What a week, what a week, what a week!
This was a very exciting week, with success being thrown at us at every corner, every minute, every... wow... it was awesome.
This week we worked extremely hard because we are now coming up on the end of the transfer (AGAIN!!!) so we wanted to make sure we could finish it off incredible. The first thing is we placed a baptismal date with a sister of a sister in the ward (Sis. Martinez) and it was awesome. She had given us a date before of....drum roll please.... Dec. 8... but that was way to far away and the fact is, is that she's been ready for a long time and doesn't need to wait any longer, and we told her that. (She's been investigating the church for 12 yrs now.) However, we had an awesome lesson with her Monday night, in which, we talked about baptism in specifiacally. The blessings she can receive for her and her son, the power that it brings because of Christ's Atonement, the cleansing power, etc. and committed her to the 7th of August!!! We also got her to come to church with us for the first time EVER!!!
Another cool thing that happened is that, well, just recently, I was asked to teach my district about CH. 11 in Preach My Gospel, Committments. I was honestly scared at first, obviously because I had to take 20-25 min. teaching in spanish about something that I honestly am fairly new to. But it all came out perfectly because I had prepared, and written well enough in spanish that I could understand my notes and speak them to the members of my district.
Finally, I HAVE A WEEK TILL I REACH 6 MONTHS!!!! Wow has the time flown!
In answer to how the temple is like the Emerald City, I honestly think it is a place where everyone truly can be of one heart and one mind, a place of true Zion. I remember thinking several times when I attended, "We are clearly two different people, but, we are here with the same purpose, with the same love we have for our fellow brethren and sisters." I say this in the sense because while there where different people with different occupations in the Emerald City, they all united all felt united, and all loved everyone. I think that is the way it could be.
Well hope all goes well and love y'all!!!
-Ian
Monday, August 23, 2010
July 12, 2010
Congrats and kudos to Ellie!!! It's fantastic that she did so well, and I hope the bronchitis passes so she can continue to play. Also, good luck to the rest of the family with the sickness, I hope and pray all will get better and continue on.
This week was largely focused on the Zone Conference, and President Salas.
The conference was interesting to say the least, with a the First Presidency and the Brethren announcing new changes to Missionary Work world wide. Starting now missions are going to have less zone confereces, less mission president interviews, and more time to work with the Mission President on a daily basis. The Brethren want the missions and missionaries to start thinking in a month to month basis, not transfer to transfer, so that the missionaries can focus on having baptismal goals for months, not trasfers. As well, the Mission President will be in charge of being the Head Teacher for the mission, going on exchanges more often with the missionaries and providing workshops for District and Zone leaders.
This is big especially since it also sounds like they'll be foucsing on re-teaching missionaries how to use the principles of Preach My Gospel more effectively as well.
Now about Pres. Salas. He is a very funny man with a very clear, honest, and sincere purpose. He wants us all to work, but more than anything, he wants the mission to be one, to be united. He wants to be one with the missionaries, not some high athority figure, truly representing the priniciple of "He that is greatest among you, let him be your servant..."
Sister Salas is also a great woman as well, telling me after asking me a whole bunch of health questions that if I am having a hard time with asthma during the day to NOT push myself and if I need to, take a rest, especially when it's cold and the weather changes. Pres. Salas even told E' Hone (Who, btw, has lost over 100 lbs. throughout his mission and now has some weird skin problems, largely indents in his skin that hurt every now and then) that if he needs to, he can take a day off and go to a doctor in Córdoba Capital. These two are very concerned for the missionaries, even with a ton of the missionaries after the conference thinking, "These are no President and Sister Olsen." Overall it was a great time with a TON of laughs during the conference, especially when their 14 yrs. old son came in and said in perfect english "Sup?"
To answer your questions, yes we continue to work and work hard, being obedient and having fun while doing so.
Thanks for the extra money a few weeks ago, I hope that wasn't a problem and I'll try to ask for that as little as possible. Also thanks for the pictures of Wilbur and Snowflake and Ellie's triumphant victory.
Love y'all!!
-Ian
This week was largely focused on the Zone Conference, and President Salas.
The conference was interesting to say the least, with a the First Presidency and the Brethren announcing new changes to Missionary Work world wide. Starting now missions are going to have less zone confereces, less mission president interviews, and more time to work with the Mission President on a daily basis. The Brethren want the missions and missionaries to start thinking in a month to month basis, not transfer to transfer, so that the missionaries can focus on having baptismal goals for months, not trasfers. As well, the Mission President will be in charge of being the Head Teacher for the mission, going on exchanges more often with the missionaries and providing workshops for District and Zone leaders.
This is big especially since it also sounds like they'll be foucsing on re-teaching missionaries how to use the principles of Preach My Gospel more effectively as well.
Now about Pres. Salas. He is a very funny man with a very clear, honest, and sincere purpose. He wants us all to work, but more than anything, he wants the mission to be one, to be united. He wants to be one with the missionaries, not some high athority figure, truly representing the priniciple of "He that is greatest among you, let him be your servant..."
Sister Salas is also a great woman as well, telling me after asking me a whole bunch of health questions that if I am having a hard time with asthma during the day to NOT push myself and if I need to, take a rest, especially when it's cold and the weather changes. Pres. Salas even told E' Hone (Who, btw, has lost over 100 lbs. throughout his mission and now has some weird skin problems, largely indents in his skin that hurt every now and then) that if he needs to, he can take a day off and go to a doctor in Córdoba Capital. These two are very concerned for the missionaries, even with a ton of the missionaries after the conference thinking, "These are no President and Sister Olsen." Overall it was a great time with a TON of laughs during the conference, especially when their 14 yrs. old son came in and said in perfect english "Sup?"
To answer your questions, yes we continue to work and work hard, being obedient and having fun while doing so.
Thanks for the extra money a few weeks ago, I hope that wasn't a problem and I'll try to ask for that as little as possible. Also thanks for the pictures of Wilbur and Snowflake and Ellie's triumphant victory.
Love y'all!!
-Ian
July 5, 2010
Haha, actually Elder Hone has a friend here, Mateo, that has done all that stuff for him, he's even had him request me for a friend.
Love y'all and thanks for everything.
-Ian
Well it was a pretty intense week, working more with Alberto, the new president (whom we get to meet on Thursday,) finding and contacting here in Cosquin, and as well.... Argentina getting ABSOLUTELY stompped by Germany.
Also a big congrats to Maggie for finishing the Book of Mormon, it truly is the most powerful books in the world. I can't wait to finish it again a few times during my mission, maybe even in Spanish (I've made it past the Isaiah chapters in Spanish!!)
Overall it has been quite a quiet week, but I woke up and screamed in joy to Elder Hone the day Luke entered the MTC, so hip-hip hooray again!!!
Love y'all and thanks for everything.
-Ian
June 28, 2010
Oh yeah... sorry for forgetting to say happy birthday, but I'll make it up to you by sending some more pictures of... me! cause there are not many that I have sent.
Well... this area is pretty awesome, and we do already have a golden investigator. His name is Alberto. He has everything ready right now except... that they can't get divorce papers right now for some odd reason so he can marry the member he is currently living with. Other than that he truly is golden. His son, who apparently wasn't listening before, asked that we come over so he can hear more, so that was awesome.
It's a very... VERY calm area, Cosquin is even titled "the Vacation of the Mission." I thought that was dumb at first untill I thought back on Crucero.
It was a very stressful area even with some of the success we were having. I remeber that last week I was there, I was just physically sick because of how stressed I was, and the realtionship I had with E' Holbrook had finally broken apart for some odd reason. I was ready to leave the mission again because I just didn't like feeling that stressed.
Here however, E' Hone has already taught me something big. That I need to have fun doing this. If I'm just so stressed on the work, I will fall apart. So we've made sure to have fun this entire time while working and I already feel TONS better. We have a great relationship already and he declared me as one of his 3 companion friends (apparently there's a belief that you will only have 3 friend companions your entire mission.)
I've also finally learned more about the dark side of this mission. Córdoba is the LOWEST baptizing mission in all of South America, because it is the most European of them all, and that the norm of baptisims are 3. I've also learned about the Elders in the mission which aren't doing to good right now, in one way or another. For instance, we've got a pedifile in our district... who became a pedifile during the mission. They've had tons of emergency transfers just in the last month.... it's insane. But I know, that as long as I keep doing what I'm supposed to be doing and not slacking off, not focusing on myself, it'll all come through.
Anyways, some bright light of this conversation, Luke is going to be missionary this week!!!!!! I can't wait to hear from him and his experiences. I know that he will honestly be awesome and that whoever meets him will have their life changed in one way or another.
We also get our new president this week so we'll see how it all comes together.
Ciao!!!
Well... this area is pretty awesome, and we do already have a golden investigator. His name is Alberto. He has everything ready right now except... that they can't get divorce papers right now for some odd reason so he can marry the member he is currently living with. Other than that he truly is golden. His son, who apparently wasn't listening before, asked that we come over so he can hear more, so that was awesome.
It's a very... VERY calm area, Cosquin is even titled "the Vacation of the Mission." I thought that was dumb at first untill I thought back on Crucero.
It was a very stressful area even with some of the success we were having. I remeber that last week I was there, I was just physically sick because of how stressed I was, and the realtionship I had with E' Holbrook had finally broken apart for some odd reason. I was ready to leave the mission again because I just didn't like feeling that stressed.
Here however, E' Hone has already taught me something big. That I need to have fun doing this. If I'm just so stressed on the work, I will fall apart. So we've made sure to have fun this entire time while working and I already feel TONS better. We have a great relationship already and he declared me as one of his 3 companion friends (apparently there's a belief that you will only have 3 friend companions your entire mission.)
I've also finally learned more about the dark side of this mission. Córdoba is the LOWEST baptizing mission in all of South America, because it is the most European of them all, and that the norm of baptisims are 3. I've also learned about the Elders in the mission which aren't doing to good right now, in one way or another. For instance, we've got a pedifile in our district... who became a pedifile during the mission. They've had tons of emergency transfers just in the last month.... it's insane. But I know, that as long as I keep doing what I'm supposed to be doing and not slacking off, not focusing on myself, it'll all come through.
Anyways, some bright light of this conversation, Luke is going to be missionary this week!!!!!! I can't wait to hear from him and his experiences. I know that he will honestly be awesome and that whoever meets him will have their life changed in one way or another.
We also get our new president this week so we'll see how it all comes together.
Ciao!!!
June 21, 2010
TRANSFERED!!!!!!!
I have been Transfered! woot woot!!! oh yeah!! I am now in an area called Cosquin (Ko-s-kin) with my new companion......Elder Hone from Denver, CO. I don't have much information on anything about the area.... but there are MOUNTAINS!!!!!!
Largely this week, because I don't have much to say, I'll just answer those questions.
If you could send me some more pills that would be great. We do have a fridge and a freezer, but we don't have bisquic or hamburger helper. If you want to send ANYTHING through the mail, inhaler food... anything, send it with the note "Missionary Supplies" this is what E' Holbrook's mother did and nothing was broken into. I think I also left something on the board in the kitchen with how to send stuff. The Ipod rule, which he just talked with our zone about a few weeks ago, is that it can't have a screen in which you can watch movies, so like you could send one of those older 1 GB mp3 players and they would work just fine... but please don't stress.
I did fall into illness last week, but nothing too serious. Also, the mission did get me an inhaler with medicine, so I think I'm okay there. Benadryl is still the biggest helper.
I do have a request.... not sure how big it is, but if you could but like $75 more dollars in my savings account that would be great, if not, i'll be good.
And about the soup thing.... The soups here are AMAZING!!!! They are all cream based so they're way good.
The asthma thing is still hindering a bit, but more than anything I can still work, and fortunately for me and him, Elder Hone has asthma too, so we both know how to work with it all.
Anyways, talk to y'all later... from my NEW area!
-Ian
I have been Transfered! woot woot!!! oh yeah!! I am now in an area called Cosquin (Ko-s-kin) with my new companion......Elder Hone from Denver, CO. I don't have much information on anything about the area.... but there are MOUNTAINS!!!!!!
Largely this week, because I don't have much to say, I'll just answer those questions.
If you could send me some more pills that would be great. We do have a fridge and a freezer, but we don't have bisquic or hamburger helper. If you want to send ANYTHING through the mail, inhaler food... anything, send it with the note "Missionary Supplies" this is what E' Holbrook's mother did and nothing was broken into. I think I also left something on the board in the kitchen with how to send stuff. The Ipod rule, which he just talked with our zone about a few weeks ago, is that it can't have a screen in which you can watch movies, so like you could send one of those older 1 GB mp3 players and they would work just fine... but please don't stress.
I did fall into illness last week, but nothing too serious. Also, the mission did get me an inhaler with medicine, so I think I'm okay there. Benadryl is still the biggest helper.
I do have a request.... not sure how big it is, but if you could but like $75 more dollars in my savings account that would be great, if not, i'll be good.
And about the soup thing.... The soups here are AMAZING!!!! They are all cream based so they're way good.
The asthma thing is still hindering a bit, but more than anything I can still work, and fortunately for me and him, Elder Hone has asthma too, so we both know how to work with it all.
Anyways, talk to y'all later... from my NEW area!
-Ian
June 14, 2010
I don't even know what to say to this... especially since our trek ended after the first day.
First thing that came to mind when I read this was "You didn't know that Mitch likes to sit out on things like this?"
This last week was a little hard, Tuesday started with a big storm leaving most of the streets in our area submurged or thick mud, so it made it hard to get into anyone's house, but we did find on this day a woman named Roxana and her daugther Maria. We have high hopes for them so I'll keep you up on that. Wendsday we couldn't get any lessons, Thursday we had exchanges again and I got to work with Elder Fontes, who made for lunch an AMAZING biscuits and gravy (fyi, he has had two companions from southern usa, hence the reason he knew how to make it,) Friday it was just solid cold but we got quite a bit of work done, especially since we got to have a lesson with Patricia and Silvio that night (more on this later,) and then Saturday was the first match for Argentina, and because of this, basically any and all missionaries were told to stay in their pensions during the match and given a good luck for after to find anyone (Especially since they won! (yay!!)) and then Sunday... no one came to church.
Our lesson with Patricia was about the changing power of the Atonement and how it can effect their lives. It was a very powerful lesson, especially since we talked about the law of Chastity with them and after we got a firm "We'll think about it" from them. I even did a part, telling a story of how the Atonement has helped me.
This week is the last of the Transfer, and now every one in our pension is sick and with another game coming this week things will probably continue to be hard to work, but we will be working nonetheless.
President Olsen also only has a few weeks left, he'll be heading our July 1st so we'll probably be having a HUGE mission conference for this, maybe even an Apostle will come.
Love y'all!!!
-Ian
First thing that came to mind when I read this was "You didn't know that Mitch likes to sit out on things like this?"
This last week was a little hard, Tuesday started with a big storm leaving most of the streets in our area submurged or thick mud, so it made it hard to get into anyone's house, but we did find on this day a woman named Roxana and her daugther Maria. We have high hopes for them so I'll keep you up on that. Wendsday we couldn't get any lessons, Thursday we had exchanges again and I got to work with Elder Fontes, who made for lunch an AMAZING biscuits and gravy (fyi, he has had two companions from southern usa, hence the reason he knew how to make it,) Friday it was just solid cold but we got quite a bit of work done, especially since we got to have a lesson with Patricia and Silvio that night (more on this later,) and then Saturday was the first match for Argentina, and because of this, basically any and all missionaries were told to stay in their pensions during the match and given a good luck for after to find anyone (Especially since they won! (yay!!)) and then Sunday... no one came to church.
Our lesson with Patricia was about the changing power of the Atonement and how it can effect their lives. It was a very powerful lesson, especially since we talked about the law of Chastity with them and after we got a firm "We'll think about it" from them. I even did a part, telling a story of how the Atonement has helped me.
This week is the last of the Transfer, and now every one in our pension is sick and with another game coming this week things will probably continue to be hard to work, but we will be working nonetheless.
President Olsen also only has a few weeks left, he'll be heading our July 1st so we'll probably be having a HUGE mission conference for this, maybe even an Apostle will come.
Love y'all!!!
-Ian
June 7, 2010
Good luck with the trek!!! K don't have much time today, but there are two main things:
Last week we had Zone Conference, and it was the last time we'd see, hear, and be interviewed by President Olsen before President Salas comes in on July 1st. In my interview, he actually encouraged me to keep writing in my journal, so I guess I'll have a a lot more to but into the "mission journal" when I get home. He also gave me a blessing in which he blessed me with open lungs, so we'll see how that goes. He ended the conference by exhorting us to study our own personal Plan of Salvation, our Patriarchal Blessings.
Patricia and Silvio are continuing to progress, with them starting to now pray as a family and Patricia came to Church once again this week. They both said that they miss the classes, and are planning to start coming earlier again, most of the time they make it to Sacrament meeting.
Well, two weeks till transfers, and it's likely that I will be staying and E' Holbrook will be going, but I'll inform y'all when this passes. Spanish continues to get better, I can now carry a regular conversation with people, but I'm still working on a stronger vocabulary.
I've heard of P90X, it apparently was huge, with quite a few of the missionaries that were with me at the MTC, the same ones that are here with me now, having done it and giving high praise to it all.
Health: It is getting better, I'm gonna be getting more benadryl this week, it does seem to be helping the most. I think though that I'll be having troubles with it at the ends of weeks, because I'm pushing myself so hard to work with all my strength, so I guess it's kinda comforting to know that I want to collapse by Monday.
World Cup: THIS WEEK!!!!! Cheer for Argentina!!! We were informed today that during Argentina's games to stay in our pensions and plan, study, or have district meetings. Nevertheless, we are all excited. I'm a little sad that I'll miss it this year, but the next time it comes around, I do plan to be cheering and screaming more.
Love Y'all!!!
-Ian
Oh you also asked me in one of your letters what to put in the emails and what to put in letters. Keep putting things like sports, radio, BSA, movies, updates like that in the mail, and any and all family related things in the email. If you also have any questions if I want packages and what to send in packages and such, just ask me, but I'm all good for now... really. They take forever to get here and get searched pretty often so I don't want you all to worry about sending anything that has a pretty high value.
love ya
Last week we had Zone Conference, and it was the last time we'd see, hear, and be interviewed by President Olsen before President Salas comes in on July 1st. In my interview, he actually encouraged me to keep writing in my journal, so I guess I'll have a a lot more to but into the "mission journal" when I get home. He also gave me a blessing in which he blessed me with open lungs, so we'll see how that goes. He ended the conference by exhorting us to study our own personal Plan of Salvation, our Patriarchal Blessings.
Patricia and Silvio are continuing to progress, with them starting to now pray as a family and Patricia came to Church once again this week. They both said that they miss the classes, and are planning to start coming earlier again, most of the time they make it to Sacrament meeting.
Well, two weeks till transfers, and it's likely that I will be staying and E' Holbrook will be going, but I'll inform y'all when this passes. Spanish continues to get better, I can now carry a regular conversation with people, but I'm still working on a stronger vocabulary.
I've heard of P90X, it apparently was huge, with quite a few of the missionaries that were with me at the MTC, the same ones that are here with me now, having done it and giving high praise to it all.
Health: It is getting better, I'm gonna be getting more benadryl this week, it does seem to be helping the most. I think though that I'll be having troubles with it at the ends of weeks, because I'm pushing myself so hard to work with all my strength, so I guess it's kinda comforting to know that I want to collapse by Monday.
World Cup: THIS WEEK!!!!! Cheer for Argentina!!! We were informed today that during Argentina's games to stay in our pensions and plan, study, or have district meetings. Nevertheless, we are all excited. I'm a little sad that I'll miss it this year, but the next time it comes around, I do plan to be cheering and screaming more.
Love Y'all!!!
-Ian
Oh you also asked me in one of your letters what to put in the emails and what to put in letters. Keep putting things like sports, radio, BSA, movies, updates like that in the mail, and any and all family related things in the email. If you also have any questions if I want packages and what to send in packages and such, just ask me, but I'm all good for now... really. They take forever to get here and get searched pretty often so I don't want you all to worry about sending anything that has a pretty high value.
love ya
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