Heeeey, Feliz Navidad! Doesn't really feel like it here with 100 degree temperatures but the calendar says so. Haha, first of all just so's yáll know, I'll be Skyping my Mom and Dad at about 4-5 ish on Christmas. Nicccce! I'm really excited for that one... Anyways, what happened this week...
Well our baptism fell through, which was a big bummer. But this week we are planning for 2, possibly 3 baptisms. White Christmas! Woohoo! We have Mika, a teenage girl that we've been working with, Angel, who is 9 and all his family are members and are reactivated in the Church, and Gerardo, whom you all know. We hope they can all make it to the waters of baptism. It would be awesome.
First week as district leader, check. Super tired. Ha, it's stressful but I know it's where the Lord needs me. My new companion's name is E l d e r A t c h l e y from Las Vegas, Nevada. Very different view of things. Haha. He is an interesting guy but we will have success this transfer. First 2 days and he already has huge blisters. Yikes. He really likes Dungeons and Dragons (whatever that is) and computers. Niccccce.
All week was a roller coaster! I was in one area one day, and then at the mission home another. Didn't have too much time to work in Lugano, but we will improve this week. Tomorrow we are gonna spend the day as a mission with President. :)
I love missions. My mission literally means everything to me. It has shaped and changed and reformed my life and thoughts. I've also never met so many challenges and difficulties. It's seriously tough. But I love all of you guys. I know that Christ lives. He is my all. Merry Christmas. I love each and every one of you with all that I got. :) Loves!
"Just smile and wave boys, smile and wave..."
Monday, December 23, 2013
Tuesday, December 17, 2013
WAAAAY HOT!
Wow, it is incredibly hot right now. I’m basically in a fire. But I guess that is better than freezing cold weather... I guess... Lots of water! This last week has been busy and full of blessings and miracles. I feel really loved from my Father in Heaven! Okay, let’s start...
Victoria was baptized! I was really honored to be able to baptize her; she is so incredible. It’s so special to see someone at that point in their life, with everything already lived, and to just change in the span of 15 days! She is seriously a miracle. This next week will be her confirmation and that will be a special one, like all of them!
Angie and Nicole were also confirmed this last week and it’s been great to still be working with them. Seba’s wedding fell through because the lab test papers were filled out wrong, so they have to take out another turn... is that what it’s called in English? I don’t really know... But he will get married and baptized hopefully within the month with Heavenly Father’s help!
This week we are expecting the baptism of Gerardo, the grandson of Victoria. We left him for a little bit because he wasn’t progressing, but last week we watched “The Restoration” with him and he really felt the Spirit! He knew it was right and now is preparing for this Sunday! Nice! I believe in miracles! We also are working with Mika and Angel who have baptismal dates for the 28th so pray for them por favor.
I seriously love the mission. It has shown me my identity and purpose in a really strong way. I just want to help Heavenly Father’s children so bad! Oh btw, we ate hamburgers... TWICE! Very rare. Also, I’m a bit bummed because one of my best friends on the mission, E l d e r T i p p e t s, got transferred. But I love him to death! The best part is we shared the baptismal service this last week, so that was a blessing.
Oh yeah, my first son has flown the coop! I am going to be training again, he should get here this Thursday, fresh from the states! ha. Also, the Assistants called me yesterday and said the Lord had called me to be a District Leader. WOW! I was really overwhelmed at first. That’s a lot of trust, I just want to do my best and serve others.
The week was crazy with a training meeting and interviews with the Mission President, but all in all, it was a great week! I’ll miss E l d e r B y w a t e r.
He is a stud.
I really love this work. It can be reaaaally rough at times, but I’m happy to go through the good, the bad, and the ugly if it means the salvation of God’s children.
“All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us” -Gandalf
Loves!
Victoria was baptized! I was really honored to be able to baptize her; she is so incredible. It’s so special to see someone at that point in their life, with everything already lived, and to just change in the span of 15 days! She is seriously a miracle. This next week will be her confirmation and that will be a special one, like all of them!
Angie and Nicole were also confirmed this last week and it’s been great to still be working with them. Seba’s wedding fell through because the lab test papers were filled out wrong, so they have to take out another turn... is that what it’s called in English? I don’t really know... But he will get married and baptized hopefully within the month with Heavenly Father’s help!
This week we are expecting the baptism of Gerardo, the grandson of Victoria. We left him for a little bit because he wasn’t progressing, but last week we watched “The Restoration” with him and he really felt the Spirit! He knew it was right and now is preparing for this Sunday! Nice! I believe in miracles! We also are working with Mika and Angel who have baptismal dates for the 28th so pray for them por favor.
I seriously love the mission. It has shown me my identity and purpose in a really strong way. I just want to help Heavenly Father’s children so bad! Oh btw, we ate hamburgers... TWICE! Very rare. Also, I’m a bit bummed because one of my best friends on the mission, E l d e r T i p p e t s, got transferred. But I love him to death! The best part is we shared the baptismal service this last week, so that was a blessing.
Oh yeah, my first son has flown the coop! I am going to be training again, he should get here this Thursday, fresh from the states! ha. Also, the Assistants called me yesterday and said the Lord had called me to be a District Leader. WOW! I was really overwhelmed at first. That’s a lot of trust, I just want to do my best and serve others.
The week was crazy with a training meeting and interviews with the Mission President, but all in all, it was a great week! I’ll miss E l d e r B y w a t e r.
He is a stud.
I really love this work. It can be reaaaally rough at times, but I’m happy to go through the good, the bad, and the ugly if it means the salvation of God’s children.
“All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us” -Gandalf
Loves!
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| Victoria’s Baptism |
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| Elder Tippets and I |
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| Last day with Bywater. A member family got us these sunglasses for Christmas. haha ;) |
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| Seriously love these 2 sooo much! Such a big help for us! |
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| Eating french fries with Victoria and the gang! |
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| More of the Baptism |
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| Our Area |
Monday, December 9, 2013
Tengo gozo en mi alma hoy!
Tengo gozo en mi alma hoy!
Hellooooo! I´m doing really well! It is suuuuper hot down here in Buenos Aires. I about died yesterday walking around in what felt like a giant cloud of heat. I was sweating so bad, my arms were slick. Haha. So here's the weekly review. ;)
We were working pretty hard with preparing who we had for baptism. Making sure they were living the Law of Chastity and the Word of Wisdom and all that jazz. One experience in particular that we had was with Nicole and Angie. We were talking about the Word of Wisdom and what things we needed to abstain from. When we said tea, they had a big deer in the headlights look on their faces. They said, "Wait, we can´t drink black tea?" and we said no. And then Angie looked to Nicole and said, "Bueno. We will just have to throw it all out tonight, Deal?" "Deal," Nicole said. How awesome! They were so prepared! On Sunday, we had their baptism. I baptized Nicole and my companion baptized Angie. It was an amazing baptism. All the members stepped up and we could feel the spirit. I seriously love the Pacheco family. AND! Their dad came to sacrament meeting and the baptism and asked firstly how much a Book of Mormon cost and after if he could get baptized too! HAHAHA! Gotta get him married, but we are working with him now too.
Gerardo and Eduardo just fell through our hands this week. They just aren't progressing, but their grandma is! It´s crazy, Victoria came from Peru just a week ago and now has a baptismal date for this Sunday! I keep telling her that Heavenly Father loves her so much he had us waiting for her teaching her grandchildren when she arrived. She always says she is so happy; she already has friends here. What a sweet lady. Pray that she will be able to progress to her baptism this weekend. :)
Seba is still doing amazing. We had our little party with him last Monday and we went and bought him a suit! (our ward mission leader that is). Afterwards, we ate at Burger King. Seriously the best thing for me because I miss American burgers. Haha. He was so grateful and I learned more of what it meant to be consecrated. I feel so much more for his family. We pass by like every day. If I leave next week for transfers it's gonna be a really tough moment. Which reminds me, next week I will be writing on Tuesday because of transfers.
I can´t believe the changes a mission makes. Just today, I´ve been seeing the change in so many close ones of mine through their emails. It blesses not only the people here in Lugano, but in Nampa Idaho as well. I love the Lord!
"HASTY!? Our friends are out there! They Need. Our. Help!
Please, they cannot fight this war on their own!" -Pippin
I kinda like to put "our brothers and sisters" in for "friends" in that quote. ;)
Loves!
Hellooooo! I´m doing really well! It is suuuuper hot down here in Buenos Aires. I about died yesterday walking around in what felt like a giant cloud of heat. I was sweating so bad, my arms were slick. Haha. So here's the weekly review. ;)
We were working pretty hard with preparing who we had for baptism. Making sure they were living the Law of Chastity and the Word of Wisdom and all that jazz. One experience in particular that we had was with Nicole and Angie. We were talking about the Word of Wisdom and what things we needed to abstain from. When we said tea, they had a big deer in the headlights look on their faces. They said, "Wait, we can´t drink black tea?" and we said no. And then Angie looked to Nicole and said, "Bueno. We will just have to throw it all out tonight, Deal?" "Deal," Nicole said. How awesome! They were so prepared! On Sunday, we had their baptism. I baptized Nicole and my companion baptized Angie. It was an amazing baptism. All the members stepped up and we could feel the spirit. I seriously love the Pacheco family. AND! Their dad came to sacrament meeting and the baptism and asked firstly how much a Book of Mormon cost and after if he could get baptized too! HAHAHA! Gotta get him married, but we are working with him now too.
Gerardo and Eduardo just fell through our hands this week. They just aren't progressing, but their grandma is! It´s crazy, Victoria came from Peru just a week ago and now has a baptismal date for this Sunday! I keep telling her that Heavenly Father loves her so much he had us waiting for her teaching her grandchildren when she arrived. She always says she is so happy; she already has friends here. What a sweet lady. Pray that she will be able to progress to her baptism this weekend. :)
Seba is still doing amazing. We had our little party with him last Monday and we went and bought him a suit! (our ward mission leader that is). Afterwards, we ate at Burger King. Seriously the best thing for me because I miss American burgers. Haha. He was so grateful and I learned more of what it meant to be consecrated. I feel so much more for his family. We pass by like every day. If I leave next week for transfers it's gonna be a really tough moment. Which reminds me, next week I will be writing on Tuesday because of transfers.
I can´t believe the changes a mission makes. Just today, I´ve been seeing the change in so many close ones of mine through their emails. It blesses not only the people here in Lugano, but in Nampa Idaho as well. I love the Lord!
"HASTY!? Our friends are out there! They Need. Our. Help!
Please, they cannot fight this war on their own!" -Pippin
I kinda like to put "our brothers and sisters" in for "friends" in that quote. ;)
Loves!
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| Baptism! |
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| Angie and Nicole |
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| Angie, Nicole & their Dad |
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| Yes! |
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| Afterwards |
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| We made chocolate chip cookies with Pacheco family (Angie & her Dad) |
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| Seba trying on the Suit |
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| Our Ward Mission Leader Hermano Rodriguez |
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| Burger King and Seba |
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Seba's son wants to be a missionary
so bad he dressed up just
like us
and asked to go and teach with us.
Hahaha! Cutest Thing EVER!
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Victoria
Gerardo & Eduardo's grandma
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| At a members house for lunch |
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| Our area |
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| Our area as well. Big difference. Ha. |
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| No Comment |
Monday, December 2, 2013
Livin’ the Lugano Dream!
Good Afternoon to all y’all! Livin’ the Dream? I thought so... This week was pretty awesome! We honestly saw so many tender mercies of the Lord and I’m so Happy to just BE here.
First of all, Gerardo and Eduardo... They didn’t go to church last week... But we found them again and they went to church this last Sunday! AND! Their grandma came here for a few months to live with them and SHE went to church as well! The 2 chicos should be getting baptized this next Sunday; so be praying for them.
Also, Nicole and Angie are doing REALLY well. This last week we got together and said a prayer to know if Joseph Smith was a prophet and afterwards it was quiet and Nicole said, “I believe it”. !!!!!! WOW! What a blessing! They also came to church and we will have their baptism on Sunday as well. ;)
Seba.... I seriously love this guy so much! He has just gotten sooo much happier since he decided to be baptized. He is still really stoked to get married as well and is keeping his commitments. Something awesome happened last night though.... He has NEVER prayed in front of missionaries or ANYONE before. And the missionaries have been teaching him on and off for years now! And last night we found us three alone for a minute and I don’t know why, but I just said, “Alright, it’s just us now. Let’s pray as men”. It felt weird saying those words like that, but he bowed his head and said a little prayer!!!! WOW! Seriously, so amazing! The spirit was so so strong! And tonight him, our ward mission leader, and us will be going out to eat, and then as a surprise, our ward mission leader is gonna buy him a suit! HOLY COW BLESSINGS! Just so you know, they live in a shack basically. He will be so happy! Still going strong for the 14th for his baptism.
We also found a part member family and are working with a little girl named Lorenza. She has a baptismal date for the 21st of this month! The Lord really has his hand in this work!
Thanksgiving was... HOT! I didn’t even realize it was thanksgiving until we went over to a members to get some food. I think it’s better this way though. The holidays don’t get me trunky at all. It’s just another day in Argentine paradise.
Speaking of Holidays our mission has made it a goal to have a “White Christmas”. As in getting people in baptismal clothing. hahaha! As a mission we are trying for 230 baptisms for the month of December! We can do it!
Anyways, Missions are pretty bomb. I love it. Really tough at times and I get home exhausted, but super awesome. It’s so worth it.
A man never rises above the stature he carves out in the mission field. (props to jake)
“I cannot jump, you’ll have to toss me! ... Don’t tell the elf”
Loves
First of all, Gerardo and Eduardo... They didn’t go to church last week... But we found them again and they went to church this last Sunday! AND! Their grandma came here for a few months to live with them and SHE went to church as well! The 2 chicos should be getting baptized this next Sunday; so be praying for them.
Also, Nicole and Angie are doing REALLY well. This last week we got together and said a prayer to know if Joseph Smith was a prophet and afterwards it was quiet and Nicole said, “I believe it”. !!!!!! WOW! What a blessing! They also came to church and we will have their baptism on Sunday as well. ;)
Seba.... I seriously love this guy so much! He has just gotten sooo much happier since he decided to be baptized. He is still really stoked to get married as well and is keeping his commitments. Something awesome happened last night though.... He has NEVER prayed in front of missionaries or ANYONE before. And the missionaries have been teaching him on and off for years now! And last night we found us three alone for a minute and I don’t know why, but I just said, “Alright, it’s just us now. Let’s pray as men”. It felt weird saying those words like that, but he bowed his head and said a little prayer!!!! WOW! Seriously, so amazing! The spirit was so so strong! And tonight him, our ward mission leader, and us will be going out to eat, and then as a surprise, our ward mission leader is gonna buy him a suit! HOLY COW BLESSINGS! Just so you know, they live in a shack basically. He will be so happy! Still going strong for the 14th for his baptism.
We also found a part member family and are working with a little girl named Lorenza. She has a baptismal date for the 21st of this month! The Lord really has his hand in this work!
Thanksgiving was... HOT! I didn’t even realize it was thanksgiving until we went over to a members to get some food. I think it’s better this way though. The holidays don’t get me trunky at all. It’s just another day in Argentine paradise.
Speaking of Holidays our mission has made it a goal to have a “White Christmas”. As in getting people in baptismal clothing. hahaha! As a mission we are trying for 230 baptisms for the month of December! We can do it!
Anyways, Missions are pretty bomb. I love it. Really tough at times and I get home exhausted, but super awesome. It’s so worth it.
A man never rises above the stature he carves out in the mission field. (props to jake)
“I cannot jump, you’ll have to toss me! ... Don’t tell the elf”
Loves
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| Matching Ties!!! That day we taught about how Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ are the same in purpose, but different. Kinda like dress the same, but are different missionaries. |
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| Villa! |
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Me and Nehemias! |
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| Aldapi Kids! |
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| Sunset |
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| My Thanksgiving |
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| Awesome day... HOT! |
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| Clowin’ around. ;) |
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| Pic with Rulo (curl) the town drunk. Ha! |
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| Chillin’ with the Kids |
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| More villa |
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| More Aldapi |
Monday, November 25, 2013
Doctors of Love!
Hey Fam-Bam! Merry Thanksgiving this week! It doesn’t feel like it at all here. Just super hot. Love it! Anyways, this week was super fun and we saw quite a bit of success. The Lord is seriously my Rock!
So to explain the title... Remember Sebastian? Well this week we went with him to set up his wedding! We took out a turn... I don’t know what it is in English, but... sacamos un turno por ellos and now they will be getting married the 13th! And guess what that means!? Baptism on the 14th! Yess! And that isn’t all, we had a recent convert doing the same thing so we said, “Well we did it once, let’s do it again!” So now she will be getting married the 18th of December! WOOO!!! "Some people call me the space cowboy!" It’s awesome to help people in such a worthy cause. Blessing families foreva!
This last week E l d e r B y w a t e r and I found an AWESOME family! The Pacheco family. It’s a cool story... So one day we were with a member and we were going to teach an investigator. Well turns out they weren’t there! After a second, I just said, “Well there is a reason we have a member with us here and at this place, so let’s knock a door and teach someone”. We never knock doors. So we knocked a door and met this family. From Peru, but super awesome! The 2 daughter, Angie (14) and Nicole (16) came to church this last Sunday and will be baptized the 8th of December! And they already love the ward. This week they are going to a church dance with the young women. Niccce!
I ate Iguana this week! Not kidding you. We ate Iguana. But it was actually surprisingly good! Like a mix between chicken and fish. And guess who we were eating it with… Seba and his family. And then Seba made a joke of eating flies for desert and I told him I’d give him 10 pesos if he ate a fly and he did it! Siiiiick! Love that guy.
I went on divisions with my district leader, E l d e r Y a n e z this week. He is from Chile. It was super cool to work with him and learn some new things. :)
Most of you don’t know, but I used to have night terrors as a kid... Well.. I didn’t have one this week. But I did have a nightmare! I dreamt that I went home! Seriously though, at the end of the dream I was just crying super hard! And when I woke up, I just started thanking my Heavenly Father that I was still here. It was cool.
And also, just thought I’d say that I’m thankful for the Priesthood. Seriously. Super Hero’s got nothing on the Sacerdocio. I’m so humbled and grateful for the chance that Heavenly Father has taken on me to let me wield such a power. Loves!
Until next week, I suppose! I love all of ya!
“There is always hope!” -Aragorn
So to explain the title... Remember Sebastian? Well this week we went with him to set up his wedding! We took out a turn... I don’t know what it is in English, but... sacamos un turno por ellos and now they will be getting married the 13th! And guess what that means!? Baptism on the 14th! Yess! And that isn’t all, we had a recent convert doing the same thing so we said, “Well we did it once, let’s do it again!” So now she will be getting married the 18th of December! WOOO!!! "Some people call me the space cowboy!" It’s awesome to help people in such a worthy cause. Blessing families foreva!
This last week E l d e r B y w a t e r and I found an AWESOME family! The Pacheco family. It’s a cool story... So one day we were with a member and we were going to teach an investigator. Well turns out they weren’t there! After a second, I just said, “Well there is a reason we have a member with us here and at this place, so let’s knock a door and teach someone”. We never knock doors. So we knocked a door and met this family. From Peru, but super awesome! The 2 daughter, Angie (14) and Nicole (16) came to church this last Sunday and will be baptized the 8th of December! And they already love the ward. This week they are going to a church dance with the young women. Niccce!
I ate Iguana this week! Not kidding you. We ate Iguana. But it was actually surprisingly good! Like a mix between chicken and fish. And guess who we were eating it with… Seba and his family. And then Seba made a joke of eating flies for desert and I told him I’d give him 10 pesos if he ate a fly and he did it! Siiiiick! Love that guy.
I went on divisions with my district leader, E l d e r Y a n e z this week. He is from Chile. It was super cool to work with him and learn some new things. :)
Most of you don’t know, but I used to have night terrors as a kid... Well.. I didn’t have one this week. But I did have a nightmare! I dreamt that I went home! Seriously though, at the end of the dream I was just crying super hard! And when I woke up, I just started thanking my Heavenly Father that I was still here. It was cool.
And also, just thought I’d say that I’m thankful for the Priesthood. Seriously. Super Hero’s got nothing on the Sacerdocio. I’m so humbled and grateful for the chance that Heavenly Father has taken on me to let me wield such a power. Loves!
Until next week, I suppose! I love all of ya!
“There is always hope!” -Aragorn
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| Took a shortcut through the park! |
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| View from outside the house |
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| Familia Pacheco (yes I know I’ve gotten fat) ;) |
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| Martin! Seba's son. |
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| Elder Estrada (other Elder of Lugano) |
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| Playing soccer on p-day at the church I'm leaning against the wall in the blue "Devil Madness" shirt |