Well... I know that in 11 days I hit 7 months... but I didn't know that I was that many days in the mission... weird...
I will make sure that I keep the Hopkins in my prayers, and I'm sure I'm not the only one who will be.
This week was a very, very, very cold week, with some days reaching the sub-zero mark in C. That really affected Sunday as well, with barely any members showing up. It made it especially hard for the family that we are working with right now, the Flia. Martinez. (we had to drop Damian for a bit because he hasn't been progressing)
This is the family that we helped make bricks with last week, so it was quite sad to not see them in church, but we continue to pray for them, and pray for the inspiration that we need to help them get back on track.
The spiritual thing I learned this week was really from watching a mistake. This week the other Elders with us in Cosquin had a baptism. Now, before hand, I'm not going to say I'm a pro at this at all... considering I've had one so far... but what happened Saturday for their investigator's baptism was anything but a spiritual moment. They didn't plan the day very well, or in accordance with what the branch had already planned, which was that the branch had an activity with the primary children so they were all loud and restless, they didn't have anything absolutely set and ready, and overall, their investigator didn't feel comfortable and very embarrassed. It was interesting to think about this baptism and the one that I had... there was a huge difference, and a huge difference in the Spirit that was there... kinda like your experience at the temple.
It makes sense that Lord asks us to be in places where we can feel the Spirit, and now I realize, at times... we need to make places that already have the Spirit, still worthy to have the Spirit. A baptism must have the Spirit so that every one there can reflect and build their testimony, the temple must have the Spirit so that everyone can receive the revelation that the temple gives to everyone that enters, and finally, we must have the Spirit with us to remember all that is truly important.
That is what happened for me this week and I wish everyone a welcome back to school and hope all goes well with the drama that is bound to happen!
-Ian
Monday, August 23, 2010
August 9, 2010
Haha, that's fine.
This week, I think I'll talk about a service that we did for a family that we just found a week ago. Last sunday, a young woman came to the church, and nobody knew who she was or anything. Turned out that her and her family had been living in Cosquin for two years now, are members of the Church, and now are beginning to attend church again. We went home to see her family and to find out where they live so we can update the Branch Directory.
Turns out that her and her family all make Bricks for a living. It was interesting to see their living conditions, and it really humbled me, especially because they were a very close family, and they didn't seem to mind that they were living in conditions that they made for themselves.
The service that we did for them is that we helped them make bricks, and even more, a real brick oven. It was incredible to see how it all worked out, especially when we found out how long it takes to make a brick!
This week, it also snowed, and was incredibly cold, I remeber praying like there was no tomorrow because it's been so hard to work with my asthma lately, especially since the temperature has been dropping. But I know that as long as I still do the work, everything will go all right, I've even noticed days that when I had basically thought that I was done and couldn't do more, that I got sudden boosts of energy and motivation to keep pushing forward. Must be those angels that surround me or something.
Well, that's really about it for this week, we both got sick at the end of the week, but even so, we got that family to church and they will be baptized probably the 28th of August, so I'll keep you posted on that.
Love y'all
-Ian
This week, I think I'll talk about a service that we did for a family that we just found a week ago. Last sunday, a young woman came to the church, and nobody knew who she was or anything. Turned out that her and her family had been living in Cosquin for two years now, are members of the Church, and now are beginning to attend church again. We went home to see her family and to find out where they live so we can update the Branch Directory.
Turns out that her and her family all make Bricks for a living. It was interesting to see their living conditions, and it really humbled me, especially because they were a very close family, and they didn't seem to mind that they were living in conditions that they made for themselves.
The service that we did for them is that we helped them make bricks, and even more, a real brick oven. It was incredible to see how it all worked out, especially when we found out how long it takes to make a brick!
This week, it also snowed, and was incredibly cold, I remeber praying like there was no tomorrow because it's been so hard to work with my asthma lately, especially since the temperature has been dropping. But I know that as long as I still do the work, everything will go all right, I've even noticed days that when I had basically thought that I was done and couldn't do more, that I got sudden boosts of energy and motivation to keep pushing forward. Must be those angels that surround me or something.
Well, that's really about it for this week, we both got sick at the end of the week, but even so, we got that family to church and they will be baptized probably the 28th of August, so I'll keep you posted on that.
Love y'all
-Ian
August 2, 2010
Thanks for the fast with me, it really was needed for that moment.
Well this week, was get ready for a possible transfer week, so we were quite busy letting members and investigators know what might happen. But really that wasn't the power house amazing-ness of the week, this is...
A few weeks ago, a woman in the branch, on the way to the temple, got struck down by a stroke. For weeks, the branch and us, the missionaries, prayed strongly and fervently for her recovery. For about 2 weeks after the incident, people were anxious and faithful for her recovery. Last sunday, we heard she was finally out of the hospital and back home, so E' Hone and I rushed to see how she and her family were doing. It was a very heartfelt, and mellow enviornment, entering into the family's house and seeing the family still sticking together. Yesterday morning, during testimony meeting, many of the members bore their testimonies on how powerful the Lord truly is, especially in helping this hermana in her recovery.
Then to finish it all of, the hermana herself, walked up to the pulpit and bore testimony. It was amazingly powerful to see it, and there was not a dry eye in the chapel when she finished. Thinking of my experiences of last week, I thought to myself, "Wow, and I thought I had something hard to deal with, being a missionary and all." The faith of these people are truly astounding, and while we are in a small branch, it is amazing to see the unity that they have.
This week, I also learned something extraordinary. I've been studying a bit in Doctrine and Covenants and this last week I got to section 10. It was amazing to study through it, especially at the end of the section in which I learned the true awesomeness of the Lord. I know in my life that I have often thought that I never would be a fullfilment of prophecy or an answer to somebody's prayer, but in reading this section, I realized how dumb I really was. I learned that I am now fullfilling the prayers of Enos, Alma, Ammon, and all the great heros of the Book of Mormon, by answering their prayers to bring the Book of Mormon to all nations. I was extremely humbled in this, especially when I came to the conclusion of how important I truly am in the work of the Lord.
It was a great week, and now here we go with another transfer!
-Ian
Well this week, was get ready for a possible transfer week, so we were quite busy letting members and investigators know what might happen. But really that wasn't the power house amazing-ness of the week, this is...
A few weeks ago, a woman in the branch, on the way to the temple, got struck down by a stroke. For weeks, the branch and us, the missionaries, prayed strongly and fervently for her recovery. For about 2 weeks after the incident, people were anxious and faithful for her recovery. Last sunday, we heard she was finally out of the hospital and back home, so E' Hone and I rushed to see how she and her family were doing. It was a very heartfelt, and mellow enviornment, entering into the family's house and seeing the family still sticking together. Yesterday morning, during testimony meeting, many of the members bore their testimonies on how powerful the Lord truly is, especially in helping this hermana in her recovery.
Then to finish it all of, the hermana herself, walked up to the pulpit and bore testimony. It was amazingly powerful to see it, and there was not a dry eye in the chapel when she finished. Thinking of my experiences of last week, I thought to myself, "Wow, and I thought I had something hard to deal with, being a missionary and all." The faith of these people are truly astounding, and while we are in a small branch, it is amazing to see the unity that they have.
This week, I also learned something extraordinary. I've been studying a bit in Doctrine and Covenants and this last week I got to section 10. It was amazing to study through it, especially at the end of the section in which I learned the true awesomeness of the Lord. I know in my life that I have often thought that I never would be a fullfilment of prophecy or an answer to somebody's prayer, but in reading this section, I realized how dumb I really was. I learned that I am now fullfilling the prayers of Enos, Alma, Ammon, and all the great heros of the Book of Mormon, by answering their prayers to bring the Book of Mormon to all nations. I was extremely humbled in this, especially when I came to the conclusion of how important I truly am in the work of the Lord.
It was a great week, and now here we go with another transfer!
-Ian
July 26, 2010
Last week of transfer 3 this week!!!
Well it has been quite a week, with quite a few amazing experiences, one that was really powerful.
One of the investigators that we are currently working with is the son of another investigator, his name is Damián Altimira. Only just recently after months of hearing of the church and of all we do, he has come to us and with real intent looked forward to baptism and being a part of the church. One of the ways I know this is that our first real lesson with him was him asking us to come over to give him a blessing of health. It was amazing to hear that he was willing to be humble and do that. After that he started coming to church activities and as well as coming to church.
This week he showed his faith to us once again by asking us for another blessing. He's been passing through some depression and this is why he's been willing to change his life for something I honestly believe, he knows is the best for him. This week we'll be working with him to just get some lessons with him solo, and set a goal for baptism, because honestly, he's ready and willing.
That's it, and with transfers being this week I still hope that Elder Hone and I will get one more transfer together, because I believe that we have had success these last few weeks, but as I know, it's not my will but the Lord's will.
Thanks for everything!
- Ian
Well it has been quite a week, with quite a few amazing experiences, one that was really powerful.
One of the investigators that we are currently working with is the son of another investigator, his name is Damián Altimira. Only just recently after months of hearing of the church and of all we do, he has come to us and with real intent looked forward to baptism and being a part of the church. One of the ways I know this is that our first real lesson with him was him asking us to come over to give him a blessing of health. It was amazing to hear that he was willing to be humble and do that. After that he started coming to church activities and as well as coming to church.
This week he showed his faith to us once again by asking us for another blessing. He's been passing through some depression and this is why he's been willing to change his life for something I honestly believe, he knows is the best for him. This week we'll be working with him to just get some lessons with him solo, and set a goal for baptism, because honestly, he's ready and willing.
That's it, and with transfers being this week I still hope that Elder Hone and I will get one more transfer together, because I believe that we have had success these last few weeks, but as I know, it's not my will but the Lord's will.
Thanks for everything!
- Ian
July 19, 2010
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
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
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
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