Monday, December 30, 2013

The 24th, we all went to the Mission Offices and had lunch. I got a pair of socks. There were lots of fireworks that night. Lots. We got to speak with our families the next day in a member's house over Skype.

We lost some investigators. Some are moving back to Bolivia, others haven't been seen in a month. But we still have a few people who are very prepared. There is nothing happier than this work. There is nothing happier than seeing people accept the gospel.

Floresta is divided into two areas. Elder Patey and Elder Silveira are the other side.

Elder Cutipa and I and asado Elder Mora, Patey, and Silveira

Monday, December 23, 2013

A few days ago, there were some manifestations, so we headed back to the apartment. On our way back, the bus turned the wrong way, so we got off on the side of a street that wasn't our area. A little girl came up to us asking if we were Elders. We said yes, and she said that her dad wants to talk with us. One of his daughters is a member, and the lost their mother a few years ago. They've moved and have missed the Elders coming over. He's agnostic, but says that he loves what the Church does and what they teach. We invited them to church and he came, but left the kids because they were sleeping.

We met a man who is incredibly prepared. You can feel and see that he searches in the Light of Christ. He can recognize things for what they are. Sometimes you come across people whose faith is humbling.

We locked the keys in the apartment yesterday. We had to get the Zone Leaders to bring a copy because we couldn't get it open by alternative means.

Merry.... Christmas..........?

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

We had transfers today. Elder Cutipa is staying in Baradero. Elder Evans, from my Zone in the MTC, will be going. I've been moved back into Capital with Elder Mora. He's from Mexico.

It is so hot, and from what I understand, it will only get worse once Summer actually starts. I've been taking showers with pure cold water.

There have been lots of problems recently with robberies, so the Mission President has said that we have to be in our apartments at 8 instead of 9 and have language study during that hour.

Capital is very different than Provincia. There's lots of cars and buses and people.

Monday, December 9, 2013

We lost all of our baptismal dates this week. We still have a few investigators, but it's difficult to keep in contact with them. I am continually impressed with how simple and powerful missionary work is when the members and the missionaries work perfectly in harmony. We find when we teach, and we teach when we find.

Elder Bednar in his April 2008 Conference Talk "Ask in Faith" said, "We properly pray for the safety and success of the full-time missionaries throughout the world. And a common element in many of our prayers is a request that the missionaries will be led to individuals and families who are prepared to receive the message of the Restoration. But ultimately it is my responsibility and your responsibility to find people for the missionaries to teach. Missionaries are full-time teachers; you and I are full-time finders. And you and I as lifelong missionaries should not be praying for the full-time missionaries to do our work!"

Monday, December 2, 2013

We stayed in our area all this week. It's a bit odd. One of our baptisms fell though because he left to Buenos Aires, but I believe once things settle he'll be ready. The members are a bit disheartened because many people reject the Gospel here.

The counsel that we receive is that generally speaking, a person should consume at least 5 colors every day. As missionaries, we consume on average 3 colors every transfer.

I am continually impressed with how little we know about what we're doing in terms of missionary work. Our understanding of the labors we are doing as members and as missionaries is so limited. There is so much going on, and we are simply not aware. Even still, all of our energies are vital.

Monday, November 25, 2013

All is well. We've had a week in our area. We had interviews with President and we received a new booklet from the Church about coping with stress on the mission. We spoke with the Assistants about the Area Book, our agendas and so forth, and Elder Figueroa asked us what we needed and we said "Be in our area." The Zone Leaders jokingly threatened to rent out an apartment in Captial near the Offices to save on travel expenses. We were sleeping 3-4 nights of the week in Zárate and racking up over a thousand pesos in traveling expenses every month. But we've been in our area this week.

We moved into a new apartment. The old apartment in Baradero was not the best. There is a Brother hired out by the Church to do repairs and other things on the missionary's apartments, and said that the only reason that apartment was chosen was because there was literally nothing else. The new apartment is newly built and very nice. We are convinced that sister missionaries will be coming here next transfer, and perhaps that is why we were robbed, to find a nice, safe apartment for them.

We found someone who is related to a number of members, but said that he didn't want to be baptized because of some misconceptions about vicarious work. We explained everything and he understood it perfectly, and we found that he is quite prepared to accept the Gospel and wants to be baptized. We are beginning to see fruits in Baradero again.

Monday, November 18, 2013

This Saturday we had a conference with the Area President and Elder Holland with the three Buenos Aires Missions. There were about 800 missionaries. We sang in a small group of 8 for a musical number. He said that there is probably no other group on the Earth more prayed for than the missionaries, and that we are the most visible part of the church. At one point he was going through D&C 50 and after reading v. 27 he paused and said "We don't even have a coast of an idea what we're doing." He said that all of us, even the Apostles, live far below our privileges.

He said that we should never speak of missionary work as "fulfilling an obligation" or that after we'll go back to "real life." He said that this is as close to real life as you can get. He started speaking about obedience and then said, "I don't feel that there are problems with obedience here. That's not the feeling I get. But it would be ridiculous if I had to speak about obedience! This is the Gospel of Jesus Christ! Why would there ever be problems with obedience!" He said that while he was the head of the committee over Preach My Gospel, the title was chosen very carefully from D&C 50. Quoting from that section, he made it very clear that in the words of God it is "MY" gospel. We cannot chose what to teach nor how to teach it. We teach the doctrine exactly as it is and by the Spirit. There is no other way. All other ways are "not of God."

The Church is true. The Gospel is happiness. All things contrary to the pure Doctrine of Christ and all of it's appendages are in a state contrary to happiness. I remember a sister who spoke in a devotional at the MTC who worked many years in the Church and with the MTC said that we should be so incredibly optimistic that people look at us and say, "Who are you?"

Monday, November 11, 2013

Elder Holland and Elder Christofferson will be coming to a conference this Saturday, and I'm singing in a small group for that conference. We will most likely sit in the stand because there won't be enough space in the congregation because three missions will be attending, about 800 is what they are expecting.

Things are starting to move again. We taught someone who lost his wife about a year and a half ago. They've been married for about 60 years. We've been working with a few less active families, and we're helping them get back. We recently reactivated one family, and almost all of the family on the mother's side are members. We're beginning to help them all come back. This Sunday, the grandpa came which was huge.

The pan in the apartment was well expired, so we bought a nice teflon pan. I really like it. I've been making pancakes in the morning. I almost made the perfect pancake today. It was exactly the right size, thicknes, color, consistency, moisture, and temperature. The only thing it lacked was vanilla in the batter to perfect the taste and smell. And syrup to eat it with.

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Lots of things happened this week. We went to the Area General Offices of South America South Area and the Mission Home a few times. The last time there was an emergency transfer and I went back to Parque Patricios with Elder Allen, but the other side. The ward was happy to see me back, but I feel bad because I left again. Today I got transferred back into Baradero. After the three break-ins it´s odd coming back, but my companion is Elder Cutipa who was with me before in Parque Patricios.

I sang in a musical number this Sunday, and we will be singing it again in a mission conference coming up with General Authorities.

Because of a bunch of fiascos these last few weeks, we haven´t had very many lessons or teaching opportunities, but now we should be able to reconcentrate this week.

Monday, October 28, 2013

We were robbed two more times. The third time he came in through the back door, and we came in right as he was coming in. My companion went running after, but he got away. We've been looking for a new apartment, and President Ayre said that finding a new apartment is now our first priority. He is just a petty thief. He stole some coins, a small adapter of mine, my speakers (but not the iPod under it) and things like that. There are few things more disturbing than knowing that someone entered into your place and touched all of your stuff.

One of the elders of the office couple

reminded us that there is always opposition when we are in this work. The robbery must be indicative that something very good is happening. We believe that, in part, the reactivation of a family a few weeks before and our helping them to go to the temple is the cause. We've been robbed the days before we go talk to them.

We've been all over the place. 4 days out of the week involve a bus for travelling. We average 1 night a week in the Zone Leader´s apartment. We spend over half a day traveling to district meeting every week, and every Thursday night we stay with the Zone Leaders because Baradero is too far away to get to the Offices on time for a rehearsal every Friday. We've also been to the Church Area Office so we had to stay with the Zone Leaders of the Mission Office areas one night without anything but our scriptures. Luckily the Mission Home had blankets and the church has another small apartment right next to the Zone Leaders where they keep mattresses, bedframes, fans etc. so we had a mattress. Between the days we spend outside of our area and trying to find an apartment we are having little progress and success in our area.

Even still, small miracles are happening. This area is being prepared, and there will be people very soon.

Don´t ever forget that Heavenly Father loves you more than you can possibly comprehend and will do everything possible to bring you back to Him. Just listen to the enticings of the Holy Spirit and lovingly obey. It can only bring us happiness.

Monday, October 21, 2013

My camera was stolen, but luckily I backed up the photos a few weeks ago, so I didn´t lose much, and I sent they key photos from that time already. They broke into the second story by walking on the corrugated roof. The window is plastic and can be forced open when locked easily. They only stole the mission´s DVD player (which was actually broken), my camera, and my companion´s camera. He lost over a year of photos.

We´re still trying to find investigators. We have a few potentials now, and most have members who introduced them to the Church. Some of them seem very prepared. Members and the Ward Council are key in all phases of missionary work.

There are so many doctrines in the world, and it would be ridiculous if it wasn't so terrifying. The Doctrine of Jesus Christ is simple, and easy to understand. Studying Preach My Gospel individually and as a family helps to strengthen testimony. When one has a clear understanding of the scriptures and this doctrine that it contains, it is so easy to bear testimony, because the simple truths are most powerful, and when obtained by the Spirit, they can be taught by the Spirit.

Monday, October 14, 2013

We went a whole week with no fruits, and then a member invited four friends to Church for a baby blessing, and now we have some investigators. We´re working with the branch to find people.

We´ve had such a slow week because we´ve been out of our area traveling for most of the time. We´ve only slept in our apartment 3 times this last week. The mission has grown dramatically. We have about 230 missionaries, and will have more. Even still, there are so many people here. Millions.

-Elder Damitz

Monday, October 7, 2013

The work has almost stopped in this area. This last week we only had 2 lessons. But, we´re going to bring it back. This Friday there was an Emergency transfer. My companion Elder Alder, left to another area, the Elder that was there went to another area, and the Elder from that area is now my companion in Baradero, Elder Dewitt. He´s from Arizona. We get along well as well.

We´re going to the Zoo as a mission tomorrow, but because we had meetings today and we´ll be going early tomorrow, we have to stay in the house of the Zone Leaders for two days because we´re so far out into Provincia. And I forgot my camera.

We still have no investigators. One of the most important things you can do as a member is Home and Visiting Teaching. The reason it is so difficult for people to do it is because the adversary knows that Home and Visiting Teaching done well is perhaps the most effective form of Christlike service within the Church. It is designed to serve every member of a unit spiritually and temporally. It is the most effective way to prevent a member from going less active, and could very well be the only way the leaders become aware of the needs of the members. This work is vital. Please do it.

Please also invite people to hear from the missionaries. The ideal situation is that members invite others to hear from the missionaries and are present during the same. This is easiest on everyone, it softens the hearts of those who will listen, the missionaries don´t stress as much, and the investigators immediately have someone to rely on and ask questions.

-Elder Damitz

Monday, September 30, 2013

Baradero is very nice. The streets are clean, there are not very many dogs running around wild, and the whole city is altogether quite pleasant. It´s almost too perfect. There´s an airfield and some hangars at the edge of the city, the city is surrounded by fields, there´s a horse racing track, and there´s a dirt road that leads to a group of houses on the edge of a river.

We still have no investigators this week, but we´ll be having an activity with the branch to go over member missionary work. The most effective way to find prepared people is through members. The most effective way to fellowship investigators is through members. The most effective way to help people feel comfortable adapting to the Gospel of Jesus Christ is through members. Home and Visiting Teaching is crucially vital. Please do it. Without it, it is so easy for people, especially those who particularly need help, to fall into inactivity and feel lost for a very long time.

-Elder Damitz

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

It´s been raining off and on, which is really nice. I like the rain. But it creates mud, which I´m not very fond of. Not that it´s a problem, it´s just a nuisance and another thing to clean. I really like the cold and the rain here.

Elder Carvajal got very sick this week, but he was treated in the hospital and is doing better. The Church has contracts with three hospitals in this mission. One of them is Hospital Austral which if I saw correctly is ranked number 1 in the country. It is very new.

I got transferred today. I´m in Badadero. My companion is Elder Alder. He´s District Leader. I can´t seem to escape being companion to a District or Zone Leader. Every companion in the field has been either District or Zone Leader. It´s really odd being in a normal companionship with only two people in the apartment. That hasn't happened since Utah.

Badadero is even farther out into the campo and has much fewer people. I don´t think the train goes out this way. I think we are the second most farthest area in the mission. The next closest city is about an hour bike ride to the South. Badadero is a Branch, and we´re the counselors to the Elders Quorum, so we have a Manual 2 in the apartment. :D

We have no investigators right now.

Monday, September 9, 2013

Tomorrow completes 5 months in the mission.

Elder Jorquera gave me a tie and said to wear it to my first Zone Leader Council.

My letters have been a bit sparce, so I will try to write more.

I am currently in Presidente Derqui in Provincia. Provincia is more rural than the rest of the mission. We use the train to get out here and to other places farther than the city. It is a few hours from the mission home and the mission offices. The ward is Derqui and the Stake is Escobar. The ward is excellent. In the places I´ve been, each ward has it´s own building. There are dogs in the street everywhere.

Before the transfer, there was one area in Derqui, and Elder Carvajal and Elder Alfaro were the missionaries. Now there are five of us, Elder Alfaro is the companion of Elder Valerdi who is from Mexico, and Elder Jorquera and Elder Carvajal are the Zone Leaders and my companions. We split the area taking one side of the dead rails, "Derqui I", and the other elders have the other side, "Derqui II". The apartment is very dirty, but we´re working to clean it.

We have had three baptisms so far. One had a wedding a few hours before the baptism and was baptized with her sister who lives not too far away. We also baptized a brother who recieved the Aaronic Priesthood two weeks ago.

The more you work with the Gospel, the more you realize how logical it is, and how illogical all of the counterfeits are. I am thoroughly convinced of the divinity of the Book of Mormon. It´s teachings are pure and above the capacity of man to compare. It proves its divine origin and content by its appeal to those who are most humble, most pure in heart, and those who search dilligently in the Spirit to know the things of God. To deny the Book of Mormon would be to deny the tender mercies and wisdom of God.

-Elder Damitz

Monday, September 2, 2013

The socks from the missionary mall are very good. The other ones are falling apart, so I won´t have enough in a few months. If it isn´t too much trouble, sending more pairs of the missionary mall socks would be good.

We´re still trying to figure out what to name the Zone. I think it should be called Pilar.

We started teaching a family that lost a son just over a year ago. I´m the same age and have many of the same mannerisms as him. The mother said that the two sons look up to me because of that. They are very well prepared.

I forgot to write that I ate cow stomach a few weeks ago. It tasted very much like cow, but it had a consistency closer to liver, and had an undertaste of alfalfa.

The work is wonderful in this area. There are miracles every day.

Monday, August 26, 2013

We had a wedding and the baptism of two sisters right afterwards. The day after on Saturday we had another baptism. We have some more baptisms coming up on the 8th of September.

All is well in Zion; yea, Zion prospereth.

Monday, August 19, 2013

I caught a cold. All is well though.

We had interviews with the Mission President this week.

Miracles happen every day here. It is remarkable to see the change and light in people´s faces as they embrace the Gospel. It is distinct and undeniable. Those who truly wish to follow Christ and all things that come from him recognize the veracity of the things we teach, and immediately feel the peace and the joy of His true and living doctrine.

Pictures coming soon.

Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Transfers were today. I´m out in the "campo" in Derqui. I´m a third companion to the Zone Leaders. Earlier this week while we were finishing our papers we found a place by the train station that was selling boxes of 40 alfajores [cookies] at 1 peso each. I bought one. It was about $8 US. Almost all of our FBI clearances had expired, so now we´ll be working to get new ones.

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.

Monday, June 24, 2013 - Week 11 (Salt Lake City West Mission)

People at home tried adding me on Facebook. I can't add anyone on Facebook. Refer people there who want to be taught by missionaries, and message me their names so I know you're sending them.

The broadcast was precisely what counsel was needed. Since the beginning I was frustrated with the model of missionary work and reactivation, but now with the greater emphasis on member missionary work, the missionaries will be used much more effectively. With 100,000 missionaries, each would have to work with 70,000 people to reach everyone. But if divided between members, everyone would only need to work with 500 each.

President Swain, our mission president, was talking with a member of the Twelve who said that the Second Coming was eminent.

Kagen er en løgn.

Sunday, June 23, 2013 - Brian's mormon.org page

Hi I'm Brian

I live in Southern California. I'm a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. And I'm a Mormon. Please clink on the following link to go to my mormon.org page:

Monday, June 17, 2013 - Week 10 (Salt Lake City West Mission)

The whole mission is now using Facebook. (fb.com/elderbdamitz) You can't friend me or talk to me though.

I found bleach this week. The bathroom is now sanitized, not just cleaned.

I've been asked to play for the Mission Choir. One of the pieces is Mack Wilberg's "Praise to the Man" and is arranged for choir and organ. I think they intended just to get a second person to play some of the parts on the piano as it says in the arrangement, but they didn't know who they were asking.

Hope all is well.

Monday, June 10, 2013 - Week 9 (Salt Lake City West Mission)

The rumor going around is that most missionaries in the mission will not be using backpacks anymore, but just have iPads soon. It's not confirmed, but it wouldn't be surprising. They're rolling out Facebook to every missionary in the mission now. This Tuesday is the instructional meeting. You can't friend me or talk to me, and I'll have to change some settings in my old Facebook to make sure no one can find it.

Monday, June 3, 2013 - Week 8 (Salt Lake City West Mission)

All is well in Zion; yea Zion prospereth, all is well.

I don't know what else to say. All is going well. We have enough food, water and other provisions to get by this week, but we may run low in candle wax.

Elder Damitz

Monday, May 27, 2013 - Week 7 (Salt Lake City West Mission)

On June 23, the World Wide Leadership Broadcast, the Brethren are calling it a "Historic Event" which they never use. Chances are there will be significant changes to the way missionaries and Wards and Stakes interact.

The Salt Lake City West Mission is very different. Some missionaries are authorized to use a missionary Facebook account and do online proselyting and networking in the area. A few have iPads and iPhones. They hope to roll out more in both. The planners we have are different. See photo below. This mission does many things different under the close watch of the Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve and others. They want to try different things. One of the things they do differently is put great emphasis on reactivation, just as much as other proselyting. They saying that the leaders are using are "A Reactivation is just as important as a Baptism" or variations.

There is a shift coming in the missionary program, and we are on the front edge of it. The numbers in our stakes in the mission are great because of the emphasis on reactivations. There is greater cohesion between the stake and the missionaries and they want it even better, stronger and more streamlined.

Friday, May 17, 2013 - Week 6 (MTC)

I've been temporarily reassigned to Utah Salt Lake City West Mission. I'm leaving by train on Tuesday at 8:00am. Everyone seems to be getting these reassignments as we are waiting for our Visas.

I've been off of my foot and it's healing well. I think I can start running again next week. I don't think I'll need to use all that you sent me. It really wasn't that bad.

Sis. Ayala said that I am doing very well with Spanish. Sometimes she jokingly says that I'm the best, but takes it back so no one will be offended. There are 9 in our district, and some instructors have been taking us out in random pairs to do more individual coaching. I was left to the end. Some questioned if I even needed it.

Russell M. Nelson spoke in the devotional on Tuesday. The person over managing all the MTCs was there and Elder Nelson said near the beginning, "We have 17 MTCs now?" "15" "Well, get going." There will be 405 missions by July 1, 2013. He said to make page 240 of the topical guide and all 57 subtitles our personal, private core curriculum. (See listing below for Page 240 of the topical guide)

Jesus Christ

May 11, 2013 - Foot Update (MTC)

I went to the health clinic and I have Plantar Fasciitis. He gave me a prescription for Naproxen. Just as I was getting better at volleyball and was planning on going running everyday in the morning with others in the district, he said no running, volleyball, sprinting, or anything else that will put more force than usual on the foot.

Friday, May 10, 2013 - Week 5 (MTC)

What's the difference between a cat an a semicolon? One has claws at the end of its paws and the other has pause at the end of its clause.

I got sick Monday night. I slept through most of Tuesday and Wednesday, and now I'm over it. I would have just pushed through, but Bro. Parke brought up that the MTC prefers sick people to stay in the Residence to keep people from getting sick since there are so many people and great potential to spread. Sleeping when you're sick actually works :P.

I hosted on Wednesday. I said when I dropped them off in their class "If you have any further concerns: D&C 6:36" [Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not.] and wrote it on their yellow envelope. Our neuralizers were issued yesterday. We'll be trained on how to use them to prevent failed lessons next week.

Something is wrong with my foot. I'm going into the health clinic today.

During a devotional, the speaker was asking a group of people one by one what they gave up to go on a mission. One said "I left my girl." to which he responded "On behalf of all the returned missionaries, we thank you for your donation."

I'm training everyone in the Zone to lead music, select hymns, etc. by district in workshops and it's a lot of work.

Thank Grandma for the cookies. Everything they've sent I've been sharing with the zone because I simply can't eat it all. "Sorrow shared is half sorrow. Joy shared is twice joy." -Swedish proverb.

"Demeaning others demeans us." -Sis. Hacking

"Reverence is needed for revelation. Reverence towards God means reverence to prophets, scripture, and revelation. Reverence requires action through scripture study, and making righteous decisions. Irreverence is the will of the adversary. Irreverence shows that we don't see a difference between the Holy and the profane. Inspiration comes more easily in quiet, reverent environments." -Pres. Hacking

"The Lord has called you to succeed, not to fail. He inspired your call. He will not abandon you." -Elder Scott

"Stay close to our Rescuer." -Pres. Nally

-E. Damitz

Friday, May 3, 2013 - Week 4 (MTC)

Some thoughts: Richard G. Scott when he spoke said that responses for our prayers come in three ways. 1) An affirmative feeling or response, 2) A negative stupor, or bad feelings, or 3) no response at all. He said the last one is the hardest, but it it a good thing. It means the Lord trusts you enough to let you make the decision on your own. He will not let you go too far without properly and clearly warning you. President Tyler said that as members of the church, especially those who were baptized young forget that we live in the 72 degree warmth of the Spirit. It is not an event where we "feel the Spirit" but rather we always do, just in different ways. We do, however recognize when it is not there. We must continually recognize that he is with us, and always act so as to continually rely on Him through everything we face. We are prompted more than we realize, and when we do realize when we are prompted, we are more sensitive to promptings.

Go to the LDS Bible Videos and watch the "Bread of Life". (Click on link below) It should be the newest one. One of the contenders against Christ I am certain is Bro. Huntington. Bro. Stewart's "Precious Savior, Dear Redeemer" showed up as the musical number for this last Devotional.

http://www.lds.org/bible-videos/videos/i-am-the-bread-of-life?lang=eng

-E. Damitz

Friday, April 26, 2013 - Week 3 (MTC)

Things are busy. The Lassig Grandparents sent brownies. I gave a brownie to everyone in the Zone. Hermano Parke says he's very impressed with me. He said that I'm very fluent and have a significant vocabulary for only being here for 2 weeks. He also said that I have a great accent and that I don't sound like a gringo. Hermana Ayala (Alejandra) is now teaching us as well. They look to me for corrections on some occasion, especially when it comes to placement of accents.

-E. Damitz

Friday, April 19, 2013 - Week 2 (MTC)

The Spanish is coming. The work is great. We went to the temple this morning. The Provo temple is just across the street. The church is true. Make it simple and choose faithfulness.

"Be Still My Soul" Last Verse

3. Be still, my soul: The hour is hast'ning on

When we shall be forever with the Lord,

When disappointment, grief, and fear are gone,

Sorrow forgot, love's purest joys restored.

Be still, my soul: When change and tears are past,

All safe and blessed we shall meet at last.

-E. Damitz

Saturday, April 14, 2013 - Week 1 (MTC)

The MTC is reasonably well kept and well organized. I am rooming with 5 other elders despite the room only being designed for 4. Nonetheless, the situation is not unmanageable. Three of the elders in our branch were supposed to go to the Colombia MTC, but due to visa issues, they are here. Two of them had there paperwork go though yesterday, and will be leaving Monday. It is remarkable to see how well things work here, not just from a logistic standpoint, but in its specific purpose as well. Here it is most evident how one is refined for Church service. Only in few places like these can you clearly see how jagged rocks are tumbled chaotically about and somehow are tuned into into carefully designed cogs and mechanisms for the work. There is a spirit of comfort here, and many other things that are not found elsewhere. Despite not having been in the MTC 3 days we were expected to, as a companionship, teach an investigator in Spanish. Elder Carlson and I took our failures quite hard, though afterwards the observer (who only observed our teaching amongst 4 others) said that we had done very well and he seemed genuine. Destroyed, we walked outside to study and soon after we sat down, the bells on BYU played the first few lines of "Come, come, ye saints" and was of great comfort. We will be teaching her again today.

"All is well, all is well."

-Elder Damitz