Hey,
THIS
WEEK WAS AWESOME. We had the opportunity to see a live transmission of the
Cultural Activity in Buenos Aires Capital on Saturday night in celebration of
the rededication of the Buenos Aires Temple. Elder Eyring, Elder Ballard, and
Elder Christofferson were there to speak and watch it. It was so great. They
had thousands of youth in a huge soccer stadium doing traditional dances from
Argentina with video clips of other Stakes from all over the country doing the
dances as well, filmed in their own city plazas, etc. I felt a lot of pride for
Argentina, I seriously love this country. We got to go because we brought
Mariano, our investigator, to the activity and it was a great opportunity for
him to see how big the church really is. Not only in Santa Rosa because the
whole Stake went, but also in the entire country and world. He really enjoyed
it and actually got pulled away to sit with some of the other young single
adults! So we just let him get to know more people.
Then
yesterday, we got to participate in the rededication of the temple. The church
building was "turned into a temple" and we needed recommends to get
in the building. It was so spiritual. I noticed the difference immediately upon
entering. That it was no normal Sunday. The best part however was seeing all of
my converts there! Marìa and Marcos and their children and Catalina and her
siblings. It gave me such a feeling of gratitude and love to the Lord for
seeing them there. It was, after all, as if they were in the temple. They told
us later that they liked it so much they stayed for another session later on in
the day. They will definitely be going to the temple next year. I have also
heard from the Llaupi family through letters that they have the goal to go next
year as well and continue actively attending church. When I get the excuse to
call the Viedma Zone Leaders, I will ask them if they went to the temple
rededication as well. I love them all so much. Each one of my converts. That, I
think, would be the biggest blessing, were they to end up in the temple next
year to get sealed for time and all eternity as families.
In
the rededication, the Temple President and his wife spoke, Elder Arnold who is
the Area President, and Elder Ballard and Elder Eyring. It was very spiritual
and all the members were very emotional because the temple has been closed for
over two years. They have not had a working temple in their country and have
had to travel to Uruguay to go to the temple. However, now their temple here in
Argentina is three times as big and up and running. I imagine that I will be
able to go through just before leaving to the States.
Anyway.
Elder Howard and I are now just anxiously preparing everything for Saturday
because Mariano Romero will be getting baptized as well as Mònica Gutierrez
(the sister of Marìa and the mother of Catalina) who is super excited! We
already planned the baptismal interview and last night had a super spiritual
lesson with her and her family in which her sister Marìa participated and added
so great comments and testimonies. We taught the whole family about the Sabbath
Day, the Word of Wisdom, and tithing. They are so happy now that they have the
gospel in their lives. They have seen dramatic changes in their family relationships
and in their relationships with our Heavenly Father. They all willingly
accepted to live the commandments, those who have already been baptized and
Mònica who will now be doing it.
So
please pray for Mariano and Mònica so that nothing goes wrong!! And for the
Santa Rosa Stake in general because Elder Howard and I are super excited. We
have 11 baptisms planned for this Saturday in the Stake!! That is a ton. The
Stake is working hard to push and split in two and that is what we all desire.
That real growth of the Kingdom of God here in La Pampa.
Thanks
for the letters and everything!
Elder Garrison
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