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