Monday, August 5, 2013

Everything is in disarray because there are four elders living together right now. But don´t worry, I bought a 4 column notebook, and everything is in order in at least that context. Transfers are next week, so I´ll be in a companionship, but for the meantime we are getting done twice as much work.

We went to finish all the papers today. There´s one last step and then the visa is permanent.

We have an investigator who when we met with him said that he hadn't been drinking or smoking for 2 weeks. One day he called us saying that he had drank the night before, but he wanted to get baptized on a specific day in August.

There are three kinds of missionary work: 1) The missionaries do the work, 2) The members help the missionaries do the work, and 3) The missionaries help the members do the work. The third one is always the best because it is the bishop who holds the keys, and the members who have the responsibility. There are few things better than the missionaries getting a call that you want them to come to a dinner where you've invited some friends over who are interested in the church because of your discussions. The clip "I´ll go where you want me to go" that was used in the last training broadcast is very instructive. The first and foremost principle of sharing the restored gospel is to understand it yourself. "Come" is the invitation. Missionary work becomes easy once you are trying to live it in full.

-Elder Damitz

Monday, July 29, 2013

I´m in Argentina. All went well. We met up with many other missionaries who just got their visa as well. I have three companions until the transfer when we´ll be transferred into the workings of the mission. We are in the middle of the city of Buenos Aires. There are many people.

Things that would be more dangerous outside the inner city are not dangerous here. Villas are always supposedly dangerous and casas tomadas where we live are as well. But here they are much safer. The mission issues a bag for scriptures that is small so losses are inconsequential. Most people who would rob someone know that the missionaries carry nothing, and frequently they start apologizing once they realize that all we carry are scriptures and that we´re missionaries. Nonetheless, we take precautions and are well instructed. I´m going to get robbed. The only people who never are robbed are the sister missionaries. They are kept in the safer areas.

President Ayre is new. Three weeks in the mission. After our interview he said he´d have me accompany a piece like the one I did in Salt Lake when a General Authority comes in September. He saw a few things that caught his attention which led me to explain our family´s affinity for organization and cleanliness of records. He said that he has particular need for these talents as well, but I need to be fluent. We´re both praying that I can quickly assume fluency, and it is happening. There are miracles every day.

Yesterday we were in a member´s home, and one of them asked me to solve a Rubik´s Cube, because they couldn't figure it out using YouTube. I solved it multiple times and began teaching how to solve one, but it was very difficult because I don´t have all the specific words in Spanish. I´ll be teaching them the next few visits. They live in a villa, which as far as I can tell are buildings reconstructed and re-purposed for families. The water and the electricity come straight from the city. But a villa does not mean poverty. Families have computers, cell phones, tablets, internet, washing machines, cars, bikes, etc. It´s just a choice that some people make instead of living in more established housing.

I have a deja vu every day. I see the number 42 almost every day. I was walking in a group of elders, when I saw on the street a single sheet of paper with just the number "42" on it. I pointed at it to an from the MTC, who knew how since the start of my mission I've been seeing the number 42 everywhere and without reason, and he think´s it´s hilarious.

I´m paying for internet here. In Utah we just used the Family History Center, but here the church building doesn't have one; it´s much smaller.

Thursday, July 25, 2013

BRIAN ARRIVED IN ARGENTINA THIS MORNING!!!

Thursday, July 18, 2013

We just got word that Brian will now be transferring to Argentina next week. We are so excited for him.

Monday, July 15, 2013 - Week 13 (Salt Lake City West Mission)

We finally have one Progressing Investigator. All is not in vain.

We went to Ensign Peak as a district today.

You can now follow me on Facebook. You can't friend me, like, comment, etc. but you can see my posts.

Monday, July 8, 2013 - Week 13 (Salt Lake City West Mission)

"Obedience brings blessings. Exact obedience brings miracles." -Sis. Wendy Nelson

There is a talk concerning the Light of Christ by Pres. Boyd K. Packer. It contains some thick, applicable doctrine.

Some things that I've learned recently out here:

• All spiritual truths can be tested and proved, and are just as concrete as moral and physical laws. Test the truths and promises contained in the scriptures with faith and see if you will not be blessed.
  
• If you pray specifically, you will be blessed specifically.
• The prophet referred to in Acts 3: 20-24 is Christ. (JSH 1:40) The words of Christ is the Book of Mormon (2 Nephi 25:17-18). In Ether 4:8,10, Christ states concerning the Book of Mormon, "for I am he that speaketh. ...and if it so be that I do not speak, judge ye; for ye shall know that it is I that speaketh, at the last day." Similar warnings are given in 2 Nephi 33:10-15, Ether 4:4,6, and throughout the Book of Mormon. The Lord puts great emphasis on the Book of Mormon in these last days. So must we.
  
• Simple, direct testimony brings people to Christ and confounds those who seek to contend.

Thursday, July 4, 2013 - Week 12 (Salt Lake City West Mission)

I played the organ at the devotional, Mack Wilberg's arrangement of Praise to the Man. Many people liked it, but I wanted it better.

I didn't get transferred. I'm here for another 6 weeks unless my visa comes. I heard of someone who got their visa in 6 weeks, so it could be coming soon. It usually is less than 2 days after it comes through I'll be out.

I met someone high up in the Church Records Department. Send me any questions that you have for him.