Monday, January 13, 2014

This week we had two baptisms. Bianca and Abraham. All went very well. They both wanted Elder Mora to baptize and for me to do the confirmations. After the baptism we went to a Peruvian restaurant with the Choque family. Peruvian food is some of the best in the world.

We've made great progress in the ward and we hope to keep up the pace.

One of the greatest fears members seem to have is that they will have to teach other people the Gospel. Don't worry about those things. The missionaries will teach. They work under those keys. They will ask for your testimony in their proper moments. The best things members can do is live the Gospel and invite others to come.

Monday, January 6, 2014

This week as we were walking between appointments, a young woman and her brother ran up to us asking where the building was. They are from Bolivia and just moved in with their parents who have been living here for a number of years. She learned about the church in Bolivia and has been active ever since. Her parents are members from their youth, but fell away before long they got married. They are all excited to come back to church, and the son is preparing to be baptized.

I'm slowly losing English. It's terrifying. Between all the Castellano, Guaraní, Portuguese, German and Korean (나는 집에 간다, there's a Korean family in the ward) my English is falling apart.

All is well in Zion; yea, Zion prospereth.

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.