January 30, 2012

Dear Everyone,

So P-Day (this is preparation day when missionaries can write home, clean their living quarters, run errands, etc.) in Pehuajó. What is cool about being in a tiny little city is that we are free to go anywhere we want in the whole city. Because the whole city is our area! A lot of areas in Mar del Plata or Bahìa Blanca are solid areas of neighborhoods. Some of those areas don't even have grocery stores. Whereas here in Pehuajó, we can go to downtown and go to all the stores and everything. The only problem is that Pehuajó has basically nothing! It's actually really boring. Today, we did our regular studies, and the moment 10 o`clock hit, hopped back in bed.

As for my meetings with other missionaries, I have District Meeting every week and we take a one hour bus ride to Trenque Lauquen every Monday night to be there for the meeting Tuesday morning. Then we return in the afternoon. Zone Conferences are every two transfers and President always travels in with the Assistants. It lasts all day. Every other transfer, in the middle, we have interviews with President so he can see how we're doing. So I see President Detlefsen every six weeks.

This week was great. Rosa was baptized on Saturday and yesterday, there were 24 people in church (including her husband for the very first time ever) when she was confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and received the gift of the Hold Ghost by the laying on of hands (like in Acts 19 in the Bible). We also found two other investigators this week that actually made it to church. We went by to pick them up in a car with the Brustle Family and it was super funny because after picking up the first lady, Nelida, we pulled up the second and turns out it was Nelida`s granddaughter, Marìa! On top of that, Marìa's husband is the grandson of a lady that got baptized the week before we came to Pehuajò named Secundina. So they were all there together! It is incredible how Heavenly Father works.

Recently I have been studying in Preach My Gospel about the attributes of Christ and trying my best to ask the Lord in prayer for His help in developing them in my personal life. I have learned a lot recently about faith, hope, and love here in Pehuajò as well as how patience goes hand in hand with them. A good chapter to read in the Book of Mormon that talks a lot about that is Ether 12.

Also, we had interviews Saturday afternoon and President Detlefsen helped me understand the need I have as a missionary to set the example of service for the investigator so they can see that God loves them and that He often shows His love through the service of others. He explained that that helps my understanding of love and charity grow.

Thank you for the prayers and the encouragement! Pray for Humberto Maffioli, Nelida Bolaño, and Marìa de los Angeles so they can keep progressing and get baptized in the church of Christ! I love you all!

-Elder Ryan Garrison

January 23, 2012

Dear Everyone,

Jake. Your car makes me super jealous. Write me letters.

Mom. I almost got lost reading your email about all the new technology coming out in America. People here get surprised when they see an Apple iPod from 5 years ago. And the cars here are ALL little and the majority are older than the 2001 Nissan Sentra I was driving at home. i have already forgetton how big the Sentra was but I feel HUGE when I get into a car here. I hardly fit most times. And the truth is, half the people have motorcycles or some sort of electric bike, anyway. They are SUPER loud. We talk with people in the street and I can never hear them. Yet they are so accustomed to it, they never raise their voice to speak over the noise! So I usually end up staring blankly at them and it all ends awkwardly. Oh and I'm pretty sure emissions laws don't exist here because it's quite common to see some nasty old truck pumping out black fumes.

On the other hand, this week was great because the unmarried couple we are teaching got married today! We went by each day this week and continued reviewing all the lessons with them and we also helped them with all the paperwork and medical exams they had to schedule, etc. The problem with their baptism is the husband. He had never been to church before we came. And he smokes! He is 77 and smokes! And Rosa, his wife, has serious health issues and sits there all day breathing in second hand smoke. But we convinced him to quit smoking for 3 days and so far he is doing it. Only he didn't come to church yesterday so he can't get baptized this weekend. Even if he keeps up with not smoking. So we are going to baptize Rosa, who is 70, this weekend and work with her husband to help him progress and get baptized in the future!

I am learning a lot here. About the gospel, about how to work, and about how to learn and grow in general. This week was really hard because it's so hot, it just destroys me. But each day when I wake up, I know that what I am doing is right. I know that God lives and loves us. Jesus Christ is His Son, the Savior and Redeemer of the world. They appeared to Joseph Smith in 1820 in response to his humble prayer and through him was restored the true church of God. If we obey God's will, we will be happy not only in this life, but in the life to come as well. It takes some effort, but it's worth it.

Love,

Elder Garrison

January 16, 2012

Dear Everyone!

Este.........coso.

This week was great! We found a ton of new people. Last Sunday, all of our investigators failed us. They were not progressing. When an investigator keeps their commitments by reading the Book of Mormon, praying to God to know that it is true, and coming to church on Sunday, the Spirit begins to work in them and change their life. Elder Arias and I have recently switched up our teaching style and really began to focus on explaining to our investigators that it is our role to teach the message to them and that it is their job to accept the message and commit to do certain things such as read and pray. As long as they do that, they will progress and understand the message more fully. The Spirit will accompany them and they will feel peace. Every time they do it, the next lesson is AWESOME. They participate, and express themselves, and understand more fully what we teach.

Miracle 1

Up to last Sunday, our investigators weren't doing a single thing. But this week when we switched up our lessons like I explained, things changed a lot. We found some great investigators who are Carla and her son Bautista and Carla's sister Antonela. The other family is Jorgelina and her daughter Sofìa. While we were teaching Jorgelina, she explained that she had read and prayed and felt an incredible peace immediately after ending her prayer. We helped her understand that that was her answer. The Book of Mormon is true. We taught her the Plan of Salvation and she understood really well! And while their, Sofìa's friend Juan came and listened. He's ten and a stud. He started crying about his grandpa who recently passed away. He was so affected by the lesson, Jorgelina told us that he had ran home to ask his parents’ permission to go to church on Sunday.

Well, turns out Satan is super subtle and clever. Jorgelina didn't manage to overcome the obstacles placed in her path and didn't show up at church. We passed by her house beforehand and she wasn't there. Juan on the other hand was waiting with his Book of Mormon in hand. But he's a little kid, we couldn't take him without an adult. So we left. But, a half hour later, Jaun popped up at the church with Sofìa!! His father had dropped them off. It was definitely a miracle, and huge blessing from the Lord.

Miracle 2

Last night we went out with the Brustle Family (there the family from my last area in Bahia Blanca who goes out with us every Sunday evening) and we passed by this old investigator. For 6 years she has listened to the missionaries (well she's half deaf so not sure if she's ever understood them). But her name is Rosa. She lives with Humberto and they are not legally married. They are also both over 70 years old. Neither wants to get married and neither wants to get baptized!

Well Hermano Brustle likes to talk. And he has a HUGE testimony of the gospel and the love that Heavenly Father has for us. Sometimes he talks forever hahaha. Last night included. Elder Arias and I barely said a word! But Hermano Brustle told them they need to get married and baptized to live in Heaven together forever. He was super bold about it but he said it in such a perfect way, they decided to do it! We went with Hermana Brustle today with Rosa to the Registro Civil (government place) and they're getting married next Monday!! It is never too late, huh.

Anyway, the Lord is blessing us for our hard work in this unbearable heat. Thanks for all your letters, please pray for these people I mentioned!! They need lots of prayers.

:D

Chaucito,

Elder Ryan Garrison

January 9, 2012

*Julie’s note:  I talked to an Argentine woman this week and told her my son was in Argentina, in a small remote village she’d probably never heard of.  She told me that Pehaujó was famous because of the children’s song!!

Dear Everyone,

Yeah Pehuajò is famous, Mom. There is a big ugly turtle statue here and apparently some famous person wrote a children’s song. People here tried talking about that turtle song to me and said that "the whole world knows about Pehuajò because of the song" and I was thinking the whole time they explained, "Not sure what world you're from but no one where I'm from has heard that song before." But Argentines are like Texans. They think their country (or state in a Texan’s case) IS the world. It's great!

But we must be careful! Pride leads to ignorance. A man the other day tried explaining to us that the Pope is "over there was God was when He lived here on the earth. I forgot what it's called..." Jerusalem? ....Sorry buddy, the Pope lives in the Vatican. So unfortunately, he doesn’t know that he was quite mistaken, then tried to use that as evidence and proof that the Catholic Church is the true church of God. We told him he needs to read the scriptures because they help us learn the will of God and what His gospel is. And that the church established upon that gospel, that bears the name of Christ, is the true church of God (3 Nephi 27). I don't think he's ever touched a Bible. And he wanted nothing to do with the Book of Mormon.

The Lord warns us against being prideful. It leads us to live a lifestyle contrary to that which the Lord desires us to live. I am currently reading in the Book of Mormon in Mormon where the entire Nephite nation is utterly destroyed as a result of their pride, disobedience, and lack of desire to repent and obey the will of God as preached by his servant, Mormon. When we are humble, like Christ, we submit to the will of God, the Father. And when we submit faithfully, the Lord blesses us according to our obedience to His commandments. It's really not rocket science. You just have to read the scriptures! Then you can be happy!

Another thing that people these days have trouble understanding is the justice of God. Several people this week tried to explain to us that God does not judge us because He is a God of love. How could he judge us if He loves us? With such false doctrine pounded into their heads by pastors of other churches, they confuse the concept of sin, punishment, and repentance to the point where they think they can do whatever they want and Jesus will just forgive them. Wrong. God is merciful AND just. He sets the rules, and if we obey, we receive the blessings. If we don't, Satan takes ahold of us and we are miserable. Not a single person can try and tell me that the alcohol addict we have been teaching this week is NOT miserable. But God, in His love, provides the escape though His Son, Jesus Christ.

I love Argentine people. I am quite happy to be sharing the gospel with them here and helping them to progress and feel the love God feels for them. In His love, He has restored His gospel in its fullness. Elder Arias and I have had long talks this week about pride and humility and I am grateful for a loving Heavenly Father who has given me the opportunity to be with a great companion in a great area, working hard to find the people who He has prepared to accept this message. There were 21 people in church on Sunday and this little Branch is steadily growing and becoming stronger as the members step up and fulfill their callings! We are working harder than ever to strengthen them and make sure nothing falls apart.

Thank you all for your support! I will look for some interesting stories this week to tell next week! I love you all :D

Cuìdense!.

-Elder Ryan Garrison

January 2, 2012

FELIZ AÑO NUEVO!

Well. We went from December to January and, as if someone had hit a switch, it got REALLY hot all of a sudden. It is almost unbearable. I have decided that dry Arizona or anywhere nearby is just for me. Because I can't tolerate this humidity. But here I am! Elder Blackhorse once tried to explain what summer here was like and ended up just telling me I would have to experience it myself to see. He was right.

New Years was awesome. Because not only was Christmas super boring and everything, we literally had no money all week. We spent money going to Mar del Plata and with the lengthy process of waiting for reimbursements, had no money and basically no food hahaha. I won't lie we were hungry. But then New Year’s came around and the Brustle family invited us to dinner, another member sent us food at 10:30 when we got home (we had permission to be out later) and our landlord gave us a cake! Plus we received our monthly money. So now we have too much food.

As for missionary work this week, it was okay. We have over 20 lessons, which is super good. And found 12 investigators. The only problem was that with Saturday night being New Year's Eve, not a single person came to church the next morning! Christmas was bad but this weekend was worse. I think every single person in Pehuajò was drunk and up until 4 or 5 in the morning drinking.

But our convert Marcela bore her testimony in church! And I forgot to tell you all that she gave a talk last week! She is progressing really well! Yesterday we gave her a copy of the triple combination. We explained that the whole Book of Mormon is IN the triple and she opens to her spot and she's at Alma 28! She's read half the book in a few short weeks. Incredible. It makes me really happy to see someone not only get baptized, but progress and continue learning. The blessings in her life that she has received since her baptism are incredible as well. She used to take care of old people that need a lot of help. She lived in a tiny house on the poor side of town. But now, she has opened up her own practice in a super nice house in downtown! And has two patients that she cares for.

The Lord blesses us when we obey His will. I have seen example after example here. He guides us but He allows us to make our own decisions and outwardly show our desires to follow Him. When we do so, He blesses us in ways we can't imagine. Jesus Christ was the supreme example of that when He submitted to the will of the Father and gave His life, paying the price for our sins and overcoming death. We must strive daily to follow His example and live what He taught.

Thank you for your letters and support!

I love you all.

Elder Ryan Garrison

December 26, 2011

Dear Everyone,

I pretty much loved talking to everyone :D :D :D It was the best! I love you all.

But after I got off the phone, Elder Arias and I watched a church video to get back focused and went out to WORK.

To recap this week:

We didn't work too much to be honest. My district leader failed and didn't tell us we were supposed to work last Monday because of the activity on Thursday. So we took a day off. Then Wednesday, we traveled to Olavarría. Thursday we arrived in Mar del Plata after leaving Olavarría at 4:30 in the morning and spent the day in an in-door gym playing sports and eating ARGENTINE ASADO. Which is steak. And delicious. Afterwards, Elder Arias and I caught a ride to the house of some other missionaries (from Argentina and Guatemala) where we showered and changed into suits, and then we went out to grab ARGENTINE ICE CREAM. From this place called Grido. Which is also delicious. After, we went to the HUGE Stake Center to have a talent show and listen to President Detlefsen give a spiritual Christmas message.

My district leader had lied to the zone leaders, telling them I was going to sing and play in the talent show but I had told him no because I don't know a single church song! So they were expecting me to perform. And all of the missionaries in charge (who I know very well) just laughed and nudged me telling me I'd "figure something out." So I did. Elder Costanzi from Buenos Aires (he speaks English), helped me rewrite my lyrics to one of my songs and I performed it.

At 9 o clock, we hopped on that tiny bus we took from Olavarría and returned, arriving at 12:30 am!! I was exhausted and literally ready to fall asleep standing there. We finally got back to tiny Pehuajó on Friday at 5:00. Which was a striking contrast with HUGE Mar del Plata.

But we are SUPER PUMPED to work this week! Talking to the family motivated me a ton because I want to share what I have with everyone! People here live such hard lives and need the restored gospel and a fuller knowledge of their Savior. I know God lives and His Son is Jesus Christ. His church has been restored in its fullness through a modern prophet, Joseph Smith, who was called of God just like Moses or Abraham in the Bible. He received Priesthood Keys and Authority from Peter, James, and John, three of Christ's original Apostles. And today, that church stands, never to fall again, and is led by a living prophet of God, Thomas S. Monson, under the direction of Christ Himself. It has Apostles, Seventies, Temples, and all the principles and ordinances that were to be found in the Church that Christ established almost 2000 years ago. As well as the authority to perform such ordinances. I know it.

Thank you for all of your love, prayers, and support. And letters. I like those a lot.

-Elder Ryan Garrison