVER!!!
Love, Coco
PS. I love that Chase and Dallis miss me… I love you so much…

"It will be the last time that I get to see them and enjoy their laughs and smiles."

2010-06-20T22:16:00.000-07:00

June 14, 2010 - Beloved Family,
What can I tell you? More than… I LOVE YOU!!! I LOVE YOU!!! I LOVE YOU!!! This week did go by pretty quick. Jhoysi got baptized on Saturday!!! She is such a special person. She was so excited and felt great after the baptism. Every time that we visit her, there is a very special feeling. We never want to leave the lesson when we are able to teach her. There is a special spirit that attracts us to stay and teach and we always leave super excited. She had to pass through many trials before her baptism. She keeps telling us that when something bad appears in her life, there is something that tells her “no” and she doesn’t fall into temptation. We explained that this is the Spirit warning her. She was overwhelmed to know that. Now that she was confirmed yesterday she will have that guidance forever. What a blessing!!! Jhoysi is such a good friend. She is going to be a great part of the Church… Jhoysi Lury Huanuire Castro…
Mom, don’t stress too much about your Church calling. God has put you in that calling for a reason. He wants you to learn something and He wants to help you in your spiritual progress. It’s the same for me with each companion that I have and each position or responsibility that I am given. It is all to help me progress, and trust me, it helps out a ton. I feel like I have learned so much… And maybe you won’t recognize me when I get home… Just kidding… Just love your calling and take advantage of every chance that it gives you to serve and learn. God will bless you for doing it. I know it because He does the exact same for me. Look at how much He has blessed our family up until this point in my Mission, and there’s not that much left. Like you said, only four more Fast Sundays. That means that I don’t have that much time left to serve God’s children as a Missionary, and receive the blessings that come with this service. I already know that I am going to cry when I leave Pucallpa because I love the people here. They are too nice. It is unbelievable that one day it has to come to an end.
Mom, next week is when President Pèrez and his wife are coming to Pucallpa to say goodbye for forever. It will be the last time that I get to see them and enjoy their laughs and smiles… They are finishing their Mission the 30th of June, which are Changes as well and the division of the Mission. Wherever we are put, we will belong to that Mission: the North or the West… I am so sad and I know that I am most likely going to cry when I have to say goodbye to President and especially Sister Pèrez. They have been my Mom and Dad for 20 months. And they took such good care of me during the Holiday Season. I had such a good time with them when I was in the Offices. The Mission honestly seemed like a dream when I was there with them. So many memories that I never want to forget and will never be able to forget. I never want to forget their example either…their perfect example of how a couple should be. They are too good to be true…Just like my parents… :) I love you Mom and Dad!!! I still can’t get that Christmas song out of my head…”Greeting cards have all been sent…” Soon I’ll be singing it with my family as we sit on the couch drinking hot chocolate, eating homemade rice crispies, and watching the snow fall down outside. Oh, I cannot wait, but everything will come in its time. I love you so much family. Never forget about me. I love you so much. Take care.
Love, Coco

"...I just need to keep working until the end."

2010-06-20T22:11:00.000-07:00

June 7, 2010 - Hey Splendifferous Family,
I love you!!! I love you!!! I love you!!! It’s super hot outside. The sun is shining super mucho. I am basically sweating to death every day, even though last week on Tuesday it was freezing cold. I put on my good-looking sweater and went out to work. I wanted to wrap up in a big blanket, but here in the jungle, we don’t have blankets because usually it is so hot in the nighttime that we sleep without sheets, and with the fan on full-blast. It was fun to enjoy a day of cold weather. It honestly felt like Fall BYU Football Season just before Christmastime (which is when I’ll be getting home. Wahoo!!!). We went and visited the Stake President and his family (George Brast, Gaby, Helen, Karla, and George). They have a cute little boy named George, and his nickname is Coco!!! I love him to death, and not only because we have the same nickname. He reminds me a ton of Dallis. He has the exact same cute personality of Dallis. They are identical, only that George is only 6-years-old. Down here, coco is the name of coconut, so I think they call him Coco because he has a large head…just like Dallis… Hahaha. Just teasing Dallis. You know I love you. :) But they really do call George big head and his nickname is Coco. They are one of the funniest families that I have met here. And they seem just like our family. I love eating with them every Sunday because we get along so well, and there isn’t a moment where we are all not laughing. We laugh all lunch long, telling jokes and stories, and just enjoying each others’ company. They are a super sweet and a nice family that you guys have to meet.
Guess what song has been stuck in my head? “Greeting cards have all been sent…The Christmas rush is through…But I have one wish to make…A special one for you…Merry Christmas Darling…” from that one Christmas CD by that one family. I don’t remember… It’s a beautiful song though…
You got my package!!! How exciting!!! I knew you’d love the calendar. Are you using the stickers or just a marker? I think the boys can have fun using the stickers for other things and Mom for scrapbooks… I knew you’d love receiving a hand-written letter from me… Oh, by the way, what day did you receive my letter so I can calculate more or less how long it takes a letter to get home… :) I’ll be sending another one soon…
Did you ever get the things picked up from Jonathan Wayt? I would like to know yes or no to not keep worrying about it…
We just keep on working hard in our area and are hoping to have a ton of success this month. Joysi is an awesome lady that works here in the Internet where we write from and she is so excited and ready to get baptized this Saturday. Just keep her in your prayers. She is such a good friend and was more than prepared to be baptized when we met her… :)
Keep me in your prayers. I know there is not that much time left, but I just need to keep working until the end. Your love and inspiration keep me going. Have a super fun summer!!! HAPPY JUNIANUARY!!! :) I LOVE YOU FAMILY!!! Keep going strong and never forget that you have a Super Guapo Missionary serving in Peru. I love you. Take care until next week. Love You Forever!!!
Love, Coco

"So many good memories with them!"

2010-05-31T08:30:00.000-07:00

May 31, 2010 - WUZZUP FAMILY???
What’s going on Fam? How you all doing? I am doing super great!!! So, my companion and I are in charge of P-Day today and what do you think we are going to do? That’s right. You guessed it… We are going to play VOLLEYBALL!!! “Don’t put us in charge of anything because you know that it will end up being volleyball!” :) Just kidding. We are super excited because we will have even more time to be able to play today. We filled up 200 water balloons last night and this morning to punish the losing team. We are going to form teams, play two sets to 11 points, and the team that loses gets soaked with water balloons. Then we will scramble up the teams and play again and again and again and again. We are sthuper-duper excited… :)
HAPPY 19 MONTHS!!! CAN YOU BELIEVE IT???!!!??? Today is the last day of May. It is incredible how time passes. June is going to fly by. It is President and Sister Pèrez’ last month in the Mission and then they are going home to Uruguay. I might be seeing them only one more time… I am surely going to cry when they go home. They have been my Mission parents while I have been out here and I got soooo close to them when I was in the Offices and especially during the Holiday Season!!! So many good memories with them. I can never thank Heavenly Father enough for the time that I had with them… Only 5 months left. Time will pass too fast…
Chase??? Chase??? I got a message from Chase??? School must be out. Wahoo!!! Thanks Bud for the lyrics in Spanish to HSM. They will be put to good use. Now if you could get them to me from HSM 2 and 3, that would be even greater. I would appreciate it… Have so much fun at Graduation!!! I am so happy that you are going to be free of every responsiblity. Enjoy the summer because it will be your last and it is going to go by so fast and then your older brother will be home… WAHOO!!! Be safe and have fun…
Dallis, you are too funny. Good for you with the 4.0 and I am glad you won’t have to put up with any dumb teachers anymore. Have a fun summer and keep keeping track of movies and music… Have fun driving this summer and be safe…
Mom and Dad, I LOVE YOU!!! I am super excited for you. I can’t really telll you anything more than I love you. I love you! I love you! I love you! Have so much fun in school Mom. I know you love it and I’ll be there soon to help out. Dad, keep busy with work and the home so that time just keeps flying by. You two deserve a long vacation. Leave the two boys at home with Kenzie and Maddie or with Grandma and Grandpa Quinn. Go have a fun get-away. You deserve it. I love you so much. Take care until next week. I love you family!!! (5 and Counting…)With much love, Coco

"I am indebted to him..."

2010-05-31T08:23:00.000-07:00

May 24, 2010 - My Special Family,
Oh my gosh…oh my gosh!!! I love you guys so much!!! I love you so so much… What a week. It was Change Week and I’m staying here in Pucallpa. It’s beautiful here. We haven’t had any rain for about a week-and-a-half which has been nice because we haven’t had to be walking in mud, and it also wasn’t super sun-shiny hot, so we weren’t sweating to death this week… It was super nice. All the members say that the month of June is a cold month, which means it gets a little bit colder, but it doesn’t rain. I am totally okay with that. It makes working much easier because we don’t have to survive the beating sun or avoid the rainstorms. It will be way nice. :)
All the members were so excited to hear that we didn’t get changed. I feel so comfortable with the people that surround me. We have great friends here. The parents love that we play volleyball with their kids because it helps to keep them out of trouble. They know that their kids are going to the Church to play volleyball with the Missionaries and lots of the adults even come to play as well. It is so much fun and I know Dallis would have a blast if he were here. (Don’t worry Bud, I already told them that when we come down to Peru together that we are going to have a huge volleyball tournament. But you need to work on your game because these teenagers from Pucallpa are almost professionals… :) They are helping me learn how to bump, set, spike, and serve the ball better. I am getting really good at spiking, and I can now serve the ball overhand instead of having to hit it underhand… It is so much fun!!! Honestly, it is something that all of us look forward to all week long.) We play every P-Day. We have to or they all start complaining, “but Elder Quinn, come on, we have to play…” We tease them a lot that we aren’t going to play and they all whine for a sec, and then we tell them, “just kidding”… and they all just start laughing. Volleyball might be my favorite sport now…actually I think it is… I remember when I used to go early on Saturday mornings to play Ultimate Frisbee. Volleyball has now replaced Ultimate Frisbee… :)
We had a big French Toast breakfast as a Zone on Saturday morning. It was super fun, but they surprised us at the end by making us eat SURI…AAHHH!!! But it was much smaller than the one that I ate with Hermana Luna, so I got through it much easier. I just put it in my mouth, bit off the head, and swallowed it whole… It was a much better experience.
Speaking of Hermana Luna, Rachel now because she is already home in Texas. She is getting married in December!!! She sent me a DearElder Letter telling me all about it. And you’ll never believe who her fiancée is. His name is Elder Sanchez. He served here and they both finished their missions together. He is super nice and knows a lot about the Gospel. The coolest thing is that he is from Costa Rica!!! But Rachel Luna is so sure that he is the one. I think that it is so good for her. She is so excited to get married and she will be sending me the wedding invitation… She is saving up her money to make a trip to Costa Rica and the wedding is going to be held in Texas. Isn’t that so cool and weird and fun??? I love it. Good for her…
We had two baptisms this week: Mirellya Isabel (11) and Kelly Victoria (9) Rios Ramirez. They are two young sisters who are referrals of the Vela-Panaifo Family. We are currently teaching their parents so that they can get baptized as well, but we have to help them get married first… We want their whole family to be members and receive a ton of happiness in their humble home… They are such humble people and so deserve to have the Gospel in their lives. Mirellya started crying after she got baptized because her dad showed up to the baptism, which was the greatest amount of support that she had ever had from him. He usually isn’t around… This is why I always tell you that I am so thankful that Heavenly Father blessed me to grow up in a home where I had you Mom and Dad, two loving parents who were always there for me and supported me in everything that I did growing up… It is a blessing that we can never thank Heavenly Father enough for. I am indebted to him for blessing me with the two best parents on earth…
Never forget that I love you and miss you more than anything on earth. I am super good. We are so excited to just keep working here in Pucallpa. Please keep praying for me and for those that I am teaching. Special people to keep in your prayers are: Joysi Huanuire who has a baptismal date for the 12th of June, Marinel Rojas who has a baptismal date for the 19th of June, and Carlos and Ester Saravia Tolentino who are another couple we are helping to get married and baptized. They basically are already members, only they aren’t baptized, but this month of June, they will be… :) I love being a Missionary and am having a great time here in Pucallpa. Don’t worry about me. I am totally fine. Just take care. Enjoy school, enjoy the new home, and never forget that I love you!!! Love you Forever!!!
Love, Coco

"I guess there is something that God wants me to learn still..."

2010-05-19T20:09:00.000-07:00

May 17, 2010 - Hey Special Family,
I was really sad that I didn’t get to call you guys up and talk with you yesterday... I was so wanting to just pick up the phone and be able to hear your voices, but at least we won’t ever have to do it again. :) It was the last time that we had to say goodbye and now the next time we talk, we will be talking in person. How cool is that? It makes me feel really good and happy... :) It feels amazing that this much time has passed in the Mission. It really does go by fast, but you do have to live it to believe it...
This week was super. We had a good hard-working week, and we were able to enjoy a Ward Party that we had on Saturday. The Elders Quorum held a special party for the mothers in the ward. We played volleyball and it was a lot of fun to play against the mothers. We were only missing you Mom... Dad, you would have loved to have played as well... :) I had a good day in Church yesterday as well. I will be finding out in a few minutes if I have a Change or not... I am super nervous... I love the members in my ward. They are so genuine and nice. And they love that we started a volleyball-playing tradition because no other Elders have ever done it before...
We had some cold weather at the beginning of last week, which was crazy. I was wearing a sweater in the mornings and even slept with my sweater on. That’s how cold it got, which was super crazy for being in the jungle. Then yesterday was the most beautiful Sunday we have had with clear blue skies and a hot bright sun. It reminded me of waking up at our house in the summertime and sitting down at the breakfast table eating french toast with good milk and watching the sun come up over the top of the Mickelsen’s home... Oh, what good times... It was a really pretty day... And it was super hot... Mom, if it's not too much trouble....could you please send me some more handerchiefs. I have lost the ones you sent me. I would really like you to send me another set. I loved carrying them around because they always reminded me of the loving Mother and family that I have every time that I used them... I would really appreciate it... I love you...
Mom, I love that you are taking school, but it makes me sad that we can’t chit-chat every Monday morning, but it will be for the best... We don’t have that much time left to go... Only 5 ½ Months... Wow, that’s nothing... I’ll keep busy here in the Mission, you keep busy in school, Chase and Dallis keep busy in school and SUMMER VACATION!!!, and Dad keep busy at work, and time will just fly by... I love you guys so much and I am so thankful for your support and your love and inspiration that you give me. Never forget about me and keep praying for me, my companion, and my investigators... I love you so much!!! Love you Forever!!! Love, Coco
I just found out my Change!!! I am staying right where I am... :) I will be staying another six weeks here in Pucallpa. And Elder Padilla, my companion, is staying as well... That means we are staying together for three changes... How cool is that? The members are going to love this news. We are just going to work hard and have another successful change together. Wish us luck so that we will get along and that everything will turn out well. I guess there is something that God wants me to learn still... I love you guys. Take care!!! Love, Coco

...the time left becomes even more precious"

2010-05-19T20:03:00.000-07:00

May 10, 2010 - Hi Amazingly Cherished and Incredible Family,
Did I ever tell you that I loved you? I LOVE YOU GUYS SO MUCH!!! What a phone call we had yesterday. It was so good to just hear your sweet voices and share some good laughs with you and at the end a little bit of tears, but that can only mean good things. I love what Mom said that this is the last time that we had to say goodbye for a while. The next time that we’ll be talking, will be in person when I am sitting right next to you… That feels so weird, but it also feels great!!! That means that time is passing. Look at how far we have come. We have come so far and there is not that much more to go. It will pass by before we know it. So we better take advantage of every day and use it to it’s best, keeping us occupied, and I know that time will pass like nothing. I slept great after the phone call. I went to bed crying, but fell asleep fast and was dead out until the morning came. It was a great night, but I think I’ll be needing a nap in the afternoon. :) We are going to play volleyball again today with our ward. I am super excited because it is so much fun… :)
Only a week-and-a-half left of this Change. It is going to fly by and then I will only have 4 Changes left. You really have to live the Mission to realize how fast it does go by. It honestly seemed like an Eternity at the beginning, but now, it seems so possible that the time left becomes even more precious. I know Heavenly Father still has a ton more in store for me… We’ll see what happens in these next few months…
As for packages: candy, a toothbrush cover, a sweet letter, the i-Pod, and whatever other little surprises you want to send me. But don’t send me too much because I really don’t need it. I’ve already lived without it for a while; and I know I can do without it until I get home… Wahoo… What a “trunky” family we have… :) But that is okay… It just lets us know how much we really do love each other…
Chase and Dallis, only one month left of school!!! WAHOOOOOOO!!! Just keep working hard and don’t procrastinate so that you can enjoy the rest of the school year… Keep learning Spanish so that you can speak it with the people down here and really try to get rid of the Gringo accent. Watch HSM 3 in Spanish, and listen to the accents and try to understand it. I have watched it in Spanish and I understand all of it. That just tells you how Spanish-educated I am… :) I understand it!!! Wahoo!!! I love Spanish!!! Dad, please get the yard done before I get home… :) Just kidding. If you need help, I will be there to help you without any problems… Just make sure the vacations get planned… We are going to vacation as a family a ton!!! Mom, I don’t know what else to say… I think the laughs and the tears and the good talk yesterday tell us how blessed we are… :) We are so blessed. Have fun in school and keep loving it. You are the best Mom!!! I love you family. Just keep going strong and pray for me and my investigators always. I love you so much.
Wish me luck in all that I do...
Love you Forever, Coco

"I just don't want to lose the Christmas Spirit."

2010-05-19T19:54:00.000-07:00

May 3, 2010 - Hey Super Family,
I don’t have a ton to say, just that I am superdy duper excited for the phone call we are going to have on Sunday. I can’t believe that this is going to be my last phone call in the Mission. It is amazing how fast the time is passing. It seems like just yesterday, I was calling you guys on Christmas Day, just getting back from the greatest sleepover ever at President’s house. 2010 is just cruising by. And doesn’t it feel great... It feels more than great. We’ve already made it 18 Months!!! WAHOO!!! 6 Months from today, I will be arriving in the Salt Lake Airport about midday!!! We will go to lunch and just have the greatest time ever!!! Oh, I cannot wait...
Not much happened this week... We had interviews with President Pèrez. His wife came as well and it was so good to see her. :) I love Sister Pèrez. In my interview, President told me that they forgot to bring me banana muffins that Sister Pèrez always made for me and promised to bring them the next time. He told me that more that just being a Missionary to them, they consider me like a son and a good friend. I absolutely love them to death... We went to lunch after the interviews because my District won in the month of March. President and Sister Pèrez took us to El Braserito, a really fancy restaurant, and we had a fun conversation. Sister Pèrez said that when she went to check my house, that she turned on the Christmas lights that I have hanging around my bed and said that she loved it. I just don’t want to lose the Christmas Spirit. They took us back to their hotel afterward to buy ice cream, which was way fun. It was a great day, just like old times in the Offices... I got a little trunky that day... President wants me to just keep progressing and I hope that I do. I feel like I am, in my study and knowledge of the Scriptures.
We are working super hard, but not really having a ton of success. We aren’t having baptisms, and we are in the jungle. I don’t know. I feel like we are working alone. We don’t have the support we need from the members. We love them and they love us, but when it comes to working, no work is being done. I could really use your prayers to help me just keep going strong. I am not sad at all. I am super happy, but I would really like to start seeing success in my area. Please pray for me to always have the Spirit with me and that it may touch the poeple’s hearts so that they will have more desires to get baptized. I need your prayers in my behalf and in behalf of my investigators. Thanks for supporting me in all that I do. :)
I have a huge and super suprise for you guys... Our whole Zone is going to Lima today!!! We are going to fly as a Zone to Lima because Elder Gavarrett from the Seventy is coming and so we get to go see him. We are all going to fly into Lima in the nighttime and then we will come back to Pucallpa tomorrow night. Isn’t that super fun? I am so excited just to travel. I can’t wait. We 14 Missionaries are all going to travel in rhe plane together. How much fun is that going to be? It is going to be too much fun... Just pray that we will be protected in our flight... :) I am so excited!!!
I am loving the Mission. Time is passing like crazy. We are already in May... A year ago, Yolanda, my precious adopted grandma, got baptized. I haven’t heard from her since then so I am really anxious to get to Iquitos and see her along with Mishel and Anthony... I miss them, almost as much as I miss you... :)
We are still dying of hot sun and strong rainstorms down here. The rain is amazing down here. We love just getting super soaking wet... You will have to try it out when we come down to Peru. You are going to love the people, but keep preparing and improving your Spanglish so that you can speak a little down here. You will be overwhelmed and overjoyed with the love the people have down here. I can’t wait for you to meet them. Everyone is expecting me to come back in December so we better start planning now. Go get your Passports and shots and everything else taken care of. It is going to be too much fun... :) I love you so much family and cannot wait for the phone call this Sunday!!! Happy Mother’s Day Mom!!! Your oldest son’s last phone call in the Mission... :) (Oh, could you please tell Whitley “Happy Birthday” from me? She turns 19 on the 6th of May... Thanks)... I love you family. We’ll be hearing each other in a week!!! I CAN’T WAIT!!! I LOVE YOU! I LOVE YOU! I LOVE YOU! LOVE YOU FOREVER!!!
Coco

"I love praying."

2010-04-26T08:43:00.000-07:00

April 26, 2010 - Halo mi Familia Linda y TRUNKASA!!!
We’re coming in on SIX MONTHS!!! WAHOO!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am always super duper excited!!! I have been counting down to Landon’s Wedding for my six month mark… I cannot believe that he is already getting married either. It’s crazy, but how good for him. He is going to be so blessed to get married and sealed in the Temple. Tell him “Hi” for me when you see him, and that Pucallpa is the best!!! He will laugh, I just know it…
I don’t have anything big to write that happened this week. We are working hard trying to find new people to teach and helping them get to Church every week. Please keep praying for my investigators so that they can receive answers to their prayers and so that nothing will keep them from going to Church on Sunday. Your prayers are the biggest help that I can have.
Interviews should be this week. President couldn’t come last week because of a conference he had so they are planning on coming this week. I really hope that Sister Pèrez comes as well, just so that I can see her. They only have one more change and then they are going home… I am really going to miss them. Oh my gosh, we had so much fun playing volleyball on Monday last week. The Ward members down here really know how to play, which makes it really fun. Last week, every seven points we switched teams and the team that lost every game got soaked with water balloons. It was a lot of fun. We might go and play volleyball again today with them. I love it. My companion is not a super sports guy. I don’t think he played sports a lot in Guatemala. It is funny to watch him play; he is just not that hand-eye-coordinated… It is a fun show… :)
Mom, Praying to our Heavenly Father is an easy topic. Have fun with it and be creative. I know that you now have an even stronger testimony of prayer having your special boy in the Mission. I have totally gained a strong testimony of prayer. I have taught some people how to pray because they had never prayed before. Some couldn’t do it because they believed that they were talking to air and not to a personage. What faith we have as members of the Church that there is a God that exists and listens to our prayers. Others don’t know what to thank God for and others what to ask Him for. Our prayers are perfect. Our prayers are sincere and we just express to our Heavenly Father everything that we need and want to say. I love praying. I feel closer to you guys when I pray, and I love asking God to bless you guys. He has helped us make it this far and will help us Endure to the End… I love you Mom!!!
I love you so much family. Have fun in school! Good luck in everything. Chase should be graduating from SLCC this week. How fun! Good luck Bud!!! Have fun at Landon’s wedding… I LOVE YOU!!! Never forget about me and take care. I love you so much. I pray always that God will protect you and watch over you and I know He is… I’ll talk to you next week…
Love you Forever, Coco
P.S. Two weeks until the phone call!!! WAHOO!!!

I can't wait to share it with you everyday....

2010-04-19T09:21:00.000-07:00

April 19, 2010 - Hey Awesome Family,
Everything is going super great!!! It seems like the time is just passing too fast. You guys have so much going on in your lives. It really does make the time go by. I am so glad that you are all enjoying the new home and that you can now live comfortably with everything being new. How cool is that???!!! I still cannot wait to set foot in the new home, but it will come soon enough… Mom, don’t you dare go and set up Christmas before I get home…just kidding. I want to help set up Christmas. If you guys want to put up the Christmas lights on the house, and the trees outsider (that is if there will be trees in the yard), go ahead, but I want to help decorate the inside with all the Christmas decorations that we have. I want to decorate the Christmas Tree with you guys. I now have a lot of practice because I put up the Christmas Tree in the Offices when I was there… :) There are so many things that we have to do when I get home. We will be so busy inbetween catching up on two years of life, planning vacations, setting up Christmas, and everything else that happens during the Holiday Season. It is so close already. (Dad and Mom, get a head start on buying the gifts already…Hint…Hint…) Just kidding. I love you so much…
My companion and I are doing great. We are working hard to find new people to teach and help them attend Church and prepare to be baptized. Sunday is not a day of rest as a Missionary. In the morning before Church, we run around trying to find all of our investigators and getting them to go to Church. It is a big hassle, but we have to do it so that they can progress. I really need your prayers, especially on Sunday mornings. If an investigator doesn’t attend Church, then they can’t progress towards their baptism. So basically all of the work we do during the week leads up to Sunday. And if the investigators don’t attend, then we have to wait a whole other week for them to start progressing. Please pray not only for me, but also for the people that I am teaching, that they may receive answers to their prayers and that they won’t have any obstacles in attending Church on Sundays. Thank you in advance.
There are great Missionaries in my Zone here in Pucallpa. I have tons of friends here and we all get along really well. We laugh so hard. Honestly, we laugh so hard sometimes… I can’t help but laugh. I love to laugh and share my humor with other people. I always tell people that I inherited my Mom’s laugh, and that I can’t wait to laugh with you again. I am known for my laugh… :) I can’t wait to share it with you everyday…
Dallis and Dad, I’m sorry that baseball isn’t going super hot, but don’t worry. It’s all for the fun of it, for the family bonding, and just enjoying the fact that you have the ability to play. Love it and just keep going strong and you’ll see the change in the outcome of the games…
Chase, how much fun are you having. I know you are just soaring through your Senior Year… I loved Senior Year and hope that your’s is just as fun as mine was. I wish I could go back, but time is not ours to stop or to speed up. Have so much fun with MDT and Lucky Stiff. I’m sure you already told me, but what part are you? (Don’t forget to film it so I can see it…) Keep working hard until Graduation. Are you already in 4th Quarter? Wow, how time passes. I will keep praying for you to make Young Ambassadors. You are too good to be true Chase. I love you Bud and hope that you finish your Senior Year great!!!
Dallis…Daaaalllliiiissss…Dallis…are you there? Just kidding Bud. I just wanted to write and tell you that I love you and I understand the sometimos you get busy. Just keep going Strong to finish Junior High and don’t get in any accidents while driving. I’m sure you are just as perfect of a driver as I am… :)
Mom and Dad, just take care and have fun and enjoy life. I love you so much. You are my inspiration and I can never thank Heavenly Father enough for giving you to me… Life is beautiful, just like our family… I can’t wait to talk with you… Take care until next week, and keep praying for me… :) I love you forever.
Love, Coco, Troy, Bryan, Colyn, Elder Quinn, Tarzan, and Jungle Boy…
I LOVE YOU!!!

Ugh.....I do not like intestines.

2010-04-19T07:31:00.000-07:00

Hey Family!!!
YOU MOVED!!!!!!!!!!!! WAHOO!!!!!!!!!! Oh my gosh. I am so excited for you guys. I knew it was going to happen this week. I am so happy that you can all start settling down and enjoy the new home. What a blessing it is to have a new home. But I really am sthuper-duper exthited to go home to a new house. It will be so much fun to bring friends over and just hang out in a comfy and new home. I can’t wait. I’ll be inviting Elder Steed over, Elder Santiago, Elder Evans, and all of my other fun friends that I have met in the Mission. You are going to fall in love with my friends. Honestly, the Mission is awesome. I have so many good friends here and we all get along so well. I love just being around other Missionaries. There is just something about seeing other Missionaries and knowing that they are doing the exact same work, that makes the Work much easier. I like knowing that I am not the only one doing it. There are more that 50,000 of us leaving each and every day to preach the true Gospel to God’s children. How awesome is that? I love it...
So, Hermana Luna went home on Tuesday night... Can you believe it? My best friend girl in the Mission just went home. She finished her Mission this week. She called me on Tuesday night from the Offices just before going to the airport to catch her flight. She was in tears as she was saying goodbye and I was on the verge of crying, but I held myself together. I couldn’t believe that the time had already come for her to go home. It seems like yesterday that we arrived at the Peru MTC together and formed our awesome relationship. Oh my gosh. How fast the time passes by. She was crying because she was so sad that she was leaving the Mission behind and also because of the happiness of being able to go home. I told her to not forget about me and to start practicing her Canasta skills becuase we are still going to have a Canasta Tournament in November when I get home. She told me to just keep going strong and to Endure to the End. And that’s what I plan on doing. It was a really sweet phone call and I was really appreciative that she called me to say goodbye for a period of time... :) Like I told you, I have made some awesome friends here in the Mission and it is really hard to see them go...
Change Day was the 7th and I had the day completely free. We went shopping, took a nap, and just had a really relaxing day. Do you guys realize the amount of time that I have left? The time that I have left is already less than the amount of time that I was in the Offices. Can you believe it? It is going to fly by like nothing...
Interesting and fun experiences this week: I ate mondongo again, which is the intestines of different animals. This time, I ate the intestines of lamb... Ugh... I do not like intestines. I do not like intestines. I repeat: I do not like intestines. But I ate them. It is possible to eat them and I do survive it, but I sure as heck do not like them... :) I had a fun time playing volleyball with the Ward this week. My team of 6 won. That’s right. My team won... We kicked butt. The Bishop’s sweet wife was on my team along with some of the Young Men and Women. I love to play volleyball especially when everyone else knows how to play and plays well. It was actually a competition. I plan on playing again sometime soon. :) Friday night, no one else was in our house except for me and my companion so I started singing for a while. I think I sang my heart out. I sang every High School Musical song I could think of and just sang to my heart’s delight. It was nice to be able to sing full out. It always makes singing that much more fun. Singing is what keeps me motivated to just keep going strong and not forget who I am. :) (Hey, please don’t forget to send me the lyrics the the HSM songs in Spanish. I really want to be able to sing to the Peruvian people and have them understand me.) :) I love you... :)
We worked really hard this week, but ended up having a really pathetic Sunday. We found tons of new people to teach and had some success in finding really nice people. Remember that a person has to attend Church two times to be baptized. So yesterday, all of the new people needed to attend to be able to be baptized in April, but no one showed up. We went and knocked on every door inviting every one of them to Church, but no one was home. So Sunday was kind of pathetic because none of our investigators attended Church. Please pray for my investigators this week that they will be able to attend Church so that they can progress towards their baptism. I really could use your help in prayers. Thanks family.
Keep going strong and enjoy the new home. (Oh boy, how much fun you must be having...) I’ll be there some day. Just don’t forget that you have a Stud Troy Bolton All-Star Missionary serving in Peru that misses and loves his family so much...I love you guys. Take care until next week...
Love, Coco

"It's not that hard....."

2010-04-05T08:40:00.000-07:00

April 5, 2010 - Hey Fantastic Family,
I am so sorry that you didn’t get to move this week. I feel you. But don’t worry. You will be moved in soon enough. Just don’t let not moving frustrate you. Everything will come in the Lord’s time. We just need to have patience…patience with everything. In Preach My Gospel, it says that we should always have patience. And then it says “especially with your companion.” We are doing fine now. I think I was just a little overfrustrated last week, but that doesn’t matter. I talked with my companion and just told him that I like leaving the house excited everyday so that I have desires to work and contact people. If we leave the house without being excited, the day is not very fun, and not a lot of work gets done. I told him that we just need to always be happy and never get down on ourselves. He is fine. I was just focusing too much on the little things last week. Sorry for worrying you. I was a big boy and told him how things are and how they should be. I am just never going to get discouraged again.
I really hope things work out with the home this week. I want you guys to move. I get that nervous feeling when you're at the top of the tallest hill on a rollercoaster just thinking about moving into a new home. I am so excited. “Just keep moving, just keep moving, what do we do? We move, move…Ah aha ah ah ah I love to mooove…” That’s me quoting Dori from Finding Nemo… Let me know when you are all settled in the new house.
This was an amazing General Conference!!! It was Gringo Weekend. We all piled in as Gringos into the Stake President’s air-conditioned office to watch Conference. It was so much fun. We enjoyed every moment of it. It was so nice to hear President Monson speak. He is such a loving Prophet. I know he loves us and is always watching out for us and trying to help us gain Eternal Life. All we have to do is follow him, and how hard is that? It’s not that hard, especially with the Family that we have been blessed with. We are already on the path to Eternal Exaltation as a Family and I am so excited to live with you guys forever. :)
This week, I went on a work visit with Elder Evans. His first name’s Colter. He is from Idaho and is such a neat kid. He has so many desires to work and has such a good heart. We celebrated his six-month mark together. He is my new Gringo friend. Elder Steed is still one of the best guys I have ever met, but I need to have a good friend wherever I go. I absolutely love Elder Evans because he is just a good-hearted kid with great intentions here in the Mission. We did a service project on Friday as a District. We tore down a deserted house. It was absolutely disgusting with spider webs everywhere and huge spiders, but it was fun to just destroy the house and take it down. There was one spider that was the size of my hand with its legs stretched out and it ran so fast. Ugh, it was really gross. The good thing is...there are many spiders like that, but they don’t do any harm. They just live and eat the flies and mosquitoes. I don’t worry about spiders and stuff, but I sure don’t like seeing them… Dallis would have been freaking out… :)
So we just found out changes and…I’M STAYING IN PUCALLPA!!! I’m staying right where I am as District Leader, and with the same companion. I am so excited. :) My companion and I are so excited because we get along and we have a nice house, and we have great members in our ward. We also are not ready to leave the converts that were baptized during this change, especially the Vela-Panaifo Family. They are too sweet to leave them so soon. That means that I will be here in Pucallpa until at least the 19th of May, which means I will be calling home for Mother’s Day from the jungle of Pucallpa, Peru. (Remember last year that I was in the jungle of Iquitos for Mother’s Day.) Let’s set up the phone call at Dad’s work again. I have a pretty good phone that always makes clear phone calls so everything will be okay. I can’t wait to hear your voices again…
Just keep going strong family. Dallis, have fun driving and be careful. Get moved in this week. I am so excited. If you remember me, please send me a couple good treats with a couple bags of Doritos that are other flavors than cheese (cooler ranch, ranch and taco/buffalo wings, etc.). If you could also e-mail me the lyrics to the HSM songs in Spanish, I would really like it. The members ask me to sing a lot at Family Nights and I sing to them HSM in English and they love it, but I know they would love it even more if I could do it in Spanish. Send that to me as fast as possible please. I love you so much and I am enjoying the Mission. Only 5 Changes left, 1 more General Conference, 1 more Birthday, and one more Phone Call, and I’ll be HOME!!! I love you family.
Love, Coco

"The Jungle is a Special place"

2010-04-03T18:30:00.000-07:00

March 29, 2010 - Hello Family:
Just so you know, the computer 1 am writing on....the letter “i” and “k” and the comma don’t work so i have to use the alt key and the number pad. But other than that i am wr1t1ng you. 1t’s eas1er to use the number 1 to wr1te the “i” so just know that “1” 1s the letter “i” today. 1 really hate Computers… Anyway…
Mom 1 hope you had a great B1rthday and that you were able to relax a l1ttle b1t from school and work on the home. 1 want you to know that we celebrated your B1rthday down here. The lady who l1ves 1n our house and that takes care of us heard me record1ng “Happy B1rthday” when 1 sang 1t and recorded 1t on my tape recorder. 1n the n1ghtt1me she supr1sed me by throw1ng a surpr1se B1rthday Party for you… We ate Pucallpan p1zza and a huge chocolate cake w1th Coca-Cola. 1 felt so loved and spec1al. Mom 1 love you so much and hope that your B1rthday was wonderful. 1 th1nk you have also rece1ved the best B1rthday present ever… THE MOVE!!! 1t’s Mov1ng Week!!! How exc1t1ng!!! 1 am so exc1ted!!! 1 am go1ng to be so happy when you guys are all settled down and relaxed 1n the new house. 1 can’t wa1t to set foot 1n the new home… What a day 1t w1ll be… We m1ght end up mov1ng at the same t1me… Next Monday 1 f1nd out Changes. 1 w1ll f1nd out 1f 1 am stay1ng or go1ng. Th1s Change passed by so fast. Only 5 Changes left… Can you bel1eve that 1 now have 17 Months!!! Wahoo!!! And General Conference 1s th1s Week. 1 am so exc1ted. General Conference Number 3!!! Oh by the way Happy Easter th1s weekend. Don’t forget to send me down some of those eggs full of candy. :) 1f you want to send down some good-flavored Dor1tos 1 would be f1ne w1th that as well… :)
Can you bel1eve how fast March flew by?... 1t flew by. We ended the month w1th 11 Bapt1sms. Eleven Bapt1sms… We d1dn’t break our Record but we feel very happy for the success that we had. The jungle 1s a spec1al place. 1 love be1ng here 1n the Jungle… 1 can’t wa1t for you guys to come here w1th me and meet all of my fr1ends…actually all of my fam1ly. 1 love the people and 1 love the culture. 1 now honestly feel at home here…
1t ra1ned really hard th1s week. We were totally not expect1ng 1t and we got soak1ng wet. 1 actually fell down because the water got so h1gh that 1 couldn’t see the ground beneath me. 1t was totally embarrass1ng. We got back to the house to eat lunch and we got changed as well… 1t was way fun to get caught 1n a huge rainstorm. I don’t know what happened, but now the letters “i” and “k” and the comma are working. I really don’t like computers…
I have been having a couple troubles with my companion, but what can I do? Next week are the Changes and we’ll see what happens. I am just being patient and putting up with it. I have cried many times not having anyone to go to. (Where’s Mom and Dad?) But really I am doing okay… Just pray for me always and never forget about your little Coco… :)
Dallis is starting to drive?!?!? How crazy!!! That is so cool. I am sure that he will be a great driver because he takes after his oldest brother… :) I can’t wait to drive a car again. It’s now been 17 months since I haven’t driven, and I found out yesterday as well that I have forgotten the last steps of the Rubix Cube because I couldn’t do it yesterday at the Stake President’s house during lunch. (By the way, we eat lunch every Sunday with the Stake President. How cool is that?)
I love you so much family. Take care this week and have tons of fun moving… I am so excited… :) I love my eternal family. Never forget about me and always pray for me. I love you so much. I’ll let you know about Changes next week… I love you!!!
Love you Forever, Coco

"I love every day that God gives me!"

2010-03-04T16:44:00.000-08:00

March 1, 2010 - Hey Family,
How’s everything going? Wow. I feel great to be here in the jungle of Pucallpa. It is so hot. We got here on Wednesday and it was raining like crazy. It is amazing how much it rains here in the jungle. We got to our house with mud on our suitcases, but everything is okay. I live in a comfortable house. We have a tile floor, a roof over our heads, mosquito nets, and we even have crown molding in our house. It is a comfy home. The only thing I get really nervous about when "changes" happen, is how my new house is going to be. So I feel good knowing that my house is kept up and nice. Thursday the sun shined all day, and Friday, Saturday, and yesterday as well. I think the sun is much closer here becuase it heats the day up. Everyday is a scorcher, but I absolutely love it. I honestly feel so happy to be here, and I don’t think there is a single moment that I don’t have a smile on my face. I am so happy to be back in the jungle. The poeple are so much happier here and life is much more fun. We get to travel in Motos, which are the motorcycle taxis. I love just hopping in a Moto and getting taken wherever I need to be. I am back to cold showers again. I had to get used to it again because I had seven-and-a-half months in Lima with a warm shower everyday. I can tell you guys again that cold showers are survivable. We already got served my favorite food...alligator. it was delicious and I am so excited to be able to eat even more. :) My new companion is Elder Padilla from Jalapa, Guatemala. He is a lot of fun and kind of reminds me of a mix between Diddy Kong and the squirrel from Ice Age that is always chasing the acorn. He is a fun kid. He has three months in the Mission and is an excellent Missionary. Remember when I had three months? Oh man, how long ago was that? I now have 16 Months!!! Can you belive it? Every month that goes by still amazes me. This month of March is March of Records. Every companionship is working towards beating the record that their area had in the last year. My area is Vista Alegre and the record in one month last year was 13 Baptisms. Our goal is to have 14 Baptisms, but we would like to have 20 in the month of March. Right now, we have 9 Baptismal Dates set for the month of March, so we are getting there. With a little more faith and more work, we are going to surpass 13. Fun and exciting news: We are teaching a wonderful family of 5. It is a dad, mom, and their 3 boys...just like our family. They are all planning to get baptized on March 13th. The mom and dad just got married a week ago to prepare for their baptism. I am so excited to be teaching a family. Please pray for them, that they may always have strength to overcome their challenges so that they can be baptized on the 13th. It is so wonderful to be teaching a family just like the one I have...boyzrus. :)
I feel like all the work and stress of being Personal Secretary has been taken off of my shoulders and put on someone else’s. I absolutely loved my work and I loved being there, but the Field is awesome as well. You always get to be around other Missionaries helping them progress, and always encouraging them to be happy and have success. Don’t worry about me at all. I have grown up now. I think the Offices helped me realize that the Mission is totally possible. All I have to do is work, be obedient, and have fun in the Work, and the Mission will pass by like nothing. I know that it is completely possible. So, please don’t worry about me. I am more than fine. I am happy and can’t express the joy that I have being here with the people of Pucallpa. It is so nice. My District is awesome. I have great Elders in my District. They are always happy, and we all want to work hard and break our Records. Pray for me to have strength as District Leader, to be able to encourage and help the other Elders out and serve them at all times, and to love them. I want them to be able to enjoy the Mission as much as I have. Spiritual experiences are what make a Missionary happy so I want to help them have many baptisms and bring many of God’s children to the truth. Please keep me in your prayers. I need your strength...
There was an earthquake in Chile??? Just kidding. I knew that a huge earthquake took place in Chile, but where I am, we didn’t feel a thing. We didn’t even know it had happened until the members that next day had watched the news and informed us that an earthquake had taken place. Everything is going fine here in Pucallpa. We are enjoying the warm weather and the sunshine. Just so you know, there are not many mosquitos here. I put on sunscreen and bug repellent in the morning, the afternoon, and before going to bed, and then I also sleep with a mosquito net, so don’t worry about me getting dengue. I am totally fine, plus I am a Missionary. What is a little mosquito going to do? God doesn’t want us stuck in bed, sick and doing nothing. He wants us out preaching His Gospel. So if I follow the rules and put repellent on everyday, I don’t have anything to worry about. :)
Dallis, good luck with your lesson next week. Studying the Scriptures is a great topic. Just remember that you should always start and end your study with a prayer asking God to help you read and understand the Scriptures clearly, that you may receive personal revelation, and that you may be able to apply what you learn to your life. I love reading the Scriptures. It makes the day go by so much better if I am able to get in a good study of the Scriptures in the morning. They give me strength, and I love learning about the stories, cultures, and people that are in the Scriptures, and especially those that are in the Book of Mormon. Read them daily. It’s a Commandment. Take ten minutes out of watching TV and playing Nintendo to read the Scriptures. God will bless you tons for doing it. I love you Dallis. That’s right Bud, only 8 Fast Sundays left... Keep the lists going... I love you.
Chase, have so much fun in school, and keep up your grades, and don’t stress out. Just enjoy life and school. Life is meant to be enjoyed even when we have a million things to do. That’s why I am always happy. I love life. I love every day that God gives me. I am so happy to just be living and I am even more happy knowing that I have such a special family. Good Luck with MDT and keep me updated with the results of BYU MDT. I really hope you make it so that we can do it together. I love you Bud.
Mom and Dad, I love you so much. This is moving month right? Keep working hard on the house. It is going to be absolutely beautiful. I am so excited to move into a new house when I get home. I don’t deserve it. And I don’t deserve you two. Mom and Dad, you are the two most special people in my life. Know that I love you beyond what words can express and that this Mission is only possible because I have you. I love you so much and still cannot get over the amount of blessings that Heavenly Father has given me by letting me be a part of your lives. I love you two so much. Never forget that. And never forget, that your good-looking little Coco is down here in Pucallpa, Peru enjoying the Mission, and is totally fine. I love you so much. Take care until next week.
Love, Coco

"PUCALLPA is where I'm headed!"

2010-02-22T12:05:00.000-08:00

February 20, 2010 - Hey Precious Family,
I love you so much. So, just kidding about Yurimaguas. I am still heading to the jungle, but I am heading off to a different part. It is a lot hotter and redder. I am heading off to where Landon went…PUCALLPA!!! President needed to change some things around and thought it would be much better for me to be a District Leader in Pucallpa. I am way excited. Now, I will be with more Missionaries, and I am going to have so much fun. Landon’s mom said that she absolutely loved Pucallpa when she came down here, so I am way excited to be able to go there. I will be flying out on Wednesday morning, so say a little prayer for me so that I get there safely, and keep praying for me to be a good District Leader. It is a big responsibility and I really don’t feel ready to do it, but I know that Heavenly Father will be helping me learn and grow along the way. :) Mom, don’t worry. The amount of mosquitoes there will be are totally normal. I will be totally fine. Yes, I will have repellent, and I will put it on in the morning, in the afternoon, and at night. Yes, I will have a mosquito net. They are way cool and fun to sleep with. I’m heading off on another jungle adventure and I am sthuper-duper exthited. :) It is going to be so much fun to be back in the jungle, and I hope I get to stay there for a long time… Mom, packets will get to me at the beginning of every change or in the Interviews. That is only once a change, but I will be fine so don’t worry about spoiling me too much. I will still get to see President and his wife in the Interviews. His wife always goes with him to the jungle. She is such a special person. It is going to be so hard to leave them, but the time has come. I will never forget the blessing that Heavenly Father gave me of being able to get closer to them and get to know them. They will be my eternal friends and family. They are two very special, warm-hearted people.
Since I’m leaving the Offices, my next P-Day will be on Monday, March 1st. So don’t plan on seeing a special wake-up message next week, or any message at all on Saturday next week. P-Days are now going to be Mondays. (I can't send wake-up calls and I can't send photos either.) I am going back to the Field, and it is going to be awesome. I just want to work, be obedient, and baptize a ton of people, and I know that it is possible with faith and with your prayers in my behalf. Today was my last P-Day in Lima for a while and we went to the Temple. Who knows when I will get back to the Temple because we can’t go when we are in the jungle. I felt really comfortable in the Temple today. I felt like I was in a nice cozy home, and I felt very loved there. I love the Temple.
So you want to know the big news happening in Peru huh? Well, when President Pérez goes home, the next day, the Mission is going to be divided! They are forming two new Missions in Peru. The Peru Lima North Mission is being divided into two, with the new Mission being the Peru Lima West Mission. (They are also forming the Peru Cuzco Mission, which is where Machu Picchu is.) There will be nine Missions in Peru, whereas of right now, there are seven. It is because the Church is growing so much down here. President said that the Church is going to start sending more Missionaries to the parts that are having more success. They are going to put together Missions like those in Europe and other hard parts of the world. That means we will have more Missionaries here and will not have to assign more than one ward to a companionship. The Church is going to start growing faster and faster. President is really happy for this news. Depending on where we are when we get Changes the 30th of June, we will then be part of the Peru Lima North, or the Peru Lima West Mission. I hope that I still get to be part of the North because the jungle is being kept by the North Mission. But wherever I end up will be where the Lord wants me to be. It is such an exciting event that will come to pass. :)
On Tuesday night, we went to the Caján-Llanos Family’s house for dinner and we had an anticuchada. Do you remember what anticucho is? It is the famous dish of the shish-kebobbed cow heart… We had a Barbecue of cow heart. I absolutely love it. I know that might be a little strange, but it really does taste good. I ate 15 hearts!!! That tells you how much I like it… We had cake for dessert to finish the meal up. It was a lot of fun. :)
Chase, that is so awesome that you made it into BYU!!! We will be going to school together. I am so excited! I hope you make it into MDT because then we could be in the same classes. :) How was Whitley’s Young Ambassadors show? I bet it was amazing because BYU doesn’t ever do anything less. Good for you Bud… Have tons of fun for Prom. It’s the last big dance in High School that you will have. Go all out. You won’t regret it in the end. “It’s gonna be a night, to remember.” Congratulations Bud.
Dallis, I don’t really know what requirements your history project has, but one of the bad things about Peru is that there is a lot of child corruption. Pornography is a big problem down here because it is all over the streets and you can freely see it. The children are not taught good principles in their homes because a lot of the parents are always out of the house trying to make money to provide for their families. They are also not shown good examples by the adults, with some adult men peeing in the streets or on walls wherever they want without any embarrassment, or the drunk men and women freely drinking on every corner and arriving home intoxicated. A lot of kids also finish Elementary and High School at the age of 15, which is way too soon for a kid to start College and get a job. They just don’t get a good foundation in their childhood. I hope this helps. I’m sure you can look up more information on child corruption. I love you Bud. Good luck on your project.
Mom and Dad, the house looks amazing. I am so excited. Keep working hard and we’ll be in it before no time. Dad, you are doing a great job with the home. Mom, good luck in school. I am so glad that you are enjoying it. Dad is really proud of you and so am I. I am so proud of you. Keep studying hard. It will be so worth it in the end. I love that you love school. It brings me so much comfort to know that you are doing okay. I love you so much. Take care.
Family, I love you so much. I will be writing from the jungle in my next e-mail. I really am so excited. Don’t forget me in your prayers and know that I love you with all my heart. I love you forever family. Take care until March 1st. I love you. I love you. I love you.
Love, Coco

"I love it! I love it! I love it!"

2010-02-18T18:02:00.000-08:00

February 13, 2010 -
Sweet and Special Family,
Wow. It has been such a slow week. I don’t know why. I think the emotions of leaving the Offices behind are starting to get to me. This has become my home and I am just used to everything. But it’s all going to change now. :) My "son" came this week and I have been training him. His name is Elder Wheiler and he is from Washington State. It is kind of nice to have someone taking my position because I teach him what to do, let him do it, and then I work on something else to help get things done. Next week is going to be a much busier week because we will be preparing for the Changes. I am going to be so busy teaching him everything that he has to do to prepare for the Changes. This week and the next week are going to fly by: the week of preparing for the Changes and then Change Week.
So, what part of the jungle am I going to??? I am heading off to Yurimaguas, which is like a suburb of Tarapoto. You’ll have to look it up to see where it is. It is closer to Lima than Iquitos is, but I don’t get to take a direct flight to Yurimaguas. There is a small airport there, but it is just for small airplanes that take tourists around and things like that. I have to take a flight to Tarapoto, and then I have to take about a two-hour bus ride to Yurimaguas. It really is out in the middle of nowhere in the jungle. I am so excited! It is going to be so much fun to be back in the beautiful jungle. I am going to be District Leader, which is going to be fun, but I am so nervous about leading a group of Missionaries. Because Yurimaguas is so far away from all other civilization, it will be just my District there, which is made up of only four Missionaries, and we all live together. It is going to be quite an experience. I am so excited to get out and teach and baptize like crazy. President told me to thank you Mom and Dad for raising such a good son to come to this Mission and be able to get to know him. He says that your son, (that’s me), has been able to win his and Sister Pérez’ hearts over. I will never forget the precious amount of time that I have been able to share with President Pérez and his sweet wife. They are two of the sweetest people that I have ever met on earth. I hope to always be in contact with them and their family. They are so special to me and I never will forget all the amazing things that they have done for me. It has been a wonderful experience and I know that going back into the Field is what I need to do. I am going to work so hard and these last six changes will pass like nothing. I just need to keep myself focused on the Work and just do it. All-Star Missionary Troy Bolton is coming back into action!!! I am so excited to be back in the jungle and enjoy the life that is there. It is so much livelier and the Work just seems so much easier there. I plan on having so much more fun, and having a lot more success. It is going to be a great experience. Just pray for me to have success, to avoid getting dengue from the mosquitoes, to have the Spirit with me, and to be a good District Leader. I am really nervous about this position because I have to train and help other Missionaries out, which means I need to start knowing everything without having doubts. I am studying Preach My Gospel like crazy so that I can answer any question that my Missionaries are going to have. Please pray for me. I am so nervous…excited, but even more nervous. Just please pray for me…
Today we had a really “trunky” day. We woke up and lazily got ready. I went and bought an onion, a stick of celery, a couple eggs, and cheese, put it all together, and made a good omelet in the morning. We then went on this beautiful “trunky” day to the Center of Lima. And guess what we did? We just walked around, and had a great time. It was absolutely excellent. The sun was shining, burnt Elder Steed’s neck, but not mine because I was smart enough in the morning to put on sun block just incase the sun came out. And of course, the only day we are outside in Lima, the sun comes out. It was a great day. We ended by eating at an American air-conditioned McDonald’s. It was a great day. I’m trying to get everything ready to leave the Offices. I will be leaving a suitcase behind and some boxes for when I get back. I am so excited and just trying to keep the emotions of leaving the Offices behind on the down low.
Fun news: I was reading the Church News and guess what? Brother and Sister Lindley, my Missionary Prep teachers that I went to every Sunday morning the year before my Mission, are going to be Mission President and Wife starting on July 1st in the England Leeds Mission. That is such exciting news. :) And who is the new Mission President of Peru Lima North Mission? His name is Lawrence P. Blunck. (Go to this address to look at him: http://www.ldschurchnews.com/articles/58779/New-mission-presidents.html :) I am sure that he is going to be a great President. I will miss the great relationship I have with President and Sister Pérez. But the Mission goes on, just like life does. There are tons of things that will be happening in the Peru Lima North Mission and all the Missions in Peru in the next few months that are going to be so exciting, so be paying attention to Church News on the Internet and tune into everything you hear about Missions or Missionaries in Peru. Big things are about to take place. It is so exciting, but super Top Secret, until the news release comes out. The Church is growing like crazy down here in Peru and the Brethren are going to take advantage of this opportunity. What a blessing to be in such a great Mission and a great place to serve. Pay tons of attention to the news about the Church in Peru. It is going to take you by surprise. :) Just know that I am so happy. I love this work. I know that it is true. It is so cool to be a Missionary. I love it. I love it. I love it. I love you so much family. Keep going strong and never give up. I love you so much.
Love, Coco
P.S. Happy Valentine's Day!!! I love you guys so much. Take care.

"I'M GOING BACK TO THE JUNGLE!!! WAHOO!!!

2010-02-18T17:46:00.000-08:00

February 6, 2010 - Hey Awesome Family,
So...I had a pretty eventful and interesting week. Tuesday was one of the weirdest days of food. I have been totally fine eating all of the food I have been given here in Lima, but Tuesday was a little interesting. We went to the house where dinner was and it was the first time I had eaten dinner in that house. It was a cool house, not pretty, but cool. It has all sorts of levels to the house, with trees, flowers, and bushes everywhere. It is an interesting house. I was expecting good food, and I’ll tell you it wasn’t horrible, but I prefer eating other things. We got served soup, but it wasn’t just any soup. It was a white creamy soup with a piece of meat in it. (Remember that meat down here is always served with the bone.) I was expecting it to be a soup that I have always eaten down here with chicken in it. But when it came time to eat, I quickly realized that it wasn’t the usual ordinary soup. The soup had a different taste, and the meat wasn’t chicken. It was PIG FOOT. That’s right. I had to drink the soup and eat a disgusting pig foot. It was terrible. Just so you know, pig foot doesn’t have any meat. I think it was just all fat and cartilage. I made it through. Then came the meal, which was a plate of rice with vegetables (broccoli, carrots, etc.) and chicken on top of it. However, when I started to eat through the rice and vegetables, guess what I discovered? A hidden chicken foot. That’s right. Pig foot and chicken foot in the same meal. That has to be impossible. But I survived the meal. I ate the two feet, and I am even more prepared now for Fear Factor. :) It was great to see Leslie’s dad on Tuesday night after having to eat that meal. We took some pictures here in the Offices so that I have evidence that my neighbor was here in Peru at the same time I was. Thank you so much for the sweets from Davey’s Homecoming. Nothing says love like homemade desserts. Thanks as well for the goodies and the no-bake cookies and the Orange Sticks which I will be giving to President and his sweet wife, and the i-Pod for Elder Chocooj. Please let Ryan, Rachel and Alex know how awesome they are! Thank them so much from me! I can't believe how nice it is! He is going to be so, so excited! It will be perfect for him! I am going to wrap it up with wrapping paper, and give it to him before the end of this change. He is here in Lima; he is actually in the same Zone I am—Independencia, so he’s pretty close. He finishes on April 7th and will be going back to Guatemala. I love him to death and am going to miss him a ton. He was such a good trainer and took such good care of me my first change. Can you believe it? He was my companion one year ago. It’s amazing how time passes. I sent a package home with Leslie’s dad. I sent home my i-Pod so that Chase can fix it. I also sent a backpack from Elder Steed. He wanted to get some stuff to the USA so that he doesn’t have to take it home at the end of his Mission. Just keep it safe and we’ll get it to him or his family when we can. He’s from Vacaville, California, but we’ll be hanging out after the Mission to go to Disneyland and stuff, and when Elder Santiago comes up for the Christmas Devotional, so just take care of Elder Steed’s backpack. Thanks. We had a BAPTISM today! We just got back from it. Her name is Harumy Caján Llanos. Her family has been less-active for a long time, but tonight, each and every member of the family was there for her baptism. It was a great sight to see. She is such a nice girl. She is 10-years-old and is so smart. She has been wanting to get baptized forever and has been praying for her parents to get back into the Church. This is their chance. We are so excited to be helping them reactivate and attend Church. It has been a long process for them, and it brings me and my companion tons of joy being able to help them. The Caján Family deserves it. :) So, you’ll never believe the exciting, shocking, surprising, and nerve-causing news that I found out this week. I’M GOING BACK TO THE JUNGLE!!! WAHOO!!! So I talked with President this week and we decided that it’s time for me to leave the Offices. He thinks that I have progressed a ton here in the Offices, but thinks that I will be able to progress even more in the Field. So we decided on me leaving to go to the Jungle for sure. We decided where in the Jungle as well, but that isn’t for sure until the Changes are made, which will be this next week. So I’ll let you know for sure what part of the Jungle I am going to in next week’s e-mail. I am really nervous to leave behind the Offices, but I knew it would come and now it has. I will be leaving on February 24th. After having found out this news, last night I was thrown a Surprise Early Going Away Party by the Canchez Family. I wasn’t expecting anything and when I walked in to eat what I thought was dinner, there were balloons on the walls, a poster that said “Te Queremos Elder Quinn”, a huge chocolate cake, and my companion cooked up a traditional Guatemalan dinner. It was such a good night. I almost cried because of the kind words that were said. I have made a ton of friends in this area and it is going to be really hard to leave them behind. But change is good and it always comes around. I am so excited that I will be going to the Jungle where life really is like a dream! I am going to love it! I just know it!:) Dallis, the classes you registered for sound great. You’re going to love High School. Too bad, you don’t get to share it with Chase like I did. I would go back in a heartbeat to be at the same school with my stud-muffin brother, always taking over the stage, and by now he’s taken over the school. I love you Chase and hope you had a wonderful 18th Birthday. Mom and Dad, the home sounds like it’s coming along fine. I cannot wait to be living in it. It will be so nice. I love you guys so much. I never forget that I have the Best Family on Earth. I really do. I love you Family. Sorry this e-mail is a little scattered and not really well-written. I love you so much. Take care until next week. I'll let you in on the exciting news of where I am going next week. At least we know it’s the Jungle. :) I love you. Love You Forever, Coco

"The Mission is an amazing experience!"

2010-02-04T17:10:00.000-08:00

January 30, 2010 - Hey Delightful Delicous and Delovely Family,
The work is getting much better. Now that I have been able to leave and have a companion that is able to help me out, we are starting to have a lot of progress. We are starting a plan of working with the less-active families and help them out. We want to activate these families so that the ward just keeps getting stronger. We want the members to start living more spiritual experiences. And by doing this, the ward will become more unified. And working with the less-active families is also good because there are many members of the family that aren’t baptized. So by activating the family, we also get the result of having baptisms. We are having a lot more lessons and starting to find some more people to baptize. I feel a lot better about leaving and teaching because I am more motivated. It is great to have members that are encouraging us to teach their sons and daughters, friends and neighbors, and we are enjoying the work a lot more. So just know that I am doing fine. The work is going good. I had a really special moment this week. I got another card from the Sandoval-Hidalgo Family from Iquitos, my Iquiteñan Mom and Dad. They are such a special family that I always have on my mind. They are doing way good. They just got settled down in a new home in another part of Iquitos. So we and they are moving at the same time. :) Letty, the Mom, is the one that wrote the letter. She says that their family is doing great and that they are happy with their new ward. They are still waiting for Jose to get his Mission Call, and she says that they will write me the second they get it to tell me where he’s going. It was so good to receive that letter. They sent me a picture of their family and they look so happy. They say that they will never forget me and that I am always in their prayers. She even said that for Christmas, they made a toast with hot chocolate in my name. I love them to death. I have to admit that I got a little teary-eyed when I was reading the letter because I miss them a ton and can’t wait to see them again. I have to get back to Iquitos. I have to see that family again. You are going to love them. So I got almost done with my huge January Personal Secretary Project. Sister Campian, the lady that helps me out with my work, came yesterday and we worked for about two hours getting everything ready to turn in to the government. I had a lot of late nights this week and I was in the bank for two hours on Thursday, but I got the job done. President kept passing by yesterday saying, “still working Elder Quinn?”, and I would just say, “Yep. Gotta get the job done.” I’m a hard worker and I don’t stop until the job is done. I love my job. It is so fun being President’s Personal Secretary. :) We went with Sister Campian in the morning today to help her out with all of the documents she had to do. It was a ton of fun. President invited us to lunch today to celebrate Sister Pérez’ Birthday which was on the 24th. We went to La Bistecca. It was a great all-you-can-eat meal, and I think that I ate more than I ever have at that restaurant. :) Then, President and Sister Pérez surprised us by taking us to The Park of Legends, which is like a huge Peruvian Zoo with all of the regions of Peru included. There were tons of animals to see, and it was so much fun to just walk and talk with Sister and President Pérez. My favorite animal was the hippopotamus. There was a dad, a mom, and a baby hippo. The baby was so cute. But by far, my favorite part was when we all took a picture with all of us dressed up in Peruvian outfits. We were laughing so hard at each other. (I’m sending the picture home. You’re going to love it.) :) We were gone all day long, from 8:00 in the morning until 7:00 at night. It was a long, enjoyful, fun and exciting day. :) DAVEY’S HOME!!! How exciting was it to see Davey come home? I bet it was so good. He is such a stud. I am so thankful for the example he was to me. I honestly think that a big reason that I came on the Mission was because Davey was already serving. It made it so much easier to make the decision. I am so thankful for his example and for the strength that he gave me, just knowing that both of us were leaving everyday together to preach the Gospel to the world. And now, I just have to keep going strong and endure to the end, which is only nine months away because… I hit 15 MONTHS!!! It feels great. The time is just flying by. Every month that passes by amazes me. It honestly feels like a dream, a dream full of wonderful experiences that I can’t wait to share with you guys in person. The Mission is an amazing experience. I love it!!!
The emotions just get to us as Quinns. It’s a thing we can’t avoid. When the moment comes to cry, we just let it out. And I can’t deny it at all. Crying is a great thing… Family, go have an awesome time at Davey’s Homecoming tomorrow, and don’t cry too much. Don’t forget that you’ve got a special Missionary in Peru… :) Happy Birthday Chase!!! You’re 18 this week. That means that you are going to be a legal adult. How weird is that? You are growing up too fast Bud. It really is amazing how time passes. Before you know it, you’ll be graduating…with High School Musical running through your mind. I love you Bud and want you to have the best Birthday ever. You’re the funniest kid ever Chase. Never forget that I love you. Take care this week and have a great Birthday! Leslie’s dad is coming down to Peru. Wahoo!!! I am so excited. I love you so much. I am going to send a package home with him, so please make sure that that is okay with him as well and let me know before tomorrow. About the i-Pod…just send a KSL used one that doesn’t cost you guys too much. Put all of our music on it, including especially the Church music, so that we can listen to it all the time. I am going to use this one. I will give Elder Chocooj the one that I have right now. He is going to love it, just receiving an i-Pod. He deserves it. I don’t want him to have to pay because I love him too much. He took care of me so much at the beginning of my Mission. I know he will be happy with the one that I give him. Don’t forget that I probably need to give him a charger for the i-Pod to plug into the wall. This will be a special gift for him. Thanks for your help. Oh, and about the baby doll…if you want to send one, that would be fine with me. But it isn’t necessary. And like the Michael Jackson song says, “it doesn’t matter if [it’s] black or white.” We aren’t racists down here Mom. I love you tons. I love you Family. You are the best family on earth. Don’t ever forget that I love you beyond what words can describe. Have a fun day tomorrow. Take care until next week. And please send me photos of the house and you guys with Davey. I love you. I love you. I love you.
Love you Forever, Colyn

"Thank him for setting the example for me."

2010-01-25T06:13:00.000-08:00

January 23, 2010 - Hey Beautiful Family,
How’s everything going on the home front? Sounds like everyone’s busy with school, UTA, the new home, work, and lots of other fun things. I love it. My big news this week is that me and my companion have been leaving to proselyte with the new Gringo couple, Elder and Sister Earl. They are such a sweet couple and they have so many good intentions of being able to serve and teach the people. However, they are held back by the language. It’s hard because they don’t have a Latin companion to help them out. So my companion and I leave with them to help them. It’s really hard though. President doesn’t want me to speak any English with them, but it is hard because they are still learning the language. The thing is, they need to speak Spanish as much as they can even between themselves when they are at their house. That is how I learned, just speaking as much as I could until I just couldn’t think of the word or didn’t know how to conjugate the verb, but I also had a Latin companion that was always there to save me. I suffered and cried, but I made it through the learning Spanish phase and now I love the language. I absolutely love the Spanish language and I still have so much to learn. I am so excited to be able to speak Spanish with people in Utah and keep the language in my tongue. I am also excited to be able to speak Spanish with Davey. DAVEY COMES HOME THIS WEEK!!! Can you believe it? I cannot believe his two years are already up. I actually think he hits exactly two years today. Please tell him “Hi” for me, give him a huge hug, and thank him for setting the example for me. It has been so great to have a cousin in the Mission at the same time for 15 Months! That means I only have 9 Months left!!! The time is going to fly by. You are going to have so much fun being able to talk with him about his Mission, all of the experiences he has lived, and the people he has met. I can’t wait to talk with him in person when I get home. Like I have said before, what a moment it will be. The Quinn Family is going to have one Returned Missionary this week, and it will have two in November. It will come too fast…I’m still working on my huge January project with Hermana Campian so I am keeping really busy. We had a great talk with President this week about how to be a good husband, a good father, about putting 100% into whatever calling we have in the Church, and about not working for the money, but instead, living with the money you have. He said that a person should go after what they enjoy in life, and if they are keeping the Commandments and do all that they need to do, money will never be a problem. I love it. He is such a wise man and I love learning from him. We need to follow our dreams and put our all into everything that we do. I plan on doing it in every aspect of my life… On Monday, President took us to lunch at Rodizio’s again. It was so good and guess what I had for dessert? TIRAMISU!!! I finally tried Tiramisu after hearing about it so much in High School Musical. It is a really good dessert. I recommend it when you get the chance to eat it. I got a fun envelope this week full of letters written by the whole extended Quinn Family for the New Year and another letter from Grandpa and Grandma Olsen. We are officially the trunkiest family. Everyone is so excited that this is the Homecoming Year. But who wouldn’t be? I am way excited! About being in charge for the last time this change, I was just speculating. I say that because President Pérez is finishing in June and he has to prepare the Offices to bring in the new President so my Personal Secretary kid will be bringing him in. I have to prepare everything so that my “hijo” is ready to take the work I do and go. So Elder Steed and I are pretty sure that we are leaving this change, but no one ever knows. We are happy with however it turns out. We know we have been so blessed to be in the Offices in the time period that we have been here. It has been an amazing and beautiful experience. :) I love you guys so much. I know that this is the work of the Lord. There are always new Missionaries starting, others ending, and others that have trunky families…(I bet you don’t know who I’m talking about?... :) I am healthy and happy and loving the Mission. Les amo mucho y quiero que sepan que estoy feliz y muy agradecido por tener una familia tan buena. Cuídense mucho y no se olviden de su hijo y hermano que está en Perú. Love you forever,Coco

"I have learned something very special about the Mission."

2010-01-17T19:51:00.000-08:00

January 16, 2010 - Mi querida y hermosa familia,
Can I just tell you how much I love you family? I love you so much. I love you so much. It just makes me so happy to know that I have such a special family. We are so blessed. Mom, I so wish I could be there to help you out with your English 1010 paper. I would be more than happy to help you write it and you know it. Oh, if only I wasn’t 4,000 miles away… :) It has to be about a personal event right? I was thinking, if it fits within the requirements, that you could talk about the experience that you have had with sending a son away from home, not necessarily on a Mission because college doesn’t have anything to do with religion, but sending the son away with requirements and rules. You can put a lot of details into it because you are still living it. You can tell how hard it is from a Mom’s perspective to send a son away, and how living that experience has strengthened you. I think it would be a great topic if it fits within the guidelines. Or you could talk about the personal event you had with having a house full of three boys, or meeting Dad, but I think the sending the boy away is a good topic…and it’s not just because I get to be the boy that you are going to talk about. :) Have tons of fun with your talks tomorrow. I know you are going to do a great job. And don’t worry about it too much. Heavenly Father is giving you all the chance to spiritually grow. Sharing your testimonies will only help them grow. Sharing your testimony is the way we verify that we believe and know that something is true. Just have confidence in the fact that you know the things you are going to say are true. Dallis, I’m having a hard time thinking of things you can put in your talk. I was thinking that all of the things that we did as a family before the Mission were what prepared me: praying as a family helped me realize the importance of trusting in God and knowing that He will always be there to help me; family scripture study, even though it was a struggle sometimes helped me realize the importance of applying the scriptures in our lives; early morning temple visits helped me realize the importance of always keeping our goals set on the final goal—Eternal Life as an Eternal Family; everything we learned from Mom and Dad helped us understand the basic principles of the Gospel, and now I am able to share these basics with the humble and lovely Peruvian people. Missionary: one who leaves his family for two years so that others can be with their families forever. :) I don’t know if this will help you, but I know you are going to do a great job. The house looks absolutely great and I am so excited. Even Elder Steed is excited. He wants to come visit after the Mission just to see the finished result. Changes went great and perfect. It was my last time to be in charge. Next time my son is going to do it. Funny story: a new Elder Lee that entered this week was one of Jerry Westberg’s roommate at USU. It’s a small world. Elder Elison from California is the new Assistant. He is going to be great. But I really miss Elder Santiago. I think it was harder to say goodbye to him than it was to say goodbye to Elder Rich because I knew that I will always be able to see Elder Rich again. But there is the chance that I may never see Elder Santiago again because he lives in another country, Guatemala. It was really hard to say goodbye to someone I considered as my true older brother. He always called me his younger brother and I loved it because I will never know what it is like to have an older brother. He really is like an older brother to me and I love him to death. I have to see him again before the next life. He says he wants to come up to Utah to see the Christmas Devotional this year and I told him that our house is more than open for him to come and stay while he is in Utah. I really hope that he is able to do it. I really want to help him do it. I love him so much and I miss him a ton. It was one of the hardest farewells… I love you. Today, we went to the National Museum of Peru and it was so interesting to see how much of Peru’s history really fits in with the history of the Book of Mormon. It is amazing, and it made me so happy to remember that I am living and preaching the Gospel in a land where the Book of Mormon took place. It’s a cool thought. And we also went to Sebastian’s baptism today. He is Gladys Canches’ son. He just turned eight two weeks ago. It was such a good baptism. I sang “I’m Trying to Be Like Jesus”. I starting crying when Sebastian shared his testimony because he started crying when he thanked us, the Elders, for taking such good care of him and his family. It was such a precious moment. I was crying, he was crying, his sister Estrella was crying, his mom and dad were crying, and about every other sister in the room was crying. It was a beautiful spiritual experience. I love being so close to the people down here. I have learned something very special about the Mission. It is necessary that a Missionary loves the people. I know I have it. I love this people. I love Peru. I love this culture. I love the Mission. I will never regret that I came on a Mission. I know that our family has been so blessed. We will never be able to thank Heavenly Father enough. Good luck on your talks tomorrow. I will be praying for you Bill. Dad, you’re going to do fine. I love you tons fam. Take care this week. I love you beyond what words can describe. Love, Coco

"I would never change anything..."

2010-01-17T19:41:00.000-08:00

January 9, 2010 - Hey Family, What a week it has been. I have been working all week preparing everything for the Changes. As part of my work, I buy all of the flights for the jungle changes. There are two airlines that I use, Lan Peru and Star Peru. Lan has much better service, costs a little bit more, and the guidelines for entering the planes are stricter, and we always try to use this airline because it is more trustworthy. Star is easier to get through security with copies of documents and it costs less. Every January, the Personal Secretary has a huge project of helping each foreign Missionary pay taxes for being a current resident of Peru. I have to have all of the Peruvian Resident Licenses of every foreign Missionary in the Mission. We always travel with these licenses, but right now I have all of them, so everyone is traveling on Star Peru. All I have to do is send a copy of every Passport of every foreign Missionary that will be traveling. I love my job. Just pray that everybody is allowed to get on the plane. I don’t want to lose flights. I’m praying really hard. Other than that, I think almost everything is done and ready to go. I will be sending everything out Monday morning and Change Week begins. You know how Change Week goes. It is going to fly by. I’m kind of sad because one of my best Office friends is leaving me. Elder Santiago is going home to Guatemala. I’m not going to have my friend who always sings High School Musical to me, who cheers me up when things are hectic, and who always puts a smile on my face by his fun personality. He has been such a good friend and I know that we are going to stay in contact. Other than losing a truly good friend, this week is going to be a fast, busy, and fun one. I am so excited that the house is getting done. It’s like a huge Christmas present that just keeps on giving and giving. I love hearing the new things that are going on with the house and that everyone is excited for the move. Even I am excited for the move, and I’m not even going to be there. But I am so excited to have a new house to come home to. It is going to be my once-in-a-life-time luxury present when I get home. I can’t wait to see the house and be inside of it. Please keep sending me pictures of the home’s progress. It’s fun to see it getting built step-by-step. What a blessing it will be to have a new home. I am so happy and excited! Chase, congratulations with your MDT Show. I bet it is great. Tell me what numbers you are in and what shows they are from. Don’t forget to tape the show so I can see it when I get home. And quit having dreams about me. Just kidding. I love that we all have dreams about each other. “It´s gonna be a Night to Remember” when I get home. We’re gonna party like 19(what year do they say?)…2010!!! It’ going to be so much fun.
I would never change anything for the person I am and the things that I have. I thank Heavenly Father everyday for being so blessed. I have the greatest family on earth. I am currently a Missionary and a Representative of Jesus Christ. I am getting a new home. I have a roof over my head and a bed to sleep in. I love to sing, dance, and act. I am a huge fan of High School Musical. I am happy and I love it. Family, know that I love you and that I wouldn’t change anything for the family that we have. We are so blessed. I felt each and every one of you present in the Temple today. We are eternally bonded together. I know that Heavenly Father is happy with the progress that we are making because He wants us to return to His presence as a family. And I know that we can do it. I love you family. Keep writing me all you want. Wish me luck in Change Week and don’t forget about me in your prayers. I love you. Take care. Love, Colyn

¡¡¡FELIZ AÑO NUEVO 2010!!!‏

2010-01-04T13:06:00.000-08:00

January 2, 2010!!!!!!!
Happy New Years 2010 Family!!!
Can you believe it? We are already in 2010. (Theme Music—“Home” by Michael Bublé) That’s right. It’s the year that I am coming home. (But we are not “trunky” at all…) It feels great. New Years feels the same as when we hit the year mark. The time is really passing.
Fun News: I received some fun packages this week. I got a little package from G & G Olsen full of treats. Please tell them thanks for thinking of me and taking care of me and that I wish them a Merry Christmas, the same for G & G Quinn… I got an envelope with three letters full of little notes from members of our new ward, along with little cute notes from Mom and Dad. Thank you so much. And the best package of all…a red Old Navy blanket and the cutest and most awesome photo album of High School Musical from Whitley. It is an album with cool High School Musical quotes and our pictures from Tuachan throughout it. She said in her letter that Chase had seen it and that he was excited for me to receive it. I was so excited to get it. It is such a fun and cool album. Her mom also sent a photo of her family with a little note. What a blessing it is to know the Osborn Family. They are so sweet. Please tell them thanks as soon as you can and let Whitley know that I loved the album. :) Excellent News: I had my check-up interview with President this week and he told me some great news.
I’M STAYING ANOTHER CHANGE AS PERSONAL SECRETARY!!!
In the interview, I thanked him for Christmas and he told me, “No. Thank you for Christmas.” And then he asked, “Are you ready to do the same thing New Years Eve?” I couldn’t hold back my smile and we both just laughed. He then asked me if I had any questions or concerns and I told him that I was nervous wondering if I was staying in the Offices or leaving to the field. He told me not to worry and to calm down because he wants me to stay another change. I’M GOING 5 CHANGES!!! Just like you said in the phone call Mom. He told me he was very thankful for my work in the Offices and for everything that I do. I thanked him for the awesome privilege it has been so far to be here and that I would be more than happy to stay another change. I am way excited. This means that I will be here until at least the 24th of February. (Send Leslie’s Dad again… :)
New Years Eve was awesome! We played Monopoly and had to give up the game at 10:30pm to have enough time to eat dinner and then be able to watch the fireworks. I was winning when we stopped playing, so I am the current champion of Monopoly. :) President and Sister Pérez told me that they watched the Tuachan version of High School Musical and that they loved it. They said they were very impressed by my singing, dancing, and acting and the same for all who are in it: Chase, Whitley, and DeLaney. I think it is so fun that they are getting into the High School Musical groove as well. We ate a delicious dinner, as always, home-cooked by Sister Pérez and President. Then it was time for fireworks and they were going off everywhere. Everywhere was lit up by millions of fireworks that everyone was lighting off. I spent the time looking through the window reflecting on being in the Mission Field for one whole year. Remember? I entered into the Mission Field December 31, 2008. I was with Elder Dominguez and we lit off some sparklers and bought fun 2009 glasses and hats. This year, I was kneeling in the kitchen window on the 21st floor with Sister Pérez next to me and President next to her. It was way too perfect. Then we ate some strawberry pie with ice cream and started up a game of UNO. President went to bed a little early because he was having back problems from lifting a box wrong, but Sister Pérez held out strong the whole night. We were up playing UNO with Sister Pérez until 3:30am and then after cleaning up and getting ready for bed, we were all in pajamas and tucked in at about 4:00. What a fun night. In the morning, we had another delicious breakfast with homemade banana muffins and orange juice. We then enjoyed some more UNO and told jokes and then it was time to head back to the Offices. I absolutely loved being with President and his wife. He has so much knowledge of the Gospel and just understands it so clearly. And I truly love his wife. Sister Pérez is just like you Mom, always laughing and wanting to play games. I love joking with her because she always understands what I say and we usually agree on everything. I love her and President to death and I am so thankful that Heavenly Father spoiled me by letting me spend not only Christmas with them, but New Years as well. It was the best Christmas and New Years that a Missionary can have. Mom, this week is the preparation for changes and then the next week is Change Week. So I am going to have a busy two weeks… I am so glad that you all have callings. I don’t know if you know why it is so important that every member has a calling, but I realized why here in the Mission. It is especially important for new converts because a calling keeps the person active. Enjoy your callings and do everything that you can in them because it will bring our family even more blessings than we already have. You work hard there, and I will work hard here and then we’ll all be together before we know it working together. Family, I love you so much. Now officially, the Holiday Season has passed and we will be together for the next one. I love you. Take care. Love, Colyn

"It was the most perfect Christmas that a Missionary can have!"

2009-12-28T14:11:00.000-08:00

December 26, 2009 - Hey Beautiful and Wonderful Family,
What an excellent day yesterday was. It was so good to be able to talk with each one of you and hear your voices. You all sound great. Dallis, you sound just like Chase. It is amazing. I cannot wait to see you all. I actually made it through the phone call without crying, but right when I hung up, the tears came out. It wasn’t because I was sad; it was because I was overfilled with the joy of being able to talk with my perfect family. I love you guys so much. We went to dinner afterwards and it was fun to spend the night with the Canches Family. We ate pig and turkey with rice and then had soda and cake for dessert. We also watched the second part of my High School Musical with Whitley and they loved it. We then went outside and lit off some fireworks, and about every single one was illegal in the United States. It was way fun. It was the most perfect Christmas that a Missionary can have: being with President in the morning, talking with the family in the afternoon, and finishing the day with a wonderful member family. I loved my second Christmas in the Mission. It was so fun to sleep at President’s house and feel just like I was in my own house with parents and everything. And guess what? President invited us today to do it all over again for New Years!!! That means this week, we will again be going to President’s house to spend the night and celebrate. I cannot believe it. I am so blessed. Please do not worry about me because I am being more than taken care of. I feel so spoiled and special. I love it. No more Holiday Seasons in the Mission. We are done!!! For the next Thanksgiving and Christmas, I will be sharing the table with you and it is going to be great. I absolutely cannot wait. I love you so much and cannot wait to see you. I am glad that you all liked my gifts. I had fun getting them together. Thanks Mom for putting presents under the tree for me again. I cannot wait to open them when I get home. I don’t know if I’ll be able to wait until Christmas to open them, but they will be opened with excitement because I already want to open them. I love you so much. Thank you family for being so sweet. I honestly have the perfect family and I would never do anything to change it. I love you so much and never forget it. WE ARE SO BLESSED!!! I write over and over again in my journal that I will never be able to thank Heavenly Father enough for the special blessing he has given me of having the best family on earth. I love you guys so much. Take care. Have a very Happy New Year!!! I’ll be writing in a week. I love you so much!!! Love you forever, Coco

"I LOVE CHRISTMAS!!!"

2009-12-20T08:24:00.000-08:00

December 19, 2009 - Hey Merry Family,
I love you so very much. Can you believe we are already in the week of Christmas? It came so fast. But you know what that means…PHONE CALL!!! I am so excited to be able to talk to you guys this week. Remember what I said in our phone call on Mother’s Day. This is the longest period of time that we have had to go without being able to hear each others’ voices. After this, there is one more phone call, and then I’ll be home. :) Imagine how strong we have become. We are a strong surviving family and I love that so much. . Excellent news… I finished my first journal this week. By that, I mean that I have been writing in my journal every single day since I started my Mission and I have now filled up one whole journal and I am starting the second one. My journal is my most-prized possession now because it has fourteen months of my life written in it. I cannot wait to be back at home and be able to share everyday and every experience with you. We will be able to read every day and just laugh or cry depending on what was going on that day. I am so excited to share my Mission with you, my sweet and cherished family. I love you.
I received a Christmas package from Grandma and Granpda Olsen full of good Christmas goodies. Please tell them thanks and let them know of my love for them. I am going to take the goodies to President’s house on Christmas Eve to share with everyone. We are going to have so much fun and I am so excited for this week. It is another week that is just going to fly by. We’ll be talking next Friday and then writing each other on Saturday. What a great and merry week it is going to be. :) Christmas is not a hugely celebrated Holiday here in Peru. The people are just not as excited as they should be. A lot say that it is a sad Holiday because a lot of kids pass this day just like any other regular day. But I am glad I am here. I am bringing the Christmas Spirit into every house that I walk into. I love Christmas. I think everyone in the Offices is getting tired of me repeating the same Christmas songs. But I just keep on singing because I love it. It is the best time of year and it will be even better next year because I will be with you! :) I cannot wait. Elder Steed and I stayed up the other night watching the lights that I put up on our porch. It was so fun to just sit in peacefulness and watch the lights. I LOVE CHRISTMAS!!!
My companion has a lot of work right now because there are a ton of Christmas packages that are arriving and he has to go to the Post Office to take them out. We went the other day to take thirteen packages out and it took us four hours. Right now, I think there are thirty more packages and even more on the way. It is the Christmas Season, so why not send your Missionary a package… The whole Mission is receiving packages. We have a new Gringo Missionary Couple that entered in the Mission. They are in my ward and are so fun. They can’t speak or understand even a little bit of Spanish so they are struggling. They are being supported by three of their kids that are currently serving Missions, one in the Philippines, one in Guatemala, and one in Chile. They are a Missionary Family. It is fun to have some adult Utahns in the Mission. We are trying to help them learn Spanish and get used to the culture which is a lot of fun. I honestly love the Mission. I really do. It is the best. I love you guys so so much and I am more than excited for our phone call this week. I am so glad that the house is finally started and I can’t wait to see the finished product. (Mom, don’t forget to put in a scrapbooking room…) It is going to be a wonderful, comfy, and cozy home. I am excited to come home to a new house. I love you so much family and can’t wait to hear your laughs and your voices. I love you forever. Love, Coco

"I absolutely love this culture!"

2009-12-14T18:01:00.000-08:00

December 12, 2009 - Hey Cute Family,
So we have two wards now. Our new ward is Las Violetas and it is so much fun to get to know new members and a new area. We have two baptismal dates already and we are hoping that they will be baptized this month of December. It feels great to be out teaching again. The only thing is that Lima is really hard to teach in. The people are more educated and we get rejected a lot of the time, but the work still goes on. It makes it difficult sometimes to be rejected, but it is not worth it to get discouraged. I can’t let myself get down or it takes a little while to get back up. So I had a lot of surprises this week. I was able to spend all Sunday in Church with Landon and his mom, and then we also spent the night together in the Christmas Devotional of the First Presidency. It was a splendid day with them. Landon’s mom is so nice and we had fun just talking about how you came to know each other and the stories about being a Missionary Mom. I’m sure you are living the same experiences Mom. You are going to love the stories she will tell you when they get back in Utah. Thank you so much for the gifts. I am so excited to give President and Sister Pérez their gifts for Christmas. They are going to love their gifts. I love the book and the sweet note that you wrote. The book is perfect. It is full of nursery stories and other tales that are perfect. I love the pictures as well. Thank you for the candy and for the “To: Coco From: Santa” notes. They make me really happy. I am just like a little kid waiting for Santa to come. I actually had a sweet member tell me that I have such a childlike spirit because I love Christmas so much. I am all about being happy during this time of year. I have been singing many Christmas hymns to the members and I love doing it. Thanks again for the sweet packages you sent with Landon and his mom. But there was an even bigger surprise. We had just gotten home on Thursday and were about to go and plan for the next day when someone rang the doorbell. I answered the speaker phone and they asked for Elder Quinn in English. I was very surprised and I told them I would be right there. I opened the front door and I recognized the man’s face, but I wasn’t sure who it was. He asked me if I recognized him and I said that I did. He then proceeded to tell me that he was Leslie’s dad. I about fainted because I couldn’t believe that he was here. I could not believe that someone who lives so close to me was in the front door of the Mission Offices here in Peru. He then went to the car and brought out a package. It was huge…a garbage bag filled to the seam of candy. I was so excited. I told him to tell everyone “hello” for me. I was basically in shock for ten minutes afterward still finding it hard to believe that I had just seen one of my best friend’s dad. Thank you so much for the candy and treats. I have so much candy now that I don’t even know what to do with it. I am going to be gaining a lot of weight in these next few weeks… :) Another cool surprise is that we have two new missionaries in the mission who are from Riverton High that I knew. We are all from the same graduating class so you will find them in the Yearbook. They are Matt French and Garrett Crosby. I am excited to see them and talk about how their lives have been since high school. It really is a small world. Today we hung out in the afternoon with Landon and his mom just talking about the fun trip they had this week. We are going to have to do a similar trip. I am so excited. I really love the Christmas letters from all of the family. They are so sweet. And I especially love the last half of Tuacahn High School Musical. We watched a little bit of it and everybody started whistling when they saw me and Whitley kiss in “Breaking Free.” They were very impressed by mine and Whitley’s performance. Landon and his mom are excited to see me live someday. I can’t wait to perform again. :) Please give Whitley and her family a big thank you from me for their sweet gift. It wasn’t necessary for them to do that. They really are a great family and she is such a special girl. Our Christmas phone call....I am so excited and already starting my list of things to talk about. Good and bad news: we are only going to be able to talk for one hour. I can’t go over. It’s going to be fine. I feel like we are always close and that the weeks are just passing away so fast. I love you so much and cannot wait to hear your voices. I absolutely love this culture and I am so excited to spend one more Christmas down here in Peru. It is going to be so much fun. I hope that you are all in the Christmas Spirit as much as I am. I know that I am not going to be with you for Christmas, but I am going to be okay. I am so excited for Christmas. This is by far the best time of the year. I love you all so much. Don’t ever forget it. I will love you forever. Take care until next week.
Love, Coco
P.S. Tell Grandpa and Grandma Quinn not to worry about sending candy.… Send my love to them and to Grandma and Grandpa Olsen as well. :)

"It was such a good day."

2009-12-12T13:26:00.000-08:00

December 5, 2009 - Hey Lovely Family,
Feliz and Merry December!!! Can you believe that we are already in December? I told you that this week was going to just fly by. It flew by. I can’t even believe that it is already Saturday. Changes went great. Fun news: I put up the Christmas tree this week and it looks great. It is just your ordinary green Christmas tree with red and gold ornaments. It also has some candy-cane shaped ornaments, poinsettias, and a silver star on top. It makes us all so happy and we have the lights on all day long. We keep the room lights off where it is so that we can just enjoy the natural Christmas light. I love this time of year. I feel so happy and excited for everything that happens and the emotions that there are in the Christmas season. I love Christmas!!! Soooo… My biggest news!!! I saw Landon today and I met his mom!!! It was such a good day. We went with him, his mom, and the Pérez Family to La Bistecca to celebrate Carolina’s Birthday. We ate a delicious meal, and then President surprised Carolina and all of us by inviting us to go BOWLING!!! That’s right. Yes, Dallis, there are bowling alleys in Peru, not a lot, but there is at least one… We all had the privilege of going to a really ritzy part of Miraflores and bowl with the Pérez Family and the Rich Family. It was so much fun. Landon and his mom couldn’t stop talking about how good Chase was in Les Mis. They said that they absolutely loved it. Landon told me that if I say that I am better than Chase, then I must be amazing because he says that Chase is a star. I told him that he will just have to wait and he is so excited to see me in a show. His mom is so nice and told me about her moments shared with you. They will be passing by the Offices tomorrow to drop off their suitcase full of packages and I hope we will have even more time to talk. :) Carolina really is so cool. She is going back home on Friday. I am going to miss having her around when we go with the Pérez Family because she loves to joke and just brightens our day. Thanks in advance for the gifts; I can’t wait to see what there is for me. I have a great new companion! His name is Elder Samayoa and he is from Guatemala. He is so funny and he is just so fun to be around. I love him to death. The little that I know about him is that before the Mission, he had worked in mechanics on cars and other such things and that he also worked in Postal Services. He is so cool. I am so excited because he has a huge desire to work and I want to work hard. We want to have a lot of baptisms this month of December. His Birthday was yesterday so we kind of celebrated it today as well with Carolina. I am so excited to have him as my companion. He is really easy to love and get along with. So, that was my week. I am way excited to receive the packages and see what is inside. Thank you for all that you have done to help me out. I love you guys so much. I hope it is snowing like crazy there and that everything is going okay. I love you so much. Take care until next week. I love you so much. I will have a lot more to write next week. I LOVE YOU FOREVER!!! Love,Coco

"IT IS A MIRACLE!"

2009-12-02T17:11:00.000-08:00

November 28, 2009 - 8:00 pm. - New Email.......

It’s a Miracle!!! Martha got baptized today!!! I have had a really stressful week worrying about Sister Martha. Today was the day we had set as her Baptism, and she wasn’t interviewed or anything. I left all day today to do some shopping and eat and have some fun. I entered for my first time in a Star*Bucks. Elder Steed and I bought cinnamon rolls. They were so good. We got home and I put up some Christmas lights in my room and it looks great! (I think we’re putting the Christmas Tree up tonight). :) A phone call came in at 5:20pm. It was Martha!!! I couldn’t believe it. I honestly could not believe it. God had answered my prayers. I immediately got so excited that I could hardly talk. She told me that she was calling from a public phone booth and that she would be in the Church in forty minutes for her Baptism. I was so excited. I told her we would be there waiting. I immediately called up Members and the Bishop and we got the baptismal clothes together and we headed off to the Church. We got there and waited for her arrival. She arrived safely. We immediately threw her into her baptismal interview. Wednesday, she was overstraining her wrist washing her clothes and her blankets and it really started to hurt. Come to find out she has osteoporosis and has very weak bones. She was in the hospital getting a bandage put on and couldn’t go to work since. Plus, her cell phone was hidden in a random drawer and she found it today. So everything is okay. She came to her baptism and I had the amazing privilege of baptizing her. What she didn’t realize was that her mom was in the baptism and when Martha saw her after being baptized, she broke into tears and both of them gave each other hugs. It was a very tender-hearted moment. Martha Victoria Oporto Soto was baptized the 28th of November, 2009. IT IS A MIRACLE!!! :) So everything is absolutely perfect. I am now totally relieved of my worries of Martha. The Lord answered my prayers and my tears. She was baptized today! I know that God loves us and listens to us. I am so thankful that Heavenly Father let me live this precious moment tonight. One more soul brought to the fold of God!!! I love being a Missionary! I love the Gospel! I love life! Everything is great!!! I love you all so much!!! Love you Forever! Colyn

"I love being here in Peru!"

2009-12-02T16:58:00.000-08:00

November 28, 2009 -
Hey Cougar Family, Well, I don’t really have a lot to say. I am honestly in shock with what has been going on this week. As for Martha, I don’t know what happened. Let me explain. We had been teaching her basically everyday at her work. She went home last weekend to celebrate her grandkids’ birthdays. She did attend Church which was great. She was only going to come for Sacrament and then go home, but she loves Church and decided to stay for all of Church and then go home. We were so happy and excited for her. The Bishop announced her baptism so that everyone would plan to attend. We programmed it for today. But something happened since Monday. We went to visit her at her work on Monday, but she hadn’t come because she was tired from the weekend. Since that day, I have been worried sick about her. We haven’t had any contact with her since the phone call that Elder Sandoval made. I have been praying my heart out all week to get in contact with her, and have been almost in tears a couple of times. I honestly don’t know what happened. We went to her shop and asked the other small shops nearby if they know something about her, and no one does. I don’t know what has happened and I am really shocked. She was already dressed in white and in the water because she was already prepared before I met her, but now I have no idea where she is. Her house phone is now cut out, and her cell phone is either dead, or she doesn’t have it near her, because it always goes to the message machine. I do not know what has happened, and I need to find out. So just keep praying for her. We are hoping that everything is going okay. I still love her to death, which is why I am so worried about her. I can’t believe this happened this week. I shouldn’t have told you guys about her until she was already baptized, but now you know. It’s a trial that I have to learn from and survive. Heavenly Father wants me to learn something from this. I hope that we do get in contact with her before time starts to pass and that she will still get baptized. Keep praying for me and her… This week, we had a Mission inspection by Elder Pino from the First Quorum of the Seventy. He came and met every Missionary and shared with us some ways to improve the Mission. He was very happy with the Peru Lima North Mission. He said that he usually does a ton of practices with Missions, but he didn’t feel the need to do that with ours. He just motivated us, telling us that our Mission is very powerful. He reminded us that we are the first convert in the Mission. We have to become totally converted and compromised to the Gospel. We can never let it go. We then had a surprise inspection of the Offices. Elder Pino came and checked out everything. He asked us who we are, what our job requires, and everything that we do. He also inspected our rooms upstairs to make sure that we were living well. He was very impressed by our Offices. It was really need to talk with someone from the First Quorum of the Seventy. He asked us what we liked to do. I told him that I am a performer: singer, dancer, actor. He was really impressed. He then asked everyone what sports they played. I told him that baseball was always my sport. He was so excited about that because he finally had someone to talk with who knew a little bit about baseball. We had a fun, quick conversation about what positions I played and my favorite team, and other things like that. It was really neat to be with President Pérez and Elder Pino, knowing that they were both happy with the work that we are doing here in the Mission Offices and for the condition the Mission is in. The Peru Lima North Mission Rocks!!! This week I have been getting ready for the Changes. It’s Change Week once again: time to send the old Missionaries home and bring the new ones in. I am excited to see the new Missionaries. Two of them are from Riverton High School. We weren't close friends, but we did know each other, so I am excited to see them as Missionaries. So this week is going to fly by. I am getting a new companion. Elder Sandoval is finally healed and he is now walking without crutches. It is time for him to leave the Offices. My new companion is from Guatemala. His name is Elder Samayoa. I am so excited. I met him when I was in Iquitos. He is really happy, and they say that he is a good worker so I am excited to be companions with him. We are going to be here as companions in the Offices for Christmas and New Years! I am so excited. Oh, by the way, we are decorating for Christmas today. We are going to put up the Christmas tree and I am so excited!!! I love Christmastime. It is the best time of the year. This is my last Holiday Season in the Mission and I know that I am going to love it. I hope that all of you are enjoying it just as much as I am. Did you already decorate for Christmas? I sure hope so. :) I’m so glad that everyone was able to be there for Thanksgiving. I did eat pizza, but the day passed just like any other normal day. It was really nice because I didn’t miss home at all. I really am overcoming the homesickness. I love that feeling. I am doing great… BYU vs. Utah today huh? Go COUGARS!!! I really hope they tear it up… Fun news: we got a phone call last night from Elder Rich!!! He told us all about him coming down next week with his Mom. I am so excited to see him and meet his Mom!!! He also told me that he met Whitley and gave her a huge hug just to make me a little jealous. He said that same thing, that Whitley and DeLaney are beautiful girls. It’s always great news to know that my friends are doing okay. I can’t wait to see them again. But, like I said. This week is going to fly by: changes, Elder Rich, Carolina’s Birthday with the Pérez Family. I’ll be writing home again in no time. Happy 13 Months Tomorrow!!! Time is just flying by now. I cannot believe it. I love being a Missionary. I love being here in Peru. I am so thankful for the blessings I receive and see everyday. I love the Mission. I love you all so much. Keep a prayer in your hearts for Martha. Keep your hopes up that she will still get baptized. I love you so much. Love You Forever!!! Colyn

"Cuidense Mucho!"

2009-11-25T10:23:00.000-08:00

November 21, 2009 - Hey Blessed Family, Happy Thanksgiving!!! We don’t celebrate Thanksgiving down here in Peru, but I think we are going to order Papa John’s Pizza on Thursday and call it a Holiday. :) Is Chase going to dress up as a turkey this year? :) Go have a ton of fun with the rest of the family, eat tons of good food, and enjoy my second Thanksgiving in the Mission… Wahoo!!! The last one in the Mission. Well, in reality, every day is that last day of that day in the Mission now… Today was such a good day. It was so enjoyable. We left early from the Offices and went to President’s house. We talked for a second while his wife and daughter were getting ready and then we all headed off in President’s car to go to Pachacamac. It is an old part of Peru that is an ancient ruin, and it is in the Peru Lima South Mission, which means it is a little ways away. It had a Sun Temple, a storage room, a pyramid, a dungeon, and many other cool things all made out of old rock and cement. It was interesting to learn a little more about the history of Peru and see some of the sights. We then traveled right next door where they were having a Peruvian Horse Show. It was interesting to watch how they made their horses walk and pick out which horse was going to be judged as the best one. We, the Office Crew and the Pérez Family, had a nice, relaxing morning enjoying a beautiful day watching part of the Peruvian culture. It was so enjoyable and I felt so spoiled to be with President and his family. It is always fun to spend P-Days with him. We then went to the restaurant, La Bistecca, and had a very delicious lunch for my companion’s Birthday, which is the 24th. We ate until we were stuffed and sang “Happy Birthday” to my companion. In La Bistecca, they have a huge chocolate fountain and tons of goodies to dip in it. It is so good, and I told President and everyone that we have a small chocolate fountain at home and that my brothers would just die if they were to go there and see that chocolate fountain. The best part about the restaurant is that it is a buffet, which means you eat all you want. It was so good, and it was the perfect way to end a great day with the Pérez Family. Last Saturday, the sweet Canches Family threw me and Elder Sandoval a surprise Birthday Party. He has finally been able to leave the house so they wanted to celebrate our Birthdays together. We got to their house and it was decorated with balloons and streamers, and was set up for a fun family get-together. I sang “Abide With Me ‘Tis Eventide” and my companion shared a spiritual thought. Little Estrellita sang us a special Birthday song and it was so sweet to hear her voice. Her dad Calín was crying by the end of the song. (Her dad has my name in the Spanish version! Isn’t that cool?) Gladys, her mom, was also in tears. It was a special moment. We then ate a delicious dinner and they had made us a scrumptious tres leche Birthday cake. It was a very fun night spent with a very special family. :)Martha is the greatest ever!!! On Sunday, we dropped by to pick her up so we could go to Church together, but she wasn’t there. We assumed that she had already left and gone to the Church, but when we entered, she wasn’t there, and I started to worry. Sacrament Meeting started. We sang the opening hymn, the opening prayer was said, and I was losing more and more hope of her being able to make it. Just at that moment, I saw her walk by one of the windows and my heart almost jumped out of my chest because I was so excited to see her. I immediately stood up and ran to the door to help her enter and make herself comfortable. She stayed for all three meetings of Church. She absolutely loved it and couldn’t get enough of it. She immediately felt welcomed and she didn’t want to leave. I love her to death. So now, all she has to do is attend Church tomorrow and she is qualified to be baptized. I am so excited!!! Keep praying for her because she is praying for you guys. She always tells me that she constantly has a prayer in her heart for me and for my family…that means you!!! :) She is so sweet and is one more person you have to meet… Guess what? Our fridge is now working and I bought some milk today. So I am now going to be able to enjoy cereal and goodies even more. If I need anything else, I will let you know. The 19th, I hit a year anniversary of being in Peru. A year ago that day, I was flying in a plane to Peru and you guys were in the Temple meeting the “Kitty, Kitty” guy. :) Can you believe that that much time has passed? Nathan White also hit a year in the Mission on the 19th. :) I ordered the Spanish version of the Bible and it finally arrived this week. I was so excited. It is the new 2009 translation of the English Bible, and it was finally released in September. It is beautiful and it makes me want to read the Bible so I am way excited. :) I talked to Elder Atkinson and told him that we moved a little closer to Bingham and that he might be my neighbor now. We drew out a map of what we could remember and we came to the conclusion that we are now in the same Stake, maybe in the same Ward, but for sure in the same Stake. Try looking his family up and let me know… Go Riverton Silverwolves!!! Chase, I told you that you would be the STAR!!! I know you are the Show Stopper and that you make everyone crack up just like you always do. You are the coolest stud in the house. Go Johnny Depp!!! Did you all get to see Landon? Did you talk to Whitley and DeLaney? Let me know all about them. Dallis, I also had a dream about being a Returned Missionary. I don’t remember anything that really happened in the dream, but I know that I was at home and that my closet only had white shirts, ties, and Church pants… :) I don’t know if it’s a good thing, but we are already dreaming about the RM Life. Dallis, I totally agree. We are going to be inseparable!!! I can’t wait to see you and all of the family and just hang out. Quinn Family Part—November 3, 2010!!! Family, I love you so much!!! I hope the house gets started this week. I love you so much. Take care. Cuídense mucho. I love you forever!!! Love, Coco

"I love reading the Scriptures"

2009-11-21T06:38:00.000-08:00

November 14, 2009 -
Hey Beautiful Family, It was a perfect day to go to the Temple. The sun was shining bright, there were not many clouds in the sky, and I got a little sun burnt. It was a splendid day to travel and see the pretty parts of Lima. The Session went great. I enjoyed it a lot. I love just being able to enter in a place of peace where your worries are put aside for a second. I absolutely love going to the Temple. Today was even more special because there was an old guy taking his Endowments out that sat right in front of me. He must have been 70-years-old and was just barely getting his Endowments. It was a great sight to see, that it doesn’t matter at what age a person comes to know the Gospel; all that matters is that they get to know it. It made me feel very thankful that I have grown up in the Church and that I get to enjoy being a member for a longer amount of time… :) We can never take for granted the many blessings that we have received as a family for being members of the Church and enjoying the comfort that the Plan of Salvation gives us. I am so thankful that we have this knowledge, and I am thankful that we are going to be an Eternal Family. Right now they are renovating our meeting house so we are meeting in another one and our schedule is from 2:00pm to 5:00pm. It isn’t a horrible time schedule because there is no air-conditioning so it gets really hot. But I also like it because there is more time to get things ready for Church and get investigators to go to Church. This is only going to be for six weeks and then we are going back to our old meeting house, but it is going to appear as a newly-built chapel. We are going to have benches and everything is going to be new. I am way excited. I am so glad that you all enjoyed Landon’s Homecoming. He was already excited to see you guys three weeks before he left. And all of the Elders’ families that you met are families of Elders that I know. Elder Evans was a really good friend that I made when I was in Collique. He was finishing his Mission and I had just barely hit three months. He talked to me a lot and we had a lot of fun hanging out in the nighttime talking and enjoying some midnight mac and cheese… I told you that High School Musical would be the perfect gift for Landon. I’m sure that he has secretly watched them many times already. He can’t resist it. He is now addicted, just like the rest of us down here in the Offices. Not a day goes by that we don’t randomly all break out singing a High School Musical song. I love it. I had a really lucky Friday the 13th. I got out and taught a couple lessons; President took us to lunch at Chili’s; and I got to come home knowing that the next day was P-Day. I had a really relaxing and enjoyable Friday the 13th. I can’t even tell you how happy I am. Good news... we have found a future missionary who is now able to accompany me every day so I was able to leave with him yesterday, and I will be leaving with him every day starting Monday. I am way excited. Even better news is that I found another lady that is like Yolanda from Iquitos. Her name is Martha, and I absolutely love going to her because I always know that she is ready with questions because she has already read everything that we leave for her to read, and she is just so excited to see me every time that I go. She is so ready to get baptized. All I have to do is just answer her questions because she understands everything, and then just finish up the other basic points she needs to know about the Church. We have set her baptismal date as the 28th of November and we know she can be baptized that day. The only thing she has to do is attend Church tomorrow and next week and she will be ready. Please pray for her to be able to attend and that everything will work out. I have been asking Heavenly Father every day and night to bless me with this baptism. She is one of the sweetest people I have ever met. Every time I converse with her, we are both on the verge of tears, but we never start crying. It is just because we connect so well, and I love her to death. I can’t let her go. This week when I wasn’t able to get to my area, I called her up to tell her so. Phone calls with her are really sweet. If I am not able to make it, she sincerely tells me not to leave her and not to lose her. She says that she wants it so badly. Like I said…God prepared her before I met her. So, please don’t forget Martha in your prayers. I had a very good week because I opened my eyes to a lot of things in the scriptures. There are so many hidden things in the scriptures. I now understand what it means to dive into the scriptures and study them. There are too many things to learn and so little time to read. I am now an addict to reading the scriptures. I love reading. I love reading the scriptures. I love it. Chase, good luck in Les Mis this week. I know that you are going to be the Star. Say “Hi” to Whitley and Delaney for me. Let them know that I still think about them and miss them a ton. Break a Legend this week. You’re going to do great!!! Dallis, I’m glad that life is going good and that you are enjoying the Nintendo. Keep the list updated. We have a huge Marathon waiting for us in 2010!!! :) Mom and Dad, thanks for the tender hearts that you both have. Know that all the hugs from Landon were sent with love from me. I made sure to give him tons of hugs to give away. I love him to death. Dad, you can’t listen to that song anymore. I love it and miss it too. Just keep going strong. I’ll be home in no time. I can’t believe Davey is already finishing. That is going to be such a fun day for all of you to go and see him. It has been so nice knowing that my cousin is in the Mission at the same time as I am. It gives me strength and keeps me going. Family, I love you to death. Don’t forget that you are always in my prayers and that I will never forget about you. I love you forever. Love, Colyn

"I love being a Missionary"

2009-11-09T15:16:00.000-08:00

November 7, 2009 - Hey Fabulous Family, What a great day it was at Gamarra. I found some really cool things. The best news about this week is that my companion is okay. These three months that we’ve been suffering through were all worth it. Thank you for all of the prayers in Elder Sandoval’s behalf. We went to the hospital on Thursday, but the doctor wasn’t there so we went back yesterday. They took the band off of his foot, which was the most pain that Elder Sandoval had to go through. He said that it felt like the doctor was ripping the skin right off of his leg and foot. He was almost crying because it hurt so bad, and he was making the funniest faces. We both had moments where we were laughing because the pain was very humorous. :) But he’s okay; the bone sealed together. The x-ray doesn’t look like it, but just like skin leaves a scar, so does bone. He has a scar where the bone has sealed together. The doctor told him that he should start to put pressure on his foot, slowly but surely, taking one crutch away, and then being able to walk without crutches. The doctor said that he should be able to walk pretty good in a week’s time. We are all happy for this good news. Elder Sandoval is thankful that he is going to finally be able to leave and teach, just as I am too. I want to start having some baptisms again… During this time of suffering and being basically locked up, I have learned and realized many things, not all of which can be said, but it is written in my journal. Like I have said before, I learned that there is a reason for everything. My companion and I have become closer in our relationship. We get along much better than we did before. I also learned that staying in the house is not a good idea in the mission. It is always better to be out teaching and working, getting people to know the true Church of Jesus Christ, and bringing their souls unto salvation. I thought you’d just like to know that everything turned out fine; my companion doesn’t need an operation, and he will not be going home. We are very happy. :) Other good news: I have gotten skinnier. I am much skinnier than when I was in Iquitos. My belt now fits me good, and I don’t look as chubby in my face, neck, or any other part. I feel much healthier and happier. I was so worried seven months ago that I was going to come home a little bit more chubby, but now I see that there is hope. :) For Christmas I want a huge box full of all sorts of candy… We’re talking: Starburst, Skittles, Butterfingers, Watchamacallit, Rollos, Sweettarts [hard and squeeze kind :)], Laffy Taffy, Junior Mints, Milkyway, Tootsie Rolls, Sour Watermelons, Nerds (for my compi), Beef Jerky, and everything else that you know I like. I just want to satisfy the midnight crave. Oh, and don’t forget about orange sticks in my stocking. It’s tradition for me and Dad to receive them. :) Thanks. A package of good gingerbread men would be accepted. Chase, Go Senior Class Officers!!! You are the most creative and spunky kid alive. I am so glad that you are enjoying your time at school. I really want to thank you again for being in High School Musical with me. There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t remember a moment of HSM and the superstar my brother was out there belting on the stage. You’re the greatest Chase. Know that I love you. Dallis, Congratulations on the 4.0!!! That is so awesome! “That’s right, following right in his oldest brother’s footsteps… Oh yeah.” :) Just kidding. But that really is amazing. I told you not to worry about Algebra 2. Just don’t forget about what I have said about prayer. Our Heavenly Father already knows what we need. All we have to do is ask and then do our part as well. I know that he heard and answered our prayers. :) Great job in the tournament as well. Oh man, how I miss baseball. I haven’t seen a baseball diamond in more than a year. I have not seen a single one down here in Peru. Like Utah is full of baseball fields, all of Peru is full of places to play soccer. Everything is soccer; but there is nothing like picking up a glove and a ball, and going out on the diamond to play a double-header championship game. I miss it so much. We have to play when I get home. Keep the glove warmed up. I love you Dallis. Mom, last week was a miracle. I honestly could not believe that we sent the e-mails at the same time. I thought the exact same thing…it was a tender mercy. I can’t even put into words how I felt, but I felt as if we were in the same room, just not being able to hear or see each other. It was an amazing and very comforting feeling, and I am thankful that Heavenly Father gave us that moment. It fortified my strength as well. We are going to make it. “Anything’s possible.” The Mission is possible. I just can’t wait to be able to share a really hard laugh with you. It is going to be the best moment ever. Dad, like I have said before… Thank you so much for the tender heart that you have. If you can call me and Mom crybabies, then we can also call you one. I love you Crybaby. I really do love you. 50 miles is a long way to go without being able to hold back the tears. I know that Dixie Rock was a really spur of the moment decision, and even though you were already in your pajamas and ready to go to bed, I didn’t want to miss the fun and special moment of taking my awesome Dad on a fun spontaneous trip to a place he had never been before. I will never forget that moment, nor will I forget that trip. And you know that I would do it all over again in less than a heartbeat. Like I said, “Just plan the vacation, and I’m there.” I really miss St. George. I have so many memories of living there and being with a really good group of friends. Dixie Rock was one of my favorite places to go, at sunrise, sunset, and in the nighttime. I especially love the nighttime because you can see the whole St. George city lit up, and the Temple stands out as well. It is a beautiful part of this world. I can’t wait to see it again… Dad, just know that I love you to death. Family, I love you so much. Know that everything is going fine and that the Mission is great. I love being a Missionary. It is a great feeling to wake up every day and put the nametag on that says I am a representative of Jesus Christ. I love it. Keep going strong and don’t forget that I love you. You are the best family in the world. Love you forever!!!Love, Colyn

"I made it over the Hump!!!"

2009-11-08T16:09:00.000-08:00

October 31, 2009 -

Hey Lovely Family,
"I made it over the HUMP!!!" Thanks for the cute package. I absolutely love the picture of you guys with the camel. You all look so great.... I also love the stuffed camel with the homemade cape. I am going to sleep with it every night so I can always be reminded that I made it over the hump and that my special family is supporting me in everything that I do. I feel a little strange passing the year mark. It means that what I have already done, I just have to do over again. I have already survived a year without television, movies, video games, music, full-out singing, dancing, card games, board games, and everything else that I love; so one more year is possible. In the beginning, I never would have thought that I could go so much time without doing the things that I love, but I have done it, and I know that the Lord has blessed me for it. I can't believe that one year passed so fast. This next year is just going to fly by. Honestly, I feel more comfortable now because I am now even more certain that I can endure to the end because I have now made it to the half-way point. It feels FANTASTIC!!! I have so many emotions, but it is really hard to put them into words. Just know that I am happy and healthy, and enjoying this special time in the mission. :) So... Happy One Year! And... Happy Halloween!!! Not many decorations are going on down here, but I have seen some people selling masks and Halloween candies in the streets. I'm going to see what happens in the nighttime because I think it's going to be a huge Peruvian Fiesta. (Insert in the nighttime: There were some kids dressed up as vampires, witches, wolves, and Pippy-Longstocking, and some were just carrying around devil tridents and pumpkin bags, but no one was giving out candy. It's not a hugely celebrated day down here.) So what is everyone dressed up as? I'm dressed up as a missionary; Dallis-baseball player; Dad and Mom-matching cheerleaders; and Chase-a Jabbawockee (whatever that is...) I hope you had a lot of fun making those interesting costumes. I had fun picking out a tie to match my missionary outfit.... :) It's fun being a missionary for Halloween. Are you ready to put up Christmas tomorrow? I want you to enjoy Christmas just as much as we do when we are all together. We are going to put a Christmas tree up here in the Offices, and I am already putting up some Christmas decorations and pictures that I have colored to make my room have a Christmas mood. I love Christmas time and I want to have it around for as much time as possible. I don't know if we'll get the Office decorated tomorrow, but I'm going to get the decorations up as soon as possible. :)
Guess what? I did it. I got my letters sent off to my converts. :) I feel great. I sent all of them a little note asking them for their names, their birth dates, their addresses, their phone numbers, and all of the information they can give me. I also sent them pictures and asked them to send me pictures of their family. I can't wait to start receiving response letters. I also received a card from Jose Carlos Sandoval Hidalgo, who was one of my best friends in Iquitos. If you remember my Mom and Dad from Iquitos (Letty and Leo); we were teaching Rosa who is Jose's aunt and Letty's sister. Jose baptized Rosa and we became the best of friends.
Things that happened this week: The Office was renovated. By that I mean that there were guys working her all day every day for three days this week. They repainted some walls, refinished the wood on all of the desks and counters, cleaned the glass and windows, washed the computer chairs, washed the carpet floors, and many other little jobs. The Office looks great, but because they were here working, I couldn't get a lot of my Personal Secretary stuff done so I've got a little more work to get done next week. I took advantage of the time not working to improve my study. I got a lot of studying done and I feel great.
I still miss Landon, but I still have his fun companion here Elder Santiago. He is from Guatemala and is so cool. He is just a good, fun friend that is always there to talk to and agree with. I wrestle him, I sing High School Musical with him, I make jokes with him, and we all get along with him really well. He keeps my spirits up. I love him to death. So I am getting along well. I didn't leave at all this week, but I got to study the scriptures, supervise the workers and I did some printing off of some Christmas decorations. So everything is okay. We are going in on Thursday this week to have a check-up on Elder Sandoval's foot. If it isn't healing still, then he will most likely have surgery, and the recuperation will be a longer time period. Surgery will mean that he'll have to go home. Pray for him so that everything goes okay, that his leg is healing, and that he won't have to have surgery. No missionary wants to go home.
Family, everything is going fine. I am doing great. I HIT A YEAR!!! The countdown has begun... I don't like watching the time, but it is always good to know that it is passing. I hope everything is going great at home. I can't wait for the new house to get started and I hope that everything turns out all right. Don't forget to decorate full-out for Christmas. Enjoy Christmas and know that the best Christmas present will be the phone call home from the Studmuffin Missionary who is serving in Peru. Haphy Halloveen! I wuf ju! (That's "Happy Halloween!" and "I love you!" said when I have a shampoo bottle stuck to my lip. ;) I love you guys. Take care until next week. Love you forever.
Love, Coco.

"He will do it for one more"

2009-11-08T14:59:00.000-08:00

October 24, 2009 - Familia Quinn, Do you know what today is?... It's the One-Year Anniversary of "High School Musical 3: Senior Year!" Can you believe that one year ago, we were all seated at the District in a Movie Theatre at midnight ready to watch the movie be released. I can't believe that much time has passed. We were all getting ready for my Farewell, I was freaking out about my talk, and we were all kind of in a weird mood. And now look where we are... All of us in good conditions, happy, enjoying life, and just waiting for one more year to pass. You know what they say... the second year passes by a whole lot faster than the first. That sounds great to me. I think it's because we are all used to it now. I'm definitely not as homesick as I used to be; the boys are back in school; Mom's keeping busy with the house, homework, kids, and a husband; and Dad's busy getting a house approved, built, and furnished. It's good that we are all just working hard. It keeps our minds distracted and keeps the time passing by. I think we are all in awe that a whole year has passed by. The second one is just going to fly by. So get ready, cause here it comes....
So my Best Friend left this week. I had tears in my eyes before I could even give Elder Rich a goodbye hug. He is a really special friend to have. He kept me laughing, protected me, and helped me learn so many things. I'm really going to miss seeing him every day and just enjoying the small moments that make life the greatest. His e-mails to the Office let us know that he has been so blessed as a Missionary, and that his life as a Returned Missionary is great because of the service he gave for two years. I'm pretty sure he'll be coming back in December. I'll most likely still be working here in the Offices so I'll be able to see him and talk to him as Landon. (That sounds really weird.) I can't wait for you guys to see him. Tell him "Hi" and "Thanks" from me.
Changes were this week and everything went perfect. There were tons of Missionaries that had Changes. It was fun to see all of their faces and the smiles they had, all excited for the new Change to start. I am way excited as well. I think I am now accustomed to what I have to do as Personal Secretary. So this Change is going to be more organized and less stressful. I am really excited to start working on a new Change again. :) The new Missionaries all look great and look like they are going to be leaders in the Mission. It is so fun to see the excitement that the new Missionaries have as they enter into the Mission Field. It just brings a new fresh spirit to the Mission. I would never go back to being a New Missionary again, but I absolutely love the energy they bring to the work.
I did a lot of cleaning this week because I like living in a clean, up-kept house. Slowly, but surely, the house is getting more and more organized and cleaner. If I'm going to be living here for a while, I don't want to have to put up with dust and bugs and other things that don't make it very comfortable. I'm used to it, but if I can make the living conditions better...why not?
Excellent News... I got a package this week! :) I was so excited. I received the paper that said I had a package in the Post office on Monday, but we weren't able to go to the Post office until yesterday. All that matters is that I got it! Thank you for everything!!!!
There is a tradition that the Peruvians have during the whole month of October. They make a special cookie called Turron. It is like a thick sugar cookie with lots of caramel and sprinkles. They are pretty good, but you do get sick of them. They make them all October long as the tradition of the month.
Family, we've made it to the year. Just keep going strong and we'll pass this year in no time. I'm going to put myself to work so that the time passes fast. I know that Heavenly Father is blessing us beyond what we could have ever dreamed of. I know that He is our Father in Heaven and that He really does love us. I am thankful to Him, for taking me in His arms for one whole year, and I know that He will do it for one more. Family, you are my inspiration and my life. I love you guys so much and miss you even more. Know that I have you in my mind and heart every day, and that you are never forgotten in my prayers. I love you. Take care and go cheer on BYU!!!
I love you!!!
Love you forever, Coco

"Everything happens for a reason"

2009-10-24T12:25:00.000-07:00

October 17, 2009 -
Hey Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious Family,
I feel so good being able to write you right now because I look forward to reading what you have written every week. I’ve just been having kind of a hard, stressful week, so being able to write to you calms me down and reminds me of the special blessings that I have. I’m a little stressed because I just can’t get out of the house as much as I want to. We thought my companion was doing better because he got his cast off and he started to lightly walk on his fractured foot using one of the crutches; however, when we went to the doctor this week and took x-rays again, the doctor said that he shouldn’t have even been trying to put weight on his foot. The bone has started to heal, but it isn’t to the point where it is strong enough to take the full weight of his body. The doctor put on a smaller fake cast and my companion will be off of that foot for another twenty days still. The other Elder who tore a ligament in his leg is going to be sent home this week because the recuperation will take too much time. It is kind of stressing me out because I am losing my ability to teach and I just don’t have the groove anymore that I built up while I was in Iquitos. Something I have learned is that there is a reason for everything. There is a reason for everything that happens in life. I have faith that Heavenly Father is trying to teach me something, but I’m having a hard time learning. I could really use a couple prayers in my behalf. I am doing fine, but a few extra prayers can’t hurt. :) This week was Elder Doza’s 21st Birthday on the 13th and we went to Rodizio’s. (I’m pretty sure it’s just like the Rodizio Grill…) The waiters came around with swords that had all different types of meat on them. They would first ask you if you wanted it, and then they cut you off the piece that you wanted. I absolutely loved it. I think the weirdest meat I tried was ostrich. I never thought that it would be good, but I really liked it. It was a really fancy restaurant, and it was just lots of fun to be with President and his family enjoying a really good meal…Today we had the awesome privilege of traveling to the Peru MTC to a devotional. The guest speaker was Elder D. Todd Christofferson from the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. It was so cool. He gave a great talk, and it was great to see the nobleness and spirit that reflected from him. President Pérez is going to be in Conferences for the next few days being taught by Elder Christofferson and other General Authorities. What a close connection President has with the General Authorities of the Church. Answering Grandma Quinn’s question, President and his wife are from Uruguay. They have so many stories that just grab my attention and I love hearing about their lives, just as I like hearing about the life of any other Latin. This week that’s coming up is my big week…Change Week. I have been working like crazy and still have a ton of work to get done before Monday morning. This is my big fun week that I get to be in charge of every six weeks. Monday, I will be leaving with Elder Rich to visit his converts that are here in Lima. Tuesday, I will be weighing suitcases for those that have changes to the jungle, and I will be sending all of the Missionaries that are finishing to the airport to go home. Then Wednesday is the big day of changes. I will be up at about five in the morning, and my work will not be over until 12:30am on Thursday morning. I am way excited. I just get an adrenaline rush being constantly busy with all of the Missionaries. I absolutely love it. I’ve almost got every Missionary with their name and face memorized. I still get confused sometimes because a lot of them look the same. By the time I leave, I am sure I will be at least familiar with every one of the Missionaries. I love being President’s Personal Secretary. I am excited for Madison VanDenBerghe. She is going to have so much fun being able to serve in New York. Like I’ve said before, the people we know are all over the world…Elder Rich is going home this week… :( I can’t believe the time has finally come to say goodbye. It flew by so fast. I was able to call his mom, just like I call every mom before their Missionary comes home. I told her that she had to call you up as soon as possible and tell you that I absolutely love you and miss you. I knew it would bring you some comfort to know that I was doing okay during the week… I’m sorry I made you cry again, but the tears are being shed on both sides. One is crying in Utah, the other crying in Peru. I actually don’t cry as much as I used to, but when the occasion calls for the tears, there’s no point in holding them back. Know that I do love you and that I am doing okay. Elder Rich is already preparing to give you the best loving hug from me. (But of course, it won’t compare with when I always used to annoyingly pick you up and spin you around in the kitchen… :) ) So be expecting a big hug from him in my behalf. I love you. Dallis, sorry that Algebra 2 isn’t going as good as it should be. It honestly hurts my heart that I can’t be there using all of my free time to help you. Just know that I will be there in a year to start helping you out with all of your High School homework. Know that I am praying for you to have success in school and the studying won’t be as stressful as it is right now. I know you can do it. Just keep going strong… Know that I love all of you, and there is not a day that goes by that I don’t think about each and every one of you. Thanks for being so faithful in writing me so that I am always caught up on what is happening at home. I am way excited for the progress our family is having, and I am very thankful for the blessings that Heavenly Father gives us every single day. Remember…Everything happens for a reason, everything. I love you beyond what words can say. Take care until next week… Go BYU Cougars!!!
I love you forever.Love, Coco

"Before we know it...we'll all be sitting in the living room together, laughing and enjoying the stories of the past two years"

2009-10-15T19:11:00.000-07:00

October 10, 2009 - Hey Extraordinary Family,
Do you even feel the weeks going by? Sometimes, I feel like I don’t really have anything to write because the week passes by so fast. Seems like this week was a really progressive week. Today we went to the Temple and had a great time. We all ate breakfast in the cafeteria and then went in to do a Session. The Temple was packed today. I think there must have been over 1500 people there, which is a huge amount for the Lima Temple. Of course, it is Saturday, so they usually have Stakes assigned for certain Saturdays. The only bad part was the wait. We got there at 8:30am and we had to wait for our Session, which started at 11:00am. We didn’t leave the Temple until 2:00. I came home and took a nap and did a little bit of cleaning and working. The weather is starting to change down here. I think we’ve had two or three days where the sun has just shined beautifully. Spring is right around the corner. It’s so weird. I’m going into warmer weather, while you guys are just about to start the beginning part of winter. I have loved being able to go outside and see the clear blue sky because in Lima, the sky is usually a foggy grey. Seeing the blue sky reminded me of being in Iquitos because the skies are either true Cougar blue or full of thunderstorms. That means Christmas is right around the corner. Hey Quinn Family I love you and can’t wait to see you next WEEK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I’ll give you a huge hug and well not kisses but a huge hug for sure!!!!!!! From elder Colyn!!! Love you see ya soon!!!!!!!!!!Love, The New Troy hahaha (Elder Rich) That was a recently inserted comment from Elder Rich. He goes home in a week-and-a-half. I’m really going to miss him. He’s just going to die when he sees you. And I think you will too. Make sure you check with Elder Landon´s Mom about his Homecoming. He’s so excited to see you. And I can’t wait for you to see him… :) I hope everything is going great. Sorry this is such a short letter, but I didn’t really have a lot to talk about this week. I was more excited to hear about what is going on in your lives. :) I love hearing all the news about the family. I’m really glad that Family Night went okay and that everything worked out. Sorry I made you cry Mom, but you know that it’s my job. :) Keep going strong, and I will too; I think we’ll just have to share a moment of crying together when I get home, but I’m trying to hold it all back until then. You know I love you. Dad, sounds like everything’s going great at work. Keep it going on, and get the house done fast. I can’t wait to see it. I know you are just going to create the perfect house. (Just make sure that I don’t have to do any yard work when I get home. I just want to relax when I get home.) :) Dallis, I’m glad everything is over with baseball, and now you have more time to study Algebra 2. I’m sorry it’s kind of hard, and that I can’t be there to help you. Maybe you could go and get help from one of my old teachers at Riverton. They have the after-school help for Math specifically. Just tell them that your older brother wants his studmuffin brother to get straight A’s in Algebra 2 and that you are just as perfect as he was… :) Tell Chase “Hi”. Lucky him. I would have loved to have gone to Shakespeare Competition. I’ve gotten some letters from Nathan White, all the way from New Zealand. He’s doing great, and I can’t wait to get home and be able to talk to him. So many things to do when I get home, I don’t know if I’ll be able to do them all. We are just going to have too much fun! I love you guys so much. I hope you know that I love you and think about you every day. Thanks for being my support and my strength. The time is passing, and before we know it, we’ll all be sitting in the living room together, laughing and enjoying the stories of the past two years. I love you so much. Take care until next week. I love you. Love, Coco

"I know we can do it."

2009-10-05T15:15:00.000-07:00

October 3, 2009 - Hey Family, Elder Rich is going home the 21st of October and I am super sad. (Elder Rich says he loves you all.) This month is just going to fly by and then you guys are going to be able to see him and he’ll tell you all the funny things that have happened in the last 3 months. I think the Latin companions sing all day. It just makes the day a little bit brighter. I’ve converted the Office Crew… :) I HIT 11 MONTHS THIS WEEK!!! I can’t believe it. I’m still young, but starting to get old in the Mission. It’s amazing how fast time passes when you just don’t pay attention to it. I’m just working, doing all of my Personal Secretary stuff and tearing it up. I was also able to leave this week with Elder Rich and Elder Santiago, and I taught a couple lessons. It felt good to get out of the house. I also loved getting out of the house today to go and watch General Conference. I didn’t cry when I saw Salt Lake like I did six months ago, but I did like seeing Home… Utah is just beautiful. I can’t wait to see it. Mom, I hope you had a Girl’s Night Out while all the men went to the Priesthood Session. I’m sorry that you were blessed with THREE AMAZING BOYS! But don’t worry, I´ll give you a granddaughter and then you can just go to a movie and have a Girl’s Night Out with her everyday if you want… :) I hope that you had just as fun of a night as the boys in the family. Fun experience: There is a faithful blind man in our ward who gives his testimony every Fast Sunday. After Church, I went out teaching with two young men preparing for their Missions and we found this blind man walking alone with his walker dragging along on the sidewalk. I immediately went to help him because I was worried about what could happen. Come to find out, he was going to the Bakery to buy bread. It’s something he always does alone and then goes back to his house. He has memorized how many blocks he has to travel and where he needs to turn so he is used to it. But I wasn’t going to leave him alone. Poor old blind man. I put my arm under his and just started to guide him. I told him who I was and just started having a conversation with him. We went to the Bakery and then took him back to his house. He invited us in and served us bread with Ecco (it’s like a really disgusting watered-down hot chocolate). It was great to just spend a few moments with him and learn about his faithful blind life as a Member of the Church. I think it was one of the simple miracles that I have seen that has just strengthened my testimony of the truthfulness of the Church. If a blind man can walk around alone, and share his testimony every Fast Sunday, and participate in classes, and invite the Missionaries in for bread and hot chocolate, then we can do those things that are asked of us. I’ve been thinking all day about Family Home Evening tomorrow night. I was really inspired by Elder Bednar’s talk about the Family. I was in total agreement with everything that he said. I also loved Elder Ballard’s talk in the Priesthood Session about the relationship between a Father and Son. Like I’ve said before, we have the greatest family on earth. I know that I have the two best parents on earth and I thank Heavenly Father every single day for sending me to you. I think a great theme would be the importance of Families. Share this as well in the lesson (Mom, I think you have to be the one to read it): I know that Families are Eternal. I don’t have a single doubt about it because I have felt the blessings of having a family that is centered on the true Gospel of Jesus Christ. I know that the Celestial Sealing that takes place in the Temple is something real. Every time I go, I feel the reality of the bonds that are made there. I know that by the power of the Priesthood, our family is eternally sealed. From Grandpa and Grandma Quinn down to the newest baby in the family, we are all going to live together because of the righteous and true covenants that they made in the Temple. I know that this is our purpose. We are to have families, raise them in the Gospel, and return to the presence of our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ together. Exaltation is not possible alone. We have to do it together. Don’t doubt in the reality of our Celestial Family. I know we are going to live together forever. Don’t doubt in the teachings of the Church. They are all true. The Church is true. Maybe the members aren’t perfect, but the Church, yes, it is true. President Thomas S. Monson is a true Prophet of God, called by Him to teach us the things we need to gain Eternal Life. I also know that the Church was restored through a 14-year-old boy who had the faith to pray and ask of God. I know that God answers prayers and that he loves us. Please know that I love you all and miss you even more. I can’t wait to see you. Keep going strong and help each other get to the Celestial Kingdom. I know we can do it. Does that sound okay? I hope so. Well, it’s late now, so I’m think I’m gonna go to bed. I love you and will never forget about you. Take care until next week. Love, Coco

"I am part of the best Mission on earth!"

2009-10-01T19:31:00.000-07:00

September 26, 2009 - Hey Loving Family, This Sunday that just passed was Stake Conference and it was a huge Peruvian Stake Conference. Every Stake in Peru was gathered together in their Stake Centers and we got to see Elder Jeffrey R. Holland and Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf. Elder Holland spoke a little bit of Spanish, but then had a translator translate everything. He finished by bearing his testimony in Spanish while crying, and the Spirit was really strong. There were two Stakes that were divided in our Mission, which means that our Mission is doing great work. In the Area, we are beating all the other Missions in number of baptisms. We are just tearing it up as a Mission. Peru Lima North Mission is just getting better and better and better. Soon, we’ll be hitting an average of 300 baptisms a month. I wonder how we measure up to the rest of the Missions in the world. All I know is that I am part of the best Mission on earth. It is a beautiful Mission. I spent this whole week running back and forth to the hospital in San Isidro (by President’s House) to check on Elder Jacobo who had his operation this week for his torn ligament. He’s doing fine. Yesterday on my trip to pick him up, my chauffeur took me on the coolest route. We took the road that runs along the boardwalk of the beach… The Pacific Ocean. It was absolutely beautiful. Peru is really full of different scenery: the desert, the jungle, the woods with snow, beaches… It is a beautiful country. Maybe I should say, it’s a humble country with some beautiful sights to see. So I didn’t mind my ride yesterday. I say chauffer because I have a Member chauffeuring company that I call when I need Missionaries to be taken to certain places. I called him up yesterday; he picked me up and took me along the beach. I had my hand out the window gliding through the air, and I stuck my head out a few times to breathe in the ocean breeze. :) I just felt relaxed for a second. You guys are going to love Peru. Elder Rich is so cool. I think he sent you guys an e-mail earlier today because I left my e-mail open. :) He’s going home in less than a month and I’m going to miss him. He is my fun friend that jokes with me and takes care of me. I am laughing a lot more and I’m smiling more also. He says he’s going to be coming back with his family the second week in December. (I think this would be a good week for us to come back to Peru as a family next year, but we’ll see where life takes us.) :) So guess what? All of the Office Crew Elders are now High School Musical fans and they cannot get the songs out of their heads. There are so many moments when we all just break out into singing a song from High School Musical. (I think we are going to secretly learn a dance, film it, show it to President, and put it in the farewell video for the Missionaries that are going home. I am going to teach them “We’re All in This Together” with a little bit of “A Night to Remember.” Dancing will be our exercises in the morning.) We are all addicts. They didn’t believe that they would like it, but now they can’t get enough of it. I’ve been an addict since I saw the previews for the first High School Musical. I hope that they make a Broadway version of Senior Year so that I can try out and do it when I get back. The songs are just too awesome and the dances just make you want to learn to dance. All the Elders now want to take voice and dance lessons so they can start impressing the girls. I miss last year’s show, being Troy with Whitley. I miss Chase and his hilarious character of Ryan. I miss just putting my all into Troy. I can’t wait to get back in my groove when I get home. It’s going to be so much fun. I already have some fans (the other Elders) that are ready to buy tickets. The Office Crew Elders are too funny. We are having a fantastic time. Today for P-Day, we just hung out. We went to lunch at La Rustica, which is a nicer restaurant. I ordered raviolis with garlic bread and a frozen lemonade. It was delicious. Then we all just came back to the Offices and relaxed. One more week and we’ll be at the Second General Conference of the Mission. I can’t believe that it’s already here again. I was in Iquitos six months ago enjoying hot, sunny, beautiful weather, and now I’m basically wearing my sweater and jacket everyday. This week, I am going to hit eleven months… CRAZY!!! Time is passing like crazy. Everything is going great! Once again… Happy 15th Birthday Dallis!!! What a funny story about your Gameboy, but you’ll have to explain better about the game you got because I don’t understand what you meant, but I’m sure it is really cool. :) Oh and... Mom and Dad... Happy Anniversary!!! :) I love you guys so much and miss you even more. Don’t forget about me. I love you. Love, Coco

He got the package!!!!!

2009-10-01T19:13:00.000-07:00

September 19, 2009 - I got the Package!!! I received it on Tuesday and was so excited and a little thrown off. I was not expecting to receive a huge, heavy tube. I couldn’t even imagine what it was filled with. I opened it up and was shocked to find what looked like a huge roll of paper. When I pulled it out, I realized that it was a bunch of different papers with drawings. As I began to open them, I was so happy to see each member of our family and even a few good friends in their own interpretation in drawing themselves. I must say that I didn’t know that our family was such a weird-looking one. I didn’t know that we had so many Hippies in the family. I was surprised to see a lot of you dressed in 70’s outfits. They just made me laugh. I also didn’t know that we had a Snowman in the family, but I guess you learn a new thing everyday. :) They are awesome and I am thankful that you all took the time to make them. I think they are so sweet, and that they are one of the greatest gifts in the world. Thank you for the little notes, and for the motivation written in each letter. I felt each one was filled with a little humor and a lot of love. I’m sorry we didn’t get to celebrate my Birthday together, but the good thing is that I received the package. I did, however, put the pictures of you guys on the wall so you could watch High School Musical 3 along with all of us. I took pictures with us all as a family and they turned out great. It’s definitely not the same as actually putting my arms around you guys and telling you how much I love you. My companion’s cast got taken off this week, but he still has about three weeks left of recuperation. His foot is really swelled and purple and gross. Starting on Monday, for ten days straight, we have to go to the hospital one or two hours everyday so that he can receive physical therapy so that his foot will get back to normal. I have been leaving with Elder Doza (Records Secretary) and Elder Steed (Financial Secretary) to get out and teach. This week, we taught two lessons with a man named Arturo Fernandez. He is the Dad of three girls, married to a fun wife, and he is the only one that isn’t a member. However, guess what happened today? He got baptized! These last two lessons were just to help prepare him for his baptism. It was fun and now I have a really close relationship with this family. It was so great to see the father of the family get baptized. I shared my testimony in the baptism and I testified about how thankful I am for the Plan of Salvation and for the knowledge that families are eternal. I told him that one year from today he will be able to enter the Temple with his wife and his children and be sealed with them for the Eternities.
So, we watched High School Musical 3 as the Office Crew and everyone loved it. It was so much fun to just sit back and relax watching a show that I love. President asked me the other day if I had a copy of me performing in High School Musical. I miss it. I absolutely love getting out on the stage and having the lights hit me and just giving my all. But I know that the time is going to come soon enough to get out onstage and do it again.
Again, thank you for everything. I am so thankful for the awesome family that I have been blessed with. Keep me updated on the Cougars, and I can’t wait to hear how
Homecoming went. :) Please know that I miss you and that I think of you everyday. I love you. Take care until next week. Love, Colyn

"My converts are progressing, and that brings me such a great amount of happiness."

2009-09-15T14:21:00.000-07:00

September 12, 2009 -

Hey Fabulous Family,
I got a Birthday package from Grandma and Grandpa Olsen! I was so happy to receive it. It was filled with Swedish Fish, Tootsie Rolls, two huge bags of Doritos, and my favorite part…the DVD of High School Musical 3!!! Grandma says she’s keeping the cards warm. I wonder if I’ll still have my Canasta game on when I get home. I’m sure I haven’t forgotten how to play… I also received a Birthday card from Grandma and Grandpa Quinn telling me they gave you guys fifty bucks to put in my account. It will surely be put to good use… Please thank both sets of Grandparents for their special and precious gifts and let them know of my sincere love for them. Let them know I miss them and think of them every single day. I can’t wait to be back home hanging out with everyone again. It will come too soon…
This week was my big week. CHANGE WEEK. But it wasn’t as stressful as I thought it was going to be. Everything went great and smooth. I had everything under control and all went well. I didn’t make any errors with flights to and from the jungle. I sent the old Missionaries home and brought the new ones in. Everything went great. Elder Llacsa, my awesome companion from Iquitos, had a change from the jungle to Lima, so I was able to see him. When he walked in the door, I almost started crying because I was so happy to see him. I told him I had missed him so much, and that I missed being with him everyday. He told me many great things about the people in Iquitos. He says Yolanda is doing great and is so faithful in her progression. The husband of the couple we baptized there, Ricardo, is now the Ward Mission Leader, and is doing great work there. Two of his kids are now baptized, and a third one is close to getting baptized. That family is just progressing like crazy. He says Rosa is doing great as well. The only bad news is that my Mom and Dad from Iquitos (Letty and Leo, Sister and Brother-in-Law of Rosa) changed houses, and moved out of living with Rosa. They now live in a different part of Iquitos so I am going to have to find out their address to be able to visit them. Their son José Carlos has now sent in his papers to go on a Mission, and I can’t wait to find out where he is going. I can’t wait to go back to Iquitos… Talking about my investigators, Sister Luna, my friend from the Peru MTC, just baptized a good friend of the couple (Rosa and Juan) that I baptized in Collique, here in Lima. She told me that Juan is now the Ward Mission Leader as well, and that Rosa is in the Presidency of the Relief Society. They showed Sister Luna pictures of “Their Missionary”…that’s me… They showed her pictures of me with them bragging about me being “Their Missionary.” I was so happy to hear that, and after thinking about it for a while, I got a little emotional, and every time I think about it, I get a little emotional. My converts are progressing, and that brings me such a great amount of happiness. I know that the Lord is taking care of them. And I’ve got to keep in contact with them. I am going to write all of my converts and get letters off to them, telling them to keep going, and that I will be seeing them soon. I’m sorry I’m such an emotional guy, but when it comes to one of my special Peruvian friends, I get choked up just knowing that they are okay. I think I am going to have to come back every year to see my Peruvian family because I am already missing them. I do have family down here in Peru, and I can’t wait for you to meet them. Today for P-Day President Pérez took us out to lunch. We went by his house in Miraflores to a place called La Bisteca. It is a buffet that has every food you can think of. We ordered all-you-can-eat and I ate everything. It was a really fancy restaurant, and we were waited on hand and foot. I love spending days with President because he just spoils us. It was so good and I felt so spoiled. He takes such good of his Assistants and Secretaries. I think we’ll have to try out the restaurant when we come to Peru. President then took us all to show us some nice suits that were on sale for thirty dollars at a huge American Mall in Miraflores. I did buy one because they were cheap and Sister Pérez was there to help me look good and told me that I looked great in it. We also went to a place that inside looked just like Home Depot to buy some items for the Mission. When we walked in, my mind immediately reflected back on how many times I had been sent to pick up paint or some random building object from Home Depot, or all the times we went there as a family, and the workshops that we did. I felt like I was at home. Oh boy. Anyway, before going to the mall, we passed by a Marriott Hotel and then by a lookout that had a great view of the Pacific Ocean and the beach. It was a beautiful sight, and I loved feeling the wind that the waves were bringing in. It was just a relaxing day to be with President and his family, and the Office Crew. Please know that President is definitely taking better care of me than I need. He is absolutely spoiling me, and I love it. So don’t worry about me. I am absolutely in love with the Mission right now. I am not getting out and teaching as much as I would like to because I am not able to leave without having the help of a member, but I am just improving things here in the Offices. I am working really hard on gaining a better knowledge of the Scriptures and Preach My Gospel. I feel like I honestly don’t know anything. I am working really hard trying to understand, comprehend, and apply the Scriptures. I love reading now. I love reading the Scriptures. Just sometimes I wish I had more time to read and study, but that time will come after the Mission. I am learning a ton; I just need to be able to apply them better and remember the stories better. So that is what I am focusing on right know is bettering my understanding and knowledge of the Scriptures. I hope everything is going great at home and that you aren’t missing me too much. Know that I still get emotional thinking about each one of you because you have had such a great impact in my life. I would not be here without the help of each one of you. Dallis, thanks for making me laugh and for taking care of Mom. Help Mom and Dad out by enjoying baseball and just trying to improve every day and doing your best. Love doing it, and you’ll see that the season will just pass away. That’s what I did with the Mission. I didn’t really enjoy it at first because I couldn’t speak and I missed home and everything wasn’t how I wanted it. But there was a time that I just decided to start loving it, and now… I am absolutely in love with the Mission, and the time is passing faster and I can’t keep up. Try it with baseball and I think you’ll see what I mean. Chase, thanks for getting me into Theatre and helping me not be afraid of talking to people in public. I do a ton of it now, and I know now that I would not be afraid to go and ask for sauce for my taco… :) Be obedient to Mom and Dad. Being away from them has made me realize so many things. I know at times that their counsel may not be what we want to hear, but I also know that everything they have ever told me is something that has helped me and gotten me where I am today. Just take their advice and be obedient to it. Love being with them as well. Spend more time with them and Dallis. Time is too short, and one day, you won’t be able to just see them or call them up and talk to them… It’s something they call “The Mission.” Dad, thanks for being a great hero in my life. You take such good care of the family and you are such a hard worker. Oh man, where would we be without you? Know that I will never be able to thank you. I owe everything to you. And Mom… What can I even say? I don’t even know where to start? I’m going to try and put it into words, but I know it’s not going to come out how I want it. You are my Mom. I miss you like crazy. I thank Heavenly Father every single day for the bond that He made between you and me. We may be millions of miles away, but we will never be separated. We are going to be together for Eternity. I still cry thinking about your laugh and your smile. I miss it. I miss you. I miss my beautiful Mom. But I know we will be seeing each other soon. The Lord wants us to be where we are right now. He is blessing us beyond measure. I will never be able to thank Him for the blessings I have received and for the special family that He gave me. So once again… Thank you. I love you all and miss you even more. Hoping I didn’t make you cry too hard… :)Love, Coco

"I know we will share them again!"

2009-09-15T14:06:00.000-07:00

September 5, 2009 -
Hey Family, So I just got on and found out that there was another package that you sent… And it hasn’t gotten here yet. By the hints and clues that you’ve given in your e-mails, I assume it’s going to be a special and thoughtful present. Mom, the mailman is in big trouble. You better call him up right now and tell him that you are the precious and loving mother of an adorable and sweet Missionary in Peru, and that you want that awesome Peruvian Missionary to receive that package as soon as possible. I will be anxiously waiting for the arrival of my package, and know that I will be so thankful for it. Getting a package, or even a letter, is like Christmas in the Mission. It is so fun to receive something and know that somebody cares about you. Send me one a month, and I’ll have the joy and anxiety of Christmas year-round. :) When I get this package, it will be like a be-lated Birthday. I can’t wait to get it…Speaking of my Birthday; it was great!!! I didn’t get to sleep in, but I was woken up to the whole Office Crew jumping on my bed and singing “Happy Birthday.” What a great start to an amazing day. I worked hard, but it was still a relaxing and enjoyable day because it was my Birthday. And President Pérez surprised me by taking us all out to Chili’s for lunch. Ooh, it was delicious. I ordered chicken fingers with BBQ and honeymustard sauce and a frozen strawberry lemonade. It was so good. It was just a fun Birthday, relaxing and enjoying conversation with President, his wife and daughter, and the Office Crew. I gave Sister Pérez my cake and frosting so that she could make it in her house and bring it to me, but I told her that there was no hurry. She was so nice and had it baked and ready the next morning when they came. She is so sweet and made a scrumptious cake. She made it with two layers, with frosting between them and surrounding the cake. It was delicious. So thanks again for sending the package. We had the farewell of everyone that’s going home this change yesterday. Elder Bagley, the Elder from Moroni, Utah, gave a great testimony. I’m pretty sure he knows Grandma and Grandpa Olsen. He’s going home on the 9th. He’s so excited because he’s got a girl waiting for him… So does Elder Rich. I will have lived with him for three months by the time he goes home, and I am sure that he will have tons of embarrassing stories to tell you guys about me. We are having so much fun together and just enjoying the Mission. He is so fun to be around, and we are constantly laughing. The Sons together in the Mission, and the Moms together at home… That’s the way it’s gotta be until the Sons go home and we can all be together… :) We are going to have Mission Reunions for years to come…This coming week is my huge week of the change because it’s CHANGE WEEK. I have had tons of work these last few weeks and still have a little bit more to do before Monday. I’m sending the old Missionaries home, changing the Missionaries that are currently serving, and bringing in the Newbies. This week is going to pass by like nothing. I am going to be so busy, time will just fly…
Chase, have fun with Homecoming and be careful with the new cars. Dallis, you stud. Keep taking care of Mom, and stop growing. I’m not going to recognize you when I get home. Mom, keep having fun with our loving dogs. I know they’re keeping you company, but that they can’t even try and compare with me… I’ll be home soon to take care of you. Never forget that you are the “loving Mother of an awesome Missionary.” Never forget that you are my Best Friend. Never forget that I love you. I love you beyond what words can say. And I miss you even more… Dad, keep improving your work. I know you’ve got it down to an art and that we are so blessed to have such a hard-worker in the house. Take care of Mom and the Brothers. Know that I still look up to you, and that you will always be the greatest role model in my life. I want to be able to raise the same amazing family that you and Mom have raised. I’m going to need your help, and we’re going to have fun doing it. I love you guys so much and miss the laughs and smiles we always shared. I know we will share them again! I love you so much. I miss you. Take care until next week. With all the love that can ever be given.
Your Missionary, Elder Quinn aka Coco

Happy 20th to Coco!!!!!!

2009-08-31T16:14:00.000-07:00

August 29, 2009 -
Hey Unforgettable Family,
Happy Birthday to…ME!!! Can you believe it? It’s already my Birthday. I am turning 20 this week. Wow. I’m getting old… No, I’m just growing up a little bit. And today, I hit 10 Months. Time is just passing like crazy. I really don’t feel like I’m 20-years-old. I’ve been thinking about what I would like to get for my Birthday, and I think I already got it because… I GOT A PACKAGE THIS WEEK! !! :) I received it Monday while we were all here working, and I was so excited. I couldn’t wait to open it. Elder Rich told me to give all the birthday stuff to Sister Pérez and she will make the cake and get everything ready for a party. I am also way excited for whatever is in the package I can’t open until my 1-year mark. I can’t wait to find out what it is… Again, thank you so much for making my day… I have the best family on earth.
We didn’t show up late to the Talent Show. We showed up on time; it just started an hour-and-a-half late. It’s just the way things are down here in Peru…everything behind schedule, and a little slow… :) But I love it… We sang the EFY Medley in Spanish with some other Missionaries from our zone. I played the piano and I recorded it with my tape recorder. It didn’t turn out great, but I do have some evidence of what we tried to do… But, by far, my favorite part that I saw was the cute little Primary kids dancing. I filmed it, so you’ll get to see it as well…This week wasn’t a good week of getting out and teaching because my companion is broken. By that, I mean that I have to be with him, or we have to find two members, one that can stay with my companion, and another that can leave with me. And it’s really hard to find two members that can help us out during the daytime. But, when I am not able to leave, I just do my Personal Secretary stuff and I am improving a lot of things. Elder Rich told me yesterday that President complimented about me. He told Elder Rich that I have good motivation and am a hard worker, and that I am only wanting the best for the mission … That’s exactly what I want to do. I hope that’s all I do is improve and progress. In the Offices, there are four Secretaries and two Assistants to President. I am the Personal Secretary. My companion, Elder Sandoval, is the Supplies Secretary. Elder Doza is the Registry Secretary, Elder Steed is the Financial Secretary, and Elder Rich along with Elder Santiago are the Assistants. All six of us work here and we live together. The Offices are on the first floor, and our house in on the second floor. It is such a fun environment to be constantly surrounded by a good group of hard-working Missionaries. The time just flies by being able to talk the day away with them. We work hard, but we also have a ton of fun, and I am always happy. I absolutely love being here in the Offices…
Yesterday was the last day I got to talk with Doctor Drake and his sweet wife. They are finishing their mission this Tuesday. I took a picture with them and also wrote down their e-mail so that I can stay in contact with them. They say that they have Missionary reunions all of the time and love seeing their Missionaries. Sorry this e-mail is a little scattered and not as well-written as I usually write. Ms. Kinzer would be a little disappointed… :) Speaking of Ms. Kinzer, Chase, have a ton of fun in her class. She’s expecting a lot from you. Just keep the Quinn reputation high… :) I can’t believe school has already started. The time is going past even faster being busy with homework and after-school activities. We won’t even realize it and I’ll have been out a year. Chase, good luck with Les Mis and Senior Class Officer. You are already a Superstar!!! Dallis, have fun with baseball and being with Sra. Denney. You are such a Stud!!! Mom and Dad, good luck with finding the house. Just keep praying and we’ll find the perfect house… Thank you once again for the special Birthday package. Have an amazing week. I love you all and miss you so much. Love, Coco

"What a conversation it will be..."

2009-08-23T21:50:00.000-07:00

August 22, 2009 - I saw the photo of Davey and Nathan. They both look great. Davey is such a stud. He looks like such a good Missionary. He looks like he is just filled with Mission experience and stories. You know, he’s going to be home before we know it… I can’t wait to be able to talk with him about our Missions when I get home. What a conversation it will be…Nothing really big happened this week, but there is some surprising news. My companion, Elder Sandoval, and I left a little late from an appointment on Tuesday night. We ran to the main street where we always hop on a bus to get taken home, but there weren’t any buses coming. So, my companion told me it would be better if we ran because we could arrive in the same amount of time. I agreed, and off we went. We crossed the street and headed for the MegaPlaza, a huge American Mall close to our house (The Offices.) As we were passing MegaPlaza, the pavement changed to small rocks and dirt. I was in front of my companion running, and suddenly I heard, “Compi…Compi…” I turned around and found my companion helping himself to the ground. He had twisted his ankle really bad and it was hurting him. He couldn’t walk so we called a taxi, hopped in, and were brought to The Offices. He called President and got permission to go to the hospital. And off we went again. I was in a Peruvian hospital. I know it’s weird, but it was actually nice. Anyway, they had to take x-rays of my companion, and come to find out, he had fractured his foot. Yes, that’s right; my companion is currently in his bed with a cast on his right foot… We were in the hospital until 1:00 in the morning… But everything is okay. I am perfectly fine because I have hand-eye-and-foot coordination… :) But my companion could use some prayers to help the bone to seal well and fast so that he can get back to work like normal. It’s harder to get out because I have to wait for two members everyday to come to pick me up and bring me home, one with me, and one to be with Elder Sandoval…Good news… President invited us to lunch on Thursday… He invited us to pizza, but not just any pizza… Papa John’s Pizza… That’s right, Papa John’s… It was so good and delicious. I honestly loved just sitting around as The Office Crew eating Papa John’s Pizza and drinking Coca-Cola with President Pérez. I am loving the Mission and enjoying every moment that passes. Life is good here in the Field.
Later that night on Thursday, Elder Rich and I got in a stamp fight. He being a wrestler, obviously overtook me, and I left with black ink all over my face. I took some pictures and recorded a video of the aftermath… I know that when you guys see it, you are just going to think what a weird kid Colyn is, but I had fun… Life is to enjoy… I have decided to enjoy it to the maximum… I have a billion plans already in action for when I get home… We are going to enjoy life as a family.
Family, I honestly know that we are in the only True Church of God. I am so thankful for the knowledge of the Plan of Salvation and Eternal Families. I love it because it means we are going to be together FOREVER!!! There are not four other people I would rather spend Eternity with than my two studly Brothers, my tender-hearted Dad, and my gorgeous Mom. I love you guys so much and you already know that I miss you so much… We are all doing great. Let’s just keep going… I love you. Take care until next week.Love, Coco

"Just having a terrific day"

2009-08-19T16:54:00.000-07:00

August 15, 2009 -
Hey Perfect Family, How’s everybody doing? I think that everything sounds like it’s basically perfect; you’re just missing one member of the family at home… :) I’m so glad that you all enjoyed Elder Nemelka’s Homecoming. The pictures look great. And Mom, yes, that hug was from me to you. I knew that Elder Nemelka would give it to you with the greatest amount of love that anyone could. I absolutely love the photo of you guys with Elder Nemelka and the other one with the other families and Returned Missionaries. I have to say that we are a family full of studs and a one amazingly beautiful Mom. Dad, well, let’s just say that you haven’t changed a bit… :) I’m just kidding, you look really good. Mom, holy cow, you look great. You look so happy and perfect. I was so glad to see a huge, laughing smile on your face. Oh, how I can’t wait to see you in person… :) Chase, my new look-a-like… :) I don’t know about that, but bud you look great... Dallis, how tall are you? I can’t believe it. I love seeing you guys. It helps me know that you are happy and still going on with life. What a perfect family I have. I love you guys so much.
As The Office Crew, we get a lot more privileges. Today was an awesome day. We had the awesome opportunity of hanging out with President Pérez and his daughter Carolina in their house. That’s right, the house on the 21st floor of the building next to the golf course in the pretty part of Lima, Miraflores (San Isidro), right by the ocean. It is such a good place for President to live. We went there and he made us a delicious lunch: roast beef, mashed potatoes, salad, bratwurst, BBQ sauce, Coca-Cola, spaghetti, and brownie ice-cream to finish the meal. We were also able to watch Madagascar 2 with him, and we laughed throughout the whole show. I absolutely loved being with President. He is such a humble, knowledgeable, and kind person. He is really like my Uruguayan and Peruvian Dad. He takes such good care of me and I love him to death. I would spend all day, every day with him if I could. I really enjoy the moments when he is around. He knows so much about the Gospel and shares so much with us. You would also love to meet him… On Monday this week, President invited The Office Crew to lunch, and you’ll never guess where we went… CHILI’S… that’s right. There is a Chili’s in Peru and it was so good. But that wasn’t even the best part. President knows that I love High School Musical, and that I played the part of Troy in it with Whitley last year. He teased the waitress, telling her that I was Troy Bolton from High School Musical and that at the end of my meal, I should receive some cake and ice-cream like they give for free when you have a birthday. She got a kick out of it. I ordered the good quesadillas they have there with a frozen lemonade. It was delicious. Then, the funniest part of the meal… President tells me to sign a napkin as Troy Bolton. I signed my signature that I signed on all of the programs last year with “Elder Quinn” written beneath it. President then took the napkin and put it with his credit card to pay for the meal. It was so funny. I didn’t get any cake or ice-cream, but I thought it was way funny that President picked me out of the group to help tease the waitress. He is such a funny person and has me laughing all of the time. I really have such a good friendship with him and am so excited for the time I have to spend with him.Today was also a great day because we had a BAPTISM… My companion, Elder Sandoval, baptized Carmen Ermilia Teran Taco. She is an awesome older, single lady, who is very smart and gained a testimony really fast. We had some conflicts involving her sister Luzy, but she survived through it and was baptized in less than three weeks. She is so great and I can’t wait to form an even better relationship with her. Her sister America, and her niece Sarah, are lined up to get baptized next week. Pray for us to help these baptisms turn out. They are all three awesome people and I will update you next Saturday about how their baptisms went. The baptism tonight is also another reason why I am writing so late. We got home from President’s house and then had to leave right to the baptism. That’s why I am writing you right now, but know that I am perfectly fine, and was just having a terrific day.

"WOW"

2009-08-09T16:11:00.000-07:00

August 8, 2009 -
Hey Best Family on Earth,
All I can say is “Wow.” Did you even feel this week go by? I cannot believe how fast this week went by. I am still shocked that it is already Saturday and I am writing home again. I almost feel like I don’t have anything to tell you because this week went by so fast. Working here in The Offices is so much fun. I love spending the day here with six Missionaries and at times President Pérez.I absolutely love my work here. I work with all of the Missionaries, and I am sure that I will have every single one of their names and faces down by the time I leave The Offices. I also work with the Doctor of the Area, Doctor Drake. Like Mom would say, “He is a darling man.” He really is. He and his sweet wife are so fun to talk with and they take such good care of the Missionaries. They have served four missions together. Dr. Drake has been Area Doctor of three missions, and was President of the Reno Nevada Temple. They are finishing their mission here in Peru this change, and are already ready to hand in their papers to go out again on another mission. They say that they miss seeing the kids and the grandkids, but they know that they receive many more blessings by serving the Lord. They are an awesome couple. I could honestly just sit down all day and talk with them and never get bored. I hope one day to meet with them again.I think we were all in awe that the house sold so fast. What a good neighborhood the new family is moving into. Are they members? It’s okay if they’re not...we’ll just have to convert them… Just kidding. But it really would be a blessing to have members move in and keep that ward going… Mom, what a sweet story of Sister Homer and Sister Mickelsen. We have too many terrific friends there, but don’t worry; we will all be living together again in the Celestial Kingdom for Eternity. This is what I have to tell all of my converts when I leave an area, and I cry every time that I say it because I am so close to them. I have to tell them that if by chance we are not able to meet again, we will be seeing each other in the Eternities because they have been baptized in the only true Church of God. It tugs at my heart strings to have to say this to them, but when the Lord says it’s time to leave an area, you have to obey. The hardest person to say this to so far was Yolanda from Iquitos. She is so sweet and loving that I cannot explain it to you guys through an e-mail. I have to tell it to you in words, and I cannot wait for you to meet her. I have adopted her as another grandma. I call her “abuelita” and she calls me “nietito,” or grandson. I am absolutely in love with her and her family. You will all fall instantly in love with her when you meet her; I’m sure of it. Oh, I cannot wait until we come to Peru as a family. I am hoping that in a year I am able to go to the Temple with her to receive her endowments. Her husband died about a year-and-a-half ago, and I want to do the work for him so that Yolanda can be sealed to him in the Temple. It would be an awesome experience. Maybe she won’t do it until we all come back to Peru and we could all help her with her Temple work. That would be awesome. I am perfectly fine… Keep me updated on the Missionaries that are returning and leaving. I love hearing where they are. Never forget that we have the most amazing family on earth. I love you guys so much and cannot wait to be with you. I love you all so much.
Love you forever, Coco

"What a blessing it is to find yourself in that room"

2009-08-01T16:57:00.000-07:00

August 1, 2009 - Hey Family, How’s everything going? Sounds like we all had a busy week. I love working in the Offices because I kind of feel like I am at Dad’s work… Everyone has their office; there is a meeting room; we all have lunch together. I am like the person found at the front desk. I love it… This week was changes. As Personal Secretary, I am in charge of getting all the Missionaries where they need to go. Tuesday night I sent all of the Missionaries who finished their missions to their homes. Wednesday was change day and I had people flying off to the jungle in the morning and then had to receive the Missionaries arriving from the jungle. I was in charge of getting lunch to all the Missionaries, taking care of their suitcases, making sure everyone had their new companion and knew where they were supposed to go, and keeping everything in order. Then Thursday was the Zone Leader Conference here in the Offices. As Secretaries, we were invited to sit in the Conference as well and learn. By the time we leave the Offices, President Pérez wants us to be prepared to be Zone Leaders. It was a very spiritual conference that lasted all day long. I had a short time given to me to share a powerpoint I made about the things that I need the Zone Leaders to do for me. It was such a busy week, and I am thankful for that. Our goal this month of August is to have 6 baptisms for each companionship. To achieve this goal, the Assistants came up with the idea of each companion putting 3 rocks in their pocket. As we walk, we feel the weight and uncomfortableness of the rocks… a constant reminder of our goal for August. In the Zone Conference, President Pérez asked me to say the prayer, which the whole Mission did at noon that day. I was shocked that he would ask me, and also a little afraid because I was in front of the leaders of the Mission. But I did it, and was very grateful for that chance. I asked that Heavenly Father would just watch over us and keep us going, and help us stay focused on our goal. With each baptism, we are allowed to take out one of the rocks and put it in a jar that each zone has. We are praying to have the success we want. I really like the relationship that I have with President and I feel like it is getting even better. I learn so much from him because he has a great knowledge of the Gospel. I am so glad to hear that everything is going great at home. I’m glad that everything went great with the move. What a cool opportunity you all had to go to new Oquirrh Mountain Temple. We are so blessed to have Temples so close to us. Here, it is a little bit of travel to get to the Temple, and even longer if you are in the jungle. The people that live there are lucky if they get to go to the Temple once every year, and it is a huge sacrifice to be able to go. I think that the Temple is a huge symbol of sacrifice. Dallis and Chase, you probably don’t understand the importance of the Celestial Room, but just know what a blessing it is to find yourself in that room. I love going to the Temple and just being able to sit in the Celestial Room. I always say a prayer asking for special blessings for my awesome family, and it is a great place to feel the love that God has for each one of us. I know that God is our loving Heavenly Father, and that he wants the best for us. He has honestly blessed our family so much. We are and always will be an Eternal Family, linked in bonds here on earth and in Heaven. This knowledge always reminds me that even though I am so far away from home, I am still so close because we will never be separated. We are going to live together forever. I love you guys so much and miss you as well. Never forget the reality that we are a Celestial Family. I love you. Take care until next week… Love, Colyn

"Everything is going absolutely fantastic!!!"

2009-08-01T16:41:00.000-07:00

July 25, 2009 - Hey Amazing Family, What a terrifically fast week this was! I can’t believe that it is already Saturday. This week passed by so fast. You sold the house!!! Are you kidding me? I am fine with the decision you made to sell the house, and I am even happier that it sold so fast. :) I know that Heavenly Father is taking such good care of us… I’m glad that you all liked my BIG NEWS.I am loving my work here in the Offices. I am excited to get up in the morning, go downstairs and get to work. I am really enjoying everything that I do. It is a big job and sometimes can be a little stressful. I am busy all day long...and I LOVE IT!!! I am so spoiled here in the Offices and we get a lot more privileges. This week, President Pérez just randomly invited us to lunch, and let me tell you, it was so good. We went to a place called Rustica and I ordered a delicious Italian pasta and we all had frozen lemonade. Just one of the fun perks we have being close to President. I LOVE IT!!!... I also receive packages and letters the second they get here, which I love as well… I can’t believe how hot it is there in Utah… I came from Iquitos to Lima, and I wake up freezing cold every morning and put on a hoodie and sweatpants… We do have a heater in our room, but I still wake up cold… I also have a shower with hot water… The whole time I was in Iquitos, I was showering every morning in freezing cold water… I don’t know how I survived it. I would get in the shower and just start shaking because I knew what was coming… It’s like getting shots; you already know the pain that’s coming and so you expect it… But, I am loving my hot showers now… Always remember that we are so blessed to live in the USA, where we always have the choice of what temperature of water we want… Everything is going absolutely fantastic!!! I couldn’t be better. Just know that I am not worried about anything and you don’t need to worry about me… I am great. I hope this week goes great and that we start finding a place to live and make a home… Happy 9 Months this week. I can’t believe it. The time is passing so fast. I will be home in no time. I love you guys so much. I miss you too, but what can we do. Don’t ever forget that we have the BEST Family on earth. I love you so much. Take care. Love, Colyn

"THE BIG NEWS!"

2009-07-20T12:34:00.000-07:00

July 20, 2009 -
"Hey Amazing Family!!!
The BIG NEWS... I don't think I should tell you until you get the letter... But hey, I can't wait any longer either... The Big News is... Monday last week (6th July), I was still in Iquitos and we were as a zone in the big zoo of Quistochocha looking at cool animals and taking pictures... Suddenly, the Zone Leaders came running with their cell phone telling me to hurry up and answer it... I was so afraid that I was going to answer and that on the other line, there was going to be some bad news, or that I was going to be in trouble, even though I hadn't done anything... Come to find out, it was President Pérez on the other end of the line… He asked me how I was doing and how I felt and how Iquitos was. I told him that everything was good. He then told me he had a favor to ask of me… A favor? What could possibly be this favor when he is in Lima, and I am in Iquitos?... This is the BIG NEWS… PRESIDENT PÉREZ CALLED ME TO BE HIS PERSONAL SECRETARY!!! I was at a loss for words and couldn’t believe he was asking me to be his Personal Secretary… He told me that I would have to come two weeks before the next change and be trained by the current Personal Secretary… I said yes… He told me that it is going to be a great privilege to have me in the Offices with him. I said the same and thanked him for this opportunity… That is why I am now in Lima. I AM IN THE OFFICES!!! Being the Personal Secretary, I do basically everything for the President, and all the missionaries. I make flight plans, hotel reservations, take phone calls, handle the important documents like Passports and IDs, help with the changes, make the packets for the missionaries that are going home, call the parents of the Gringos that are going home (which means I talk in English!!!), help the foreigners get their Peruvian IDs, and I get to hang out with the President a lot of the time… Mom, I cannot honestly put into words how happy and excited I am. Please do not worry about me for nothing. I am right where I need to be. I know Heavenly Father was listening to my prayers. Being in the Offices, we work on computers and do all of our work in the mornings, and then we leave in the afternoons to go out and preach the Gospel. My area is a hard area, so I will probably not be seeing as many baptisms, but I know that I am going to be so happy… I will be here in the Offices as a minimum amount of time, six months… That means that I am going to celebrate my Birthday, my 1-Year-Anniversary in the Mission, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s with President. I am so excited and I am going to have so much fun!!! :) I know that for Christmas, we spend the day with President in his house and we get to eat a huge meal with him and his wife… I am so so so so so excited… So that is my BIG NEWS… I hope you are all fine with that… I couldn’t be better… I know I always say that I am fine and could always be better, but I think right now, I am perfect. The only thing that could make everything completely perfect would be to be with you guys…my family… Elder Nemelka is here as Assistant to President so I get to have a fun couple weeks with him before he goes home… He came back from interviews in the jungle and brought back some huge ants called Ziquizapa for all of us in the Offices to eat… These ants are huge… They find them in the jungle, cook them up, and serve them, just like the suri… I was totally prepared to eat it and thought that I would just soar right through it… But, it was disgusting… It was fine at first just crunchy, and then the juice came out, and I about threw up… But I conquered the Ziquizapa! And to take the flavor of the ant away, I ate some of my Tootsie Rolls…Family, just so you know, I am doing perfectly fine… I am without any worries. I can’t even put into words how good I feel… Keep up the good work at home… Enjoy the hot days of summer… I am living in winter weather right now, and I feel kind of like it’s Christmas time, wearing my sweaters and jackets, but Christmas still isn’t for a couple months… Honestly I am doing fine. Don’t worry about me. I hope you like my Big News… I am really happy… Have fun and enjoy summer!!! I love you guys so much… Love, Colyn"

"I will go where the Lord wants me to go"

2009-07-14T10:01:00.000-07:00

July 13, 2009 - "Hey Amazing Family,
I'm not going to tell you why because you guys are going to receive a letter in the mail this week from me that explains everything... But I'M IN LIMA... I'm not in beautiful and hot Iquitos anymore. I flew into Lima last night and right now, it's winter, so it's a little cold and I've got my jacket on... Don't worry about why I'm in Lima. Just know that the letter will explain everything...Don't worry, I'm not sick... I am completely fine and am super happy right now... I will explain more on Saturday after you have already received the letter that I sent you... :)
I had a baptism on Saturday. I baptized Diana Maria Bicerra Saavedra. She is so cool... My last baptism in Iquitos with Elder Llacsa... :)
I had a group of people send me off in the airport in Iquitos: Yolanda, Anthony, Mishel, Diana, Angelo, Jair, Karla, Analiz, and the grandma of Angelo and Jair, Isabel... They were so nice to travel all the way to the airport just to see me off... :) Mishel gave me some photos that I have to give to her when I come back and visit... It's like a treaty that makes me have to come back... We are definitely going to come back to Iquitos... Yolanda was crying... She cried during Church yesterday, and then at the airport. When I went through security and had to say my last goodbyes to everyone, I also shed a few tears because I am really going to miss them… I have a family in Iquitos… On Friday night, because she knew I was going to be leaving, Yolanda threw me a surprise going-away party. It was such a special night. She invited all of my converts, and my good Member friends… Some of my converts shared their thanks and testimonies. My companion, Elder Llacsa also shared his testimony, which got me a little worked up, because I have lived with him for 3 months… Then it was my turn to say a few words… I couldn’t even get two sentences out and I was already in tears… It was a special moment to thank all of them for being my family from Iquitos… I have so many friends that I am going to miss…
I have to admit that yesterday, there were a few moments when I wanted time to stop and I couldn’t stop it… I was so wanting to just spend a few more moments with Yolanda, Anthony, and Mishel… I know that I always want the time to keep passing, but I have now realized that it is passing too fast… I am loving the mission… I have had the moments of wanting to stop the time; but, just like I can’t speed it up, I can’t stop it either…
I love you guys so much and I pray for you guys every night and please know that you are always in my heart…
I can’t wait for you to read my letter… A BIG Surprise is waiting for you… Know that I am totally fine… I miss the jungle, but just like Nephi, I will go where the Lord wants me to go… I love you so much… Take care and go have fun and enjoy summer… I love you. Love, Colyn…"

"Two more children of God brought to the true Gospel of Jesus Christ"

2009-07-07T14:49:00.000-07:00

July 6, 2009 - We had 2 baptisms this week! I baptized Carlos Martin Bonilla Tenazoa. His two sisters are already members. He is 19-years-old, and I hope that he will start to prepare to go on a Mission...The other Baptism was Angel Manuel Orosco Montes. He was baptized by his uncle Ricardo, who we baptized May 30. Yes, Ricardo is already using his Priesthood to baptize... it was a sweet moment to watch recent convert Ricardo baptize his nephew Manuel. He had to baptize Manuel three times because he is a little bigger and his whole body needed to go under...The Bishop joked that he had a lot of sins that he needed to repent of and had to be baptized three times... :) No, it is that Baptism has to be done the right way... Two more children of God brought to the true Gospel of Jesus Christ...
I missed being with you guys on the 4th of July...I thought all day how amazingly blessed we are to be citizens of the greatest nation on earth--the United States of America!!! Never forget that we are soooooo blessed to be Gringos.....
Yesterday we had lunch with Yolanda and her family... After lunch, we just hung out with her, Anthony and Mishel.... We looked at photos, talked and laughed, and just had a good time... It was so enjoyable to just spend a few hours with them... Anthony is the cutest kid, and I don't want him to grow up because I want you guys to see him how he is....Wow, I think I'm turning into a parent...not wanting a kid to grow up..... :) I love this family and I am so thankful to be here for the time that I have been here; to get to know them and grow to love them even more..."

"Happy USA DAY...the USA ROCKS!!!"

2009-06-29T18:15:00.000-07:00

June 29, 2009 - Happy 8 Months Today!!! :) Sorry I wrote late today... We came in the morning to write, but the LDS website wasn't working. We left to do our activity which was going deep into the jungle area to hike to a jungly area... We read Enos and then all of us had time to offer a prayer in the silence of the jungle... It was awesome. I kind of felt like Joseph Smith, but just in a jungle setting. The only thing I asked of Heavenly Father is that He will keep me going strong and also that He will keep watching over and protecting my family... I honestly can't express the amount of love that I have for you guys and the support and faith and hope that you all give to me... I miss you like crazy and can't wait to see you... This week, I ate a fish called Paco... It was absolutely disgusting... The paco is the cousin of the Pirhana... The cute member served me a head... It was so disgusting... The way it looked, smelled, and tasted just made me want to throw up... Before I could eat it, I had to take out its rows of teeth and its tracheus (throat, I think)... It was absolutely disgusting, but when I get to talk to you guys in person, you will get all the details of the story...We had interviews this week, and I had a good talk with President Pérez. He asked me about what I did before the mission. I told him that I love to sing, dance, and act... He then asked me what type of music I liked. I answered by asking him if he had seen High School Musical... He said that yes, he had... I told him that that type of music is the music I love... He told me that he also loves that type of upbeat, happy music. He then proceeded to tell me that that type of music totally reflects in my personality, that it is the reason I am such a happy, successful missionary... It made me feel good, and I hope it gives you guys a little bit of comfort...
Happy USA Day this week... I want you guys to celebrate this day with tons of joy because the USA ROCKS!!! You guys have no idea how much we are blessed to have been born and raised in the United States of America... A lot of times I wonder... What did my family and I do in the Pre-Existence to be blessed like we have been blessed? I know that our family was already perfect in Heaven, and now that we are here on earth, we just have to perform the ordinances that will allow us to return to the presence of our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ... We are a Celestial and Eternal Family!!! :)

"I am glad that we get to go to the Temple and get Sealed for Eternity"

2009-06-22T13:28:00.000-07:00

June 22, 2009 - "We had two baptisms this week. I baptized a 14-year-old girl named Silene Gonzales Huayllahua. She has been attending Seminary and Church for a while, but we finally got her into the waters of baptism. The other was a young 9-year-old girl named Milagros Veridiana Lozano Manihuari. Her family has been a little less active, and because she turned 9, she becomes duty of the missionaries... We met with her and her family and prepared her for baptism. I am hoping that her baptism will bring her family back to the Church... The Bishop of Venecia baptized her...We also went to the wedding of Aldo and Mayra... Mayra is the older sister of Angelo and Jair who were baptized on May 2nd... It was a fun night to see the bride and groom all dressed up, but it definitely will never compare with weddings in the USA... Like the reception of Amanda's sister, and Whitney's reception... But, it was still done up for what the Peruvians can do... It was interesting to see a civil marriage because they are only married until death... Here in Peru, it is a law to be married civily... I don't like this... I am glad that we get to go to the Temple and get sealed for Eternity... I am so glad that I am part of the Best Eternal Family on Earth!!! :) This week, I tried coconut... The member cut a hole in the coconut and put a straw in it... I was so excited to drink straight from a coconut because I have always loved Almond Joys and other cookies made from coconut... I was suprised with disappointment... The water inside of a coconut is absolutely disgusting... I started to drink it and immediately knew that I wouldn't make it to the end... I didn't want to leave a full coconut, so I just started to gulp it down... But the thing that makes you gag is that aftertaste... I stopped for two seconds to take a breath and the aftertaste hit me wrong... I started gagging and was about to throw up... I held it in, but I am sure that I looked like a sick dog for a second, trying to hold my throw up in my stomach... It was absolutely disgusting... The problem is that the water doesn't really have any flavor... It was so gross... There are a million other fruits that taste good and we will try them all, but I wouldn't recommend the coconut... Hey Dad!!! Happy Father's Day Yesterday!!! I hope you were able to just relax and enjoy yesterday... I worked like crazy yesterday, and I hung out with Yolanda and Mishel... Know that I am grateful for everything that you have done for me and will never forget the impression you have made in my life...

"Sachachorro - Ginkana - Higado - Mondongo...Huh?"

2009-06-15T17:12:00.000-07:00

June 15, 2009 - "We found out changes today and............I'm staying in Iquitos with the same companion, Elder Llacsa. This will be our third change together... And I am happy. We are a good companionship and we get along really well. Last P-Day, we played soccer in the morning on a huge grass field in the middle of a jungle area... It was so much fun... It rained the night before, and so by the end of the game, we were all covered in mud and soaking wet from head to toe... It was a lot of fun. We had a huge fiesta last Saturday with Sachachorro (one of our wards). It's called a GINKANA!!! We had games, prizes, food, music, and it was a lot of fun... I have so many friends in that ward...
There is a disgusting food that I have eaten a couple times and it is disgusting... I am going to give you the names in Spanish so that you can look them up in the dictionary and find out what I have been eating... Just be warned that it is disgusting... People serve us hígado... It is disgusting... I have tried it from cow and chicken, and I have yet to try it from turtle... But I hate eating it because it is just bland and doesn't have any taste. People serve it because it doesn't cost a lot, but to eat it... Oh man, I suffer like crazy... But hey, I've got to eat it... Another food that people serve us is mondongo... It is a little bit better than hígado, but I really don't like it... Be thankful that in the United States, we don't eat every part of the animal... We only eat the good parts... Here, they eat EVERY part... Ugh... But, I only have to live with it for 2 years... Then, I get to come home to you guys and share an amazingly wonderfully prepared meal, with a tall glass of good ice-cold milk... MMMMMM......"

"It won't last forever..."

2009-06-08T17:33:00.000-07:00

June 8, 2009 - "Hey my lovely family who I adore a ton and miss like crazy…
Well, the tally came in for the amount of baptisms in the month of May… 404!!!
As a mission, we had 404 confirmations! It is a new record for the mission. The Peru Lima North Mission is really a very powerful mission with tons of baptisms… I am really thankful to be part of a mission where I can see a lot of success, not only in myself, but also in the other Missionaries that are from my group… Peru really is nice… When I talked with the Returned Missionaries that visited a couple of weeks ago, they told me that if I come back to Peru, which I for sure am going to do, they told me to spend most of my vacation in Iquitos because it is much cooler… I totally agree. Iquitos is much prettier and there is more culture to explore. We can’t go visit the native tribes as Missionaries because we can’t travel by boat, but I really cannot wait to visit and see how their cultures live… We are going to have so much fun when all of us come to Peru… I’ve heard that they have a huge butterfly house full of beautiful butterflies… There are some nice beaches. There are ancient tribes. There are tons of cool cultural things to learn and visit… We are going to have a blast in Peru…
Chase: Get feeling better. Have fun with Les Miserables and have a fun last summer with your friends because the next summer, everyone is going to leave to do their own things…college, marriage, vacations, senior trips… Enjoy it bud because it won’t last forever… Just like the mission, it won’t last forever… Mom: You already know that I love you beyond what words can describe, and know that I always hope you are finding things to keep you busy so that you don’t worry about me… Dallis, keep taking care of mom and being her Best Friend while I am gone, but when I get back… I call being the Best Friend again… :) Family, I love you so much! I miss you like crazy! I can’t wait to see you! It won’t last forever… I love you… Love, Coco…

8 Baptisms in May!!!!

2009-06-01T10:22:00.000-07:00

June 1, 2009 - "Life is going so good down here. I absolutely love the jungle and I don't want to leave. We had 3 baptisms this weekend! We have been teaching a married couple the gospel along with a few of their kids. Their names are Ricardo Montes Pinedo and Rosa Elvira Cadillo Vela. Rosa was visited by missionaries 25 years ago and they gave her a Book of Mormon. She never had contact with missionaries again, and never touched the book either. She moved to Lima for a while, and moved back to Iquitos 8 years ago... Then came the moment when we walked into her life. We were passing by her house just contacting people and looking for people to teach. Ricardo came running from his house to retrieve us... We followed him to his house where he presented us to his wife, Rosa. He told us that she had sent him to call us... We used this story as a witness that Heavenly Father had sent us at this time to teach them the Gospel. And from there, we continued teaching them. The two of them got baptized... We are hoping that their kids get baptized in the coming weeks... Before the baptism on Saturday, we had a dinner with the family, but before arriving at dinner, it started to rain hard... The roads instantly became rivers, but we had to get to dinner and then follow through with the baptism. We ran through the rain, jumping and hopping through the puddles, which were just growing and growing... It is amazing how much rain can fall... We arrived at their house soaking wet from head to toe. Ricardo instantly took care of us by giving us newspaper to put between our skin and our shirts... It was quite funny. Dinner was good and then we went to the baptism... The baptism went really well. I baptized Rosa and my companion Elder Llacsa baptized Ricardo. :)
We also baptized a 9- year -old girl named Kimberly. Her parents are members. It was another beautiful weekend of baptisms... We finished May with 8 baptisms."

"I love this family and I will never be able to forget them!"

2009-05-25T15:00:00.000-07:00

May 25, 2009 - "I have to tell you about how awesome Hermana Yolanda is. She is soooo cool. I love just going to her house to sit and chat and hang out. She always takes such good care of us... inviting us to have some Inca Kola, other drinks, popcorn, cake, and all other sorts of foods... She is such a loving person. She also has two awesome grandkids, Anthony and Mishel, who always wait for us to pass by, and hate it when we have to leave, just like their grandmother. Anthony is 6 and Mishel is 10. I love just sitting and talking with them. Mishel is a huge fan of High School Musical and she gets such a huge kick out of the fact that I know so much about it. I have to tell you about how fun and cute Church was yesterday. You already know that I play piano for Sacrament Meeting, but when I am not playing, I sit with the congregation. I finished playing the Sacrament Hymn, and the passing of the Sacrament was over, so I went and sat down on a bench to listen to the talks that had been prepared. I was sitting alone, and about half way through the first talk, Anthony came and sat by me... :) He is learning to read right now, so I had him read me some of the names of the songs from the Hymnbook. It is so fun to help him learn to read. I also had my photo album that you sent me in the MTC, so I decided to show him my pictures. He was laughing and making fun of me, that I have a cute girlfriend (Whitley), and when he got to the picture of me and all of my friends at my Missionary Farewell, he asked why Whitley and me aren't next to each other. He asked why we were separated and it just made me laugh... He had fun finding me in every picture... "Hay estás tú. Hay están tus hermanos, tu mamá, tu papá..." ("There you are. There's your brothers, your mom, your dad...") He is so intelligent and cute... Then he took the picture book to Mishel. Mishel asked me if she could borrow my book for a while. I told her to just take care of it... I was planning on getting it back at the end of Church, but she left before I could talk with her... We passed by her house yesterday, and come to find out, she took it home to see if Whitley was a famous girl from a soap opera they like watching... She thought Whitley looked like her... :) I thought it was cute that she wanted to check and see if it could be true... At the end of being with their family yesterday, Mishel gave me a High School Musical 3 poster with Troy, Ryan, and Chad... I love this family and I will never be able to forget them... They are Number 1 on my list of people to visit when we come back to Peru... Honestly, when I am with their family, I don't want the time to pass. (That tells you how much I love them because I always want the time to keep passing so that I can see you guys sooner...) I am 100% sure that you guys will love Yolanda and her family when you meet her... She is too good not to love. There are two Returned Missionaries, Gringos, that are visiting the family that I live with right now. They served here two years ago in Iquitos, but finished their missions about a year ago... It has been fun to hang out with them and know that the USA still exists and that life is still totally awesome there... One is already married, and the other has his girlfriend, and both are studying at BYU. They came down to Peru to be interpreters for some Dentists that are coming to do some operations.
I want you to know that I am still doing fine, living in Iquitos, chilling out in the jungle of Peru. I miss you like crazy! I love you tons! I can't wait to see you! Love you guys forever! Love, Coco..."

"This work is hard, but it is also beautiful."

2009-05-18T11:07:00.000-07:00

May 18, 2009 - "This week wasn't way exciting... I wasn't looking forward to a phone call on Sunday because that had already passed... And I am already looking forward to the next one... We had interviews with Presidente Pérez, and it was good to talk with him. He is so nice, and always gives me motivation to just keep going on... In his prayer to end my interview, he asked the Lord to bless me with success, because I have the personality to touch the hearts of the people here. Presidente Pérez is a really sweet guy, and I was thankful for his prayer for me...
As a mission, our goal for this month of May is 505 baptisms, or 5 baptisms for every companionship. My companion and I have already had 5 baptisms, but we are trying so hard to have even more... We have to help out the other companionships who maybe are not going to be able to achieve the goal... We are praying like crazy as a mission that we will have 505 baptisms... May 1st, we slept in our baptism clothing and then fasted as a mission the next day for our goal... I have a ton of faith that we are going to do it, but every missionary has to work... This work is hard, but it is also beautiful. And I will never forget the relationships that I have formed with other missionaries, with members, and especially with my converts... :) We are going to have to visit every single one of them when we come back to Peru...It is going to be awesome."

Sweet Greetings form Peru!

2009-05-11T14:38:00.000-07:00

May 11, 2009 - "I love you guys sooooooo much. It was so good to hear from you, and just like you said, it makes things easier on my end as well. Just to know that you all sound great and that things are not changing too fast... Whitney and Todd and Stacey got to go see WICKED... Awesome. I think it's just the luck that Whitney always has... :) Tell Davey that I love him tons. Tell him thanks for the example he set for me before I left on the mission, and for the strength that he is giving me by being on the mission at the same time. I can't wait to talk to him in person... :) Today, we are going to Quistococha, the zoo where I ate the suri and kissed the snake, but today, I'm just going to lay low and enjoy the zoo... :) I really think it was the Best Mother's Day we've ever had, and I didn't even get to see my mom... I just want all of you to know the strength that you give, for your support, for your unconditional love, for your laughs, jokes, and everything that you guys are... We really have a perfect family. Honestly, I miss you guys like crazy. But hey, I have to do this, so I'll be here for another 18 months, and then... BAM, I'll be at home, relaxing and chilling with you... I cannot wait... :) Tell Grandma Olsen and Grandma Quinn "Happy Mother's Day...all the way from Iquitos, Peru!" I miss the grandparents as well, and tell them that I can't wait to see them as well... :) You guys all sound great. And just like me, you haven't lost your personalities or your laughs. I am so glad. I want to return the same, just spiritually enlightened and more knowledgeable of the Gospel... Take care until next week. I love you guys so much and can't wait for our next phone call on Christmas. By then, I will have 14 months down. :) The time will just keep on passing and before you know it, I'll be home... :) I love you beyond what words can describe. Cuídense. Les amo bastante...
Love, Coco..."

5 Baptisms!!!

2009-05-05T20:22:00.000-07:00

May 4, 2009 - "Hey Family!!! This weekend, my companion and I had 5 awesome baptisms... One was a cute, 65-year-old lady, who I love to death named Yolanda. I can't wait for us to return to Iquitos so that you can meet her. She is so kind-hearted and is so nice. We struggled getting her into the waters of baptism... She said yes on Wednesday to being baptized on Saturday. Thursday, we passed by and she said no because her family thought it was too soon, and she was going to wait until September... Friday, we had a huge dinner with her family, duck and rice, and she announced to her family that she was going to be baptized on Saturday... I baptized her and it was beautiful. After being baptized, Elder Fidler (another Gringo who is awesome) and I sang "I Know That My Redeemer Lives"... It was a beautiful... Sunday, I was asked by the Bishop to confirm Yolanda a member of the Church... What? I've never confirmed anyone a member of the Church, let alone in Spanish. The baptism is easy because the prayer is memorized, but in the confirmation, I had to give a blessing as well. It was an awesome experience to confrim her as well... The Spirit was awesome all this weekend... The other four baptisms were 4 cousins: Angelo and Jair, Karla and Analiz... 2 brothers, and their cousins, 2 sisters... I baptized Angelo and Karla, and was able to confirm Jair in Sacrament meeting in our other ward... It was really a completely awesome weekend."

6 Months Down!!!

2009-04-27T11:57:00.000-07:00

April 27, 2009 - "Well, here we are at the 6-month mark... Can you believe it? I am still in awe every morning when I wake up... Everyday, when I leave the house, I still can't believe that I am in Peru, that I am in the jungle, or that I am on a mission... It really is a dream that Elder Quinn is living... The time really is passing, but there's still more to go. But I do know that the time will come when I will have to remove the nametag, and I don't think I'll be ready for it... We had an awesome baptism this weekend. We baptized the Hermana Rosa Hidalgo. She was baptized by her nephew José who will be leaving on his mission this year... Rosa is a single mom of two little kids. She lives with the family of José. José's family is just like ours... Dad, mom, and 3 boys... Leo, Leti, José, Andre, and Sebastian... I have become really good friends with them, and I definitely have to visit them when we return to Peru... Mom, Leti is just like you...only she is Latina, and doesn't speak English at all... I think this is why I love their family so much because I see so much of you in this mother... This family has become my Peruvian mom and dad and brothers. They always serve us treats and drinks when we pass by, and I love being in the comfort of their home. Tonight, we are going to have an awesome Family Home Evening with their family and I cannot wait... Back to the baptism. It was perfect. Everything went great. When Rosa was in the baptismal font, the spirit was so strong, and when she went under the water, everyone started to cry, including me... It was the most spiritually overwhelmed I have felt during a baptism... After they changed clothes and dried off, I had the opportunity to sing "Abide With Me, 'Tis Eventide" and I sang one verse in English... It went great and I was floating on a cloud... Then Leti gave her testimony, and like I said, she reminds me of you mom, she started crying and I started crying. She said that she feels so sad for me because I am so far away from home, all alone, without my family. She also talked about how much she is going to miss her son when he leaves on his mission... She couldn't even finish her testimony because she was so overwhelmed with tears... Yes, I did cry... But not because I was sad. It was because I was overwhelmed with joy for this family, and especially Hermana Rosa... I know I am far away from home, all alone, but I know that I'm not actually alone. I know that the Lord is with me and I feel the love of you guys everyday... It was an awesome baptism...I love you guys so much and I thank Heavenly Father everyday for the amazingly close family that He blessed me with. I will never be able to pay Him back... I love you guys so much, still cannot wait to see you, and miss you like crazy... I love you. Take care til next week... Love, Coco..."

Missionary Musical

2009-04-20T19:39:00.000-07:00

April 20, 2009 - "I am feeling great. I think I've finally realized why I am here... Mom, your words clicked in my head again...I really am just performing on a different stage for two years. Right now, my role is All-Star Missionary... I have realized that everyday is a new performance, and that I need to make every performance that much better... I have to put the same amount of effort into this mission as I put into being Troy Bolton... Instead of having my Gabriella, I have my Latino companion from Puno... :) My set with lights, microphones, and music has become the sounds of rainstorms and little kids screaming "Gringo, Gringo"... :) I am working hard... It keeps me focused and keeps me distracted from worrying about things at home... Really, I don't worry about home...More than anything, it is just that I miss you guys so much! Keep going on in the strength of the Lord... Chase, don't stress. Remember what I said about prayer. I love you Bud, and I love hearing from you in e-mails... Dallis, thanks for your sweet e-mails. Bud, you crack me up. I laugh the whole time when I read e-mails from you. You are such a stud. Keep in touch often... It's always good to hear from my awesome brothers... I love you so much... Take care family... I'll write in a week... Love, Coco..."

Hakuna Matata!

2009-04-13T09:10:00.000-07:00

April 13, 2009 - "I was thinking about General Conference and how enjoyable it was again. But this year, I wasn't in my pajamas eating homemade omeletes made by dad, watching it on the Big Screen... I was in a shirt and tie, watching it in the chapel... But it was still very enjoyable...
This week was awesome and fun... Yesterday for lunch, I ate Turtle... I ate Turtle... It wasn't horrible, but it had the taste of the cow stomach that I've eaten before, so I definitely prefer other foods to it... But I can now say that I have eaten turtle... For P-Day, we went to a zoo called Quistococha. There were jaguars, parrots, toucans, pumas, monkeys, alligators, anacondas, and big fish, etc... I kissed a boa constrictor, which was a fun experience... But the best experience was at the end of the day... Sister Luna challenged me to eat Suri... Ahh... Suri is like the grub that Simba eats with Timon and Pumbaa on the Lion King... A big, ugly, chunky, gross, grubby, worm... We ordered 3 fried Suri and counted to three and we each ate one. It wasn't bad, so I ate the third Suri. With the Suri, you can eat everything but the head; so to eat it, you have to hold it by the head and separate it from the body with your teeth... Then came the grossest moment of all. Sister Luna challenged me to eat LIVE Suri... OH NO... I picked my "little" grub out of the container of dirt and grass, cleaned my grub off with a napkin, and was ready to eat it... Just looking at them, Sister Luna and I almost threw up because they were squirming in our hands...But we had to do it... We had to conquer the grub... We had someone else count to 3 and then we did it... I put it in my mouth still holding it by the head, bit off the head, and immediately, all of the guts spilled into my mouth... It was horribly disgusting, and I almost threw up, but I swallowed it, and finished the "meal" with Inka Cola immediately after... It was hilariously disgusting... I filmed it all, so I will be sending home the video of me kissing the snake, and Sister Luna and I eating the Suri... It is hilarious... "We conquered the Grub"... "Hakuna Matata"... Many fun and exciting experiences are still awaiting me... I hope that you had a good laugh reading this e-mail... or maybe just a look of awe in your face... I love you all so much. Take care... I love you. Love, Colyn...

Eating more fun stuff!

2009-04-06T08:58:00.000-07:00

April 6, 2009 - "How are you all doing? Did you enjoy General Conference? I absolutely loved it. We watched it as a group of Gringos in a classroom in the Church building in English...It was a great 10 hours of just relaxing and listening to the Leaders of the Church. I really enjoyed just being able to relax and enjoy the music of the Tabernacle Choir,especially because it was in English... I haven't had that much time for English in 5 months... My spelling in English is gradually getting worse. I can tell because my journal is getting filled with more cross-out marks daily... It is quite funny. I never thought I would start to lose my ability to spell.I baptized a kid this week. His name is Arlex Brailin Lopez Laulate. This week I did eat alligator. It was delicious. It tasted just like chicken, just a little different. I am a big fan of it... I also had a surprising lunch this week. We arrived at the member's house, and they served us our plates. And guess what was on the plates... A whole FISH... The head, eyes, tail, fins, bones, scales, and all... I didn't have to eat the head or the tail, or the fins, but the scales were fried into the meat. It wasn't horrible, but I prefer my boneless, finless, headless, scale-less fish...Only 19 more months of unexpected food. This week, we also got caught in a huge rainstorm when we were coming home for the night. There was no sign of the storm, and instantly, it was like a monsoon...huge strikes and booms of lightning and thunder, and tons and tons of rain... I absolutely loved it... We just ran and jumped and had tons of fun in the rain on our way home... (Dallis would have been terrified... :) Anyway, when we got to our home to eat dinner, we looked like we had just been swimming... My clothes, my tie, my shoes, socks, everything was soaking wet... But it didn't matter. I was having fun... Yesterday, as well, I woke up at 5 in the morning to huge strikes of lighting, flashes of white light illuminating the sky, and the huge booms of thunder. I watched it for about 30 minutes and then fell back asleep to get a little more rest before getting up... I love watching the storms... A little about our living quarters. They are fine. We have a little fridge, fans, mosquito nets, desks, beds, a bathroom, and the little things that we need. Don't worry about me. I am living in livable conditions; livable, but not preferable... :) The only trouble I have is worrying about my investigators. But don't worry about me. I'm doing fine... I felt the same way you guys did watching General Conference. I knew that you were on the other side of the television watching it at the same time...only that it was 11 instead of 10 o'clock... I liked seeing the Conference Center and Salt Lake, but it made me miss home a little bit more... But I am doing fine. Only 3 more, and then I'll be home... I love you so much. Have a fun Spring Break and a Happy Easter!!! Tell Chase not to stress about the AP Test. He can totally do it... I am so glad that my two brothers are playing baseball together and having fun. I love you guys so much. I'll talk to you in a week... Take care and don't worry... I love you. Love, Coco..."

A Big Hello From the Jungle of Peru!

2009-03-30T08:41:00.000-07:00

March 30, 2009 - "Iquitos is amazing. It is like a small version of Lima. Only, instead of tons of dust and buses, it is green and everyone has their own moto or their own motorcycle. If I lived here, I would totally get a motorcycle and just cruise down the streets. (Tell Taylor and Braden that they would really enjoy living down here, just being able to cruise the streets on their motorcycles...) A lady told me that a person can buy and pay off a piece of nice property down here for 200 soles. That's less than a 100 dollars, so if you need a place to live, Iquitos is open...I am sleeping with a mosquito net now and it is quite an experience. The mosquitoes aren't really bad right now, but it's winter in the jungle right now. Yeah right. I can't believe it's winter. But it is, and it's about 75 degrees fahrenheit and humid...I have seen the Amazon River. It is huge... Because it's winter, it is rainy season. My second night here, we entered the church at about 7 and it was clear skies, and when we left at 8, the streets were flooding because of how much rain was falling. It was falling hard. There are some houses here that are held up by poles. They build them this way because the water rises and goes down during the year. Right now, the water is high. It is amazing how they live. We have to walk across "bridges" to get to the houses. Now these bridges are anywhere from 5 inches to 2 feet wide, with water on both sides, and they are not very stable... It is awesome, and I love walking on them to get to the houses... We have eaten lunch in these "floating houses" and sometimes, I feel like the house is just going to collapse, but all it is, is an adventure...I am excited for General Conference this weekend. 10 hours to just sit back, relax, and listen to the Prophet, the Apostles, and other leaders of the Church... Everything is going fine."

"I'm heading to the jungle!"

2009-03-23T12:39:00.000-07:00

March 23, 2009 - "This week was awesome! We baptized an awesome couple. Juan and Rosa. I baptized Rosa, and my companion, Elder Quiroga, baptized Juan. It was such a good baptism and they are going to be such a strong couple in the Church. It was a hard trial getting them to baptism because they had to overcome drinking and many other problems that they have had in their family. I was really impressed with Juan because he has changed completely. He is such a nice guy with a strong testimony. They are such a funny and nice couple and they are going to be my friends forever... I participated in the confirmations yesterday and then we went to their house and had dinner and watched Joseph Smith: Prophet of the Restoration. It has been a spiritually awesome weekend...I just found out awesome news... This week is changes and guess where I'm going... IQUITOS!!! I'm heading to the jungle this week. I am so excited. And there's even more great news. I am moving up to Senior Companion. I will be flying to Iquitos this week. I am beyond excited to head to the jungle. It is going to be really hot, but I am going to love it. Happy Birthday Mom, your oldest son is going to the jungle of Peru with mosquitos, and monkeys, and anacondas, and pumas, and pirhannas, and alligators, and every other animal. I am excited... I'll be praying for you as I use my machete to cut through the wilds of the jungle. :) Just kidding. I don't really get to carry a machete, but I will be carrying my Book of Mormon. I love you guys so much, and still cannot wait to see you."

Things are well in Peru!

2009-03-17T14:00:00.001-07:00

March 16, 2009 - "My companion and I live on the third floor of a building and I must say our living conditions are pretty nice. We live next door to another companionship and they are also a Gringo and a Latino. I get to speak English at our home with the other Gringo, but through the day, it is pure Spanish. We do not have a pensionist right now, so we prepare our own breakfasts and dinners. Each week we go to the Metro (Wal-mart) and get food for us to eat. We usually get yogurt, bread and jam and for dinner we get chicken nuggets and bologna. In our apartment we have a microwave, dishes and a pure water dispensor. What ever items that need to be refridgerated, we store them in the fridge of the family that lives below us. Each night we buy a 3 liter bottle of pop to share amongst the four of us. We do get to have a little fun.
The temple this week was really nice, a moment of peace."

THANK YOU!!!!

2009-03-09T11:12:00.000-07:00

March 9, 2009 - "The package that Robin sent was so nice. I got letters from the family, Grandma sent me some thin mint cookies and Robin and Dave sent some goodies, beef jerky and lots of ties for me to either use or give away. Please tell all of them Thanks for everything. I am going to give a few ties to the familia de la Cruz, who I baptized in January. Please also tell Ryan and Rachel thank you for the card and the fuzzy flip flops. They are so comfy to wear at night.
Ask Grandpa if he got a watermelon for his Birthday... :)...Speaking of birthdays...
Happy 45th Birthday Dad!!! I hope you have the Best Birthday this Wednesday. My Zone has the great opportunity of going to the Temple this Wednesday. So I will be in the Peru Temple on your Birthday! Know that I am still surviving and all is going well. I love you!"

"It's My Half-Birthday"

2009-03-02T09:55:00.000-08:00

March 2, 2009 - "Guess what today is?...Today is my Half-Birthday. I am exactly 19 and a half today. All the kids down here are starting their school year today. They go to school from March to the end of November and then they get out for Summer break. It is a different world down here, but I love it!
In almost every prayer that we share with a family or an investigator, the person always asks to have food on the table every day. This is a huge concern in their lives because there have been many times when they haven't had anything to eat...Honestly, the prayers of these people are so humble and sweet. I love listening to their prayers. They always thank Heavenly Father for life and for one more day of life. A lot of our investigators are having financial problems. One of our investigators that had a baptismal date set, it fell through because she was about to lose her house and had to go to work. It's a hard life down here...I feel really bad for the wives and especially the kids down here, because they never really get to spend time with their dads. Their Dads get up and leave at 4 in the morning and don't get home until 11 at night. They eat a quick meal and then they have to sleep because they have to get up and get to work. They do this every day which does not allow anytime for family. Dad, thank you so much for working so hard and for providing for our family. You are so great. Thank you also for all the time that you give to our family. We are the amazing family that we are because you have been blessed with a great job, where you work hard, but then have the ability to come home and spend time with the family."

"I am a Quinn. I can do hard things."

2009-02-26T14:43:00.000-08:00

February 23, 2009 - "We had interviews with President Perez this morning. I love interviews with him because he boosts me up. He thanked me for being animated and anxious to perform the work.
This thing about Steven coming home is really sad. It is the hardest thing in the world to leave home. I have struggled with the emotions of wanting to come home a lot of times, but have continued through the tears and the trials. I know if I were not a missionary, ordained and
pre-ordained of God, I could not be here. I am witnessing things I never dreamed I would see. I know with all my heart that Heavenly Father is carrying me in His arms through this mission and will continue to do so. I put my faith in Him everyday as I leave to face the world of Peru. I leave everyday in the strength of the Lord, knowing that He is watching over and protecting not only me, but you guys as well. The mission is hard, but it is possible. President Jeffrey R. Holland told us in the Provo MTC, that it is better to be homesick than to go home. He also told us, "Don't you dare go home for yourself." Strong words and I am obeying them. There is nothing that can hold me back. I miss you guys like crazy, but I always remember the fact that
Families Are Eternal. This thought keeps me going...that after two years of being without my awesome family, I will get to live with them for eternity.
I am a Quinn. I can do hard things."

Ok! Enough with the animal innards!

2009-02-16T07:43:00.000-08:00

February 16, 2009 - Now it's beef heart. Colyn says he has to eat this weird stuff because he eats with the church members at lunch and he does not want to offend them. So he chokes down whatever comes on his plate. He is such a good kid! Obviously, the Spirit is there and I know helping him to cope with the taste of the food. Colyn has moved from Naranjal, and is in a greener part of Lima. Church is only 4 minutes away now. "I met Tuesday night with the family that I baptized, the familia de la Cruz, and I cried so hard because I was leaving them. Really, they are a part of our family now. I got so close to them in the short time I had to get to know them. They gave me a sweet note and gift. They are going to be my friends forever and I know they will do great things in the Church."

Chicken Feet and Cow Stomach - Will Peruvians eat anything?

2009-02-09T11:45:00.000-08:00

February 9, 2009 - Well this week it was Cow Stomach. Colyn is either really brave or he is really starving. For him to eat chicken feet last week and cow stomach this week - my boy is definetely stepping out of his comfort zone. He says the cow stomach tasted ok, it was the texture that was hard to get use to. He is moving to a new area in Lima this week. His new companion will be, Elder Quiroga.
"I gave a talk in church yesterday on 'Experimenting a Change of Heart.' It went really well and I had an interesting experience. I was about half way through my talk and I was suddenly back at my Farewell, and I felt the presence of you guys. You were there watching and listening to my talk. It was a really tender moment."

Did you know that there is meat on a chicken's foot?

2009-02-02T07:43:00.000-08:00

February 2, 2009 - "I ate a chicken foot this week. It was in my soup and I originally thought it was just a normal piece of chicken, but when I put it on my spoon I found out what it really was...I can know testify that there is a little bit of meat on a chicken foot. (It wasn't that bad...to be honest...)I can also testify that a cold shower is survivable. (Our new house doesn't have warm water.) Oh, the life of Nacho Libre...This is the life I am living, where if a rat, or a cockroach runs across the floor...no big deal. No one gets up and screams, and no one gets up to kill it."
Colyn says that it takes him 1 hour to get to church. While going to church yesterday, he and his companion were shot at by kids with water guns. He says they didn't get too wet, but it did frustrate him a little. Then while riding a bus, a group of kids threw water balloons at the bus and a lot of poeple got soaked. He and his companion got a few drops on them. He says he misses his Dad being there to run after these kids and teach them what's right. He says no one ran after them, everyone just acted like nothing had happened. Colyn moved this week and that was an adventure in itself. They had to organize everything themselves. Getting a truck and such. He says as they were driving along with the back of the truck piled high with their furniture, driving down bumpy, dusty, unpaved roads, he was stressed that they would lose everything. Nothing was tied down because no tie downs were available, so prayers were answered on this trip because they and their belongings arrived safely. He is living with the bishop and he says the living conditions are much better and the house is much nicer.

Yea!!! Happy Days are here again!!!!

2009-01-26T08:35:00.000-08:00

January 26, 2009 - Colyn FINALLY received his package from home!!! He said he was so excited!!! We sent him lots of things and among them was a gummy "Mexican Dinner". He said he chuckled while eating the gummy taco because it was the closest he will get to eating an actual taco for two years. But even better news ... He had another BAPTISM this week. And he got to Baptize two of the family members - The Father and his son who is thirteen years old. Colyn's companion baptized the mother. The Familia de la Cruz. "It was an awesome experience. My first time baptizing. The water was freezing, but I didn't feel anything because I was so in the moment of the experience...(or maybe because my legs were numb). This family is golden and is going to do great things in the church. It was fun teaching this family.
Mom, Dad, Chase and Dallis... This work is so good and true. The Church is so true. This baptism really gave me a boost."

Yep! Peru has guinea pigs!

2009-01-19T10:40:00.000-08:00

January 19, 2009 - Colyn was teaching a family, and one of the kids opened a door to another room in the house and yep, he seen 40 -50 guinea pigs in there! This is Colyn's first encounter with the little critters. A member asked Colyn a question that has had him thinking, "How can you be from Utah and not personally know the Prophet?" I(Mom) wonder how small they think Utah is?
Say a prayer for Colyn - he is having a hard time.

Peru has a Mcickey Dee's!!!

2009-01-12T09:54:00.000-08:00

January 12, 2009 - Last Monday Colyn got to eat at McDonald's!!! Yea!!! Then he went to a store there that is similiar to WalMart. He will be able to get the things he needs while he is in Peru. Colyn ran into an old friend from Utah County. The missionary is Elder Wayt and he and Colyn were in a play together in Eagle Mountain - "Lil' Abner" - when Colyn was eight years old. Elder Wayt is serving in the same mission as Colyn. He no longer has a washer and dryer, so they have a guy that hand washes their clothes. He says it is very dusty all the time there. He comes home in the evenings and his shoes are brown and his pants are brown up to the knees. He has to dust his pants out every night. Like he said, "I am really never 100% clean." He has a new companion, who is Colyn's District Leader, Elder Chocooj from Guatemala. He says the food is the same, but he is surviving on bread.
"I am playing the piano in Sacrament meeting which is good for me."

HE HAD HIS FIRST BAPTISM!!!

2009-01-06T13:41:00.000-08:00

January 5, 2009 - Colyn had his first baptism on January 3rd - Fernando Felices Ortiz. He is fifteen years old. Colyn was so excited to tell us about this awesome news!!! He is out in the field. We do not know for sure, where he is, but he is enjoying it! He says his pension family is really nice. Their name - Familia Gonzalez.

He has a new companion, Elder Dominguez from Las Vegas, Nevada.
He says he is getting acclimated to always being dirty, and never being completely and totally 100% clean.

Merry Christmas to us!!!!

2009-01-06T13:31:00.000-08:00

December 25, 2008 - We got to HEAR from Colyn today. His phone call woke us up! What a way to start Christmas off! He is leaving the MTC on New Year's Eve. He starts in the field on New Year's Day, which he is really excited about! His goal is to have the Book of Mormon read before he leaves the MTC. He says he will spend most of the day reading. We were cut off and did not get to say Good-Bye. 10 minutes meant 10 minutes. I guess it was a good thing because saying Good-Bye would have been so hard. He emailed us throughout the day and that was great! He got to sing a solo at a Christmas program. He sang the Primary song, "The Nativity Song".

Peru has FRYSAUCE!!!

2009-01-06T13:23:00.000-08:00

December 17, 2008 - Colyn says he is excited that they have frysauce because it helps him to cover up the taste of the foods he really doesn't like. He says the food is improving or else he is just getting used to it. The milk there is disgusting. He can't wait till he can have a cold glass of milk with some oreos. The new Temple being built in Trujillo is exciting news to him and us! He hopes, but doesn't think it will be done for him to see.

A Touring Day in Peru!

2009-01-06T12:41:00.000-08:00

December 10, 2008 - Colyn wrote us late today because he had been out touring with his President and Sister Groberg. They went to this beautiful place in Lima that was full of 400 -500 year old olive trees and an ancient olive press. President Groberg helped the missionaries to understand the significance of the Savior's Atonement and the relation to the olives and the olive press. After this, they headed to the beach in Miraflores, rich is a real ritzy place in Peru. There were a lot of surfers and Colyn seen crabs and sea urchins. They passed a really nice golf course on their way there and Colyn asked the President about the golf courses in Lima, he told him it is very expensive to golf there. Then they went to the main central city in Peru. The President of Peru lives there. They saw some really ancient carthedrals. One temple was built in 1535, and the church members believe that a piece of the cross that Christ was hung from is buried under that temple. Colyn says he is doing fine and loving the culture. Everywhere he goes, the places are decorated for Christmas, which makes him happy. He has a new companion - Elder Ance. He is from Bolivia.
"I had an interesting experience in the Temple today... An older man stopped me in the hallway of the dressing room, recognizing me as an Elder, and asked me if I could help him with his white tie... I tied it around my neck and then took it off of me and put it around his neck and tightened it. He thanked me and I learned so much from that little miracle of today... It was a miracle because it helped me realize how humble and nice and sincere these people are... I also helped him during the session and that again helped me realize the same thing... I am Okay, and I am so excited to help these people come to know of the Gospel and especially the Plan of Salvation and Eternal families..."

He's a survivor!

2009-01-06T12:28:00.000-08:00

December 3, 2008 - Today Colyn and the other North Americans had to go to Interpol to become a temporary citizen of Peru. They were fingerprinted and their teeth were looked at. The driver that took them, stopped at a bakery on the way, and Colyn got a chicken sandwich, a coke, a croissant and a banana muffin. He said the food was great and this bakery was really fancy. He says that in the MTC, his pills taste better than the food they serve there. So this trip to the bakery was such a treat. They have Christmas lights up at the MTC and Colyn is enjoying that. Colyn says he has had some cool experiences with his sweet companion. He has taught him how to use the washer and dryer and how to tie his tie. He says his companion has no support from his family. They won't have anything to do with him while he is on his mission. He asked his companion how he could even be there and his cute companion told him, "Faith".

Getting acclimated!

2009-01-06T12:12:00.000-08:00

November 26, 2008 - He says that the plane trip was good. When they were landing in Peru, it was night time and he could see the boats floating in the bay with their lights on. He said it was a beautiful sight. He says that he has the opportunity to play the piano alot. They are always asking him to play.
The weather is perfect there. Cloudy in the morning, a little humid, and then the sun comes out at 12:30 pm. and it never rains. His choices for lunch and dinner are chicken and rice or rice and chicken. He says he never wants to see rice on our dinner table at home. They do not celebrate Thanksgiving in Peru, so it will be just another study day. He had the chance to go to the Lima Temple today. He says it is awesome. The rooms are much smaller than our temples here. And of course it is all in Spanish. He says the visit was great!
"Some of the Latinos that are here have nothing...literally nothing...they are so humble and sweet, and I have to... I have to do everything I can to help them...The people of Peru need me right now and so does the Lord."

He is in Peru!!!

2009-01-06T12:00:00.000-08:00

November 20, 2008 - He arrived in Peru at 11:40 pm. He got on a bus and arrived at the MTC at 1:00 am. He says he was up till 4:00 am. The MTC is awesome down there. It is newer than the Provo MTC. On the way to the MTC, they passed the Temple and Colyn says it was such a welcome sight! The minute they got there, they were given new companions. His companion's name is - Dreyfus, Luis Giancarlo, Rojas. He is from Peru. He says they are throwing them(he and his traveling companions) in the thick of Spanish and watching them drown a little. For breakfast he had Froot Loops with lemon yogurt. And for lunch he ate fish. He says it was really good. He says he knows why the missionaries get sick of rice down there - he said he thinks they serve you like a pound of rice at each meal. He ended his letter by telling us how beautiful it is down there.

His visa is here!!!

2009-01-06T11:51:00.000-08:00

November 14, 2008 -We heard from Colyn today! He says he has his passport and visa, so he will be leaving on the 19th of November for Peru! He will be traveling with his companion and two other missionaries.
He is excited to be going!

The First Email

2008-11-09T19:38:00.000-08:00

November 7, 2008 - We received our first Email from Colyn. It is finally set up! Yea! He says that thanks to Sra. Denney's Spanish class in middle school, he is really doing well with Spanish. He is remembering a ton! He received all his Spanish materials and he says it is alot! He doesn't know yet when he will be going to Peru. On Tuesday night, Sister Beck, the General Relief Society President, spoke at their devotional. He told Chase that he would have been proud of him. Colyn had to step out of his comfort zone, and make phone calls to "total strangers" at the Recall Center at the MTC. (He has always had his little brother along side him to do these sorts of "scary" things for him - like talk to people.) He thought Chase would definitely appreciate his telemarketing skills. (Chase used to work at a telemarketing company). Chase and I (Mom) got a big kick out of hearing this. He also told us that he needs us to send him like a catrillion things.

Oh how happy I get when I hear from my son! He is missed so much!

Another Letter!

2008-11-09T19:35:00.000-08:00

Monday, November 3, 2008 - He opened his letter with a greeting in Spanish.

He loves the MTC! And Spanish is coming back very quickly. He is remembering more than he thought he would. He can bare his testimony, meet somone, and talk about the restoration all in Spanish! He loves his district and each elder and all of his teachers. He is eating well and is never hungry. They are hanging Christmas lights at the MTC and he hopes they turn them on tonight. He asked us to keep him informed about the Cougars! He ended his letter by bearing his Testimony in Spanish!