Livin the SUEÑO!!!!

NOOO! Mi bella y querida Broncos perdieron! NOOOOO!

So this week has been pretty awesome. Like. I Love it here and what is happening! Firstly, my companion is pretty awesome. We help each other stay focused, but we also have a ton of fun. We quote Disney and Muppet movies and say Livin´ the Dream to everything. It's the best. Or the "bees knees" as he says. We are having a ton of fun.

So the apartment we live in is kinda like... the worst. Haha, we have a RAT problem! Haha, and there is a mold issue as well. So that has been pretty cool. We actually went house shopping on Saturday morning and found a cheap new place that we could live in, so we will see if it gets approved and we can get out. Meanwhile we stay. I live with 2 other Elders and they are super awesome too. We always have fun, but we stay focused.

This week was full of miracles and a TON of hard work. We had a couple that was gonna get married and get baptized, but the marriage fell through and so that's a bummer. But we had a possibility named Luisa. She was for sure, but we worked as hard as we could to make the environment in her home a good place for the Spirit and she felt it. She prayed and that night she couldn´t sleep until 3 in the morning thinking about the Church and her baptism. She told us she wanted to get baptized! YES! She was baptized yesterday by my companion (stud) and it was so spiritual! The ward is a champ! Haha, we had a lot of support. And all week the members were willing to go out with us. So awesome. We had 201 people in church, which I wasn´t used to. Haha, but it's the best.

Also, we went into the area book and decided to visit an ancient investigator named Marión. We passed by and she had such a change! She just was super elect. She said she wanted to come back and BE BAPTIZED! So she will be getting baptized this upcoming Sunday! So we are way pumped for that! We still need to keep our head on straight though and find lots more people that WANT to progress and come to church. That's the toughest things sometimes in the Villa. Lots of people listen during the week, but when Game Day Sunday comes, people fall.

Elder Peterson just told me a quote that I love: "Giving up hope is giving in to despair." It's super true. There was a quote from North Carolina that always gets me excited... "If not us, then WHO? If not now, then WHEN!" I want to make a difference. There was a song we listened to today that said that we need more desire. We don´t want a flame but a FIRE! This is the true church of Jesus Christ. This is His organization. The Book of Mormon is my rock and my song.

"I look fat, but I feel great!" -Elder Peterson

Oh, and just so happened that yesterday I passed by the church building in the evening and I had to use the little men's room, so we went in. A Priesthood prep meeting was going on for the whole stake and guess who I bumped into... the Patiño family! Lucas is preparing to receive the priesthood! It made me so content. It took me back to when I went to that meeting with my parents and how special that time was for me. And that I, through the Lord, was able to make that happen for a family on the other side of the world. We hugged and shook hands and took pictures and everything. And not only they were there, but lots from Parque Patricios. So I was super happy. The two wards are really close and Blanca told me she is gonna visit me some Sunday with Chipas (look it up) to give me. I am happy. :D

Loves!

Luisa's Baptism

Patiño Family

Peterson and I

Chipas (Argentinean Cheese Bread)

Do Something

by Matthew West

I woke up this morning

Saw a world full of trouble now

Thought, how’d we ever get so far down

How’s it ever gonna turn around

So I turned my eyes to Heaven

I thought, “God, why don’t You do something?”

Well, I just couldn’t bear the thought of

People living in poverty

Children sold into slavery

The thought disgusted me

So, I shook my fist at Heaven

Said, “God, why don’t You do something?”

He said, “I did, I created you”

If not us, then who

If not me and you

Right now, it’s time for us to do something

If not now, then when

Will we see an end

To all this pain

It’s not enough to do nothing

It’s time for us to do something

I’m so tired of talking

About how we are God’s hands and feet

But it’s easier to say than to be

Live like angels of apathy who tell ourselves

It’s alright, “somebody else will do something”

Well, I don’t know about you

But I’m sick and tired of life with no desire

I don’t want a flame, I want a fire

I wanna be the one who stands up and says,

“I’m gonna do something”

If not us, then who

If not me and you

Right now, it’s time for us to do something

If not now, then when

Will we see an end

To all this pain

It’s not enough to do nothing

It’s time for us to do something

We are the salt of the earth

We are a city on a hill (shine shine, shine shine)

But we’re never gonna change the world

By standing still

No we won’t stand still

No we won’t stand still

No we won’t stand still

If not us, then who

If not me and you

Right now, it’s time for us to do something

If not now, then when

Will we see an end

To all this pain

It’s not enough to do nothing

It’s time for us to do something [x3]

Villa Soldati!

So transfers came and I have been moved again! I am now here in Villa Soldati with my new companion, Elder Peterson from Washington. He has a transfer less than I do. It’s pretty crazy, it´s been a while since I´ve had a companion from the states, so I am excited to get to work. I have heard a ton about Villa Soldati and how it has great members and all that. I know when Elder Engebretson was here about 9 months ago, he was just livin´ the dream! So I must also. ;)

Our last week in Vucetich was pretty good. We worked a lot doing new things and trying to think outside of the box. I was able to go on divisions with the Elders in Jose C. Paz 1. I went with Elder Soto from Mexico to do a baptismal interview. But the interview fell through, so we set it up for the next day. So 2 straight days outside of my area. It was pretty crazy, but I enjoyed working with E-Soto.  Alex and Ainara are progressing well and will be baptized this Sunday! I am so happy for them. The Elder that replaced me is a good friend, so I am happy that he will be the one that takes part in the ordinances. :)  Laura STILL hasn´t had her baby. That is the craziest thing! So I´m a bit worried that there will be complications, but I have no idea what is going to go down. But I know she will be baptized too!

It was a hard thing leaving all the converts and members I got to know and love there in Vucetich, but I know that I am where I need to be. I am excited and ready to make things happen here in Soldati! OH! So this is the craziest part. Sunday night I had a dream that I was going to go to Villa Soldati. But I shrugged it off and said, ¨Nah that wouldn´t happen. I´m sure I´ll go to here or there¨ and then when I saw the change, I was like ¨WHAAAAAT!?¨ Hahaha! So crazy! So yeah, what have I been telling you guys from the beginning? I´m just LIVIN´ THE DREAM! Seriously!

So I have no idea who they are, but I guess we are planning on having a baptism this weekend, so that is pretty exciting! I know I am where I need to be. This is the Lord´s work and he knows each one of us personally!

Oh, and it has gotten COLD again. All last week it was super hot. Like I was walking around in a short sleeve shirt all day sweating. And now I´m all bundled up... Freakin´ Argentina!

Let’s do this!

Loves!

A Vucetich to Villa Soldati B

Villa Soldati between 2 previous areas

Villa Lugano & Parque Patricios

Soldati housing complex

Parque de la Ciudad, an amusement park

The Parque Roca Stadium

the home of the

Argentina Davis Cup Tennis Team

Enos 1:1-6

Herrrrro! It's super awesome outside. Argentina is about as weird as Idaho. One week it will be like Antarctica and the next it's like springtime. I don't get it. But I like the heat! Livin' the Dream!

One of the coolest things that happened during the week was Alex. We were on our way to check out a part of our area that we don't visit very much. As we walked, we saw a member that I hadn't talked to since I was with Elder Espinoza! Anyways, we walked over and started talking to them. Turns out Victor (the less active member) has a son of 10 years old (Alex) that isn't baptized and wants to really bad! So we started visiting him. Victor is seriously the coolest! He used to be kinda a "street alley cat" and so all the neighborhood has lots of respect for him and now us. Haha! he said "if anybody tries to rob you tell them you are with 'Bichito' ." hahaha! And he always insists that he takes us in his car to our next appointment. He even took us home from church that was in San Miguel in his car.

So church was in San Miguel this week because they had to name a new stake president! It was someone a lot of people didn't expect, but I think it was a perfect fit: President Coco. Haha. He was on the high council and our branch was assigned to him, so he came and even taught Elders Quorum. He is really humble and I still remember the spirit I felt when he taught that class. We talked afterwards about missions and everything, so I approve 100% on him leading the Sarmiento Stake. Such a stud.

As for the title of the email... I don't know. I feel like this story is something that you may have to actually live to understand. Actually, have a wrestle with God to appreciate the atonement. I know now that the best thing to do when you feel like prayer isn't working is pray even harder! The heart has to be broken and the spirit contrite, but it is worth it.

Next week is transfers and I am guessing I will be heading out. But just so y'all know I will be writing on Tuesday, not Monday. Thanks for the support and love! Oh and Laura STILL hasn't had her baby yet, which means she probably won't be baptized until next transfer. Oh well, I'm just happy she will do it eventually!

"El arrepentimiento y el vivir rectamente permiten que tengamos paz de conciencia, que es crucial para estar contentos" - Quentin L. Cook

Elders Hankins, Nurena & Espinoza

Hey, it's G r e g H a n k i n s' birthday this Sunday!

NICE! Firstly, it´s wild that it's almost the middle of August. That ain´t real, right? Thanks as always for all the motivational and uplifting emails! And sometimes letters! It is always the best! So GRACIAS!

The week started off amazing! We had interviews with President and his Assistants. The Zone Leaders always go last, which I like cuz I take all the time I need. :) I seriously don´t know of anybody else that I trust more here in the mission than this guy. He is a straight up hero for me and always gets my ideas in order to better serve the Lord. We talked about the zone and how to help it and then talked about goals - what I hope to have had accomplished at the end of my mission, after 5 years and after 10! President for reals is super inspired and said some really helpful things. Like just doing the things that no one else wants to do. Doing the things that stink. Because if you want to be the best, you have to do it! We gotta believe in ourselves and work hard! Look at the eternal perspective and not rush into things. :)

Speaking of birthdays, my companion, Elder Vidal, turned 20 last Saturday. We took part in eating 5 cakes! Hahaha! Oh man, I promise y'all I had to have eaten like 40 pounds of cake. And we still have leftovers in the pension awaiting our arrival. No complaints.

(click on blue links)

I remember saying that Jonny (3rd paragraph in link) husband of Sabrina (8th paragraph in link), was going to get the priesthood. Well, yesterday he did! It was an awesome experience. I got to stand in on the ordinance and it was powerful. Sabrina was bawling her eyes out. Now they have a worthy priesthood holder in the house! YES!

We have been kinda all over the place this last week trying to find and what not. Other than that, we are just livin´ the dream. President called us this morning (to talk about the zone) and at the end I always tell him ¨Livin´ the Dream!¨ and today he was all, ¨LIVIN´ THE DREAM! HAHAHAHA¨. I seriously love President Ayre.

¨Unless we lose ourselves in service to others there is little purpose to our own lives¨ -Thomas S. Monson (7th paragraph in link)

Loves

(click on images to enlarge)

Us with the Benitez family and the Acuña family

Feliz Cumple!!!   Elder Vidal

Amazing-ness

Pretty much am happy at this moment. Happy with where my Heavenly Father has taken me. But like my pal Elder Holland said, He is more interested in seeing, with His help, where I am willing to go. (go to heading, "The Best Is Yet to Be")

We had leadership council this last week at President Ayre's house and a man named Dan Clark talked to all the missionaries. He is a big time spokesperson that gets paid the big bucks to give motivational speeches to NFL, NBA, teams and even talks to the troops in Iraq (or wherever they are now). President Ayre served with him before in the Church and so they are friends and was able to pull some strings so he could talk to us through Skype. It was amazing. I was definitely motivated. Haha. He talked about the importance of Covenants and overcoming ourselves! I liked something he said. We as missionaries have to improve every day. Each person is the sum of the 5 people they associate with the most. So it's our natural desire to be surrounded with great people, right? When we teach and work with investigators, we need to use that. If we are enthusiastic, passionate, hardworking, and fun, they will automatically have that desire for us to return. They will say, ¨I like myself best when I´m with you, I want to see you tomorrow¨. He also talked about the phrase, ¨there are no ¨I´s¨ in team¨. He basically said that saying is bogus. That every player on the team has to commit to winning. Commit to contributing! That is a very personal and private commitment. The team that wins is full of ¨I¨ players. ¨There are 2 i´s in winning¨.

So there was a ton of stuff he talked about, but those are the things that come to my mind at the moment. This week was a bit more trying for us this week. We have dropped quite a few investigators with faith, which has been hard for me, especially when you get attached to those investigators so quickly.

GOOD NEWS: Haha, Julian went to the temple this last Thursday and when we went to visit him, his mom said, ¨What happens in the temple? My son has come home completely different. A Young Man¨. What a stud. He has been studying the scriptures non-stop and got a patch of the temple he sewed on his backpack. So awesome. And Francisco received the Priesthood this last Sunday too! :) So the converts are doing great! Now we just need to go and get more!

OH! We also did divisions this last week. I stayed and brought Elder Neciosup from Peru to my area. It was a good division and we learned a lot from each other. Sometimes I forget my oldness until I´m with a youngin in the mission.

Today we are going to go and play pool with our convert Nazareno and then go eat Cheeseburgers. YES! The P in P-day stands for Paradise. Oh, and just wanted to sign off with the lyrics of a song...

¨EVERYDAY I SEE MY DREAM!¨

Dan Clark