Vivendo um Sonho

This week was incredibly LOCO! Haha. We were just all over doing meetings and Tecnopolis and the Temple and then Conference all weekend. No complaining, it flew by! So here's what has happened since Friday...

On Sunday, we had the baptism of Miguel Mendoza! He is seriously such a stud! What was really awesome was it was a joint baptism with the entire Stake and Elder Engebretson is in the same Stake and he had a baptism too; so we shared it! 9 people were baptized in our Stake last Sunday, which is not too bad! I am so happy and proud of Miguel. He just trusts so freely in his feelings and what he knows to be true. Truly a special convert for me that I will never forget. He even brought his little brother to the baptism and conference. This week we are working towards his confirmation. Pretty stoked.

General Conference was just a spiritual bomb! I learned so much and will never forget it. I loved the talk that Jörg gave about being spiritually confident! I haven't talked about it, but I have been putting together a formula on how to live the dream. Hahaha! It's getting pretty good, but I think I am gonna put this guys entire talk as one of the steps on how to live the dream! It's so important to take responsibility spiritually AND physically, to repent and forgive quickly and joyfully, and to look at challenges and opportunities.... AND to EMBRACE obedience. When I do good, I feel good. When I do bad, I feel bad. I loved it. There were a ton more that I liked. I ran into the other room to listen to the Spanish talks with the members when the two Spanish guys talked. Pretty cool to be bilingual, I guess. ;)

And Transfers have come! I totally called it. Yesterday, I told Elder Peterson he would be going to the Zarate zone and it was totally fulfilled! That's the zone furthest away from my zone. Lol. And I saw who my companion would be...Elder Costa from Brazil! It was crazy because he has about 11 months in the mission and was Junior Companion. And he went directly to Zone Leader with me. I have never EVER seen that happen in my mission. He is so worried because he hasn't ever done verifications with District Leaders, or Elders in general. But he is humble and ready to learn. It just proves to me that the Lord is real and knows who He needs to be leading the mission. I'm stoked!

Oh, and the title is livin the dream in Portuguese.

Anyways, Here we go!

Livin' it!

mi amigo :))

Ride from apartment to area...

We take this train everyday!

I can't tell you how many times we book it and barely catch it

as it's leaving, like on the movies! Haha.

But yeah, I actually sometimes get off at that station, ("V.Soldati" above)

but usually I get off at Presidente Illia. (below)

Dare to Stand Alone!

Dare to Stand Alone!

Livin´ the Dream as always! This week and a half has been pretty crazy. It feels so weird writing on a Friday, but we will see how Technopolis is. Oh, and by the way... We went to the TEMPLE today! It was seriously the best! I love going there. It really opens my eyes and gives me guidance. This last week has been just such a test of testimony and faith. More than anything, I am just grateful for the chance to be on this mission. There is nothing like it!

So first things first! The Smart Phone family? Nada. Haha, happens sometimes. So we had to leave them. There was a lot of investigators that we stopped teaching because they weren´t progressing this last week. We knew if we did so, with faith, the Lord would provide.... AND HE DELIVERED! On Saturday, we met Miguel from Bolivia. We contacted him when he passed by us talking to somebody. (this is the short version here). And he committed to come to church. He ended up LOVING it! The day after, he said that he was dreaming about the Church and us passing by all the time to check on him and he just felt great. And he took that as an answer. AND THEN when we invited him to go to the Saturday session of General Conference he went to his boss by himself and asked for the day off and he got it! He will be baptized this Sunday in between sessions! He is just a huge miracle and I love him to death (not to mention I always wanted to have a convert named Miguel).

We also found a girl named Araceli that is a miracle too! Her mom is a member and Araceli was never baptized! She is preparing to be baptized next week on the 12th. We are super stoked for her and her progression. We are pretty much livin´ the dream!

Elder Peterson and I are still great! We will see what happens this next Tuesday with Transfers and all. I am super excited and nervous at the same time. There are no endings, Only EVERLASTING BEGINNINGS!

Sorry it´s short this time, but I love all y´all!

Laman and Lemuel

Engebretsen and I

We had some free time in the mission car

while our companions were doing tramites!

Hahaha!

Pictures taken at

Direccion Nacional De Migraciones

(National Migration Office)

-34.592583, -58.369530

Smart Phones...

So we totally worked like crazy this week. It was like nonstop action that was just wild for us. I am grateful that I am in this position. That I can stay focused and do the Lord’s will. “That’s pretty cool I guess”... -Kip.

On Monday last week after writing, we went to the Church to start baking Cinnamon Rolls! Haha, we were going to have a family home evening and we wanted to show our “cultures”. Anyways, Elder Peterson knew how to cook it, so we went and I like... watched basically and helped sometimes. They turned out super awesome and was a hit at the Noche de Hogar.

We were able to finally move out! YEAH! When we got all of our stuff packed up, we went to find a remis to carry all our stuff 8 blocks to the other Elder’s apartment, but... no one had any cars ready. So we called the other Elders and we walked with 2 mattresses and all of our luggage for 8 blocks. It was the BEST! LOL. Everyone stared.  Score.

Then we had Zone Conference with President and the Assistants. It was super awesome and I got lots of personal revelation. The Book of Mormon is KEY! Anyways, afterwards we went on divisions with the Assistants again. I thought I would be staying in the area this time, but they had me go with Elder Valerdi again to his area. It was super awesome and I learned lots. It was fun to drive around in Car all day. lol. As the night came, we had to take mattresses to some Elders out in the boonies and so we got to talk some more as we drove. I miss driving in a car. Ha! The things I took for granted. Anyways, since we got back home at like 12 at night, we were allowed to sleep until 8. But not happening! Some bozo decided to start construction RIGHT in front of our house at 5:30 in the morning. Nice. Livin’ the Dream!

So the coolest story of the week happened Saturday. We were walking and actually fasting to find new people when we spotted a phone face down in the road. Super weird since it’s the villa. So we picked it up and it turned out to be a Samsung Galaxy 4 or something like that! Brand New! Haha, so we were thinking this has to be an opportunity. So we went to a members house and called one of the contacts. His brother answered and we got the address of the owner and went to return it. We got there and found a super humble Bolivian family. They wanted to pay us for the act, but we just said, “You can repay us by listening to our message.” They accepted! We also found his brother in law and he accepted as well! They are preparing to be baptized the fifth of October. Blessings! It’s crazy how the Lord just MAKES things happen! The righteous need not fear.

Oh, and my new apartment is like 2 blocks away from my Lugano apartment! I live in my old area! It’s so weird, but Lugano is a way nice place. Lots of nice people and stuff to buy. Haha.

“Como poseedores del sacerdocio, no lleguemos a ser insensibles a lo asombroso y maravilloso que es lo que el Señor nos ha confiado”

Oh, and so yáll know, I won’t be writing next Monday cuz we are going to the temple on Friday next week! And then after, we asked Prez if we could go to Tecnopolis and write there. Score! So until next Friday!

Loves!

Science, Technology, Industry & Art 

Mega Exhibition

-34.55861, -58.51139

Tecnopolis Videos

I ain't quittin you!

Helloooooooo! This week has been an incredible one! I cannot believe some of the things that happen to a person on the mission. There are so many unplanned surprises and MIRACLES! So let's start from the beginning to end!

Firstly, we have been working a ton with the members this week. We have been planning a ton and have so many people to accompany us that we went on splits with the members a few times this week. It was so awesome to be able to do twice the amount of work in one day. That was getting us super pumped.

We have this super sweet old lady that is a convert of Elder Peterson. She has been hurting for a while and needs an operation done. We were feeling super bad for her and praying for a way to help. Turns out the thing that is holding her back from having the operation was not having sufficient blood donors. So... It's clear what we had to do! Let's go to the gross hospital to donate blood! Hahah! We got there and prepared ourselves to donate blood. As we walked the halls, I saw dogs laying on the left and the right. There were spider webs and I swear I saw some blood stains as I made my way to the blood donating place. But anyways, they cleaned me up like I did the thanksgiving turkey and jabbed a needle into me that was just laying there. So... I totally made that all up. It was a totally normal, clean hospital. But it was all too bad. Two Elders that came with us to donate FAINTED when they got their fingers pricked for the testing. hahaha! My plan was to not look and talk about my country. It worked. Haha. I hardly noticed. I felt so awesome to be able to help Elsa. She is such a sweet lady and now has all the blood she needs.

We also had a project called Helping Hands here again. About 3 or 4 zones went to a hospital (Hospital Oftalmológico DR. Pedro Lagleyze) to sand and paint the walls inside and out. It was super fun for me seeing all the Elders again! I remember a year ago we did this when I was with Elder Smith as a junior comp. How the time flies!

That same day we were planning on the baptism of Marion Francou. She was the one that fell through last week on Sunday. It's a crazy story so strap on your seat belts. We went after lunch to look for her as our priority. She wasn't answering the door or her phone. Then the idea to call a number she had sent us a message on a few days earlier came to my mind. She answered! We set up a time to go by, but when we got there she was less than stoked for her baptism. We got her excited for it and she was pumped and went to get herself and her baby ready. We went off letting all the members know and inviting them to the baptism. As we were in a recent convert's house, we got a message from her saying she didn't feel good and couldn't do it. At that moment, I said a prayer asking for the gift of discernment. I wasn't sure what she needed, but I knew God knew. At that moment, I felt so illuminated. As my companion and I made our way back to her house, we felt like we were honestly in a trio. We felt like someone was with us. We realized that it wasn't that she didn't want to be baptized, but that despair had taken hold of her. Losing hope is the worst feeling in the world. And even when an escape route is offered, aka baptism and the gospel, it seems pointless to even try. As we arrived at her door, the whole world slowed down. She came out and we talked. It was a REAL TALK. A real life talk that I will never forget because it wasn't me nor Elder Peterson talking. It was the Spirit. SHE decided at that moment she needed to act and be baptized. The baptism was the most spiritual I have ever been to. A member baptized her. As she came up to us, she just thanked us for helping her get out of her house. She said she couldn't get rid of the smile on her face. Throughout the whole conversation, I realized we were almost whispering. I thought of the temple and how we should always strive to feel like we do when we are in the celestial room. And that's how it was. I love my Father in Heaven! THERE IS ALWAYS HOPE!

And if that isn't enough.... So on Sunday morning all was going as planned. Peterson just got done showering, so I grabbed my towel and hopped into the shower (I found axe shower gel here... I was so happy!). As I lathered, rinsed, and repeated, I heard shouts and things falling. My first thought was, Ah well... Elder Peterson is probably getting rid of all his extra energy in break out dance and song like he always does, no biggy. But then he opens the door and yells I KILLED A RAT WITH A BROOM ELDER! hahahaha! Turns out, he was going to grab his underwear from the drawer and a rat was taking a nap right on top of his underwear! Haha, they got their brooms and other deadly objects to a rat ready, and attacked! Elder Peterson got a good one-two in there and killed the curse! It left a ton of little presents in his drawer. Haha! HOWEVER, it isn't Chuck Norris. Still isn't big enough. But needless to say, we are moving out of our apartment today and moving in with 2 other Elders from our ward. Elders Thurgood and Gomez. They are totally awesome, so I am pumped!

And I know it's long, but a funny thing in church... Other Elders were talking to a member and I leaned over and whispered something to repeat to them in English. Then he turned to them and said, "Why should I welcome you, Gandalf the Grey". hahaha. I almost peed laughing.

Anyways, it was an inconceivable week. Just livin the dream!

Loves!

Un hombre no envejece cuando se le arruga la piel sino cuando se le arrugan los sueños

 

Marion

I almost died! ;)

Vos tenes lo que se necesita
para salvar una vida

Mormon Helping Hands

Libre Soy!

Hello Yáll! Livin the Dream!

So this last week was pretty awesome. After writing last p-day, we got the zone together and did a bbq behind the chapel of Almagro. We also played lots of soccer and messed around. It was awesome to have more bonding moments with the zone and make us stronger. Later that week, we continued with the idea and before starting our zone meeting, we made pancakes! Haha. We were just livin' the dream! In between that was filled with lots of hard missionary work, for example...

This week we decided to go on divisions with Soldati 4. I went to their area for 2 days with a Columbian named Elder Micanquer. Haha. We worked super hard and I got to know his area and investigators. He is a good Elder; we actually have the same time in the mission! We learned a lot about what was good about the area, and goals to make it better. And ourselves. It was a good experience... BUT! At the end of the first day, I had a huge headache and my nose was just fuuuuuuuullll of gunk. And my eyes were super red and so I was like, "I freak, now what!?" I woke up the next morning and my eyes were glued shut! Haha, nooooooo, Pink Eye!? For real!? So I asked my Micanquer for a blessing and THE PRIESTHOOD IS REAL! I was well enough to work. It was like Bishop Bastian. I was dying at home, but as soon as I hit the pavement to start working, the pain went away and I could think clearly. Miracles! Livin the Dream!

Also, I mentioned our rat problem. Yeah... There is one that is super terrible. It's moving things around like our forks and trash and so we gave it the name of Chuck Norris. Haha. So here is the thing, I got home from divisions and they had killed a rat! Haha, in the mouse trap was a big rat. But I was about to sing, "Good and dead, we killed the beast!" just yet... It wasn't as big as I imagined Chuck Norris. And lo and behold, the nonsense continued the following night. He still LIVES! We believe we only got the wife of Chuck. So we cleaned all the mouse traps today and are hoping to get him soon...

We were so excited to have the baptism of Marion this Sunday. She passed her interview, and everything. On Sunday, we didn't have hot water so we started BOILING pots of water and filling the font that way for hours! We called her and she said she would be getting there soon and.... she... didn't show up.... Oh man, I was so bummed. I felt like I got dumped or something. So we will see what we do with her.

LUISA!
She is so awesome. I seriously love her so much! She is so in tune with the Spirit and is sharing the gospel with everyone she meets. She was fasting yesterday and when we got there, she was all, "ahhh chicos!!!" and gave us food (we had already broken our fast), but she didn't eat anything. She was staying loyal to fasting the FULL 24 hours. Hahaha. I was able to do the confirmation for her on Sunday and the Spirit was definitely strong. I loved it!

So yeah, that's about it. Just livin' the dream. Today will be pretty chill; we are pretty worn out. Haha.

Loves!

Chuck Norris´s Wife!

Micanquer and I 

Paaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaancakes!