Well... the new year has started we are now in 2011... and the week honestly went by well.
This week, started with a special exchange for E' Ordenes, who has been very... home-sick-y and not very excited to work. So Pte. Salas approved an exchange in which he could go work for a day with one of his old companions, Elder Hayes. And in order for exchanges to be complete, companions have to change for a day, so I got to be with Elder Hayes' companion Elder Casteñera. It was an interesting experience and it really did animate E Ordenes to work somewhat harder. We did a normal routine Tuesday, with a bit of new information at the end of the day. The ZL's have decided that our areas Patricios 1 and 2 would start working together in unity to show unity to all the other areas in the Zone. This was a big, and long waited change for us, because ever since we got here, it's been hard to get some success. So we've started to plan together, study together, be an area that truly works together in everything. It's already brought some fruits of success, but the ZL's aren't getting along either, so we'll see how long it lasts.
Now some great news, Franco, that 9 yr. old boy we've been working with, who's family is also starting to reactivate, will be baptized the 8th of January. He had his interview Friday and he passed with flying colors.
I know it's not much, but there's still a lot to go on. I hope that everybody is doing good right now, as well, I hope that everybody has a happy new year, and with that, is planning on looking for ways to better their lives.
-Ian
Sunday, January 2, 2011
December 20, 2010: Week of Miracles
Well, this week was a very blessed and an honestly miraculous one.
This week we really worked our butts off to make sure that we could a make some progress here in Patricios. We've really been facing challenges in finding people that are willing to progress, especially because Yuliana and her family we had to drop for lack of commitment. Our efforts were payed off though.
For the first few days of the week, we couldn't find anyone, we couldn't teach anyone... nothing. Then on Wednesday, things started happening. First off, at the end of the day, we found a FAMILY!!! They seemed way interested, but as is with the work at times, you won't usually find them a second time, we do plan on passing by again, to see if they are ignoring us and were just polite in letting us in. Then Thursday, we found another family, as well, we found a man that has a testimony of the gospel already, named Pablo (Paul in English.... think about it,) just needs to be baptized, he even told us when we first started talking with him that, "This church is very strong and is growing consistently. I honestly don't believe that this could be a work of man; God has to be the one in charge of this church." He himself even feels that the Lord is preparing him for this.
We also got the chance to meet, in place of Yuliana and her family, another family, that while the majority of this family is inactive, the Grandmother and one of the daughters is firm and continues in the faith. This young man we found is named Franco. He has 9 years of age as well, but because of the aide of this Grandmother, came this week to the Chapel, and is way excited, because he already wants to be a missionary (yay!!!)
Finally we had a Zone Conference this week, a Christmas special. We got to be trained a bit more, as well as here from Pte. Salas again, something we really hadn't done for about 4 months now. He's animating us and is preparing this mission to be able to baptize 100 people in January, something the mission has not been able to do for 10 years. His love for the missionaries really is amazing, and the fruits of his labor are showing, now that every week, we get closer and closer to reaching that amazing goal.
As well, part of this conference, we got to watch a Chrch related christmas movie, something about the "other" wise man; we also got to play a bunch of sports and do a lot of activities, one of which, included throwing waterballons at other missionaries (Pte. Salas included threw quite a few.... and got drenched as well.); finally, we had him and his wife gave the missionaries their gifts for Christmas (a mate cup... if you have questions ask Dad,) as well as giving out packages and letters and all sorts of other things.
It's so weird.... now almost a year ago... I was at home with y'all... opening my suitcases of pants, socks, ties, etc... my how time flies... included that in one more week I will have 11 months in the mission.
Well, I love you all and can't wait to be calling ya!
-Ian
December 13, 2010: Fruits of Labor
Yay!!! I'm finally twenty years of age!!! this means in a few short weeks I will be reaching a year in the mission!! In reply to G&G Hopkins, yes.... it has flown.. and it is only getting faster. Oh, and Grandma Asplund... you know me to well, (thanks for the letter!)
This week we had quite a struggle to say the least, trying to find people, trying to teach lessons... in general, just working hard to get some sort of result.
The fruit of our labor this week was one that still to this moment surprises me. Yesterday, we passed by an inactive member, who, even though has been inactive for about 20 years, has still had a lot of questions that she knew only the Church could answer. About two months ago, the father of this mother passed away, and one of the things he constantly tried to teach her was about the plan of salvation. When he finally did pass away, she became very confused about her father, not knowing what was going to happen, not knowing where he was... anything. We learned about this from her the week before, so obviously, we had planned on teaching her the Plan again... in high hopes and many prayers that she would understand it.
We started to teach her, as well as her 21 year old son and 15 year old daughter about the plan. They all took it in very well, and I believe that all of them honestly learned how great the plan is. The son, by the time we finished the lesson, told us that he felt that s for the moment he would be going to the Terrestrial kingdom, with a bit of regret in his voice. We asked them all if they felt the same, to which they all said yes. We then encouraged them that part of the plan is that ALL can return to the Celestial kingdom if they obey the commandments and do all that is necessary to return. We then asked them if they were willing to do everything, to which they all said yes. We then invited the son and daughter to be baptized, to which the daughter said yes. The son on the other hand showed us his immediate doubt, that he had already been baptized Catholic, and quite recently as well. (He recently just left the Police Academy here in Córdoba, and one of the things that you have to have to be a member of the force is a religion, so he joined the only one he knew.) We did help him realize that he needed a correct baptism and he seemed to be at the least convinced.
Now this is all just great, fine and dandy, be I'm sure you've noticed that something is missing from this family... the father. He will be a large obstacle because he's apparently very Catholic and as well is probably not gonna be very easy to convince to let us baptize his children.. . so starting as of now, we're going to be praying a ton!
Well, the birthday partying was that big really, we passed by Candelaria and they surprised me with a shirt and a cake, and that really was about it for the festivities.
I also forgot to mention something in my letter last week. I'm now in a pension of insanity.... being the ONLY white-boy, and more-so, the other 3 latinos are ALL from Chile... it's fun to say the least.
Well that's it for this week, love y'all!!
-Ian
December 6, 2010: El Encuentro Coral
Well, this last week was the last week of the transfer, and yes, I will be staying in Patricios for Christmas. We've got a lot of work to do so we'll see if we can make it a white Christmas Adam (we can't baptize on the 25th or 24th so we have to baptize the 23rd.)
The week was a little difficult to find people, but we did have the opportunity of finding a family, and the mother informed us that she is honestly searching for more unity in the family, as well, she is looking for a way in which Christ can truly enter her life and help her change. We're planning on passing by them this week, so we'll see how it goes, we've had the worst luck in the world here finding someone that will allow us to enter into their house a second time, and with that in mind, we are undoubtedly praying that this family will progress, and will let us in again...
The great experience of the week for me really was the opportunity to go a Choral performance held by the Church, in which the Stake which we are in (Norte) invited different groups from around Córdoba to sing and help start off the Christmas season with a bang. There was a missionary choir, a member choir, an evangelist choir, a catholic choir, and of course, the choir of the Church here in Córdoba, this choir also sang at the ground breaking ceremony. It was an interesting experience, to say the least. The one thing I remember about it all was the fact that when the Missionary, Member, and Córdoba choir sung, I felt comfortable, at ease, and my find felt a open, while the other two, while the sung great and had nice songs, I just remember feeling confused and uncomfortable. Their songs were honestly very nice, but... there was honestly something different about them. In general it was a great experience, I got to see a lot of the missionaries here again, and quite a few of the members I have known in my mission.
As well, I got the chance to talk to Elder Ferreira again, he's one of the elders that was with me while I was in Cosquín, and he's still there. He told me that finally, FINALLY Alberto Altamira got his divorce papers done, and him and his wife were married and he was baptized!!!!!! There have been a lot of elders that have worked with him, so it was a great moment of rejoicing.
Christmas here... it's just getting hotter and hotter everyday, and while it's been threatening to rain for a week now, we've yet to see any. I've yet to see any Christmas Traditions here, but they'll probably come soon. As for Caroling, I think we're the only ones singing Carols around here.... oh well!
Love ya'll and will be calling you soon!!!
-Ian
P.S. 20 YRS IN 4 DAYS!!!!
The week was a little difficult to find people, but we did have the opportunity of finding a family, and the mother informed us that she is honestly searching for more unity in the family, as well, she is looking for a way in which Christ can truly enter her life and help her change. We're planning on passing by them this week, so we'll see how it goes, we've had the worst luck in the world here finding someone that will allow us to enter into their house a second time, and with that in mind, we are undoubtedly praying that this family will progress, and will let us in again...
The great experience of the week for me really was the opportunity to go a Choral performance held by the Church, in which the Stake which we are in (Norte) invited different groups from around Córdoba to sing and help start off the Christmas season with a bang. There was a missionary choir, a member choir, an evangelist choir, a catholic choir, and of course, the choir of the Church here in Córdoba, this choir also sang at the ground breaking ceremony. It was an interesting experience, to say the least. The one thing I remember about it all was the fact that when the Missionary, Member, and Córdoba choir sung, I felt comfortable, at ease, and my find felt a open, while the other two, while the sung great and had nice songs, I just remember feeling confused and uncomfortable. Their songs were honestly very nice, but... there was honestly something different about them. In general it was a great experience, I got to see a lot of the missionaries here again, and quite a few of the members I have known in my mission.
As well, I got the chance to talk to Elder Ferreira again, he's one of the elders that was with me while I was in Cosquín, and he's still there. He told me that finally, FINALLY Alberto Altamira got his divorce papers done, and him and his wife were married and he was baptized!!!!!! There have been a lot of elders that have worked with him, so it was a great moment of rejoicing.
Christmas here... it's just getting hotter and hotter everyday, and while it's been threatening to rain for a week now, we've yet to see any. I've yet to see any Christmas Traditions here, but they'll probably come soon. As for Caroling, I think we're the only ones singing Carols around here.... oh well!
Love ya'll and will be calling you soon!!!
-Ian
P.S. 20 YRS IN 4 DAYS!!!!
November 29, 2010
Well, this week we had another baptism!
Candelaria finally reached the water, and, while a little afraid and embarrassed, like a normal 11 yr. old girl, she came out excited and ready for a new world. We visited her and her mother Sunday night and she told us that she had already written her experiences on a piece of paper and would be getting a journal to put it in.
As well this week, we have had a few interesting conversations with a part-member family that we are working with. This family has a daughter named Yuliana that is 9 yrs old. She's great, and is very much 9 years old. The thing that we are finding frustrating with this family is that the parents, which are members, are not helping us whatsoever to help her by baptized. The father wants her to be baptized and to baptize her, but he's inactive, and when we commit to him to do something, he always fails us. BUT the mother is worse... sadly. She is causing a lot of problems in this house, and a large part of it is her example. Everytime we ask her to pray, she says no, and everytime we ask why she always says she doesn't pray in front of people. Now, it wouldn't be that bad....if her daughter wasn't following that example. It's just as hard to get a 9 yr old to pray as a 30 some odd yr. old to pray, largely cause the mother refuses to pray with us. We had to hint of the fact once that she is the example for her daughter and that she needs to show her how to pray, but she replied saying that her daughter is the one who needs to set the example.
So this is my call to everyone right now: SET THE EXAMPLE, don't expect the example. If you want someone to be better than you, you need to show them where to start. Tonight we now have to go talk with the family and say to the mother directly, about what she's not doing. It may be the last lesson we have with this family, but without the aid of the family, we cannot do anything with them.
As I said, set the example, everyone. I know that I got my testimony of prayer because of the example of parents, having us all pray as a family every night, and when it was Mom or Dad's turn to pray, they didn't make an excuse, as well, when they were asked to pray in front of people, they did it without argument. I know that everything I learned was because of the examples of those who came before me. Leaders, parents, aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, friends.
Now on a happier note Thanksgiving!!! Yes we had a relatively, but fullfilling meal, not much, Pizza and Ice Cream.
Here's the pix:
8422: E Ordenes and I
8429: Pizza and E Corbett (one of the ZLs)
8431: 1 kilo of ICE CREAM
8447 and 8451: The baptism!
Love y'all!
-Ian
Candelaria finally reached the water, and, while a little afraid and embarrassed, like a normal 11 yr. old girl, she came out excited and ready for a new world. We visited her and her mother Sunday night and she told us that she had already written her experiences on a piece of paper and would be getting a journal to put it in.
As well this week, we have had a few interesting conversations with a part-member family that we are working with. This family has a daughter named Yuliana that is 9 yrs old. She's great, and is very much 9 years old. The thing that we are finding frustrating with this family is that the parents, which are members, are not helping us whatsoever to help her by baptized. The father wants her to be baptized and to baptize her, but he's inactive, and when we commit to him to do something, he always fails us. BUT the mother is worse... sadly. She is causing a lot of problems in this house, and a large part of it is her example. Everytime we ask her to pray, she says no, and everytime we ask why she always says she doesn't pray in front of people. Now, it wouldn't be that bad....if her daughter wasn't following that example. It's just as hard to get a 9 yr old to pray as a 30 some odd yr. old to pray, largely cause the mother refuses to pray with us. We had to hint of the fact once that she is the example for her daughter and that she needs to show her how to pray, but she replied saying that her daughter is the one who needs to set the example.
So this is my call to everyone right now: SET THE EXAMPLE, don't expect the example. If you want someone to be better than you, you need to show them where to start. Tonight we now have to go talk with the family and say to the mother directly, about what she's not doing. It may be the last lesson we have with this family, but without the aid of the family, we cannot do anything with them.
As I said, set the example, everyone. I know that I got my testimony of prayer because of the example of parents, having us all pray as a family every night, and when it was Mom or Dad's turn to pray, they didn't make an excuse, as well, when they were asked to pray in front of people, they did it without argument. I know that everything I learned was because of the examples of those who came before me. Leaders, parents, aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, friends.
Now on a happier note Thanksgiving!!! Yes we had a relatively, but fullfilling meal, not much, Pizza and Ice Cream.
Here's the pix:
8422: E Ordenes and I
8429: Pizza and E Corbett (one of the ZLs)
8431: 1 kilo of ICE CREAM
8447 and 8451: The baptism!
Love y'all!
-Ian
November 22, 2010
Alright a quick letter cause I don't have much time this week.
The week passed by quite nicely, with a few ups and downs, but all things worked out in the end.
Candelarea will be baptized this week, and she continues with the same strength of faith that she has had, and is very anxious. We also got another young girl named Yuliana to church this week. It was quite interesting how we did it. How you ask, by coming over in the morning before church started and we made waffles for them (E' Ordenes has a waffle iron.)
This week is thanksgiving, and we'll see what happens, Elder Corbett, one of the Zone Leaders is planning on having a little thanksgiving dinner, so yeah!
I did hear about Vick, and I'm glad that all is going well for them.
Sorry for the shortness of this letter, but I'll double it next week for ya'll!
-Ian
The week passed by quite nicely, with a few ups and downs, but all things worked out in the end.
Candelarea will be baptized this week, and she continues with the same strength of faith that she has had, and is very anxious. We also got another young girl named Yuliana to church this week. It was quite interesting how we did it. How you ask, by coming over in the morning before church started and we made waffles for them (E' Ordenes has a waffle iron.)
This week is thanksgiving, and we'll see what happens, Elder Corbett, one of the Zone Leaders is planning on having a little thanksgiving dinner, so yeah!
I did hear about Vick, and I'm glad that all is going well for them.
Sorry for the shortness of this letter, but I'll double it next week for ya'll!
-Ian
November 15, 2010
Well, as the week before reached high temperatures, this week decided to go the other way, with cool tempertures and a ton of wind.
Now, in this week the there is a lot of sad news, but of course, because of oposition in all things, there will be a little good news.
The bad news... well maybe not bad, but not entirely great. This week we had a lot of trial and error and very few results. We don't have a lot of investigators as of now, and with that, we are in the streets very often, and while we are talking with many people a day, very few people are really deciding to follow the example of Christ. One of these was a woman named Elva. She is an old investigator that we found one day while contacting. Turns out she has been investigating the church for a very long time. Now, one of our Zone Leaders straight away told us that it would not work out, but to see if we can help her progress. She apparently is very Bi-polar with the Gospel, some things she likes, and if you mention one bad thing, she will not talk to you again. With this in mind, we did our best to help her. Unfortunately, this last Saturday she told us and asked us to tell the Missionaries in general to not come by her house ever again, that we were wasting our time. It was something we were well aware of happening but, for me at least, it was still a pretty hard hit.
In this part of my mission, where it is difficult and every blessing I'm seeing is bigger than everything, I'm finally starting to understand how Nephi felt when he said that he wet his pillow with his tears every night. But as well he said that he still had his faith in Christ.
The good news is one of those small and great blessings. A young woman named Candelarea. Her mom is a recently self-re-activating member and they both have great testimonies and faith. When we originally got here, we didn't think that she'd make it to be baptized, but as to now, has probed us wrong, and will be baptized next week. She's been reading the Stories of the Book of Mormon book the entire time, praying every night, and is making great sacrifices to make it to the church.
I truly feel blessed that, while everything isn't just working our perfectly, at least one more person will receive the giant blessings that are waiting for them.
I love you all, and Maggie, I can't wait to walk the dogs with you either.
-Ian
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