June 27, 2011

Dear Family!

Thank you all for the emails! Glad to hear that everyone is doing well :)

This week was pretty good, like normal! First off, Caren, who we found in the bus terminal and is from Venezuela had been having problems getting her money for some reason. I never really understood it exactly (because I have trouble understanding her Venezuelan accent) but I just know she was possibly going to have to move back if all this stuff didn't clear up. What was amazing to see was her faith that the Lord's hand was in her life no matter what direction she was going to have to take. When we first met her, she would not have had that outlook. But over time, by returning to church, by confiding in the Lord and by seeing her little daughter get baptized, a huge change took place! It was great to see. Turns out, they are going to Venezuela for just a month or so, and then coming back and she is going to continue going to school at INTA! Happy day.

On Wednesday, Elder Arnold, a Seventy of the First Quorum, from Utah, and President of the Sudamérica Sur Area came to mission and had a conference with the three Mar del Plata Zones! It was incredible. He came in, told us he was happy with the direction that the mission is going, but that we are going to be changing a lot of things. Everyone says I'll remember this first conference for my whole mission and I believe it. He had a very powerful presence like all General Authorities, and just followed the Spirit in every moment. A lot of things are changing now, from the way we plan to the way we work with the members. But it was so motivating and so exciting, everyone was so stoked to implement all these changes and see the mission grow even more! I'm excited. Our main focus is to find those who are willing to change and progress and take that leap of faith, and leave those who are aren’t for another day in the future when maybe they'll be more accepting when other missionaries pass by. Unfortunately, Leandro Rodriguez, the friend of Martin who got baptized, was not baptized when he was supposed to and may end up being one of those people who may be ready some day in the future. We've worked super hard, brought members, got him Book of Mormon CDs because he can't read well, had fantastic spiritual lessons, but he told us Saturday that he likes his life and doesn't want to change.

So with that and it being Balcarces birthday, things were tough this week and we didn't have too much success. So in church, we had no investigators. But on the bright side, all 5 of those who have been baptized since I've been here were there and it was great! The ward is doing fantastic and we had 60+ people there :)

Other than that, I got a lot of letters last Tuesday so they are coming! Most are post-marked from the end of May so it takes a while for them to send! And a couple of them made it to the MTC and got forwarded, INCLUDING that postcard you sent me in April mom!

Carly, of course I am responding to letters! And you can send me printed pictures! Or email my mom and she'll forward them :)

Thank you everyone who wrote me! I appreciate it a lot and love hearing from you! :) Thanks for the encouragement everyone. Chau!