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.​

Monday, December 22, 2014

This week was interesting. One day when we were leaving the apartment, we saw two missionaries talking with a member on a street corner. Turns out they were from the MTC and were sent out to contact people. They were from Brazil, and the showed us a map with the divisions of our area into about 12 companionships. We found two other Elders from the U.S. On a bus, we saw a bunch of missionaries, including sisters, waiting for a bus to go to the Chapel in Ballester to go back to the MTC. We received two referrals from them, one from each of the companionships we talked to.

All but three of the members we had scheduled to accompany us failed. It's difficult because people have lives and their stresses, and we can forget that too often. But it is sad when our plans start falling through. Even still, the members here are wonderful. They support us a lot.

We went by the house of a recent convert who just turned 16. His internet wasn't working and couldn't figure out how to use it, so I went on and within a couple of minutes it worked. He said "you've got to be kidding me." He said the place he was going to take it would charge almost $1000 pesos to get it fixed.

The Ward had a Christmas Dinner on Friday, but we had to leave after about half an hour, and they were just setting up during that time. The food wasn't done, but we had to be in the apartment on time so we didn't eat. It rained Saturday and Sunday. It was great. I always seem to work better when it's raining, but people generally are less likely to listen or let us in.

There is a real "Christmas Spirit" that has an effect on people. They've been more open to invitations. This time reminds us of things as they really are, that Christ did indeed come to us. I hope that during this Christmas we can learn and prayerfully apply more abundantly the Gospel of Jesus Christ in our lives. We will find greater joy and peace by following the counsel of the Master. The Gospel is simple, but not always easy. We too often are tempted to excuse ourselves or others from the pathway to greater happiness.

And it came to pass after I, Nephi, having heard all the words of my father, concerning the things which he saw in a vision, and ​also the things which he spake by the power of the Holy Ghost, ​which power he received by faith on the Son of God—and the Son of God was the Messiah who should come—I, Nephi, was desirous also that I might see, and hear, and know of these things, by the power of the Holy Ghost, which is the gift of God unto all those who diligently seek him, as well in times of old as in the time that he should manifest himself unto the children of men.

For he is the same yesterday, today, and forever; and the way is prepared for all men from the foundation of the world, if it so be that they repent and come unto him.

For he that diligently seeketh shall find; and the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto them, by the power of the Holy Ghost,as well in these times as in times of old, and as well in times of old as in times to come; wherefore, the course of the Lord is one eternal round.

(1 Nephi 10:17-19)​

Monday, December 15, 2014

It rained Saturday, which was very nice, but no one came to Church yesterday. We've been trying to get a lot of people to Church and it is proving to be very difficult. We've met a lot of people. We met a former investigator who received the missionaries about 10 years ago. Johnathan is moving to Quilmes for three weeks, but he's really interested.

I finally met the Villa-Luque family. They've been going to church for 15 years or more, but can't get baptized because she's married to someone else and can't get divorced yet. Their son was sustained as Elder's Quorum Secretary this Sunday and is going to go on a mission.

It pains me to see how as members of the Church we don't always see all of the blessings and responsibilities that we have, or can have. We are all responsible for living according to the testimony we've received. The parable of talents does not directly refer to "talents" but a very large measure of weight or wealth. The talents are not ours, neither are the gains we are required to make on them. They are the Lords. What we have been given much responsibility, but there is even more awaiting us after this life if we are faithful to the testimony and responsibility we've already received.

Monday, December 8, 2014

This week went well. We didn't have as many lessons because some of our members fell through. It stressed out Elder Jones a bit, but he's doing great.

Julio came to church again. We found out he's the Senate's adviser and the professor of a member in the ward. He told us a few stories about him, and he's very quiet, but he understands everything. He's always in Capital or somewhere else, so we've only talked to him through text messages.

We found Johnathan, who seems to have a lot of real interest. We keep running into him miraculously. He couldn't come this week, but he'll come next week. We've had a number of miracles, and I'm absolutely convinced that we don't find prepared people, they find us. But we find them faster through members.

We have a Zone Conference with President this week.

The "He is the Gift" initiative is very inspired. We have pass along cards that are very effective. It is a simple message, and many have their hearts softened because of Christmas. It is an excellent opportunity to invite someone to receive the blessings of the Restored Gospel in their lives.

Monday, December 1, 2014

This week was strange. My leg got much better, but my arm broke out in a rash, so I bought diphendyramine, but I became way to tired and dizzy, and I couldn't sleep because I felt so drugged. In the end, it only made the rash worse.

Julio couldn't come this Sunday because he's a professor of law and had something to do with a marriage in Capital. Jorge, who we found last week and has shown lots of interest, couldn't come either, but he said he wouldn't forget and would come this week. This week went a bit slow, and we've found lots of people who couldn't go this week.

There's a new Ward Mission Leader, who still isn't set apart. He's amazing. He seems to know everything by instinct. He received very little information about his calling, but he seems to know it better than many leaders I've seen. We feel very strongly that this ward will change dramatically.

The Church is doing a campaign "He is the Gift" and they made a great video. On the 7th, we'll be the only advertisments on YouTube. christmas.mormon.org

Monday, November 24, 2014

This week I hurt my leg and I had to rest it for about two and a half days. I don't know what happened, but it was all inflamed and hot, and difficult to walk. It probably happened playing soccer on Tuesday. It was really annoying because I wanted to get to know the area, but we couldn't do anything.

A friend of a member named Julio showed up on Sunday. We thought he was from the other Elders' area. They said that during one of the meetings he started crying. Later, his friend, Hno. Arvelo who we live with said that his dad recently passed away.

When Elder Christofferson came a few weeks ago, something he said really stuck with me. He said that he thought for a long time that Christ would come when the wickedness of the world had reached a certain point. He said that his wife corrected him and said that the thing missing for His second coming is a prepared people. It made me think of how the duty of the Twelve, and by extension members and missionaries in their respective responsibilities, is to bring the Gospel to the ends of the Earth and to build the Kingdom of God on the Earth.

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

This week went well. Alberto came to the special stake conference where Elder Christofferson spoke. He's doing very well and his mom thanked us saying that were the only ones who persevere with him. She's Pentecostal.

Elder Fuentes was invited to a trainers meeting, and I had an interview with President for a Temple Recommend and the Ecclesiastical Endorsement for BYU. It was a very good experience.

I've been transferred to Villa Ballester with Elder Jones. Elder Funtes will be training a new missionary. It seems like a nice area. It's much larger than our area in López Camelo.

Monday, November 10, 2014

This week went well Alberto is coming along well, but didn't come to church. We were outside his house about half an hour clapping and yelling, but he was dead asleep.

We had interviews with President on Thursday. He showed us the trailer of Meet the Mormons and said that it won't come to Argentina until March. He also showed a video of Pres. Eyring when he was a member of the Twelve saying very forcefully "You be careful" if we ever have the idea that perhaps our calls weren't inspired. He said we should tell our younger brothers to take good pictures when they send in the papers because usually the moment the see the picture they know where we have to go. He said he had never received impressions as strong or as consistent as the missionary assignments.

Sunday was Elder Fuente's birthday. He changed clothes because he knew he would be mauled by eggs and flour and mud.

Monday, November 3, 2014

I think I should probably clarify. Lunch with the Cabranes last week was actually very, very good. It always is. It was an inside joke because they said they were reading my blog. I took a chance with that one.

This week we found a few new people who seem interested. We found a Chilean friend of David. They all call him "Chile" as a nickname. He came to Church this Sunday along with a friend of another recent convert, Zenaida, who's now living with her until the flooding by her house cleans up. She's from Pilar, close to Derqui where I was.

There's been about two days of nonstop rain. It seems like some areas of Buenos Aires are flooded. Here, everything seems fine for now. There was another time where it was flooded nearly up to the outside door of the place where we live.

The Google Street View we saw in March finally has the pictures up: https://www.google.com.ar/maps/@-34.4750717,-58.6938603,3a,15y,30.91h,84.51t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sEBeFBLya_GsF9FKhCP9VuA!2e0 It's me and Elder Chriss to my right.

Monday, October 13, 2014

This week went interesting. We've run out of investigators. We've been finding a number of less-actives and we've been working with them because they have family that are not members.

There is so much work to do. There is always someone to teach. As members we have the opportunity to help those within the Church to stay on the path the Lord has revealed. Home Teaching is perhaps the most indispensable program in the Church aside from administering to the poor and missionary work. If everything were to fall apart, the Priesthood responsibility of ministering and administering to members of the Church will always be upon us. I feel that the fulfillment of our Home Teaching assignments should be a high priority in our lives, our first and foremost calling within the Church.

We still haven't seen the Priesthood Session. We normally see it in the Zone Meeting following Conference, but it didn't happen.

Tuesday, October 7, 2014

This week we went to the Temple as a mission on Friday. It was a wonderful experience. On the bus ride home, we decided to stop in UniCenter to eat because it was on the way and then take a different bus that would take us just one block from our house. When we went to the Food Court, Nick, President's son came flying at us yelling "Elders!" Turns out every Friday evening President goes with his family to eat there.

Saturday we watched the afternoon session of conference with Ricardo in his house. Sunday we went to the Stake Center, and it rained for a good part of the day. We got a call that night from the Secretary saying that we needed to come to the mission home the next morning to have interviews with President. We went, and it was a great experience. President said that he felt the morning was inspired, and it was.

At the end of everything, Elder Fuentes and I are staying in López Camelo. I'm really happy because there's lots of work to do and I love this area.

Monday, September 29, 2014

This week Brenda was baptized on Saturday and confirmed the next day. It was my first baptism with only 1 church attendance. As a rule, we need to have 3, but we got an exception. This family is so ready for the Church. Ricardo and Cintia love it when we come over and we've had lunch and dinner with them a few times.

We celebrated Elder Ballestero's birthday this week. He's going home in a week. It's a tradition in Argentina to throw eggs and flour on people on their birthdays. They went over the top and threw mud as well.