December 10, 2012

I´m 21.

Yesterday a member family that fed us lunch made a huge cake for Elder Forbes and me because he turned 21 on Saturday. That was cool.

And today was great. Yesterday we had transfers and so it was Elder Arias’ last day in the mission. Today, he was in the office and we asked special permission from President Parreño to go to lunch. We were going to go with the Brustle family (remember them from Pehuajò? They now live in Bahìa Blanca again) but they couldn't go eat with us because they had to work. So they came to the office to see us and it was the most happy feeling for Elder Arias and I to see them again. They said their goodbyes and then Elder Arias and I went to downtown Bahìa and ate at this all you can eat restaurant called Bamboo. And then we said goodbye. CAPO.

As for transfers, I am still in the Maldonado Ward but Elder Forbes left. It was super hard to say goodbye to him because we had such amazing experiences together. We learned a lot together and really grew spiritually. We learned huge lessons about unity, obedience, planning, faith, charity, hope, patience, and following the Spirit. I will always be grateful to Heavenly Father for having been with Elder Forbes. But just guess where he went...Pehuajò!! Hahaha he was super excited to go and meet Elder Arias and my converts and work super hard so that the branch there can keep growing. My new companion is named Elder Furlong. He was in Santa Rosa for a transfer and I was his Zone Leader. And now he is a new Zone Leader and I am going to train him. I’m super excited.

Elder Caraza and Elder Cabrera, the two other missionaries that had been in the area with us left and now Elder Furlong and I will be the only ones here. So all of their investigators are ours now. I am positive that there are people there who can get baptized. Plus all the lunches will be ours...kind of a big deal.

As for our investigators? Elvira Dumrauf is on fire. She was telling all the members on Sunday about her baptism. She even said the prayer in Gospel Principles class. She is very excited and is super faithful about her prayers and reading the things we leave her. As for Claudia Vargas, she is progressing very well. We taught her about obedience and showed her how she needs to follow the will of the Holy Spirit. Unfortunately, she did otherwise on Sunday morning. We had a very spiritual lesson with her yesterday in the evening and she was really repentant. Unfortunately that puts her baptism back a week but we'll get there.

Satan is working hard in the world against those that have testimonies of Christ. That is why we must overcome our natural man, follow the influence of the Holy Spirit, become holy through the Atonement of Christ, and become even as a child. It is the only way to find peace and happiness in this life.

Well, that is it. Thanks for the birthday wishes!! I love you all.

Love,

Elder Garrison