Week Seventy-Seven: Salta

Hey fam!

My new comp is pretty chill, we get along well and he is funny. But this week was pretty good. Nothing really too special happened. But today we went and hiked a hill with one of the districts from our zone. It wasn't as big as the other that we hiked a while ago but it was pretty awesome! It was really like walking in the middle of a jungle! And it had just rained so was a little wet and slippery, but that made it ever cooler because it was like being in a rain forest. But the downside was when the sun came out it got super humid! But I got some pretty sweet pics! And then we went to McDonald's after. McDonald's here is like a nice expensive restaurant. I think it may have been the nicest McDonald's I have been to. And it had two floors which was pretty interesting! The food is the same, it's just cheap fast food but the people here love it lol. 

I have been thinking about finishing a week early and I do think it would be for the best. Our new mission president comes the first of June and I will talk to him then. 

The work here is still going well but it has slowed down a bit. When I got here we were finding a lot of new investigators and well, we baptized them lol. So now we need to find some more. Don't get me wrong, we are still teaching a good amount of people but I think we can handle some more! So if you have any references for us in Argentina Salta let us know lol. 

But everything here is going well! I hope you guys have another great week! Enjoy conference and get the most you can out of it! Love you guys! Talk to you soon! Kiss the puppies for me!

Week Seventy-Six: Salta

Hey fam!

So I'm writing a little early today because my comp leaves in a few hours and my new one doesn't get here till in the afternoon, so I don't know if we will have time to write later. I figured it's best to write now. About my new comp, I don't know much because I'm not with him yet. But what I do know is that his name is Elder Figueredo, he is from Brazil, and he has the same time in the mission as I do. Other than that I don't have much info lol. I know you guys like the details but I don't have too much for now. 

Also there were some changes in our zone. We adopted a new district. Before, we were the second biggest zone in the mission by just one companionship but now we have the biggest zone by far. So that's pretty interesting. 

On Sunday we had stake conference and Elder Mark Bragg from the seventy came and spoke. As we were walking in, there were a lot of people and you had to squeeze to get anywhere. Before we walked in the door we saw Elder Bragg taking a picture with a member and the stake president. After Elder Bragg took the picture, he looked over at the door and we made eye contact. He waved like he had know me or years and then he waited till we could get over to him. He talked to us in English because he is learning Spanish, but he talked with us like we had been friends for a long time. We asked where he was from and stuff like that, and we learned that he is from LA. He thanked us for our service and for everything we are doing. It was a really cool experience. He is really awesome and he gave a great talk too. He spoke about the Sabbath day and the temple. He had a great sense of humor throughout the whole talk and he had a powerful spirit so everyone enjoyed it. 

Oh I got the calendar! I got it on Friday and it's awesome! Thank you so much! I have it up in our room already! About the packages, I'm sure the other one you sent will get here, it just takes a while. But the mailing system here still isn't the best and I don't want you guys to go through so much stress of sending a package with the slight chance it might not get to me. I don't want you to lose money or be stressed. I know you guys are going to want to send more especially for when my birthday comes around but save the money and we can have a late birthday present opening when I get back lol. But I also want to thank you for all the packages and things you have already sent me. I know it's a burden to send things here so it means so much more that you do send packages and that you still are trying! I love you guys so much, so please don't stress or worry about me! Well I know that's pretty much impossible, but at least about the packages lol. 

About school, the thought of coming home a week early has entered my mind before. Elder Curtis is going to come home 2 weeks early for school. He talked with President Chaparro and he said that he needs to talk with the new president when he comes. I still need to pray and think about it but as of right now I do feel that coming home a week early would help a lot. I'll keep you guys updated with how I feel and what the president says. 

Also for the last couple of mouths, for quite a bit actually, I have been studying and reading about temples and I miss the temple so much! I don't know if it fits in the schedule but I would love to go to the temple at home when I get back. So have that in mind also. 

I think that's about it for my week! I'll be sure to let you know more when I get more details about my new comp! I love you guys! I'll talk to you soon! Kiss my puppies for me! 

Oh and I bought a Boca jersey. It's a soccer team that's super popular here in Argentina. Its rival is River, but I sided with Boca lol.

Week Seventy-Five: Salta

Hey fam!

Man, it sounds like this week was a success back at home! 

This week Fabiana was able to get baptized! Now we are focusing on the rest of the family. Actually Fabiana's parents and sister are active members and go to the other ward that shares the church building with us. So that was also a big help. We are still working with Micaela and Camila. They want to get baptized but can't for now and that's a huge bummer! 

This week was pretty good for us. Nothing too special happened but yesterday was a pretty good day. Well actually the story started on Wednesday. We had a member accompany us for the afternoon and he said that there is a less active member that we should visit. She is a returned missionary but became inactive after the mission. Her name is Romina. We passed by but we could only set a return appointment for Sunday. Sunday came around and we went on splits so I was with a member and my comp in another part of the area. We went to go visit Romina and I was actually pretty nervous, I had never taught a less active returned missionary before. I thought maybe she had a huge doubt/question/problem with the church and that I wouldn't know how to help her, but we went with faith. We started the lesson and I just started to ask some simple questions to get to know her. She is the only member in her family of 11 but she loved her mission. She said the thing she loved most was being able to serve other people and when she got home from her mission that just kind of stopped. She had zero support after her mission to keep going to the church and she just fell away. I was really trying to listen and not think of what I should say, and as I did that the Spirit was able to work a lot more effectively. After she was done talking I took a small moment to think and then the Spirit guided me to ask just one more question. It was a very simple question and it doesn't seem profound but it was just what she needed to hear. The question was, "When was the last time you served yourself?" After the question was presented, the Spirit was really strong everyone felt it. No one said anything for maybe three or four minutes. She just thought more and more about it until she started to cry while thinking about it. Her answer was as simple as the question, "I don't know." I knew then what she needed and what we could do to help. She was so focused on helping others that she forgot all about herself and what she needed, so she started to fade away. We cannot help other people if we ourselves are not strong. She said she was just accepted to be a firefighter and I used that as an analogy. Firefighters have to be strong to break down doors, open cars, and carry heavy hoses and people. If a firefighter is weak, he can't do what's necessary to help and save people. We ourselves have to be strong, we have to be immoveable, we have to have that firm foundation that is our savior Jesus Christ. (Helaman 5:12) We told her that we need her, her family needs her, and the Lord needs her to be strong and come back to the church. I was really thankful for the Spirit that was felt in that lesson. I learned a powerful lesson that day and I know she and the young man that was accompanying me got something out of it too. Without the Spirit I know that lesson would not have been the same. 

As for the return date, what I've heard is that we leave Tuesday in the morning for the flight, and then we get home in the morning Wednesday. But we still have some time so we´ll see is something changes. But all is going well! This is the last week of this transfer so it's possible that when you hear from me next I'll have a new comp. 

I love you guys! I hope you have a great week! Talk to you soon! Kiss the puppies for me!!

Week Seventy-Four: Salta

Hey fam! 

Sounds like everyone is doing awesome! Man, how were you guys able to pull all that off?! Katie and Merrily together, Dylan and I together, all in a great spot and in the same ward?! That's awesome! You guys are kicking some major butt! It's going to be a quick change but the mission teaches you to get used to it. And if everyone says it's for the best, then even better. 

As for me this week, Jorge was ale to get baptized! We weren't able to get permission from the parents of Sebastian but we have been talking with the mom and we are pretty sure that he will be able to get baptized soon! Jorge was super excited and was running around hugging everyone after it. Lol it was pretty funny. 

This Saturday we have another baptism planned for Fabina Villafaña. She has progressed super fast, I think we started teaching her at the beginning of this transfer. We have been teaching the whole family, but as of right now she has been the only one that has gone to church. The reason her and her family are progressing is because about one week and a couple of days after we started teaching them, Ciro (sounds like zero), the grandson of Fabiana and the son of Lucas, was shot in the legs in a drive by. He only is four years old. It was really hard for the whole family, but with some help they were able to see the light at the end of the tunnel and find their faith and hope in the Savior. One of the greatest miracles is that even though he was hit four times, no bullets hit his bones or anything important. He is almost completely healed and is not going to have any problem walking again. Even though it's most likely the Fabiana will be baptized, I think I have seen the most progress in her son Lucas. He is about 25 years old and was not with the right group of people. We have seen him change his life in such a short amount of time. It is incredible. It's so true that the trials and hard times in our lives, if we allow them to, can be consecrated and help us come closer to the Savior and improve our lives.

Micaela and Camila are really close to getting baptized! The dad still says no but he's lighting up! 

Mario was the talk of the church yesterday. He bore his testimony and it was incredible! He has changed so much and is progressing so fast. His mom also gave her testimony and she said that she never thought she would ever seen her son as a member of the church, but now that he is, she can't hold in all the joy and happiness she feels. Everyone is super proud of him and we are too!

The pictures are of some Catholic churches in the city of Salta. One is of what the city or center of Salta looks like. Everything is going great here. 6 months to sexy has officially stared! My comp and I bought some protein and pre work out. Don't worry, the stuff we bought was imported from the states. 

I hope everyone has another great week! Thank you so much for everything! I love you! Kiss the puppies for me!