Monday, March 16, 2015

This will be my last letter from a proselyting area. It's hard to think that it's coming to a close. Despite the difficulties in these last few weeks, there is nothing I'd rather do. There is no greater work, and I don't think I will every be able to repay my Father in Heaven for the things that He has shown me and given me.

This week we found an investigator, Jorge, who many years ago when he was 7 was taken to Church each week by his neighbor, but when he turned 8, his mom cut him off from the Church so he would not be baptized. He's extremely receptive.

I sprained my wrist this week and today in the morning we played dodge ball as a zone and I sprained my thumb. It's swollen, and Elder Goyeneche broke the fridge which has the freezer inside, so we don't have ice. This should be fun.

Today we went to the German Hospital because a recent convert who is the daughter of a member from Brazil was still having problems. She was taking anticoagulants and lots of other medications to prevent excessive pressure on her brain. About two weeks ago she started having lots of problems, and she lost consciousness a few days ago. She was on a breathing machine, and now they've decided that she's gone. We were there in the hospital, 4 elders and 4 sister missionaries, when the doctors came, did the study, and gave the results. We broke the rules and hugged Sis. Carvalhaes because she was in such great need.

I feel often as though we have been set apart to bear a perspective that is very different from the world. I feel sorrow for the parting of Suhene, "but there is a resurrection, therefore the grave hath no victory, and the sting of death is swallowed up in Christ." I have no doubt of this. I have come to know and feel it as if I had seen it myself.

"And if your eye be single to my glory, your whole bodies shall be filled with light, and there shall be no darkness in you; and that body which is filled with light comprehendeth all things." For "He comprehended all things, that he might be in all and through all things, the light of truth; Which truth shineth. ... And the light which shineth, which giveth you light is thorugh him who enlighteneth your eyes, which is the same light that quickeneth your understandings; ... the day shall come when you shall comprehend even God, being quickened in him and by him. Then shall ye know that ye have seen me, that I am, and that I am the true light that is in you, and that you are in me; otherwise ye could not abound." As I have strived to keep my "eye single to the glory of God," I have been blessed with a greater comprehension of Our Father in Heaven and His Son. I know better why it is that They love us and have gone at such infinite lengths to bring us back home. It is my prayer that I never take off my name tag, that from now and into the eternities I will continue to bear His name and help others to "come unto the fountain of all righteousness and be saved." It is my prayer that we may all come to be filled with his love, "that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is;"

I know that Jesus is the Christ, the very Son of God. I know He came to redeem all mankind, doing the will of the Father, that we might repent and come unto Him. His Church and His Priesthood have been restored for the last time, to prepare the Earth for His coming. I write these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Monday, March 9, 2015

This week went pretty rough. Lots of people hiding from us, and lots of people failing appointments. We didn't have anyone come to Church this week and since we have no progressing investigators, it's highly unlikely that we'll have a baptism in this area before I end my mission. Even still, we can't stop, there's always more to do.

We did companion exchanges, and I was with Elder Carlson, my companion from the MTC in Chacarita. It was interesting to see that we hadn't really changed.

Monday, March 2, 2015

This week was very interesting. Elder and Sister Zeballos of the Area Presidency came and spoke to us. It was an amazing conference.

Nearly everything was working against us this week. Despite all that we found some people who showed genuine interest, including a referral we received. He had listened to the missionaries in the interior of Argentina and attended Church for about a year, but his parents did not let him be baptized. He didn't come Sunday though. We don't know what happened because he hasn't answered his phone since Saturday night.

The Gospel is so simple, and the greatest necessity of everyone of our brothers and sisters in this world. We all have need to repent and come unto Christ. Let's not allow fear to keep us from opening our mouths. There are many who at first will reject our invitations, but soon soften after seeing that we love them more than our own comfort. It's hard to offend someone if we act out of love towards them and the Savior.

Monday, February 23, 2015

This week went well. We moved from our old apartment to the apartment of the elders of Belgrano, a ward right next to ours. We've had lots of great moments with members, and they're very excited to share the Gospel. A young couple invited a bunch of members and non members to a family home evening, and only one non member friend showed up, but he's very interested in receiving the missionaries. Felipe, a friend of Lucas, a recent convert showed up because of an invitation he extended.

This week, I've come to understand more of why priesthood holders are given the responsibility to exhort members to "pray vocally and in secret". As a missionary, I have never felt more guided by the Spirit during the day and in my personal preparation then when I can pray vocally in secret. It is a simple, but outstandingly powerful practice. It places a seriousness on the act of prayer that is not always felt when we pray only in our minds and hearts. I feel as though at least twice a day we should set apart time to close ourselves off from the world and pray vocally. "But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father who is in secret; and thy Father, who seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly." (Matt 6:6, 3 Ne. 13:6) "But this is not all; ye must pour out your souls in your closets, and your secret places, and in your wilderness." (Alma 34:26)

Monday, February 16, 2015

This week didn't go so well. The whole district is having trouble with finding people. We've had lots of difficulty because nearly all of the members are out on vacations, and they are our #1 source of investigators. We're still not down though. This next week should go much better.

Tuesday, February 10, 2015

We're a bit rushed because of transfers, so I'll be short.

This last week Daniel went to Church. He's great. He has a ton of interest and his sisters are recent converts and they're all good friends of an active family.

The transfers came and now I'm back in Capital after over a year. I'm in Nuñez with Elder Goyeneche from Argentina right next to the River Stadium.

Monday, February 2, 2015

Things have been quite crazy recently. We found a lady by way of a referral, and she accepted us right into our house. She said that years ago she listened to two missionaries, but lost all contact, but the name Joseph Smith stayed in her head all these years. Once she talked a bit with her Chiropractor who's a member, she was excited to see us again. As we began teaching, she cried at various points of the lesson and kept saying, "Why did it take me so long?" They're a great family, but I have no Idea what has happened since because I've been transferred.

So, Tuesday at 6 we get a call from one of the Assistants, saying that Elder Sosa will be going to Villa Ballester 2, with the other elders there, and that I will be going to Jose C. Paz 1....immediately. We left to go clean the apartment, and at 8 the other elders from Villa Ballester came to help us clean and pack, and then the Zone Leaders came. We got to Jose. C. Paz 1 at about 11 at night. Elder Gallup from Idaho is my new companion until the transfer. The Assistants said that it would only be to the end of the transfer.
This area is great. There is so much potential. I just won't be here to see it all unfold.

Monday, January 19, 2015

We've been going through a hard time in the area. We haven't had a whole lot of work, and we've gotten to the point of cleaning out the list of members. We really don't know what else to do. There is a possibility that this area will be closed before the end of the transfer. We think it might be the best thing.

On Friday I went into the offices the whole day to fix a database they have. In 2012, and Elder made CHETO and it runs everything from missionary purchases in the offices to baptisms, and numbers, and reports, etc. and the whole thing caved in when the area decided not to collect all of the key indicators, only Baptisms/Confirmations, Lessons with Members, Progressing Investigators and Total Ward Attendance. Elder Tenny stayed up until 3 in the morning trying to rescue it, and when he did he cried. I came in and made all the changes, but it was heavily scripted in PHP, and I'm pretty unfamiliar with that language, so it was somewhat of a miracle that it all worked out. There's still some changes that need to be made, but they're minor. I'm in the offices right now fixing other problems, but I'm afraid Elder Sosa is a bit upset that I've taken away all of his Pday.

I've been really tired all the time because of worrying over the area and just lots of work in general.

Monday, January 12, 2015

I missed a week​ because we left early to go to Capital with the other Elders from Ballester. We've been finding many new people, but it still is very difficult to help them keep their commitments, especially coming to church. I cannot stress enough the importance of a member in a lesson inviting an investigator to Church and saying that they will be with them the whole time to answer questions.

Recently we've been meeting the neighbors of members with them and extending invitations using the mormon.org pass-along cards. We've found many with interest, and they feel very comfortable because of the presence of a neighbor or friend.

One thing I've come to know very well, is that truth, when learned by the Holy Ghost, is not contentious. We teach with power and authority, and confound those who seek to put the Gospel to shame. But never have I felt any anger or contention toward anyone, only a deep yearning for their eternal happiness. It is that feeling that drives me to speak boldly. Some people harden themselves, but others listen. Sometimes we have to pass though some humiliation to find them.

And ye have murmured because he hath been plain unto you. Ye say that he hath used sharpness; ye say that he hath been angry with you; but behold, his sharpness was the sharpness of the​ ​power of the word of God, which was in him; and that which ye call anger was the truth, according to that which is in God, which he could not restrain, manifesting boldly concerning your iniquities. And it must needs be that the power of God must be with him, even unto his commanding you that ye must obey. But behold, it was not he, but it was the Spirit of the Lord which was in him, which opened his mouth to utterance that he could not shut it.
(​2 Nephi 1:26-27)

I hope it can be this way for all of us, that we can open our mouths and extend an invitation to find those who will listen and are prepared.​